The sun continued its westward descent. By the time Qin Jiuye reached Cricket Tail Alley, the hour of the Sheep had just passed.
Though the sunlight had not yet vanished, it could no longer reach many of the deeper corners.
After traversing a long, narrow, dark, and damp alleyway, they reached a low door frame set into a crumbling brick wall. An amber fish-skin lantern hung from the weathered frame; the oil-soaked fish bones and spines were visible through the translucent skin, and two pale, bulging fish eyes stared out with a chilling, sinister intensity. Standing beneath the lantern was a thin-faced woman with sparse eyebrows. On her sagging face, only her mouth—smeared with vivid crimson rouge—stood out. Her hands remained tucked inside her sleeves, withdrawing only when someone wished to pass through the frame to stamp a dark, greenish-black mark onto the back of their hand.
The ink was a special concoction made from crushed insect gall husks. In daylight, it looked like nothing more than an accidental smudge of soot, but in the darkness, it would emit a faint, ghostly green phosphorescence.
Qin Jiuye was clearly no stranger to this place. She navigated the process of finding the entrance, reciting the cipher, and handing over the calling card with practiced ease.
Indeed, to enter this dilapidated, precarious structure, one actually required a formal invitation.
Li Qiao stood to the side, watching in silence. Once Qin Jiuye finished her business, he stepped forward and extended his right hand.
He was a left-handed swordsman, so the calluses on his right thumb and forefinger were not prominent. Nevertheless, the woman paused for a moment, her eyelids lifting as she glanced toward his waist.
The blade at the youth’s waist was truly unremarkable. Its length and shape were standard, its scabbard was worn and aged, and it lacked even the slightest hint of ornamentation.
Weapons were not prohibited within the Treasure Mirage Pavilion. Many buyers entered carrying lethal tools for self-protection, and everyone relied on their own skills to secure their goods. Having the money to win an auction did not guarantee one would leave with their life; the Pavilion never interfered in who won, who lost, or who lived or died.
There was, however, one exception: they did not welcome the notorious villains and monsters of the martial world.
This was not a rule unique to the Treasure Mirage Pavilion. After all, the death of one or two people was of little consequence, but if everyone ended up dead, how could business continue?
Qin Jiuye was growing restless from the wait. Just as she was about to speak up, the woman finally produced the seal.
Li Qiao’s gaze swept over the thin, yellowed calluses on the woman’s knuckles. In the next heartbeat, the bronze seal pressed against the back of his hand and pulled away, leaving behind a strangely shaped mark.
This woman, despite her eerie and feminine appearance, was a master of hidden weapons. The alley entrance was narrow and cramped; even a high-level martial artist might find it difficult to maneuver here. Positioned as she was, her strikes would be nearly infallible.
"Please enter, honored guests. The Predators' Banquet is about to begin."
The night market was referred to as a "Banquet," and the buyers entering were called "Predators."
The term *Liao*, or Predator, referred to an ancient form of hunting, representing an unmasked desire for the kill. The rules here were primitive and savage. A buyer might be a hunter pursuing prey one moment, only to become someone else’s target the next.
Over the past few years, Qin Jiuye had witnessed countless masters and famous figures meet their downfall here. For her, the secret to survival as a "small fish" was to keep a low profile.
Stay low, strike quickly when necessary, take the win, and never get greedy. Most of the time, she was able to get what she wanted from the Treasure Mirage Pavilion.
The Pavilion lived up to its name. During the day, it seemed not to exist within the bustling city, only manifesting at night for those who knew how to find it.
The storefront of the Treasure Mirage Pavilion changed every year. Sometimes it hid behind the backstreets of legitimate shops; sometimes it appeared out of thin air at the end of an alley. The only constant was the old fish-skin lantern at the entrance. This was the ghost market within the ghost market, a place where dragons and snakes mingled, where the sublime and the dregs of society collided. When night fell, those who followed the dim glow of the fish-skin lantern would step into a bizarre world of rare treasures. All manner of strange medicinal catalysts and curiosities rarely seen on the open market were traded here. But once the sun rose, these rarities would vanish like a mirage, leaving no trace behind.
The Treasure Mirage Pavilion had never opened during the day.
This year was the first.
Despite the daytime opening, the interior of the pavilion remained as dark as midnight.
The light from the entrance gradually faded behind them. The creaking floorboards beneath their feet gave way to crude wooden beams interspersed with stone bricks. Dim oil lamps flickered along the sides of a spiraling downward wooden walkway. The acrid smoke from low-quality lamp oil stung the eyes, but the clamor of human voices rose steadily from the depths below.
Rounding the final corner, they were met with a wave of turbid air—a mixture of leather, sweat, incense, and the scent of herbs. Immediately following this was the sight of a sea of flickering candlelight and faces shifting between light and shadow.
Qin Jiuye took two oil lamps from a rickety shelf near the stairs. After lighting them, she handed one to Li Qiao.
"Watch your belongings. Stay close to me and don't get separated."
Li Qiao took the lamp and shifted the herb basket from his back to his chest. The next moment, as he looked up, he was suddenly stuffed with a strange-tasting pill.
"The air down here is bad. Stay too long and you'll get a headache. Don't say I don't look after you."
The pungent sting of mint mixed with the fragrance of dried tangerine peel dissolved on his tongue, creating an indescribable oddity. He disliked the taste and had to exert considerable effort to keep from spitting it out.
Qin Jiuye popped two mint pills into her own mouth, nodded with a refreshed air, and grabbed his hand to lead him into the crowd.
She felt a tug; the person behind her had stopped moving. She turned back, somewhat impatient.
"What is it?"
Li Qiao’s gaze fell upon their joined hands.
She was holding his left hand.
And his left hand was his sword hand.
Qin Jiuye was entirely oblivious to his true concern. She had her own reasoning.
"Aren't you martial arts folk supposed to be unconstrained by trivialities? Or are you practicing some kind of 'Boy's Art' that requires you to abstain from women?" She didn't actually care what style he practiced, and she didn't have time for explanations. "Anyway, don't overthink it. I only know you're still by my side if I'm holding your hand."
Li Qiao lowered his head. The emotions stirring in his light brown eyes settled back into stillness.
Forget it. What did she know? Why bother explaining?
Besides, if something truly happened and he wanted to break free, could she possibly hold him back?
Suppressing the killing intent in his chest, he looked up again, having regained his submissive appearance.
"Fine."
The woman, sensing no further resistance, pushed her luck.
"You should say: 'Understood, Shopkeeper Qin.'"
He looked at her, paused for a moment, and then repeated each word clearly.
"Understood, Shopkeeper Qin."
Finally satisfied, Qin Jiuye pulled her "assistant Xiao Li, who knew nothing of the world's dangers," toward the center of the Treasure Mirage Pavilion.
***
A structure rising two or more stories above ground could be called a tower, but the "tower" of the Treasure Mirage Pavilion was inverted, stretching deep into the heart of the earth.
Rumor had it that in ancient times, wealthy families had excavated massive cellars. When the cellars of various estates were connected, they formed secret passages, which over time evolved into an underground city.
Aside from the descending stairs from the entrance, the center of the pavilion had been excavated three levels further down. Each level dropped by about half a person's height, with seats for "distinguished guests" arranged along the circular perimeter.
Though called guest seats, they were actually quite crude. The old wooden beams supporting the underground structure were painted with cheap, gaudy red and green lacquer. Due to years of repairs and reinforcements, from a distance, it looked like a giant carnivorous flower growing from the center of the earth. When it was most crowded, the teeming heads of the people made it look as if the "filaments" of the flower had come to life.
In the very center of these "filaments" rose a stone platform about thirty feet square. In the middle of the platform was a ringed Ink Pool filled with extremely fine black ink powder. If someone got too close, their shoes or clothes would inevitably be stained with ink, and anyone carrying such a mark could not easily leave the Treasure Mirage Pavilion.
Within the Ink Pool on the stone platform was a three-foot-square stone island—the same one seen every year. The stone was ordinary, yet because it had been rubbed and handled for years as various treasures passed over it, it had developed a jade-like luster.
The goods to be sold today would appear one by one on that stone island.
The Predators' Banquet was about to begin. The three-tiered circular pit was surrounded by ring after ring of spectators and buyers. The tiny glimmers from the oil lamps in their hands only illuminated the chins of the lamp-bearers. Whispers echoed and gathered within the stone walls, creating a surreptitious scene reminiscent of a gathering in the underworld.
The trading rules of the Treasure Mirage Pavilion followed the procedures of the Qingyang Market's ghost market. Anyone who entered could participate; there were no barriers to entry and no appraisals for authenticity. If you got your hands on something and found it to be fake, you could only blame your own lack of discernment; you could not blame others.
Once each auction began, every buyer had only one chance to bid. If they decided to bid, they would blow out their oil lamp. The wick, which was infused with rhinoceros horn powder, would release a thin stream of greenish smoke as proof of the bid. The buyers would then carry their lamps onto the stone platform and form a circle around the item.
When bidding, buyers would use specific hand gestures hidden within their sleeves to indicate their price. After one round, the highest bidder won. There were no retractions and no counter-offers; it was truly a "one-strike deal." This strange rule served two purposes: first, to shorten the auction process, and second, to prevent people from colluding to drive up prices.
After all, this was not a formal auction house. No one verified the identities of the buyers; everyone entered using only a title or alias. As long as one had spent two or three years in the Qingyang Market, they could gain the qualification to trade.
Because of this, buyers who were determined to win would bring several extra people with them just to have more chances to bid. As for those with enough confidence, bringing plenty of silver and guards was sufficient.
Silver and manpower—Qin Jiuye had neither.
She had only a small amount of savings and a clever, albeit slightly devious, heart.
She had been here several times over the years. Upon entering, she found a good vantage point with an unobstructed view. Her eyes darted between the center of the floor and the periphery, clearly calculating something.
The youth beside her remained silent throughout. However, had she looked back at that moment, she would have realized he wasn't just keeping his head down. He was using the reflections in the puddles of dirty water on the ground to observe the buyers moving around and the weapons hidden beneath their hems.
Every merchant knows that good things are worth the wait.
Consequently, the best items in the Pavilion were usually saved for the end. The first dozen or so items failed to pique everyone's interest; most "hunters" with deep pockets remained motionless in the shadows.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, an auctioneer wearing a blue fox mask and possessing a shrill voice stepped onto the stone platform carrying a heavy chest.
This time, many people lifted their heads.
Experts recognized that the black, unadorned chest was a "Black Coffin," used only for preserving special goods. Such a chest was airtight, watertight, and lightproof; regardless of external conditions, the internal temperature and humidity remained constant. Only a small window of inlaid glass on the top allowed one to observe the contents.
Sure enough, the auctioneer began to announce the item, his voice much louder than before.
"Northern Firefly Lingzhi, seven pieces total, weighing approximately one tael and nine mace!"
A stir went through the crowd, and many people looked ready to try their luck.
Qin Jiuye looked at the black chest with longing, but after staring for a while, she could only sigh.
"Firefly Lingzhi... now that is a fine thing."
The youth behind her still had his mind elsewhere; he hadn't glanced at the platform once. However, not wanting the woman to notice his distraction, he offered a casual response.
"What's so good about it?"
"It's good for making money." Qin Jiuye shot him a look, blaming him for not knowing the cost of living. "In the early years, you could still harvest quite a bit of Firefly Lingzhi along the lower reaches of the Huan River. Now that the river floods every year, they've become rare. They can only be found in the far north. Seven pieces could produce several Zhi Pills. You know about Zhi Pills, right? That's a recipe passed down from the ancestors, always in high demand among the martial sects. I could sell them for several taels of silver more than I paid."
The youth said nothing. Qin Jiuye assumed he was young and inexperienced, having never truly seen such a holy relic of healing, and was too embarrassed to admit it. She felt a strange surge of pity for him. If she could find a way to get a few pieces of Firefly Lingzhi, then...
The oil lamp in her hand grew hot, and Qin Jiuye snapped back to reality with a start. Her hard-earned, painstakingly saved silver was limited. If she bought the Firefly Lingzhi, she could forget about the Wild Fragrance Seeds.
The desire for profit screamed in her heart, but she forced it down, pretending to be indifferent.
"Even so, it's not incredibly rare. This isn't the main event tonight. We're just here for the show."
Indeed, it wasn't his main focus tonight either.
Li Qiao thought for a moment and relaxed his body slightly. Many buyers in the crowd were already rubbing their hands and blowing out their lamps. The still water was beginning to ripple, and he could use this opportunity to observe secretly and prepare for the coming action.
Before long, over a dozen buyers stood on the stone platform. Under the auctioneer's guidance, they leaned in one by one to inspect the black chest.
Unlike before, the ring of candles on the stone platform had been extinguished. In the gloom, all the buyers used their own specialized lighting—some used night-luminescent pearls, others glass pouches filled with fireflies. Using only this faint, cold light, they stood on their tiptoes to peer inside, all while taking care to keep their clothes away from the Ink Pool. A few bloated, older buyers were soon drenched in sweat and retreated, unable to maintain the posture.
As the saying goes, the layman watches the commotion while the expert watches the craft.
If one observed the expressions of the bystanders carefully, it was easy to tell who truly understood the value of the Firefly Lingzhi and who had merely heard of it without ever studying it.
Li Qiao was clearly the latter. But since he had no interest in the item, he only cast a wary glance toward the shadows as the light on the platform dimmed.
Qin Jiuye stood half a step away from him. Seeing where his gaze fell and not knowing his true thoughts, she pulled him closer and lowered her voice.
"Don't find it strange. Some goods are meant to be shown only at night. With the city under curfew, you won't find them outside; you can only see them here in this pavilion."
He glanced at her profile, so close to him, and discreetly stepped back a bit.
"Why must the goods be inspected in such darkness?"
Qin Jiuye didn't notice his movement and answered with a touch of pride.
"Firefly Lingzhi grows in absolute darkness, in caves dripping with stagnant water. Once harvested, it must not only be kept moist but also kept away from sunlight. Otherwise, it will quickly turn white and harden, and its medicinal properties will be greatly diminished. Yet, its nature is extremely yang and fierce; just a little can dispel cold evils. In the past, people who often traveled at night liked to carry a bit with them, believing it could invisibly guide their way so they wouldn't get lost."
The youth, who had already looked away, turned back to her face, his gaze and tone somewhat strange.
"To think such a strange and contradictory thing exists in this world."
The woman's face seemed even smaller under the pressure of the darkness, but her eyes appeared brighter, like two lonely stars shining with stubborn light.
"You find it strange too, don't you? But the creatures of this world, the myriad things of heaven and earth, are sometimes just that bizarre and wonderful. The brightest things often grow in the darkest places; the most barren and harsh lands often produce the medicines that save lives; and the most lethal poisons that wound without a trace often appear harmless. It's just that many people cannot see through this truth. They neither realize they are 'embracing a tiger or sleeping with a dragon,' nor do they realize that the life-saving straw they've sought for so long is actually right under their noses..."
The woman rambled on, merely speaking from the heart, but to the youth's ears, her words carried an indescribable, hidden meaning.
He observed her quietly for a moment, finally certain that she wasn't truly playing any "subtle melodies," before looking away.
After the Firefly Lingzhi made its appearance, the climax of today's show at the Treasure Mirage Pavilion began.
The items on the stone island became increasingly rare and sought-after, and the buyers below the platform were like bees drawn to honey. The crowd's emotions were clearly stirred; their bids became more aggressive with each round. Every time people crowded onto the platform to bid, it seemed as if the structure might collapse under the weight. It was a testament to the auctioneer's sharp eyes that he could quickly identify the highest bidder amidst the chaos, for a single mistake might lead to him being besieged and killed by a flurry of blades.
Finally, an attendant of the pavilion solemnly brought out a tray and handed it to the auctioneer. It was a lacquer tray no larger than two palms, covered with a flat black cloth. There were no visible bumps beneath the cloth, showing how small the item was.
The auctioneer walked toward the stone island with careful steps, seemingly afraid that walking too fast would create a breeze that might blow the item away.
Once the item was in place, he stepped back to the edge of the platform and instinctively wiped his hands on his hem.
Seeing this, Qin Jiuye immediately straightened up.
She was familiar with that small gesture. it was an instinctive reaction of psychological fear and loathing from someone who handled poisonous substances.
Sure enough, the auctioneer's voice rang out.
"Wild Fragrance Seeds, ten pieces total, weighing approximately seven mace!"
"Here it comes, here it comes!" Qin Jiuye could hardly hide her excitement, yet she knew she couldn't show it. After holding it in for a long time, she could only mutter to herself, "It seems Old Tang's information was at least fifty percent accurate. I just don't know the origin of these ten seeds. If they were poorly preserved and got damp, I'm afraid their potency will be affected..."
Li Qiao glanced at her, unable to understand her excitement. After a long while, he couldn't help but speak.
"Isn't it a bit early to worry about that? There are so many people here. How much silver do we have? Are we certain we can outbid the others?"
Qin Jiuye was lost in her own calculations and didn't notice his suddenly overstepping tone, nor did she care about the cold water he was throwing on her plans.
"Don't worry. We don't necessarily have to buy them openly here."
The youth looked at her in surprise, and then seemed to understand something.
As she had said before, while Wild Fragrance Seeds were precious, they weren't famous. Moreover, because they were poisonous and few people knew how to use them, they weren't the most sought-after item today.
Sure enough, after the auctioneer signaled the start, only seven or eight plumes of green smoke rose within the vast Treasure Mirage Pavilion—far less than the excitement during the Firefly Lingzhi auction.
Qin Jiuye remained still, her eyes narrowed as she carefully observed the eight people who stepped onto the stone platform.
After one round of bidding, a middle-aged man dressed in white fur with a veiled hat won the treasure and left, satisfied.
Qin Jiuye's gaze was glued to the man. As he moved into the crowd, she immediately sprang into action.
"It's time to move. Stay close."
She rubbed the sweat from her palms, rehearsed her speech in her mind, and hurried toward the white figure.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 宝蜃楼 | Treasure Mirage Pavilion | A hidden, underground night market that appears like a mirage. |
| 蛩尾巷子 | Cricket Tail Alley | The location of the entrance to the pavilion. |
| 鱼皮灯 | Fish-skin lantern | A creepy lantern used as a marker for the market entrance. |
| 虫瘿壳子 | Insect gall husks | Used to make a special ink that glows in the dark. |
| 獠宴 | Predators' Banquet | The name for the night market auction; "Liao" (Predator) refers to the buyers. |
| 獠 | Predator | A term for buyers, implying a hunting desire. |
| 子午库 | Meridian Depots | Slang for the north and south hubs of the Qingyang Market. |
| 墨池 | Ink Pool | A ring of ink powder on the auction platform to mark those who get too close. |
| 犀角粉 | Rhinoceros horn powder | Infused in wicks to create green smoke when extinguished. |
| 唱卖官 | Auctioneer | The person conducting the bidding. |
| 黑棺 | Black Coffin | A specialized, airtight storage chest for rare goods. |
| 萤火芝 | Firefly Lingzhi | A rare mushroom that grows in darkness and has yang properties. |
| 枳丹 | Zhi Pill | A medicinal pill made using Firefly Lingzhi. |
| 童子功 | Boy's Art | A type of martial arts cultivation often associated with celibacy. |
| 野馥子 | Wild Fragrance Seed | A rare poisonous seed that Qin Jiuye is seeking. |
| 幂篱 | Veiled hat | A hat with a hanging veil used to conceal the face. |
