Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 232 An Unexpected Surprise (Part 1)

These are two issues that must be considered if you want to buy a large amount of monster meat.

First, there is the concealment and disguise of buying and selling.

The monster meat he wants to buy is not just a pound or two, nor is it something he buys once or twice. It's a large quantity for a long time, so the amount will definitely be considerable. How can he guarantee that it won't arouse suspicion?

After all, the monster meat is difficult for ordinary martial artists to absorb and digest. It is only purchased with a lot of gold and silver when breaking through levels. For martial artists to eat it is just an appetizer. They must take it every meal to have any effect.

Concealment and disguise are crucial; his identity must be kept secret. Otherwise, if someone with ulterior motives discovers his identity, they will inevitably become interested in his buying and selling so much monster meat. Even if he can hide his presence, a careful investigation will always leave some clues…

There are many extraordinary people in this world. Like last time, even though Han Yi burned all the traces he left in Peach Blossom Village, he was still discovered. He'd already learned his lesson from Di Yuan once…

Second, the source of the channel.

In fact, this second question is a supplement to the first question.

If you want to avoid being exposed, simply relying on the "body shrinking and disguise technique" is not enough. You need to have more channels for buying and selling and to trade back and forth to be more secure.

However, Han Yi only knew that there was one shop in the black market that sold monster meat; as for other places, he was completely clueless…

Moreover, this black market stall is open to the general public, ordinary martial artists. Han Yi had visited it a few times, and the quality was not very good. It mainly contained offal, internal organs, and pale chunks of meat with lymph nodes.

Actually, it makes sense when you think about it. Apart from individual sellers, black market shops submit a sales list before their goods enter the market, indicating the quantity and type of goods for sale, to facilitate the payment of taxes.

The high-quality monster meat had probably already been bought up by the sect's higher-ups; what was leaked out were just inferior and leftover goods.

Therefore, while you can buy monster meat from black market shops, it can only be used as a supplement. You still need another place with a stable supply and guaranteed quality.

"It seems it's time to make a trip to Elder Huang Ze's place..."

Huang Ze, an elder of the Internal Affairs Hall, was Bai Sanren's close friend. It was also he who arranged for Han Yi to be stationed at the Black Market.

Bai Sanren once said that Huang Ze was a sworn brother to him, and Huang Ze owed him a great debt of gratitude. Therefore, before leaving for the prefectural city, he also told Han Yi that if he encountered any problems, he should just ask Huang Ze to handle them. Speaking of which, Huang Ze was Han Yi's direct superior. Soon, the black market would open, and Han Yi, who had been slacking off on duty, should also go to work.

Besides, it's only right after the New Year that he should visit his boss before returning to work; it's simply what a subordinate should do.

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The next day, early in the morning.

Han Yi arrived at Huangze Gate carrying two bottles of Xuepei wine and two packets of fine pastries.

Boom boom boom!

After knocking on the door a few times, he waited patiently.

The gray-white streets are paved with bluestone bricks, each about the size of a washbasin.

At this time, although the snow had not completely melted, there were people sweeping the snow to the sides of the bluestone brick surface, forming two low snow walls.

The courtyard where Huang Ze lived had green tiles and white walls, with several drainage outlets along the lower edge of the walls. The two vermilion doors at the entrance, with a pair of gold-lacquered animal-face tin rings hanging on them, were unchanged from before.

The only difference from last year is the row of colorful couplets pasted on the threshold, and the pair of brand-new couplets on either side of the gate.

"Year after year, day after day..."

Han Yi glanced at the handwriting on the couplet and felt that the writer was quite refined, unlike the old geezer Huang Ze.

Who is it?!

At this moment, the vermilion gate opened a crack, and Jiu'er peeked out with her little head.

"Jiu'er, it's been a long time!"

Han Yi smiled slightly and handed over the pastries: "I'm here to see Master Huang." "Oh! It's Young Master Han!"

When Jiu'er saw that it was Han Yi, she smiled radiantly.

She grabbed Han Yi's sleeve and ran inside, calling out, "Master, Sister, Young Master Han is here!"

"Wait, Jiu'er..." Han Yi was a little helpless. Before coming, he had specially prepared two red envelopes, but Jiu'er was pulling his arm, so how could he take them out?

Soon, Han Yi was led by Jiu'er to the front hall, the reception room.

"Hey, Han, is that Xuepei wine you're holding?"

Huang Ze was the same as always, with a wine gourd hanging from his waist, a ruddy complexion, and a white beard deliberately grown on both sides of his cheeks.

He heard Jiu'er's voice early on and came to the front hall to wait.

As a result, he immediately spotted the wine bottle that Han Yi was carrying.

Huang Ze rushed over in one stride, took the Xuepei wine, and said excitedly, "This Xuepei wine is clear and sweet, with a refreshing aroma. It tastes like frost on your palate, but after swallowing, the frost gradually disappears. Once it reaches your stomach, what remains is a blazing, sharp sensation. It is brewed and blended with snow water and is only available in winter!"

As he spoke, he eagerly unscrewed the cork and sniffed the aroma of the wine: "Excellent, excellent, young Han, you've come at just the right time. This old man hasn't had a decent drink in over half a month..."

“Not only that, Master Huang…” Huang Jiu’er’s face was also filled with excitement. She proudly held up the red envelope and pastries in her hand, saying, “And these phoenix tail pastries, I’ve been wanting to eat some more since I finished them last time…”

"Enough, you two!!!"

Suddenly, Huang Xiuxiu walked in from outside, holding a feather duster. Her face darkened, and she roared, "You two! We have guests visiting, what kind of behavior is this?!"

"hey-hey…..."

Huang Jiu'er and Huang Ze both gave awkward smiles and walked over. ...

After a chaotic scene of chickens and dogs jumping around, Huang Xiuxiu's iron-fisted methods of suppression...

Huang Ze reluctantly put down the wine bottle in his hand, while Jiu'er also reluctantly closed the pastry box.

"Han Yi, why didn't Lao Bai come with you?"

At this moment, Huang Ze, dressed in a black overcoat, sat upright in a rosewood chair and asked in a serious tone.

However, his eyes kept sneaking glances at the Xuepei wine placed to the side, betraying his true thoughts.

"Elder Huang, Master Bai and Qianxue have gone to the Hidden Moon Taoist Temple. They shouldn't be back for a while."

Han Yi hesitated for a moment, but still didn't tell Bai Sanren about his injury and trip to the prefectural city. The experience was too bizarre, and it involved his own meridian opening and energy cultivation.

Bai Sanren is trustworthy, and it's fine if he knows, but Huang Ze...

Let's just forget about it...

"Yanyue Taoist Temple?" Huang Ze was taken aback upon hearing this, then tentatively asked, "Han Yi, do you know about Bai Yuechou?"

"Um…..."

Han Yi nodded and said, "The matter of Bai Yuechou... and the grudge between Lian Chengyue and the Bai family... Master Bai has told me about all of that..."

"Why…...."

After a long silence, Huang Ze sighed: "Bai Yuechou, this child, I've watched him grow up..."

Unfortunately, despite his amazing talent, he ultimately disappointed Old Bai…

At this point, Huang Ze lowered his eyes, revealing a clear sense of regret. He even forgot to put down the emerald green tea he was holding, sighing deeply.

Han Yi sighed as well, then, a thought struck him, and he asked, "Elder Huang, I've heard that Bai Yuechou also learned a lot from you. Do you know where he is...?"

“Not bad, not bad…” Huang Ze put down his teacup and said, “Speaking of which, I’m practically Bai Yuechou’s mentor. He did learn some things from me…”

“But…” he gave a bitter smile, “Bai Yuechou… he learns too fast. Ever since he opened his meridians, I have nothing more to teach him…”

Huang Ze wore an expression of utter despair, as if each wave was stronger than the last, leaving the previous wave stranded on the beach.

"As for his whereabouts, even his own father doesn't know where he is, and I, his half-baked master, have no clue whatsoever..."

Huang Ze sighed deeply. Clearly, Bai Yuechou was such an outstanding student, a rare find in his life, yet he suddenly left home, which was a huge blow to him, who had originally planned to make Bai Yuechou his successor.

"Then..." Han Yi hesitated for a moment before continuing to ask, "Elder Huang, have you ever heard of Yin Chen? A few days ago, while cleaning my room, I accidentally found many notes left by Bai Yuechou, all of which contained records of someone named Yin Chen."

Yesterday, when Han Yi was going through Bai Yuechou's notes, he discovered something.

When Bai Yuechou was away, he met a man named Yin Chen. The two hit it off immediately and became close friends.

Bai Yuechou's notes also frequently mention Yin Chen.

According to Bai Yuechou, Yin Chen taught him many novel ideas, secret techniques, tricks, and medicinal ingredients!

The diary also records that when Bai Qianxue was born, Bai Yuechou was not very happy. Instead, he felt extremely empty because he lacked the medicinal ingredient. He wrote to Yin Chen to ask for an extra medicinal ingredient.

When Han Yi saw this, he began to have some doubts about Yin Chen. He always felt that these medicinal ingredients, along with that secret technique, might be the culprit that caused Bai Yuechou's personality to change drastically and her mysterious departure!

The "medicinal catalyst" could be a drug that gradually becomes addictive, while the "secret technique" could be a hypnotic method that is easy to control!

But this was just Han Yi's conjecture; he had no way of knowing the truth...

That was when Qianxue was just born, more than a decade ago. It's been too long, and most importantly, there are very few people who know the details...

Therefore, when Han Yi heard from Huang Ze that Huang Ze had once served as Bai Yuechou's master, he immediately took it to heart!

"Hmm..."

Huang Ze thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "This name sounds somewhat familiar..."

But in the end, he shook his head and said, "I seem to have heard Yuechou mention this name before. Perhaps he's a good friend he made while traveling..."

Han Yi, you should know that before Yue Chou reached the level of internal strength, I taught him for a period of time. But after he reached that level and became a martial arts master, there was less and less I could teach him…

Later on, I couldn't control him anymore, so he simply started running around all day, traveling... Perhaps it was during that time that he came across some evil and crooked ways and went astray...

Alas, it's a pity that even I couldn't keep an eye on him..."

Glug glug...

The two looked at each other in silence, and the room fell quiet for a moment, with only the hissing sound of hot water boiling in the tin kettle on the stove.

"Young Master Han, come, have some tea." Jiu'er smiled sweetly at Han Yi, and poured hot water from the spout into a white porcelain teacup with a floral pattern.

As hot water is poured in, the bright green and clear Yangxian tea leaves swirl and swirl, releasing a delicate and fragrant aroma.

"Thank you, Miss Jiu'er!"

Han Yi quickly expressed his gratitude and picked up the teacup, which was still warm from the hot water.

"Hehe... It's nothing!" Jiu'er's cherry-like eyes were filled with curiosity about Han Yi.

She wanted to know how this handsome and extraordinary young man could perfectly combine the youthful vigor and the maturity that comes with experience in adulthood.

Sister Xiuxiu always says she's not mature enough. She wants to grow up quickly and mature so she can help her sister, Master Huang... and, if only she could be with the person in front of her when she grows up!

Thinking of this, Jiu'er's pretty face flushed red, her ears turned red and her face became hot. She picked up the tin kettle and quickly slipped downstairs.

"This little girl..."

Huang Ze watched Jiu'er leave in a hurry, a smile appearing on his face. He picked up his white porcelain teacup, took a sip of the freshly brewed green tea, and said leisurely:

"Speaking of which, Yuechou left quite a few odds and ends here with me. I packed them up before, intending to send them to Lao Bai, but I was afraid that seeing these things would remind him of me and make him even more heartbroken. I hesitated and procrastinated, and just like that, all these years have passed..."

Since Lao Bai told you about Bai Yuechou and asked you to pack up Bai Yuechou's belongings, he must have let go of his resentment over the years. Perfect, you can take all of this back to him today…”

“Xiuxiu, bring out that black box from the small house on the west side…” he shouted.

"Master Huang, let me and Sister Xiuxiu go look for it together..." Han Yi quickly stood up and put down his teacup.

.........