Life-Buying Money

The side courtyard was added later. It was originally a small courtyard next door, but the owner was later afflicted by evil spirits and died under mysterious circumstances.

Master Qiao drove out the evil spirits.

The owner had only one distant nephew. Master Qiao gave him a few taels of silver to buy it, broke through the courtyard wall, and used it as his residence in Qihetan Town.

The side courtyard was located to the east of the inn and was decorated very elegantly, with bamboo on the south wall and plum blossoms in the west corner.

Xu Yuan delivered breakfast inside, and Liu, the accountant, was also there.

"Are you getting used to it here?" Master Qiao asked casually.

"It's very good, thank you for taking me in, Master," Xu Yuan replied.

"Your family entrusted you to me, so I must look after you. Feel free to ask me for anything."

Master Qiao waved his hand, and Xu Yuan wisely excused himself.

Liu, the accountant, also followed him out and called out to him in the courtyard, "Those two people from yesterday, were they really going into the mountains to collect goods?"

Xu Yuan opened his mouth to answer "Yes," but found he couldn't bring himself to lie.

The accountant Liu in front of him stared at him with eyes like dead fish. Xu Yuan could only tell the truth: "No, they were looking for something in the mountains and wanted to kill me, then capture my soul to continue guiding them. I led them to Diaotou Ridge, which is how I managed to come back alive."

Xu Yuan explained in detail, trying to distract Liu, the accountant.

However, Liu, the accountant, was also experienced and was not affected at all. "What were they looking for?"

Xu Yuan didn't want to answer, but any hesitation would reveal his lie.

"I overheard them talking, they mentioned something like Ox Leaf Bugs, I don't know what that is."

He couldn't lie, but Xu Yuan could mix up his words.

"The people who asked you to lead them earlier, were they also looking for something?"

"The first two groups weren't, but the last three groups were."

Liu, the accountant, was furious. "Why didn't you report it?"

"I... I didn't know I had to report it."

Liu, the accountant, glared fiercely at Xu Yuan. "Remember! You are part of the inn. From now on, you must report any unusual situations to me! Understood?"

"Understood."

"Get lost."

Xu Yuan quickly left. Liu, the accountant, didn't realize at all that he had been tricked by a naive child.

Above the door of the side courtyard hung a calligraphy piece with the words "Land of No Lies" written on it, which seemed to envelop the entire courtyard.

The ink was still wet.

This was the ability of a Literary Cultivator.

Liu, the accountant, returned to his room and frowned. "Proprietor, what is an Ox Leaf Bug? I've never heard of it."

Master Qiao stroked his beard, muttering repeatedly, "Ox Leaf Bug, Ox Leaf Bug..."

He was also clueless.

After a long while, Master Qiao said, "You watch the inn. I'll go into the mountains to gather some information."

On the second floor of the front courtyard, in the easternmost room, the woman took off a large Ear Trumpet made of sandalwood and brass from her ear and sneered, thinking: Qiao Zi'ang, you idiot, what Ox Leaf Bug? It's clearly a June Bug!

This room was not hers. Master Qiao had personally arranged for her to be in the westernmost room.

The guest in this room had been drugged by one of her Pill Cultivators and was now completely obedient to her.

She took out a lifelike parrot made of bamboo strips and gave an order: "That young helper in the back courtyard, send two people to test him."

The parrot mechanically flew out the window and landed in a courtyard at the east end of town, repeating the woman's orders to a group of people.

Xu Yuan was gathering firewood today, with two people following him.

Today was not Forbidden River Proximity. The group of Snail Beauties on Beauty Dam were working especially hard. When it was Forbidden River Proximity, outsiders would not bypass the dam. They used their voices to lure men, which was a peak time for them to "ship" goods.

Xu Yuan took a long detour. Just as he passed the dam, the two behind him caught up. "Slow down, little brother."

The two were a Law Cultivator and a Pill Cultivator.

The Law Cultivator was of the Nine Streams, while the Pill Cultivator was not even Enter Stream.

This was also the ability of "Fate Gazing," which could tell at a glance from "Fate" whether someone was a cultivator or not.

It could also roughly estimate the level of their cultivation.

Unless they had special abilities, other cultivators could not distinguish between cultivators and ordinary people.

The Burly Man and Big-and-Small Eyes had observed in secret for a long time before confirming that Xu Yuan was just an ordinary person.

Martial Cultivators were an exception...

As long as a Martial Cultivator was Enter Stream, they would be noticeably larger than a normal person.

"We want to go to Wangxiang Village. Could you please lead the way, young man?" The Law Cultivator took out a Silver Bean. "We won't have you make the trip for nothing; this is for your trouble."

This was the sixth group of people asking Xu Yuan to lead the way in half a month, but it was the first time someone had actually offered money.

There was a faint magical imprint on the silver coin—this was "Life-Buying Money."

In the Law Cultivator's eyes, Xu Yuan's cheap life was only worth this one Silver Bean, no more.

The Law Cultivator sect was the most chaotic, with many branches. This one who made "Life-Buying Money" likely practiced "Merchant Law."

The most common were those who practiced "Artistic Law," and the most difficult were those who practiced "Lawful Law."

Xu Yuan had even heard his Stepmother mention once that they had people who specialized in "Transforming Law," capable of turning people into dogs, snakes, or even grinding stones...

Various thoughts flashed through his mind, but Xu Yuan still faced the two people the same way he had faced Big-and-Small Eyes yesterday: "Customers, some things need to be settled beforehand. It's not about how much money you offer..."

The Law Cultivator nodded, "We understand these rules."

"That's good." Xu Yuan took the Silver Bean. "Please follow me, esteemed customers."

Seeing him accept the "Life-Buying Money," the Law Cultivator chuckled inwardly. Once the money was taken, this life would be in his hands.

Even cultivators who surpassed him in skill were powerless to escape once "Merchant Law" was enacted.

The two followed Xu Yuan, chatting idly. Xu Yuan, mindful of the Silver Bean, answered patiently.

After passing Hat Tomb and entering the mountains, the Law Cultivator asked, "Young man, have many people been entering the mountains recently?"

"Yes, many. To be honest, you are the sixth group I've guided into the mountains these past few days."

"What do they do when they enter the mountains?"

"They collect mountain goods. Most people who enter the mountains do this."

Xu Yuan's malice, even murderous intent, rose towards the two—each time, Xu Yuan carefully observed their "Fate."

This was a way of using "Fate Gazing."

Er Liang harbored improper thoughts about the woman in the front yard; his "Fate" carried a trace of scarlet ominous energy.

However, the "Fate" of these two showed no change.

The "Fate" of both of them was green, far more prosperous than Er Liang's "White Fate."

Xu Yuan secretly shook his head, clearly his own strength was still too weak; even with malice in his heart, he couldn't affect the two.

...Then he would have to find another way.

The Law Cultivator feigned worry and said, "With so many people ahead of us collecting, I fear we might return empty-handed this time."

Xu Yuan hesitated to speak.

The Law Cultivator then took out another copper coin. "You've worked hard, little brother. Take this money."

Xu Yuan's eyes showed greed, but he outwardly refused, "You've already paid me, how could I possibly accept more?"

The Law Cultivator handed it to him, "The previous payment was for leading the way. This is for the trouble of accompanying us and keeping us entertained."

Xu Yuan accepted it.

The Law Cultivator: "Little brother, you can tell us everything now, can't you?"

This copper coin bought Xu Yuan's "answer."

Once money was accepted, one would be controlled by Merchant Law, compelled to answer any question truthfully and unable to lie.

As expected, Xu Yuan said, "Customers, you needn't worry. Although those people ahead claimed to be collecting goods, I suspect that's not the case. They..." Xu Yuan lowered his voice. "I guess they are looking for something. Just go to Wangxiang Village, and you should still be able to find something."

"What are they looking for?"

"I don't know." Xu Yuan's eyes flickered, his expression struggling, before he finally said, "I heard someone among them mention Ox Leaf Bugs..."

The Law Cultivator and the Pill Cultivator exchanged glances. No wonder Saint Aunt asked us to keep an eye on him!

The Law Cultivator asked again, "Where did those people go in the end?"

"They all went to Wangxiang Village."

As they spoke, they reached the edge of a grove. Xu Yuan pointed ahead and said, "Customers, follow this path forward, and you'll reach Wangxiang Village. There are no evil spirits blocking the way in this section, so I won't escort you further. I still need to gather firewood..."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan watched as a blinding scarlet red surged rapidly from within the Law Cultivator's "Green Fate."

The ominous energy intensified dramatically!

The Law Cultivator revealed a strange smile and extended his hand to Xu Yuan. "Your life, it belongs to me now!"

Inside Xu Yuan's sleeve, the imprint on the Silver Bean lit up—but it was quickly extinguished.

The Law Cultivator suddenly felt blood rush to his head. He couldn't control it and spat out a mouthful of blood!

Magic backlash!

Both the Law Cultivator and the Pill Cultivator were greatly alarmed.

The Law Cultivator became listless, unable to muster any strength. The backlash continued to strike in waves, and he coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood, asking in disbelief, "What... what's going on? This kid's Fate... is it that expensive?"