Chapter 55
When Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi returned to their room, preparing to sleep, the red dot on the map didn’t reappear.
“Could it be that someone took it down?” Tang wondered.
If a dangerous creature was eliminated, the red dot would disappear from the map.
Zhou Qi nodded. That was certainly possible. Given the presence of individuals with mysterious abilities, like the owner of the Jade Pavilion, there might be people who could silently deal with the mutated snake.
As they ventured through this unfamiliar world, they had to remain cautious.
Thankfully, in the Jade Pavilion, they could have a restful night’s sleep. Of course, the Shadow Umbrella remained essential.
Tang Yu’an scooped up Black Pearl, which had spent most of its time tucked into his jacket pocket, blissfully oblivious to the outside world. Now, suddenly taken out, the little kitten seemed slightly disoriented, shook its head, and began exploring the new environment with curiosity.
Tang Yu’an set it to guard mode in his pet interface and then lay down with Zhou Qi.
“Goodnight, Brother Qi!” he said.
“Goodnight,” Zhou Qi replied.
As the night deepened, the entire town gradually grew quieter, and even the patrolling guards slowed their steps.
At one point, a faint red shadow seemed to flash across the night sky. A guard, who had been dozing off, jolted awake, glanced around, and relaxed after confirming nothing had happened.
On the roof of the Jade Pavilion, Black Pearl narrowed its eyes slightly, keeping watch.
*
Knock, knock, knock.
Zhou Qi opened his eyes immediately, glancing at his watch. It was only a little past five, much earlier than usual.
He looked over at Tang Yu’an, who was still sound asleep, pinched his nose gently, then sat up and put away the Shadow Umbrella.
“You’ve done well,” he murmured softly.
The umbrella lay quietly in his hand, showing none of its usual liveliness around Tang Yu’an. Zhou Qi, however, didn’t mind and stored it back in his inventory before heading to the door.
“Good morning, Grandpa Li.”
As expected, it was Old Li, already geared up and ready to go.
Old Li gave Zhou Qi a slight nod. Before knocking, he hadn’t sensed any presence in the room, as if the boys had vanished. But when he knocked, their presence returned. Having witnessed Tang Yu’an’s “unique skills” the day before, Old Li no longer found such things surprising.
“Is Little An still asleep?” he asked.
Zhou Qi nodded.
“Do you want to join me at the early market?”
“Yes, we’ll be right out,” Zhou Qi replied. “Just give us a minute.”
Old Li nodded, “I’ll go boil some water. Don’t take too long.”
Watching Old Li head downstairs, Zhou Qi turned back and lifted Tang Yu’an out of the covers. “An’an, time to get up.”
Tang Yu’an sleepily opened his eyes, leaning against Zhou Qi. “Isn’t it still dark outside?”
“Grandpa Li said we can head to the market now.”
Zhou Qi rubbed his head gently. “If you don’t get up, I’ll go with Grandpa Li without you.”
“No way!” Tang Yu’an quickly perked up, slapping his cheeks to wake himself up. “I want to go too!”
After splashing his face with cold water, he finally felt awake.
He grabbed his bag, which Zhou Qi had mended with a patch of wool fabric the previous night, and looked as good as new.
Before leaving, Tang Yu’an took Black Pearl out, gave it some milk, and stored it back in the pet slot.
When they reached downstairs, Old Li had already finished boiling water.
“Have some hot water to ward off the cold.”
It was just past five, not yet six, and the night’s chill hadn’t entirely dissipated; it was much colder outside than indoors.
“We have some.” Tang Yu’an pulled out a thermos bottle.
The bottle was filled with purified water that Zhou Qi had prepared the night before, along with a half-filled canteen stored in their inventory. It would be enough for the day.
After drinking some hot water and nibbling on a bun, the three of them headed out.
In the shared room, Shi Tou and Xiao Cao were still sound asleep.
They had never experienced such a warm, cozy room before and were sleeping deeply, unaware of any movements outside.
Tang Yu’an didn’t bother them. Since they had already paid for the night’s stay, he figured they might as well enjoy it.
Outside, the first light of dawn was just beginning to break. The torches that had burned throughout the night had been extinguished, leaving the streets dimly lit, but people were already moving along the mountain path.
They joined the crowd along the mountain road, eventually arriving at the open space they’d visited the previous night.
Most of the campfires had burned down, and the people who had slept there in the open had vanished. The sleeping area was now a bustling marketplace.
Some had set up their goods in front of their tents, while others simply laid their items on the ground and sat behind them as makeshift stalls.
Old Li explained, “According to market rules, only those seated on the ground are considered vendors offering items for sale.”
“This way, it’s less likely for people to be stopped and pressured for trades as they leave, reducing potential conflicts.”
“Although many places in Jufeng Town require fees, the market here is completely free. As long as you follow the rules, you can set up a stall and trade freely,” Old Li said, gesturing toward a few patrol guards.
“There’s no need to worry about being robbed at the market because the guards are here. If anyone tries to rob, they’ll be taken down on the spot.”
“However, you still have to watch out for theft and scams,” he added. “If you catch someone stealing, the guards will handle it, but scams are another story.”
“So when you’re trading at a stall, be sure to check everything carefully. Once a trade is made, there are no refunds.”
“If a dispute breaks out over a trade, both parties may be detained by the guards. So be careful.”
“We understand.”
After explaining the basics, Old Li left them on their own. “Alright, you’re free to look around, but keep a low profile,” he advised. “Let’s meet up at the market entrance later.”
Then Old Li wandered off to browse the stalls on his own.
Tang Yu’an watched him leave, his eyes lighting up as he looked at the hundreds of stalls around him. He could practically see all the potential points and EXP waiting for him.
Of course, given the crowd, if they made trades at every stall, they might attract too much attention. Though they didn’t need to fear robbery within the market, it wasn’t guaranteed once they left.
So… a bit of disguise was in order.
Seizing the moment while Old Li wasn’t watching, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi left the market quietly and found a secluded spot. There, Tang Yu’an put on the Thousand-Faces Cloak.
They had planned the disguise last night. Choosing someone familiar with the town, like Iron Gold or Mo Ke, was too risky, as it could cause trouble later, especially if they encountered someone who knew them.
With the cloak draped over him, Tang Yu’an’s expression turned serious once more. He chanted inwardly, “Life is a stage, and I am always on it!”
“I am Dad, and Dad is me!”
Hearing Tang’s proclamation, Zhou Qi couldn’t help but smirk a bit.
The Thousand-Faces Cloak seemed to change its wearer based on their mental image, so even though Tang hadn’t used a name, his appearance gradually shifted under the cloak.
When Tang Yu’an finally removed the hood, Zhou Qi looked at him, feeling a slight wave of nostalgia.
Just as Tang Yu’an thought of Zhou Qi’s grandmother as his own, Zhou Qi, too, had a similar fondness for Tang Yu’an’s parents.
Mr. Tang was a kind man, always smiling, honest in business, never cheating, and always ready to help others, making him well-liked in town. As a neighbor, he was the one who drove Zhou Qi to the hospital whenever he got sick and took him to school in the city when he was accepted.
Seeing “Mr. Tang” standing before him, wearing that familiar warm smile, Zhou Qi felt a slight pang in his chest.
“Uncle Tang…”
“Brother Qi?” Tang Yu’an tilted his head, and his confused expression instantly pulled Zhou Qi back to the present.
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Qi said, “Let’s split up. Once you’re back at the market, start trading with people casually, then use the Shadow Umbrella to slip away when your time is almost up.”
Since there was no risk of robbery at the market, “Mr. Tang” could make trades freely. And with the cloak’s limited time, he would disappear before any issues could arise.
Zhou Qi took off his watch, set the alarm, and handed it to Tang Yu’an.
“When it rings, you leave right away,” he reminded.
The Thousand-Faces Cloak only had a 60-minute limit. After travel time, this left about 45 minutes for trading. To be safe, Zhou Qi gave Tang an extra 10 minutes to get away.
“Alright, let’s head back.”
“Yes, okay.”
As they walked back to the market together, Tang Yu’an noticed that moving around in his father’s “body” felt a bit clumsier than Mo Ke’s. And…
He stole a quick glance at Zhou Qi.
Since arriving in this world almost two weeks ago, he’d grown a little, now standing at 163 cm. Zhou Qi had also grown to 180 cm.
Tang Yu’an realized that his father was actually shorter than Zhou Qi. So, maybe one day he could grow taller than his dad and reach Zhou Qi’s height?
“An’an?”
Zhou Qi’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “Yes, I’m going now.”
After safely storing the Shadow Umbrella, Tang Yu’an slipped back into the market casually.
The people in the market were naturally curious about this new face, but mindful of market rules, most only looked.
Unbothered, Tang Yu’an began browsing the stalls.
Roughly estimated, there were about a hundred stalls, with food stalls being the busiest, followed by those selling firewood and coal. It seemed someone was mining coal from somewhere in the Jufeng mountains.
There were also stalls with iron goods, tools, and various “antiques” scavenged from pre-catastrophe ruins. At one stall, he even saw a keyboard and mouse marked at a surprisingly high price.
Did the seller even know what they were for?
Shaking his head, Tang began trading for items he thought might be useful. With his beginner appraisal skill, he wasn’t too worried about being scammed.
“How much for this glass bottle?” he asked at one stall, picking up a bottle.
It was a brown glass bottle, about 250 ml, with a stopper. It seemed perfect for storing light-sensitive potions—Lin Zhen might like it.
The stall owner, a middle-aged man, looked at Tang Yu’an and hesitated. “You name a price.”
The bottle itself wasn’t valuable—at least not according to the system’s assessment, as these containers were included with purchases. For instance, if one exchanged for a beginner healing potion, it would come in a brown glass bottle.
Earlier, he’d used a beer bottle and 100 grams of millet to trade with Sister Lin for a bag of insect repellent worth 50 points, so the value of things really depends on who’s trading.
“How about one steamed bun?” Tang Yu’an offered.
“A steamed bun? What’s that?” The middle-aged man looked puzzled.
“This,” he said, pulling out a whole wheat bun. He broke off a tiny piece for the man to try and kept the rest to eat himself.
With proper chewing, grains like this release a hint of sweetness. Even with just a small taste, the man’s eyes lit up as he savored it.
“Deal! I’ll trade for it,” he nodded, “but I need a whole one.”
Tang Yu’an shook his head, immediately switching to bargaining mode. “This is just a glass bottle—it’s fragile, breaks easily, and then it’s useless. The only benefit is its size.”
“One steamed bun. Take it or leave it,” he said, as if he’d walk away if the man didn’t agree.
The vendor gritted his teeth before speaking up, “Alright, one bun, but I’ll throw in a small bottle too.”
He pulled out a smaller 20 ml glass bottle. “This one is perfect for storing powder and easy to carry around!”
Naturally, he didn’t mention that it, too, was easy to break.
Tang Yu’an shrugged, “Alright, deal.”
With that, he traded one bun for a large and a small glass bottle, earning three experience points.
Browsing the stall further, he traded another bun for a clay jar. The jar was rather unattractive and roughly made, but it looked durable and practical.
The middle-aged man happily munched on the whole wheat bun, which was chewy and seemed filling—he instantly liked it.
Between bites, he grinned, “If you ever need more, come find me. These clay jars are my specialty. Trade me more of these buns, and I’ll throw in discounts!”
Tang Yu’an nodded, “Mr. … uh, sorry, how should I address you?”
He had almost called him “uncle” before remembering his current “age” and persona.
“Everyone calls me Old Tao,” the vendor said with a smile. “So, you’re new to Jufeng Town, right?”
Tang Yu’an mumbled an acknowledgment, then walked away with his new clay jar and bottles, marking this vendor’s stall as “Old Tao (Clay Pots)” on his map.
Glancing at the time, he saw that their chat had taken about five minutes. Now he had 48 minutes left in his transformed state and 38 minutes until the alarm Zhou Qi set would go off.
At this rate, he thought, he’d only be able to make deals with about seven or eight stalls. The pace was frustratingly slow.
Just then, notifications popped up:
[Employee “Zhou Qi” completed a profitable transaction with a new customer: +17 points, +3 experience]
[Employee “Zhou Qi” completed another profitable transaction with a new customer: +23 points, +3 experience]
On the other side, Zhou Qi’s deals were progressing steadily. Rubbing his chin, Tang Yu’an decided against continuing to visit stalls. He didn’t want to draw Old Li’s suspicion by offering too many whole wheat buns, and besides…
He wanted to try something new.
Since this wouldn’t be his only trip to Jufeng Town—he’d return tomorrow morning before they left—it was more important to find an efficient approach than to rush trades now.
Knowing he had eyes on him, he quietly slipped behind a tent and quickly opened the Shadow Umbrella.
When someone finally got curious enough to check, they found the spot behind the tent empty. Tang Yu’an had already moved to another spot nearby, out of sight.
He placed the glass bottles in the general store’s warehouse, retrieved coarse salt, and filled the clay jar with it. Coarse salt was abundant in the store, almost a full barrel’s worth. It wasn’t as fine or white as refined salt, instead resembling rough sea salt with some impurities—perfect for his plan.
He poured about half a jar, then grabbed a spoon. Coarse salt, valued at 1 point per 20 grams by the system, could easily yield profits in a trade.
Next, he spent 10 points to buy a 1×1.2-meter piece of cotton cloth and wrote on it with a marker: “Looking to buy mushrooms, fruits, and wild greens.”
Even if many people couldn’t read, if he used the sign enough, they’d start recognizing its purpose over time.
And he had a backup plan.
Pulling out a megaphone his mom had bought him online for a summer business project, he remembered using it to call out sales slogans while collecting bananas to sell at the market. Not only did he make enough to cover the cost of the megaphone, but he’d also ended up with a few hundred yuan profit.
When summer vacation ended, he’d used that money to treat his family and Zhou Qi to a big meal at the mall.
To Tang Yu’an, that felt like just a month ago…
He pressed his lips together, fighting a wave of homesickness. Shaking it off, he set the megaphone to record.
With everything ready, he put away the Shadow Umbrella, placed the jar on the cloth as a paperweight, and sat down at his “stall.”
[Employee “Zhou Qi” completed another profitable transaction with a new customer: +16 points, +3 experience]
[Experience points full. Merchant level +1]
[Merchant level reached lv5. Marketplace updated with new items: Red Beans, Mosquito Coils, and Soy Sauce. See “Wholesale Market” for details]
[Shop level upgrade feature unlocked. See “Shop” tab for details]
[Commercial Map enhanced with “Mini-Map” feature. See “Commercial Map” for details]
[Special skill “Remote Retrieval” upgraded to lv4. See Skills tab for details]
[Storage slots +1, Authorized slots +1]
[Daily Task Refresh Card +1]
[Please select a delivery address…]
Seeing the series of upgrade rewards, Tang Yu’an paused, then couldn’t help but laugh.
Just as he’d calculated, he had leveled up again today, and this time he’d unlocked another very useful new feature!
He quickly glanced at the list, then immediately opened the map to check it out.
A small, palm-sized circular window now appeared next to the main map, displaying his surroundings with him as the center. To his delight—
The zoom level within the mini-map had increased!
In a crowded place like the market, the green dots no longer clumped together, accurately representing their real-life positions.
He quickly noticed a magnifying glass icon on the main map.
As he moved this magnifying glass icon, the mini-map view shifted accordingly, no longer locked to his immediate vicinity. And with a click on the reset button, the mini-map would return to center on him. The interface was intuitive, displaying more information with ease.
As Tang Yu’an checked the map, he realized he was already drawing attention.
The clean, white cloth he’d laid out stood out in this shabby, dirty gathering place, and with his unfamiliar face seemingly appearing out of nowhere, he naturally attracted curious looks.
He noticed this too—the mini-map showed an increasing number of green dots around him.
He composed himself and switched on the megaphone hanging around his neck. His father’s deep, resonant voice echoed across the bustling market.
“Selling coarse salt, buying all kinds of mushrooms—fruits—wild herbs and greens—”
“Selling coarse salt, one spoon for ten mushrooms or three greens, only one fruit needed—”
“Selling coarse salt, buying all kinds of mushrooms—fruits—wild herbs and greens—”
He had the megaphone volume turned all the way up, and even in the lively crowd, the slightly electronic voice calling out his offers could be clearly heard.
Everyone watching widened their eyes in surprise.
The man hadn’t even opened his mouth—how was he calling out like that? Could it be some sort of sound-based ability?
