chapter 14
“Huh? Sell… sell my life?” The man was startled, stammering as he spoke.
His loud exclamation drew the attention of the sturdy young men nearby.
“Who sent you here to make trouble?” Taoist Priest Sun scolded with a dark face.
I took a sip of tea and continued peeling peanuts.
“I’m talking to you!” Taoist Priest Sun shouted angrily.
“What’s all the noise for?” I glanced at him. “You’re buying a life for twenty thousand-already cheap enough. You should keep a low profile.”
“What twenty thousand for a life? Spreading nonsense!” Taoist Priest Sun cursed.
Seeing everyone present looking at me, I smiled and said, “Are these Eighteen Heroes all virgins?”
Driver Zhang gave me a strange look.
“What are you trying to say?” Taoist Priest Sun said with a sullen face.
“Later, you’re going to have them spread out around the house, each guarding a position, right?” I said, eating peanuts.
Taoist Priest Sun’s expression changed. He gave me a deep look and said coldly, “These Eighteen Heroes were invited by me for House Pacification. To dispel the yin energy, of course you need the bodies and blood of virgins. What’s the problem with that?”
“That’s a good method. Taoist Priest Sun, you’re really something!” I gave him a thumbs up.
Taoist Priest Sun snorted, “I’m the real deal. I don’t need your flattery…”
“What’s the rush? I wasn’t flattering you.” I interrupted him before he could finish. “To put it plainly, you’re just transferring the resentment in the house onto these Eighteen Heroes. That’s some clever scheming!”
Taoist Priest Sun’s face turned purple. “What nonsense are you spouting…”
“What nonsense? Just telling the truth, right? Fine, I’ll stop talking, so I don’t offend anyone.” After saying that, I turned back to peeling peanuts.
“You…” Taoist Priest Sun gritted his teeth. “Utter nonsense!”
The Eighteen Heroes all looked at him in unison.
“Taoist Priest Sun, what’s really going on?” Someone couldn’t help but ask.
“Are you all stupid? This kid is obviously here to cause trouble. Haven’t you heard of my Master’s great name?” One of Taoist Priest Sun’s disciples shouted.
“Is this Sun guy really that famous?” I asked Driver Zhang.
Driver Zhang shook his head, clearly not sure.
“What nonsense, never heard of him!” The man standing behind us chimed in loudly.
This drew the attention of the crowd.
“Little Pole, what are you still standing there for? If you don’t want to die early, get over here!”
The man shouted at a young fellow.
The young man hesitated, then said to Taoist Priest Sun, “I’m not doing this. I quit.”
With that, he walked over to our side.
As he left, the remaining seventeen started to stir uneasily.
“Stop!” Taoist Priest Sun shouted angrily. “Are you all idiots? My reputation is well known. How could I joke with your lives? I’ll add another ten thousand for each of you. Get back in position!”
Those people had been doubtful, but hearing Taoist Priest Sun’s words-and the promise of an extra ten thousand-their doubts quickly faded.
“Wasn’t it supposed to be twenty thousand? Why is it thirty now?” Liu’s Mother complained.
Taoist Priest Sun glared at her, and she fell silent, embarrassed.
“It’s just thirty thousand, what’s there to hesitate about? You might as well go sell a kidney!”
Seeing Little Pole still standing there, the man cursed again.
Upon hearing this, Little Pole finally made up his mind, ran over to our side, and said to the man, “Iron Head, I’ll listen to you.”
“What do you mean, listen to me? You should listen to Mr. Lin!” The man called Iron Head snorted.
“Yes, yes, yes,” Little Pole replied repeatedly, then nodded to me, “Thank you, Mr. Lin, for your advice.”
I waved my hand.
What I said just now was merely out of a sense of duty. If someone is willing to listen, then perhaps a disaster is averted; if not, it’s up to them.
“Always causing trouble for me! Who sent you here? What are you doing here?”
Taoist Priest Sun rushed over to me with a gloomy face, questioning me sternly.
“Are you alright?” I looked at him in surprise.
“Still pretending to be clueless? Then you can’t blame me!”
Taoist Priest Sun’s eyes grew cold, and his left hand, hidden in his sleeve, lifted slightly.
Just then, someone hurriedly ran in, asking loudly, “What’s going on? Has the House Pacification not started yet?”
“Hao’er, you’re finally back! Look, look, your father-in-law has made a mess of things!” Liu’s Mother rushed over to the newcomer, pouring out her complaints.
I glanced over-it was Liu Hao who had returned.
“Father-in-law?” Liu Hao was stunned for a moment, then followed Liu’s Mother over to us. He walked up to Uncle Yang, frowned, and asked, “Why are you here?”
“Son-in-law, I… I’m here to find Xiuyu. Her mother is very ill…” Uncle Yang stood up and explained.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? Xiuyu isn’t home, and her phone can’t be reached. Once I get in touch, I’ll tell her. Why did you come here again?” Liu Hao sounded rather impatient.
“I… I…” Uncle Yang was at a loss for words.
“He’s your father-in-law, what’s with all the ‘you, you, you’? What’s wrong with coming to your house for a cup of tea?” I interjected.
Upon hearing this, Liu Hao’s face darkened. He turned and gave me a cold look, “Who are you…”
At this point, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he stared at me, sizing me up before finally asking, “Who are you?”
“This is Mr. Lin!” Iron Head shouted.
His voice was loud and sudden, startling Liu Hao.
“Your surname is Lin?” Liu Hao looked at me uneasily. “What’s your name?”
“Why, is Boss Liu very interested in people named Lin?” I asked with a smile.
“Not really,” Liu Hao replied calmly, his expression returning to normal. “But my father-in-law is a simple man, and I’m afraid he’ll be deceived.”
“That’s nothing you need to worry about. We all trust Boss Xiaolin!” Driver Zhang said, somewhat displeased.
“Boss Lin?” Liu Hao glanced at me again. “Where did Boss Lin make his fortune?”
“That’s not something Boss Liu needs to worry about,” I replied with a smile.
Liu Hao narrowed his eyes, snorted coldly, and turned to Taoist Priest Sun, saying, “Priest, why hasn’t it started yet? The appointed time has already passed!”
“It was disrupted, and we’re missing a person!” Taoist Priest Sun glared in our direction.
With a few words, he explained the situation to Liu Hao.
Liu Hao frowned deeply, troubled, “Is there still time to find someone else now?”
“Time is tight. If we miss this window, things will go badly,” Taoist Priest Sun said coldly.
Liu Hao thought for a moment, then went over to Little Pole, “Brother, you must have heard of me, Liu Hao. I would never treat you unfairly. Don’t listen to rumors. Even if you’re not sure of Taoist Priest Sun’s abilities, you should trust my character.”
“Bullshit!” Iron Head cursed.