Chapter 31: Ten taels of gold and a pot of wine
Compared with the chaos in the Yan family, Cao Jinxing was much more relaxed. He wrote the document and threw the fire turtle to Liu Zhenyuan, and everything was fine.
The Jinyiwei cannot hide anything, nor do they need to hide anything. They just write down whatever they see.
As to whether he was a "fake" or a bandit, the emperor had the final say.
Liu Zhenyuan couldn't keep the fire turtle for too long, especially as it was related to the Opera House. After receiving it, he handed it to the commander Lu Bing overnight, who then presented it to Jiajing.
Jiajing was very happy.
Materials that can prolong life are very rare. After reading Cao Jinxing's documents, the entire itinerary was clearly recorded and everything was in plain sight. It also gave him the opportunity to blackmail the Yan family and "extort" them openly.
Jiajing was even more delighted.
We're just worried about the money to build the Wanshou Palace. Now we can hand this matter over to Yan Shifan, the Vice Minister of Works, but we won't allocate any money to him... If you want your son to live, you have to pay for it yourself!
"This person is capable, reward him."
With just one word from him, Cao Jinxing's promotion to deputy captain was approved, and it was a done deal, and no one's objections would matter.
Cao Jinxing didn't pay much attention to these. After he sent the fire turtle up, it was too late and he was too lazy to wait for news in the yamen, so he went to the ghost market with Lu Kunlun.
The "treasures from heaven and earth" that Lu Kunlun mentioned are right here - but this time it's different, you can buy it.
Cao Jinxing had a lot of money on him, and he was very interested in the rare treasures that he could get without risking his life.
The Ghost Market is located in the belly of Liyu Mountain in the suburbs of Beijing. It was first built during the reign of Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty. After more than two hundred years of continuous development, it has become a strictly ordered underground city.
The ghost market is only open at night.
Market entrants are not restricted by their origins or factions. They can bring in goods to sell or bring in money to buy goods.
From small things like food, clothing, daily necessities, to big things like magical weapons and rare skills.
You can buy it here!
Lu Kunlun was obviously an old customer and was familiar with everything. Cao Jinxing had just arrived and had specially changed into black clothes before coming.
The two came to the entrance of the ghost market.
——Liyu Mountain, Fisheye Cave.
Every night , the huge gate at the entrance of the cave is opened and a red light is hung beside the cave, which means the ghost market is open.
After entering the cave, there is a long corridor.
Lu Kunlun led the way in front.
Cao Jinxing followed behind him, looking left and right: "It's quite impressive. It costs a lot to maintain this place. Who pays? Who makes the decision?"
"There are three ghost markets: Wu, Chen, and Huang."
Lu Kunlun had obviously investigated and knew all this in detail. He said, "They are all wealthy people in the capital. Their families have long been rooted here. They are the largest sellers in the ghost market and the actual helmsmen. But don't worry about it. Our target this time has nothing to do with them."
After walking about three hundred meters and exiting the corridor, the view in front of me suddenly opened up.
The huge underground cave is eight stories high and is filled with stalactites of various shapes and sizes.
There are many pavilions and towers around, built against the mountain, lined up one after another.
From afar, under the light, all the buildings seem to be floating in mid-air, black on top and red on the bottom, less worldly and more ethereal and ghostly.
It’s getting late.
The market has been open for some time.
The criss-crossing mountain roads were filled with people, and judging by their attire, most of them were martial artists with swords on their waists.
"so many people?"
Cao Jinxing was a little surprised.
"Today is the middle of the month, so there are still quite a lot of people here."
Lu Kunlun said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath: "This is the smell! Come with me."
He dodged and ran to the southeast.
Cao Jinxing followed closely behind him, his body turning into electricity.
Soon, the two came to a tavern with a sign that read "Happy Forest" and were greeted by the aroma of wine.
The fragrance is very special, with a refreshing floral scent that makes people feel relaxed and happy just by smelling it.
There are several small bamboo tables in front of the wine shop, and some customers are already tasting wine.
Lu Kunlun hurried to the counter: "Lao Zhou, is the wine I ordered here? Bring it here quickly!"
Old Zhou is an old man in his early sixties, dressed in gray cloth, with a haggard face and looking half-dead, but he has deep inner strength, his eyes are bright and his cultivation is not bad.
Cao Jinxing couldn't help but look at him again.
"coming."
Old Zhou spoke in an old voice, took out a small jar of wine from under the counter , and said a shocking number: "Ten taels of gold."
He held out his hand for money.
That’s almost one hundred taels of silver!
Cao Jinxing was stunned. Why is the wine so expensive? There is only this small jar, and it can probably only be used to pour two bowls!
But Lu Kunlun was very happy to give it. He took out the gold he had prepared in advance and handed it over: "Bring two more bowls."
Old Zhou shook the gold and turned around to get the dishes.
Lu Kunlun asked: "Are there any stocks left?"
Lao Zhou said: "No, this is your last jar."
"Then order two more jars."
"Get the goods in three days."
"good."
Lu Kunlun walked towards Cao Jinxing with a satisfied look in his hand, holding the wine jar and bowl. Seeing his strange look, he didn't take it seriously: "Come on, brother, let's find a secluded place, I'll show you what I can do!"
Cao Jinxing didn't understand what was going on, so he followed Lu Kunlun to a ventilation hole at the highest point outside the cave.
The two sat on the rocks, using the stalactites as a table.
"Don't ask yet."
After Lu Kunlun sat down, he opened the wine jar, and instantly the aroma of wine and flowers wafted in, which was extremely pleasant.
Just as Cao Jinxing expected, the wine was gone after he poured two bowls.
Lu Kunlun emptied the wine jar several times, not wanting to waste even a drop. From the looks of it, it looked like he wanted to eat the jar.
"Come, drink."
Lu Kunlun handed over a bowl and looked at Cao Jinxing expectantly, as if he was sure that he would be surprised by the wine.
Cao Jinxing took it and drank it all in one gulp. He wanted to see what kind of nectar could be worth a hundred taels!
But I didn't expect that after the wine took a sip and tasted extremely sweet and refreshing, a faint heat spread from the abdomen to the limbs, washing the whole body and gathering in the dantian.
The internal strength increased a little!
"Um?"
Cao Jinxing opened his eyes wide: "This is..."
"Hahaha!"
Lu Kunlun laughed proudly: "How is it? This 'Peach Blossom Wine' can not only increase your power, but more importantly, it can cleanse your meridians and marrow, open your veins and strengthen your tendons! This is not an ordinary peach blossom, this is the peach blossom of the Jade Peach!"
"Jade peaches?"
Cao Jinxing was even more surprised. He had seen this kind of natural treasure in the information: "Is it a fifth-grade intermediate jade peach that can cleanse the meridians and marrow?"
"Exactly!"
Lu Kunlun said, "Someone has found the legendary Peach Blossom Spring and brewed fine wine with the peach blossoms! I was lucky enough to have tasted this once, so I noticed it the first time I drank it! The purpose of my coming to the Ghost Market in the capital is to find the source of this wine. What do you think? Brother? Do you want to join us? This opportunity cannot be missed!"
“…”
Cao Jinxing was shamefully tempted.
I also want to try the Jade Peaches, but my fortune doesn’t allow it!
Cao Jinxing was extremely confused, and suddenly thought of something: "Brother Lu, you said you have eaten the Jade Peaches?"
"Um."
Lu Kunlun said, "When I was young, there was a severe drought in my hometown. There was famine everywhere. The people were forced to eat each other's children. It was a horrible sight. At that time, I used my extraordinary tree-climbing skills to dig out two nests of bird eggs on the cliffs. I wanted to keep them and eat them slowly, but an old beggar came to me and asked me if I wanted to exchange them for the peaches in his hand..."
Lu Kunlun's eyes showed a gentle smile: "... His peach was black and wrinkled, with only the core left. I didn't think much of it at the time. Seeing that he was almost starving to death, I thought that the bird's nest could be emptied again, but the dead could not be resurrected, so I gave him the bird's egg in exchange. I never expected that it turned out to be a rare jade peach! That beggar was my master's master, the former leader of the Beggars' Sect."
“…”
Cao Jinxing opened his mouth wide.
This is too outrageous...
How great a blessing is this?
As soon as he heard it, he knew it was a sure thing. Lu Kunlun was the perfect template for the protagonist! Even if he couldn't eat meat, he should be able to drink soup.
"good !"
Cao Jinxing nodded heavily: "Done!"
Clench your hands tightly in the air.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Deal done!
