Everyone, to some extent, possesses a shred of compassion. This is in stark contrast to malevolent spirits who, due to prolonged exposure to Yin energy, lingering in the mortal realm for too long, or suffering grievous fates in life, have become increasingly ferocious and cruel, having long lost their capacity for empathy.
Ye Tiancheng's decision to intervene and bid for the string of bone beads was precisely for this reason.
The owner of the bones in the bead bracelet was likely once an ordinary person living a normal life, who had done nothing wrong. However, perhaps due to bad luck or a particularly significant birthdate, he was secretly murdered and transformed into this kind of malevolent entity, along with countless other evil spirits trapped within the bone beads.
They were certainly not willing to become evil spirits; most were likely wronged souls who met an unjust end, and thus, they were pitiable.
Ye Tiancheng needed to conceal his identity and couldn't act too overtly. He could only blend in and appear like the other evil spirits. However, in such a situation, any normal person with even a sliver of ability would find it impossible to simply stand by and watch.
There wasn't much he could do, other than to bid for the bone bead bracelet and then purify and sanctify it, perhaps allowing these wronged souls to find release.
Furthermore, the little fox knew more about such matters. He told Ye Tiancheng that this kind of item could only be crafted by the living; evil spirits could not craft such things. It wasn't that they lacked the ability, but their very nature precluded them from doing so.
Therefore, the perpetrator of such a heinous act must be human, and moreover, a cultivator with profound skill to accomplish such a feat.
It was a pity that such cultivation was wasted on someone with such a deplorable character, who committed such an inhuman act.
After Ye Tiancheng acquired the bone bead bracelet, whether one called it sympathy or pity, he couldn't reconcile it with himself. Upon obtaining the bracelet, Ye Tiancheng immediately stored it in an empty storage space that contained nothing else. He didn't wish to keep this item together with his other possessions.
Sometimes, compassion and action are not in conflict. It's like how some people cannot bear to slaughter chickens or fish, for similar reasons.
However, after obtaining the bone bead bracelet, Ye Tiancheng couldn't help but recall the situation in the village where he went to find fragments of the Nuwa Stone at the construction site, and where Fatty met his misfortune.
Speaking of which, there were still many unprocessed skeletons there. The Nuwa Stone was not an evil artifact, and it wouldn't casually discard these bones. Abandoning them directly would be too cruel, and on the other hand, if these bones were simply cast aside, it would undoubtedly cause considerable unrest in the outside world, which was not a good thing.
Thus, the large pile of skeletons, the remains of those who had perished, were still kept within the illusion constructed by the Nuwa Stone. They were merely piled up in a secluded corner and had not been completely dealt with.
Ye Tiancheng pondered for a moment, thinking that this bone bead bracelet could probably be dealt with along with all those skeletons.
Seeing Ye Tiancheng's discomfort, the little fox asked for the storage space containing the bone bead bracelet, offering to hold it. Ye Tiancheng had no objections; if the little fox was willing to take it, then it could be given to him.
Ye Tiancheng had bid for this bone bead bracelet not to use it himself. Even if it were given to the little fox, it made no difference.
This was because Ye Tiancheng trusted that the little fox would not use the bone bead bracelet to do anything he shouldn't. Ye Tiancheng had confidence in the little fox's character at this time.
Whether it was because the little fox was genuinely not bad-natured, or because he had changed for Ye Tiancheng, he would not do anything untoward with that bone bead bracelet.
It was precisely for this reason that Ye Tiancheng handed the bone bead bracelet to the little fox. At that moment, Ye Tiancheng had no idea that one day in the future, this bone bead bracelet would prove immensely useful, and it was thanks to the little fox's timely reaction and retrieval of the bracelet that both he and the little fox were fortunate enough to preserve their lives.
In summary, within this peculiar market, items like this bone bead bracelet were merely a drop in the ocean, with this being just one of the more conspicuous examples.
For this reason, Ye Tiancheng and the little fox truly found themselves unable to muster any genuine enthusiasm for browsing the peculiar market as if it were an ordinary bazaar.
After painstakingly delaying for several days to conceal their purpose, Ye Tiancheng could finally openly explore the direction of the Grand Prefect's Mansion. It had been incredibly difficult, and both Ye Tiancheng and the little fox were almost driven mad by the confinement.
Zhang Liushun, diligently fulfilling his duty, led Ye Tiancheng and the little fox to their desired destination on the appointed day.
Ye Tiancheng and the little fox feigned enjoyment, following the clues. Indeed, as Murphy's Law stated – if something can go wrong, it will, no matter how small the probability.
One of their worst fears had come true. The direction indicated by the fragment of the Fuxi Qin they possessed pointed towards the Grand Prefect's Mansion. Even more unfortunately, when they physically stood within the vicinity of the Grand Prefect's Mansion, the Fuxi Qin fragment's sensing became even more intense.
The hint provided by the existing Fuxi Qin fragment was that its other fragments were located within the Grand Prefect's Mansion. Could there be a worse outcome?
Ye Tiancheng was almost driven to despair. As he and the little fox walked down the street, they could barely maintain their pretense.
Just as the two of them, knowing the true situation, were somewhat distracted, the little fox suddenly bumped into someone. The little fox was knocked over, falling onto the ground. Ye Tiancheng quickly went to help him up, while the "person" who had bumped into the little fox panicked and fled the scene.
However, Ye Tiancheng caught an accidental glimpse of the person's appearance and was instantly stunned. If Zhang Liushun hadn't also come over, intending to help the little fox.
Although Zhang Liushun's intention was to show concern, Ye Tiancheng would not allow Zhang Liushun to touch him or the little fox. Therefore, Ye Tiancheng reacted swiftly, steadying the little fox and subtly shielding him, preventing Zhang Liushun from having any opportunity to contact the little fox.
Even so, Zhang Liushun remained completely oblivious, noticing nothing amiss. Instead, he asked with concern, "Is Young Master Chen alright?"
"Oh dear! What an unfortunate coincidence. That person just now was a notorious oddity in this area, not one of us, but a little monster. That's why he could actually bump into us. And he's poor and ugly, struggling badly here, always stealing things from others and running away."
"Young Master Chen, please check quickly if anything is missing from you. Don't let that ugly little monster pilfer your belongings."
Both Ye Tiancheng and the little fox were momentarily speechless. They hadn't expected that in this peculiar market filled with evil spirits, there would be such "simple" pickpockets.
The little fox searched himself and was about to say nothing was missing when he heard Zhang Liushun utter a sound of great confusion.
When Ye Tiancheng and the little fox both turned to look at him, Zhang Liushun quickly explained to them, "Master Chen, Young Master Chen, do you two remember that I mentioned before that there might be someone in the peculiar market who looks extremely similar to Young Master Chen? That is, that… that ugly little monster…"
As Zhang Liushun spoke, he himself felt a lack of confidence. The little fox was so handsome, while that little monster was so ugly. How could he think the little fox resembled that monster?
However, the moment he thought of this, Zhang Liushun immediately reacted and hastily begged for forgiveness from Ye Tiancheng and the little fox, "I have no intention of fabricating or mocking Young Master Chen. It's just… it's just… alas! Please forgive me, esteemed lords!"
He suddenly realized that comparing the little fox to an ugly monster and saying they looked alike was a form of insult.
If the little fox were to get angry because of this, wouldn't Ye Tiancheng seize the opportunity to skin him alive?
However, what Zhang Liushun didn't expect was that Ye Tiancheng didn't seem angry at all. Perhaps part of the reason was that the little fox also seemed to have no reaction, not feeling insulted or angered by such a matter.
Zhang Liushun heard Ye Tiancheng suddenly say, "It's alright, you don't need to be so nervous. I saw him just now. I saw his appearance."
As soon as these words fell, Zhang Liushun almost lost his footing, feeling fortunate to have saved his life. However, Ye Tiancheng must have only caught a fleeting glance, and even so, Ye Tiancheng could vaguely agree with his words, suggesting that perhaps he hadn't misremembered.
The little fox truly did bear a resemblance to that very ugly little monster, to the extent that one glance would make people feel that the little fox and that little monster looked alike.
Although this matter, when told to anyone, would sound like utter nonsense.
Who would be willing to believe that such a handsome young man as the little fox would resemble a destitute, ugly creature?
The little fox's reaction was one of complete indifference to the matter. He had already shown his stance earlier, so his level of concern for this issue was limited, requiring even less effort than helping Ye Tiancheng with some harmless minor tasks.
He looked at Ye Tiancheng with some curiosity, blinking his large, watery, dark grape-like eyes, and asked doubtfully, "Really? Big Brother, did you see clearly? Does he truly resemble me?"
Ye Tiancheng himself recalled it carefully and found it very strange, yet he couldn't explain it. After thinking for a moment, he could only say to the little fox, "I can't quite say. I can only say that he gives off a feeling very similar to yours, which is inherently quite strange."
The little fox heard this and was slightly taken aback. He lowered his gaze, lost in thought, and fell silent, saying nothing more.
However, Ye Tiancheng did not fall silent. Ye Tiancheng looked at Zhang Liushun and asked him, "Can you tell me about it? …About that person just now?"
When Zhang Liushun heard Ye Tiancheng's question, he immediately nodded repeatedly and said, "Naturally, I should tell you everything I know, without reservation."
After agreeing, he prepared to open his mouth and explain in detail to Ye Tiancheng. However, before Zhang Liushun could speak, the little fox spoke first, saying to Ye Tiancheng, "Big Brother, are we going to discuss such matters on the street like this? Why don't we find a place to sit down first? It would be better to talk once we're seated."
The little fox's expression was calm and his demeanor normal. Moreover, Ye Tiancheng felt that what he said had a good point; the street was not a suitable place for conversation, so he agreed.