Chapter 7 - The Venue (Part 1)

“Arranging it is definite. Just that...”

The fatty felt awkward. What sort of characters frequented these Dark Auctions?

Murderers, bandits, mountain thieves, petty thieves, all manner of suspicious folks could enter. If bro Sheng somehow got into conflicts by accident and suffered any harm, then this would be deeply unjust.

“Just that I’d best keep a low profile, right?” Lu Sheng smiled, grasping his concerns.

Not only was his own status at stake, but the entire Lu clan of Jiu Lian Cheng would certainly settle accounts with Zheng Xian Gu if he sustained any injuries.

“It's good you understand. Bro Sheng, your standing differs. For others, I wouldn't be so worried...” Zheng Xian Gu sighed.

“I know. Help arrange it for me. I must obtain this item.” Lu Sheng brooked no dissent.

“Oh sighs...” Zheng Xian Gu consented helplessly.

Lu Sheng corroborated the Dark Auction's exact timing with him in detail. Then waited for Zheng Xian Gu to send someone over with an esteemed guest invitation.

Invitation letter in hand, only then did he exit the restaurant.

"Top grade rouge and powder for sale! Young misses come take a look!"

"Premium first-rate goods, just brought in from central plains' Zi Hua Cheng!"

"Unique lilac scented blush, unavailable anywhere else!"

Outside the restaurant, peddlers with small wooden carts selling rouge slowly moved along the streetside shouting vigorously to peddle their wares.

This street specialized specifically in rouge and powder vending. Many lady families enjoyed strolling through here.

The setting sun dipped westwards. Having just drizzled slightly earlier, the wet reflective ground seemed to glow faintly pink under illumination.

Lu Sheng exhaled. His breath instantly turned white, slowly dispersing.

Glancing back inside the restaurant, Jin Yu Restaurant's massive shadow got projected out by sunlight.

Currently at peak hours, endless streams of entering and exiting patrons could be glimpsed. Extremely noisy and bustling.

Standing in the restaurant's shade, Lu Sheng surveyed both sides. Everywhere else appeared rather deserted apart from the front entrance.

Those peddlers pushed their slow moving carts within the shadows.

Watching for a while, Lu Sheng thought of buying some gifts for his stepmother Lady Liu and younger sister Lu Yi Yi, taking the chance selecting some nice rouge samples as little presents. Such items were inexpensive while occasional quality pieces could still be chanced upon, quite good value gifts.

He walked several steps down the lane, comparing which peddler seemed better.

Afternoon descended with the streets growing even more desolate. Many shops had already closed doors.

Sparse occasional passerbys on both sidewalks too.

Yet oddly, these rouge peddlers clearly noticing the sparseness still smiled enthusiastically, hawking loudly.

Their hawking echoed back and forth through the empty expanse.

Lu Sheng narrowed his eyes without sensing anything peculiar, assuming this world probably had unique customs and practices.

Selecting left and right, he pinpointed a peddler who painted his cart light pink. A banner was inserted into the cart with the words "Central Plains Li Ji Rouge"

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The peddler pushed his cart slowly. Face brimming smiles, he wore gray clothes and a melon skin hat, appearing a humble figure.

"If I remember right, Li Ji rouge is a rather proper old established central plains brand."

Lu Sheng recalled and slowly approached the peddler cart, intending to pick some premium rouge for his stepmother and Lu Yi Yi.

That peddler moved ahead bit by bit. Some playing children gamboled nearby.

The cart slowly trundled past the kids before turning into a small alley by the streetside shadows.

Estimating he was about to pack up, Lu Sheng quickened his pace to catch up.

Following into that alley.

"Huh??"

Lu Sheng's footsteps halted sharply.

This was shockingly a dead end!

Utterly empty inside without the slightest cart or human silhouette.

Eyes narrowing, his body subtly tensed alertly.

He scrutinized this tiny dozen meter long alley thoroughly from top to bottom, left to right.

Both sides were residences with gray black walls. The end sealed off by an aged looking black wall with some talisman pasted over it.

Those white paper red letter talismans appeared rather dim under the setting sunlight. Some corners had even curled up, seeming to lose adhesive.

"No concealed doors on the walls, so where did that cart go...?"

Lu Sheng repeatedly rewound his memories. He clearly recalled that small cart entering this alley path.

Retreating out, he saw several playing kids still scampering about the roadside.

These children dressed quite plainly, appearing to be ordinary commoners' offspring.

Lu Sheng put on an affable smile, fishing out some coins from his pocket to stop a running girl.

"Little miss, may I ask you something?"

"Speak, mister. What do you want to ask?"

The girl had her hair in two little ox horns. Around nine or ten, face flushed red, probably a street rascal unafraid of strangers, answering openly.

"I wanted to ask if you saw that Li Ji rouge cart just passing through here? Did it go into this small alley?"

Lu Sheng pressed two copper coins into her palm.

The little one beamed delighted instantly.

"Didn't see any rouge cart! We play here everyday. Those normally only sell in the morn right? Afternoons they all go to the antiquities street side."

"You didn't see it?"

Lu Sheng was baffled, feeling this child deliberately lied.

Seeing his expression, the girl widened her eyes earnestly.

"Really! Today the streets are totally empty without anything! Go ask someone else if you don't believe. Desolate all around!"

Right then the other kids ran over corroborating as well.

"That's right, that's right! My ma was just about to come buy stuff but all those peddler carts somehow disappeared. How odd!"

"This mister said he just saw a Li Ji rouge cart!" The girl pointed at Lu Sheng.

"Where, where?"

"Didn't see any cart! This street is so small."

"Probably dreamt it! Hehehe..."

The lively chatter swiftly turned into giggles.

The smile gradually vanished from Lu Sheng's face.

He turned to glimpse Jin Yu Restaurant.

Under the shade, the restaurant bustled with entering and exiting traffic. Booming with flourishing business, utterly different from this street's isolation.

"Then did any of you see..."

Lu Sheng turned back, words cut short.

Those children by his side had somehow vanished without him noticing at some point!

Sweeping all around, the streets were desolate and empty without a soul.

Not even any passerbys.

The children's rowdiness disappeared instantly. Logically, children this age couldn't possibly vanish so synchronously without the slightest sound.

Lu Sheng was confident his Black Tiger blade skills afforded acute ambient sensing that could discover even wolves. Yet he completely missed any noises from the kids' departure somehow.

Eyeing the bleak lifeless streets, he suddenly shuddered and hastened towards Jin Yu Restaurant.

Pa pa pa pa....

His footsteps sounded exceptionally distinct. The nearer he approached the restaurant, the warmer his entire being felt.

Whoosh!!

Abruptly, akin to surfacing from underwater, Lu Sheng sensed everything around him turn vividly lively, brimming vitality.

Patrons with body warmth brushed past him continuously. Someone bumped into him by accident, swiftly apologizing.

Some ladies also alighted from carriages, smiling gently as they entered the restaurant, welcomed by attendants.

Standing before the restaurant, Lu Sheng peered again at that rouge powder street. Somehow it now bustled with somewhat more pedestrians compared to earlier desolation.

Utter opposites.

Inhaling deeply, Lu Sheng swiftly hailed an approaching carriage.

"Lu manor."

"Roger, please be seated!"

The coachman snapped his whip. The bony aged horse slowly plodded its hooves into motion.

Seated inside contemplating, that peddler and group of children were highly abnormal.

Now that he recalled, the peddler's smile seemed almost motionless. Giving an extremely dubious fake sensation.

Relating to the Xu household tragedy, suddenly he sensed an impending stormy crisis looming.

"This county is growing ever more dangerous..." he mumbled softly.

The carriage shortly arrived at Lu manor gates.

Noticing Lu Sheng in the carriage, the doorman hurriedly welcomed him over.

"Young master, you've returned?"

The doorman was called little eight Wang. Eighth born in his family. Everyone addressed him intimately by his nickname. A rather crafty young fellow. Just turned seventeen this year inheriting his dad's duties, also entering the Lu household's employ.

Little eight was quite familiar with Lu Sheng. Often telling him various interesting bizarre rumors circulating in and outside the county, stuff Lu Sheng enjoyed hearing.

"Is master home?"

Lu Sheng randomly asked after alighting and paying.

"Master went to the county offices again. Prefect summoned him. Seems to be seeking something."

Little eight laughed.

"Seeking something?"

Preoccupied by personal matters these days, Lu Sheng had neglected affairs at the manor.

"Something what?"