The car drove through the night, leaving behind the familiar city lights and heading towards a desolate industrial area on the outskirts of a neighboring city.
The dilapidated factory buildings, like the skeleton of a giant beast, cast menacing shadows under the moonlight, and the air was filled with the smell of rust and waste.
Following the address provided by Mo Huaiyuan, Zhang Shaozhong parked his car on the outskirts of what appeared to be an abandoned textile factory.
It was eerily quiet here, with only the mournful sound of the wind whistling through the dilapidated window frames.
"Is this the place? Why isn't there a soul in sight?" Ye Meier looked around, somewhat impatient.
"Mr. Mo said the entrance is in the warehouse at the very back of the factory, and you need someone to introduce you to get in."
Zhang Shaozhong lowered his voice and, following instructions, led the two men, trudging deeper into the factory area.
The further you go in, the more eerie the atmosphere becomes.
However, Zhang Shaozhong's enhanced perception allowed him to vaguely sense several wary eyes sweeping over them from the shadows, scrutinizing and assessing them.
Finally, they arrived at the door of a huge, rusty warehouse.
There was no one in front of the door, only an old, seemingly broken access control phone.
Zhang Shaozhong took a deep breath, picked up the phone, dialed a number according to the code given by Mo Huaiyuan, and whispered into the receiver: "Old Mo, recommend some mountain products."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then a hoarse voice asked, "How many people?"
"Three."
"Wait."
With a soft "click," the heavy iron door of the warehouse slowly slid open, leaving only a gap wide enough for one person to pass through, letting in dim, flickering light.
Zhang Shao glanced at Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier, then stepped inside first.
As soon as I entered the warehouse, the iron gate behind me slammed shut with a dull thud.
The warehouse has a very large interior space, yet it feels quite empty.
Only a few low-wattage incandescent bulbs were lit in the central area, casting a dim, yellowish light that barely illuminated a section of the area.
Twenty or thirty people had already gathered here, scattered in various places, some standing and some sitting, maintaining a wary distance from each other.
These people were dressed in various ways: some wore Taoist robes and monks' robes, some wore suits and ties, some were covered in tattoos and looked fierce, and some, like Zhang Shaozhong and his group, were dressed in ordinary clothes.
Without exception, these people all carried an aura that was different from ordinary people—some were full of vigor, some were cold and eerie, and some were as steady as a rock.
Clearly, these are all "insiders".
The arrival of Zhang Shaozhong and his two companions immediately attracted a lot of attention.
Especially with Ling Qingxue's aloof and otherworldly beauty and Ye Meier's captivating charm, they were like pearls in the night, impossible not to attract attention in this place.
Many of their gazes were filled with amazement, greed, and even undisguised wickedness.
"Tsk, two top-notch beauties have arrived..."
"A new face, who brought them?"
"Be careful, this isn't a place where looks matter."
Whispers rose from the dimly lit corner.
Zhang Shaozhong's heart tightened, and he subconsciously stood in front of Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier, his chaotic energy quietly circulating within him as he warily scanned his surroundings.
Ye Meier, however, didn't care at all. Instead, she looked at those people with great interest, a dangerous smile curving her lips, as if she were choosing her prey.
Ling Qingxue remained calm, her gaze sweeping across the room indifferently, as if the malicious stares around her were merely a gentle breeze.
A middle-aged man with a sharp face, wearing a black Tang suit and holding an iron walnut in his hand, walked over. His sharp gaze swept over Zhang Shaozhong, and then lingered for a moment on Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier behind him. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Introduced by Lao Mo?"
His voice was deep and carried an undeniable air of authority.
"yes."
Zhang Shao nodded, trying his best to appear calm.
Do you understand the rules?
"I asked the man in the Tang suit."
"I know a little bit about this, please enlighten me."
Zhang Shaozhong said politely.
"Here, money and fists are the only hard currency. You can negotiate the price or barter for what you want. But once a deal is made, the money and goods are settled, and there's no going back. Fighting is prohibited. If you have a personal grudge, settle it outside. Violators... will bear the consequences themselves."
The man in the Tang suit spoke concisely, his tone carrying a subtle threat. His gaze swept over Zhang Shaozhong and his two companions again, as if assessing whether their "fists" were strong enough.
"clear."
Zhang Shao nodded.
The man in the Tang suit said nothing more, turned and left, disappearing into the dim light.
Zhang Shaozhong breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had passed the first hurdle.
He led the two bigwigs to a relatively quiet corner and began to observe the underground trade fair.
The transaction didn't seem to have officially started yet; people were talking in small groups of people.
Zhang Shaozhong pricked up his ears, and could vaguely hear some fragmented information:
"...The last batch of 'Yin Spirit Stones' was of very poor quality. I wonder if there will be any good ones this time..."
"I heard that 'Ghost Hand' got his hands on a fifty-year-old 'Red Sun Ginseng,' damn, it must be worth a fortune!"
"Things are getting tense lately, so it's best to avoid these kinds of gatherings..."
"What's there to be afraid of? The bold will get rich, while the timid will starve!"
Zhang Shaozhong's heart skipped a beat. Yin Spirit Stone? Crimson Sun Ginseng?
This sounds like a great product!
He silently wrote down these names.
Just then, he felt a cold, sticky gaze fall upon him.
He turned his head sharply and saw a person sitting in the shadows of another corner of the warehouse. The person was shrouded in a large black robe and could not see his face. He could only feel an extremely uncomfortable and eerie aura.
The man seemed to be sizing them up as well, especially glancing at Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier a few more times.
Zhang Shaozhong's heart skipped a beat, and the chaotic energy stirred slightly, signaling a warning! This guy is definitely not simple!
He's probably even more dangerous than that disciple of Basong before!
Ye Meier also noticed that gaze. Instead of dodging it, she met it head-on, licking her lips defiantly, a flash of purple light in her eyes.
The man in black robes seemed to pause for a moment, then let out a barely audible snort and looked away.
"It seems this place is truly a place where hidden talents reside..."
Zhang Shaozhong sighed softly, becoming even more alert.
He knew that this underground trade fair was not just about buying things.
Here, keen eyesight, skill, and luck are all indispensable!
These three "new faces," especially the one accompanied by two stunning beauties, are destined to become the focus of many people's attention.
The real test has only just begun!
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