The sun was already high in the sky.
Lu Fei woke up feeling refreshed.
Tiger had already cleaned the pawnshop inside and out, and was now practicing martial arts in the courtyard.
He had taken off his shirt, revealing his muscular build and a set of eight-pack abs.
His movements were agile and steady, each punch and kick exuding raw power.
The moves seemed ordinary at first glance, but every strike was solid, unlike the flashy but impractical techniques seen elsewhere.
This kind of skill wasn't acquired overnight—it likely came from childhood training, the hallmark of a disciplined upbringing.
Lu Fei suddenly realized that Tiger's background might not be as simple as it appeared.
However, during the confrontation with the ghost raiser the previous day, Tiger had held back, only teaching the opponent a lesson without causing serious harm.
Knowing how to exercise restraint and not being reckless was commendable.
"Boss!"
Seeing Lu Fei step outside, Tiger quickly steadied his breathing and stopped his practice.
"Tiger, where did you learn these moves? Impressive!" Lu Fei clapped in admiration.
"I picked up some basic martial arts as a kid, nothing noteworthy. I hope I didn't make a fool of myself in front of you, Boss." Tiger wiped his sweat and smiled, brushing off the question.
"If you don't mind me, Zhao Hu, keeping you company, I'd love to stay on as an assistant!"
Lu Fei looked at him. "Do you really want to join the Evil Pawnshop?"
"Yes!" Tiger nodded emphatically, his expression serious.
"Then let me ask you a question, and I want you to answer truthfully."
"Ask away, Boss."
"After we dealt with the Hungry Ghost Sha that day and you took Zhao Laohan away, what did you really do to him?" Lu Fei had always been curious about this.
Previously, Tiger was just a customer, and whatever he did wasn't Lu Fei's concern. But if he was going to take Tiger on as an assistant, he needed to know.
"Honestly, I didn't hit or scold him. I just brought him back to Shiru Village. The village chief and the elders there definitely wouldn't let him off easy." Tiger chuckled.
"Once the Hungry Ghost Sha was dispelled, those old bastards in the village couldn't do anything to me. In the end, they begged for forgiveness and paid me some hush money to keep quiet about their dirty deeds."
"Money?" That was unexpected for Lu Fei.
"An apology is just words; it doesn't mean much. What's more real than actual money? Boss, I'm not ashamed to admit it: when you're poor, principles don't fill your stomach. In this world, having money brings dignity." Tiger spoke with candor.
"Who doesn't like money? I like it too!" Lu Fei nodded. Tiger's honesty reassured him—better to deal with someone straightforward than someone who pretends to despise wealth while secretly coveting it.
"But what if I told you that the Evil Pawnshop's goal isn't to make money?" Lu Fei said.
"Then what is it?" Tiger was taken aback. To him, the Evil Pawnshop was a business dealing in oddities.
A business that, even if inactive for years, could make enough in one deal to last for years.
If it wasn't about making money, what could it be about?
Lu Fei didn't answer but patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "Don't rush to decide. Think it over."
He already had the idea of bringing Tiger on as an assistant, but he needed to further assess his character.
After all, they hadn't known each other for long.
Dealing with supernatural objects required more than just skill; trustworthiness was essential.
The Evil Pawnshop dealt with all sorts of strange and eerie items. If Tiger succumbed to temptation and developed ulterior motives, it could jeopardize the entire operation.
Lu Fei couldn't let his family's legacy be ruined on his watch.
As usual, he opened the shop for business.
The moment he unlocked the door, Liu Fugui walked in, as if he had been waiting outside.
"Brother Lu, Mr. Su sent me to pass on a message. His family is nearly fully recovered, and he's planning to invite you to a meal in a few days. He sincerely hopes you'll come."
"A meal isn't necessary. The business between us is settled. Tell Mr. Su he doesn't need to go to such lengths." Lu Fei wasn't interested in socializing; he had other plans in mind.
"That won't do. You saved the Su family's lives. It's only natural for them to want to show their gratitude. In business, it's important to build connections. Good reputation is valuable, and sharing a meal with Mr. Su is the best way to promote the Evil Pawnshop…"
Liu Fugui's earnest persuasion suggested he wouldn't take no for an answer.
Lu Fei had to relent. "I'll see if I'm free."
Liu Fugui chuckled and rubbed his hands together. "I've noticed you've been busy lately and only opened today. Did you get your hands on some rare items?"
"Nothing special, just some futile efforts over the past few days. Business isn't always smooth sailing."
Lu Fei feigned nonchalance and didn't mention the yinwood, as he had big plans for it.
Liu Fugui looked slightly disappointed and pressed on, "What about the snake skin?"
"Not for sale!" Lu Fei waved dismissively.
This frustrated Liu Fugui, as though he was sitting by a treasure he couldn't touch.
He tried slipping a pack of cigarettes into Tiger's hand to get information.
But Tiger kept his lips sealed, responding to every question with, "I don't know."
Liu Fugui left, crestfallen, after reminding Lu Fei to accept Mr. Su's dinner invitation.
Once he was gone, Tiger eagerly asked, "Boss, is Liu trustworthy? Why didn't we tell him about the yinwood?"
"Because it's a yin object, and it can't be sold through regular channels," Lu Fei explained. "Yinwood is excellent for nourishing the soul, and only practitioners of the arcane arts can harness its true value. Selling it as a mere decoration or trinket for good luck would be a waste."
Tiger's curiosity deepened. "Then where do we sell it?"
Lu Fei smiled mysteriously. "The ghost market."
"The ghost market?" Tiger's eyes widened. "Is it what I think it is?"
"Not the kind of ghost market in the antiques trade, which is often used to deal in stolen goods. The Evil Pawnshop is a legitimate business; we don't deal in that sort of thing," Lu Fei said, waving his hand.
"The ghost market I'm talking about opens only once every three months, and it's a place for trading unusual items, strictly on a barter basis. Such yin objects are highly sought after there."
"Because the visitors to the ghost market aren't just the living."
Tiger's excitement was palpable. "Not just the living? Are there really ghosts?"
"That, I can't say for sure, because everyone at the ghost market wears a disguise. You can never tell whether you're trading with a person or a ghost." Lu Fei glanced at the time.
"The ghost market opens once every three months on the night of the full moon. The next one is in seven days. I'll take the yinwood there and see if I can trade it for something valuable."
Tiger rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Boss, can I come with you?"
"Sure, but there are strict rules at the ghost market that you must follow…" The two were in the midst of their conversation.
Suddenly, the sound of a crow's cawing came from outside.
Shadows flickered at the entrance as an unexpected guest stepped into the Evil Pawnshop.