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

Lin Fan and the other person turned their heads.

Su Wanqing stood a few steps away, her usual business-like demeanor completely different from today's.

She changed into a black tactical uniform, her legs still encased in black stockings, with a short blade strapped to the side of her leg. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, making her look both sharp and dangerous.

Behind her were two other people, a man and a woman, both wearing the same black tactical uniforms with the words "New World" printed on their chests.

"Miss Su?" Lin Fan asked first, "You've also come to the secret realm?"

"It's for work, so I'm bringing the newbies out for some experience." Su Wanqing smiled, her gaze sweeping over the two of them. "You're also here at [Misty Ruins]?"

Lin Fan nodded.

"Why don't we go together?" Su Wanqing suggested. "We're quite familiar with this secret realm, so we can show you around and save you from taking the wrong turn."

"No need," Qin Muyao refused. "We just want to take a look around casually; we don't plan to go any deeper."

Su Wanqing glanced at Qin Muyao, who was wearing a mask, and nodded: "Alright, be careful. Although this secret realm is not highly rated, the terrain inside is complicated and it is easy to get lost."

As she spoke, she gestured to the newcomers behind her, and the two of them handed her a card from their person.

"This is a guide card. After using it, it will guide you to the exit of the [Misty Ruins]. You can use it if you get lost inside."

Su Wanqing handed the two cards to Lin Fan and his companion respectively.

"And what about you guys?" Lin Fan asked in a low voice.

Su Wanqing smiled, "There are spares too. Besides, these things aren't worth much, and they're only for use in this secret realm. They'll be useless once we leave!"

Lin Fan paused for two seconds, then nodded: "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Su Wanqing waved her hand, and led her subordinates hand in hand into the metal gate. With a flash of white light, the three of them disappeared inside.

Qin Muyao leaned closer, looked at the space card, and muttered softly, "What exactly is she after?"

"I don't know," Lin Fan said honestly, "but since I've already given them the card, I might as well use it."

As the two were talking, a thin man approached them.

"Gentlemen, would you like to buy a map?" A man appeared in front of Lin Fan and his companion with a big smile. His clothes were faded from washing, indicating that he didn't usually have much business.

"Look at the detailed map of 【Misty Ruins】. These red dots are areas where strange things gather, green dots are safe zones, and blue dots are areas with rare materials. Our team spent three months exploring all of these, and it only costs 500 yuan."

"With it, you won't get lost inside; with it, you can avoid danger; with it..."

Qin Muyao was somewhat tempted and was about to take out her phone to pay when Lin Fan reached out from the side and stopped her.

Lin Fan glanced at the man: "Five hundred? A worthless piece of paper."

"Hey, how come you're just a piece of paper? I only thought you looked like that..."

He paused, scratched his head, and thought back: "The manager of the Underworld, yes, if it weren't for the fact that you look like them, I wouldn't have given you a discount. My original price is 2."

"There are tons of this stuff online, what's the point of buying yours!" Lin Fan waved his phone.

He did a lot of research before he came, and he had already saved maps and other information in his phone's photo album.

"I..." The man stammered, as if he'd been caught red-handed, "If your phone runs out of battery... you'll still need this map, won't you?"

"Sorry, it's fully charged." Lin Fan showed the man his phone, indicating that it was fully charged.

After all, nowadays, as long as you know how to use a mobile phone, it's really easy to find information like travel guides and maps online, so there's no need to spend money to buy a piece of waste paper.

Seeing this, the man didn't say anything more, put away the map, and prepared to leave.

Just then, Lin Fan called out to him again, "100 for sale, give me one if you're selling."

The man's eyes gleamed, and he nodded hurriedly, "Sell, sell! You can just scan this area."

Lin Fan took out his phone to scan the QR code, his mouth still running: "I noticed they were holding hands when they went in, is there some kind of custom involved?"

Lin Fan noticed the situation at the metal door as usual. Most people went in holding hands, and some even hugged each other; there was physical contact involved.

The man took the money and readily said, "The teleportation in the Misty Ruins is random. If you're not close to each other, the two of you might be thrown into different places."

Lin Fan nodded. "I see!"

After listening to the man's words, he took Qin Muyao's hand.

"What are you doing?" Qin Muyao's hand stiffened slightly.

"You won't be separated once you go in." Lin Fan waved the map in his hand. "Do you want to be thrown into a pile of monsters alone and then wait for me to come find you?"

Qin Muyao opened her mouth but didn't say anything more. She just slowly closed her fingers and grasped Lin Fan's hand. Her palms were a little damp, which showed that she was nervous.

The two walked toward the metal door, and a grayish-white light instantly engulfed them.

Lin Fan felt his body lighten, as if he had been lifted up by something. The scene in front of him began to distort, and he couldn't help but tighten his grip on Qin Muyao's hand.

When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on soft, damp earth, and the air was filled with the smell of damp, decaying leaves, mixed with an indescribable sweet and fishy odor.

They were surrounded by a grayish-white fog, with visibility less than 5 meters.

Lin Fan turned to look at Qin Muyao, who was standing beside him, her hand tightly held in his. Lin Fan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"This is... the Misty Ruins?" Qin Muyao looked at the surrounding environment and gripped Lin Fan's hand even tighter.

"Yes! We should be in the Misty Valley now." Lin Fan picked up the map and pointed to the location marked with a green dot.

"A safe place?" Qin Muyao looked around. The grayish-white mist was slowly swirling, as if something was moving through it.

Occasionally, a low, rumbling sound would come from deep within the fog, indistinguishable as either the wind or something else.

"It doesn't seem like a safe place," Qin Muyao continued.

"It's alright, let's walk around here first, and then head out once we're familiar with the area."

Lin Fan held the [Soul Reaper - White Impermanence] in his hand, poured his spiritual power into it, and a blue light shone on the card, causing the surrounding temperature to drop sharply.

A white figure emerged from the light, the iron chains behind it dragging on the ground with a clattering sound.

The figure was a full head taller than Lin Fan, with a slender build. His face was mostly obscured by the shadow cast by his tall hat, revealing only his pale chin.

"Hmm? This is the latest card you made?" Qin Muyao's eyes lit up. She took a few steps closer and looked Bai Wuchang up and down, her hair standing on end.

"Hmm~ I still prefer Zhang Fei type, seeing someone like that in the middle of the night would be terrifying..."

Before Qin Muyao could finish speaking, she saw Bai Wuchang turn his head and look at her with his eerie green eyes, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

"What's his name?" Qin Muyao asked.

"Bai Wuchang, Xie Bi'an," Lin Fan said, "the soul-reaping messenger of the underworld."