Chapter 130 Ghost Market (ETL) Part 2
===
Chapter 130 A Fart That Ruined the Entire Team
Around 10 PM that night, Xie Cheng gathered 8 people and, together with Gu Ye, formed a 10-person team to go to the Ghost Market.
Ghost markets are similar to markets in the human world; they’re places to sell things. There’s usually one in each city. Larger cities tend to have larger ghost markets with a wider variety of goods. Smaller cities have smaller ghost markets. The people trading there are both humans and ghosts—basically all sorts of demons, monsters, and other strange creatures. It’s like an underground market connecting to the surface world, where many mystic art masters trade materials.
Among this group of young people, the younger ones hadn’t gone to the market yet. After all, only Gu Ye’s master had wanted to train Gu Ye to be as powerful as Thanos1 since Gu Ye was a child, fearing that Gu Ye would be bullied after he died. No normal person would bear to take their young apprentice to the Ghost Market.
Entering the ghost market, everyone dons masks and uses their own methods to conceal their human presence. Are you a ghost? Which one is the ghost? No one can tell. You could easily be ambushed inside. There were masters of mystic arts who were curious about the ghost market, but they had made thorough preparations, each carrying life-saving tools.
The ghost market in the capital is located in a place called Old Locust Tree Street. Old locust trees are believed to attract ghosts, and anything related to the character ‘槐’ (huai, meaning locust) is considered eerie. Removing the ‘木’ radical from the character will change the word into 鬼/ghost which means ‘Old Ghost Street’.
A group of people stood at the street corner, finding everything fascinating. Upon seeing an old locust tree standing on each side of the entrance to the old alley, someone exclaimed, “That locust tree must be hundreds of years old! It’s so thick, I can’t even wrap my arms around it!”
Xie Cheng reminded the young man, “Don’t be silly, or we’ll lose you! I’d better tie you to a rope.”
“Yes, tie the child to a rope.”
This young man is Fan Xiao, the one who always gets lost. Because he’s good-looking, he almost got captured by the jiangshi princess last time, and all his fathers (aka bros) are worried sick about him.
Gu Ye looked at the person tied with a rope and asked curiously, “Where did you guys buy this rope? My brother needs one too.”
“19.9 yuan with free shipping on Taobao.”
“Group buying is even cheaper.”
Gu Ye noted it down and would buy one for his brother when he got home.
“Stop fooling around, all of you, be serious. Did you bring your masks?” There was a slightly older master among them. He was in his early thirties, named Du Yue. He could tell from the expressions of these silly younger brothers without them answering the question, “You didn’t bring them, huh? I’m always worrying about you guys. I brought 10, you can share them.”
Gu Ye pulled a mask out of his backpack. “I brought mine.”
“That’s good. Conceal your human aura.” Du Yue was clearly experienced; he’d been here before.
After Gu Ye put on a grinning ghost mask, he turned around and startled everyone.
“Holy crap, that looks so evil! Where did you buy that?”
Gu Ye chuckled, looking at their ordinary, expressionless masks, and thought they were all incredibly low-class. “I inherited my senior brother’s legacy, isn’t it cool?”
“You mean THAT Gu Ye?”
Next, Gu Ye couldn’t dodge in time, and several people pounced on him. They pressed him down and touched the mask several times. “I feel like I’m one step closer to my idol.”
Gu Ye was both amused and exasperated. “Why do you idolize him?”
“He dared to duel with people when he was 7 or 8 years old and started doing missions at 10. When the entire world of mystic arts was powerless, he turned the tide and saved the people of a city. Doesn’t he deserve to be an idol?”
Hearing that, Gu Ye turned still and then said helplessly, “Don’t be like him. Just live your lives well.”
After saying that, Gu Ye walked straight to the old locust tree. He touched it and prepared to open the gate to the underworld. After finding the mechanism, he turned to them and asked, “Do you want to add some non-human aura to yourselves? Like ghostly aura, malevolent aura, resentful aura, or something. I heard the humans inside are the most vulnerable; humans are the most fragile.”
The group thought it made sense, and each added some non-human aura to themselves using their own methods. After that, they dressed Fan Xiao, who was being led around, as a ghost servant.
Gu Ye smiled and said, “Then I’ll dress myself up too. Everyone, stay away from me.”
The group subconsciously took two steps back. Then, Gu Ye patted his bag and laughed, “Big Brother Ghost General, attach your malevolent and ghostly aura to me. Ling Ling, Daddy wants your resentful aura.”
As soon as Gu Ye finished speaking, a chilling aura of ghostly energy and malevolent intent instantly enveloped his entire body. The killing intent was so intense that the top of his head turned blackish-red, the malevolent energy billowed, the ghostly energy was eerie, and the chilling atmosphere was bone-deep. Then, surging resentment slowly merged into these auras. When everything is done, Gu Ye’s grinning, ghostly face suddenly turned, startling everyone.
Xie Cheng couldn’t help but want to punch Gu Ye. “Gu Ye, you’ve gone too far! You’re like a ghost king manifesting! Do you want to scare everyone in the ghost market to death? Can’t we be a little more discreet?”
Gu Ye declared defiantly, “No, I’m the kind of person who commutes by plane. I’m going this way.”
Gu Ye flicked his coat sleeve, slapped open the Ghost Gate, and swaggered ahead. The others had no choice but to follow him in. Today, they finally understood where Gu Ye’s reputation for being willful came from. When this rascal got carried away, no one could stop him.
Upon entering the Ghost Gate, a completely different scene unfolded. The street transformed into a vast plaza, surrounded by countless shops. On the plaza, countless masked, indistinguishable humanoid figures set up stalls, selling everything imaginable. There were vendors selling clothes, livestock, vehicles, and even ghost servants. The people inside varied in height and build, some even bearing severed limbs. Their auras were a chaotic mix of all sorts, creating a rather frightening atmosphere.
The crowd trembled with fear upon seeing Gu Ye at the head of the procession. Several of the smaller ghosts even knelt before him. Gu Ye strode forward, head held high. The crowd watched as a colossal, menacing ghost led a group of weaker ghosts through the city, one of them even being led as a ghost servant. Was this ghost born in a feudal, superstitious era?
The people in the ghost market looked at Gu Ye with even greater terror. This wasn’t just a big ghost, but a powerful and ancient one!
Gu Ye approached a stall selling human heads and asked, “What can you make from these heads?”
The old ghost, trembling with fear, quickly replied, “To answer your question, it can be made into works of art to display in your home. We have heads of men, women, and children; whatever you want, we can make it. It can also be used as an ashtray or a trash can, depending on your requirements.”
Gu Ye calculated the chances of getting beaten up if he bought one for his father. Third Young Master Gu silently gave up, tossing the old ghost a few hell notes. Gu Ye asked, “Can you tell me where I can buy human skin lanterns around here?”
The old ghost’s eyes lit up when he saw the money, but he didn’t dare reach for it. He quickly replied, “There are several places selling human skin lanterns. Which one are you looking for?”
“I’m looking for an old lady.”
“Go that way. She has a shop. There’s a red lantern hanging outside. You’ll see it when you get there.”
“Okay, I understand. Good luck with your business.”
“Thank you!” The old ghost quickly picked up the money and bowed several times to Gu Ye with deep gratitude. Gu Ye swaggered forward, with Xie Cheng and the others following behind like bodyguards.
The people in the group were puzzled. “Is this really Gu Ye’s first time here? He seems quite familiar with the place, like he’s just strolling through a market.”
“Shh!” Du Yue warned, “This square isn’t that dangerous yet. Those with shops are all old fogies. Don’t get distracted, stick close to Gu Ye.”
When the creatures on the street saw Gu Ye, they all kept their distance and avoided him, too scared to approach him because of his aura.
Following the directions given by the old ghost who sold human heads, Gu Ye arrived at the shop with the red lanterns. He saw an old woman dressed in black, with a white flower in her hair. Her face was deathly pale, and she was sitting expressionlessly at the entrance, holding a human skin in her lap, seemingly sewing something. Seeing Gu Ye stop, her eyes darted around, and she slowly stood up, politely asking, “What would you like to buy, esteemed guest?”
Gu Ye coldly replied, “I heard you make the best human skin lanterns here. Give me 20.”
Hearing that, Xie Cheng, who was behind Gu Ye, just wanted to punch him. What are you buying so many of these things for? Which father are you giving them to?
The old woman’s face immediately lit up with a smile. “Honorable guest, please come in and take a look. I have dozens of styles here. Which one would you like?”
Gu Ye entered, looked around the shop, and asked, “Is it really made of human skin?”
“Absolutely genuine. You can touch it; the elasticity is a hundred times better than in other shops. This is made from the skin of a young girl, as smooth as jade. Feel it.”
Gu Ye didn’t raise his hand, but smiled and asked, “Old lady, don’t you remember me?”
The old woman tentatively said, “Oh dear, forgive my poor eyesight, I didn’t recognize you. Have you been here before?”
Gu Ye said calmly, “I was here 30 years ago.”
“Oh dear, my memory is getting worse and worse. I really didn’t recognize you. I’m so sorry.”
Gu Ye sneered, “I bought 99 human skin lanterns from you back then, and you didn’t deliver them on time. Have you forgotten all that?”
“Oh…oh! I remember now, I’m so sorry!” The old lady looked like she’d just realized something and quickly apologized, “You look even more imposing now! This old woman really didn’t see right through you. I’m so sorry. Today, I’ll give you a 20% discount on these 20 lanterns as an apology.”
Gu Ye narrowed his eyes, now certain he wasn’t mistaken. He said calmly, “Alright. I heard you told other ghosts about this practice of sewing human skin as a face, so the higher-ups are investigating you.”
The old lady really couldn’t figure out what Gu Ye did for a living. As for the events of 30 years ago that Gu Ye mentioned, she knew nothing about them. Completely bewildered by Gu Ye’s claims, she quickly said, “Don’t listen to those hearsay stories. How could an old woman like me have such courage?”
Gu Ye nodded, “I know you wouldn’t dare.” Gu Ye looked at her face and smiled slightly, “Close the door.”
Those who came with Gu Ye knew that he was just trying to get information out of her. Gu Ye’s older brother hadn’t even been born yet 30 years ago, so where did Gu Ye come from? Upon hearing the words ‘close the door’, they immediately slammed it shut. 2 people were leaning against the door on either side, sealing it tightly. Gu Ye grabbed the old woman by the neck, his bloodthirsty aura overwhelming her, leaving her utterly defenseless. Gu Ye looked at her face, finally seeing the trick, and tore the human skin off her face.
Everyone stared in astonishment, only to see that the old woman had transformed into a man in his fifties!
Gu Ye was holding a human skin in his hand; the face, too, was fake!
Gu Ye hung the human skin on his finger, twirling it around and arrogantly said, “Speak! Where’s the original owner? Where did you put her?”
Finally exposed of his lies, the male owner stammered, “She quit over 20 years ago for reincarnation, and sold the shop to me.”
Gu Ye asked again, “Where did you get these human skins?”
“I bought them.”
“Where did you buy them?” Gu Ye gripped the man’s neck, speaking slowly and deliberately, yet with a chilling murderous intent. “If you don’t talk, I’ll strangle you to death.”
Gu Ye’s murderous aura was truly terrifying. The shopkeeper said fearfully, “I bought it. Someone was selling it, so I bought it.”
“Bullshit! You were the one who accepted it, which you asked other people to skin human for you! Xiao Chengzi2, cut him open and hang him up!”
Xie Cheng: “…Yes!”
The boss was terrified. “Spare me! I won’t do it again, I really won’t! I was just trying to make some money!”
Xie Cheng pressed the other person down, asked irritably, “Do you know you’re encouraging ghosts to commit crimes? If everyone goes to have their skin removed, will there be any pretty girls left in the human world? What about those who don’t have girlfriends?”
“Yeah, nobody has a girlfriend! Who are you trying to screw over?! Kill him!”
“The point! The point is inducing crime!”
“Aren’t you ashamed to make this money? Kill him! Let his soul be scattered!”
The terrified shopkeeper immediately knelt down. “My lords, spare my life! I’ve been dead for 50 years! I finally managed to buy this shop through a connection, and I’m living off the former owner’s reputation. Please, have mercy on me! I promise to pay you a monthly allowance! Spare my life!”
Just as the shopkeeper was pleading for mercy, there was a ‘PU’ sound at the door.
Fan Xiao farted, smelling very much like a human.
The ghost owner stood there, stunned. After that, his face turned ashen, and his eyes turned red as he stood up: “You… are you guys human?!”
Fan Xiao: Dads, I’m sorry, orz
Raw word count: 7262 (whole chapter)
#HereComesThePigTeamMember
#EditedMTL
#IAmABananaTranslation
#AppreciateKofi
#AppreciateComments
#NoRepostInWattpad
#PleaseTurnOffAdblock
#ManyThanksForReading
[Banana: I’m back, thanks for the CNY wishes~]