26: Disaster pupils open, ghosts see fear

The night wind stirred up the acrid, burnt dust, scattering the last wisp of blood mist in the forest, but it could not disperse the chilling silence.

The star map of the Cosmic Astrolabe revolved on the tattered stall for a few breaths, its brilliance so dazzling it seemed to condense the entire night sky into this one spot.

However, this astonishing sight did not last long. As the golden torrent originating from the “Dao Market’s feedback” within Zhang Xuanyi gradually subsided, the star map’s light also dimmed, finally transforming into a faint glow and receding into the ancient patterns on the back of the compass.

The weathered, tattered cloth returned to its unremarkable appearance, as if the all-encompassing universe and its galaxies from moments ago had merely been an illusion.

“Pfft—”

Zhang Xuanyi could no longer hold on; a mouthful of blood mixed with golden light fragments gushed out, and his body swayed three times, almost collapsing.

The price of the system’s functions being frozen was far heavier than he had imagined.

It was a weakness born of being instantly drained of all confidence, like a wealthy magnate, rich enough to rival a nation, who overnight became a penniless beggar.

His very foundation for survival—the Dao Market system—had fallen silent.

“Mr. Zhang!” Luo Shisan, the Iron Lady, who had been silent all this time, darted forward and reached out to support him.

Her palm was rough and strong, and a scorching aura, pure vital energy without any trace of magic, radiated through his clothes.

Her gaze was incredibly complex—shock, confusion, and a hint of imperceptible awe.

As a martial artist who lived on the edge, Luo Shisan believed in her own fists and the wind blades in her hands.

She had always scoffed at anything supernatural.

But everything that happened tonight completely overturned her understanding.

Whether it was the terrifying regeneration of the Painted Skin Ghost or Xiao Man’s eerie “Calamity Eyes” prophecy, both were beyond her comprehension.

But what truly shocked her most was Zhang Xuanyi.

This young stall owner, who seemed a bit cynical, constantly talking about “deals” and “costs,” at the most crucial moment, chose not to demand the “Mount Longhu Old Seal,” which was clearly priceless. Instead, he used his own essence blood as a guide, consuming his origin to save a child he had just met.

In Luo Shisan’s world, there was only one word to describe such an act—stupid.

Yet, it was precisely this “stupidity” that saved everyone present.

“You…” Luo Shisan’s throat moved; she wanted to ask something but didn’t know where to begin.

Shen Zhao, at this moment, finally recovered from the immense shock.

She didn’t look at Zhang Xuanyi but carefully checked her son Xiao Man’s breathing.

His breathing was steady, and the “Child Protection Blood Talisman” drawn on his forehead with Zhang Xuanyi’s essence blood emitted a faint warmth, slowly suppressing and absorbing the restless golden runes beneath Xiao Man’s skin.

A hint of color finally returned to the child’s pale little face.

Confirming her son was fine, Shen Zhao slowly stood up.

She walked in front of Zhang Xuanyi, her bloodshot eyes fixed on him. The previous wariness and killing intent were gone, replaced by an unspeakable heaviness.

She once again held out the ancient “Mount Longhu Old Seal” to Zhang Xuanyi, her voice hoarse yet exceptionally firm: “Mr. Zhang, you saved Xiao Man, which means you saved my—Shen Zhao’s—life. This deal cannot be settled like this. If you don’t take it, then I owe you. The debt I, Shen Zhao, owe, must be repaid!”

Her tone was resolute, as if Zhang Xuanyi’s refusal would make her kneel on the spot.

This woman’s pride and stubbornness were etched into her bones.

Leaning on Luo Shisan’s support, Zhang Xuanyi grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth stained with blood.

He waved his hand and said weakly, “Boss Shen, you’ve got it wrong. I made this deal not for you, nor for your Old Seal.”

He paused, took a breath, and his gaze swept past Shen Zhao to Xiao Man sleeping peacefully in her arms, his eyes deepening.

“He, with his ‘Calamity Eyes,’ averted a disaster for my stall and showed all of us a way to survive. This was the price he paid. As the stall owner, I am indebted to him, and I naturally must repay it. I use my price to exchange for his safety; this is called the cycle of cause and effect, with all accounts settled.”

Zhang Xuanyi’s tone was light, yet every word was clear.

“Your fierce maternal love, your willingness to fight with your life, this wish-power, my stall has received it. So I use my method to fulfill your wish. This is called equivalent exchange.”

“So, Boss Shen,” Zhang Xuanyi’s smile gained a hint of a merchant’s shrewdness, “from beginning to end, there was only a transaction between us, no favor. Now that the transaction is complete, neither of us owes the other. You should take back this Old Seal. After all, it’s not safe to wander the jianghu in the future without something to protect yourself.”

Shen Zhao was stunned.

She had walked the jianghu for half her life, seen countless cunning merchants and wicked traders, and also witnessed hypocritical heroes, but she had never met anyone like Zhang Xuanyi.

He dissected everything clearly, using the coldest words “transaction” to gently erase a debt of gratitude that would have required her to repay with her life.

He wasn’t bestowing a favor, but rather, in his own way, upholding some kind of “rule” that she couldn’t quite articulate.

Shen Zhao held the Old Seal, her hands trembling slightly.

She looked deeply at Zhang Xuanyi, as if to engrave the young man’s face in her heart.

After a long while, she said nothing, solemnly put the Old Seal back into her embrace, and then bowed deeply to Zhang Xuanyi.

This bow was not for repayment, but for respect.

“Mr. Zhang, a great kindness needs no words of thanks.” Shen Zhao straightened up, her tone regaining some composure, “What happened today, I, Shen Zhao, will remember. If there is ever a need for me in the future, just a word, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

With that, she no longer lingered, clutching Xiao Man tightly in her arms, and turned resolutely, disappearing into the deepest darkness before dawn.

Her silhouette was proud and determined, each step taken with unwavering resolve.

As Shen Zhao departed, only Zhang Xuanyi and Luo Shisan remained in the forest, along with the Old Accountant, who had, at some unknown point, squatted back in the corner of the stall, fiddling with three copper coins.

“After the Li trigram, the Kan trigram has passed, and next… is the Zhen trigram.” The Old Accountant stroked his beard, muttering softly, his voice as light as a breeze, “Thunder rises from the earth, all things sprout, yet it is also a sign of the waking of insects, the revival of all creatures. Young man, your stall will be ‘silent’ for a while.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuanyi smiled bitterly and shook his head.

He didn’t need to calculate to know that the system being frozen for seven days was indeed “silent.”

“Thank you for the reminder, sir.” He weakly cupped his hands in a salute.

The Old Accountant chuckled, stood up, patted the dust from his backside, and with a flicker of his figure, he merged into the surrounding tree shadows like a wisp of smoke, disappearing without a trace.

It was as if he had never appeared, leaving behind only a profound prophecy.

“He’s gone too.” Luo Shisan watched the direction where the Old Accountant disappeared, her brows tightly furrowed, “These people… what are their origins?”

“They are all just passersby.” Zhang Xuanyi let out a long breath, the sense of weakness in his body surging like a tide.

He felt his eyelids growing heavier and heavier, and the entire world seemed to spin.

“Hey! Hold on!” Luo Shisan noticed his abnormality and quickly helped him to a large tree nearby, letting him lean against the trunk and sit down.

In the sky, a hint of dawn was already breaking.

The eastern sky was tinged with a faint bluish-gray, dispelling the inky blackness that had enveloped the mountains and forest all night.

A few crisp bird calls broke the silence, signaling the imminent arrival of a new day.

The traces of the battle were still shocking: scorched earth, broken branches, and the faint smell of blood in the air, all spoke of the danger of the previous night.

Zhang Xuanyi leaned against the tree trunk, a tearing pain in his chest, and all his limbs felt as if they had been disassembled and reassembled, unable to muster any strength.

He could clearly feel that the connection between himself and that magical stall had become faint, as if separated by a thick pane of frosted glass.

The Dao Market system had fallen into an unprecedented silence.

There were no system prompts, no product lists, and certainly no mysterious power that could be called upon at any time.

He was now just an ordinary person, extremely weak.

Luo Shisan sat beside him, silently pulling out a small leather water pouch from her Pregnant and handing it over.

Zhang Xuanyi took it and drank a mouthful; the cool spring water slid down his throat, slightly alleviating some of the dryness.

“What do you plan to do next?” Luo Shisan’s voice was as concise as ever, but the concern within it was unconcealed, “In your current state, any mountain bandit could finish you off.”

Zhang Xuanyi, upon hearing this, did not worry but instead chuckled softly.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” He looked up at the gradually brightening sky, a strange light flickering in his eyes—a calmness and composure that came from having weathered great storms.

“The deal is done, so naturally… it’s time to close up shop and rest.”

His voice was light, with a hint of fatigue, yet also an indescribable sense of ease.

As if a heavy burden had been lifted, and he was ready to enjoy a rare holiday.

The first ray of morning light pierced through the thin mist in the forest, gently falling on his face, coating his pale cheeks with a warm golden hue.

A new day had begun.