Chapter 149: The Eerie Market

Hua Rong felt a sudden panic rising within her. The occasional caw of a crow sent shivers down her spine, and the surrounding air seemed as cold and piercing as ice, penetrating deep into her body. The atmosphere was thick with unmistakable fear.

Clutching the twin rings tightly, those two restless roles without a place to belong, she found herself utterly lost, unsure of where to turn.

“Why did those guys leave so quietly, without a sound...?” She swallowed nervously. Just as hesitation flooded her heart, Hua Rong suddenly noticed a faint glow emerging from the distant darkness.

Focusing her gaze, it was no mischievous star—there truly was a firelight flickering!

“This place is so desolate; surely that must be the only place they could have gone!” Although she didn’t understand why Jun Yeli would come to such a remote place, circumstances left Hua Rong with no choice. She quickly paced toward the firelight, as if fleeing a ghostly face.

As she drew nearer, the fire grew brighter, and the sounds of raucous voices gradually became audible.

Peering inside, she found herself at a marketplace. The people coming and going were shrouded in mystery—some covering their faces, others wearing black gauze hats—engaged in evidently illicit dealings.

“Why are these people so strange? Am I drawing too much attention like this...?” Looking down at her own appearance, she recalled how clever she had been before leaving the palace, changing into a maid’s outfit. Yet, her unveiled face still made her stand out awkwardly in this place.

“Never mind, finding someone is what matters. Maybe there’s a clue here after all!” Jun Yeli wouldn’t have come here for mere amusement.

Biting her lip, Hua Rong steeled herself and pressed onward. Around her, calls from vendors echoed ceaselessly.

“Come and see! Just unearthed from a tomb, porcelain vases with a rich, lustrous hue, steeped in history...”

“Ancient bronze statues, Tang dynasty tri-colored glazes, guaranteed authentic...”

The wares on sale were no ordinary goods. Some even peddled elixirs said to awaken the mind.

All sorts of strange and exotic items appeared to be on offer.

Hua Rong couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth in disbelief. “These treasures must have been lost for ages. Only in dreams could one hope to find such things. Could this be a major counterfeit goods hub?”

Lost in thought, Hua Rong suddenly collided with a man. Realizing her mistake, she hurriedly apologized, “I’m terribly sorry, I was distracted!”

She instinctively looked up. The man was tall and broad, his large robe barely concealing a face marked by a fierce scar, eyes blazing with hostility and murderous intent—a visage enough to inspire dread.

Hua Rong was momentarily stunned, almost screaming in fright. “What is going on? Why do these people all look so menacing? Could this be a den of vicious criminals? What kind of cursed place have I stumbled into?”

No wonder Jun Yeli was unwilling to bring her here—there must have been a good reason. Now, regret was already too late.

“Heh, a woman?” The man glanced coldly at her, not intending to make a fuss but warned, “I advise someone like you to leave at once, lest you lose both your spouse and your life.”

Hua Rong didn’t yet grasp the meaning of this warning. Taking a few more steps forward, she sensed something amiss behind her.

She turned repeatedly, noticing several men quickly ducking their heads and pretending to browse wares, but their nervousness was palpable.

“Those few have been trailing me all the way. Could they have ill intentions?”

Swallowing hard, Hua Rong’s heart pounded wildly, with no place to settle. Unsure of where to go, she quickened her pace, trying to shake them off in the crowd.

But as she ventured deeper, she suddenly found herself trapped—an imposing wall blocked her path completely.

“Who says there’s no dead end in the world? Has even heaven turned against me?”

Despair overwhelmed her; tears almost spilled. Glancing back, she saw the men closing in, blocking any escape.

“Well, little lady, keep running if you like,” one leered, brandishing a knife with unsettling enthusiasm.

He raised a brow and even blew her a lascivious wink—so disgusting it made Hua Rong grateful she hadn’t eaten much, or she might have thrown up.

“What do you want? I have a husband!” Hua Rong folded her arms defensively, eyes wary. Naturally, she assumed these men were lecherous scoundrels. Among such a bizarre crowd, a delicate young woman like herself was bound to attract unwanted attention.

Preemptively asserting her status, she declared her identity clearly.

They laughed derisively. “Stop overestimating yourself and hand over your money!”

“What? You’re thieves!”

Hua Rong felt embarrassed, realizing how foolish she had been moments ago. She patted her purse and sighed, “Great, where am I supposed to get money?”

In the palace, she lived in luxury; everything was provided. Who carried money when stepping outside?

The atmosphere turned awkward. The men, seeing her empty-handed, grew impatient. “Do you have any money or not?”

“Look, I told you I don’t have any. Will you believe me?”

They sneered. “Don’t try to fool us. Who comes here without money? Do you think we’re idiots?”

“Exactly. Look at your tender skin—you’re obviously a rich miss, pretending to be innocent here!”

Their chatter grew louder, leaving Hua Rong utterly humiliated. It was the first time she had ever been scolded for having no money, and the injustice stung deeply.

She tentatively felt her waistband, then bit her lip and gave up. “Fine, I have no money. You can kill me if you want!”

“Alright, no money, then we’ll take what we want!”

“Weren’t you supposed to avoid assault? Do you have any professional ethics?” Hua Rong was speechless.

But judging by their advancing steps, they weren’t joking.

Biting her lip, she suddenly looked up and shouted, “Husband, come save me!”

Everyone turned sharply—but found no one.

Seizing the moment, Hua Rong bent low and tried to flee, only to have someone grab her arm.

“Hey there, little miss, you’re clever, but do you think we’ll let you run?”