parentshiftbook Chapter 23 Bogutang
Chapter 23 Bogutang
By the time they left Changfeng Escort Agency, it was already completely dark.
Five or six taels of copper coins are really inconvenient to carry.
Therefore, Lu Cheng exchanged the money with the chubby boy for six taels of silver.
Don't ask why it's six ounces.
Because the friendship between Fatty and Mr. Lu is priceless.
Lu Cheng only took four coins as travel expenses.
However, even so...
Lu Cheng touched the silver in his pocket and couldn't help but curse under his breath.
I'm really not cut out to rob the rich and give to the poor.
When dealing with the ulcers, I almost forgot to touch the corpse.
When it came to the young leader of the Fish Gang and the Knife-Slippery, they actually forgot to touch it!
Otherwise, they wouldn't have ended up with so little.
Sighing with regret, Lu Cheng hurried towards the south of the city.
There is no curfew in Yangcheng.
Therefore, even at night, the north of the city is extremely lively.
But the south side of the city has completely changed.
After crossing the three bridges and walking a few steps, all the hustle and bustle suddenly disappears.
The three rivers and three bridges acted like an invisible barrier, dividing half of Yangcheng into two different worlds.
Lu Cheng walked through five or six streets and alleys without seeing a single pedestrian.
Even beggars would hide back in their shacks when it got dark.
Lu Cheng is now in the early stage of Qi Refining, and his movements are incredibly fast.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they arrived at the Medicine King Temple that Hu Ming had mentioned.
Under the cover of night, even the temples were tightly shut.
After passing the Medicine King Temple, you will find a narrow alley after walking a few steps.
The alley was so narrow that it was cramped for two people to walk side by side.
The alley was dark, with tall blue brick walls on both sides and no windows.
Looking at the alley, Lu Cheng suddenly had some thoughts:
"This is truly a perfect place to hold off an entire enemy force."
People who come to the black market either carry money or goods.
If you set up a checkpoint here, it's hard not to make a fortune.
However, Lu Cheng was just thinking about it casually.
A place like the Black Market is definitely not a spontaneous organization.
The forces behind them are probably no less powerful than those of Tianquan Temple and Cuiyun Temple.
Anyone who dares to use such tricks in front of them probably won't get out of this alley.
Covering his face with a pre-prepared mask, Lu Cheng slowed his pace and proceeded cautiously with heightened concentration.
If Lu Cheng has this idea, then others will too.
What if I happen to run into someone who just wants to pull off a quick buck and run away?
Wouldn't that be a bloody disaster?
Therefore, we must be extremely cautious.
Fortunately, the alley is not long.
After more than thirty steps.
Suddenly, everything became clear.
Across the street, which was about ten feet wide, stood a low stage.
Most of the red paint on the pillars had peeled off, revealing the blackened wood underneath.
One corner of the stage base has collapsed, causing the entire stage to tilt.
The remaining countertop was also pitted and uneven, and the painted designs on it were no longer visible.
Only the curtains and canopies separating the front and back of the house were completely intact.
Compared to the entire stage, some parts even look brand new.
On either side of the stage were dilapidated corridors and viewing pavilions that extended all the way to the courtyard walls at both ends.
Lu Cheng looked around but couldn't find a way to get around it.
However, the two doors marked "General's Departure" and "Prime Minister's Arrival" on the curtain and canopy were completely dark.
Lu Cheng glanced at the collapsed corner, then pushed off with his foot and landed in front of the "General's Gate" a little further away.
……
The situation behind the scenes was somewhat unexpected.
Within the small space, an octagonal pavilion stands.
A person wearing a Shura mask sat upright at a stone table in the pavilion.
A basket was placed on the stone table.
Apart from that, there was no other person or thing.
The Asura Mask seemed not to notice Lu Cheng's arrival.
He kept his face down, staring at the stone table in front of him.
It was as if he were the only person there.
Helpless, Lu Cheng could only ask in a gruff voice:
"Is this guy also going to the black market?"
Upon hearing the voice, the Asura Mask looked up at Lu Cheng but remained silent.
He simply pointed to the basket on the stone table.
Lu Cheng walked closer and saw that there were several black veils and hats stacked inside.
It seems that this Asura mask is the "guide" of this place.
The veil is what Hu Ming referred to as the "head covering".
Does this thing even have any blocking function?
But when Lu Cheng put it on, he realized that he had been ignorant.
The veil is surrounded by a black gauze, so theoretically one should be able to see the ground through the gaps underneath.
But as soon as Lu Cheng put this thing on, his vision immediately went dark.
This thing is a bit scary.
Lu Cheng forced himself not to take it off immediately.
But his legs quietly parted slightly, and he gathered all his strength.
"Oh."
Suddenly, a disdainful hissing sound reached my ears.
Immediately afterwards, accompanied by a series of mechanical sounds, a scraping sound of stone slabs came out.
At the same time, a gust of air swept past my calf.
"Kid, if you want to go to the Black Market, don't do anything. Dissipate your energy and come down with me obediently."
"Nod if you understand."
A rough, booming voice came from outside the veil.
Lu Cheng then released his strength, but his right hand, hanging by his side, spread out into a figure-eight palm.
After Lu Cheng nodded, the Asura Mask pulled Lu Cheng down.
After descending more than ten steps, the sound of stone slabs rubbing against each other came from above again.
Once the sound subsided, the ground beneath their feet was level.
Lu Cheng was then pulled forward until, after more than ten turns, he finally stepped onto the upward steps again.
This time, there were no more clicking or grinding noises.
"Once you get into the carriage, you can take off your veil, but it doesn't make much difference whether you take it off or not."
Before Lu Cheng could react to what was meant, he was pushed into the carriage.
Then, a surge of inertia came over him, and Lu Cheng realized that the car had actually started moving.
So fast?
But why can't I hear any sound?
Lu Cheng took off his veil, but it was still pitch black in front of him.
Not only can't I see, I can't hear either.
This carriage is infinitely more mysterious than the veiled hat!
In such an environment, the passage of time becomes blurred.
After an unknown amount of time, another reverse inertia finally arrived.
"Get off the bus."
arrive?
Before Lu Cheng could react, a small door suddenly opened in front of him.
Dim light shone into the carriage.
Using the light, Lu Cheng quickly scanned the carriage.
But they found it to be no different from an ordinary carriage.
Stepping down from the carriage, Lu Cheng was taken aback.
What we were seeing was a huge, naturally formed cave.
Inside the cave, a dozen or so stone houses are arranged in a staggered and orderly manner.
There was a brazier for lighting every twenty steps.
Sparse figures were scattered among them.
The area outside the stone house was pitch black.
By the dim light of the fire, one could only vaguely see that there were passages of varying widths in all directions.
The clatter of hooves came from behind.
Lu Cheng turned his head and saw that the carriage that had brought him had turned around and was heading back the way it came.
In an instant, darkness descended, and soon, even the sounds ceased to be heard.
Lu Cheng took a deep breath and walked towards the light.
After walking a few steps, I saw a sign standing in front of the first brazier.
The sign had three lines of text:
1. Fighting is prohibited wherever there is light.
2. All buying and selling here is free.
Third, the market closes after three gong strikes. After the market closes, all areas except the stone houses are dark.
The signature is Bogutang.
Lu Cheng read the three lines of text word by word.
After careful consideration, I came to three conclusions.
First, during the period when the market is open, it is absolutely safe here, whether you are buying or selling, or staying here for refuge.
Of course, it's relative.
If a martial artist at the Qi Refining Realm were to appear, the so-called absolute safety would be in doubt.
Secondly, the person or organization in charge of the Black Workshop is called Bogutang.
Moreover, they are very powerful; otherwise, they wouldn't have bothered to write down the consequences for the first two requirements on the sign.
Third, after the Black Market closes, those who have ideas can start to take action.
However, the stone house is still protected by the Bogutang.
The first two points were more effective for Lu Cheng, while the third point was not very useful.
Anyway, Lu Cheng bought the blood-activating powder and left.
It won't delay the market closing time at all.
He walked around the sign and headed towards the stone houses.
Dozens of flames flickered erratically.
The shadow cast by Lu Cheng's feet was stretched out, sometimes short, sometimes long.