Strange Events of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 26 Night Old Ghost
"What is this?" Xiaolan asked softly, pointing to a round transparent hard ball on the booth.

Ling Changfeng looked at it intently, and replied: "This thing is a Western toy, called a glass ball, and it's not very useful."

Xiaolan nodded, and then took a closer look at the booth.At this time, the stall owner asked in a deep voice: "If the customer is looking for something, please make a quick decision. If there is nothing you like, please back away quickly, and don't disturb my business."

Seeing her blunt tone, Xiaolan was about to argue, but Ling Changfeng tugged at her sleeve, signaling her not to be as knowledgeable as this stall owner, and just go to the next stall to have a look.

Not only did Xiao Lan open her eyes to the strange and weird items on the stalls, she saw all kinds of small toys from the West, she also saw all kinds of antique jade wares of unknown ages, and there were even people selling military armor strictly controlled by the imperial court. , In other booths, there are quack warlocks, doctor doctors, Qimen Dunjia, and fortune-tellers, which can be described as varied.

After walking around for a while, Xiao Lan didn't make a deal, but asked softly, "Master, who are you looking for? Why didn't we see him after we walked around?"

Ling Changfeng pointed to the cave next to the hall, and said, "This man's name is Ye Laogui, and he's in the third cave on the left."

Xiaolan looked at the cave and asked, "Master, what is this cave for?"

"This cave is inhabited by the guardians of the ghost market. They are basically important criminals of the imperial court, and it is inconvenient for them to move outside. That's why they live in this ghost market for a long time. Let's go there." Ling Changfeng patiently explained, After speaking, he went straight to the cave.

Xiaolan nodded, and stopped asking questions.He only followed Ling Changfeng to the door of the cave dwelling.

There was only a cough coming from inside the door, followed by a feeble voice asking: "Who is outside the door? The old ghost is sick today and has not seen outsiders. Please invite this guest back." After speaking, there was another cough.

Ling Changfeng only said softly outside: "Old Ghost Ye, it's me. An acquaintance of yours is not an outsider."

Old Ghost Ye suddenly seemed to come alive, and said, "Master Ling, why are you here. Hurry up and talk!"

Ling Changfeng didn't wait for him to finish speaking, he took Xiaolan and pushed the door in.

The dim candlelight in the house was flickering gently. Since the old ghost seldom went out that night, he didn't need to wear a mask here. Instead, he only needed to wear a mask when he went out to the surface world.

The space in the house is not big, just a few feet square, and it seemed very crowded when the two of them entered.The furnishings inside are also extremely simple.But put a bamboo bed, a chair, and nothing else.

Under the light of the candlelight, I can see that there are burn scars on half of his face, his gray hair is sparse and messy, his eye sockets are sunken, and his lips are dry. He is resting on a bamboo bed at the moment. I don't know if the cough just now is real or not, but Ye Laogui's appearance is even more terrifying than the masked person.

Xiaolan comforted Xiaoyu, who was restless in her arms, and carefully hid behind Ling Changfeng. She was extremely curious about what happened to Ling Changfeng, but she no longer looked at this person.

Old Ghost Ye chuckled and didn't care.He just looked at Ling Changfeng and said in a hoarse voice: "There are so many people in this place, how dare you bring other people here. Be careful of being murdered by someone with malicious intentions."

Ling Changfeng was noncommittal, and said with a faint smile: "If you really have the courage, go ahead and try. It may not be so easy to get money from me."

Ye Laogui saw that the reminder was fulfilled, so he stopped talking, just nodded and asked: "What is the purpose of Mr. Ling's visit this time? Although I, Ye Laogui, live in this ghost market, I am well-informed." Come on. If you don't investigate the case, why are you still taking this girl to visit the ghost market?"

Ling Changfeng nodded and said, "You old ghost, you are really well informed. But I came here today not to hang out, but to investigate the case. I wonder if you can help?"

That old ghost "giggled" and said, "You know my rules, so don't talk about helping each other. As long as you pay enough taels, I, Old Ghost Ye, will definitely satisfy you."

Ling Changfeng smiled and nodded, and lightly threw a yellow gold ingot from his sleeve, and threw it towards the old ghost of the night.

That night old ghost held the gold ingot firmly with his skinny hands, while playing with it, he said with a smile: "Young Master Ling, tell me, what do you want to know?"

Ling Changfeng looked calm, and asked indifferently: "I want to know the news of the person who came here to buy rosin in the past half a month. How is it, can I get it?"

Ye Laogui was silent for a long time, and said: "Give me the time to burn an incense stick!" After speaking, he got up and walked outside.

Xiaolan saw her change from a half-dead state to full of vitality in an instant, and she thought to herself: Money can turn ghosts around.

When Old Ghost Ye walked out of the door, Xiaolan asked curiously, "Master, how did you know Old Ghost Ye?"

Ling Changfeng found a place to sit down at random, and said slowly: "This is also a coincidence..."

It turned out that Ling Changfeng had just arrived in Luoyang half a year ago. When passing by a gambling house, he found that the old ghost was jealous of losing that night, so he wanted to borrow money from the gambling house to make up for it. Several guards beat him up and drove him out of the casino.

It so happened that the old ghost saw Ling Changfeng passing by this night, so he shouted loudly: "Master Ling, help!"

Seeing that he had just come to Luoyang, Ling Changfeng was surprised that someone recognized him. He turned his head to look at Old Ghost Ye, only to see a strange-looking person calling him.

Ling Changfeng walked over and asked, only to find out that this person is actually a well-known little leader of Luoyang Ghost City, but he is a gambler by nature, owed a large amount of debt, and is still being arrested by the yamen.But through the eyes and ears of the night market, this person was extremely well informed.This time Ling Changfeng came to Luoyang, of course he couldn't escape his eyes and ears.

Ling Changfeng wanted to get acquainted with this old ghost of the night, so he used a small plan to win back the 500 taels of silver that the old ghost lost today. This Luoyang gambling market relies on its shame.In this way, the two people with evil intentions got acquainted.

Of course, even if the old ghost took Ling Changfeng to Luoyang ghost market several times that night, Ling Changfeng never agreed to help him go to the gambling house to win money.It's just that Ling Changfeng doesn't come empty-handed every time.

After listening to Ling Changfeng's narration, Xiaolan immediately said: "No wonder I said, young master, you occasionally disappear. It turned out that you ran to such a place. But since the old ghost is so well-informed this night, I will also ask about my master later. How is the whereabouts of her old man?"

Ling Changfeng nodded with a smile, and said, "Naturally, I will ask him if you don't mention it. Just rest assured."

When Xiaolan heard the words, she nodded and stopped talking.

"You two, I've been waiting for a long time. Ye Laogui has already brought the person you want. In half a month, only this person has sold rosin." After a while, the door of the cave was opened again, and Ye Laogui led a group of people. A man with a mask on his face walked in.

(End of this chapter)