Chapter 8: Bring Me Your Life

Zhang Gui actually had selfish motives regarding this matter of "promotion."

But Zhang Jiujiang's situation at this moment was absolutely not as he imagined—relying solely on "backing from the Pingyang Zhang Family's rules" would not let him move unimpeded through Heimu Town.

In reality, it was a win-win situation.

So, after hesitating for a moment, Zhang Gui warned:

"Heimu Town is far from the Mainland; even the Imperial Court's laws can be bent, let alone the Zhang Family's rules.

Actually, by taking this assignment that was taken from someone else, you've already offended people, and there will likely be trouble ahead.

Jiujiang, Town Head Zhang Yan, using the name of the Pingyang Zhang Family's Four Seasons Trading Firm, built a massive enterprise from scratch—his methods are extraordinarily shrewd.

With such a huge business, how many people in the Zhang Family are covetous of it?

The interests and connections here are interlinked; if someone of our insignificant weight gets involved, we'll suffer a tremendous loss on the spot.

Not contending, not snatching, not doing anything—that's the smartest approach."

But Zhang Jiujiang couldn't take his childhood friend's heartfelt advice and said, both amused and exasperated:

"Dagui, just a few days ago on the Ship, you were urging me to make a name for myself and strive upward. Now, after only one day on the island, it's 'not contending, not snatching, not doing anything.'

Can things change that fast in this world?"

Zhang Gui had no words to reply.

Before, obtaining the secret treasure of Laotai Cave on Giant Snake Head Island was only a possibility; to him, Zhang Jiujiang was the surest major support, so naturally he didn't want him to slack off.

Now that the immense benefit of Laotai Cave was already in hand, his thinking had naturally changed.

More importantly, the various unexpected situations in Heimu Town and Town Head Zhang Yan's unexpectedly formidable abilities made slacking off the best response.

But having had selfish motives, being questioned was only right.

Zhang Gui sighed, "Jiujiang, Town Head Zhang Yan is no ordinary person.

Back home, we only vaguely heard about how Luan Ya and Heimu Town were, but we never imagined it would be to this extent.

The scale of the town rivals a county seat.

Foreign envoys from outer courts and even Western merchant caravans come by the dozens.

They issue their own Flying Notes, have their own elite guards..."

"So what?

No matter how big or prosperous Heimu Town is, it's just a wilderness overseas. Without the family's protection, pirates could overturn it in an instant.

Our Ming Song Dynasty has thousands of county seats, eleven provinces, one hundred and seventeen commanderies, seventy-one prefectures, and two capitals—the Northern and Southern.

The Pingyang Zhang Family currently has a Third Rank Ministry of Rites Official, plus seventeen high and low capital officials, and eighteen local chief administrators, not to mention the licentiate and recommended scholar.

And there are disciples and former subordinates who have received the Zhang Family's grace, spread throughout the court and the countryside.

No matter how strong Zhang Yan's methods are, he's nothing but an ant that can be crushed with a finger."

"You met with Zhang Jiuqing before you went to sea, didn't you?"

Zhang Gui suddenly interrupted Zhang Jiujiang's words.

Zhang Jiujiang was stunned at first, then suddenly flew into a rage, "Can't I have thought of this reasoning myself?

Can't it be that you were wrong and I corrected you?

Besides, even if I did meet Zhang Jiuqing, so what?

He grew up in my house and tortured me like that—he'll always owe me.

Isn't it only right for him to say a few words and give me some guidance!"

After venting, he turned and strode away without looking back.

Zhang Gui had grown up with Zhang Jiujiang and knew the grievances he had suffered, so he didn't blame him for losing his temper.

Still, the fact that his seemingly simple childhood friend had started keeping things from him made Zhang Gui sigh with emotion.

Sometimes a person can't even see through themselves, let alone others...

The sky gradually darkened, and a crescent moon hung over Heimu Town.

Zhang Gui calculated the time, felt that his friend's emotions should have calmed down, so he extinguished the stove fire, drank the remaining half bucket of well water, wiped his mouth, and left the room.

The courtyard was still empty; although work had ended, none of the Zhang Family shop assistants living with him had returned.

"These guys, mere Shop Assistants, and they all go out to enjoy nightlife after work.

From top to bottom, I really don't know how many favors they've received from Zhang Yan."

Zhang Gui looked around at the pitch-black houses, listened to the distant clamor, and muttered softly.

Just then, the courtyard gate was shoved open with a 'bang,' and two people carrying Qishifeng Lanterns staggered in.

The light caught Zhang Gui's figure standing in the middle of the yard, startling them into an 'ah,' "Who, who's that?"

"I am Zhang Gui, the new Shop Assistant assigned to live in this courtyard. And you two are?"

"So you're Zhang Gui. Good heavens, standing in the dark yard like you're haunting the place—aren't you afraid of scaring someone to death?"

The fat man carrying the Qishifeng Lantern patted his chest and said:

"Come on, your luck's in. Manager Zhang Bazhong is hosting a banquet for several officials at 'Hanxiang Lou' and sent word that he wants to see you.

Serve him well, and your future will be boundless."

"Who?" Zhang Gui frowned.

"Manager Zhang Bazhong. Who cares who it is? Anyone's higher than you. Hurry up and come with us."

The other thin man carrying a Qishifeng Lantern said in a harsh tone.

Hearing that tone, Zhang Gui knew at once that unwelcome guests had arrived. After thinking it over, he guessed the only possible reason and said in a deep voice:

"Both of you, I am also a Zhang, a registered Shop Assistant of the Pingyang Zhang Family's Four Seasons Trading Firm, sent by the head office to Luan Ya, Heimu Town, and assigned by Chief Manager Zhang Yan to work under Manager Zhang Jiujiang.

I don't know if there really is a Manager Zhang Bazhong on the island, and I don't know if you two are gods or ghosts, but I absolutely will not go with you."

Zhang Gui's words were clearly reasoned and well-founded. If this were on the Mainland, seeing that they couldn't bluff or scare him away, the two unwelcome guests would most likely curse a few strange words and make other plans.

But in Luan Ya, the situation is completely different.

The skinny one's expression changed, and he shouted angrily, "Hey, kid, you're not old yet but you've got some guts."

Just because you're a mixed‑blood with no seniority, you still dare to bear the surname Zhang and mock me, Baping Ye, with your yin‑yang attitude—do you think you can die?"

He actually reached out and slapped Zhang Gui's face; the gust of force sounded as if it had been trained, and a single slap would make an ordinary person lose half a life.

Zhang Gui had heard that Luan Ya was lawless, but he didn't expect a place like Blackwood Town, which seemed orderly in the daytime, to become so wild at night.

Stunned, shocked, angry and outraged, everything before his eyes suddenly slowed, and he instinctively reached out to block the skinny man's slap.

A mixed force of fire and water, transmitted through their bodies' contact, surged into the skinny man's interior, explosively bursting, steam tearing his vessels and skin, turning his head into a blood‑filled gourd…

On the Dongsheng Continent, if the divine thicket inherited from the ancestors, gods and demons, yokai, and immortal bloodlines is sufficiently intact and powerful;

or a once‑in‑a‑hundred‑million natural prodigy who cultivates unparalleled techniques, delving deeper and deeper until finally forging a new path;

or luck so overwhelming that one obtains the historically renowned Immortal Tiger Dog Initiation Legacy, which meshes perfectly with one's body, mind and spirit to forge a new ability.

Then one can be called Divine Ability.

As the saying goes:

Born pure and true, able to pierce heaven and earth and steal their power—such a capability is called Divine Ability!

In translation, it means:

Either one's ancestors are extremely powerful, and one is born with fully dominant extraordinary genes;

or the heavens bestow blessings to the point of near‑vomiting, yet one can fully digest them;

or luck is so great that one wins while lying down, instantly awakening a super‑awesome ability that can catapult one to the pinnacle of life.

These cases have an extremely impressive proper term, 'Obtaining Divine Ability'; now tell me, aren't you envious?

Because of the Great River‑Crab deity, it's sent out irregularly; no matter how mighty the divine thicket or how strong the Divine Ability, it ultimately cannot withstand the River‑Crab's power!

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(End of Chapter)