Money Falling Pavilion's Financial Might

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire Floating Cloud Mountain, a prime time for some demons to absorb Sun Essence. If one stood far away, they could vaguely see the sunlight splitting into thousands of golden threads, falling into Floating Cloud Mountain, a truly beautiful sight. This was one of the Great Xuan Dynasty's ten famous scenes, known as "Floating Cloud Falling Rainbow."

Lu Sagen, sporting a pair of deer antlers, yawned. Looking at the so-called "Floating Cloud Falling Rainbow," he felt it was far less exciting than noodles being cooked. After all, he had guarded the gates of Floating Cloud Market for ten years and was thoroughly tired of such scenes.

The amazement in your eyes is merely the daily routine for others.

Lu Sagen stretched lazily and looked up at the massive market gate. The words "Floating Cloud Market" inscribed on it with iron strokes and silver hooks shimmered with specks of white light, a sign that the moonlight was about to appear, symbolizing the official opening of Floating Cloud Market's night market.

His wife was about to give birth, so Lu Sagen, who was usually on the day shift, started taking night shifts. He worked one night shift every three days, earning an extra eight taels of silver by the end of the month. Once the child was born, he would have a little over a hundred taels saved, enough to buy some gentle medicinal soups to nourish the child and pave a smoother path for their future.

If he had known that gaining sentience would lead to such a struggle for survival, he might as well have remained a beast, living a simple, oblivious life...

Swallowing a pill to refresh himself, Lu Sagen perked up. He had fought a bat demon for this night shift, even spitting up several mouthfuls of blood on the ground before the creature agreed to split the workload with him, giving him one-third of the share. He absolutely couldn't mess this up.

Just then, Lu Sagen felt a faint tremor from the ground. He quickly got down on all fours, pressing his ear to the earth. Sure enough, it seemed a large group of people was approaching Floating Cloud Market.

Lu Sagen nimbly climbed onto the watchtower next to the archway. One glance was almost enough to make him fall off. He saw a procession stretching for hundreds of meters approaching Floating Cloud Market, numbering no less than five to six hundred individuals. Demonic energy churned above the procession, indicating the presence of many powerful figures.

"Bandit demons attacking?" Lu Sagen's heart leaped. Floating Cloud Market's fame naturally attracted covetous eyes. However, this was his first time witnessing a direct, large-scale assault.

Lu Sagen reached for the demon-repelling gong on the watchtower, ready to strike it, when his raised hand was suddenly grabbed. He turned his head and saw his direct superior, Xiang Dali, the captain of the Floating Cloud Market patrol.

"Cap... Captain, you're... a spy?"

Xiang Dali frowned. "Nonsense, what are you talking about? What kind of spy am I?"

Tears and snot streaming down his face, Lu Sagen lunged forward and hugged Xiang Dali's thigh. "Captain, I won't ring the gong, and I won't resist. Kill me if you want. But for the sake of our years of friendship, please protect my demon wife; she's pregnant..."

Xiang Dali rolled his eyes and pulled Lu Sagen up, pointing at the approaching procession. "Open your deer eyes and look clearly. That's the troop from the Floating Cloud Mountain Demon Stronghold. That golden eagle flying overhead, that chubby wild boar, and that... that... they're all the leaders of the Demon Stronghold!"

With Xiang Dali's reminder, Lu Sagen rubbed his eyes and looked again. He recognized the faces and sheepishly said, "The demonic energy was too strong earlier, I couldn't see clearly..."

Xiang Dali kicked Lu Sagen. "Go and ask them what they're here for!"

Lu Sagen quickly complied and climbed down from the watchtower.

As the moon began to rise, the long procession of monsters entered Floating Cloud Market. Lu Sagen eagerly led the way, bringing them directly to a magnificent architectural complex.

It was a cluster of eight large buildings connected together, interspersed with gardens and pavilions. Two statues of three-legged golden toads, carved from East Sea golden crystal, stood outside the main entrance. A high plaque bore the four characters "Money Falling," but what truly caught the eye was the inscription beside these characters: "Gifted by Qingwei."

Qingwei, the Grand Celestial Master of the Dragon-Tiger Altar of the Daoist sect, known as Dao Lord Qingwei.

A figure strode out of the Money Falling Pavilion – a lean old man who looked to be in his fifties. He walked with remarkable speed, muttering incessantly, "Who is it, who is it, who is so bold as to block the entrance of my Money Falling Pavilion? Let me see how many lives they have to flaunt..."

The old man emerged from the gate, glanced at the leaders of the demon strongholds standing at the entrance, and put his hands on his hips. "Ah, it's a few of the stronghold leaders..."

At this, the once imposing leaders of the demon strongholds bowed in unison, smiling obsequiously, and cupped their fists. "Steward Crane, you are too kind. Look who we've brought..."

"Hm?" Steward Crane's gaze sharpened. "You found our young master?"

The leaders of the demon strongholds spread out, clearing a path in the middle. Steward Crane looked and saw Song Shuhang nervously dismounting from the flatbed cart. He tidied his clothes, cupped his hands, and mimicked the respectful bow he had seen Confucian scholars give their masters. "Junior Song Shuhang, I have heard that this place can heal my young master and his demon pet, and I have come to seek medical treatment..."

Steward Crane's face showed impatience as he glanced at the stronghold leaders. "What nonsense is this? Seeking medical treatment? What do you take me for? You..."

The man with the scarred face, who had transformed from the golden eagle demon, stepped forward and said with a chuckle, "Steward Crane, don't rush. Look at the cart..."

Steward Crane then looked at the flatbed cart again, his gaze lingering on Chen Luo's face. "This is that..."

Suddenly, Steward Crane's eyes fell on the little frog peeking out from Chen Luo's chest. His eyes widened, and he rushed forward, slapping Song Shuhang aside. With trembling hands, he carefully lifted the little frog from Chen Luo. A sudden scream erupted—

"Ah!"

"None of you move! Anyone who moves, I'll skin you alive and pickle you..."

Then he shouted towards the pavilion, "Master, the young master is in trouble..."

Song Shuhang sat nervously in the reception hall, afraid to move. He took a sniff of the fragrant tea served to him and felt his blood begin to warm, a sensation that usually took him three days of arduous cultivation to achieve. The wood of the chair beneath him was something he had seen before at a client's place. It was the size of a little finger, and the client treasured it, wearing it close to his person. He said it was Dragon Blood Wood, watered with dragon's blood. Of course, these were external matters. What most prevented Song Shuhang from looking askance was the fox woman serving them. Song Shuhang had gained sentience many years ago, but he had never seen such a beautiful fox woman. He vaguely sensed that her cultivation was far superior to his own, yet she was merely a maid casually assigned by Steward Crane.

From Steward Crane's introduction, Song Shuhang finally understood what kind of divine being he had saved. The human was a newly appointed enfeoffed Count of the Great Xuan Dynasty, and the little frog was the sole legitimate grandson of the owner of this place, Old Woman Golden Toad.

The demons who had escorted them left joyfully, but only he was singled out to stay. Song Shuhang felt a bit uneasy. Just then, Steward Crane entered the reception hall.

Song Shuhang quickly rose to bow. Steward Crane returned the gesture. "Righteous Man Song, please be seated for now. My master is currently healing the distinguished guest. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. Consider this your own home, don't be polite."

As Steward Crane spoke, he stepped forward a few more paces and whispered, "Knowing my master, Righteous Man Song, if you wish for any reward now, the Money Falling Pavilion will certainly not disappoint you..."

"Reward?" Song Shuhang blinked, subconsciously glancing at the fox woman standing nearby, then quickly averted his gaze...

Song's story comes to an end here. The next chapter will return to Chen Luo.

There are still slots for investment, everyone, go for it~~~~