Volume Two – The General’s Tomb Chapter Thirteen – Master of the Ghost Market

The people nearby recoiled in terror at the sight of the monstrous poisonous creatures, but the venomous beasts made no further move to attack. The woman, however, felt no such relief. In just a few fleeting seconds, she found herself completely surrounded, the creatures enclosing her in a living, writhing wall.

Panicked, she pressed herself against the wall, only to feel a searing pain stab through her back. She lurched forward and, glancing behind, saw the wall crawling with countless crimson centipedes. Desperately, she slapped at her body, trying to brush off the poisonous insects. But at that moment, an ancient voice drifted down from the giant spider above: “Old hag, do you remember who I am?”

The woman stared up at the spider in utter horror. “Venomous Taoist, what do you want?” she cried.

At the mention of the Venomous Taoist, the crowd erupted in hushed whispers. Who would have thought that the Venomous Taoist, so low-key for thirty years in the Ghost Market, was not only still alive, but also so ruthless?

“What do I want?” the ancient voice replied. “Did you forget the rule I laid down thirty years ago? Yet you still try to send people here to their deaths. Have you lived long enough?”

As soon as the words fell, the poisonous creatures began to creep toward the woman. She screamed and wailed, but it was useless. The mass of venomous insects surged over her, and in an instant, covered her completely.

With a chorus of hissing and pitiful screams, the creatures devoured her flesh at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving nothing behind.

Just then, another elderly voice came from behind the crowd: “Old friend, why not let this matter rest here?”

Startled, the people turned to see an old man in coarse linen, his head topped with a wide-brimmed bamboo hat, walking toward them. The crowd parted respectfully for this mysterious elder—the very same one we had seen guarding the gate to the Ghost Market.

The Venomous Taoist’s aura did not fade even at the newcomer’s appearance. “Old man, after all these years, you’re still not dead?” he said coolly.

The mysterious elder smiled. “Heh, all these years and you’re still as foul-tempered as ever.”

At that moment, Li Kun and I ran over using the bamboo sticks the Venomous Taoist had given us, weaving through the throng of poisonous creatures. The onlookers were baffled to see us emerge unscathed, the venomous beasts actually parting to form a long corridor for us.

The mysterious elder was momentarily surprised upon seeing me, but quickly understood. He knew the rules of the Venomous Hall and thought to himself, “So these two youngsters have broken through the formation of the Venomous Hall. What remarkable fortune they have.”

Li Kun and I made our way straight to the stall where the woman had stood—now not even her bones remained. Seeing the mysterious elder before us, we bowed respectfully.

The elder smiled and nodded, saying, “I never thought you’d earn the favor of that old poison-monger. Not bad, not bad.”

The Venomous Taoist spoke slowly, “Old man, you don’t need to meddle. It seems the Venomous Hall’s authority in the Ghost Market is gone—people dare to flout my rules. It’s time for a thorough cleansing.”

The elder stepped forward two paces. “Don’t be hasty, poison-monger. Let me take care of this.”

“You?” the Venomous Taoist sneered.

The elder nodded, raising a hand to gesture in the air. Suddenly, a dim kerosene lamp appeared in his hand. Meanwhile, Li Kun and I saw that Gao Feng and Tian Tian were only unconscious; with that, a great weight lifted from our hearts.

I gently patted Gao Feng, who woke up at once. Seeing me, she buried her head in my arms and began to sob softly. I patted her hand, but she winced at the touch.

Looking down, I saw five long finger marks on her fair arm, though they were shallow and not serious.

Tian Tian also regained consciousness. Just then, we heard the mysterious elder’s words and Li Kun and Tian Tian came to my side, all eyes on the elder before us.

He raised his arm and made a faint gesture in the air, then struck the kerosene lamp with force. Instantly, a pillar of yellow light shot skyward from the lamp.

A resounding peal of a bell swept through the Ghost Market, and above, several golden, archaic characters appeared: Master of the Ghost Market, Venomous Hall, Venomous Taoist.

Seeing this, Li Kun and I gasped. “Old Liu, am I seeing things?” Li Kun muttered.

The Venomous Taoist’s voice came slowly, “That’s more like it. This matter ends here.”

He addressed the crowd, “Listen well, all of you. The Ghost Market has stood for over fifty years. Fifty years ago, my master himself founded it. Now, I carry it on. The Ghost Market has its rules, and so does the Venomous Hall. If you break them, don’t blame me for being merciless.”

He turned to the elder. “Old man, why not come with me to the Venomous Hall for a while?”

The elder turned to look at the four of us, nodded slightly, and said, “In that case, I’ll accompany you to the Venomous Hall.”

With that, he walked toward the hall, the poisonous creatures gradually melting out of sight.

The street returned to calm; not a trace remained of the woman, as if she’d never existed. Only her belongings were left at her stall, soon to be looted by the crowd.

Li Kun, myself, and our two companions followed the mysterious elder once more, heading for the doors of the Venomous Hall.

Would this moment change the fate of Li Kun and me? What awaited us ahead?