The next morning, the mist had lifted.
Pale light spilled through the trees as Shang Di and Wei Lin moved along a beaten, cracked path of stone fragments and overgrown roots.
It was the first road they'd seen in two days.
Old, weathered, and barely held together—but still a road.
"Think we'll hit the city by tonight?" Wei Lin asked, stretching his arms overhead.
Shang Di shook his head, eyes scanning the terrain.
"Not likely. Judging by this path and the sun's angle, we're at least another day out."
'Well… He doesn't have to know that I have the system after all…'
"We don't have spirit birds, and Lucky looks like he gets airsick."
The gecko squeaked indignantly from Shang Di's sleeve and then went still again.
By midday, the trees gave way to a clearing — and nestled within them was a ramshackle town.
Walls made of mismatched bones and iron stakes. Colorful banners fluttering between crooked poles. Smoke rising from forges and cooking pits.
A handmade wooden sign hung above the open gate:
FANGLIGHT MARKET
"Beasts, Bones, Bargains."
Wei Lin smirked. "This place looks charming."
Shang Di adjusted his cloak. "More like sketchy."
"Exactly."
…
They entered without trouble.
No guards. No tolls. No rules.
Just stalls.
Endless stalls.
Smugglers, beast hunters, rogue talisman scribes, and shady alchemists hawking "rejuvenation pills" that glowed radioactive green.
One booth was selling "Phoenix Plume Essence" in bamboo cups for a single spirit coin.
Shang Di gave it no attention at all.
They moved through the crowd slowly. Wei Lin stopped to inspect a rusted sword etched with spirit marks, while Shang Di eyed a scroll labeled:
"FORBIDDEN FOOTWORK – PROBABLY CURSED"
He didn't touch it.
After looking around for 30 minutes, Shang Di suddenly got a system message…
[System Notification – Hidden Zone Triggered]
Location: Fanglight Market (Unregulated Trade Hub)
Optional Event Unlocked: Beast Market Lottery
Entry Cost: 100 SP
Reward: 1x Mystery Beast Contract (C–SR)
Disclaimer: May include mutations, curses, or behavioral defects.
Shang Di stopped at the edge of a dusty alley and crossed his arms.
"Another gamble, huh?" he muttered under his breath.
He glanced over his shoulder, Wei Lin was distracted, trading beast tendons for grilled meat skewers.
"Alright. Just one pull."
[100 SP Deducted]
[Processing Summon Contract…]
[Scan Complete – Local Beast Signatures Matched]
A slip of parchment materialized inside his inventory, unseen to anyone.
[Contract Obtained: Whispering Crow – Shadow-Linked Variant]
Rank: Bronze Tier (Mutated)
Traits: One-Winged, Mimicry, Partial Invisibility
Bond: Pending
"…You've got to be kidding me," Shang Di muttered quietly.
He tucked the slip away and exhaled. "Why do I even bother?"
They regrouped at a stall manned by a talisman artisan — an old woman with bone rings and strange, flickering tattoos across her palms.
Shang Di bought a Low-Grade Defensive Slip and a Shadow Trap Rune, handing over a few spirit coins. She slipped him a third talisman for free and gave him a grin full of sharp, silver teeth.
"Good luck, shadow-walker," she whispered.
He stiffened slightly but bowed in thanks.
Wei Lin was too busy chewing to notice.
By the time they left the market, the sun had dipped below the canopy, and the road had returned to winding stone.
Wei Lin whistled, skewer in one hand, pouch of loot in the other.
"You know, this world's chaotic, but it's kind of fun when you're not getting eaten." He said, with food still in his mouth.
Shang Di didn't answer immediately.
He was watching the horizon. Beyond the trees, plumes of distant smoke curled into the dusk.
Obsidian Root City.
Now close.
Very close.
Lucky poked his head out of the sleeve and chirped once, just as Shang Di felt a familiar pulse of energy echo in his mind.
[System Alert:
New Contract Pending: Whispering Crow]
Status: Unbonded – Requires Stable Environment
Hidden Thread Activated: "The Shadow's Favor"
Type: Long-Term Event Chain
He didn't know what that meant, yet.
But he would.
Very soon.
...
To be continued…
...