A Way Out

When Sun Zhicheng heard those words, he hurriedly turned around and saw Meng Luohai walking out from the rear courtyard.

Meng Luohai and the Meng Family's senior clansmen had taken turns overseeing the Xinghua Meng Pavilion in Qingyang County Town many times. As a Rogue Cultivator and an old customer of the Xinghua Meng Pavilion, Sun Zhicheng was somewhat familiar with Meng Luohai's face.

"M-Master Meng, greetings!" Sun Zhicheng cupped his fists in salute.

Meng Luohai wore a dark expression as he walked into the front hall. After sweeping his gaze around, he looked at Sun Zhicheng and asked again, "Sun Zhicheng, are you certain you want to return my Meng Family's talismans?"

Though Sun Zhicheng feared Meng Luohai's cultivation, those hundred Spirit Stones seemed to drift before his eyes.

The cooked duck was already at his mouth—how could he let it fly away?

Sun Zhicheng hardened his heart and answered resolutely, "Master Meng, I'm certain I want to return your Meng Family's defensive talismans!"

"Are you blind with your eyes wide open?! Three days ago, when you came to our Xinghua Meng Pavilion to request a return, we made an agreement with you. If our Xinghua Meng Pavilion's actions today failed to satisfy you, then you, Sun Zhicheng, could certainly return our Meng Family's defensive talismans!"

Meng Luohai raised his voice. "But now, our Meng Family has developed a new defensive talisman, the Spirit Taming Talisman. Other than you, everyone—including the passersby watching outside—has said that our Meng Family's Spirit Taming Talisman surpasses the Lin Family's Five Elements Defensive Talisman. Sun Zhicheng, this is simply unreasonable troublemaking!"

After speaking, Meng Luohai stared into Sun Zhicheng's eyes and gave two quiet, cold snorts.

Sun Zhicheng was so frightened that he secretly swallowed. In a low voice, he replied, "Whether I'm satisfied or not is still for me to decide, isn't it? The agreement from three days ago was made between me and that Meng Family brat. Whatever others say has nothing to do with it!"

Meng Luohai stretched out a large hand and heavily slapped Sun Zhicheng's right shoulder, startling the latter so badly that the spiritual energy within his body nearly leaked out!

"What others say has nothing to do with it? Sun Zhicheng, don't forget that when you and Meng Haoran made your agreement three days ago, you had those passersby bear witness for the two of you. Now you say it has nothing to do with those outsiders? Fine. In the name of the Xinghua Meng Pavilion, I can cancel the verbal agreement between you two. That wouldn't be going too far, would it?"

Then Meng Luohai leaned close to Sun Zhicheng's ear and said softly, "You can go out onto the street and make a scene if you like. I'm not afraid. Our Meng Family has already developed a new defensive talisman, so we need not worry about lacking business in the future. The only one who will suffer is you, Sun Zhicheng!"

Sun Zhicheng looked up at Meng Luohai and hurriedly asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Rather than answering, Meng Luohai asked, "Sun Zhicheng, let me ask you this: was someone behind the scenes instructing you to come to my Xinghua Meng Pavilion and return the defensive talismans?"

Sun Zhicheng hesitated for several breaths before replying, "Yes. After I bought your Meng Family's defensive talismans that day, someone came looking for me. He said that as long as we went to the Xinghua Meng Pavilion to return the defensive talismans, he would give us some of the Lin Family's Five Elements Defensive Talismans for free. I figured it was a matter of putting in effort without spending money, so several of us came here."

"Then let me answer why I said you would suffer, Sun Zhicheng. You have seen the effects of our Meng Family's Spirit Taming Talisman today. Before an hour passes, it will surely make a name for itself among you Rogue Cultivators."

Meng Luohai nodded lightly at those words. "By then, the Lin Family's Five Elements Defensive Talisman will fall into a state where no one cares to ask after it. When you next enter the Tianyang Mountain Range to gather Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, would you still buy the Lin Family's inferior defensive talismans? If you continue throwing tantrums and acting shamelessly in the Xinghua Meng Pavilion today, when you want to buy our Meng Family's Spirit Taming Talismans in the future, do you think I will still sell them to you?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhicheng finally came to his senses.

He slapped his thigh and muttered, "Aiyaa! I was blind and ignorant—I fell for the Lin Family's scheme!"

Seeing that the heat was just right, Meng Luohai gently patted Sun Zhicheng's shoulder again and smiled. "The sages once said: there is no greater good than reforming after recognizing one's mistakes. Fellow Daoist Sun, it is not too late for you."

Sun Zhicheng looked at Meng Luohai's smiling yet unsmiling face and asked, "Master Meng, how can you help me?"

"If you and I each give the other a way out, that will be the same as me helping you," Meng Luohai replied.

Sun Zhicheng scratched his head and asked, "What way out?"

Meng Luohai pointed to his own chest and smiled. "Publicly acknowledge that our Meng Family's new Spirit Taming Talisman is far superior to the Lin Family's Five Elements Defensive Talisman. That will do!"

Sun Zhicheng found himself in a difficult spot. "This..."

Just then, a voice suddenly called out from the crowd outside.

"Hey! Sun Zhicheng, what are you dawdling for? Why are you acting like an old woman?"

Hearing this, Sun Zhicheng suddenly gritted his teeth, turned toward the people outside, and called out, "I was mistaken just now! The Meng Family's latest Spirit Taming Talisman truly surpasses the Lin Family's Five Elements Defensive Talisman!"

After saying that, Sun Zhicheng gave Meng Haoran a slight bow and said, "The Meng Family's talisman-making craft is truly exquisite!"

Meng Haoran also returned the gesture with a slight bow.

The onlookers outside were immediately quite puzzled by this scene.

Seizing the opportunity, Meng Luohai stepped before them and shouted, "Today, the Xinghua Meng Pavilion's newly launched defensive talisman, the Spirit Taming Talisman, officially goes on sale!"

A disguised Meng Xiao Ran in the crowd asked, "Master Meng, how much does the new defensive talisman, the Spirit Taming Talisman, cost?"

Meng Luohai looked at the crowd drawn in by his words and called out, "One Spirit Taming Talisman costs only five Spirit Stones!"

At this moment, Meng Haoran walked to his side and added, "For only five Spirit Stones, it can protect your life and possessions in a moment of utmost peril!"

The Lin Family's Five Elements Defensive Talisman was also sold for five Spirit Stones.

Since both cost five Spirit Stones, those Rogue Cultivators would naturally buy the defensive talisman with greater value.

"I want one!"

"I want three Spirit Taming Talismans too!"

"Don't crowd me! I'm heading to the Tianyang Mountain Range soon—let me buy first!"

Seeing this scene, Meng Haoran and Meng Luohai hurriedly retreated several steps, making a path for the crowd to purchase them.

Meng Luohai walked to Sun Zhicheng's side and said quietly, "Fellow Daoist Sun, our Xinghua Meng Pavilion will never let you suffer a loss in business. Since you gave our Meng Family a way out, I will certainly lend you a hand as well."

He then turned to Meng Haoran and said, "Haoran, go to the storeroom and bring out ten Spirit Taming Talismans. Consider them a reward for Fellow Daoist Sun's promotion of our Spirit Taming Talismans!"

After hearing this, Meng Haoran accepted the order and left.

Sun Zhicheng repeatedly cupped his fists in thanks.

Although he had brushed past those hundred Spirit Stones, receiving ten Spirit Taming Talismans for free was still an excellent outcome.

While the Xinghua Meng Pavilion buzzed with voices, someone beneath a large locust tree by the roadside outside was gnashing his teeth.

"Damn it! Sun Zhicheng couldn't even handle such a simple task!"

If Meng Haoran had been there, he would have recognized who this person was at a glance.

This man was Lin Jiangye's father, Lin Qingbai!