Ahem, I'll need to return to Wudang Mountain soon, but if you're truly interested, just pay now and I'll give you a fifty percent discount—five million." The daoist steadied himself and coughed.
Although losing five million all at once made the daoist feel a pang of pain, the truth was he didn't really know what this 'flesh ganoderma' was, nor could he guarantee its effects. So he decided to retreat to advance, figuring a five-million profit wasn't bad.
The young man hesitated slightly, then reached for his wallet and pulled out a platinum card.
The daoist's eyes lit up at the sight.
Just as the young man was about to hand over the platinum card, a hand suddenly reached out from the side, grabbed his wrist, and stopped him.
Hm?
The daoist had already reached out to take the card, but just as he was about to get it, the sudden hand stopped him, making his expression change instantly. He looked unhappily at the newcomer, unsure where he'd come from.
Friend, what do you mean by this?" The daoist looked at Evan Lin, a warning glint in his eyes.
Summer Mu tilted his head slightly, and when he saw who it was, he was stunned. "You?"
Summer Mu hadn't expected to run into Evan Lin here. They hadn't met since parting ways at White Dragon Mountain.
"This isn't flesh ganoderma at all. While it might look similar, in terms of effects, this thing is basically a top-grade poison," Evan Lin said calmly. The words reached the daoist's ears, making his face suddenly change.
He pointed at Evan Lin, glaring. "Where did this brat come from? Do you even know what flesh ganoderma is? I picked this thousand-year-old flesh ganoderma myself from Wudang Mountain! How could it be fake!"
Then the daoist turned to Summer Mu, speaking quickly: "Friend, since we've met, it's fate. I feel a connection with you, so how about this—I'll sell you this flesh ganoderma for three million. It has the power to bring the dead back to life!"
Summer Mu was about to pay for the flesh ganoderma, but hadn't expected Evan Lin to suddenly stop him.
Summer Mu actually had a good impression of Evan Lin, and after meeting him a few times before, he'd seen Evan's skills and was curious about his identity.
Hearing Evan's words, Summer Mu couldn't help but ask, "How can you be so sure this isn't flesh ganoderma?"
Although Summer Mu tended to trust Evan Lin, Evan was still very young, and things like flesh ganoderma belonged to the realm of traditional Chinese medicine and rare herbs.
Summer Mu still found it hard to believe someone so young could have such insight.
"Ordinary flesh ganoderma, after years of growth, should appear brown-black. But the one he’s holding is pitch-black all over, and not only that, it’s unusually large—meaning it must have grown in some dark, nutrient-rich soil."
At this point, Evan Lin’s gaze deepened as he glanced at the daoist.
The daoist’s expression changed slightly, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.
"Dark, nutrient-rich soil? Where would that be?" Summer Mu was puzzled.
"Of course, it’s a place for the dead. If I’m not mistaken, this thing probably came from grave soil. What’s more, this kind of thing grows by absorbing corpses—it’s not called flesh ganoderma at all, it should be called wraithflesh."
"Wraithflesh?" Summer Mu was stunned; he’d never heard of such a thing.
The daoist, fired up by Evan Lin’s words, snapped, "What makes you say this is wraithflesh? This is clearly flesh ganoderma!"
"It’s easy to tell flesh ganoderma from wraithflesh." Evan Lin looked at another man standing nearby, reached into his pocket, and casually took out a lighter, then walked straight toward the daoist.
"What are you doing?" The daoist was alarmed as Evan Lin approached.
He didn’t actually know what this thing was himself. He’d dug it up from an old grave on a deserted mountain, saw it looked like flesh ganoderma and was big enough, so he brought it to Clear Creek Street hoping to get lucky.
He’d finally found a sucker, but before closing the deal, someone swooped in and stole his sale.
"Of course I’m going to prove it to you." Evan Lin shook his head, reached out, snatched the wraithflesh from the daoist’s hand, and flicked the lighter. Flames sprang up instantly.
The moment the outer flame touched the pitch-black wraithflesh, it suddenly began to writhe wildly as if hit by a huge shock.
From inside the wraithflesh came a series of ghastly cries, like a baby wailing in the night.
Evan Lin casually tossed the wraithflesh onto the ground. Engulfed in flames, it writhed madly on the stone pavement—clearly not a flesh ganoderma, but a living creature!
"Oh my god!" The daoist’s face went pale, his legs gave out, and he sat down on the ground.
"Holy crap, what is that thing!" The onlookers instinctively stepped back a few paces.
The wraithflesh, shrouded in flames, rolled toward the edge of the crowd, trying to escape.
Seeing this, Evan Lin raised his foot and kicked a stone, sending it flying to pin the escaping wraithflesh to the ground.
Only when the flames died out and black smoke drifted up did the wraithflesh finally stop moving, turning into a puddle of black meat sludge.
"This kind of thing—you don’t eat it, it eats you. Once someone swallows it, it’ll take over their body in no time, acting as a parasite." Evan Lin said calmly.
At this moment, the way the people around looked at Evan Lin had completely changed. Their eyes were full of respect and admiration.
Someone so young with such sharp insight—it was impossible not to be impressed.
Summer Mu suddenly realized that if he’d brought that thing home, the money wouldn’t matter, but what if someone actually ate it…
Thinking of that, Summer Mu’s face went pale.
He looked at Evan Lin, gratitude in his eyes. "This time, I really have to thank you."
"No problem." Evan Lin nodded slightly. If it hadn’t been Summer Mu, Evan wouldn’t have bothered stepping in.
Seeing Evan Lin about to leave, Summer Mu seemed to remember something and hurriedly asked, "By the way, since you’re in River City, are you free tonight?"
What's up?
There's an auction tonight. I want to bid on something, but I don't really know much about this stuff, so could you come with me?" Summer Mu looked pleading; things weren’t going well for him lately.
Evan Lin thought for a moment, then finally nodded.