Chapter 46: The Perilous Beginning of Entering the Black Market

The dim moonlight was sliced into fragments by the towering complex of buildings, scattering across the ground like a shattered mirror.

The direction Pan Yue pointed led to a gloomy alley stretching deep into the city. At the entrance, a rusted iron gate stood half-open, resembling a giant mouth waiting to devour its prey.

A chilling, damp aura rushed toward them, and the air was thick with the scent of decay alongside a faint, nauseating trace of blood.

The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet, save for the occasional distant yowl of a wild cat and the rustling scurry of unknown insects, which felt like countless tiny hands scratching at one's nerves in the dark.

"This place... is really unsettling." Chen Qiang tightened his grip on his weapon, his thick brows locked in a frown. Despite his wealth of battle experience, he still felt a trace of unease.

Sun Yue, on the other hand, rubbed his hands in excitement, his shifty eyes glinting in the darkness like a little mouse that had discovered a treasure.

The iron gate groaned as it was pushed open, and the sight within caused everyone to involuntarily hold their breath.

A narrow passage wound downward, resembling an entrance to the underworld. Several flickering oil lamps hung on the walls, their feeble glow stretching the group's shadows into thin, long, distorted shapes that danced like a multitude of chaotic demons.

"Welcome to the black market, outsiders," a shrill voice rang out in the darkness, accompanied by a somewhat exaggerated chuckle.

A short, plump man with a prominent mole on his face emerged from the shadows. His face was greasy, and his clothes were filthy—at first glance, he was clearly no ordinary person.

This man was none other than Hei San.

"I am the guide here, Hei San." Hei San plastered a full face of smiles, his eyes narrowing into slits while flashing with greedy light. "Are you here looking for good stuff? I have everything here, as long as you can afford the price."

Chu Feng calmly swept a gaze over Hei San, his eyes as sharp as blades. He noticed that Hei San's smile carried a hint of unnatural stiffness.

This person was not simple.

"We are looking for some materials needed for intermediate rune inscription advancement," Chu Feng stated bluntly, raising his guard inwardly at the same time.

"Oh? What a coincidence. I happen to have a newly arrived batch of goods that will definitely satisfy you." Hei San's smile grew even more brilliant as he rubbed his hands together. "However, you know, the price isn't low."

He extended his palm, his splayed fingers resembling five hooks of desire as he unblushingly expressed his demand. "Pay half the deposit first, and I'll take you to see the goods. How about it?"

Pan Yue cast a worried glance at Chu Feng; she had a lingering feeling that this Hei San was somewhat suspicious.

Liu Yong merely observed the surrounding environment in silence, seemingly assessing the security risks.

"What if the goods don't match the description?" Chu Feng asked calmly, having no intention of being led by the nose so easily.

"Haha, this young brother is truly cautious. We businessmen in the black market value credibility above all else." Hei San let out a dry laugh, his eyes darting about as if desperately trying to conceal something, before waving his hand. "Follow me, the good stuff is all inside."

Hei San turned and walked toward the depths of the darkness. His figure swayed unsteadily in the illumination of the oil lamps, ghost-like enough to stir unease in one's heart, yet compelling enough to tempt a closer look.

"Let's go," Chu Feng murmured, a trace of imperceptible sharpness gleaming in his eyes as he took the lead and followed closely behind.

Hei San led the group weaving through the labyrinthine black market, where the air was heavy with a suffocating, pungent stench of mold and body odor.

Under the dim lights, various faces flashed past like ghosts lurking in the dark—greed, cunning, and ferocity intertwined, forming an invisible net that enveloped everyone.

Finally, Hei San stopped before a heavy iron gate.

"The good stuff is right inside," he grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth like a beast baring its fangs.

The iron gate slowly opened, and a wave of decaying odor rushed out.

The room was piled high with various boxes covered in dust, as if they hadn't been opened for a long time.

Several burly men guarded the perimeter of the room, staring fiercely at the group with weapons gleaming coldly, filling the air with a sense of danger.

"Are these the good things you mentioned?" Chu Feng glanced around, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

His shadow runes had already been quietly activated, and nothing in the room could escape his perception.

Those seemingly ordinary boxes contained nothing more than scrap metal; they were by no means rune advancement materials.

"Of course, of course, they are all top-tier goods." Hei San rubbed his hands, his smile growing even more ingratiating. "Feel free to pick and choose."

Chu Feng did not expose Hei San's lie. Instead, feigning deep interest, he walked up to a crate and reached out to touch it.

"What's inside this box?"

"Hehe, this is good stuff, essential materials for intermediate rune advancement." Hei San rolled his eyes and spouted nonsense off the cuff. "As for the price, it's not expensive, just..."

"Just what?" Chu Feng abruptly interrupted Hei San, his gaze instantly turning piercing, like two sharp swords thrusting straight at Hei San's heart.

Intimidated by Chu Feng's imposing aura, Hei San's smile froze. "N—nothing..."

"Nothing? It looks to me like you're trying to scam us," Chu Feng sneered. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and the oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

Hei San's expression altered drastically; he had not expected Chu Feng to see through his deception.

"W—what are you talking about?"

"Me talking nonsense?" Chu Feng extended his hand, channeling the power of his shadow runes to lay bare everything in the room.

"These boxes are filled with junk. Did you really think we wouldn't see through that?"

Hei San turned pale as a sheet, staring at Chu Feng in terror as if looking at a monster.

"Y—how did you know?"

Chu Feng did not answer, merely gazing coldly at Hei San.

"You..." Hei San wanted to say more, but a single look from Chu Feng silenced him.

"Let's go," Chu Feng said, turning to his teammates with an icy, emotionless tone.

Standing behind Chu Feng, Pan Yue gazed at his confident back with eyes full of adoration.

She gently tugged at the corner of his garment and whispered, "Chu Feng, you really are our hero." Feeling her small gesture, Chu Feng felt a warmth bloom in his chest. He turned back to offer her a slight smile, his eyes flashing with resolute brilliance.

The affection between the two deepened in this perilous situation, making even the surrounding air feel soft.

Realizing his scam had been exposed, anger and greed instantly twisted across Hei San's face. He waved his arm violently and roared at the surrounding brutes, "What are you all staring at for? Get them!"

Chen Qiang promptly stepped to the front. Standing like a sturdy wall, he blocked the enemy's assault.

The weapon in his hand whirled, every strike carrying the momentum of a thunderbolt as he drove back the rushing enemies one by one.

His unyielding integrity was vividly displayed at this moment, resembling an impassable mountain peak.

Liu Yong made use of the surrounding terrain to quickly construct obstacles.

Toppling scattered objects, he created a scene of chaos.

The enemies were thrown into disarray, tripping and falling to the ground. Liu Yong calmly assessed each opponent's movements, neutralizing their offensive with maximum speed.

His technical advantage was fully realized in this environment, bringing a smoother synergy to the squad's cooperation.

Sun Yue moved flexibly among the adversaries. With agile movements like a phantom in the dark, every strike he landed was flawlessly precise, subduing the foes one by one.

His craftiness and wit proved crucial at this moment, giving the squad the upper hand in battle.

Standing beside Chu Feng, Pan Yue channeled her light-based healing runes to provide a formidable protective barrier for her teammates at the critical juncture.

Waving her hands gently, she swept luminous, tender arcs through the air, healing the injuries her companions sustained in combat.

Her kindness and intelligence found perfect expression here, making her an indispensable pillar of the team.

Seeing his subordinates beaten back step by step, Hei San grew frantic with anxiety.

Gitting his teeth, he glared at Chu Feng with a ferocious glint in his eyes, though he dared not act rashly.

Suddenly, he growled viciously, "Don't get cocky, this is only the beginning!" Before his voice even faded, he spun around and bolted into the depths of the darkness, leaving behind utter mess and chaos.

Hei San's panicked figure vanished into the dark, leaving only the adventure squad and Hei San's sprawled henchmen in the room.

Chen Qiang put away his weapon, walked up to Chu Feng, and said in a deep voice, "It seems we've stirred up trouble."

Chu Feng swept his gaze around. The other stalls in the black market had fixed their attention on them—some eyes held curiosity, some wariness, and others greed.

He knew that in a place like the black market, displaying one's strength immediately made one a target for everyone.

"It looks like we need to be careful," Chu Feng said gravely, a hint of solemnity in his tone.

As Pan Yue's healing light gradually faded, she walked over to Chu Feng and asked with concern, "Chu Feng, what should we do next?"

Looking into Pan Yue's worried eyes, Chu Feng felt a surge of warmth. He reached out to gently pat her shoulder, reassuring her, "Don't worry, I've got everything handled."

Liu Yong and Sun Yue also approached, their expressions similarly grave.

Pushing up his glasses, Liu Yong analyzed calmly, "Hei San is a local tyrant here. Since we've offended him, he likely won't let this go easily."

Sun Yue, however, spoke with excitement, "What is there to fear? We've even faced rune beasts, let alone these petty thugs?"

Gazing at his high-spirited teammates, Chu Feng felt filled with confidence.

He took a deep breath and commanded, "Let's leave this place first and find somewhere safe to talk."

Nodding in agreement, the squad members followed Chu Feng away from the seat of trouble.

They threaded through the maze-like alleys of the black market, where surrounding gazes lingered on them persistently like predators lurking in the shadows.

At that moment, a figure silently materialized before them.

It was a tall, slender stranger clad in a black cloak, his face hidden within the hood's shadow so that his features remained obscured.

In a low voice, the mysterious figure stated, "Our boss wishes to see you all."

Vigilant, Chu Feng eyed the stranger and demanded, "Who is your boss?"

Without answering, the mysterious figure merely pointed toward a direction deeper within the black market and said, "Follow me."

Exchanging glances, the squad members saw the identical gravity mirrored in each other's eyes.

They knew this mysterious boss was likely the true mastermind pulling the strings behind the black market.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Feng uttered in a low voice, "Let's go."

Trailing behind the mysterious figure, the squad ventured deeper into the black market.

Their figures gradually dissolved into the darkness, leaving behind a lingering suspense awaiting revelation.

"Boss Bai..." Chu Feng silently repeated the name, a faint sense of unease stirring in his heart.

He sensed that they had already stepped into a far more perilous vortex...