"It doesn't feel right."

Li Bai said, "This is not a place to receive guests, where are the dragonflies?" ”

"Dragonfly passed away last year, and now it's Ladybug in charge of business."

The receptionist replied calmly.

"I don't care what dragonflies and ladybugs are." Li Bai was unmoved, staring at him deadly: "Why are there fewer and fewer people?" When talking about business, isn't it better to get as close to the market as possible? ”

"I'm afraid you're not here to talk about business, are you?"

The receptionist said slowly: "To be honest, I didn't expect the two of you to come to the door so quickly, I think there are some misunderstandings that need to be solved, so I am here to wait." ”

"Please rest assured, the ghost market is a place of freedom, and you will definitely not lose your courtesy, and if you don't want to, you can leave."

He took a step back, pointed out the direction of the exit, and seemed to glance at the hilt of the sword in Li Bai's hand: "We have no evil intentions, and we don't dare to comprehend the edge of chivalry." ”

Li Bai looked at Xun Qing.

I didn't expect that not long after entering the ghost market, my identity was already exposed, wait, could it be that this guy's identity was already exposed, and he was discovered as soon as he came to the door, right?

Isn't this a self-defeating trap?

Xun Qing also fell into a stupor, at a loss.

"Don't be surprised, even if the two of you don't come, you originally planned to visit the next place, so it's not surprising to notice the movements of the two of you.

However, unilaterally hiding one's head and showing one's tail is too undecent, so let me show sincerity first. ”

The receptionist reached out and removed the hood from his head.

Revealing his mask.

A scarlet spree.

No, it wasn't a mask, because no mask could carve such lifelike textures, and no mask would expose both eyeballs.

That guy's face was completely stripped off!

At this moment, he seemed to smile at the two of them friendly, but those exposed textures became more and more hideous.

"In the next, a wandering spirit, known as 'Red Face'."

He said, "I wonder if this face can be trusted?" ”

Li Bai was slightly shocked.

Unexpectedly, the red face, known as the king of the hundred ghosts, really had such a face like a demon.

"When I was young, I made some mistakes, and when I found out, I regretted it, but fortunately, although I damaged my face a little, I was still alive."

Chimian explained indifferently and led forward: "Please come with me, the place is in front." ”

Behind the door, outside the courtyard.

In a clearing near the river, many figures had already gathered.

Under the moonlight, the faces of the gray-clad figures were covered with pale masks, as if they were already familiar with each other, and they were skillful in cooperation, silently carrying the goods, packing them on the car, and transporting them away.

Through the open box, Li Bai found that it was stuffed with messy cloth and old clothes, and he couldn't help but be stunned. Guess what kind of fragile items they were smuggling, wrapped in so many soft items.

As if he knew what he was thinking, Red Face just smiled slightly, and casually knocked over a box, and the contents fell out. There was nothing but dirty and tattered clothes.

"Do you know how our group of people came to the ghost market?"

"How did we get to be the way we are?" he suddenly asked. ”

Li Bai looked over.

"These masks, which everyone fears now, actually originated from a group of homeless people in Chang'an City."

Touching the wound on his face, he chuckled softly: "In the early days, we homeless people were just trying to find a place where we could barter......

In order to escape the drive of bullies and administrators, it is necessary to choose a remote place, sneaky and hidden.

Use a pair of shoes, exchange a quilt, and exchange a day's hard work for an old dress. In order to survive, we came to the ghost market, hoping only to have a place to live here. ”

Li Bai smiled coldly: "So, you have to tell me that everything you do is involuntarily?" ”

"I admit that people's greed has no end, and we are naturally responsible for becoming like this, but isn't this Chang'an that needs us to become like this?"

"All we can do is try to make the lives of other wanderers as good as possible," said Akamian. ”

"That's the problem."

Li Bai said: "I don't see that killing me or killing this second-hand machine master next to me can make the wanderers in the city feel better." ”

The second cargo organizer glared at him, daring to be angry but not daring to speak.

"That's the mistake we made."

With his bare face lowered, he looked at the last thing on the ground: "Anyone who is swayed by money, seduced by greed, and who violates the commandments, will pay the price." ”

On the ground, when the white cloth was torn off, a pale corpse was revealed.

The scars on the chest are exposed.

It's the attacker during the day!

The bare face bent down, took off the mask of the deceased, and once again revealed the ugly face covered with scars.

At the same time, around the courtyard, all the people also took off their masks, revealing the same hideous faces. Everyone's face seems to have been cut by a sharp blade, and their mouth is crooked, and their eyes are slanted, and they are unrecognizable!

Under the dim moonlight, those numb and sluggish faces looked at Li Bai and them, and in an instant, Li Bai felt that he had entered the underworld.

The chill is pressing.

"What is this?" Li Bai frowned.

"That's the price you have to pay to put on this mask."

"Lose everything before, give up the possibility of surviving under the sun, and never see the light from now on, only the ghost market can accommodate you, and become such a living ghost......

Correspondingly, they are also blessed by the ghost market, so that they can say goodbye to the unbearable past - debt, sin, vendetta, bounty, recourse, control, command...... Everything under the sun has nothing to do with us. ”

He said, "This is the so-called 'yin and yang separation', and it is also the [price] of surviving." ”

In the silence, Li Bai only felt creepy.

When you look around at the 'ghosts' with ugly faces, you can feel the chill that penetrates deep into the bone marrow from the numb pupils.

Are they really alive?

Or is it just a puppet of this ghost city?

After giving up the life under the sun, what is the meaning of being here, apart from being alive?

"No mercy. Everything else is insignificant compared to death. ”

When he shook his head and looked down at the corpse at his feet, his eyes became disappointed: "This fool listened to the promise of Wu Yougong, violated the precepts, and not only killed himself, but also almost killed others. ”

A ghost market with white masks attacked in broad daylight with artillery trucks in the middle of the city.

If it spreads, the neutrality of the ghost market will inevitably be questioned, and when that ambiguous balance is broken, the situation will inevitably deteriorate rapidly.

When the time comes, how can a ghost market that has lost the trust of customers survive in its current state?

If you make a mistake, you will be punished.

But if you want to make amends, you have to pay the price!

At that moment, Red Mask raised his hand, Li Bai heard the sound of drawing a knife close at hand, and behind Red Face, the silent White Mask suddenly took a step forward and pulled out a short knife.

Slash down in an instant!

But the direction of the attack is not the direction of the two of them.

Instead, it was aimed at the arm of the red face!

Collapse!

A high-pitched roar of steel erupted, and the broken dagger flew up and fell into the air.

Li Bai had already put his sword into the sheath.

The red face was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly he suddenly said: "Isn't it possible to calm your anger with just one arm?" Then the person ...... Xiang"

"Enough!"

Li Bai suppressed his anger and interrupted him: "What do you think of life!" Chips for trading? ”

“……”

In silence, the bare face stared at Li Bai's pupils, and for a long time, the hideous face twitched, as if he smiled bitterly: "Sometimes, this is the most straightforward way." ”

"In this world, there is something more terrible than death, that is, meaningless living."

Li Bai said coldly: "I don't like your way of living, and don't expect me to accept your rules and principles...... I came here for only one purpose, and that is the whereabouts of Wu Yougong.

Other than that, I'm not interested. ”

"Wu Yougong is gone."

Red Face sighed helplessly: "Half a month ago, all his business in the ghost market was withdrawn, and in all places in the city, his power is also shrinking rapidly...... It's like evaporation, and even the wanderers all over the city can't find any clues.

Unfortunately, Mr. Li Bai, we have nothing to compensate you. What to say......"

He paused and looked at Xun Qing meaningfully.

"Wu Yougong, it's very likely that he is from your Anle Fang."

Xun Qing's expression froze, and he couldn't hide his anger: "What are you talking about!" ”

"Wu Yougong only appeared more than ten years ago, just after the Great Collapse, do you think this is a coincidence, Mr. Xun."

Chimian said: "It's not just you who are tracking down Wu Yougong, over the years, Dali Temple, Yu Hengsi, Jin Wuwei, other operators in the ghost market, and even Lu Daoxuan have also come in person."

This is what he personally admitted.

It was here at that time, and it was Huang Wan who received him personally, and after receiving the same answer as now, he left. I guess he must have had some key clue to it, otherwise he wouldn't have fallen to this level. ”

“……”

Xun Qing was stunned, his lips moved, but he didn't know what to say.

I don't know if I was shocked that Wu Yougong had the same background as myself, or if I learned the truth about Lu Daoxuan's attack, I didn't know what to say for a while.

After finishing speaking, Red Face confessed his guilt and turned around and walked to the firewood behind him.

Behind him, the White Masks silently stepped out, picked up the corpses from the ground, put them in the pile of firewood, and doused them with oil.

The bare face stretched out his hand, and someone stepped forward with a burning torch and handed it into his hand.

A low drum beat sounded from under the dry hands, and the rudimentary flute was played, intermittent and desolate into a melody. Beneath the pale masks, the ghosts who dwelt in the shadows sang a eulogy.

When Red Face let go of his hand, a fire rose and swallowed up everything in the firewood.

The dead man embraced his mask and silently dissolved into the flames, leaving only a handful of white ashes.

Thrown into the river beyond the broken wall.

With the rushing water, it flows into the depths of the sewer and disappears into the darkness with no end in sight.

It was as if he had returned to Hades.

"Let's go."

Li Bai retracted his gaze and turned away with Xun Qing.

However, when they left the ghost market, another white mask chased after them and presented the tray.

"Lord Redface asked me to forward this as a token of regret."

The cover on the tray was lifted, revealing a dazzling golden light, which made Li Bai frown.

He originally wanted to refuse, but thinking of Xun Qing's recent tragic situation of not making ends meet, he sighed, he was also the one who was attacked, if he wanted to make amends, he was not qualified to make decisions for him.

But to Li Bai's surprise, it was Xun Qing who took a look at it and retracted his gaze.

Although there was still a faint look of pain on his face, he didn't look at it again after all, just waved his hand: "Take it away, don't pollute my eyes with that kind of blockage." ”

With that, he quickened his pace.

As if I was afraid that I would regret it.

It wasn't until he had walked a long way that he sighed.

Li Bai looked at his tangled appearance and shook his head.

"You didn't take the money you gave for free? There's your share in it. ”

Xun Qing glared at him, "This is called the owner's donation, and there are some super-rich businessmen in the city who like to do these - nominally to sponsor the construction of facilities in the market, but in fact, all of them are in the owner's own pocket." ”

"Then you can kick it in your waist bag."

"And then? Is conscience okay? ”

Xun Qing asked rhetorically, "The most important thing for people is to know how many catties and taels they have, if it is not for the owner to campaign, if it is not for you to be here, do you think I am worthy?"

If I really go out of my shit luck and become a shopkeeper, and one day the ghost market comes to me for help, will I help or not? ”

Speaking of this, he sighed, "Since you have nothing to do with that place, don't have any contact with it in the future." ”

"Yes, Xun Qing!" Li Bai was amazed and admired, "If you are thirsty and don't drink the stolen spring water, the solar terms are high!" ”

"Don't scorn me."

Xun Qing shook his head, laughing bitterly at himself.

"I'm not kidding, doesn't what you just said make sense...... However, there is one thing you are wrong about. ”

Li Bai stretched out his hand and patted this guy's shoulder hard, "You can definitely become a workshop owner, and you will definitely become a good owner." ”

In this regard, Li Bai has great confidence.

And Xun Qing, a stumbling, painful grinning, hand strength is too great!

But when he turned around, he saw the snooping figure in the corner behind him, and he was immediately alert: "Is there someone behind?" ”

"After following all the way, you just found out?"

Li Bai shook his head, looked back at the back, and his voice became cold: "What?" Red Face still has something to say? ”

Behind the corner, the trailing white mask was silent for a long time, and replied hoarsely: "It's not Red Face, it's me." ”

As he spoke, he took off his mask, revealing scars covered in burns.

In the moonlight, the outline of that face was so familiar.

"Wang Anliu!"

Xun Qing looked at it for a long time, incredulous: "You...... You're alive? ”

The people of Dali Temple did not catch Wang Anliu, and Xun Qing thought that he had been buried in the flames.

"I was about to die, but it was the Dali Temple that came to exterminate me that saved me."

Wang Anliu said coldly: "However, it is not alive now...... I've heard people say you're here to find out about that burnt guy, right? ”

Li Bai frowned: "What clues do you know?" ”

"Sort of."

Wang Anliu laughed, touched his face, and felt the pain beyond recognition again: "Before the Tsing Yi Club was exterminated, a batch of very important goods came, which I personally sent to Bo Qingjun's mansion at that time...... If you want to find Wu Yougong, go to Boqingjun to find it. ”

His expression spasmed, and he couldn't hide his viciousness: "That guy, absolutely knows something." ”

"Why are you telling us this?"

Li Bai asked coldly: "What, do you want to abandon the darkness and turn to the light?" Do you want me to introduce you to Dali Temple? ”

Wang Anliu was silent for a long time and smiled hoarsely.

"Let's just think that the dog that hasn't been poisoned wants to eat its owner......"

He took a step back, took one last look at them, put on his mask, and limped into the darkness, vanishing.

In the silence, Li Bai and Xun Qing glanced at each other.

"I always feel like there's something wrong." Xun Qing whispered: "Seriously, I don't believe that guy will find out with a conscience. ”

"I'm afraid I want revenge with hatred."

Li Bai took one last look behind him and sped up: "Let's go back and talk about it." ”

Late at night, in the dim light of the workshop.

Li Bai's expression was calm, Li Xiang looked dazed, only Xun Qing knew Bo Qingjun's energy inside and outside Chang'an best, and he was worried.

"That's the Li nobles, the princes and nobles have to treat each other politely, and they are even involved in the case of Wu Yougong?"

Even if he didn't believe that Wang Anliu's guy would have a conscience to find out that it would work, but recalling the appearance of the guy at Lu Daoxuan's birthday banquet and the appearance this morning, Xun Qing's heart gradually sank.

"Otherwise, let's go find Di Renjie." His eyes lit up and he proposed, "It's best to leave this kind of matter to Dali Temple to solve." ”

Li Bai asked rhetorically: "If he asks where you got this clue, how do you answer him?" ”

Xun Qing was speechless for a moment.

Li Baike knows Di Renjie too well, although it is true that he is jealous and hateful, but in the absence of reliable reasons and solid evidence, it is too naïve for him to search Li Boqing based on his own words. Maybe he will worry that Li Bai will bypass the rules and do things, detain him with his backhand, and then chant the rules like an old mother for a long time.

In the end, there is probably a ticket.

It gives me a headache just thinking about it.

How can there be such inflexible people in this world?

"Forget it, let's rest first."

He shook his head helplessly, "Sleep well for a night, and think about it in the long run tomorrow." ”

In the middle of the night, sleepiness hits.

Soon, the workshop was silent.

After a long time, Li Bai, who was lying on the bed and in his clothes, suddenly opened his eyes, stared at the moonlight outside the window, as if he was as poetic as usual, took out a pen and paper and waved it, and after looking at it for a while, he bowed his head with satisfaction.

Then, he threw the masterpiece he had just finished into the mountain of manuscript paper next to him.

He tiptoed up, carefully pushed open the door, and walked out the door.

It's just that when passing in front of the door of Li Township, the young man's confused voice came from the dim: "Mr. Li Bai? ”

"Shh

Li Bai hurriedly motioned to him to lower his voice: "Why didn't you sleep?" ”

"I'm a little worried about you, I can't sleep." Li Xiang asked softly, "Mr. Li Bai, where are you going?" Isn't it going to be a ...... alone?"

"I finally found a clue, so I have to go over and take a look." Li Bai shook his head: "If you let it go like this, you are a little unwilling."

Don't wake up that guy Xun Qing, otherwise you'll make trouble again, don't worry, I'll go back when I go. ”

With that, he patted the young man on the shoulder to show reassurance.

The young man wanted to speak and stopped, and in the end, he sighed helplessly.

Didn't say anything more.

Li Bai smeared and brought his sword, and walked out of the back door skillfully after walking downstairs, and before he could breathe a sigh of relief in the moonlight, he heard a familiar voice from the shadows opposite.

"Where are you going?"

Xun Qing, who didn't know how long he had been waiting, asked quietly.

Li Bai was stunned for a moment, and coughed twice: "I can't sleep, find wine to drink." ”

"What a coincidence, I want to drink too."

Xun Qing said, "Together? ”

"Hey......" Li Bai was helpless.

"What's the matter, it's not refreshing to bring a drag oil bottle to drink?"

Xun Qing paused, and his expression became grim: "Or are you going to leave me to do something by yourself?" ”

"You still want the owner to be elected, don't get involved in these things at this time."

"But these things are my business, aren't they? Others are born and die for me, so it doesn't make sense for me to sit at home and wait, right? ”

Xun Qing said seriously: "If you want to go, just add me one, the sword mountain and the sea of fire are all here, and it is not bad for this experience." ”

“……”

In silence, Li Bai shook his head helplessly.

Originally, I just didn't want them to worry, but in the end, no one could hide it. And looking at this guy's collar, in order to prevent being knocked out by Li Bai, it seems that he also brought a neck guard!

"Sometimes it's not a good thing to grow too far, Xun Qing."

He no longer knew whether to admire or denounce.

"So, the answer?" Xun Qing asked.

Li Bai didn't speak, just walked in front, turned around and waved to him, motioning for him to follow.

Xun Qing suddenly smiled and chased after him with great strides.