I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 64

The Ghost Market opens once a month, and its entrances and exits appear sporadically, shifting to a different location almost every month. Coincidentally, the entrance for the 15th of this month, at the hour of Zishi (midnight), was opening not far from the town.

Although Xun Fangyun was a member of the Demon Race, she hadn’t been in this world as long as Mang Ke, so she didn’t know much about the Ghost Market.

“The fortune-telling Daoist told me that the Ghost Market will open tonight at Zishi,” Mang Ke repeated the old Daoist’s words to Xun Fangyun. “We have two hours. We need to pawn the item and leave; otherwise, we won’t be able to get out until the 15th of next month.”

Moreover, because the location changes frequently, they might emerge in a chaotic place next month. They had to act fast!

“The entrance and exit to the Ghost Market are only open for one shichen [two hours]. We will sell the Demon Subduing Pestle, take the money, and leave,” Mang Ke planned. “I have no way to contact my sect members. They must be very worried about my disappearance.”

Xun Fangyun looked at Mang Ke and couldn’t help but smile. “Alright, we’ll sell the Demon Subduing Pestle, and then we will go to your sect.”

“We absolutely cannot do that,” Mang Ke said as she walked. “If you go and your identity is discovered, you will definitely be ganged up on.”

Xun Fangyun: “…Not necessarily.”

Who would be ganged up on remained to be seen.

The two walked along the small stream, chatting. Mang Ke mused, “When we get out, we will travel and explore. Since you are so powerful, we can definitely go to places we couldn’t visit before.”

Xun Fangyun couldn’t help but smile, holding Mang Ke’s hand. “Alright. Since I am so powerful this time, we will go wherever you want.”

North, South, Heaven, or Earth—Xun Fangyun could take Mang Ke anywhere.

If everything went smoothly, Xun Fangyun wished the book could be a little longer.

It was quite cold in the suburbs in winter. Mang Ke ate some dry rations she had brought from the town. Xun Fangyun conjured a flame with a flick of her finger and boiled a pot of hot water for Mang Ke.

Having abundant spiritual power was truly great. Manipulating elements like water, fire, and light at will made Mang Ke incredibly envious.

The two traveled through the night, arriving at an unnamed lake. A small lake dock sat quietly on the water. The serene scenery didn’t look like it could possibly host an entrance.

Mang Ke pointed at the small dock and said, “The Daoist told me that the entrance would appear here once Zishi arrives.”

Xun Fangyun looked in the direction she pointed. It was just a small dock, without even a single fishing boat. However, upon closer inspection, she could discern that a great deal of spiritual energy was gradually converging at the dock. Without a doubt, it would soon form a spirit-filled location.

“Then let’s wait a bit longer.” Xun Fangyun found a clean large stone, brushed her sleeve across it, making the stone clean and shiny. She touched it with her finger to ensure no dust remained before sitting down.

Mang Ke found her actions amusing. She leaned over and sat beside her. “Why are you so cautious? Are you really that afraid of dirtying your clothes?”

All the way here, Mang Ke had noticed Xun Fangyun was wary of surrounding branches and weeds, acting as if she were afraid these wild plants would snag her new clothes.

She expected her teasing to annoy Xun Fangyun, but instead, she heard her say calmly, “These clothes were a gift from you. I don’t want to get them dirty.”

Mang Ke was stunned, realizing she hadn’t given Xun Fangyun anything substantial.

“I’m glad you like them.”

Mang Ke sat beside her and reached out to hold her hand.

“When we have money, how about I buy you lots of things you like?”

Xun Fangyun looked down at Mang Ke’s hand grasping hers, moved her fingers, and intertwined them. She chuckled softly, “I like everything you buy for me.”

Mang Ke’s heart also felt sweet. She leaned her body against Xun Fangyun’s shoulder and said lazily, “We still have a long wait. It’s midnight, and I’m actually a bit sleepy.”

Xun Fangyun stroked her head and said, “You can sleep if you’re tired. I’ll wake you up when the Ghost Market opens.”

“Okay,” Mang Ke closed her eyes, satisfied. “Remember to wake me up, or we won’t have the travel money…”

Xun Fangyun could leap across rooftops and walls, but Mang Ke, as a small disciple of a cultivation sect, didn’t have the ability to travel thousands of miles a day.

Leaning on Xun Fangyun’s shoulder, Mang Ke quickly fell asleep. Perhaps because she had been so tired lately, she even let out a small snore. By the quiet lake, it sounded exceptionally cute, like an animal’s murmur.

Xun Fangyun waved her hand, causing the air around them to move slowly. The windless lakeside allowed Mang Ke to sleep even more comfortably.

So, Mang Ke slept leaning against Xun Fangyun, and Xun Fangyun closed her eyes to rest her spirit and bask in the moonlight. Soon, the hour of Zishi arrived.

The hour of Zishi had come.

Xun Fangyun opened her eyes. She could feel a massive surge of spiritual energy erupting at the dock. Soon, a thick fog rose around the lake, quickly obscuring everything beyond five meters in front of them.

And in the dense fog, a figure vaguely appeared at the dock. He looked like an ordinary fisherman, but Xun Fangyun had been sitting here the entire time and hadn’t seen any fishing boat approach.

“Esteemed Demon Race guest, would you like to visit the Ghost Market?”

The man in the thick fog said to Xun Fangyun, “You are the first guest, and I can take you across the water free of charge.”

Xun Fangyun pondered. It sounded like he would charge a fee if she were not the first guest.

She was penniless, and even her clothes were bought by Mang Ke. If he asked for money, she truly didn’t have any.

“Alright,” Xun Fangyun agreed. She then gently woke up the still-sleeping Mang Ke. “The Ghost Market is open. Let’s go.”

“Does the respected guest intend to bring a mortal into the Ghost Market?” the man in the dense fog continued. “Please excuse my honesty, but bringing a mortal in this way puts her in great danger.”

Mang Ke rubbed her eyes. Looking at the vast whiteness around her, she didn’t understand why the fog was so thick after she woke up.

“Are you saying she cannot enter?” Xun Fangyun frowned.

The man contemplated for a moment. He took out a red cord knot from his pocket and said, “This is a cord that can conceal one’s aura. If this young lady ties it in her hair, she can pass unnoticed.”

Xun Fangyun looked at the knot in his hand and asked, “What is the cost?”

The man replied, “One breath of your spiritual energy.”

Xun Fangyun: “Deal.”

With a flick of her finger, the red knot in the man’s hand fell into Xun Fangyun’s grasp. She also fulfilled the agreement and gave the man a breath of her spiritual energy, then pulled Mang Ke onto the boat.

On the boat, Xun Fangyun helped Mang Ke tie the knot into her hair.

Mang Ke touched it and turned to ask, “Is that all? That simple?”

The boatman said indifferently, “Because it can only last for one shichen. Assuming you will leave before the Ghost Market closes, it is perfectly suited for you.”

Mang Ke nodded. She looked at the boatman standing at the bow. Although the distance was less than a meter, Mang Ke could never clearly see his face; she could only see his figure wearing a straw raincoat and holding a bamboo pole.

She turned to Xun Fangyun and whispered, “He just asked you for a breath of spiritual energy. Are you okay?”

“It’s just one breath of spiritual energy.” Xun Fangyun chuckled softly. “If that can be used as money, I would be a billionaire.”

Seeing how you like to quibble, I should have asked for less spiritual energy.

The boatman spoke at that moment, “Has the Demon Lord never visited the Ghost Market? Here, spiritual energy can also be used as currency, and the spiritual energy of a Demon Lord is even more valuable.”

Mang Ke was surprised to hear this. “Then if I go inside to sell something, will I only be paid in spiritual energy?”

That stuff is useless to her!

The boatman replied, “The young lady can trade item-for-item. If you happen to encounter an itinerant merchant who travels between the human and ghost realms, they may be able to give you human currency.”

Mang Ke sighed in relief. Thank goodness. It seemed she could still earn money.

Just as Mang Ke was calculating how much to ask for the Demon Subduing Pestle, she heard the boatman say, “We have arrived.”

Looking up, the dense fog had somehow dispersed. What greeted them was a massive cherry blossom tree on the calm lake. The tree was blooming profusely, and pink petals drifted down. Beneath the tree, they could vaguely see bright lights and the shadows of a bustling crowd.

Getting closer, they realized the tree was much larger than they had imagined. They couldn’t see the top by looking up; it was so vast that it overshadowed the entire small island.

People were coming and going on the small island. They seemed to have arrived early, busy bustling and hawking their goods. It was extremely lively.

Mang Ke and Xun Fangyun got off the fishing boat. The fisherman said to them, “If the guests wish to return, wait here, and I shall come for you.”

Xun Fangyun asked, “How much will it cost this time?”

The fisherman smiled, “It is already an honor for the Demon Lord to ride my boat. How dare I accept payment?”

Xun Fangyun gave a soft laugh. She waved her hand and said, “Very well, I appreciate your effort.”

After bowing to her, the fisherman disappeared back onto the tranquil water.

Mang Ke was already mesmerized by the lively scene of the Ghost Market. She stopped at a stall to look. It was a stall selling clay figurines, but the figurines appeared to be alive—small cats, dogs, and even miniature opera stages that put on their own martial arts shows, looking incredibly vivid.

“Do you want one, little girl?” The stall owner smiled, seeing Mang Ke’s delighted expression. “They are 5 spiritual energy each, and a full opera set is only 60 spiritual energy.”

Hearing the completely unfamiliar unit of currency, Mang Ke grimaced and laughed. “Not for now, Boss. I want to ask, is there a pawnshop here?”

“A pawnshop?” The stall owner asked somewhat curiously, “Of course, there is, but what does a little girl like you want to pawn?”

“A Demon Subduing Pestle.”

“…Ha, you certainly know how to joke, guest.”

The stall owner folded his hands and smiled amiably. “An ancient divine artifact is not so easily obtained. However, if you are interested, follow the main street of the Ghost Market inward, and you will see the pawnshop.”

Mang Ke looked at the main path, which led directly under the tree. The surrounding lights looked bright. She smiled at the stall owner and said, “Thank you, Boss! I wish you great business!”

The stall owner waved his hand. Watching Mang Ke and the other woman walk away together, he sighed softly, “That little girl is truly like a human. It has been a long time since a mortal came to our Ghost Market…”