My Gentle and Pure Sect Leader Husband-Chapter 9 - Day of Wearing a Disguise

Located on the banks of West Lake in Lin’an Prefecture, this was one of the most concentrated gathering places for martial artists in the Central Plains region.

While this was partly due to its well-connected road network, the fundamental reason was the black market that had existed underground in Lin’an Prefecture for nearly a century, surviving even through years of war and turmoil.

Here, whether rare treasures or martial arts manuals, everything had a clear price tag. However, the owner of this place knew well how to stay within the imperial court’s tolerance limits – there was absolutely no trading in human lives within Lin’an’s black market.

Furthermore, after the establishment of the Great Ming Dynasty, the black market, under the name of Lin’an’s wealthy merchants, paid annual tribute to the court without ever making mistakes. Over time, they developed an unspoken understanding with the Jinyiwei.

The black market would occasionally provide conveniences to the Jinyiwei, while the Jinyiwei would turn a blind eye to the black market’s existence.

Yan Hongyin changed into a neat and practical riding outfit, with light armor covering the vital points of her chest and throat, and a shiny black whip coiled around her left arm.

Casually putting on a fox mask, Yan Hongyin spoke in a low, androgynous voice, “Let’s go to the third floor.”

The black market had nine entrances, and no one knew what each entrance’s customers represented – probably only the black market owner, who knew most customers’ identities, understood this.

Ji Qing quickened his pace to catch up with Yan Hongyin, his tone unable to hide his excitement. “Is this black market opening as a grand market?”

“With Daren Yan personally attending, the black market naturally should welcome with the highest-level grand market to show proper respect.”

The sudden interjecting voice caused Ji Qing to draw his sword with a swoosh, the exposed blade reflecting the light from the corridor lanterns, revealing a woman leaning against the wall at the corner, fanning herself.

She was an incredibly beautiful woman, with a graceful figure and hair like a waterfall, her entire being like a black belladonna blooming in darkness – toxic yet captivating to the eye.

Yan Hongyin noticed the woman’s strange pronunciation of “Yan” but understood that she wasn’t referring to the Fourth Rank Zhenfushi Yan Hongyin of the Jinyiwei, but rather to the First Rank Commander Yan of the Jinyiwei.

“Do you still have that sarira?” Yan Hongyin didn’t bother with small talk.

This woman was the current young mistress of Lin’an’s black market, beautiful as a spirit and cunning as a fox. When dealing with such a person, being direct was the way to make the fewest mistakes.

“The sarira?” The woman swayed over to Yan Hongyin, placing her hand on her shoulder and leaning in close. A strong, aggressive rose fragrance suddenly bloomed. She drew near Yan Hongyin’s ear and whispered, “We do have it, but if Daren wants to acquire it today, it’ll cost quite a bit of blood.”

Nearby, the young Ji Qing, though wearing a mask that hid his expression, had ears that had turned bright red.

Yan Hongyin remained unmoved, standing straight with her back rigid, and spoke in a low voice, “Is there competitive bidding?”

“Now Daren, you’re putting this humble woman in a difficult position~ The black market’s rules are that the house must be fair and just. Even I—” the woman’s fingers traced along Yan Hongyin’s light armor, attempting to reach her throat, “cannot break the rules.”

Yan Hongyin grabbed the woman’s hand, twisted her palm, and with a pulse of internal energy, pushed away the woman who was nearly hanging on her, coldly saying, “Then there’s nothing more to discuss. Lead the way.”

The woman’s lips pursed, her gaze flowing with countless charms dancing at her brow. “After so long, Daren is still so heartless.”

“Well then, follow me~”

****

Meanwhile, on the third floor, after the servants and maids had left, the manager nervously said to the masked Yu Luocha, “Sect Leader, this subordinate has never been beyond the first floor before when coming here, today…”

Though the black market’s entrances were unclear in their divisions, the floor levels were as good as explicitly marked.

The first floor was for peddlers and martial artists – anyone with a black market invitation could enter;

The second floor was for those of some status, including disciples from famous martial arts families or renowned sects – regardless of whether righteous or evil;

The third floor was a place very few people ever went up to. Moreover, it was said that access to the third floor had nothing to do with status, but depended entirely on the black market owner’s mood and preference.

Yu Luocha wore a deep blue fitted outfit with a rhinoceros belt at the waist and a black cloak draped over his shoulders, holding a paper umbrella in his long, fair hands.

Hearing this, he merely raised an eyebrow and gestured with his chin for the manager to sit down and not block his view of the lower floors.

The manager could only close his mouth and sit nervously at the position furthest from Yu Luocha.

Yu Luocha didn’t mind his subordinate’s fear. His gaze fell on the group of three passing through the second floor.

That sword and stance, and the trained style of walking – the young man following behind that ‘man’ and woman seemed to be someone who works for the government.

–Let him guess.

Yu Luocha’s finger lightly tapped his lips, his expression playful behind the mask.

Was it the Liu Shanmen, or the Jinyiwei?

In the black market, everyone concealed their identity with masks, but Yu Luocha’s gaze was direct and unmasked.

The young Jinyiwei sensitively noticed and stopped abruptly, turning his head to look up.

The slender ‘man’ who had been walking beside the woman also stopped and raised his eyes, meeting Yu Luocha’s gaze.

In the swaying shadows of the lanterns, the man sitting on the third floor was like a dangerous beast crouching in darkness, revealing a playful yet malicious smile.

.....

Yan Hongyin withdrew her gaze and stepped onto the stairs.

“Keep up.”

Ji Qing obediently withdrew his attention from that clearly malicious gaze and closely followed Yan Hongyin’s steps.

The bewitching woman gave a light laugh, twirling her hair ends around her fingers, her expression taking on a hint of anticipation for the show to come.

Yan Hongyin glanced sideways at the woman. “You know that person.”

The woman blinked, spring waters flowing in her eyes, naturally alluring.

“Is he also here to bid on the sarira today?”

The woman’s eyelid twitched, and she frowned, complaining coquettishly, “How can you be like this? Even if you figured it out yourself, you shouldn’t say it so plainly. If others hear, they’ll think I was seduced into revealing information.”

“If I get punished by my master because of this, I’ll have to hold you responsible!”

Yan Hongyin found confirmation in the woman’s deflecting attitude, nodded, and while walking forward said, “If I win the auction today, I’ll owe you one favor.”

“Really?” The woman’s eyes lit up.

This was no small matter – a favor from a Jinyiwei Commander’s person.

“Of course,” Yan Hongyin said.

The woman smiled at first, then seemed to remember something and her expression became troubled. After a few moments, she actually sighed, “Never mind, let’s leave it to fate. I can’t afford to offend that person, they’re quite mad.”

The three had arrived at a private box with three walls and one side open with windows facing the raised auction platform below.

The woman stood at the doorway with no intention of entering.

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Yan Hongyin gestured for Ji Qing to enter first, then bent down near the woman’s ear. “There are only a few people in the martial world that even you dare not offend, but for someone to make you this cautious, could they be…from the Golden Sand Gobi?”

The woman’s expression changed, immediately dropping her previous coy and casual manner. She gave Yan Hongyin a deep look before hurriedly leaving.

The black market’s first rule was to never reveal customers’ identities, especially those deemed worthy of access to the third floor.

If her master found out, she truly wouldn’t escape punishment.

Yan Hongyin entered the private box and sat down, fingers caressing the whip.

Ji Qing held back but couldn’t resist any longer, finally asking, “Daren, why did you bring a whip?”

The whip was actually not a common weapon among the Jinyiwei, as despite its flexibility, the soft whip had limited lethal power. When confronting martial artists, swords and sabers were indeed more likely to subdue opponents with a single strike.

“Because today, we’re not here to fight people.”

.....

Ji Qing quickly understood the meaning behind Yan Hongyin’s words.

The hour of Zi arrived, and the gong sounded three times. (TL: midnight)

The black market auction began.

Because the sarira had never been successfully auctioned off, for three consecutive years, the black market had placed it as the first item up for auction despite its value typically warranting it being the finale.

However, when the auctioneer stopped the rising platform and opened the brocade box, his face instantly turned pale with shock.

The guests on the second and third floors were not far from the auction platform, and they clearly saw that the sarira that should have been in the brocade box had vanished without a trace. In its place was a light blue letter, with a lingering floral fragrance wafting through the air.

—— It was the scent of tulips.

“Is it Chu Liuxiang? It’s Chu Liuxiang!!”

“The Lin’an Prefecture’s black market was actually robbed by Chu Liuxiang!”

“That’s not right, Chu Liuxiang is known to be a very measured person, why would he provoke the black market without reason?”

“And he stole something that couldn’t even be sold? Does anyone with better information know the background of that sarira?”

......

While everyone at the auction was discussing Chu Liuxiang, he himself was quite troubled.

He quickly discarded the black market servant’s clothes he was wearing, transforming into a well-dressed young gentleman. The sarira was now hidden in the most inconspicuous place on his person.

The black market wouldn’t lock down the area to prevent guests from leaving, but Chu Liuxiang never expected that the black market would require guests to leave one by one and remove their masks in a secret room.

Chu Liuxiang certainly didn’t have an invitation, and he was sure the black market had a portrait of his face.

He concealed himself in the shadows, scanning the coming and going crowds, looking to select a lucky guest whose appearance he could impersonate.

Suddenly, something angular pressed against his waist, and a youth’s voice sounded beside him.

“Chu Xiangshuai, the Jinyiwei requests your presence.”

(TL: can be translated to “Fragrant Chief Chu” or “Handsome Chief Chu.”)

Chu Liuxiang could run, but didn’t dare to.

After all, he really didn’t want his wanted posters plastered all over the streets, with the Jinyiwei chasing him from north to south.

One such experience had been more than enough.

He rubbed his nose and followed the youth, taking a few turns before heading up to the third floor.

Upon opening the door and seeing Yan Hongyin sitting at the table, Chu Liuxiang’s smile turned somewhat bitter.

How did this Buddha quietly return to Jiangnan?

Since when did a Fourth Rank Zhenfushi become so idle as to fixate on a sarira that wasn’t even involved in any murder cases?

He sighed lightly, “Is Daren interested in this sarira?”

“Xiangshuai is indeed clever,” Yan Hongyin said unhurriedly. “Would you prefer to hand it over yourself, or should we have another duel where you escape and then get wanted again?”

The black market was indeed difficult to enter and exit, but in this world, there was no place Chu Liuxiang couldn’t go, no cage he couldn’t escape from.

Chu Liuxiang said nothing more, taking out a pouch containing a round bead from his sleeve and handing it to Ji Qing, who stood to the side.

As Ji Qing was about to step forward to take it, a black whip suddenly flashed before his eyes, its soft tip aiming straight for Chu Liuxiang’s face. Then came the sound of two sleeve daggers embedding into wooden boards. When Ji Qing regained his senses, the pouch was still in Chu Liuxiang’s hand, but the longan-sized lake pearl that had been on Chu Liuxiang’s hair ornament was now in Yan Hongyin’s possession.

Swords and sabers might be better for killing, but when it came to snatching things, among the eighteen martial arts weapons, none was as handy as a long whip.

Knowing he couldn’t fool Yan Hongyin, Chu Liuxiang rubbed his nose bridge and chuckled softly.

Since becoming famous, only Yan Hongyin could repeatedly get the better of him.

They could be considered half-friends, actually.

Yan Hongyin also smiled and said, “Xiangshuai, I appreciate your cooperation.”

Chu Liuxiang deliberately drew out his tone and sighed. “Now, am I to lose both my freedom and my possessions?”

Yan Hongyin stood up, glanced at Chu Liuxiang, and said helplessly, “That’s not how you use that phrase. I’ll escort you out, and I’ll compensate the black market for the sarira.”

Chu Liuxiang nodded with a smile, then seemingly casually said before walking out the door. “It’s strange though, this item didn’t use to attract much attention, but these past few days, various factions have been spreading word about it, and even the Western Regions seem quite interested in the relic.”

Yan Hongyin paused mid-step and said gratefully, “Thank you.”

Chu Liuxiang smiled. “No problem, just don’t post my wanted posters again.”

“They don’t look like you anyway.”

“They’re just…too ugly.”

A pockmarked face with a mole on it, yet bearing Chu Liuxiang’s name – this was even more damaging than having his actual portrait on the wanted posters.

Yan Hongyin’s tone carried a hint of mockery. “Was there anything inaccurate about our division’s portrait of the Moon-Treading Gentleman?”

It was Chu Liuxiang himself who had disguised himself that way to infiltrate the Jinyiwei, so he couldn’t blame her.

“Sometimes there’s no need to be so… true to reality.”

Chu Liuxiang recalled how during that period, his friends had written one after another to inquire, and he couldn’t help but sigh.

To discover that the true face of the Moon-Treading Gentleman was Wang Er Mazi – who could bear such an injustice?

(TL: Wang Er Mazi” (王二麻子) is a colloquial or slang name that can be used to refer to an ordinary or unremarkable person, often with a slightly humorous or mocking tone. It can be used to imply someone who is not particularly handsome or distinguished.)

....

After leaving the black market.

Chu Liuxiang had only walked a few steps when a man holding an umbrella blocked his path.

The man was still wearing the fox mask from the black market auction.

This reminded Chu Liuxiang of Yan Hongyin, who had just robbed him while wearing the same fox mask.

Chu Liuxiang: “……”

Another one?