After a moment of deliberation, Yashu and I decided to scout around. The stalls were packed together like a bizarre maze. Brimming on the counters were all sorts of grotesque items, ranging from "Stamina Potions" to "Demon Eyes"... Players flocked in for trade, exchanging intricately crafted, shimmering crystals. I shot a questioning glance at Yashu. She caught my drift immediately and gave a slight shake of her head:
-"No, I've never been here. I haven't even heard of this place."
It turned out she had only been lingering around the café all this time to stay safe. Yashu had never set foot in such remote and shady areas. If it weren't for that stranger tailing us today, we might have remained forever oblivious to this strange market's existence.
After walking a while, I intended to call out to a nearby player to ask for information. But the moment I met his glaring, murderous eyes, a shiver ran down my spine, and I swallowed my words back down.
It seemed the players here weren't exactly friendly; my intuition told me it was best not to mess with them. Although the information gathered was still meager, it was clear that this was a peculiar black market. If there were a need for transactions later, this would surely be a potential spot. For now, while neither of us fully understood the ins and outs of this Eerie World, observing from a distance was the safest move.
As I was lost in thought, the "clack-clack" of leather shoes hitting the ground drew nearer. A young man with chestnut-brown hair sauntered toward us. I looked up to size him up: he looked about my age, of average height, but his face exuded an insufferable arrogance. He was decked out in flashy gold bands and silver rings - likely a wealthy young master who had just "joined the game" in this twisted world.
He approached with a social smile dripping with irony. Following closely behind were two burly men dressed in sleek black suits with a polished demeanor-clearly the young master's private bodyguards. As he drew closer, his mocking voice rang out clearly:
-"Oh... look at this, more newbies?"
He stopped, scanning me from head to toe like he was inspecting a piece of outdated merchandise, then added:
-"Turns out it's just a penniless brat."
I clenched my fists slightly, my brows furrowing, but I tried to remain calm and didn't respond. His gaze began to drift behind me - to where Qing Yashu was standing. The moment he spotted her striking blue hair, the young master's eyes lit up like car headlights. He rushed forward eagerly, brushing me aside:
-"Hello, beautiful! It's such an honor to meet you in a godforsaken place like this!"
As he spoke, he snatched Yashu's hand, cradling it in an ostentatious and shallow manner. Yashu frowned slightly, her face etched with disgust. She coldly yanked her hand away from the dandy and took a wary step back.
He was thick-skinned enough that despite being rejected so bluntly, he continued to swarm around her like a fly:
-"Pretty lady, are you a teammate of this broke loser? Or... his lover?"
Xiyong'an cut himself off, throwing a contemptuous and judgmental look my way before instantly turning back to her with a fake, doting expression:
-"Forget it, leave him and come with me. How could a lowlife like this take care of you in this hellhole? Allow me to introduce myself - I am Xiyong'an, the young master of the Xi family."
Seeing that this guy was starting to cross the line of my endurance, I didn't hesitate any longer. I stepped forward quickly, standing firmly in front of Yashu to block the young master's view of her.
Being interrupted so abruptly, Yong'an's face twisted in annoyance, his eyes glaring at me as if he wanted to eat me alive. The two bodyguards behind him also began to shift, moving into a stance ready to strike at their master's command.
Without a second thought, I ducked low, scooped up a handful of filthy dust and sand, and flung it straight into the faces of the three men. While they were still flailing from being blinded by the dust, I grabbed Yashu's hand and pulled her into a dead sprint through the narrow alleys of the market.
It took a few seconds for the young master to regain his senses, clutching his eyes and howling in pain. He screamed an order; one bodyguard immediately broke away, chasing after us like a lightning bolt, while the other stayed behind to tend to Yong'an.
( Seriously... Always running into nonsense! ) - I cursed inwardly. It seemed today was truly a day of ultimate misfortune for us.