The Price of Selling Oneself

"Dharma Master Zhou, I apologize for keeping you waiting."

A voice of exquisite melody rang out, seemingly brimming with infinite charm, causing Zhou Yan's heart to skip a beat.

He had yet to see the person, but merely hearing the voice sent a tingling sensation through his body.

Such a feeling was entirely novel to him, and his heart filled with a sense of yearning.

Yet, subconsciously, a sliver of wariness also rose within him.

Given his state of mind, to be affected to such a degree by a mere voice was truly terrifying.

In that instant, Zhou Yan almost thought the owner of the voice was not human, but a fox spirit in disguise.

For only the legendary fox spirits could evoke such a feeling in him.

Zhou Yan slowly turned his head, a trace of caution still lingering in his eyes.

But the moment he saw Yue Yuna, he could not help but be slightly stunned.

This woman was too beautiful; she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Not only that, but her temperament was also quite unique. To use the parlance of later generations, she was both pure and seductive. Every movement of hers caused one's hormones to surge; she was even more enchanting and alluring than a fox spirit.

Today, Zhou Yan had finally witnessed what it meant to be a beauty capable of toppling cities and ruining nations!

However, she was a true human being; Zhou Yan confirmed this in an instant.

He secretly suppressed the wayward thoughts in his heart, and fortunately, the presence of the Mystic Yin Qi allowed him to quickly regain his composure.

"Greetings, Miss."

Zhou Yan bowed slightly.

Seeing Zhou Yan recover so quickly, Yue Yuna felt a touch of satisfaction.

"Dharma Master Zhou is too polite. Please, sit."

Zhou Yan sat down slowly and, looking at Yue Yuna, said, "I do not yet know your honorable name, Miss?"

As these words left his lips, Steward Yue remained calm, while Ruyu could not help but raise her eyebrows, though she made no other move.

In private, Ruyu might be more casual.

But with an outsider present, Ruyu strictly observed the hierarchy of status.

Yue Yuna chuckled softly and said directly, "My name is Yue Yuna, and I am the Third Miss of the Yue family."

Immediately after, she looked at Zhou Yan and asked, "Does Dharma Master Zhou know of the Yue family?"

Zhou Yan nodded and said truthfully, "I did not know before, but I learned of it not long ago. However, I wonder what need a noble person like the Third Miss has for the services of a rogue cultivator like myself?"

Yue Yuna looked at Zhou Yan and spoke directly, "It is simple. I admire you, I have investigated you, and I value your potential. Therefore, I wish to take you on as a Guest Elder. I wonder what Dharma Master Zhou thinks of this?"

Zhou Yan did not speak, but in his heart, he was satisfied with Yue Yuna's honesty.

He did not fear risking his life for others; in truth, he was already risking his life now, just for money.

Even if he were to join the Yue family, the idea of swearing an oath of loyalty unto death would be a joke; in the end, he would still be risking his life for his future.

Zhou Yan understood this, and Yue Yuna understood it even better.

"Third Miss, I have a few questions. May I ask them?" Zhou Yan said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Yue Yuna's eyes brightened slightly.

She knew that Zhou Yan was tempted.

She immediately replied, "It is no matter. Dharma Master Zhou, please feel free to ask."

Zhou Yan took a deep breath and asked, "If I become a Guest Elder, would I be a Guest Elder of the Yue Mansion, or your personal Guest Elder?"

This had to be clarified; it was the most important point.

After hearing this, Yue Yuna said without hesitation, "If Dharma Master Zhou is willing to become a Guest Elder, you would naturally be my personal Guest Elder, and you would only need to follow my orders. Aside from my commands, no one else in the Yue Mansion has the authority to command you."

Zhou Yan nodded slightly and continued, "If I become a Guest Elder, what would the compensation be?"

At these words, a confident smile appeared on Yue Yuna's face.

"Dharma Master Zhou is currently in the Essence Blood Realm. Ordinarily, even if you were to join the Yue Mansion, you would only be a Third-Rank Guest Elder, receiving one hundred silver dollars a month and the right to peruse the books in the mansion.

But I am different. As long as you become my Guest Elder, you will receive three hundred silver dollars a month while in the Essence Blood Realm, and you will also have access to the books in the mansion, including knowledge regarding cultivation, basic Dharma spells, formations, and the like. I will even gift you a Buddhist internal martial arts manual as a welcoming gift.

Once Dharma Master Zhou advances to the Qi Induction Realm, you will receive one thousand silver dollars a month, and you may peruse all the various secret cultivation techniques in the mansion to your heart's content..."

Clearly, Yue Yuna had investigated Zhou Yan's situation very thoroughly.

Zhou Yan's heart was pounding violently, and he secretly swallowed several times.

Such terms were no different from a pie falling from the sky.

If not for his fear that Yue Yuna might be setting a trap, he would have agreed on the spot.

However, he could not bear to let this opportunity go.

Besides, to offer such excellent terms, one naturally had to be prepared to risk their life.

Zhou Yan was very clear on this point.

The most important thing was that the Yue family's influence was too vast; he had to consider whether refusing would lead to dire consequences.

This was something Zhou Yan also needed to weigh.

Or rather, from the moment he stepped into this villa, he had effectively run out of other choices.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yan's mind felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over it, and he suddenly became much more clear-headed.

"I am willing to serve you, Miss." Zhou Yan said, cupping his hands in a salute.

He had originally intended to kneel to show his loyalty, but perhaps his bones had hardened after practicing cultivation, as he found himself unable to bring his knees to the floor.

Fortunately, Yue Yuna did not mind this. She stood up, clapped her hands, and said, "Good! From today on, Dharma Master Zhou is one of our own."

As she spoke, she stepped forward and handed the Prajna Heart Sutra, which she had prepared in advance, to Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan took the Prajna Heart Sutra, looking at the internal martial arts manual he had "sold his life" to obtain, and felt a myriad of emotions.

However, he quickly composed himself; since he had made his decision, he would not regret it.

It was just like when he had chosen the path of Corpse Controlling—he could only continue walking down it.

"Many thanks, Miss." Zhou Yan saluted once more.

Immediately after, Zhou Yan asked carefully, "Miss, as a Third-Rank Guest Elder, am I to reside within the mansion, or..."

Yue Yuna understood what Zhou Yan meant and said with a smile, "Whatever you prefer. The mansion will reserve a courtyard for Guest Elder Zhou, which will belong to you privately."

Hearing this, Zhou Yan felt a slight sense of relief.

For some reason, he felt a certain resistance toward moving into the Yue Mansion and preferred to live outside.

"Thank you for your consideration, Miss. I practice the path of Corpse Controlling, which involves many inauspicious energies like yin and corpse aura. It would be better not to contaminate the mansion; living outside will suffice." Zhou Yan said politely.

When these words were spoken, Yue Yuna did not react, but Steward Yue and Ruyu could not help but nod.

"How about this: I will purchase a courtyard outside the mansion for Guest Elder Zhou to use as a residence, which will be more convenient for you." Steward Yue stepped forward and said.

Yue Yuna nodded immediately, "Good, let it be so."

Zhou Yan was somewhat surprised; just like that, a courtyard was his.