Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 238 Calm

The registration of these people's entry and exit is handled by designated outer disciples.

In just a short while, three oxcarts carrying a large iron cage came from afar.

The iron cage was covered with a thick tarpaulin.

The black cloth was covered with white snow and mud, looking like the deadly poison powder on a black datura flower.

What's inside are clearly those so-called live goods.

The outer disciples stepped forward and pulled back the tarpaulin, revealing the men, women, and children inside.

They circled the cages, seemingly inspecting something. After completing their check, they quickly led the convoy through the gates and headed deeper into the black market. As they passed through the black market gates, everyone respectfully greeted Han Yi, who was standing in front of the disciples' quarters, as "Master Han," before continuing inside.

Han Yi looked back at the house behind him again.

He didn't know if it was because of the white snow outside, but he felt that the room was pitch black and he couldn't see a single ray of light.

The winter sun shines high in the sky, but the temperature outside seems to be higher than inside.

The room was burning copper braziers with charcoal, yet it felt strangely cold.

It was a painful, bone-scraping knife.

Han Yi remained motionless, peering intently into the room. The more he looked, the more uneasy he felt…

With his strength as a martial artist of the first level of meridian cultivation, although he is not completely immune to heat and cold, he is not far off.

But at this moment, he felt a strange chill in his body, and a strong feeling of discomfort arose from his body, a strange and cold sensation.

This feeling was exactly the same as when he was in Peach Blossom Village, before he had opened his meridians, and was being targeted by that peach tree demon.

It's unclear whether it was the awakening of frightening memories or a physical symptom of a similar event that had occurred in the past.

Han Yi contracted all his muscles and quickly left the disciples' quarters. He sat down in the guard post and began his day's work.

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As the sun set and the twilight deepened, Han Yi, who had been busy all day, was about to leave work.

"Master Han, you should go and rest first. I, Xiao Ba, will keep an eye on things here, so nothing will happen."

Xiao Ba seemed to sense Han Yi's weariness and eagerly stepped forward.

"Let's wait a little longer..." Han Yi shook his head and didn't agree. He decided to wait for Cai Yu and see what was going on with him.

.........

Thump, thump, thump...

The clock struck midnight, but Cai Yu still did not appear.

"Could something really have happened...?"

Han Yi frowned, a bad feeling creeping into his heart, like a needle pricking him.

"Master Cai!"

Suddenly, Xiao Ba, who was standing next to him, spoke up and bowed in one direction.

Upon hearing this, Han Yi looked over and saw a yellow-gray carriage slowly stop at the entrance of the black market. The person who stepped out of the carriage was a familiar figure.

"Brother Cai!"

Han Yi waved to him and shouted loudly. Perhaps because of the distance, Cai Yu had his head down and seemed not to hear him at all.

Han Yi paused for a moment, then stepped closer and raised his voice, calling out, "Brother Cai!"

Cai Yu then heard the sound. He mechanically looked up, his pupils slightly bulging and filled with blood vessels, like twisted red earthworms wriggling in the whites of his eyes, which was unpleasant to look at.

The gaze finally focused on Han Yi.

"It's Brother Han..."

Cai Yu responded softly.

'His spirits seem even lower than yesterday…'

Han Yi thought to himself, but no matter what, he finally arrived on time to take over the shift.

"Brother Cai, was something urgent last night? Why did you leave in such a hurry without even saying goodbye? Could it be that your wife was home alone at night and was scared and missed you?"

Han Yi asked jokingly, his body intentionally or unintentionally remaining on guard, carefully observing Cai Yu's every move.

"I, I... I lost something and can't find it. I looked for it when I got home last night..." As he spoke, Cai Yu's eyes darted around, watching the crowds coming and going.

"So...Brother Cai, did you find what you lost today?"

Han Yi thought for a moment, then tentatively asked.

"........."

Silence. The only response to Han Yi was Cai Yu's silence; he lowered his head and remained silent.

After a long while, he said somewhat dazedly, "No, nothing..."

"Brother Cai doesn't seem to be in good spirits. Why don't you rest for a while?" Han Yi suggested. "Anyway, there's nothing to do all night. How about I cover for you for the night, and you can repay me for a day next time?"

"No, no..." Cai Yu murmured, "I'm almost there. Once I find it, I can finally get some rest..."

His voice was a little hoarse.

“Brother Cai, you’ve always been very kind to me. I wonder what you’ve lost? I’m free tonight, so I can help you look for it.”

Han Yi went a step further and asked carefully.

Cai Yu's pupils widened, a thoughtful expression on his face, and he hissed, "What... what is it?"

Suddenly, he turned around quickly and rushed straight towards the guardhouse, as if he had discovered something.

Looking at his anxious expression, his absent-mindedness, and his head down as he walked quickly, Han Yi felt a strange and uncomfortable feeling welling up inside him.

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Back home, Han Yi took a bath and changed his clothes. He then cooked the monster meat he had bought from the black market in a simple way. After eating, he felt much more relaxed.

Instead of going to bed, he recalled the events of the day.

"What's wrong with Cai Yu...?"

He sat in the chair, his right hand supporting his chin, looking puzzled.

From any perspective, something must have happened to Cai Yu. Either something major happened in his family, or something happened to him personally.

However, this evening, during Han Yi's meeting with Cai Yu, no matter how Han Yi looked at him, apart from sensing that Cai Yu wasn't getting enough rest, he couldn't see anything wrong with him otherwise.

"Never mind, never mind..."

Han Yi decided to stop thinking about it. What happened to Cai Yu wasn't really his concern. He just needed to do his job well, stay vigilant, and report anything to the sect directly. That would be enough...

Immediately, he stood up, preparing to process the venison he had bought from the black market butcher shop that afternoon.

When he left the black market in the afternoon, he went to the butcher shop again. This time, he gritted his teeth and bought a large piece of venison.

As expected, when he made the purchase, not only were some of the onlookers dissatisfied, but even the butcher shop owner was puzzled by his actions.

After all, logically speaking, given the consumption patterns of a Blood Refining martial artist, the ten-pound piece of venison bought yesterday should have been enough to last a week, but Han Yi…....

Fortunately, Han Yi made up an excuse, saying that he bought it for relatives and friends, and managed to get away with it for the time being.

"But this isn't a solution either... We need to find a stable channel..." Han Yi quickly cleaned, blanched, cooked, and stored the half-eaten venison left over from tonight's meal, his mind still racing with thoughts.

Such deceptive reasons will eventually be exposed.

However, if one were to use the secret technique Moon Concealment to hide their identity and buy meat in the black market, they would not be able to find any of good quality.

This put Han Yi in a dilemma.

"Alright, alright, let's just be patient for now. We'll get bread eventually, and milk too..."

In the darkness, Han Yi sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes flashing with a sharp light from time to time.

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Time flies like water, and soon, several days have passed quickly.

Han Yi also finished his work guarding the black market this week, and next week would be his day off. Strangely enough, after Cai Yu showed some abnormality last time, he returned to normal in the following days, lazily slacking off as usual and greeting Han Yi.

Just like Cai Yu a few days ago, it seems that something happened that caused him to be in a bad state, which led to all sorts of strange behavior.

Han Yi didn't ask him, and he didn't say anything.

And so, a week passed, and the entire black market remained calm and undisturbed, as if Han Yi's unusual feelings a few days ago were just his illusions.

…....

Nighttime, the moon is high in the sky.

"Is this Yuhe Town, Yingjiabao?"

Under the moonlight, a silver ribbon-like river meanders down from the cliffs of a chaotic world; the chill of spring has just begun to fade, and the ice and snow have already melted away.

Han Yi, following the location Huang Ze had indicated, repeatedly compared the map in his hand. According to Huang Ze's explanation, outside Anyan City, on the first and fifteenth of each month, a large number of independent martial artists would gather at Yingjiabao... With a wooden token, one could board a wooden bed from the riverbank and enter.

Here, there are numerous independent martial artists who sell items that cannot be bought in the city. There are also several forces that have been excluded from An Yan City by the four major powers and have set up strongholds here to sell resources!

By this time, Han Yi had naturally changed into a set of night clothes, along with a cloak, making it impossible for anyone to see his figure and face.

Beneath the cloak, he used the secret technique Moon Concealment to transform himself into a tall and slender Blood Refining Warrior.

As for conspicuous weapons such as the Xuan Tie Sword, he did not carry them with him.

Anyway, most of his strength now comes from his internal energy, so whether he carries it or not doesn't make much difference.

When he arrived at the Xiaoyu River, he indeed saw several small boats moored on the bank, waiting. "Who goes there?"

On the small boat, an old man with an oar asked loudly.

"People going to Yingjiabao."

Han Yi responded.

Do you have a token or certificate?

"Get it!"

Han Yi casually tossed the cyan wooden plaque over.

This is the pass Huang Ze gave him, a blue wooden plaque with the character '应' engraved on the front and the character '坊' on the back.

The old man took the blue wooden plaque, glanced at it a few times, respectfully returned it, and then let Han Yi board the boat.

There were already several people on the boat, all dressed in black, standing in their own corners, keeping their distance from each other, and remaining silent.

'Is Elder Huang Ze reliable or not? Wasn't this supposed to be just a market for independent martial artists to exchange goods and purchase resources? Why is it all so mysterious...?'

After Han Yi boarded the ship and stood still, he found a corner and mentally complained.

It was supposed to be the market Huang Ze had mentioned, but once they arrived, everyone coming and going was more cautious than the last, all hiding in darkness and on high alert.

It was just like soldiers conquering new territory, facing monstrous floods and dangerous beasts ahead!

In contrast, the black market in An'yan City, managed by the Crimson Flame Sect, was bustling with activity and shouts...

Han Yi felt that the black market under the jurisdiction of the Crimson Flame Sect should be renamed a market, and this place... should be called a black market!

Despite his complaints, Han Yi understood the source of these people's wariness.

There's no other reason than that those who come here to participate in the gathering are all independent martial artists, without any sect or faction, or fugitives, bandits, and the like.

After all, whether they are bandits who burn, kill, rape, and plunder, or powerful villains on the wanted list, they all have a need to increase their strength and purchase resources.

Inside the city, there were wanted posters on the walls, making it difficult for them to sneak in. Even if they could get in, the things they bought and sold would be regulated.

Therefore, who knows whether the people who come here to participate in the gathering are human or ghost? In addition, most of them are rogue martial artists who are inherently cautious and prudent, which has led to a perfectly good market being turned into a black market.

'Perhaps there are some notorious bandits on this small boat...'

Thinking of this, Han Yi pretended to be casual and quickly scanned his surroundings.

Fortunately, they were all low-level martial artists who had mastered bone and blood refining techniques.

He immediately felt relieved. After waiting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the old man set sail with his oars. The awning boat, leaving a trail of ripples, departed under the moonlight.

Yingjiabao is located in a very peculiar terrain.

The Yu River flows down from the mountains, but suddenly makes a bend here, flowing north into the Nanhu Marsh, thus forming a small 'U'-shaped plain basin.

Yingjiabao was built in this basin.

Ahead lies the main road, and behind it stretches a river resembling a city wall, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, with an excellent terrain and location.

Entering Yuhe Town from the main road, you'll find streets, houses, and shops, which serve as a window for Yingjiabao to communicate with the outside world.

The real core area is located on this side, closer to the river.

Han Yi heard a rough outline of these events from Huang Ze when he visited him.