Fu Su finally lost himself, no longer hearing the sounds around him, immersed in those mysterious characters.

Deep in the bookshelves, the boss and a young man sat cross-legged. Above them on the rafters, a red wood-carved coiling dragon perched there, baring its fangs and claws so lifelike, yet its head hung down as if in submission. Between its sharp teeth it held a huge night-shining pearl, illuminating this area bright as day.

The man was about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with a slender build. A spotless white robe draped over his shoulders, while around him were piled old, worn books and scrolls. On the desk before him lay the four treasures of the study, along with a half-transcribed manuscript—clearly the owner of this study. He looked down at the scroll in his hands, not raising his head as he smiled and asked: “Finally found it?”

The boss knew what the other was asking about and nodded with a smile, while also listening carefully to the footsteps coming from the bookshelves.

“Tsk, coming from the Kan section bookshelves—medical books, military treatises, Zhou Changes… you understand him well.” The white-robed man also moved his ears. “But it’s lucky you still remember where the books are placed here. Look, he’s stopped again. Is he reading ‘Three Graves,’ ‘Five Classics,’ ‘Eight Searches,’ or ‘Nine Hills’?”

“Should be ‘Nine Hills.'” The boss raised his eyebrows. Actually, to put it in modern terms, “Nine Hills” was the most ancient fantasy novel—his young master really couldn’t resist it.

“Since he likes reading it so much, why don’t you transcribe it for him?” The white-robed man studied the incomplete passages in his scroll, made annotations with his brush, then finally raised his head.

This white-robed man was much thinner than ordinary people, his cheekbones protruding slightly from thinness, making his features more distinct. His face was refined and handsome—historical records once described him as having “a face like a beautiful woman”—but he couldn’t overcome his slovenly appearance. His long hair, too lazy to properly arrange, was loosely tied behind his head. Unshaven stubble remained on his cheeks, giving him a disheveled feeling, yet his sharp gaze commanded attention.

“Zifang, are you trying to extract information from me?” The boss flicked dust from his clothes, his tone indescribably casual, though his smile grew more meaningful.

“That’s right, I am extracting information.” Zhang Zifang tapped the desk with his scroll, smiling roguishly. “Who told you to have the Luoshu Nine Stars compass and a jar of Qin Ban Liang coins to frequently enter and exit Dawn Market? I don’t dare go out yet, afraid I’ll never find Dawn Market’s entrance again.”

The boss stared at the scroll in Zhang Zifang’s hands and considered for a moment: “Dawn Market shouldn’t exist in the first place. Even if we leave, some memories about this transtemporal place will be correspondingly erased. For example, Zifang, you’ll remember some things here, but you definitely won’t remember the scrolls you’ve read here. Because at that time, paper hadn’t yet been invented.”

Zhang Zifang’s grip on the scroll tightened. This wasn’t the first time he’d heard such statements, but he still felt panic. It seemed to negate everything he’d done—all his efforts were as illusory as bubbles.

The boss watched his expression, slowly overlapping with memories of the friend he’d spent much time with—that face that could never gain weight no matter how well he ate after being starved in youth. Even after over two thousand years, it still felt extremely familiar. The boss smiled and added: “Though you’ll forget where you saw it or in what book, the knowledge and words won’t be forgotten. Some lost ancient books have had people transcribe them in history, only they couldn’t mention Dawn Market, so they were often considered continuations or plagiarisms by the world—causing many unclear lawsuits.”

“Tch, after saying so much, you still remember the book contents but are just too lazy to write them out.” Zhang Zifang completely relaxed his grip, placing the scroll on the desk and exhaling deeply. His expression relaxed again, even showing some teasing. “Equivalent exchange—thanks for telling me this intelligence, Bianzhi. In return, I’ll tell you some intelligence too.”

“I’m all ears.” Though the boss still smiled, his eyes had grown serious.

“Recently, that person who called deer horses appeared in Dawn Market.” Zhang Zifang tapped the table edge with his index finger, his gaze profound. “Though I don’t know why he’s still alive, his clothing was very similar to what you’re wearing now.”

The boss froze completely upon hearing this. He naturally knew who Zhang Zifang meant, but that person… his eldest senior brother… why was he still alive?

“I heard he exchanged many antiques here before leaving. Though he hid his face, someone still recognized him.” Zhang Zifang stroked his stubbled chin, sighing with a smile. “After all, he’s quite famous. Tsk, what a pity I didn’t see him. I would have made sure he could never leave Dawn Market again.”

Despite his foul mood, the boss still curved his lips upon hearing this. Though his friend before him didn’t yet have the sage strategist bearing and manner of the future imperial teacher, ordinary people really weren’t his match. Just looking at his leisurely transcription of ancient books, probably no one could believe he already controlled most of Dawn Market.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about these annoying things. What do you want to trade for today?” Zhang Zifang’s eyes brightened, his refined face showing a mercenary smile as he eagerly rubbed his hands. “Actually, it would be best to trade me that Luoshu Nine Stars compass!”

“…Dream on.”

Tang Yuan was somewhat unhappy because he had just seen his second senior brother enter that bookstore, but this fellow surnamed Guo absolutely wouldn’t let him follow!

“Still angry?” Guo Fengxiao looked down at the little boy he was holding hands with, who was puffing out his cheeks with displeasure, and couldn’t help laughing. “Do you really want to stay here forever? Who knows how long it takes to re-tie a concentric knot? And you’re fantasizing about reading books? How many characters do you even know?”

Tang Yuan simply didn’t want to talk to this fellow. Discriminating against his young age? He’d definitely read more books than him! Tang Yuan rolled his bright eyes and looked at Guo Fengxiao with suspicion: “Being so reluctant to enter that bookstore—you don’t like reading, do you?”

“How could that be?” Guo Fengxiao’s mouth twitched, his folding fan moving faster. “That bookstore isn’t so simple. Don’t ever go in. Especially that proprietor… hmph!”

There’s inside information.

Tang Yuan pouted. Seeing Guo Fengxiao clam up and unwilling to discuss further, he stopped asking.

After all, he was just a passerby. Tang Yuan grabbed the constantly squirming little white snake in his pocket—as long as this guy didn’t run around, it was OK. Dawn Market’s bazaar was very long, winding for several li. Tang Yuan was short, and even standing on tiptoes looking back and forth, he couldn’t see either end. In this bustling marketplace, Tang Yuan followed Guo Fengxiao seeking help from various people. After following Guo Fengxiao to ask the third person, Tang Yuan’s expression became even more suspicious.

If asking girls about rope-tying work was normal, how did this fellow surnamed Guo know so many young ladies? And they were all so beautiful!

“Don’t look at me like that. There are quite a few girls in Dawn Market. After all, they can have eternally youthful appearances here, so once girls come, they don’t want to leave!” Guo Fengxiao bid farewell to a beautiful young woman, looked down and winked at Tang Yuan, fanning himself with elegant bearing as he judged: “Especially the prettier the girl, the less willing she is to leave.”

“So having so many girls is also one of your main reasons for not wanting to leave Dawn Market?” Tang Yuan curled his lips, glancing at him with dead-fish eyes.

“Of course not! How could I be here for such reasons?” Guo Fengxiao snapped his fan shut with a whoosh, tapping Tang Yuan’s head with the fan ribs and saying seriously: “In the late Eastern Han, people lived in misery. I’m willing to give everything to end that cruel chaotic era. It’s just not yet time for me to go out.”

Tang Yuan rubbed where he’d been tapped—it didn’t hurt, but he felt an indescribable strange sensation. He had already noticed the shops they’d passed; only that bookstore from earlier was a study. If this Guo Fengxiao truly wanted to save the world, then reading would be the first choice, or mastering supreme martial arts. But one could defeat ten thousand enemies, the other at most ten—any fool knew which to choose.

There’s a conspiracy.

Tang Yuan covered his pocket but felt that if the other wanted to steal his token, he would have done so already—why go through such trouble? What this Guo Fengxiao wanted probably wasn’t something he could easily guess.

With this thought, Tang Yuan peacefully followed behind Guo Fengxiao. Even if the concentric knot token couldn’t be restored, Tang Yuan wasn’t that anxious. Playing in Dawn Market for a while was fine—time here was stagnant relative to outside. With the little white snake in hand, he definitely had a guide for finding Dawn Market tokens! However, why did all Dawn Market tokens carry resentment…

Just as Tang Yuan had this thought, he found Guo Fengxiao leading him into a shop. Looking at the exquisite silk fabrics hanging from the walls, this was clearly an embroidery workshop.

Guo Fengxiao was obviously a regular customer. After greeting the beautiful girls in the embroidery workshop, he led Tang Yuan deeper inside. The pavilions and towers along the way couldn’t arouse Tang Yuan’s interest—after all, he had once stayed in a courtyard where flowers bloomed even in harsh winter. Compared to that, other courtyards were merely ordinary. However, when they climbed to a warm pavilion and saw the beauty within, Tang Yuan couldn’t help but stare.

Actually, this beauty looked at least thirty-something, but like a lotus flower blooming to perfection, she was at her most charming moment. Her face bore only a light layer of powder—more would be too heavy, less too pale—carrying an indescribable, inexplicable melancholy. Though wearing only a simple, plain light purple curved-hem deep robe, it perfectly outlined her graceful figure. Every frown and smile of her countenance made people unconsciously hold their breath, afraid of disturbing this beauty. Before her sat an embroidery frame with a Jiangnan landscape painting half-finished, but already showing the leisurely comfort of boating on the lake.

“Madam Shi, Fengxiao has a request.” Before such a beauty, even the usually frivolous Guo Fengxiao put away his playful expression and softened his voice.

Madam Shi set down her embroidery needle. When her gaze fell on Tang Yuan, her slightly melancholy features immediately softened, her entire face suddenly radiating a captivating brilliance that made Tang Yuan think of a certain historical figure, nearly crying out in surprise.

Such beauty, this age, this form of address!

Madam Shi?! Shi Yiguang?! Could this be Xi Shi, one of the four great beauties?

Recalling historical legends, if Xi Shi, after successfully serving as a female spy to bring down Wu Kingdom, hadn’t been drowned but had retreated with Fan Li to live in seclusion, then Fan Li must also be in Dawn Market!

Damn! Fan Li was the legendary life winner! Though born humble, he played politics and helped King Goujian of Yue become a Spring and Autumn hegemon. In military affairs, he helped the once-weakened Yue defeat the prosperous Wu. After reaching the pinnacle of ministerial power, he retreated with the world’s most beautiful woman and lived well. Not content with retirement, he went into business and became the world’s richest merchant. Moreover, feeling he’d earned too much money, he gave away his wealth and started over from nothing! He did this repeatedly three times!

Loyal to country, wise in self-preservation, wealthy through commerce, famous throughout the world. Later generations called him “Tao Zhu Gong,” “Sage of Commerce,” and “God of Wealth!”

Tang Yuan’s mouth twitched twice. Considering Dawn Market’s principle of equivalent exchange, he felt he had probably guessed who the Market Master of Dawn Market really was…