Chapter 108: If You Want Evidence, Don’t Waste Time Here!

I instructed Chen Laobao to stay at the hospital and keep an eye on Old Lady Hu, ensuring her safety. I decided to return to the market first; perhaps there I could find a more suitable place to retreat into seclusion and deepen my understanding. After all, the situation in the hospital was chaotic, and I needed to uncover the true purpose of the Golden Eye Chapter.

As I walked back to the market, the contents of the Golden Eye Chapter replayed incessantly in my mind. The mysterious symbols and patterns described in the book seemed to whisper some ancient secret. I had to find a way to decipher these symbols to unravel their hidden meaning.

The market was as bustling as ever, a constant ebb and flow of people. Upon entering, I immediately spotted Pan Ximi wandering about like a fool, clutching a thorny branch and staggering as he walked, looking utterly ridiculous.

“Pan Ximi, what on earth are you doing?” I patted his shoulder, trying to rouse him.

He jolted, his dazed eyes clearing as he saw me, and an embarrassed smile flickered across his face. “Boss, don’t you think that with this thorny stick in hand, the whole market looks more orderly?” he said. “When I stand here holding this, those sneaky counterfeiters don’t even dare to glance at me!”

As we spoke, several small stall owners passed by, greeting me warmly. My role as the Lantern Bearer was well known in the market—not the top figure, but certainly someone with a measure of authority.

I looked at Pan Ximi and said, “I’m not forbidding you to patrol the market, but what’s with the thorny stick?”

He scratched his head, somewhat helpless. “Boss, you know those petty thefts that happened here a few days ago? I thought I should give them a scare so they won’t come back to cause trouble.”

I nodded. Though his method was a bit extreme, his intention wasn’t bad.

Just as I was about to say more, a breathless vendor rushed over. “Brother Lantern, someone was selling jade in the market just now and got into a fight with a stall owner. You’d better come check it out!”

Hearing this, my brow furrowed sharply. Jade dealing was already complicated; a single misstep could spark conflict. I immediately told Pan Ximi, “Keep patrolling for now. I’ll go see what’s going on.”

Pan Ximi hesitated, then declared, “No way, I’m coming with you!” He shoved the thorny branch into a subordinate’s hands and followed close behind. I didn’t argue and simply nodded, quickening my pace toward the vendor’s indicated direction.

Pushing through the dense crowd, I saw a large group gathered ahead, the murmur of dispute rising from within. I squeezed through to find a middle-aged man angrily pointing at a young man, clutching a piece of jade in his hand.

“When I gave you this jade, it was genuine. Now you’re returning a fake. Are you trying to fool me? Do you think I’m a fool?” the man roared in fury.

The stall owner looked innocent and defensive. “Brother, come on, don’t try to scam a child. I’ve been running this stall for years. Eating these little stones won’t keep anyone alive. You come and go as you please; stop wasting your time trying to set me up!”

I observed the scene carefully. Such disputes were common in the market, and each required careful handling. Jade trading was complicated—authenticity was hard to verify, and even slight carelessness could escalate matters.

Besides, these peripheral stalls operated like a black market. Some fallen noble families, still clinging to a shred of pride, sometimes discreetly sent people to swap goods for pocket money.

Stepping forward, I spoke firmly yet calmly, “Everyone, please calm down. We can resolve this properly.”

The crowd quieted instantly, all eyes turning to me.

The middle-aged man spun around and asked loudly, “You’re the market boss, right?”

I nodded. While the real boss was absent, as Lantern Bearer, I had some say in matters.

“I’m the Lantern Bearer, responsible for appraisal and pricing,” I said.

He studied me, his anger easing slightly but still reluctant. “Brother Lantern, this kid is clearly cheating me. My jade was genuine; he swapped it for a fake!”

The stall owner hurriedly defended himself. “I didn’t switch his jade. Maybe he’s mistaken.”

I scrutinized both men and the jade in their hands, but couldn’t discern any obvious fault. Market quarrels like these happened often. Frankly, some seasoned stall owners were experts at this game—their thick skins made deceit hard to detect at a glance.

“All right,” I said solemnly, “since there’s a dispute, we’ll settle it by the market’s rules. Let me examine the piece.”

I turned the jade over in my hands. It was clearly counterfeit—its surface smooth but with unnatural patterns and an odd hue, unmistakably a processed inferior stone.

Raising my head, I calmly told the middle-aged man, “This jade is indeed fake. The texture and color are off.”

His face fell. Unable to deny it, he glared furiously at the stall owner. “You liar! I told you my jade was genuine, but you say otherwise!”

The stall owner waved his hands, feigning innocence. “Brother, I swear I didn’t switch your jade. Maybe someone else swapped it somewhere else.”

The man snapped, “I only came here. What nonsense are you spouting?”

Watching the man’s heated outburst, I considered the situation carefully. I turned back to the stall owner.

He looked at me and said, “Brother Lantern, customers are gods, but even gods shouldn’t run wild.”

I nodded and replied, “Since you say gods can be unruly, then return his jade to him.”

“Fine... Wait!” The stall owner suddenly seemed to realize what I was implying and looked at me sharply. “Brother Lantern, what do you mean? Are you saying I swapped his jade?”

I smiled faintly, my expression turning cold. “Some things don’t need repeating—if you want to keep working in this market.”

The stall owner’s face instantly changed. He looked at me, confused. “Brother Lantern, I’ve heard you’re formidable, but things aren’t as they seem. You can’t threaten me—I need proof!”

I said coolly, “If I produce the proof, you won’t be able to stay here.”

His eyes flickered nervously as he met my gaze.