Transmigrating as the Heart Demon of the Ruthless Sword Venerable – Chapter 37
by Little PandaXunyang Ghost Market (Part 4)
We’re Screwed
Zhan Lun’s voice reached her ears, and Tang Wenchun snapped back to attention, instinctively trying to recoil. Yu Zhaoming caught her by the waist and pulled her toward herself.
Caught off guard, Tang Wenchun fell entirely into Yu Zhaoming’s embrace. Her nose was immediately surrounded by Yu Zhaoming’s faint, crisp scent—carrying the characteristic chill of an Ice Spirit Root, like standing in a winter forest, a blend of wood and ice and snow.
It felt as though her entire being was enveloped by Yu Zhaoming. Tang Wenchun’s face grew a little warm.
“What are you dodging?” Yu Zhaoming asked. Her gaze shifted, landing on Zhan Lun with a hint of reproach.
That gaze seemed to carry blades, pricking Zhan Lun’s skin. Knowing he was in the wrong, Zhan Lun thought to himself—wasn’t Yu Zhaoming supposed to be cultivating the Emotionless Dao? Why was she openly holding and cuddling someone? Could the intelligence be wrong? But Yu Zhaoming was the Eldest Senior Sister of the Sword Sect. Even in decline, the Sword Sect was still one of the Six Major Sects. How could intelligence on so important a figure be mistaken?
Merchants valued information above all, profiting from information asymmetry—and Zhan Lun, who had entered the Dao through commerce, was no exception. Thinking this way, his Dao Heart nearly shattered.
“What do you need us for?” Tang Wenchun gathered her composure and gave a slight squirm. Yu Zhaoming had no intention of keeping her in her embrace indefinitely and released her grip, letting Tang Wenchun slip free.
She looked down to straighten her clothes, then raised her eyes to glance at Yu Zhaoming.
Yu Zhaoming wore her usual expression—tense and unreadable, her thoughts impossible to discern.
Truly emotionless. She was a pretty girl, after all… She was already blushing, yet Yu Zhaoming seemed like a block of wood. Tang Wenchun thought this, then turned her attention to Zhan Lun.
Zhan Lun wiped the cold sweat from his face and put on the genial, wealth-bringing smile characteristic of businessmen. “That was tactless of me earlier. My apologies for disturbing you two.”
There seemed to be a hidden meaning in those words. Yu Zhaoming didn’t understand and turned to look at Tang Wenchun. Tang Wenchun had her arms crossed over her chest, her head turned slightly away, a faint flush rising on her cheeks. Clearly, her heart demon understood what Zhan Lun meant.
But why? She didn’t understand.
Yu Zhaoming’s brows gradually drew together. Her gaze remained on Tang Wenchun’s cheeks, and that faint flush steadily deepened.
“Ahem, ahem ahem ahem!!” Zhan Lun couldn’t help coughing violently beside them, inwardly exasperated—what was wrong with this world? Even when someone was cultivating the Emotionless Dao, they still had to hurt him like this?
Tang Wenchun turned at the sound and saw Zhan Lun’s miserable expression. She paused, then laughed. “Why do you look like that?”
“My dear girl, do you still not understand?” Zhan Lun didn’t hold the same reverent attitude toward Tang Wenchun as he did toward Yu Zhaoming, and spoke with far more familiarity.
Yu Zhaoming’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Tang Wenchun waved her hand. “Alright, you’ve got the wrong idea anyway. Out with it—what is it?”
Zhan Lun’s face showed complete disbelief, but he didn’t press further. Tang Wenchun had an easygoing nature, but they had only just met—best to stop at the right moment. Zhan Lun turned slightly. “Why don’t we discuss it in detail in my room?”
Tang Wenchun looked to Yu Zhaoming at this. Yu Zhaoming was about to shake her head when Zhan Lun timely added, “It’s about the mission.”
Yu Zhaoming knew she had no choice but to go. Without further words, she took the lead. Zhan Lun immediately fell silently in behind, quiet as a chicken.
Once they reached the room and everyone was seated, Zhan Lun finally spoke. “Would you two be interested in scouting the ghost market tonight?”
Yu Zhaoming: “Not interested.”
By nightfall, the lights of Xunyang City gradually dimmed. Only the buildings along the streets and the decorative gateways still hung lanterns and candles, but no pedestrians could be seen on the streets. Tang Wenchun pushed open the window and peered out curiously.
“Xunyang City enforces a curfew. Anyone on the streets will be caught by the patrol guards,” Zhan Lun said. He handed over a cloak. Catching Tang Wenchun’s curious look, he let out a laugh and was about to elaborate when a cold voice came from beside them.
“Most human cities under sect protection enforce curfews. It’s also to prevent cultivators from fighting in the middle of the night and harming the innocent.”
It was Yu Zhaoming.
Zhan Lun pulled a long face, closed his mouth, and turned to hand another cloak to Yu Zhaoming. “This cloak can shield one’s perception, making it easier for us to infiltrate the ghost market.”
“Once we’re at the ghost market…” Yu Zhaoming narrowed her eyes.
Zhan Lun smiled. “Please don’t forget, the two of you signed a Heavenly Dao Contract—you need to protect me.”
Yu Zhaoming took the cloak. “Rest assured, we won’t forget. We’ll protect you.”
Her expression was utterly impenetrable. Zhan Lun’s smile was strained as he hastily donned his cloak, vaulted out the window first, with Tang Wenchun and Yu Zhaoming close behind.
As they traveled along the eaves, Yu Zhaoming explained the origins of the Xunyang Ghost Market to Tang Wenchun. Curfew was also a measure cultivators used to protect ordinary folk. Mortals were subject to birth, aging, illness, and death—they needed to eat, drink, and sleep. If trouble truly arose, mortals caught in deep sleep often couldn’t escape in time. But cultivators ultimately had no need for sleep like mortals did; a single retreat could last years or even decades.
For cultivators, time was both endlessly long and fleeting. The distinction between day and night was hardly meaningful.
And so ghost markets emerged. These were night markets open only to cultivators. All walks of life were represented, methods were myriad, and there was no need to worry about mortals.
Tang Wenchun now understood. Precisely because the crowd was so mixed, with cultivation levels ranging from high to low, the city’s Law Enforcement Team typically turned a blind eye. As long as mortals weren’t involved, cultivators could do as they pleased.
And because of this, Daoist texts that leaked out from the ghost market were extremely difficult to trace.
Tang Wenchun knitted her brows. “Then what should we do?”
“Let’s go have a look around first, treat it as broadening our horizons,” Zhan Lun said dismissively. “Fellow Daoist Tang, put your mind at ease. Medicine Valley’s people are unreachable, and the Sound Sect disciples have arrived, but they’re traditionally fastidious—they likely wouldn’t dive straight into the ghost market.”
Yu Zhaoming said nothing, clearly in agreement. Seeing this, Tang Wenchun felt reassured.
The Xunyang Ghost Market was located in the northwest of the city, also known as the White Tiger Position1—originally a position of great ill fortune, fitting for a ghost market. The area was sparsely populated, desolate and isolated, with only a few scattered lights swaying unsteadily. It was deeply gloomy and desolate, unmistakably not of the living world.
Tang Wenchun rubbed her own arms. Zhan Lun took the lead, pulling out a compass2 and making some calculations. He finally stopped before the gate of a deserted mansion, gestured at the stone lions flanking the entrance, and turned around. “Found it! The entrance is right here.”
At that turn, he caught Yu Zhaoming frowning as she pressed a piece of warm jade3 into Tang Wenchun’s hand. Tang Wenchun held it in her palm and felt a gentle warmth suffuse her entire body. A surge of righteous qi rose from her dantian, dispelling the yin chill. She paused briefly, then looked up at Yu Zhaoming. “Yu Zhaoming, thank you.”
Her heart demon was a completely different person from herself. She feared so many things—the yin cold, ghosts and ghouls—of course she would be afraid. Shizun and the other shidi and shimei were right; she needed to look after Tang Wenchun with extra care.
Yu Zhaoming nodded to Tang Wenchun. “No need for thanks.”
The two turned back to see Zhan Lun standing in silent speechlessness. Yu Zhaoming didn’t think much of it, but Tang Wenchun’s face grew a bit warm. She coughed. “Um, well, let’s go in.”
Pushing open the gates was like stepping out of one’s front door into a bustling street. Cloak-wearing figures walked about, vendors hawked their wares, lanterns and decorations blazed with light, illuminating the entire street as bright as day.
Tang Wenchun couldn’t help looking back the way they came. On the other side of the gates, the street was cold and empty. Yin winds blew past, setting dim lanterns swaying left and right. Not a trace of human warmth remained—thick with ghostly atmosphere.
Front and back were clearly divided into two worlds.
Such a surreal scene—Tang Wenchun had only ever seen things like this in movies. She turned her head and saw that the people around her were completely unfazed, with only the occasional glance cast her way carrying the mockery reserved for country bumpkins.
“Don’t mind others’ gazes,” Yu Zhaoming said.
Tang Wenchun had just begun to feel grateful when she heard Zhan Lun’s grinning voice. “That’s exactly right. The more we look like country bumpkins, the easier it is to lower everyone else’s guard and fish in troubled waters. Fellow Daoist Tang, brilliant.”
No, she actually was a country bumpkin.
Tang Wenchun sweated in embarrassment and shrank closer to Yu Zhaoming’s side. Yu Zhaoming looked at Tang Wenchun beside her—the girl moved obediently, but those eyes darted left and right, endlessly curious, like a kitten arriving in a strange place, wary yet clinging to its owner.
Yu Zhaoming withdrew her gaze and met Zhan Lun’s inquiring look with perfect composure. “Please lead the way.”
“Sure enough, I’m just a tool4,” Zhan Lun muttered. He turned around, switching to his merchant persona with a beaming smile. “Let’s go. The Xunyang Ghost Market is the largest cultivator market nearby—it’d be a shame not to have a proper look around.”
The goods sold in the ghost market differed from the usual fare. Beyond common talismans and pills, there were plenty of plainly suspicious items, and many things even the sellers themselves couldn’t identify—those were left for the discerning eye to scavenge.
Tang Wenchun knew perfectly well that a place like this required keeping her head down. So while she looked around in all directions, she stayed exceptionally well-behaved at Yu Zhaoming’s side. Zhan Lun, on the other hand, was like a fish in water, acting as though he had wandered into his own backyard. He quickly struck up conversations with the people around him.
What’s selling today, what’s in demand, what goods do you have.
It looked like he was about to join their ranks any second.
Yu Zhaoming followed silently behind Zhan Lun, occasionally reaching out to fish Zhan Lun out of the crowd, and just as often turning back to grab Tang Wenchun—who was on the verge of being swept away by the throng—and deposit her at her side.
“Here, we must keep a low profile. If someone identifies us as suckers5, things could get difficult.”
Zhan Lun said this, completely shedding his earlier young master air and becoming extremely low-key.
“Then where do we look for leads?” Tang Wenchun half-understood, but she still had the mission on her mind. Yunzhongjun’s words had indeed left a mark on her heart.
This couldn’t help but make Tang Wenchun think: if they obtained the Barrier-Breaking Pill, perhaps… Yu Zhaoming could also successfully form her Nascent Soul.
As for whether Yu Zhaoming would achieve it by killing her…
Tang Wenchun still wasn’t willing to think too deeply about that question.
“You bastard, you actually sold me fake goods!!”
As they spoke, a burst of arguing erupted. The voice, though angry, was genuinely pleasant to hear—every syllable seemed to land on a beat, naturally carrying a melody.
But clearly, the people around had not the slightest appreciation for it. Instead, they began whispering among themselves.
“Sect disciples—ha, got scammed, didn’t they?”
“Hehe, this old man loves watching this kind of drama.”
“Why would sect disciples want to buy secret manuals?”
The voices gradually died down. Tang Wenchun immediately frowned. At that moment, Zhan Lun’s lips moved slightly, and those sunken, fragmented whispers became clear once more.
“They’re talking about that one, right?”
“How could they possibly sell to sect disciples like those…”
The crowd exchanged knowing, covert glances. Zhan Lun gave Tang Wenchun a look, and Tang Wenchun turned to Yu Zhaoming. Yu Zhaoming gave a subtle nod, her fingers beneath the cloak silently forming an incantation seal, and a concealed thread of spiritual energy settled onto the speaker.
The arguing grew louder, and the crowd began to stir. Yu Zhaoming frowned. “Stay by my side. Don’t wander off.”
Someone shouted, “A fight’s broken out! Sect disciples are fighting!”
The crowd surged even more. Zhan Lun was jostled by the throng, becoming dizzy and disoriented. He turned to call for his two newly hired bodyguards, only to find that Yu Zhaoming had one arm around Tang Wenchun, firmly shielding her shimei.
She stood like a boulder amidst the crowd, occasionally lending Zhan Lun a hand, yet keeping Tang Wenchun perfectly protected.
Zhan Lun nearly choked up—he had paid good spirit stones for this! He fought his way through and finally reached Yu Zhaoming’s side. By then, the brawl ahead had already reached them.
“Save me, quick!” Zhan Lun clutched his head.
Yu Zhaoming grabbed him by the collar and hauled him behind her. It was at that moment that someone slammed into Tang Wenchun. Caught off guard, Tang Wenchun was knocked forward, and in her dizziness, caught soft jade and warm fragrance6 full in her embrace.
Somehow, a woman had crashed into her arms. The woman bounced up at once, seized Tang Wenchun and started running.
Tang Wenchun: “Eh? Ah? Aaaaah!!! Shijie, save me!!”
Zhan Lun lifted his head slightly and met Yu Zhaoming’s eyes. Her lips were pressed tight, and her entire body radiated cold.
We’re screwed, Zhan Lun thought.
The author has something to say:
Before departure—
Xuanjiu: Zhaoming, your shimei is different from you. Think of her more, and stay a step ahead in everything.
Other shidi and shimei: Eldest Senior Sister, we’re entrusting the Sword Sect’s purse to you. Please take good care of Little Senior Sister—she’s the future of the Sword Sect!
Yu Zhaoming: My heart demon fears too many things. I have to prepare for everything!
Tang Wenchun: …That’s, that’s excessively considerate…
Zhan Lun: What did I do wrong!! Did I pay good money just to get force-fed dog food7?? (#`O′)
Footnotes
- 白虎位 | bai hu wei | The White Tiger position in Chinese feng shui cosmology, associated with the west and northwest; traditionally considered a dire, inauspicious direction linked to death and the supernatural.
- 罗盘 | luopan | A traditional Chinese feng shui compass used for divination and spatial alignment; here adapted by cultivators to locate hidden entrances.
- 暖玉 | nuan yu | A category of Chinese jade prized for its warm tactile quality; in cultivation fiction, spirit jade that radiates warmth and channels righteous qi to dispel yin cold.
- 工具人 | gongju ren | Chinese internet slang for a person used merely as a means to an end; a 'tool' or disposable utility character.
- 冤大头 | yuan da tou | Chinese colloquial idiom for an easy mark or sucker who foots inflated bills while others pocket the difference.
- 软玉温香 | ruan yu wen xiang | A classical Chinese literary idiom meaning 'soft jade and warm fragrance,' traditionally describing the tender embrace of a beautiful woman; here used ironically when Tang Wenchun catches a fleeing female stranger.
- 狗粮 | gou liang | Chinese internet slang for public displays of affection that make onlookers feel force-fed, as if being fed 'dog food.'
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