Ya She

Chapter 67 Peach Blossom Spring

【one】

The baby stood there, looking around blankly.

He had heard that there were secret delicacies in the market that appeared late at night in Qifu Lane, so he stayed up all night to come here. On the way, he encountered a group of guards on patrol. He took out his gold seal to prove his identity before he was allowed to pass.

Under the moonlight, he finally arrived at the legendary Tian Guang Market. He found it to be quite a nice place, not only selling late-night snacks but also all sorts of strange and unusual old items and antiques. Ying first went to eat a few pieces of the secret-recipe roasted mutton, and then browsed a few more stalls.

But how did he get here? He only looked down to pay the stall owner, and when he looked up again, he was in a completely different place… This was definitely not the narrow Qifu Alley he had been in before. Qifu Alley was lined with abandoned houses, not these buildings with eaves that soared upwards!
The night sky seemed to be shrouded in layers of dark clouds; not only were there no stars, but even the bright moon that usually hung in the night sky was nowhere to be seen.

There were many people coming and going on this street, but they wore different styles of clothes. Most of them wore flowing robes, but a few people's clothes tightly covered their limbs, revealing their body curves, which made people blush.

The street was lined with various shops, and there were also a few scattered street stalls selling all sorts of strange things. Ying glanced at them briefly and realized she hadn't seen most of them before.

"This...excuse me, where is this?" The infant wandered aimlessly for a while, finally unable to resist pointing to a roadside...

The stall owner asked for advice.

This stall was located in front of a bookstore, also selling books; it seemed they had simply moved the bookstore's books out to set up a roadside stall. The stall owner was young, much thinner than average, with prominent cheekbones that accentuated his features. He had a handsome face, but his unkempt appearance was undeniable—his long hair was loosely tied back, and he had unshaven stubble on his cheeks—giving him a disheveled look, yet his sharp eyes were impossible to ignore.

When the other person looked over, Ying subconsciously took a half step back, almost turning around and leaving. However, he could still tell that there was no malice in the stall owner's gaze, which was completely different from how other people on the street looked at him.

Yes, although Ying was of high status and grew up in the most magnificent palace in the world, her identity was awkward. She had seen the coldness and warmth of the world since childhood, so she was extremely sensitive to the gaze and attitude of others.

Sure enough, the stall owner merely glanced at him up and down before returning to arranging the old books on his stall. "This is the Heavenly Light Market," the stall owner said in a clear, pleasant voice, but unfortunately, he only uttered six words before falling silent. "I know this is the Heavenly Light Market, but why is it completely different from the one I just entered?" Ying wondered.
He pressed on, puzzled, but then he noticed something strange. "What...what are these? Are they books? What material is this thin, writable stuff? It's not Heti or Fangxu, it feels like silk, but it looks fragile..."

"This is paper." The stall owner looked at him with pity. "Judging from the style of your clothes, you must be from an earlier dynasty than mine. Believe me, you will learn a lot here."

The baby blinked his big eyes, not understanding what the stall owner was saying. Or perhaps he understood, but dared not think about it too deeply.

"This is the true Heavenly Light Market, a marketplace transcending time and space. Only with a token can one enter and exit this place from the Ghost Market. Moreover, it's possible to enter and exit from any Ghost Market throughout history, as long as you buy the right token to enter and exit Heavenly Light Market." Perhaps out of sympathy for the infant who looked like a little white flower, the stall owner paused and continued, "Remember, whatever you're holding in your hand, don't give it to anyone or exchange it. Otherwise, you'll be trapped in this market, never to leave for eternity."

The infant listened with skepticism. This was just a market; how could he not get out? He looked down at the glass bead lying quietly in his palm and thought the stall owner was exaggerating.

He had just picked out this glass bead at a street stall. It had large patches of pine green, with some black and red accents. It looked elegant yet mysterious. As soon as he saw it, he thought of Aro and decided to buy it for him.

These glass beads aren't worth much money, so how could they possibly be some kind of keepsake?

Ying felt the stall owner was mysterious and unapproachable, so she quickly thanked him and said goodbye. Although she really wanted to ask a few more questions about where the paper came from, Ying felt that if she continued to ask, she would probably hear more unacceptable things.

However, Ying did encounter several people who approached him, subtly trying to get what he had. Even the slow-witted Ying noticed the strangeness of the situation.

He had been here for at least two hours. It should have been dawn long ago, and he should have been starving, but it was still dark, and he felt no hunger at all. Moreover, he couldn't possibly leave this market.

This should have been an impossible thing to happen, but it did happen to him. The infant sat dejectedly by the roadside, pinching his arm hard.

It hurts, it hurts a lot.

But why can't I wake up?
He must be dreaming! His dreams are getting stranger and stranger.

But that "paper," if it could actually be developed, would definitely be a huge hit. Compared to the heavy and cumbersome bamboo slips, thin paper would be a work of art! But perhaps it's just a dream? This so-called paper is nothing more than a kind of silk scroll, something he's just imagining.

According to his usual dream patterns, Aro should appear at this time.

Although Ying thought this way, he still raised his head without much expectation, only to suddenly see a familiar figure walking past not far away. A'Luo? A'Luo really appeared! But why was he wearing a dark black robe? Never mind, it's just his dream anyway, and A'Luo looks handsome in black!

"Aro! Wait for me!" The baby seemed to have found its pillar of support and immediately ran towards Aro.

The high-ranking official, dressed in black, was clearly surprised to see him here, his expression somewhat dazed and confused: "Ying...you...what are you doing here?"

The infant, oblivious to the strange expression on the high-ranking official's face, recounted her ordeal in one breath. "You mean, you bought me a glass bead?" the high-ranking official asked with a complicated expression.

"Yes, yes, it's so beautiful! Look." Ying innocently opened his hand, and the glass bead lay quietly in his palm. Perhaps because he had been holding it for too long, the glass bead was still covered with the sweat from his palm.

The high-ranking official looked down at the glass bead, remaining silent for a long time.

"Isn't it beautiful? I thought it would suit you perfectly at first glance. When we get back, I can ask Caiwei to string it together and choose a jade pendant as a matching bead," Ying said enthusiastically.

"This is... a gift for me?" the high-ranking official asked quietly.

"Yes, yes." Ying nodded, having long forgotten the stall owner's warning. Since it was all a dream, giving it to Aro in advance wouldn't hurt!

After hesitating for a moment, the high-ranking official finally reached out his hand.

【two】

The infant lay listlessly in the study, staring blankly at the mottled painted patterns on the beam above his head.

Why is he reminiscing about the scene when he first entered Tian Guang Market? Was it because this book, "The Art of Thick-Skinnedness and Black-Heartedness," was so boring that he couldn't help but daydream? Honestly, next time I'll have that kid Tang Yuan bring some legendary novels for the Master of the Study to improve the lack of variety in the books in the study.

Ying Ban propped himself up, flipped through the book in his hand haphazardly, and sighed helplessly.

Time seems to stand still in Tian Guang Market. Those within it feel neither hunger nor thirst, nor do they feel weary. But no one enjoys wandering the streets all the time. Even if one's body is not tired, one's mind needs rest. Therefore, those who have stayed in Tian Guang Market for a long time and have the means, even if they cannot acquire a shop to do business, will at least exchange it for a small space where they can lie down and rest.

More often than not, however, lying there unable to sleep makes them more prone to mental breakdowns. So most people prefer to wander the streets, checking if any newcomers have arrived, hoping to snag a bargain and leave Tian Guang Xu to finally end this state.

The infant closed the book in her hand, glanced at the bookshelf beside her, and began to browse. In the bustling marketplace where the passage of time was nonexistent, reading was indeed a wonderful pastime.

Of course, following the principle of equal exchange at Tian Guang Market, reading in the bookstore wasn't free. Ying felt a pang of regret at the thought of the hazelnut chocolate she had to exchange for ten books.

Speaking of which, it's been a long time since that little guy Tang Yuan came...

The thought had barely crossed Ying's mind when she heard a familiar commotion coming from the street outside. Just as she'd imagined, Young Master Tang had arrived.

Ying wanted to throw down the book in his hand and run out, but as soon as he sat up, he realized that he no longer needed to actively seek out Tang Yuan for a deal. So he lay back down, pulled over the cushion next to him, and found a comfortable position to continue reading the book.

Of course, he had been staring at the same page the whole time before Tang Yuan came looking for him.

"I knew you'd be here." Tang Yuan walked up to him, sat cross-legged, took out a large box of cookies from his backpack, rubbed his hands together, and asked expectantly, "Is this enough? Can I have the last Liubo piece?"

No wonder he was in such a hurry. Ever since he got the Liubo chess piece with Lu Zigang's name on it from the purple-clad youth, he had been in and out of Tianguangxu many times in the past few days, exchanging ten pieces in total. But the young man just wouldn't give him the last piece, which was supposedly named after him.

Each time, he would exchange other things, such as a Liubo chessboard, but how do you play Liubo... He had no choice but to exchange, fearing that the young man would no longer do business with him.

Fortunately, this purple-clad youth was a foodie; as long as you prepare a variety of delicious treats, you can always get what you want! Seeing the purple-clad youth rummaging through his pockets and pulling out a key instead of a Liubo game piece, Tang Yuan had a feeling of "good luck."
The feeling of disappointment came from the fact that "this time it didn't work either."

"What kind of key is this? Is it worth exchanging for this box of Danish cookies?" Tang Yuan pulled the cookie box back in his hand, looking wary.

"Who's going to trade this key with you? It's just for a chance to borrow it once," Ying scoffed. "Where is this key from?" Tang Yuan seemed to suddenly realize something, his eyes widening.

"What do you think?" Ying smiled and twirled the key in his hand. This key had been entrusted to the bookstore owner, and he had gone to great lengths to exchange it for this opportunity. Of course, if he were to exchange it with Tang Yuan again, he would still make a lot more money.

Tang Yuan bit his lower lip and made up his mind, saying, "I need to go check the goods first." "Let's go, it's not far anyway." Ying closed the book in her hand and stood up.

Tang Yuan put the biscuit box back into his backpack, got up, and followed Ying out of the study. His heart pounded as he watched Ying choose the direction she went, and when she finally stopped in front of a shop, he had to take a deep breath to stay calm.

"So, is it worth exchanging one chance to use the key to open this door?" Ying turned around and asked with a smile. He was joking; he and Tang Yuan had chatted a few times before, probing each other's identities, and he already knew Tang Yuan was A Luo's junior brother. However, it was a junior brother he had never met.

Tang Yuan immediately and obediently handed over the cookie box. Ying then opened the door of the Silent Shop.

That's right, this is the Silent Shop, the Silent Shop in Tian Guang Xu.

The shop was dimly lit, and it took the two of them a while to adjust to the light.

By the light of the lanterns in the market outside, Tang Yuan could see the furnishings inside the house, all of them strange and unusual antiques. "I advise you not to touch them," Ying said softly, just as Tang Yuan was about to pick up a blue-and-white porcelain vase with a floral design.

asked.

"It should... be nothing, right?" Tang Yuan reassured the little white snake that was wriggling and trying to crawl out of his sleeve. "In the Heavenly Light Ruins, time is essentially frozen, and the fact that A Luo placed these antiques here is enough to demonstrate their..."
"Danger." The infant calmly analyzed the situation. Tang Yuan silently withdrew his hand.

The shop wasn't large, just one room; calling it a shop was a stretch; it was more like a warehouse. Tang Yuan walked around it, examining everything. However, he couldn't touch anything, and the lighting was poor, so he couldn't really figure anything out.

He was reluctant to leave, so he struck up a conversation with Ying, saying, "Hey Ying, you've been in Tian Guang Xu for a long time now. You must have gotten the pass and all that. Why don't you go out? Tian Guang Xu is so boring, isn't it? You can't even get any good food there."

Ying leaned against the door and answered naturally, "Aro deliberately took away my token, which means he doesn't want me to go out. Going out would definitely be dangerous, so I won't go out."

Tang Yuan was shocked upon hearing this. How could this person be so foolish... and so adorably foolish...

"Sigh, it's a pity that A'Luo has come several times, but I've missed him every time." Ying puffed out her cheeks, sulking. If she had managed to catch A'Luo, wouldn't she have gotten even better food? Tang Yuan was speechless. According to his analysis, his senior brother had been in and out of Tian Guang Xu so many times, but he hadn't dared to see Ying even once, probably because he felt guilty towards him.

It turns out these two are just on different wavelengths...

Tang Yuan couldn't help but ask, "There are many books in the study you were in that talk about history. You... didn't read them?" Although it was forbidden to talk about state affairs in Tian Guang Xu, and nothing that could affect the course of history could be said, he really didn't believe that Ying wasn't curious at all.

"Why bother looking? Everyone has to die eventually, the only difference is whether they die sooner or later. And even if I knew now, I would forget it once I left Tianguangxu, so why bother myself?" Ying said calmly.

He often spent his time in his study, and frequently saw people come there specifically to look for history books. After reading them, some would close the book and laugh out loud, others would sigh deeply, and still others would weep... But what did it matter? Once they left Tianguang Market, all these memories of historical materials would be erased, leaving not a trace. Wasn't this just asking for trouble?
Tang Yuan blinked his large, clear eyes, his face full of admiration. He was quite the curious one; the first thing he did after becoming a regular at the Tian Guang Market was to rush to the bookstore to look for books about the future, but unfortunately, he couldn't find a single one.

However, this also indirectly confirms his previous conjecture. Tian Guang Xu will also one day disappear, and its remaining time is running out.

Thinking of Madam Shi, who treated him like a son, Tang Yuan pursed his lips, a resolute expression beyond his years appearing on his young face.

"Have you finished looking? Let's go now. The shopkeeper warned me not to stay in there too long, for fear of breaking some antique taboo. After all, time does pass in Tian Guang Xu, even if it's almost nonexistent." Ying said with a hint of resentment. If he weren't afraid of accidentally bumping into some strange antique, he would have loved to sleep on the floor in this shop so that he wouldn't miss A Luo next time he came.

"We've finished looking, let's go." Tang Yuan sighed, afraid that if they didn't leave soon, the little white snake in his sleeve would burst out. The two walked slowly out of the shop, one after the other. "Speaking of which, when are you going to give me the last chess piece?" Tang Yuan asked, hearing the wooden door creak shut behind him.
Undeterred, he pressed on with the question.

"It depends on my mood!" Ying smiled as she locked the door, then pushed it to make sure it was really locked. Tang Yuan leaned closer, flatteringly asking, "Could you tell me how you got these Liubo chess pieces?"

"You're here?"

Ying paused in his hand as he put down the keys, his face darkening as he turned away from Tang Yuan. But when he turned back, he reverted to his usual nonchalant expression and scoffed, "Trying to get information out of me? No comment!"

Tang Yuan didn't expect to get any information out of him, so he clenched his fist to encourage himself: "Brother Ying, you wait, next time I come I'll definitely bring something that can be used to exchange for the last chess piece with you!"

"We'll see!" Ying waved with a smile at Tang Yuan's retreating figure. Trying to take away his last chess piece? Looks like that won't be easy!
The infant withdrew his hand, reaching into his sleeve to caress the smooth, round jade chess piece inside. The back of the piece had slightly uneven marks; he could feel the names written on them with his fingertips—

Hu Hai.

Why was the name of the young prince Hu Hai written in cinnabar on the back of this chess piece?
Ying initially thought Hu Hai was quite cute as a child, but later he gradually discovered that the boy was wicked, especially with Zhao Gao.

After becoming Hu Hai's tutor—before he was trapped in Tian Guangxu, Hu Hai casually killed his attendant Sun Shuo. Sun Shuo was the closest person to Hu Hai, who had accompanied him and served him since childhood, and was probably the person in the world who cared about Hu Hai the most… Ying couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart when she thought of the round-faced attendant's inexplicable death.

Ying walked slowly down the street of Tianguangxu. The road beneath her feet was made of polished blue bricks. Lanterns were lit on both sides of the street, and several shadowy figures swayed on the street like endless wandering ghosts.

Ying bypassed the bustling and prosperous Tian Guang Xu area, turned into a dark alley, looked back to make sure no one was paying attention, then opened a window that wasn't locked and nimbly climbed inside.

This is an abandoned shop; judging from the furnishings, it should be a general store. No one has been here for a long time, and he has made it his haven, spending most of his time here besides his study.

One day, he discovered that a box of Liubo chess had suddenly appeared on the cabinet against the wall.

If they were just ordinary chess pieces, it wouldn't have mattered, but he noticed that one of the pieces had Hu Hai's name written on it. A long time passed, and apart from this new box of Liubo chess pieces, nothing else changed in the abandoned shop.

Therefore, he could actually keep the Liubo chess set for himself.

The rule of Tian Guang Xu is barter, but Ying discovered that it doesn't actually require bartering. For example, when he first entered Tian Guang Xu, he gave A Luo a glass bead, but A Luo didn't give him anything in return.

Moreover, although the Lord of the Ruins issued a law forbidding open robbery and theft in the Heavenly Light Ruins, saying that it would be punished by the law and arrested by the law enforcement team, he had only seen the latter in all the time he had been in the Heavenly Light Ruins, and had never seen any punishment from the law.

He had personally witnessed Helian snatching the tokens of a newlywed and had not been punished.

He had given Tang Yuan the chess piece with the name of someone he didn't recognize, initially just hoping to get some good food in return. He never expected that Tang Yuan would actually know someone named Lu Zigang, and that Tang Yuan was A Luo's junior brother.

That's interesting.

Perhaps next time he should exchange the chess piece with Hu Hai's name on it for Tang Yuan, and then hint that he should give the chess piece to A Luo to see; perhaps there will be some unexpected gains.

The infant sat by the wall, stroking the chess pieces in his hand in the darkness, pondering his next move. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in the room, and a lamp dimly lit up.

There were other people in the room! The baby immediately sat up straight, alert.

In the flickering firelight, a familiar face appeared behind the flames, its light shifting between light and shadow. The person's alluring eyes were like those of a predator eyeing its prey, and its voice remained as monotone as ever.

“I thought someone had moved one of my pieces,” he said. “Oh, I’ve found you.”

【Three】

The doctor followed the boss slowly through the Shadow Tower, not knowing how the boss got there, and soon they returned to reality from the dark underground.

Feeling the still dazzling sunlight overhead, the doctor blinked uncomfortably. The solemn and majestic Fan Pagoda beside him and the tourists chatting and taking pictures made him feel as if he had been transported to another world.

Was everything that happened before just his hallucination?

While still dazed, the doctor clutched the yellow cloth that the shopkeeper had stuffed into his hand. A wave of dizziness washed over him. When he regained his balance, he found himself in a narrow alley. Looking out, he saw the familiar commercial street scene and realized he must have just taken an afternoon nap and had a daydream.

Old Zhang's steamed bun shop was still open. The owner, along with the doctor, passed by and bought a few servings of steamed buns. "Finally, someone's here?" Old Zhang glanced at the owner waiting beside him as he packed the buns, casually...
asked.

"Hmm...hmm, it's here." The doctor took the takeout box, the intense heat soothing his palms and spreading throughout his body, finally giving him a real sense of returning to the human world.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Old Zhang, the doctor habitually took out his phone to scan the code, but the shop owner beat him to it and paid the bill directly.

"It was agreed that this meal was on me," the owner explained casually, noticing the doctor's surprised look.

The doctor was surprised that the boss paid in cash. These days, very few people carry RMB; everyone uses mobile payments. Could it be that he didn't have the boss's phone number because the boss didn't even own a phone? Impossible… In this day and age, how could a young person not have a mobile phone?

The doctor, carrying the takeout box, followed the owner toward the "Silent House" diagonally across the street.

The second step of the stairs leading to the mute's shop was slightly higher than the first. By the time the doctor noticed this, his leg had already naturally risen a few centimeters higher, landing precisely on the second step, not an inch more or less. It seems his body has a better memory than his brain.

The doctor looked up at the boss's thin back and the way he casually pushed open the carved door. For a moment, he felt as if this scene had appeared many times before.

The young man in the dark green Tang suit from this morning was still there. He paused noticeably when he saw them enter at the same time, then forced a smile and said, "Boss, you're back just in time. The curator just called to say there's a batch of jade artifacts that needs my appraisal, and I was just..."
I'm trying to figure out what to do!

The shopkeeper nodded, and the man, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, grabbed a coat, put it on, and left.

The doctor felt that the man was avoiding him, but he didn't say anything. As if his body had a mind of its own, he naturally sat down at the counter, took out the takeout boxes, spread them out one by one, and started eating with very familiarity, using disposable chopsticks.

The moment the steamed bun entered his mouth, he realized how hungry he was. The doctor devoured the bun and porridge in a flash, let out a satisfied burp, and slumped back in his armchair.

A perfectly chilled cup of Biluochun tea was placed beside him. The doctor picked it up and downed it in one gulp, instantly washing away his fatigue. "Uh, it seems I ate it all..." Coming to his senses, the doctor realized the owner hadn't even touched his chopsticks, and felt ashamed.

He scratched his head sheepishly, "I'll go buy some more."

"No need, I'm not hungry." The shopkeeper shook his head and took a sip of tea.

Seeing that what he said didn't sound like a polite remark, the doctor quickly and efficiently packed up and threw away the takeout box, and even found a rag to wipe the counter clean, all in a smooth and efficient manner.

Then the doctor suddenly straightened up, sighed, and said, "Did I used to eat here often?" Although he used a questioning tone, he already had the answer in his heart.

"Yes, we were... friends before." The shop owner put down his teacup, sat up straight, and looked serious. Friends? The doctor frowned, wondering if he had eaten too much earlier, and suddenly felt...
My stomach feels a little uncomfortable, and I have a dull, unpleasant feeling in my chest.

However, if they were just "friends," would it be possible for him to frequently come to the antique shop to eat, chat, and drink tea? He clearly couldn't afford these antiques. Besides the fact that they were very good friends, there was no other explanation, right? The doctor tried hard to find evidence among the clues.

The shopkeeper lowered his eyes, avoiding eye contact with the doctor: "You saw it with your own eyes today. The antiques here are not ordinary objects. You lost part of your memory in an accident before."

"What a coincidence, this lost memory is related to this antique shop... and to you?" The doctor didn't believe such a coincidence was possible. He let his mind wander: Did he see the most private aspect of this antique shop, and thus have his memories erased like in the movie "Men in Black"? But judging from the owner's attitude, it didn't seem like it!

The boss remained silent for a long time, then sighed and said, "All I can say is that it was all an accident."

The boss explained everything as an "accident," and although the doctor didn't quite believe it, he didn't know how to ask further questions.

Seeing the boss's eagerness to settle things and get rid of him quickly, the doctor suddenly felt annoyed. He tapped the empty blue-and-white porcelain teacup with his finger and snorted, "So, boss, are you going to take responsibility for helping me find this part of my lost memory?"

The shopkeeper paused as he was about to take the kettle from the red clay stove, then casually picked up the kettle to add hot water to the doctor's teacup, saying lightly, "Memory is a tricky thing. Maybe you'll remember it in the next second, or maybe you'll never remember it in this lifetime."

“That’s right!” The doctor snapped his fingers. “Memory is stored in the cell set of neurons. Even if some cells in the cell set die or the neural connection breaks, the memory will not be erased. It’s not like I had surgery to remove neurons, so my memory couldn’t have been erased. It must have been covered up.”

"The memories I've lost now exist faintly in some corner of my brain. Such non-declarative memories can likely be reactivated by receiving stimuli related to things I previously remembered. Just like when I walked into the Silent Shop, one or two images flashed through my mind."

"Since my amnesia is your responsibility, boss, you'll definitely cooperate with me to help me regain my memories, right? So, please take good care of me for the next while!"

Looking at the doctor's bright smile, the boss was at a loss for words.

(End of this chapter)