Chapter 33 - 31: Fugitive of the Light

Chapter 33: Chapter 31: Fugitive of the Light

Jiang Chaosheng sized up Yang Xiao.

His hair was a mess. He was even thinner than the last time they’d met, like a scrawny, stray monkey.

You could tell he’d had a rough time lately.

Logically, even though the underworld boss Yang Yaozu was dead and his territories had been carved up by rivals, his only son, Yang Xiao, should have still been living at least as well as an ordinary person, if not better.

Jiang Chaosheng glanced at the teapot on the table.

"Pour your own tea."

"Okay."

Yang Xiao cautiously sat down and picked up the teapot to pour himself a cup.

He smelled the aroma of cooking drifting down from upstairs and swallowed hard.

Jiang Chaosheng continued flipping through his book.

"How did you end up like this?"

Yang Xiao shook his head with a bitter smile.

"All my money went to buying my dad’s coffin."

"My stepmother took the old family house, too."

"It seems my dad left all his assets to her."

After speaking, Yang Xiao gulped down the cup of tea.

It was so hot it made him hiss, but he didn’t spit it out.

First, this was Jiang Chaosheng’s shop, and he couldn’t get it dirty.

Second... this cup of tea was the warmest thing that had passed his lips in a long time.

Yang Xiao slowly exhaled a breath of hot air and said with self-deprecation:

"Just because that woman and her son cried at my dad’s bedside, he gave them all the money."

"He completely forgot that I was the one who put in the work for the gang, and forgot that I’m the only one who would bury him after he died."

"My dad knew perfectly well that woman was just after his money."

"But it made him happy, even though he knew their love was fake."

"My dad was so cool, treating his own son like a dog."

As Yang Xiao spoke, a trace of envy and longing appeared in his eyes.

"He did... *that*... to another man’s wife and daughter right in front of the husband."

"He threw his own brother into a cage with Tibetan Mastiffs."

"He betrayed every single one of his sworn brothers."

"No ethics, no morals, didn’t care about what the world thought, and he’d never let family ties hold him back."

"My dad must have known how miserable I’d be after he died, but right before he went, he still kicked me to the curb just to make a pretty woman smile."

"A true lecher who stopped at nothing, a lawless animal."

"He died a pretty miserable death, I’ll admit, but you can’t say he didn’t live his life to the fullest."

"He did what he wanted, when he wanted."

"My dad... the freest man in the world."

"All you have to do is ignore ethics and morality, ignore all the harm you’re causing, and you can be that free!"

After he finished, Yang Xiao looked at Jiang Chaosheng, his eyes full of expectation.

"Sir, what exactly did my father trade with you?"

Jiang Chaosheng said lightly:

"He traded his conscience and morality for a cloth doll."

Yang Xiao froze on the spot.

’Conscience and morality?’

’It was actually his conscience and morality!’

’Can you even trade something like that?’

Yang Xiao immediately grew eager. He asked cautiously:

"Then, can I..."

Jiang Chaosheng put down his book. His eyes were teasing, and he wore a half-smile.

"Why would I endlessly collect something that you people have no use for?"

Yang Xiao awkwardly put his hands under the table.

Jiang Chaosheng said:

"Your dad wasn’t always a villain, you know."

"He did his fair share of fighting for the weak and helping the old and lonely."

"You could say he was a man of honor, back then."

Yang Xiao was dumbfounded. "That’s impossible!" he said in disbelief.

Jiang Chaosheng wasn’t lying or trying to trick Yang Xiao.

Li Qinglian had recorded an outline of Yang Yaozu’s life.

Jiang Chaosheng studied the Managers’ notes every day, so of course he had read it.

Yang Xiao suddenly remembered something, and realization dawned on him.

"Right, he sold his conscience and morality later."

After saying this, Yang Xiao sighed.

’What a shame. I can’t be like Dad. Sir won’t take my conscience and morality.’

Jiang Chaosheng said:

"Actually, you don’t need to trade away any conscience or morality."

Yang Xiao looked at Jiang Chaosheng, blinking.

Jiang Chaosheng smiled.

"You’re already a villain. Your conscience and morality are practically nonexistent."

Yang Xiao froze for a moment.

"But I’m not as cool as my dad."

A smile played on Jiang Chaosheng’s lips.

"Because compared to your dad, you’re missing a cloth doll."

Item No. 5-20, the Black Magic Doll.

As long as you have a victim’s birth date and name, you can take their life from a thousand miles away.

Its power is immense, but the side effects are severe.

In truth, every Taboo Item has side effects of some kind.

Yang Xiao stared at Jiang Chaosheng with pleading eyes.

"Can you sell that doll to me?"

"You can have anything of mine you want! I’ll do anything for you!"

Jiang Chaosheng shook his head.

Yang Xiao lowered his gaze in disappointment, but in the corner of his eye, he saw the smile on Jiang Chaosheng’s lips widen. He looked back up at him.

Jiang Chaosheng stared into Yang Xiao’s eyes, his gaze dark and profound.

"I can give you something better. Better than that doll."

"You can use it to achieve the freedom you desire."

"But the price is a hundred times heavier than conscience and morality."

Without a second thought, his eyes burning with desire, Yang Xiao said:

"I’m willing! I’ll make the trade!"

Just then, the CLACK CLACK of high heels sounded on the stairs.

Jin Meiting came downstairs. She froze for a second when she saw Yang Xiao, then looked at Jiang Chaosheng with a pitiful, wronged expression.

"Master, dinner is ready."

Jiang Chaosheng glanced at Jin Meiting.

"Bring me 2-15."

Jin Meiting hurried down the rest of the stairs and went into the back room.

She had long since memorized the numbers of all the Taboo Items in Antique Shop Zero.

A moment later, Jin Meiting returned and walked up to Jiang Chaosheng, holding a glove.

[Item No. 2-15, Ghost Shadow Gloves.]

Jiang Chaosheng took the Ghost Shadow Gloves and looked at Yang Xiao.

"This thing has the power to manipulate shadows. In terms of how forbidden it is, it’s far stronger than that doll."

Yang Xiao stared intently at the Ghost Shadow Gloves, his breathing growing ragged.

"What... what do I have to give?"

"Sir, just give it to me! I’ll do anything!"

Jiang Chaosheng slowly pulled on the glove.

"Seeing as you’re willing to work for me, I can give you a discount."

Once the glove was on, Jiang Chaosheng spoke slowly.

"Then let’s trade it for your shadow."

As Jiang Chaosheng finished speaking, he swiped his gloved hand, and something bizarre happened.

Yang Xiao looked down in horror at his own shadow.

His pitch-black shadow was struggling!

It writhed as if in immense pain, its hands clawing wildly.

An indescribable force suddenly struck!

The shadow flattened into a line, shot across the floor, and climbed up the counter, where Jiang Chaosheng snatched it. It transformed into a strange, black rune in his hand.

Yang Xiao instantly felt incredibly weak; even the simple act of lifting his hand was now exceedingly difficult.

Jiang Chaosheng gave a light cough.

The Ghost Shadow Gloves could not be used without consequence.

Without the support of immense Spiritual Power, it consumed one’s health instead.

For Jiang Chaosheng, this wasn’t a problem.

He was immortal. "Health" was a useless commodity to him.

Jiang Chaosheng took off the glove and tossed it to Yang Xiao.

"It’s yours."

Yang Xiao eagerly put on the Ghost Shadow Gloves.

"Th-thank you!"

Jiang Chaosheng placed his hands back on his book and said:

"You no longer have a shadow. You will be hunted by the light."

"Wait until nightfall before you leave. In the meantime, stay and have a meal."

A person without a shadow fears light and will be reduced to ash under the sun.

Jiang Chaosheng glanced at Jin Meiting.

"Bring down the food."

Jin Meiting shot a look at Yang Xiao, who looked like a Hungry Ghost, and reluctantly went upstairs to bring down the pork ribs.

Yang Xiao swallowed hard and began to wolf down the food.

Jin Meiting’s eyes were full of disgust as she watched Yang Xiao.

’I made that for Master!’

.....

Yang Xiao was not a pretty eater. He shoveled food into his mouth like a pig rooting for cabbage.

After he finished eating, Yang Xiao just sat in his chair, dazed.

Jiang Chaosheng ignored him and quietly read his book.

Jin Meiting cleaned up with a broom, occasionally shooting resentful glares at Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao didn’t get up until the last glimmer of dusk had faded from the sky and night began to fall.

He gave Jiang Chaosheng a deep bow, then turned and walked out of Antique Shop Zero.

Jin Meiting frowned, her pretty brows furrowed, as she stared at Yang Xiao’s gaunt back.

"Interesting."

A voice came from the counter.

Jin Meiting turned back in confusion to look at Jiang Chaosheng.

Jiang Chaosheng was watching Yang Xiao’s retreating figure.

"Believe it or not, he’ll be back to make another trade."

Jin Meiting didn’t understand.

"Is it because the Ghost Shadow Gloves aren’t powerful enough?"

Jiang Chaosheng shook his head.

"They’re very powerful."

Jin Meiting was even more puzzled.

"Then what else could he possibly want to trade with you?"

"Heheheh....."

Jiang Chaosheng suddenly let out a string of laughter.

The laughter was filled with mockery, disdain, and... a certain contempt for the absurdity of human nature.

When Jiang Chaosheng had laughed his fill, he said:

"He’ll come back to trade those gloves for his conscience and morality."