Chapter 187: Unexpected Joy (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Inside the carriage, Zhang Laoya kept glancing backward through the window crack.

As if he too was reluctant to part with that beautiful Miss.

Just after leaving Xie Liu Lane, Zhang Laoya turned to Xu Yuan and said, "I have a piece of news to sell you. Do you want it?"

Xu Yuan, intrigued, replied, "Oh? What news does this senior have?"

"Two hundred taels of silver," Zhang Laoya said, holding out a hand.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then actually produced two hundred-tael silver notes and placed them in his hand.

"That Fox... Miss is going to run," Zhang Laoya said. "Wait half an hour, then send someone to knock on the door. If she's still there, I lose, and I'll pay you four hundred taels!"

Xu Yuan frowned in confusion, "What kind of news is this?"

"You lot..." Zhang Laoya hesitated, then finally said, "That woman's background is not simple. Lately, she's suddenly turned hostile toward me, her words laced with barbs, trying to force me out until I can't take it anymore and resign voluntarily."

Xu Yuan asked, "And then?"

"She never acted this way when doing business before. So she must have secretly received some news, news that makes her desperate to leave Zhan City!"

Xu Yuan nodded. Bai Hu was in a rush to flee?

But she hadn't simply abandoned Zhang Laoya and left outright.

She had learned something, feared being implicated, yet was reluctant to give up this business deal in her hands.

Xu Yuan now understood, but he shook his head, "Such uncertain news is hardly worth two hundred taels. Senior's price is unfair."

Zhang Laoya chuckled, "I knew you were cunning. Tell me, what exactly did you come to find me for? I can answer one question for you."

Xu Yuan got straight to the point, "I wish to buy a medicinal catalyst for a Rank Dan Xiu from you, Senior."

"Who is it for?"

"For this junior myself."

"You?" Zhang Laoya sized Xu Yuan up and down, then straightened his posture inside the carriage, "Why not ask me to guide your entry?"

There are two ways to enter the sect.

One is a medicinal catalyst; the other is finding a Guide.

Most of the time, a Guide's effect is better than a catalyst.

With a Guide, one can directly "enter the flow."

Moreover, a Guide often plays the role of an "initiating teacher."

A Third-Rank cultivator gets only one chance in a lifetime to become a Guide.

Being a Guide means refining the sect's "characteristic" from within oneself and transferring it to a newcomer.

After a Third-Rank cultivator condenses this characteristic, they themselves degenerate into an ordinary person.

Therefore, they carefully select an "heir" in their twilight years.

To ensure their descendants receive proper care.

Zhang Laoya was clearly above Seventh Rank; condensing his characteristic caused some damage to himself, but nothing crippling.

But Xu Yuan felt that asking him to guide his entry was a price he couldn't afford.

"I dare not harbor such lofty hopes."

Zhang Laoya stroked his chin and said, "I am not such a greedy person."

Only Song Lu believed him inside the carriage, "Really? Then how much does it cost for you to guide my entry?"

If the price was right, Young Lady Song wouldn't mind cultivating a Business Method alongside her current path.

Zhang Laoya glanced at her and said, "If it were you, two hundred thousand taels."

Song Lu was dumbfounded, "You, you, you... you call this not greedy?"

Zhang Laoya didn't want to deal with her anymore; he smiled at Xu Yuan, "But I know my lord has little money. How about this: you kneel and become my disciple."

Xu Yuan immediately raised his hand to refuse, "Senior, do not joke like that. This junior will not become a disciple."

Song Lu puffed up with anger.

Fu Jingyu whispered in her ear, "The price of becoming a disciple is even higher."

Song Lu's mood instantly improved.

She hadn't considered that perhaps... she wanted to become a disciple, but Zhang Laoya wouldn't even take her.

Zhang Laoya regretfully clicked his teeth and said, "Since you refuse to become a disciple, then my old man's price is not cheap."

Xu Yuan said, "Please state your price first, Senior; we can negotiate."

Zhang Laoya replied, "Same price as that girl, two hundred thousand taels."

Hearing this price, Xu Yuan immediately wanted to pull out his "begging bowl" and forcibly "beg" a formula for a medicinal catalyst from Zhang Laoya.

"Senior is an old friend of the Commander; just rest assured and live in the Nancheng Patrol Station," Xu Yuan stopped talking about it.

Zhang Laoya certainly could not rest assured and live there.

He cultivated the Business Method, not the Fraud Method!

The core of the Business Method is "transaction."

It requires both parties to engage in an exchange.

He already owed a favor to Ma Tianshou, which he still hadn't repaid.

If, during his time living in the Nancheng Patrol Station, he hid while those people actually arrived and implicated the Nancheng Patrol Station, that would be another "debt."

This would severely damage his "credit"; without credit support, his Business Method would be hard to cultivate further.

But Zhang Laoya valued Xu Yuan highly.

Because he had already guessed that Xu Yuan was not only a Rank Dan Xiu but also a Fate Cultivator.

Zhang Laoya had his own channels of information.

He needed to make use of Xu Yuan's "fate pattern."

Although Xu Yuan's exact fate pattern remains uncertain.

The old man sighed inwardly; having a request to make of someone else meant this was destined to be an unequal business negotiation.

Then... he would just have to earn a little less on this deal.

A loss was impossible; losing money was impossible in this lifetime!

But Zhang Laoya still wanted to wait a bit longer.

If Xu Yuan lost his temper and brought up the topic again, then he could regain some initiative in the upcoming negotiations.

However, by the time the carriage reached the door of the Nancheng Patrol Station, Xu Yuan had not spoken again.

Xu Yuan truly had no intention of negotiating with Zhang Laoya anymore.

That old fellow was too cunning.

Xu Yuan believed he could find other fate cultivators.

There must be skilled fate cultivators within the Purification Bureau.

If all else failed, he could write a letter asking Ma Tianshou; he would surely be able to find one.

Zhang Laoya truly could keep his composure; only after getting out of the carriage, walking up the steps before the main gate, and having one foot already cross the threshold did he pause, then pull his foot back.

Turning around, he said to Xu Yuan, "I have another price; listen to it."

Xu Yuan saw no problem, raising his hand: "Senior, please speak."

Zhang Laoya still did not speak directly, instead saying, "Let us find a place to discuss in detail."

Xu Yuan helplessly shook his head: "Let us go to the Five Flavors Pavilion."

It happened to be lunchtime.

Xu Yuan specifically emphasized one sentence: "You are treating for this meal."

He simply did not want that old fellow to take advantage of him again.

Zhang Laoya made no sound.

Xu Yuan then said to Fu Jingyu, "You help me invite my stepmother as well. I and the senior will go ahead first."

Upon arriving at the Five Flavors Pavilion, they requested a private room.

Lang Xiao Ba led people to guard outside.

After entering, Zhang Laoya carefully inspected the place to ensure no ears were listening through the walls, only then asking, "What is your fate pattern?"

Xu Yuan raised his eyebrows; Zhang Laoya immediately explained, "I need to borrow your fate pattern, so this is the foundation of our transaction.

If your fate pattern is unsuitable, we need not discuss this further."

Xu Yuan thought for a moment and replied, "Eight Directions Injury Sha."

Zhang Laoya had obviously heard of this fate pattern and appeared somewhat dissatisfied, smacking his lips and saying, "This one, well, it is not very rare.

Very well, it will barely suffice."

"What is your level of fate cultivation?"

Xu Yuan was about to answer "Eighth Rank," but suddenly felt a stir in his heart, sensing that his fate cultivation had risen one level!

(End of this chapter)