After Becoming the Villain’s Black Moonlight - Chapter 8

The doorman, eyes fixed straight ahead, bowed respectfully and held a passage jade tablet high above his head, offering it to them.

Yin Huizhi took it and glanced down. The talisman was a thin sliver, only a quarter the size of a palm, yet it felt heavy and was pitch-black throughout. By the time he looked up, Xie Ling had already turned and walked away. He quickly tied the tablet to his person and prepared to follow, but the doorman suddenly grabbed him and forced a mask into his hands.

The doorman’s eyes, which had an unnaturally large amount of white showing, rolled about as he gestured toward Xie Ling, bowing frantically all the while. Yin Huizhi understood. The doorman knew of the chaos outside and feared a repeat of past events; yet, terrified of the inscrutable and sinister Xie Ling, he had turned to Yin Huizhi for help instead.

Yin Huizhi sighed inwardly: Do I look like I am any braver?

The snow-white figure had already distanced himself considerably. With no time to think, Yin Huizhi gripped the mask and hurried toward him. However, he could not tell if it was just his imagination, but Xie Ling seemed to be walking faster and faster. Yin Huizhi’s brisk walk eventually turned into a jog.

The inner walls of the tunnel were dark, though the torches provided ample light. The further in they went, the wider the path became. Yin Huizhi was so focused on catching up to that retreating back that he failed to adjust his pace; when they turned a corner, he nearly collided with Xie Ling, who had stopped without warning.

The tip of his nose was brushed by hair as smooth and light as silk. Yin Huizhi took a hurried step back to put some distance between them. Xie Ling finally turned and deigned to give him a look. His gaze held a hint of a mocking smile as he asked with little sincerity, “Do you want me to hold your hand while we walk?”

It sounded like a question of whether he wanted to be led, but the subtext was clearly: Are you incapable of walking on your own?

Yin Huizhi sensed keenly that Xie Ling was somewhat annoyed. He reflected for a moment and concluded that the mask in his hand was the culprit. For a time, he did not know whether to throw it away or tactlessly offer it up. After a brief hesitation, he tentatively suggested, “Are you worried there is something wrong with this mask? Should I trade mine with yours?”

In truth, he did not think there would be an issue with the mask. Since the Ghost Market had let Xie Ling in directly, the powers behind it would not resort to tampering with something so conspicuous. But who knew what a madman might think?

Xie Ling’s lips moved slightly: “Idiot.”

Yin Huizhi: “…”

“Don’t just take things from strangers.” Xie Ling snatched the mask from his hand and walked away on his own. Yin Huizhi muttered to himself that the man was indeed mercurial.

Descending the stone steps, a world of hidden wonders revealed itself. Despite the word “Ghost” in its name, the operators and patrons of the Ghost Market were all “people”: cultivators, demonic practitioners, and demons in human form. It turned away no one, making it exceptionally lively.

From the periphery, the Ghost Market seemed no different from a surface-level bazaar, selling everything from food and clothing to entertainment. There were even stalls selling snacks for young children. Previously, Yin Huizhi had mostly heard negative reviews of the Ghost Market, but being his first time here, he could not help but be curious, quietly observing as he trailed behind Xie Ling.

As they ventured deeper, the goods for sale became increasingly peculiar. Most were things Yin Huizhi did not recognize; a few he had seen listed as contraband in the Guanlan Sect’s rules. The crowd also grew sparse. Those wearing light-colored waist tokens were forced to turn back, their clearance levels clearly insufficient.

Evidently, what Xie Ling sought was not here. Yin Huizhi followed him through the cacophony without stopping once. They walked in silence. Yin Huizhi suddenly realized that although this man was always full of venomous wit and nonchalance when he spoke, most of the time he seemed to prefer silence. It was not a natural calmness of temperament; it was more like a malice so deep and long-accumulated that if one were to peel back that layer of human skin, only a cold desolation would remain.

Yin Huizhi could not help but ponder that difficult question again: What exactly was Xie Ling’s goal in approaching him?

“We’re here.”

Xie Ling interrupted his wandering thoughts. They had stopped before a massive bronze door, its 3D reliefs extending all the way to the vaulted ceiling. “Young Master Xie has arrived,” a raspy, low voice followed immediately.

Yin Huizhi looked up to see an elder in a hood standing by the door. His shriveled, wrinkled face had a strange stiffness. He slowly forced a smile for Xie Ling and gave a slow greeting before turning his gaze toward Yin Huizhi. Those shrewd, calculating eyes shifted, scanning Yin Huizhi’s face before moving down to linger for several seconds on his collar and neckline.

“According to the rules, pets entering the auction house must be ‘leashed’,” the elder said.

Just then, two men, one tall and one short, were also entering. The shorter demonic practitioner was massive, the fat on his face nearly overflowing from beneath the Ghost Market mask. The taller one appeared quite young and delicate, but his eyes were gray and vacant. A whip scar on the back of his hand extended into his sleeve. The stout man took a rope from a tray. One end was held in his hand, while the other was an adjustable collar. Before he could even move, the youth submissively reached out and guided his own head into it. The stout man gave him an impatient shove, which then turned into an intimate caress, his short, pudgy fingers rubbing back and forth across the youth’s waist.

Yin Huizhi instantly understood what the elder meant by “pet.” His expression soured immediately, and his hands, hidden within his wide sleeves, clenched into fists as he suppressed his impulse to speak. Xie Ling, who had remained silent, suddenly narrowed his eyes behind his mask. With a half-smile, he asked the elder, “Pet?”

The elder’s stiff, withered hand paused. After a few beats, he bowed apologetically and said, “It was my slip of the tongue. Then, may I ask who this gentleman is?”

Xie Ling had no intention of introducing him. He simply stood there with his arms crossed. After a long silence, a flicker of trepidation appeared on the elder’s face. He was not afraid of this “useless” young master himself, but rather the Tianye Sect behind him.

“It is not that I am overly curious,” the elder said, slowing his tone as much as possible, “but the auction has strict limits on the number of guests. If the person beside you is not attending as an appendage, he likely cannot enter.”

Xie Ling turned to Yin Huizhi and asked softly, “Are you?”

Yin Huizhi’s eyelashes fluttered. He said flatly, “I don’t know.”

His tone was not arrogant, but it certainly was not the attitude a catamite or servant should have. A bit of cold sweat broke out on the elder’s forehead. He stared at Yin Huizhi uncertainly, wondering if his own eyes had failed to recognize some important figure. Could it be an illegitimate son of the Xie family?

The corners of Xie Ling’s mouth curled up. He nodded to the elder and said appreciatively, “Old man, you guessed right. He is indeed my play-pet.”

Yin Huizhi: “…”

The elder: “…”

Xie Ling took a roll of leading rope from the tray held by the elder’s attendant. He unrolled it slowly, casually wrapping one end around his own wrist and fingers, then beckoned to Yin Huizhi with the other end. Yin Huizhi felt ridiculous for his foolish assumption moments ago; he had actually thought Xie Ling wanted to protect him.

Expressionless, he walked toward Xie Ling and tilted his head back, exposing his neck. Xie Ling looked down at him. His long, dark lashes cast shadows, forming a graceful arc with the slight upturn of his eyes. For a moment, his expression actually looked somewhat tender. Unfortunately, it was only a look; Xie Ling likely did not even know how to spell the word “tenderness.”

Yin Huizhi kept a wooden face, waiting for Xie Ling to slip the collar over his neck. But the hand did not fall on his throat. Xie Ling gently caught his hand instead. His wrist was gripped firmly. Pale, slender fingertips guided the collar onto his wrist bone, tightening it bit by bit until it rested loosely against his skin. Having finished this, Xie Ling took a half-step back and nodded with satisfaction. Then, he gave the rope an unceremonious tug.

Caught off guard, Yin Huizhi stumbled and nearly toppled over.

“You!”

Tugging him along, Xie Ling asked the elder with a beam, “May I enter now?”

The elder, wishing only for him to leave as quickly as possible, pulled down the edge of his black hood. “Young Master Xie, please.”

This time, Yin Huizhi reacted quickly, following immediately before Xie Ling could pull the rope again. Xie Ling was very pleased with his compliance.

After entering, they were led by a maidservant to the VIP seats in the front row. The auctioneer was giving the opening remarks. Yin Huizhi sat below, distractedly observing the ring-tool in front of Xie Ling.

Each guest had one of these small items at their side. They were actually a set of magical artifacts paired with the earrings worn by the auctioneer, used to replace the bidding paddles found in mundane auction houses. If a bidder wished to make an offer, they could speak directly into it, and their words would reach the auctioneer’s ear.

Just as Yin Huizhi figured out its use and prepared to look away, his wrist tightened.

“You want it?” Xie Ling tugged the rope and asked in a low voice.

A bad premonition flashed through Yin Huizhi’s mind. A second later, it came true. He was yanked off balance and tumbled onto Xie Ling, landing right on his lap. Xie Ling gripped the cold ring and began sliding it onto Yin Huizhi’s finger, acting for all the world like a man obsessed, as if to say, “I will give you whatever you want.”

Even without looking up, Yin Huizhi could feel the weight of countless gazes fixed on them. He felt like his head was about to explode. Psycho.

He stomped hard on Xie Ling’s foot, but it had little effect. Instead, he was met with a chilling, threatening glare from Xie Ling that only he could see.

“…”

The guests in the hall came from various major powers, each harboring their own schemes. Furthermore, since cultivators had heightened senses, the slightest movement was magnified severalfold. While no one spoke out loud, the glances were constant. As for what was being whispered in private, that was anyone’s guess. Perhaps by tomorrow, the scandalous rumors surrounding Xie Ling would gain a new entry: “Flirting shamelessly in public at the Ghost Market.”

Yin Huizhi could only force himself to look on the bright side: at least no one here knew his true identity.

The items appeared one after another as the auctioneer gave rhythmic introductions. The ring felt somewhat like a hot coal; Yin Huizhi tried several times to find an opportunity to return it, but Xie Ling held his hand down firmly. Looking up, he could only see the half of Xie Ling’s profile covered by the mask and a glimpse of his lean chin.

Yin Huizhi flexed his forearm, the wrist movement pulling the rope and causing Xie Ling’s hand to move slightly. He said politely, “Young Master Xie, it would be better if you took this back. Otherwise, I am afraid I might bankrupt the Tianye Sect.”

Xie Ling had been listening to the auctioneer with great interest. He was not annoyed by the tug; instead, he leaned in patiently to listen. Hearing the remark, he smiled. “Go ahead and bid.”

His voice was full of indulgence, mixed with a strange sense of delight. However, he still did not use a sound transmission spell, nor did he intentionally lower his voice. That low baritone drifted into Yin Huizhi’s ear and reached the ears of everyone present.

He was doing it on purpose, Yin Huizhi concluded decisively. Every doubt he had previously tried to ignore stacked up once more in his heart. What exactly was Xie Ling trying to achieve?