Chapter 123: A Strange Incident in the Palace

Fang Mu tightened his grip on his butcher's knife, waiting in silence.

The light slowly dissipated, leaving nothing but the frame of the wooden door that had once been whole. Within that frame lay an entirely different scene. Inside the doorway stood a magnificent, opulent palace, a stark contrast to the dilapidated streets outside. There were a dozen or so people within the palace, two of whom Fang Mu recognized: Iron Calculator Xian and Zhang Liu. They were seated at tables laden with mouth-watering delicacies.

Fang Mu stepped behind the door, only to find the same ruined street still there. The door acted like a conduit between spaces, revealing one world outside and another within. Fang Mu considered this for a moment; it was clearly an invitation to enter. Without hesitation, he stepped through.

The instant he crossed the threshold, the scene shifted, and Fang Mu found himself inside the grand palace. The people who had been seated turned their heads, staring at him in astonishment. The expressions on the faces of Iron Calculator Xian and Zhang Liu were particularly vivid.

Fang Mu scanned his surroundings, a green light flickering in his pupils as he activated his Green-Eye Technique. There were no spectral threads connecting anyone; this was no illusion. He extinguished the light and, amidst the surprised stares of the others, took a seat next to Iron Calculator Xian.

Iron Calculator Xian opened his mouth to speak, but Fang Mu cut him off.

"The moonlight is bright," Fang Mu said, his expression blank.

Iron Calculator Xian blinked, instinctively replying, "Sleep on a big bed."

Fang Mu continued, "The person on the bed is bare."

Iron Calculator Xian answered, "Two pairs of shoes under the bed."

These lines were familiar—they were the very words exchanged when Fang Mu first met Iron Calculator Xian at the Ghost Market.

Iron Calculator Xian gave a wry smile. "Brother Fang, aren't you being a bit too cautious?" As cunning as he was, he knew exactly what Fang Mu was doing—testing him. Had he failed to answer, Fang Mu would likely have cleaved him in two, assuming he was a fake. There was no hesitation in Fang Mu’s dictionary; Iron Calculator Xian was certain that Fang Mu’s blade would be faster than anyone else’s.

"What is the situation here?" Fang Mu asked, frowning. They had arrived before him and should know more.

Iron Calculator Xian spread his hands. "We don't know. After we entered the city gate, we encountered two anomalies, and then we ended up here."

Fang Mu stroked his chin; it sounded similar to his own experience. But then, he cast a glance toward the sullen-looking Zhang Liu. It made sense for Iron Calculator Xian to survive, given he managed a street in the Ghost Market and possessed strange, arcane abilities. But for Zhang Liu to also survive such anomalies—that was not simple.

The others averted their eyes, clearly unwilling to provoke trouble. Their goal in the Mystic Ghost Ruins was to strike it rich, and nobody wanted to cross paths with Fang Mu. In their eyes, he was a reckless brute—a high-level, dangerous one at that.

As Fang Mu pondered, Iron Calculator Xian leaned in close. "Brother Fang, it’s been very quiet in this palace since we arrived," he whispered. "We searched for an exit with those bastards, but found nothing."

Hearing this, others in the room glared at him. They were no ordinary people; their hearing was sharp. Even if he had whispered, they caught every word. Who could ignore being called a "bastard"? Zhang Liu set his goose-quill saber on the table, and the angry gazes instantly retracted.

"What happened?" Fang Mu asked.

"Those bastards thought we were few in number and tried to cause trouble," Iron Calculator Xian replied. "Zhang Liu cut a few of them down." He pointed toward a corner. Fang Mu looked over and saw a pile of corpses.

Fang Mu patted Zhang Liu on the shoulder, nodding. "Not bad. Your style suits my taste."

Zhang Liu froze, struggling to suppress the urge to draw his blade. *Something is wrong! I’m the one who’s supposed to be assessing you, so why has the dynamic reversed?*

Ignoring Zhang Liu’s furious glare, Fang Mu scanned the room once more. It was indeed a sealed space, just as Iron Calculator Xian had said.

Just then, a phantom flickered through the palace. A woman appeared, dressed in a black cloak and wearing a bronze mask. She was unmistakably a woman; no man could possess such a graceful, lithe figure. She surveyed the room, and when her gaze landed on Fang Mu, she paused briefly before taking a seat in a secluded corner.

Fang Mu was momentarily stunned. He felt as though he had seen this woman before, though he couldn't quite place where.

"Brother Fang, you certainly have a way with the ladies," Iron Calculator Xian chuckled.

Fang Mu offered a dry laugh. Just as he was about to speak, a rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the hall, drawing everyone's attention. Four dark, ghostly figures emerged, carrying a table and chair, which they placed at the very front of the palace. Once their task was done, they stood to the side.

A phantom suddenly appeared, slowly solidifying into a middle-aged man with a hulking frame, clad in armor.

"I am the Lord of Cangyun City!" the armored man announced. "Welcome to those who have passed the trial."

*Clack.* With the sound of grinding armor, the Lord of Cangyun City took his seat.

Fang Mu frowned. This City Lord was clearly another anomaly, but he couldn't guess what it was plotting.

"Music!" the City Lord commanded, clapping his hands.

Eerie, haunting music began to play, and young women in light silk robes appeared, dancing to the melody. Music, dance, and beauties—in any other setting, Fang Mu might have relaxed and enjoyed the show, but this was different. The others remained grim and motionless. Everyone who had made it this far was capable and understood the danger of sticking one's neck out.

As the dance continued, the City Lord raised a wine cup. "Everyone, raise your cups and drink!"

No one replied or moved. The City Lord smiled and drained his own cup.

Fang Mu stroked his chin. He wasn't thinking about the wine; he was wondering how he could get his hands on a corpse. Watching the dancers, he made a move that left everyone in the hall stunned. He stood up, walked over to one of the women, and pulled her into his arms.

"Little beauty, have a drink with me."

He raised the cup and poured the wine into her mouth.

The others held their breath. *As expected of a reckless, high-level brute—to think he’d pull a stunt like that!*