Chapter 6: A Dark Market

He really couldn’t stand Zixueta’s so-called ‘friend.’

Zixueta let him scold Bai Mingliu.

Bai Mingliu, trembling with anger while kneeling, said: “Fine, ignore me! I’ll tell others what you’re doing! I’ll find my own partners!”

After speaking, he stood and stumbled out of the room.

Despite being a tall, robust demon prince, the man scoffed after he left: “What an idiot.”

He told the companion who brought Bai Mingliu in: “Follow him. See who he meets. Take good care of our ‘partner.’”

He didn’t seem to despise Bai Mingliu outright.

But everyone could tell he didn’t care about him.

He only spoke that way because Bai Mingliu was with Zixueta.

Ignoring whether Zixueta had refused earlier, the companion opened a menu and said: “We have plenty of food here. When the drug craving hits, you can eat something from the menu to suppress it.”

Zixueta warned:

“What you’re taking might not harm your body, but using it for over two years will severely damage your mind. I doubt you can control your addiction short-term.

Even less than two years, your mental strength will weaken, making you vulnerable to negative emotions.”

She began preparing materials.

After writing a material list on the system, the man saw it and said: “Good. Let’s exchange contact info.”

He opened his system, scanned Zixueta’s code, and they became contacts.

Zixueta saw his name: Du Yinpan.

“Drug addict? Hidden poison?” Zixueta found it amusing.

“Your name’s fitting.”

Her system name was simply her name.

Du Yinpan wasn’t fazed: “Knowing my name won’t let you turn me over to the interdimensional police easily.”

He accepted her material list and sent it to his companion: “I’ll have my partner get the materials.”

He sent the address to his companion, who was at the market.

This companion knew where to buy cheap materials.

The market seemed ordinary but sold everything.

Not just anyone could enter—it required influence.

So when Bai Mingliu ran out, he saw people heading this way and followed.

Guards dressed as statues stood at the market entrance.

They didn’t stop Bai Mingliu, so he went in to look around.

Shopkeepers stuffed drugs into all sorts of things.

Toys, adult toys, all in one shop.

That shop did big business, popular with charm, blood, and some demon races.

You could shop here, but you had to tolerate people ‘doing business’ nearby.

Bai Mingliu glanced at them, frowned, and turned away, pretending he saw nothing.

He thought: ‘I’ll report you later.’

He didn’t know where to go, so he wandered.

Seeing someone buying regular materials at a plant shop, he eagerly asked: “Are you a pharmacist?”

The young man looked at him, then shook his head: “Just a biology researcher. I experiment with materials to create new organisms.”

He pointed to a shop: “For a pharmacist, go there. They have cheap materials. Here, you get rare stuff at inflated prices. The richer you look, the more they charge.”

Bai Mingliu thanked him.

He didn’t head there right away.

Just as he started, he ran back to ask: “Hey, can you make potions? I want to work with you.”

The man asked warily: “Why? I don’t know you.”

Bai Mingliu grinned: “I’ll be your assistant. Help me make an antidote. My friend’s using drugs, and I want to help them quit.”

The man understood instantly: “You want us to work together to help the addicts here. That’s noble.”

He considered: “But why should I trust you?”

Bai Mingliu panicked: “I… I’m broke, but I have status! I’m the second demon prince!”

To prove it, he showed his system ID.

The man saw it and feigned shock: “Wow, you’re the second demon prince!”

He knelt: “Greetings, Your Highness!”

His head bowed, but his face held a scheming smile.

Second demon prince… foolish, but a fool with status.

Bai Mingliu extended a hand, acting lofty: “Rise.”

His tone was different now: “I won’t let you lose out. Work with me, and I’ll give you the results.”

He spoke as if even menial work would yield him credit, like he was being humble.

The researcher stood: “Alright, let’s work together. My place is nearby, in the market.”

Bai Mingliu followed without hesitation, not noticing how off the situation felt.

The researcher asked: “Did you come alone?”

Bai Mingliu replied without thinking: “I was with a kid, black-red hair. She’s probably using drugs now.”

The man continued: “So you want to save her, not just the people here? You’re kind.”

His praise made Bai Mingliu sheepish: “Oh, not really.”

The path ahead grew darker.

There weren’t even lights, as if they couldn’t afford electricity.