Chapter 50: Chapter 50: What’s Forbidden Outside... Is All Here
"Just what?"
Jiang Che asked, puzzled.
"Never mind. Come with me."
With that, Shao Jianbo led Jiang Che to another wing of the house.
This appeared to be Shao Jianbo’s bedroom. Its design and layout were similar to the rest of the Shao Mansion, all in an elegant style.
However, the shelves were lined with all sorts of strange and curious trinkets.
Things like rainbow-colored ceramic dolls, thumb-sized swords, and miniature house models.
’Aren’t these just figurines... Looks like Senior Brother Shao is into this sort of thing.’
Jiang Che’s understanding of Shao Jianbo deepened a little more.
Shao Jianbo walked over to a shelf, took down a Silver Mask, and handed it over.
Jiang Che caught it and examined it closely.
He saw that the mask was imprinted with the character "Xuan" and, below it, the small number "72."
"Senior Brother Shao, what is this?" Jiang Che asked.
"This is a membership token for the Xuanji Tower. To put it simply, the Xuanji Tower is a place for secret transactions. Anything that’s hard to buy on the outside, or isn’t allowed to be sold... they have it all here!" Shao Jianbo said, raising his eyebrows with a mysterious look.
"Isn’t the Xuanji Tower a pawnshop?" Jiang Che asked, confused.
He vaguely remembered that the Xuanji Tower was a pawnshop in the Inner City. It was an imposing, three-story building.
However, since he had nothing to pawn, he had never gone inside, only looked at it from the outside.
"The pawnshop is just a disguise," Shao Jianbo said, shaking his head.
"It’s actually a secret trade meet, initiated by the Five Great Noble Families in collaboration with some Major Gangs. It’s invitation-only.
"But it only opens on the fifteenth of each month. The next one is in ten days.
"Once inside, you have to wear a mask the whole time. You can’t show your true face. Everyone goes by their number.
"But really, there’s nothing that special inside. After going a few times, I found it pretty boring."
Shao Jianbo explained.
"I see..."
Jiang Che nodded. It was normal for rich people to set up this kind of private place.
"Just take this and use it. They only recognize the mask, not the person. Just give it back to me when you’re done."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Shao!"
...
「The next day, in the Shao Mansion study.」
As Jiang Che was writing, his expression suddenly froze.
[Great Success in Calligraphy (1/400)]
’My Calligraphy leveled up!’
Jiang Che was both shocked and delighted.
What used to take ten days of writing to earn Experience Points, he could now get in a single day here!
’Let me try out my Calligraphy now that it’s at Great Success...’
Jiang Che took another new sheet of Xuan paper and began to write.
"Hm?"
Shao Jianbo was surprised to see Jiang Che’s writing suddenly change.
He looked closer and found that the script was even more powerful than before. It seemed to have risen by another level!
’Is this kid hiding his skill before, or did he improve again?’
Shao Jianbo was filled with shock and suspicion.
Although his previous writing was good, one could still see a hint of immaturity in it.
It could barely compare with the famous masters in the Capital City, but it was still a far cry from the top-tier grandmasters.
But now, this writing already showed faint signs of a master’s style!
Shao Jianbo said nothing. He wanted to observe for a few more days.
Over the next few days, he noticed that Jiang Che’s writing was getting better and better. It didn’t look like he had been holding back; rather, he seemed to be improving at a tremendous pace.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Junior Brother Jiang, you’re a true calligraphy prodigy! Your Martial Arts Training is just holding you back! Why don’t you quit training and just focus on writing! I’ll help you sell it! Your future accomplishments will surely be no less than Master Qin’s!"
Shao Jianbo marveled as he held and examined a new calligraphy piece by Jiang Che.
"Senior Brother, don’t tease me. It’s really just a hobby. I find that writing helps me calm my mind, so I’ve kept up the habit."
Although he wasn’t being entirely truthful with his senior brother, if the world were peaceful, he might really have become a calligrapher.
Not only was it easier, but it also paid more than Martial Arts Training.
But he knew this world wasn’t just ’not peaceful’.
It was beset by dangers. The world could descend into chaos at any moment.
Only by constantly pursuing a higher Martial Arts Realm could he survive and protect his family.
"Fifty taels is too little. It’s an insult to your work! How about this, I’ll raise it to one hundred taels for you!" Shao Jianbo said domineeringly, putting down the calligraphy.
...
「Ten days later.」
Jiang Che held the ten gold leaves in his hand, feeling like he was in a dream.
"One thousand taels... The rich guy’s money really is easy to make..."
He couldn’t help but sigh.
He remembered how he used to risk life and limb just to earn a few dozen taels.
If he hadn’t encountered a Stone Skin Realm Black Beast, he probably couldn’t even have afforded a house and would still be living in that small, dilapidated place in the southern part of the city.
Jiang Che wrapped the ten gold leaves in a cloth and tucked them into a hidden pocket inside his robes.
Then he wrapped up the Silver Mask, placed it in his personal bag, and went out.
Today was the day of the Xuanji Tower’s trade meet. Jiang Che was going to buy a Martial Arts Secret Manual.
Before long, Jiang Che arrived at the Xuanji Tower.
The building had three floors. Compared to an ordinary pawnshop, it was just slightly larger and more imposing. He had passed by it many times before, never imagining it held a secret.
Jiang Che walked in. The displays and furnishings in the first-floor hall were no different from a regular pawnshop.
Seeing a customer arrive, an attendant came forward and asked, "Sir, are you here to pawn or to redeem?"
"I’m here to redeem. Cabinet Three, ’Xuan’ section," Jiang Che said.
This was the password Shao Jianbo had given him. As long as he said this, someone would lead him to the third floor.
Sure enough, the attendant said, "Young Master, this way, please!"
Jiang Che nodded and followed him upstairs.
When they reached the third floor, he saw a small, dim hallway ahead.
"Sir, I won’t go any further. After I’ve gone back down, please put on your mask, and then walk straight ahead. You will reach the Xuanji Secret Market."
After speaking, the attendant went back downstairs.
Jiang Che took out the mask and put it on. Instantly, his entire face was covered, leaving only his eyes visible.
He walked straight down the hallway and soon emerged from it.
Ahead was a large, closed door, with a table beside it.
A middle-aged man in blue robes was sitting at the desk, writing in a ledger.
Seeing Jiang Che approach, the man stood up and said,
"Guest, please wait a moment."
Then, he leaned in to look at the number on Jiang Che’s mask, as well as the pattern on its edge.
"Seventy-two..."
The middle-aged man confirmed it was correct, then recorded the time and number in his ledger.
"Alright, once you go in, you’ll be in the Xuanji Secret Market. Be aware, there is no haggling inside. All prices are fixed.
"Also, whether you are buying or selling, the Xuanji Tower takes a ten percent cut."
"I understand." Jiang Che nodded.
Shao Jianbo had already told him about this.
He could understand that as well.
After all, the Xuanji Tower had invested manpower and resources to maintain the Xuanji Secret Market. They certainly weren’t doing it out of charity.
Jiang Che walked to the door and gave it a gentle push.
Instantly, Jiang Che felt as if he had been transported to a bustling marketplace.
This was an extremely spacious hall.
The hall was filled with all kinds of stalls selling everything imaginable.
With a casual glance, Jiang Che saw stalls selling forbidden Weapons, rare Exotic Beast Meat, and various Elixir Pills.
There were even more buyers. Nearly every stall had people stopping to look.
’I can’t believe there are so many people here!’
Jiang Che was a bit shocked. There were at least several hundred people here.
And regardless of whether they were selling or buying, everyone wore Silver Masks with different numbers.
Jiang Che noticed that the highest number on a mask even reached into the nine hundreds.
His own number, "seventy-two," was actually quite an early one.
However, the number didn’t mean anything; it just indicated when one had joined.
Therefore, it didn’t attract any attention.
Jiang Che followed the crowd, browsing the stalls one by one.
Besides Martial Arts Secret Manuals, he also wanted to see if there was anything else useful.
As he walked, he suddenly saw a small iron cage on a stall.
Inside the cage was a small black rabbit from which faint black smoke was rising.
’A Black Beast Cub!’ Jiang Che was shocked.
