Having obtained the priceless pearl, Han Yu quickly began to think of how to make the best use of it.
'I can't just sell it off like that. It would be too bad if it goes for cheap,' Han Yu thought to himself. 'How can I get the best price? Hmm... Auction! Yes, an auction! I need people to fight over it!'
But that was easier said than done.
'Wait... how do you even set up an auction?' Han Yu wondered.
It wasn't like he could just shout on the street and invite people. That would only attract the wrong kind of people—the kind who'd rather snatch it from his cold, unconscious body than pay for it.
'I need to take this slow and figure out the best method. I'll need to talk to Fat Kui and Dan Hu about this.' Han Yu remembered that Fat Kui's father often took part in auctions for scrap materials.
It was how the old man managed to obtain some hidden treasures and resell them at a profit, eventually starting his own business. Even now, he took part in some... less-than-official auctions. Some of them involved confiscated items, and some were just full-blown "don't ask questions" kinds of deals.
'Yes! That might be perfect. He'll know how to get in contact with the organizers!' Han Yu reckoned.
With that settled in his mind, all he needed to do was return and talk to his friends about it... carefully, of course.
He didn't fully trust them. In fact, he was fairly certain they'd run their mouths off the moment they smelled an opportunity for drama.
'Can't let them know directly either,' Han Yu decided.
Just as he was lost in thought, he heard something heavy hit the ground.
"Oh damn, he passed out again." Han Yu turned to see the ghostly man face down in the dirt.
Shaking his head, he rolled the man over and propped him up against a tree trunk.
"Me and my benevolent heart!" Han Yu declared proudly, feeling like a charitable saint.
Having done that, he checked on the meat that was still smoking.
"Hmm... it should be done in a while," Han Yu reckoned. "I'll just wait for it while fishing."
After all, he had promised Guard Shen. Even if his scams had earned him some coin, maintaining appearances was still necessary.
'Gotta keep up the act.'
And so, Han Yu went to the river to try his hand at fishing.
Unfortunately, an hour later, all he got was wet clothes, sore muscles, and pure, unfiltered frustration.
"GODDAMMIT! Just how slippery are these fish?! They dodge all my attacks like trained assassins!" Han Yu fumed, shaking his wet spear.
Despite his increased strength, he had utterly failed to impale even a single fish. The wooden spear tip, broken but still sharp, should have been able to pierce something. But somehow, the fish were more elusive than his chances at an honest living.
"I'll try a bit more. If it doesn't work, Guard Shen should still be able to tell I gave it my best shot, right?" Han Yu muttered.
Of course, his second attempt was no better. The fish continued their underwater acrobatics, laughing at him (he was sure of it), and he was forced to return empty-handed.
Grumbling, he checked on the meat that was still smoking.
"Hmm... it'll need a bit more drying later. But it's good enough for now," Han Yu judged. "But how do I take all this back?"
There was way too much. Even if he removed the bones, the sheer weight of the meat alone was over a hundred kilograms.
Han Yu was stronger than before, but he wasn't that strong.
"I'll just take some of the fully smoked meat and leave the rest hanging from the branches. That should keep it safe from scavengers... I hope."
Muttering to himself, he wrapped the meat in its own hide and tied the bundles to tree branches.
When he climbed down and looked up, he realized he had turned the tree into a bizarre meat-chandelier.
"Well... that's a sight."
With that done, he checked on the ghostly man one last time.
Satisfied, Han Yu took his leave.
A while later, he reached the town gate but noticed that his usual guard wasn't there.
"You there," a different guard called out.
"Uhh... Guard Teng?" Han Yu guessed.
"Yeah, that's me," the guard replied. "And you're Han Yu, right?"
"Coming back from fishing, I see." The guard nodded at the basket and spear slung over Han Yu's back.
"How'd you know?" Han Yu asked, a little suspicious.
"Guard Shen told me you were out fishing and asked me to keep an eye out for you."
"Ah, I see. Give him my thanks later, then." Han Yu said with a relieved smile.
"Sure. Go on in." The guard waved him through.
'Looks like I got off free this time.' Han Yu thought, merrily skipping back to his hideout.
Once inside, he tossed the dried meat into his stash and collapsed onto his cot.
"Aha! Peace and relaxation!" Han Yu sighed in satisfaction. He was exhausted from the day's activities and had no intention of venturing outside again. "I'll just use the same area for my scam tomorrow."
Exploring a new place would require too much effort.
Instead, he turned his attention to the pearl. He pulled it out of his pocket and held it up to the dim light of his small lamp.
"It couldn't really be a cursed treasure, could it?" Han Yu muttered, rolling the pearl between his fingers. "What did that ghostly guy call it again? Ah, yes... the Undying Life Pearl."
A faint symbol flickered across the pearl's surface.
"Huh?" Han Yu sat up, narrowing his eyes.
But when he checked again, it was gone.
"Strange... maybe the dim light is playing tricks on me?" He shook the pearl a few more times, holding it at different angles.
"Eh, whatever. I'll figure it out later."
Yawning, Han Yu flopped onto his cot and closed his eyes, blissfully unaware of the faint, swirling light pulsing within the pearl, shifting ever so slightly, as if it were... watching him.