The black market was bustling with people.
Lu Changsheng went straight to the spot where the female stall owner usually set up her stall.
"Hmm, no one here?"
Lu Changsheng noticed that the female stall owner's spot was empty.
The female stall owner wasn't here?
He had previously learned that the female stall owner was at the black market almost every day.
Why was it empty today?
Lu Changsheng subtly inquired about the female stall owner's situation.
One of the martial artists explained, "This female stall owner got into trouble."
"A few days ago, Zhao Ruxiao, the heir of the Zhao family in Nanyang Prefecture, had some conflicts with the female stall owner, and she ended up killing him."
"Naturally, the Zhao family was furious and sent people to hunt down the female stall owner."
"So, she hasn't been here these past few days, probably hiding to avoid trouble."
Lu Changsheng nodded upon hearing this.
He knew about the Zhao family, a major power in Nanyang Prefecture, similar to the Zheng family in Nanyang.
However, the Zhao family was known for their martial prowess, with businesses such as escort services and martial arts schools.
In any case, their martial strength far surpassed Miaoshou Garden.
Killing the heir of the Zhao family was like stirring up a hornet's nest, and there would be no place for her in Nanyang City.
"It's a pity..."
Lu Changsheng shook his head.
He had had several successful transactions with the female stall owner before, and both parties were satisfied.
He hadn't expected that she would provoke the Zhao family, and it was unlikely she would return to the black market.
Lu Changsheng continued to browse the black market for a while and saw some stalls with martial techniques and skills on display.
He approached and inquired.
Most of the martial techniques at the stalls were second-tier, and almost all of them were ones Lu Changsheng had already practiced, making them useless to him.
As for martial skills, they were all in the Blood Strengthening Realm, and there were none for body forging.
Lu Changsheng couldn't help but feel disappointed.
He used to worry about not having enough silver coins to buy martial skills, but now that he had the money, he couldn't find any suitable ones.
"In terms of martial techniques, it seems that third-tier techniques are not as widely circulated, so their quantity is limited."
"As for martial skills, once you reach the Body Forging Realm, it's almost impossible to buy any..."
Lu Changsheng used to be able to buy martial skills and techniques with silver coins freely because the ones he needed were of low level.
However, as the level of martial skills and techniques increased slightly, it became much harder to find them.
Lu Changsheng thought of the female stall owner; she should have third-tier martial techniques, as well as body forging and organ refining martial skills.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find her now.
Lu Changsheng continued to roam the black market for a while but couldn't find any martial skills that satisfied him. In the end, he could only leave the black market disappointed.
Lu Changsheng had spent an hour in the black market, and it was now midnight.
Apart from the southern black market, the rest of Nanyang City's streets were quiet and peaceful, with most people already asleep.
As Lu Changsheng left the black market, he caught a glimpse of a few figures hiding in the shadows.
However, these secretive figures weren't targeting Lu Changsheng; it seemed like they were waiting for someone.
Lu Changsheng paid them no mind.
The black market was a chaotic place, and all kinds of people could be found there. Moreover, conflicts and fights were common in the black market every day.
Regardless of who these people were waiting for, it had nothing to do with Lu Changsheng.
He turned and walked away, gradually disappearing into the night.
"Swish."
Suddenly, Lu Changsheng heard the sound of weapons being unsheathed.
At the same time, a veiled woman in a red dress was intercepted by the hidden figures in the shadows.
"Li Hongzhuang, you've finally shown up. The master has ordered us to guard you for many days."
"Zhao family's people?"
Li Hongzhuang didn't hesitate and immediately ran.
However, suddenly, seven or eight martial artists appeared from all around, all of them belonging to the Zhao family, surrounding Li Hongzhuang.
Li Hongzhuang's expression beneath the veil became extremely serious.
These seven or eight martial artists were all in the Body Forging Realm.
The killing of Zhao Ruxiao had greatly enraged the Zhao family, and they had dispatched so many experts.
Li Hongzhuang had some skills, but facing so many martial artists in the Body Forging Realm, her chances today seemed grim.
"Fine, if the Zhao family wants my life, then come and take it!"
Li Hongzhuang drew her knife.
She was a person of the martial world and had long anticipated this day.
As tensions escalated on both sides, suddenly, in the silent night, the sound of footsteps could be faintly heard.
"Dadadada."
The footsteps were rhythmic.
It seemed like someone was approaching step by step.
The members of the Zhao family exchanged glances and directed their gaze toward the hazy night.
In the darkness, a figure could now be vaguely seen.
The newcomer was dressed in black, wore a straw hat, and had their face concealed, making it impossible to discern their identity.
It seemed like they didn't carry any weapons and were simply advancing step by step.
"You seem to be in trouble."
The person in black looked at Li Hongzhuang and spoke slowly.
Hearing this familiar voice, Li Hongzhuang trembled all over, recalling the identity of the person in black.
"It's you..."
The newcomer was naturally Lu Changsheng.
He had actually left earlier but had unexpectedly heard the familiar voice of the female stall owner.
So, he turned around and came back.
The female stall owner was none other than the red-dressed woman before him, Li Hongzhuang.
As for the people surrounding the female stall owner, they were naturally from the Zhao family.
"It seems like you need help."
Lu Changsheng's gaze scanned the Zhao family's martial artists one by one.
The leader, Zhao Li, felt a chill run down his spine for some inexplicable reason. He had an unsettling feeling about the dangerous aura exuding from the black-clad figure.
It was his instinct!
With just one glance, he felt a deep sense of unease.
However, as a member of the Zhao family, he stepped forward and warned Lu Changsheng, "Li Hongzhuang killed the Zhao family's heir, and we won't rest until we settle this matter. This has nothing to do with you, so I hope you won't interfere."
By invoking the Zhao family's name, they intended to pressure Lu Changsheng.
In Nanyang Prefecture, the Zhao family still had considerable influence.
However, Lu Changsheng remained standing, showing no intention of leaving.
Zhao Li's face darkened, and he stared coldly at Lu Changsheng, saying, "Is Your Excellency really going to be an enemy of my Zhao family?"
"An enemy of the Zhao family?"
"No, precisely because I don't want to be an enemy of the Zhao family, I have no choice but to kill all of you."
"As long as you all are dead, the Zhao family won't know it was my doing, and there won't be any enmity with the Zhao family."
As soon as Lu Changsheng finished speaking, Zhao Li's expression underwent an instant change.
"Swish."
Lu Changsheng's figure flickered slightly, as if he had disappeared from their sight.
Without thinking, Zhao Li instinctively raised his knife to block in front of him.
"Ching."
A streak of white light flashed by.
Zhao Li felt a sharp pain in his throat.
"Thunk..."
His knife fell to the ground.
Zhao Li tightly clutched his neck with both hands.
However, blood continued to spurt out, dyeing his entire body red in the blink of an eye.
"Plop."
Zhao Li fell to the ground, and his body gradually stopped convulsing.
A martial artist in the Body Forging Realm, but he couldn't even block a single move and died.
Not only Zhao Li.
Lu Changsheng went all out with his first move.
His figure appeared beside the Zhao family's martial artists like a ghost.
Then, flashes of white light followed.
Those were the glints of his dagger.
Even Li Hongzhuang, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn't see Lu Changsheng's movements clearly.
In just a moment, more than a dozen bodies lay on the ground, and the air was thick with the scent of blood.
Lu Changsheng stood quietly in front of Li Hongzhuang, not a drop of blood staining his body.
"Trouble resolved."
Lu Changsheng spoke calmly.
As Li Hongzhuang looked at the corpses on the ground and then at Lu Changsheng, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease in her heart.
The person before her had helped her, but she involuntarily felt afraid.
"Thank you..."
Li Hongzhuang's voice seemed to tremble.
"You seem to be in need of money?"
Lu Changsheng asked.
Even though Li Hongzhuang had already run away, she had taken the risk of coming to the black market.
It could only be for money.
Li Hongzhuang gritted her teeth and said, "Yes, I'm in desperate need of silver coins."
"You didn't help me for no reason, did you?"
"Go on, what do you want?"
Lu Changsheng was straightforward and immediately stated his requirements, "Martial techniques in the Body Forging Realm, and if there are organ refining techniques, that's acceptable too. Also, martial skills, I need a large quantity of martial skills!"
"Martial techniques, martial skills..."
Li Hongzhuang thought for a moment and then said, "As long as you have enough silver coins, that's not a problem."
"Follow me..."
Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng followed behind Li Hongzhuang, and the two quickly disappeared into the night.