Chapter 315: Gold-Headed Dog (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Xu Yuan withdrew his hand from his robe, smiling as he said, "Thank you, Master, for your trust!"

You see, when your status is high enough, even evil spirits are not so mad and ferocious.

Everyone becomes rational and reasonable, willing to negotiate.

Do not think that evil spirits are everywhere across the land.

The Three Yamen of Strange Affairs dared to charge into Ghost Wushan and kill a certain great evil spirit on Guanghuo Street.

But the evil spirits dare not kill a Purification Bureau patrol inspector within the occupied city.

That would force the Purification Bureau to sweep all the evil spirits out of the city!

Just now, Xu Yuan had wrapped that ghost woman in a leather pill and bound the other three with beast-tendon ropes—he did not intend to release the ghost hostages before negotiations concluded.

Now he released them quickly...

Then he left all the materials behind and pondered which "treasure" he should take first.

But the Yin-Yang Python was not in a good temper: "Three months is too long; ten days."

"If you cannot do it, do not think about the remaining two items anymore."

"The deposit is non-refundable."

Xu Yuan's "business method" flaw kicked in, and he casually haggled: "Two months."

"Ten days."

"One and a half months!"

"Ten days!"

The Yin-Yang Python grew annoyed and slammed the floorboards with all three tails, causing them to shake violently: "What do you take me for, some kind of ghost? No more dragging; ten days—if you do not accept, leave all the treasures behind!"

"Alright..." Xu Yuan also felt he could not push further and had to give the other party some face.

Xu Yuan began selecting again, pondering carefully, and chose the bronze key he could use.

He probably would not need that wine pot himself.

My lord does not steal fragrances or commit adultery.

The lantern is indeed a good thing; he could take it back to the Nancheng patrol station to serve as an "interrogation room."

But there was no need to rush; it would be fine to bring it back after ten days once he had gathered enough materials.

After the exchange was complete, Shopkeeper Huang carefully escorted Xu Yuan out, bowing and scraping at the doorway, making repeated bows: "Please take care on your way."

Shopkeeper Huang had never seen the Master be so "self-sacrificing."

He was truly shocked.

He began to speculate about Xu Yuan's identity in various ways.

Xu Yuan waved his hand without looking back and walked away; the water corpse ghost at the entrance, seeing Shopkeeper Huang—who held considerable status in the Old Market—bowing so humbly to escort Xu Yuan out, was so startled that all the leeches on his face shrank back!

Did I just mock him?

After Xu Yuan had gone far away, Shopkeeper Huang straightened his body and backhanded the four ghost women with his claws.

The blows scattered their bodies, and they could not reassemble for quite some time.

Shopkeeper Huang walked back to the counter with a stern face and his hands behind his back.

He did not even say another word to the four ghost women, because Shopkeeper Huang understood the Master's temperament; tomorrow night, he would not see these four ghost women again.

The ghost women struggled to reassemble their bodies, huddled together at the doorway, crying and whimpering.

The water corpse ghost touched his bare skull, thought for a moment, quietly packed up his stall, and slipped away along the wall.

He would never set up a stall here again.

Then he could not help but feel melancholy; he had cooperated with the four ghost women for over ten years, and it had been a very good business...

Miao Yan followed behind Xu Yuan and asked, "Shall we continue strolling?"

My Lord Xu's "money" is already spent; even if he sees something else, he cannot buy it.

Xu Yuan nodded: "Let's look around first."

There were indeed many good things in the Old Market, and My Lord Xu was extremely eager to see them.

There were even a few items he wished to use his "business method" to force a purchase.

But Xu Yuan still restrained himself; if he truly used his "business method" in the Old Market, the evil spirits here would not tolerate him.

After circling once, Xu Yuan spoke quietly to Miao Yan: "Go to Zhang Laoya's shop."

Zhang Laoya's shop was not in a good location in the Old Market.

This was, after all, the territory of evil spirits; the three shops of living people had been squeezed into the corners.

The entire Old Market revolved around the main hall in the center; Zhang Laoya's shop was at the very edge of the northwest corner.

It was a solitary building that looked quite imposing, with three bays, two stories high, and a courtyard behind it.

Lady arrived at the door with her subordinates; the main gate was tightly closed, and the inside was pitch black.

The guards stepped forward and knocked on the door, pounding for a long time, but there was no response from within.

"Go ask around," Lady ordered.

One guard went to ask an evil spirit setting up a stall nearby.

"Lady, the door has not been opened for many nights."

"The evil spirits around here are not familiar with Zhang Laoya and do not know Zhang Laoya's whereabouts."

Lady gave a signal, and two guards took a detour to the back, found a place to climb into the courtyard.

But not long after, they came out again.

"The doors and windows are all locked; we cannot get in."

"Lady, should we break the door down by force?"

The Lady shook her head: "It's no use. All the buildings here are one with the Old Market. To force the door open would be to shatter the Old Market's special space."

The Lady glanced around: "Go inquire again which great evil spirit rules this Old Market; we shall go pay a visit."

The guards soon inquired and learned that three great evil spirits ruled here.

The closest to them was Dou Mian Gui, the owner of the "Black Hei Wo Dian," who was also one of the greatest evil spirits in the city.

The Lady went to "pay a call" on Dou Mian Gui to inquire about Zhang Laoya's whereabouts.

Dou Mian Gui demanded a price of fifty living people; the Lady agreed without a second thought.

Both sides agreed that tomorrow the Lady would deliver the people to the "Sinking Water Pond" in the east of the city.

Coming out of the "Black Hei Wo Dian," the Lady and the guards felt a great weight lifted; the investigation had finally made breakthrough progress.

The guards were deeply convinced by the Lady and executed any order without hesitation.

This was because the Lady's calculation method was precise, and her luck had been very good these past years.

It was said that a Fate Cultivator once read the Lady's fortune, stating her fate was precious.

Generally, those with precious fate have very good luck.

This is innate; others cannot envy it.

It had not been long since they left Zhang Laoya's shop when Miao Yan arrived with Xu Yuan.

They missed each other once again.

Xu Yuan knew Zhang Laoya was already dead, so the shop being closed was no surprise.

Xu Yuan slipped to the back door; a lock hung on the door.

Xu Yuan had already taken out the bronze key—then thought better of it and put it away; what if there was another lock inside?

Xu Yuan climbed over the wall to enter while Miao Yan stood guard outside.

Sure enough, a lock still hung on the door in the courtyard.

Xu Yuan inserted the bronze key into the keyhole—

The key automatically adapted to the shape of the keyhole and slid in; Xu Yuan moved his wrist, and with a click, the lock opened.

Xu Yuan smiled with satisfaction.

My lord's luck has always been good.

Pushing the door open, Xu Yuan stood on the first floor, looking around.

Where would Zhang Laoya hide the items?

After searching for a while, a voice suddenly sounded behind him: "The thing you seek is in the cabinet in the room at the south end of the second floor."

Xu Yuan was startled; he spun around instantly, and Fu Zhong Huo wrapped around the Sword Pill shot backward...

"It is me."

Xu Yuan saw clearly: a yin spirit floated in mid-air five feet away; who else could it be but Zhang Laoya?

"You..."

Zhang Laoya dodged the Sword Pill, fear on his face: "Put it away quickly; this old man cannot withstand your fire now."

Xu Yuan then withdrew the Sword Pill and Fu Zhong Huo; he held back for a moment but still felt compelled to speak: "If you had listened to me, how could you have ended up in such a state?"

Zhang Laoya let out a long sigh; he was indeed regretful in his heart, but it was too late to say anything now.

"Come with me; I will give you the treasure I owe you." Zhang Laoya's temperament had changed somewhat; he chattered on like an old man: "Now that I am dead, the feeling of still owing a debt truly prevents one from finding peace even in death."

Zhang Laoya went upstairs, reached the room at the south end, opened the box, and took out a gleaming piece of dog-head gold.

The moment Xu Yuan saw this item, he felt completely at ease; this treasure was perfectly suited to the essence of his "Merchant Art."

(End of this chapter)