33: Chapter 33 Black Market

He had the ability of the Blade God, but he lacked the experience of the Blade God.

Commander Leí Héng's ability had been devoured by him, but Commander Leí Héng's memories and experience had not been devoured along with it.

However, with the [Blade God] ability, any blade technique could be learned instantly.

After paying the points, Wang Lin rolled up the few blade manuals and stuffed them into his embrace.

Boss Zhou looked at him, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Wang Lin looked up: "Anything else?"

Boss Zhou hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "Little brother, let me ask a presumptuous question: are you that person... who killed Commander Leí Héng?"

Wang Lin looked at him without speaking, his face darkening...

Boss Zhou quickly waved his hands: "I don't mean anything else by it!"

"It's just that... yesterday, word was spreading all over the Mist Camp,"

"saying that the leader of the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group had been killed, and that the one who killed him was a young man holding a blade..."

"When I saw you buying a blade, I guessed..."

Wang Lin was silent for a second, then he nodded.

"It was me."

Boss Zhou was stunned. After a few seconds, he suddenly lowered his voice and said:

"Little brother, be careful."

"Commander Leí Héng was a member of Dark Blade, so Dark Blade will definitely take action."

"I heard... they are already investigating you."

Wang Lin nodded: "Thanks... I understand."

"Then take care of yourself. Those people from Dark Blade are not to be trifled with."

Wang Lin sheathed his blade and turned to leave.

After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and asked:

"Boss Zhou, do you know where there are better blade manuals?"

Boss Zhou was stunned: "Better ones?"

"Yes, more expensive ones, ones that are actually useful."

Boss Zhou thought for a moment and lowered his voice: "There are, but they aren't things I can get."

"You need to go to the black market."

"There is an underground black market in the Mist Camp, and they have everything there."

"Blade manuals, potions, intelligence—as long as you have the points, you can buy anything."

He leaned in closer: "The entrance is in the East District of the Mist Camp, at a tavern called 'Dark Alley'."

"Go at night and look for a person named Old Ghost. Just say that Zhou Laoliu recommended you."

Wang Lin nodded, committing it to memory: "Thanks."

Boss Zhou watched his back gradually disappear and shook his head: "This kid... he has real guts."

Night fell, and the fog in the Mist Camp grew thicker than it had been during the day.

Wang Lin walked on the streets of the East District.

Occasionally, a few pedestrians would see him and subconsciously walk around him.

After Commander Leí Héng died, he had already gained some fame in the Mist Camp.

After walking for twenty minutes, he stopped.

Ahead appeared a dilapidated two-story building, with a wooden sign hanging at the entrance that read two characters: Dark Alley.

Wang Lin pushed the door open and walked in.

The tavern was not large, and seven or eight people were scattered about, some drinking and some talking in low voices.

Behind the counter stood a thin, withered old man, who was wiping a glass.

Wang Lin walked to the counter and said: "Looking for Old Ghost."

The old man raised his head and glanced at him.

He looked him up and down, his gaze finally landing on the blade at his waist.

"Who recommended you?"

"Zhou Laoliu."

The old man nodded, put down the glass, and gestured with his chin toward the back: "Go inside, go out the back door, and someone will meet you."

Wang Lin turned and walked inside.

Passing through a narrow corridor, he pushed open the back door to find an even narrower alley outside.

A figure was leaning against the wall, and upon seeing him come out, the figure straightened up.

It was a young man, in his early twenties, tall and thin, with shrewd eyes.

"Follow me."

Wang Lin followed him.

The two twisted and turned through the alleys for about ten minutes before finally stopping in front of an iron door.

The young man knocked three times, paused for two seconds, and then knocked twice more.

The iron door creaked open a crack.

The young man immediately said: "Newcomer. Recommended by Zhou Laoliu."

A pair of eyes appeared in the crack, looking Wang Lin up and down, and then the door was pulled open.

"Come in."

Behind the door was a downward staircase, very deep, very deep.

He followed the stairs down, walking for the height of about three stories, when suddenly the view opened up before him.

A huge underground space appeared before him.

It was at least as big as two soccer fields, brightly lit, and bustling with noise.

Rows of stalls were neatly arranged, selling everything imaginable.

Weapons, armor, potions, beast crystals, intelligence, and even slaves for sale.

The flow of people coming and going was endless; some wore gorgeous clothes, some wore tattered cloaks, some wore masks, and some made no attempt to conceal themselves.

This was the true dark center of the Mist Camp.

The underground black market.

The young man who had led the way was already gone, and Wang Lin stood alone at the entrance, watching the scene before him.

Then he smiled.

"Interesting."

He stepped into the crowd and began to browse.

After walking a few steps, he stopped.

Before him was a mask stall, not small in scale, with three full rows of shelves hung with all kinds of masks.

There were human faces, animal ones, abstract ones, and ferocious ones.

On the top row, twelve masks were neatly arranged.

Starting from the Rat, there were ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, all the way to the pig.

The Twelve Zodiacs.

Wang Lin was stunned for a moment.

It seems the Twelve Zodiacs are quite popular here.

Just as he was thinking this, someone squeezed over from the side and went straight to the stall.

"Boss, give me a Twelve Zodiacs mask."

The stall owner asked with a smile: "Which style do you want?"

The person did not hesitate: "Dragon."

The stall owner took the dragon mask from the top row and handed it over.

The dragon head was majestic, with distinct scales, glowing with a dark golden light under the lights.

The person took the mask, paid the points, and turned to leave.

Wang Lin watched his back disappear into the crowd, lost in thought.

The stall owner's gaze fell on Wang Lin, looked him over, and then said with a smile:

"Little brother, first time here?"

"First time at the black market, it's best to buy a mask."

"There are all kinds of people here, and you never know who you might run into."

"Put this on, and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble."

Wang Lin nodded and walked to the shelves.

The Twelve Zodiacs... with the Rat as the leader, their leader should be Rat.

Then what about himself?

A cat, perhaps.

Wang Lin searched the shelves. No cat.

He searched again. Still none.

Finally, in a corner, he found a cat mask.

Only... this cat looked a bit cute.

Round face, big eyes, perky whiskers, and a hint of a smile at the corners of its mouth.

It wasn't that kind of fierce cat, but the kind that cuddles in its owner's arms to act spoiled.

Wang Lin looked at the mask and was silent for two seconds.

The stall owner leaned over, took a look, and laughed: "This cat mask doesn't sell well; it's too cute, no one wants to wear it."

"Little brother, why not choose another one?"

"The wolf or the tiger—both are quite imposing."

Wang Lin didn't speak.

He looked at the other masks on the shelf again...

The wolf one was too fierce, the tiger one was too common, and the ghost one was too sinister.

Only this cat looked pleasing to the eye.