The Mysterious Card Maker: Starting with Zhang Jiao's Deification

"What? Xiang Qian was sent out of town by the company to make cards? And he won't be back for a week?"

Lin Fan arrived at the company early in the morning, but before he could even eat the breakfast he had bought, he heard the news that Xiang Qian had gone out.

Zhou Chen, munching on a steamed bun, smacked his lips and said, "Yeah, isn't it common for card makers to go out and make cards? Brother Fan, why are you so excited?"

Lin Fan waved his hand: "It's nothing, I just... wanted to ask him about writing the card design!"

"Ask him for advice?" Zhou Chen almost choked on the steamed bun, so he picked up the soy milk and took a big gulp before he could swallow it.

"Brother Fan, you can make purple cards now, why are you asking him for advice? We don't even know how he got that Prison Suppressor card; maybe he bought it!"

Lin Fan didn't reply, staring blankly at the computer.

I just got back yesterday and I'm off on a business trip today. Isn't that a bit too much of a coincidence?

Lin Fan took out his phone and sent a message to Qin Muyao: "Xiang Qian is away on a business trip and won't be back for a week."

Qin Muyao replied instantly: "Then let's prepare to go to [Misty Ruins], which will help maintain our current popularity."

Lin Fan thought for a moment, "Okay, then let's go after I get off work!"

"Why wait until after get off work? Take a day off and go now. I still need to register as an assistant and get the secret realm insurance and stuff. There's no time to go there tonight."

"Qin Muyao said, and then a rustling sound came from behind, it seemed that she had started to pack her things.

Lin Fan replied and hung up the phone. He glanced at Zhou Chen, who was munching on a steamed bun, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Help me ask for leave. If they ask, just give me any excuse!"

"Ah! Brother Fan, you're taking leave again. There's a meeting today..." Zhou Chen mumbled, his mouth full of steamed bun. "The supervisor...over there..."

"I'll leave that to you!"

Lin Fan grabbed his bag and ran out, leaving Zhou Chen completely bewildered.

In the northern suburbs of Jiang City, Lin Fan and Qin Muyao appeared in front of a gray building, looking at the sign next to the building that read "Entrance to the Misty Ruins".

"So this is the entrance to the [Hidden Mist Ruins]?" Lin Fan remarked, looking at the building that resembled a converted abandoned factory from the last century.

"I thought the entrance to the secret realm would be some kind of high-class place!"

"Maybe all secret realms are like this." Qin Muyao was also here for the first time, and her tone was filled with a sense of novelty as she looked around.

"That should be the entrance," Qin Muyao said, pointing to a place with a queue.

The two walked along the road and then discovered a row of makeshift tin shacks.

Colorful signs are hung haphazardly, some selling food and drinks, others selling card supplies.

There are also vendors selling all sorts of "essential items for secret realms," with signs for "anti-eerie spray" and "life-saving amulets" prominently displayed—clearly designed to fool newbies.

Even more outrageous, several tin-roofed houses had their doors tightly shut, with small, ambiguous pink lights hanging at the entrances, flashing intermittently, like some kind of secret code.

As Lin Fan and Qin Muyao passed by, several suppressed and ambiguous sounds came from one of the rooms.

Qin Muyao paused for a moment, just in time to see someone with a belt around their waist walking quickly out from inside, their white body half-exposed behind the door.

Her face flushed, and she glared at the tin shack, muttering under her breath, "Shameless."

Lin Fan, without changing his expression, tugged at her sleeve: "Stop looking, let's go."

The two walked to the end of the line and started queuing. There were about twenty people ahead of them, mostly young people, gathered in twos and threes.

Some were discussing strategies for clearing the secret realm in hushed tones, while others were checking their cards and equipment.

In the middle of the group were a few silent middle-aged men, clearly regulars. They carried large bags and had wallets around their waists, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding noise.

Each of them held a mobile phone in their hand, and when it was their turn, they swiped the QR code in front of the machine.

The two waited in line for about twenty minutes before it was finally their turn.

Lin Fan took out his phone, opened the QR code sent by Su Wanqing, and scanned it against the testing machine.

There's no need to worry about tracing identity with this QR code, since these credentials are available for purchase on Xiaohuangyu (a Chinese online marketplace), though they are quite expensive.

"Beep, your entry qualification has been verified. D+ level secret realm [Misty Ruins], single entry only. Please cooperate with the security check."

The machine emitted a completely emotionless sound.

A staff member walked over and scanned the two of them with a device about the size of a palm.

After checking the necessary documents, such as the card master's certificate and the assistant's certificate, they were given two temporary identity cards.

Lin Fan was given a red identity card representing his assistant, while Qin Muyao was given a green identity card representing her card master.

"Have you bought the secret realm insurance?" the staff member asked without looking up.

"Not yet," Qin Muyao said.

"Over there." The staff member pointed to the side, "You don't have to buy it, but if something happens inside, the Card Association won't be responsible for rescue."

Lin Fan and Qin Muyao exchanged a glance and obediently went to the window next to them to buy two insurance policies for the secret realm.

They were given 500 each, and also a help locator. If they encountered something they couldn't solve in the secret realm, they could call for help.

If you die in the secret realm due to a lack of timely rescue, you can get 200,000 in compensation.

"Why does it feel like buying a lottery ticket?" Lin Fan muttered.

"You're such a jinx." Qin Muyao rolled her eyes at him.

After purchasing the insurance, the two went to the changing area to change into the "Underworld Administrator" outfit before entering the building, which resembled a waiting hall.

At the far end of the hall was a huge metal door, where people were constantly going in and out; that was the true entrance to the secret realm!

Qin Muyao looked around. "There are quite a lot of people!"

Lin Fan said, "The D+ level secret realm has a low entry threshold and the one-time entry ticket is not expensive. Everyone comes here with the intention of making money. After all, they can break even by sealing a Green Domain level monster."

Upon hearing Lin Fan's words, Qin Muyao slammed her fist in her hand and asked, "Speaking of which, did you buy any blank cards?"

"No!"

Lin Fan also realized that sealing the strange creature with a blank card was much more valuable than obtaining material cards by directly killing it.

"Why don't you buy a few? I'll pay you back when I have the money." Lin Fan asked tentatively, as he didn't have much money right now and Miss Qin would have to pay for it.

"Alright." Qin Muyao glanced at him but didn't say anything more. The two went to a stall and bought six tickets for 1250 each.

This was because the boss gave them an extra discount because they were dressed as "underworld managers".

Qin Muyao gave Lin Fan 3 cards, and then kept the remaining 3 cards on herself.

Just as they were about to walk toward the metal door, a familiar voice came from behind them.

"What a coincidence, Mr. Black and Ms. White!"