Three hours of grueling trekking through the treacherous terrain finally led Su Han to a place that felt like a fever dream amidst the wilderness.
This was the makeshift trade hub of the Black Wolf Mountain Range—a sprawling, chaotic outpost where mercenaries, rogue cultivators, and hunting parties converged.
To call it a "small market" was a gross understatement; it was a den of survival and greed, buzzing with the raw energy of desperate men.
At its heart stood a large, rugged inn for weary bones and a bustling restaurant that filled the air with the heavy scent of roasted meat and cheap ale.
As Su Han limped into the clearing, a wall of sound hit him like a physical blow. Vendors were screaming themselves hoarse, their voices clashing in a desperate bid for attention.
"Thick Steel Breastplate! Guaranteed to stop the claws of any Level 1 beast!" one merchant roared, banging his fist against the metal.
"Yellow-Grade Low-Tier Sword! Shatter the bones of Middle-Tier beasts with a single swing! Only 10,000 Silver Coins!" another bellowed from a nearby stall.
"Strength-Boosting Pills! Double your explosive power instantly! A steal at 5,000 Silver Coins!"
Su Han's eyes, sharp and calculating despite his exhaustion, scanned the wares. The young master knew the golden rule of this place: the glitters here were rarely gold.
This market was a playground for swindlers, and without a master's eye, one could easily trade their fortune for a piece of painted junk.
Yet, despite the underlying lawlessness, there was a strange, suffocating order maintained by those in power.
This sanctuary was governed by the Mountain Ghost Syndicate. Their guards—grim-faced men with cold, lifeless eyes—were stationed at every corner.
Their presence was a silent promise of a swift end to anyone who dared to spill blood within the market lines.
Even the inn and the restaurant were their territory. In this lawless land, the Syndicate was the law, and their word was final.
Su Han moved deeper into the hub, noticing various groups clustered in strategic spots, each marked by unique uniforms or jagged badges.
These were the mercenary bands waiting for missions. Whether someone needed a rare herb, a specific beast core, or a bodyguard for a dangerous expedition, these men were for hire—for the right price.
Among them stood the elite. The Blood-Raven Clan caught Su Han's eye; they were renowned herbalists and scouts, their knowledge of the mountain range legendary.
Though they were but a branch of a powerhouse from the Blue Sky Continent, their presence here was dominant and their aura oppressive.
Their services were premium, often far too expensive for the common cultivator struggling to survive.
Then there were the Iron-Fist Mercenaries. Clad in matte-black armor and carrying heavy, reinforced shields, they stood in disciplined ranks like a professional army.
They were the gold standard for protection, specializing in escorting young masters or reckless explorers into the heart of the mountain.
Su Han's gaze shifted to the smaller, nameless groups—bands formed around the reputation of a single leader, like the 'Black Tiger' or 'White Lion.'
But then, Su Han's blood turned to ice, and his grip on his crutch tightened.
A group of warriors stood nearby, their hands resting habitually on the hilts of jagged, obsidian blades. The Shadow-Blade Sect.
Su Han narrowed his eyes, his breathing hitching for a microsecond. He recognized the emblem—the same one worn by Viper and the three bandits he had slaughtered in the forest.
These were the same poisonous snakes, a small branch of a sect known for their predatory nature and ruthless tactics.
They were hunters of men as much as beasts, and their eyes scanned the crowd with a chilling intensity.
'They don't know yet,' Su Han thought, his heart thumping against his ribs. 'They don't know I am the one who silenced Viper.'
He knew their reputation; if they found out, the Mountain Ghost Syndicate's rules wouldn't be enough to stop their vengeance.
The Shadow-Blade Sect was the type to burn the world down just to settle a debt of blood.
Shifting his weight, Su Han averted his gaze and blended into the crowd, heading toward the stalls where individual peddlers displayed their wares on tattered cloths.
His priority was clear: Su Han needed to heal. Walking had become an agony he could no longer ignore, a burning fire in his shattered leg.
He stopped before a stall overflowing with vials and pill boxes. Behind it sat an old man whose face was a roadmap of scars and cunning.
The old peddler's eyes lit up as they landed on Su Han's battered form. A predatory glint, half-shrewd and half-shameless, flickered in his gaze.
"Ah, young traveler!" the old man chuckled, his voice sounding like dry parchment rubbing together.
"You look like you've been through a meat grinder. It's your lucky day—you're my first customer."
The peddler leaned forward, his smile widening. "Since you're new here, I'll give you a 'newbie discount.' One Level 1 Healing Pill... for just 2,000 Silver Coins."
Su Han's eyes flashed with a sudden, dangerous heat. "2,000 Silver Coins?"
He repeated the number, his voice dripping with icy contempt. "What kind of scam are you running here? Do you take me for a fool?"
Su Han stood his ground, his gaze piercing through the old man's facade.
"Do you think I'm some ignorant brat who doesn't know the value of medicine? This is a Yellow-Grade Low-Tier pill, not a High-Tier one."
"In the markets of Lingshan Town, these cost 200 Silver Coins. Middle-Tier goes for 800, and only a High-Tier Level 1 pill is worth 2,000," Su Han added firmly.
"I know exactly what I'm looking at. Don't try your cheap tricks on me."
Before his Dantian had been shattered, Su Han was the most brilliant young talent in Lingshan Town, reaching the first level of Qi Refining at just fifteen.
His knowledge of cultivation resources was second to none, a remnant of his glorious past that still served him well.
The peddler didn't look offended; instead, his greasy smile widened even further.
"Smart kid. Sure, in town it's cheap. But look around, boy. This is the edge of the Black Wolf Mountain Range."
"If you try to walk back to town in that state, you won't last an hour before a beast or a bandit finishes you off," the old man countered.
"I risked my life bringing these here. Tell you what—since you're my first customer, I'll do 1,500 coins. Take it or leave it."
Su Han didn't say another word. He simply turned around and began to walk away, his expression cold and indifferent.
"Wait! 1,000!" the old man shouted after him, his voice rising in desperation.
Su Han kept walking without looking back.
"Alright, alright! 800! Fine, 500! My heart is bleeding, but I'll give it to you for 500!"
Su Han didn't even pause. He moved through the dirt-strewn path until he found another stall managed by a quiet old man who seemed disinterested in the chaos.
"How much for the Healing Pills?" Su Han asked, his voice calm.
The man didn't even look up from his work. "400 Silver Coins. Take it or don't. No bargaining."
Su Han nodded, satisfied with the honest price. Paying double the city price was fair for the location.
He bought two pills and moved to another stall where rows of traveler's clothing were displayed.
His current robes were tattered, stained with blood and grime from his life-or-death struggle with Viper.
Since he hadn't brought spare clothes from home, Su Han bought two sturdy sets to replace his ruined rags.
With his purchases in hand, he headed straight for the hotel. Even the room rent was an extortionate five times the usual rate.
Su Han paid for a day and locked himself inside the small, sparse room. Sitting on the bed, he swallowed the first pill.
As the medicinal heat spread through his body, Su Han's wounds began to itch and knit together.
'It's effective,' Su Han mused, feeling the energy flow, 'but only about 70% as potent as the pills the System provided.'
'The System's items are truly precious; I must use them wisely in the future.'
He swallowed the second pill, feeling the last of his fatigue vanish as his injuries fully healed.
By the time Su Han looked out the window, the shroud of night had fallen over the mountain range like a heavy velvet curtain.
A cold, determined light flickered in his eyes. Tomorrow, he would sell his excess loot and gather the supplies he needed.
Su Han closed his eyes and drifted into a deep, restorative sleep, his mind already planning the next move.
But as the market hummed with the dangerous secrets of the night, one question remained: would the dawn bring a fresh start?
Or would the Shadow-Blade Sect finally track down the man who killed their brothers?
If they discovered Su Han's secret, would even the Mountain Ghost Syndicate be able to protect him from their ruthless vengeance?
Su Han was about to face a nightmare far worse than Viper, and the mountain was waiting for its next sacrifice.
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