"Someone's ahead."
After advancing half a mile through the desolate mountain, Su Mu quickly sensed someone ahead with his heightened senses. Amidst the dark forest, numerous human-powered carts were parked, shadows milling around them with hushed whispers. The coachmen, clad in black robes and wearing masks, made the scene eerie and sinister.
Su Mu continued forward for over ten meters before someone noticed his presence.
"Do you have a token?"
Detecting Su Mu's approach, a coachman wearing a Red Demon mask rasped out.
Without speaking, Su Mu reached into his jacket and took out a token, waving it before the coachman.
"Get on the cart."
The coachman glanced at the token and gestured for Su Mu to get on the cart. Without hesitation, Su Mu climbed aboard, and the coachman pulled the cart deeper into the desolate mountain.
Along the way, Su Mu saw other wooden carts carrying passengers. As he met their gazes, it was evident that these people were also headed to the black market tonight. Like Su Mu, they had all disguised themselves, hiding their true faces and identities.
"We've arrived, guest."
Soon, the coachman's raspy voice sounded again. Su Mu looked intently and found a village in the mountains, seemingly deserted and without villagers in daily life, now turned into the venue for the black market.
Walking along the firelight, noises reached Su Mu's ears. Sparse stalls lined the village roads, where masked guests of the black market roamed. To an outsider, it was akin to the Hundred Ghosts Parade.
Somewhat wary, Su Mu walked among them, avoiding contact or conversation with other market-goers. His gaze wandered over the stalls, filled with rare items unlikely to be easily found outside, including armor—a prohibited item.
"Should forge some weapons for sale in the future."
Su Mu mused inwardly.
Aside from selling items, some set up stalls to purchase goods. Su Mu saw a small wooden sign at one stall, inscribed with: Purchase Demon Beast Blood.
Demon Beast.
Su Mu's eyes narrowed. He'd come across the term in the Tiger Subduing Fist secret manual. In this world of Martial Dao cultivators, powerful Demonic Beasts existed, typically much stronger than martial artists of the same realm.
The Tiger Subduing Fist mimics a tiger's combat style, and such a tiger isn't an ordinary forest tiger but a Demon Tiger.
However, aside from a brief mention of Demonic Beasts, Su Mu had limited knowledge. Yet, he knew that openly purchasing Demon Beast blood meant not to be trifled with.
Thus, Su Mu withdrew his gaze and continued forward.
"Toxin extracted from the Red Blood Snake venom sac; apply it to a weapon for poisoning. Wounds will bleed unendingly and are hard to heal, priced at fifty taels of silver per jar."
"Armor forged by combining Refined Iron and Cold Iron; impervious to water and fire, immune to swords and spears, priced at three hundred taels of silver per set."
"Blood-Burning Bone-Forging Pill; consuming it allows a Refining Power Martial Artist to break into the Eighth Grade Bone Forging Realm but has certain side effects, priced at two hundred taels per pill."
The black market wares were astoundingly expensive. Su Mu touched the fifteen taels of silver in his jacket, realizing buying a martial arts secret manual with silver coins was mostly unrealistic.
But Su Mu came prepared. He also brought the Tiger Subduing Fist manual. If silver wasn't enough, he could trade objects—exchange manuals for manuals.
"Need to stay sharp."
Su Mu wouldn't naively believe all stall items were genuine, such as the so-called Blood-Burning Bone-Forging Pill, allegedly boosting a Ninth-Grade martial artist to Eighth-Grade.
Whether the effect was real or not, the stated side effects might be far from simple. Perhaps consuming it would be fatal.
Otherwise, a pill capable of achieving the Eighth Grade Bone Forging Realm couldn't sell for just two hundred taels. In Qingshui Town, Ninth-Grade Refining Power martial artists are few.
Only one is at the Eighth Grade Bone Forging Realm: Black Tiger Gang Leader Zhao Xuan, rumored to have broken through the year before.
This is why the Black Tiger Gang can dominate Qingshui Town, even the government turns a blind eye to them.
Overall, black market items are sold with no returns, lacking any guarantees. One can only blame poor judgment if deceived.
Soon, Su Mu stopped at a small stall at the village's end, filled with martial arts secret manuals. The stall owner nonchalantly piled them up like cabbages for sale.
"This person's aura is similar to Wu Heng from the other day, likely a Ninth-Grade Refining Power Martial Artist."
Su Mu assessed the stall owner wearing a White Crane mask.
"Do you have a token?"
Noticing Su Mu's gaze, the stall owner laughed lightly and said, "If you're interested, you can browse the first three pages for free."
Free look at the first three pages?
Su Mu pondered and casually picked up a manual, which read "Rock Shattering Fist." Clearly a fist technique, Su Mu seemed indifferent but deliberately chose a fist technique manual.
He only cultivated Tiger Subduing Fist, thus understanding fist techniques. Swiftly, Su Mu opened the first three pages of the manual.
"This Rock Shattering Fist seems genuine!"
A moment later, Su Mu roughly judged its authenticity. Having achieved Great Success in Tiger Subduing Fist, he knew about power, bodily acupoints, Qi blood, and meridians. The fist technique's energy circulation chart and dynamics were somewhat akin to Tiger Subduing Fist.
"It's a Ninth-Grade fist technique, albeit inferior to Tiger Subduing Fist."
Su Mu speculated.
Just then, the stall owner's voice interrupted Su Mu's thoughts, "You've been looking for a stick of incense time. If you wish to continue, consider purchasing it."
The stall owner pressed on the manual in Su Mu's hand, releasing power and swiftly retrieving the manual.
"How much are manuals at your stall?"
Su Mu quietly withdrew his hand and casually asked again. After scrutinizing Rock Shattering Fist, Su Mu had a general idea of the manual's quality. Most manuals here likely don't compare to Tiger Subduing Fist.
Thus, Su Mu abandoned choosing a fist technique, opting for a Body Technique and Lightweight Skill.
The scene with Scarred Man resurfaced in Su Mu's mind, and under the mask, his eyes narrowed. With a Body Technique, he could flee should he encounter a formidable enemy and avoid a death struggle.
"One hundred taels per manual; no discounts."
The stall owner responded after reclaiming the manual.
"One hundred taels of silver..."
Su Mu was taken aback; he knew manuals were costly but hadn't expected such a steep price. His handful of silver was like a drop in the ocean, and Su Mu frowned slightly.
Seeing Su Mu delay, the stall owner seemed displeased. This guy wasted time without purchasing after browsing for a stick of incense time.
Then Su Mu whispered quietly, "I have a manual. Can we trade?"
Su Mu had learned Tiger Subduing Fist thoroughly. For security, he recently copied it at home. With a modern mindset, Su Mu wouldn't selfishly guard it; martial arts manuals could be duplicated for trading.
As long as he retained a manual, he wouldn't be at a loss.
Upon hearing Su Mu's words, the stall owner pondered for a moment, realizing the person before him likely was a Grade-Entering martial artist; otherwise, Su Mu couldn't easily withstand his power. Such individuals likely had local influence, worth a try?
"Okay, but I need to verify your manual's authenticity."
"Naturally."
Su Mu responded promptly, taking out the Tiger Subduing Fist manual and handing it over.
Seeing the Tiger Subduing Fist title, the White Crane mask stall owner trembled slightly, swiftly lowering the manual's height to conceal it.
Su Mu's heightened senses easily detected the subtle movement, raising suspicion about Tiger Subduing Fist's significance.
The stall owner skimmed through a few pages quickly then shut the manual, "Your manual is indeed genuine. You can select any manual from my stall, but agree not to sell it again in this market."
Without a word, Su Mu subtly pressed on the Tiger Subduing Fist manual.
"I can agree to your condition, but one manual isn't enough. You're providing merely a copy and still able to sell mine later. This deal is too unfavorable for me."
"What do you propose?"
"Three manuals. I want three manuals."
The stall owner shook his head, "Impossible, two at most."
Two manuals met Su Mu's expectations; three was mere bargaining.
Deliberately hesitating, Su Mu agreed, "Alright, two manuals then. But I have a small question I hope you can answer."