125: Black market informant

As the group turned a corner, a middle-aged man in a gray jacket quickly walked towards them.

The man’s face showed a trace of anxiety as he looked around the crowd. When he saw Wang Han, he seemed to let out a sigh of relief and quickly jogged over to meet him.

“Director Wang! Oh, I finally found you!”

The man wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed apologetically.

“I’m really sorry, I’ve been waiting for you at the entrance. I waited and waited but didn’t see you, and I couldn’t reach you by phone. I thought something had happened to you, so I hurried in to find you!”

Wang Han looked at the approaching man, first stunned, then quickly realized.

This should be the person arranged by the black market contact he had reached out to earlier.

Originally, such a small matter of procurement wouldn't require Director Wang to come personally; even if he did, someone would surely have arranged everything.

It was just that he, on a whim, brought Lin Yu and the others in early, completely forgetting about this arrangement.

This person probably rushed over in a hurry.

However, being “searched for” so anxiously, especially in front of his daughter and Lin Yu, actually helped him regain some of the face he had lost due to the black card incident.

He waved his hand dismissively, not caring at all.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I was just impatient and came in to browse first. It’s not your fault.”

Seeing that Director Wang didn't blame him, the man was even more grateful, immediately seizing the opportunity to flatter him with a string of compliments.

“Director Wang, you truly are a magnanimous person! I knew it, a person like you, who does great things, must be decisive and won’t wait for slow mortals like us!”

He then changed the subject and looked at Wang Qingxuan, his eyes instantly lighting up.

“This must be the Young Miss, right? Oh, hearing about you doesn't compare to meeting you! This temperament, this appearance, it’s simply a fairy descending to the mortal world! The pearl of Linzhou, truly lives up to its reputation!”

Although the flattery was blatant, it perfectly hit Wang Han’s sweet spot.

Aside from his career, his greatest pride was his precious daughter.

Wang Qingxuan was a little embarrassed by the praise, but the smile on her lips couldn’t be hidden.

Wang Han laughed heartily, the earlier awkwardness from paying having long been thrown to the winds.

He was very pleased.

After praising the Wang family father and daughter, the “contact person’s” gaze finally fell upon Lin Yu, who had been silently standing by.

He sized up Lin Yu from head to toe.

He was dressed ordinarily, his aura was unremarkable, and he stood there quietly, with little presence.

At a glance, he looked like a junior accompanying a big shot to see the world.

“And who might this young brother be?” he asked politely.

Wang Han put an arm around Lin Yu’s shoulder and introduced him with a proud face, “This is my grand-nephew, Lin Yu! My actual nephew!”

He deliberately emphasized the word “actual.”

“Oh! So it’s Young Master Lin!”

The man immediately put on an even more enthusiastic smile and cupped his hands towards Lin Yu.

“A pleasure to meet you! Young Master Lin is young and promising. To be able to gain experience with Director Wang, his future prospects are limitless!”

His words were impeccable, praising Lin Yu while subtly elevating Wang Han again.

Lin Yu merely nodded faintly.

“Hmm.”

One word, that was it.

The atmosphere became a bit cold for a moment.

The smile on the man’s face stiffened slightly, and he muttered to himself.

This kid, he’s quite arrogant.

But he was also a shrewd person and immediately let out a laugh, turning the page on the awkwardness.

“Director Wang, what do you say, where would you like to go next? I’m familiar with the Black Market’s West District. Whether it’s buying materials, finding equipment, or experiencing something thrilling, just say the word, and I’ll arrange everything perfectly for you!”

Wang Han had by now fully entered the role of “leader.” He put his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment, and then said in a profound tone.

“Take us to the ‘Old Ghost Hall’.”

“Old Ghost Hall?”

The man was clearly taken aback when he heard the name, and then his respect deepened.

“Director Wang truly has excellent foresight! The ‘Old Ghost Hall’ is currently the hottest place in our Linzhou Black Market! The new batch of potions they released, their effects are simply miraculous! Everyone outside is scrambling to get them; ordinary people have to queue up to buy, and even then, there’s no guarantee of stock!”

As he spoke, he leaned in mysteriously.

“But rest assured! With me here, I guarantee everything will be perfectly arranged for you! I can even have a few words with Seventh Master of the ‘Old Ghost Hall’! We’ll go straight through the VIP channel!”

Wang Han was quite pleased with these words and nodded.

“Alright, then lead the way.”

“Coming right up! This way, please!”

The man immediately led the way, continuing to fulfill his role as a “walking encyclopedia” as he walked.

This time, his introduction was far more professional than Wang Han’s earlier half-baked attempts.

“Director Wang, look, that alley on the left, inside is the Black Market’s largest gladiatorial arena. It’s very bloody, not recommended for the Young Miss.”

“The one on the right with the bone sign is a branch of ‘Abyss of Bones’. They sell genuine exotic beast materials, but the prices are also steep, specifically for new customers.”

He even pointed to a tall building in the distance, heavily guarded.

“That’s Chen Ao’s territory, the manager and founder of the entire Black Market. He’s also a figure no less important than Director Wang, but although his business is large, it’s not very regular, and he has a bit of a fiery temper.”

Wang Han listened, nodding occasionally, maintaining a calm demeanor that suggested, “I know all this, I just don’t bother to say it.”

Wang Qingxuan, on the other hand, listened with great interest, gaining another layer of understanding about this world.

Under the enthusiastic guidance of the “contact person,” the group passed through several crossroads, and the surrounding clamor was gradually replaced by a strange sense of order.

“Director Wang, Young Miss, Young Master Lin, it’s just ahead!”

The man pointed into the distance, his face beaming with a smile as if expecting praise.

“See it? That sign with the gourd is the ‘Old Ghost Hall’! Don’t let the small facade fool you, there’s a whole different world inside!”

He gushed with spittle, as if he were the owner of the shop.

“Let me tell you, this place is incredibly popular now. To get medicine from here, you not only need money, but also connections! Ordinary people can’t even get through the door!”

Listening to these words, Wang Han contentedly stroked a string of beads he had just bought, looking utterly distinguished.

However, as they actually approached, several people were visibly stunned.

The anticipated scene of a bustling, crowded marketplace was nowhere to be found.

Instead, there was an eerie empty space.

The entrance to the “Old Ghost Hall,” as well as a large surrounding area, was crudely cordoned off by warning tapes.

Over a dozen burly men in identical black combat attire stood expressionlessly at various intersections, exuding an aura that warned people to keep their distance.

Their positions were carefully chosen, subtly blocking all paths of approach.