I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 10 Red Lantern Waiters

Blood Ridge Black Market?
Chen Mo, who had no memory of this place, was hearing about it for the first time.

Fortunately, he was a pro at surfing the internet in his previous life. Even if he hadn't eaten pork, he'd at least seen pigs run, right?

The black market is certainly a great place, with all sorts of things available. But it also harbors dangers, and robberies and banditry are common occurrences.

Chen Mo was new to the area... so naturally he was afraid of dying.

But Chen Mo was unwilling to give up the opportunity to buy the Qi and Blood Pills.

Ma Tie seemed to sense Chen Mo's doubts and said, "With your status, young master, ordinary bandits in Honghe County wouldn't dare to target you easily. Just bring a few guards, and you'll be fine."

Qiu Lan then added, "Young Master, Xie Dong, the young master of the Xie family, is your close friend. I remember that Xie Dong's family owns quite a few shops in the Blood Ridge Black Market. Why not ask the young master of the Xie family for help in finding your way?"

Chen Mo hardened his heart: "Ma Tie, go prepare the carriage, and also go to the Xie residence. Qiu Lan, help me change my clothes."

After Ma Tie left, Qiu Lan said, "But Master doesn't want the young master to practice martial arts. He wants him to inherit the family business and learn more about business skills. If Master finds out..."

Chen Mo smiled and said, "That's alright. I'll just say I'm going out to inspect the family business. Father will be happy to know. Just change my clothes."

Qiulan finally agreed, secretly thinking that the young master was really different from before, his mind was very sharp.

While changing clothes, Chen Mo, wearing only his undershirt, simply stood in front of the full-length bronze mirror with his arms outstretched. He didn't need to do anything else; Qiu Lan took care of everything.

He wore a light blue silk brocade robe, a leather belt, a jade pendant, his hair tied up with a hairpin, and a pair of cloud-patterned boots.

Although only fifteen years old, he is already 1.7 meters tall, handsome and spirited.

After helping Chen Mo get dressed, Qiu Lan looked him over for a while, her face slightly flushed: "Young Master is much more refined and scholarly than before, with the air of a learned man."

Chen Mo snorted inwardly.

In his previous life, Gao Di was also a college student, although it was a diploma mill... but it was still a college.

It's perfectly normal to have a scholarly air about you.

Once everything was settled, Chen Mo took Qiu Lan and Ma Tie out to inspect the family business.

Chen Mo also wanted to see how big the business he would inherit would be.

Of course, there was a carriage for going out. Qiulan was not only a maid, but also an expert horsewoman. She and Ma Tie drove the carriage and took Chen Mo out.

I visited the fertile fields and saw countless tenant farmers cultivating them.

I went to the pharmacy and saw merchants queuing up.

Chen Mo also inspected all the other shops. The shopkeepers were all very respectful to Chen Mo, addressing him as "Second Young Master" at every turn.

After touring the area, Chen Mo had gained a general understanding of his family's businesses.

Definitely a prominent and wealthy family.

The only regret is that the Chen family did not open a martial arts school or related businesses. This may be related to Chen Yinfu's personal beliefs.

According to Qiulan's account, the Chen family's current wealth was entirely due to Chen Yinfu's hard work and pioneering spirit. Many of Chen Yinfu's illustrious deeds are even told throughout the county.

After listening to Qiu Lan recount her father's deeds, Chen Mo felt there was some exaggeration involved, but he sincerely admired Chen Yinfu.

In other words, they were born in the wrong era.

If he had been born in his previous life, with Chen Yinfu's business acumen and hard-working spirit, he would have been the founder of a listed company at the very least.

Chen Mo lifted the carriage curtain, glanced at the sun, and seeing that it was only noon, said, "Qiu Lan, it's almost time. Go to the west gate and wait for Young Master Xie."

Chen Mo was seeking caution.

Chen Mo will not go to the black market until he waits for Xie Dong.

The carriage drove out of the west gate and waited at the city gate.

Chen Mo lifted the curtain and looked at the merchants and villagers queuing to enter the city. Some vendors had set up stalls at the city gate, selling snacks, cotton candy, candied hawthorn, tofu pudding, and so on. The shouts and calls of the vendors filled the place with the flavor of everyday life.

Chen Mo looked up sharply and saw the words "Honghe County" carved above the city gate. A scarlet lantern hung on the five-zhang-high gate, which was very conspicuous even in broad daylight.

This reminded Chen Mo of the red-veiled statue enshrined in his family's ancestral hall, and he couldn't help but ask, "Qiu Lan, what's the purpose of these red lanterns?" Shh!
Qiulan quickly made a shushing gesture and lowered her voice, saying, "These are lanterns from the Red Lantern Goddess, hung above the city gate to ward off evil spirits. It is because our county is protected by the Red Lantern Goddess that everyone can live in peace. Young master, please don't say anything wrong, or you will be in big trouble if you offend the Red Lantern Goddess."

Although Chen Mo had his doubts, seeing that everyone was keeping quiet, he didn't ask any more questions.

Not long after, another luxurious carriage stopped beside them. A slightly chubby young man dressed in fine clothes stepped out of the carriage. Upon seeing Chen Mo lift the curtain, he jumped into Chen Mo's carriage without any hesitation and gave Chen Mo a big hug.

"Brother Chen, I've missed you so much! Where have you been all this time? I've been left to go to Chunfeng Tower all by myself, it's so boring."

Chen Mo had already asked Qiu Lan and knew that the fat man was his close friend Xie Dong.

The Xie family was also a prominent family in Honghe County, with connections to officials and many of their sons holding official positions. Xie Lianghong, the coroner in the county government, was Xie Dong's third uncle.

As for Chen Mo's madness, Chen Yinfu had already ordered that it be kept secret.

Therefore, outsiders were unaware of it.

Chen Mo then found an excuse and said with a smile, "I recently caught a cold and am recuperating at home. Another day, I'll invite Dongzi to Chunfeng Tower for drinks and entertainment."

Dongzi...

That's the name Qiulan told Chen Mo. The original owner usually called him Xie Dongdongzi.

Upon hearing the name "Dongzi," Xie Dong chuckled and said, "That's right, that's exactly the taste."

After saying that, Xie Dong reached out and touched Chen Mo's forehead. "You don't have a fever. Why are you thinking about practicing martial arts? And buying some qi and blood pills... Why not just be a carefree rich young master and enjoy life? Why do you have to practice martial arts? Just like my sister, she doesn't want to have a good life and insists on playing with weapons. She's just asking for trouble and is just messing around."

Chen Mo was too lazy to say anything more to Dongzi, "Stop talking nonsense, just tell me if you'll help or not."

This wasn't Chen Mo pretending; it was just how the original owner of this body had treated Xie Dong before...

Sure enough, Xie Dong found the familiar feeling and slapped his forehead in exasperation. "I'm really fed up with having a friend like you. Fine, I give up. I'll help, but you'll have to treat me to Chunfeng Restaurant later."

Chen Mo, true to the original owner's style, said, "I'm truly impressed to have a friend like you. Please, it's my treat."

Xie Dong laughed heartily: "That's more like it. Qiu Lan, let's head to Blood Ridge Black Market."

It's clear that Xie Dong and Qiu Lan are quite familiar with each other.

……

Blood Ridge Black Market.

As the name suggests, it is located in a place called Blood Ridge.

Blood Ridge is located in a canyon about 20 miles west of the city.

It was already late afternoon when they arrived at the entrance to the canyon. Through the carriage window, Chen Mo saw two men in black, each with a knife, guarding the entrance. They were both burly and imposing.

Xie Dong was clearly a big shot here. He stuck his head out and threw out a sign, and the two men with knives let him pass with smiles.

"Oh, it's Young Master Xie! Please come in quickly."

Once inside the canyon, a completely different world unfolds.

The canyon didn't look very big from the outside, but it was quite large inside. Rows of wooden houses and various shops had been built there, and it was bustling with people. However, many people wore masks or had their faces covered, clearly to avoid attracting thieves.

Anyone who comes here to make a large sum of money, whether a merchant or a buyer, is targeted by thieves after leaving the house, and ends up in the clutches of thieves... Such incidents are commonplace.

But the prices are high here, there are no extra taxes, and many illegal goods can only be sold here.

Therefore, many people are still willing to take the risk.

The group got off the carriage and strolled around with Xie Dong, but they didn't see any shops selling Qi and Blood Pills.

Xie Dong then said, "It seems we're not very lucky; we'll have to buy it from Old Master Li's house."

Chen Mo asked, "Old Master Li?"

Xie Dong led the way while explaining, "Well, Old Master Li is a native pharmacist who was born and raised here. He used to refine Qi and Blood Pills. It's just that his family suffered misfortune..."

Halfway through his sentence, Xie Dong suddenly saw something terrifying and immediately stopped talking. He pulled Chen Mo and the others to the roadside, saying, "Kneel down quickly, the servants of the Red Lantern Lady are here."

(End of this chapter)