Master of Kaidan
Chapter 107: Observations in the Black Market

Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Observations in the Black Market

"Boss, the black market here is backed by ’Kaidan,’ and their symbol is that clock face pointing to six o’clock. If you see such a sign on the pub’s signboard, it means there’s a black market. You just have to say the corresponding code word to the server, and they’ll take you into the black market of this level. Of course, there are definitely other organizations that also run their own black markets, but you’ll have to find those yourself, or ask another guide."

Huo Mu said this as he gestured towards the lower left corner of the signboard, at the symbol that didn’t look particularly eye-catching at first glance, resembling an ordinary clock face. But a closer look revealed that the hands pointing to six and twelve were actually two swords, one short and one long.

"Is ’Kaidan’ the name of the organization or the behind-the-scenes master’s urban legend? I remember that in the Eastern Country, the time of day-to-night transition is referred to as ’Kaidan,’ and there are quite a few urban legends about how it’s easier to see ghosts and get spirited away at that time," Feng Xuexin thought to himself as he stepped into the pub.

Although the place had a colorful name, once inside the bar, Feng Xue didn’t see any scantily clad girls—well, in his eyes, everyone was a younger sister.

However, although their attire varied greatly, most were not revealing, and they seemed to be engaged more in normal chitchat rather than any physical contact.

Huo Mu walked by Feng Xue’s side, leading him straight to the counter. The bartender, upon seeing Huo Mu, had a flash of recognition in his eyes, but still calmly wiped the glass and asked:

"What will you have?"

"Give me a bottle of ’Erguotou,’ and also, I’m looking for Hu Po for some business, is he around?" Huo Mu took out a 2000 denomination paper money and placed it on the table, casually speaking what seemed like a very normal code.

But Feng Xue felt a sudden urge to whip out a packet of salt. It was totally normal here to ask for beer, rum, brandy, or whiskey, but Erguotou... that was completely off script.

Yet this was the code, and the bartender took the paper money, fetched a bottled Erguotou from behind the counter—not one of the flat bottle Red Star or Niulanshan brands that Feng Xue was familiar with, which was somewhat a relief for him.

Handing the Erguotou to Huo Mu, the bartender pointed to a door in the corner, giving directions as ordinarily as could be:

"Hu Po is in private room number five."

...

Leading Feng Xue towards private room number five, Huo Mu whispered:

"The code is to order a two thousand ’Erguotou’ and then ask where Hu Po is. However, the door to the black market is mobile and changes almost all the time, only the bartender knows the pattern. The two thousand ’Erguotou’ is essentially the entry ticket, so don’t just walk straight in next time because you know the location. Not only might you fail to find the correct path, but if you happen to bump into it, the bartender could remember you, and that could easily cause trouble."

"This is for the ticket," Feng Xue took out two thousand paper money and handed it to Huo Mu, who didn’t refuse. However, from the slight raise of her eyebrows, Feng Xue knew she must be in a good mood—

The premise hinged on the filter’s ability to perfectly transform even the tiniest microexpression.

Pushing open the door of private room number five, Feng Xue didn’t find the sprawling space she had pictured. Instead, she faced an absolutely ordinary room. The only difference was a sizable hole in the center of the floor, just large enough for two people to walk side by side. From the side, one could vaguely make out a stairway snaking downward, conjuring the impression of a secret passageway in an ancient castle.

This sight put Feng Xue on high alert. Although Huo Mu had acted normal up to this point, the tunnel seemed so unreliable that, in the brief moment she laid eyes on it, Feng Xue had already conceived dozens of ways she could be ambushed.

However, Huo Mu seemed oblivious to Feng Xue’s unease. He took a mask and hood from a small cabinet in the room and said, "Usually, private rooms come equipped with items to conceal identity. But honestly, they’re not very useful. Most people in the black market have identification tags, and even if they can’t remember your face, they’ll remember your tag. Of course, if you feel the need, you’re welcome to use them. I must warn you, though, such deceptive tactics in the black market are a sign of insecurity. They’re more likely to attract trouble. Conversely, some overconfident folks who intend to double-cross others might deliberately dress like a rookie."

Contemplating this, Feng Xue found some sense in his words and decided not to reach for the disguise. Instead, she lightly tugged at her cloak—now a shadowy veil ready for concealment—prepared to flee at any moment before following Huo Mu into the passage.

Contrary to her expectations, the "passageway" expanded into a spacious and bright corridor the further they descended.

After advancing roughly a hundred meters, about sixty meters vertically, Feng Xue finally caught sight of the black market’s true appearance.

It was a streetscape either built underground or intentionally designed to evoke a sense of forbidding gloom, with unyielding black stone walls on both sides. Windows, each with a sign, opened atop the walls, displaying merchants and their wares. A street, twenty meters wide, stretched between the stone walls, continuing onward.

There were far more patrons bustling through the street than Feng Xue had imagined, which led her to dismiss the earlier notion that the black market was merely beneath the bar. She speculated that perhaps the staircase was a mere facade, and without her knowledge, she’d been transported to the actual black market platform, somewhere unknown. This could only explain such a dense flow of people.

In addition to the windowed storefronts along the street, there were plenty of street vendors. They laid out a cloth and displayed their goods for passersby to inquire about or inspect, seemingly unworried about potential theft.

Huo Mu seemed to anticipate Feng Xue’s thoughts and promptly pointed to a uniformed, black-clad individual stationed every dozen meters or so. Each donned the same uniform, with a six-pointed dial crest on the chest—so still they appeared like statues. Had Huo Mu not mentioned them, Feng Xue might have mistaken them for mannequins.

"The black market here is protected by the enforcers of ’Kaidan,’" Huo Mu explained. "Their combat strength isn’t particularly formidable, but they have a mysterious boss behind them—a Kaidan whose power can precisely lock onto an enemy’s location. If you break the boss’s rules, no matter how far you run, you’ll be hunted down."

As Huo Mu offered his blend of explanation and caution, Feng Xue nodded, casually inquiring, "What are the qualifications needed to set up a shop or a stall here?"

"Only those who join Kaidan are entitled to run a shop in the black market. As for street vendors, anyone can set up for a day for a rent of twenty thousand Tower. But please note, street vendors are only allowed to sell items. Buying goods from customers including bartering isn’t permitted. That’s an important rule to remember."