Chapter 316: Volunteering to Be a Yin Soldier

Xu Yuan went to Xuan Guang County; the actual benefit he personally gained was only the shares that Li Yichuan "sold."

In this process, the Li family maneuvered, integrated resources, both helped my lord Xu and obtained huge commercial profits.

After thinking seriously, Xu Yuan actually approved of Li Yichuan's operation.

And upon deep reflection, Li Yichuan's willingness to help at the beginning, and later willingness to give the "share,"

was actually all due to my lord Xu's own "value."

Therefore, in Xu Yuan's view, the essence of "commerce" is the exchange of value.

If he had no value to Li Yichuan, then none of this "transaction" would have occurred.

But any value requires a standard item to measure it; this is naturally "coinage."

Nothing is more suitable as "coinage" than natural gold.

So for Xu Yuan, the Hundred Diseases Cabinet and the Heart Scale were not the most suitable.

But the "treasure" prepared by Zhang Laoya happened to be a piece of nugget gold.

After carefully inspecting this treasure, Xu Yuan took it without hesitation.

Only then did he ask with concern: "What are your plans next, senior?"

The concern in this carried a bit more sincerity.

Zhang Laoya was actually confused.

He died at the hands of the Ghost Wang Fei—the Ghost Wang Fei was ruthless, so of course she annihilated his soul as well.

However, Zhang Laoya, with his personality, naturally hid some backdoors.

The soul within this "Little Xiao Xi Miao Old Market" was one of them.

Unfortunately, it was not the true main soul; its power was greatly weakened, so this shop dared not open its doors.

Once opened, it was feared that within less than two hours, the strange and evil spirits on the Old Market would see through the reality.

Then they would swarm in, devour his soul alive, and plunder everything in the shop.

"This old man... also does not know what to do next."

Zhang Laoya was naturally suspicious.

He always had to "keep a watchful eye" on everyone, including Xu Yuan.

So he died...

This remaining soul's temperament became somewhat like that of an ordinary old man.

Chattering constantly, and also somewhat indecisive.

Xu Yuan had already seen it: "Senior's current power is only down to the Seventh Rank, and... the condition is very bad."

Merely as a soul body, staying on the Old Market for too long would inevitably transform into an evil spirit.

"If senior is willing, I can take you away from here, help you onto the Yellow Spring Road, and enter reincarnation again."

Zhang Laoya was confused; enter reincarnation again?

Zhang Laoya recalled; in this life of his, it seemed he had not done many good deeds.

In the next life, he did not know what he would be reborn as...

"No! This old man does not want to be reborn so early."

Xu Yuan frowned: "But if one is unwilling to go onto the Yellow Spring Road, lingering in the mortal world, one can only become someone else's Yin Soldier."

Otherwise, one cannot withstand the erosion and will inevitably turn into an evil spirit.

"This old man..." Zhang Laoya's soul became conflicted.

Becoming someone else's Yin Soldier means being completely controlled by others.

"If you have a divine cultivator you trust, I can help find them for you."

"If you need to ask the Commandant for help, I can also convey the message on your behalf."

Xu Yuan deliberately waited a while, giving Zhang Laoya time to consider, before speaking again: "You must decide early; your soul's condition is already not good."

Zhang Laoya had no divine cultivator he could trust.

Or rather, he had no friends he could trust.

His relationship with Ma Tianshou was good, but he was unwilling to let himself "fall into Ma Tianshou's hands."

That old fellow was entirely dedicated to the public good; if he became a Yin Soldier under him, he would surely drain all his old reserves dry...

Zhang Laoya conflicted for a long time, then suddenly looked at Xu Yuan: "Do you have no thoughts for this old man?"

Xu Yuan hurriedly stepped back: "Senior says such things... this junior takes his leave now."

"Wait." Zhang Laoya actually remembered; after witnessing Wang Shi's extraordinariness, Zhang Laoya had secretly inquired about Xu Yuan's background.

Thus he heard the name "River Works Alley."

"Is there a divine cultivator in your alley like Wang Shi?"

Xu Yuan said frankly: "Yes, my Uncle Mao Si is a divine cultivator, but he probably won't look favorably on you."

Zhang Laoya smiled bitterly: "Then for this old man to become a Yin Soldier of this Uncle Mao Si, I must ask my lord Xu for help?"

Xu Yuan tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said: "Although it sounds incredible, the reality is indeed so."

Xu Yuan had not actually thought of having Uncle Mao Si take in Zhang Laoya at the beginning.

My lord Xu took the nugget gold, then thought of helping Zhang Laoya one last time.

After all, Zhang Laoya had taught him the business methods.

And he had prepared such a suitable treasure for him.

Everyone's "friendship" should have a perfect ending.

But a Seventh Rank soul... is truly not qualified.

Zhang Laoya said: "This shop, I will continue to operate it in the future; the profits will be split half and half between us."

Xu Yuan thought carefully, then said frankly, "Elder, personally, I am willing to accept this condition.

But since both of us practice the Dao of Commerce, this price is unfair."

Regarding future operations, it may seem that Zhang Laoya is in charge—but after Zhang Laoya transformed into a Yin Soldier, it is inconvenient for him to appear in the mortal world.

Matters such as restocking and delivery in the future will require Xu Yuan to arrange.

Besides this shop, Zhang Laoya's role henceforth will be nothing more than a common "Shopkeeper."

Zhang Laoya smiled sheepishly, "Forgive me, forgive me; it is a habit."

"Hehehe," Xu Yuan also smiled.

"Forty-six... no, thirty-seven."

Only then did Xu Yuan nod, "This is a fair price."

Once the two had settled the matter, Xu Yuan felt his cultivation in the Dao of Commerce surge significantly!

Had Xu Yuan not insisted on a "fair price," his cultivation would not have increased; instead, it would have declined.

"Elder, please continue to remain hidden for these few days."

After giving this instruction, Xu Yuan emerged.

Miao Yan was guarding outside; seeing Lord Xu come out, he was about to ask a question, but Xu Yuan said only one word: "Return."

Upon exiting the Old Market of Little Western Temple, the horse pulling the carriage collapsed with a loud boom and died.

The horse had already become a dried corpse.

The Yin Ghost that had clutched its eyes, having drunk its fill of vital blood, transformed into a foul wind and burrowed back into the Old Market.

Xu Yuan sat inside the carriage—Miao Yan pulled the carriage back to the Nancheng Patrol Station, and dawn had already broken.

Miao Yan parted with Lord Xu at the door and returned to the Fire Virtue Life-Saving Hall himself.

Xu Yuan entered, found his stepmother, and asked her to go back and invite Uncle Mao Si.

Before Lin Wanmo could say anything, Aunt Wang became delighted, "It is even better if Old Fourth comes!"

"Leaving that dead old man alone at home will worry him to death!"

Aunt Wang has recently held strong objections to Grandpa Shen.

She feels he does not care enough for the children.

She does not like listening to Grandpa Shen's "great principles"; she only sticks to her own stubborn logic.

Lin Wanmo immediately set off to return.

Before leaving, Lin Wanmo looked back three times, gazing at her son a few more times.

Only she understood in her heart: returning to bring Uncle Si over, she herself could not come along.

Someone must remain at home to attend to affairs.

Not to attend to Grandpa Shen, but because of the matters in the alley.

On this side, Miao Yan returned to the Fire Virtue Life-Saving Hall, only to find the atmosphere was not quite right.

A trusted subordinate met him at the door and quietly reported, "The Old Master and Shen Qingpeng have both arrived."

Miao Yan was stunned, "Why has that traitor come too?"

(End of Chapter)