Honest Business

[Deng Libuduo] was progressing too slowly. He needed a rival, someone to crack a little whip behind him.

A man might only acknowledge one big brother, but a teacher could teach plenty of students.

Once the students started competing, their teacher would naturally have an easier time.

In Lin Bai's eyes, no one was useless. Naturally, no one was an enemy, either.

"Brother Lin, your premises look rather spartan. Do you need any further investment?" With his long-held dream finally about to come true, Luo Congwen was especially excited and tried every possible way to grow closer to Lin Bai. "The Luo Family has money and manpower to spare. This young assistant of yours doesn't look particularly quick-witted."

[Resentment from Deng Libuduo; +1 +1]

"Young Master Luo, just mind your own affairs." [Deng Libuduo] gave Luo Congwen a languid look. "Master has me. That's enough."

"So you're my senior brother! Forgive my offense!" Luo Congwen hurriedly apologized to [Deng Libuduo].

"Xiao Deng, guard against jealousy." Lin Bai looked at Deng Libuduo, a perfectly measured flicker of disappointment passing through his eyes. "If you can't control your emotions, I'm afraid we may never have the fate to become master and disciple."

Motherfucking...

I'll swallow it!

[Deng Libuduo] nearly jumped out of his skin. He drew a deep breath, suppressed his raging emotions, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply to Luo Congwen. "Young Master Luo, forgive my offense," he said helplessly.

"No harm done, no harm done." Luo Congwen helped Deng Libuduo up with both hands and said sincerely, "So Brother Deng is also someone Brother Lin has chosen as a Destined One. In that case, we ought to encourage one another."

This world had no Confucianism, but its cultural traditions were similar.

Luo Congwen yearned to cultivate immortality, but he had studied literature since childhood. Lin Bai's Confucian standards were practically tailored to him.

Compared to him, the flighty player [Deng Libuduo] had lost from the start.

Most importantly, Luo Congwen had no intention of monopolizing Lin Bai. As far as he understood it, everyone could cultivate immortality together. Once they entered the sect, they would be fellow disciples.

By that measure, [Deng Libuduo], who wanted the story quest all to himself, fell short again.

Lin Bai's gaze swept between them, and he sighed inwardly. The natives really did fit the Know-It-All Teacher System's requirements for disciples better!

However, the Know-It-All Teacher System rewarded the teacher with returns from his disciples' cultivation achievements.

On that point alone, the natives suffered a crushing defeat. They could never level up as swiftly and unhindered as players to provide the cultivation power Lin Bai needed.

And Lin Bai lacked the discerning eye to pick a chosen child of destiny from among countless natives...

Still.

If it could spur [Deng Libuduo] on, he wouldn't mind taking Luo Congwen in as an auditing student.

After all, the man had provided his startup funds. In a sense, Luo Congwen was Lin Bai's benefactor, and he couldn't shortchange him.

Song Qing and the others watched them and whispered among themselves.

Luo Congwen glanced their way, remembered why he had come, and grew somewhat embarrassed. "Brother Lin, I..."

So we're just dropping the offer of money and manpower?

Lin Bai looked at Luo Congwen and nodded. "A cultivator should be free-spirited and true to himself. Looking over your shoulder at every step and fretting over gains and losses are flaws as well."

Luo Congwen paused, then was overjoyed. "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Lin. In that case, I'll be going!"

Lin Bai watched him return to the entrance.

Seeing the delight on Luo Congwen's face, Song Qing asked with a smile, "Everything settled?"

Luo Congwen smiled. "It was a misunderstanding, and it's been cleared up. Brothers, Proprietor Lin is my benefactor. If you dare bully him, I won't let you off."

"Brother Luo, you give us far too much credit. Proprietor Lin is a marvel of his generation. He's always the one bullying us. How would we dare bully him?" Zhu Huan laughed heartily. "Ghosts serving the dishes! Who knows what performance Proprietor Lin has prepared for us? Honestly, I don't feel at all reassured."

"Neither does my purse." Song Qing shook his head with a smile. "Night Service costs three times the daytime rate, yet all the food inside is ordinary fare you can find anywhere. Shopkeeper Lin is a first-rate businessman."

"Put all the expenses on my tab." Luo Congwen glanced at Lin Bai, brimming with confidence.

"How generous, Brother Luo." Zhu Huan snapped his folding fan shut and pointed inside. "Shall we head in, then?"

"Let's." Song Qing started inside, but when he reached the doorway, he noticed Lin Bai hadn't followed. He paused. "Shopkeeper Lin, aren't you coming in?"

Lin Bai shook his head and smiled. "Night Service is different from daytime service. The Ghosts attend to you throughout. If I went inside, it would spoil the atmosphere. Just head in, gentlemen. I have no grudge against any of you and won't harm you. Besides, I'm not running a one-off business..."

"Go on, go on, go on," Luo Congwen urged. "Brother Lin won't harm us..."

As he spoke.

Luo Congwen took the lead and stepped into the shop.

The moment he entered and saw Song Jinnan's family floating in midair, he froze on the spot, even overlooking the shop's incomplete furnishings. "They're real?"

"Of course we are." Song Jinnan gave an honest, simple smile and floated over to pull out a chair. "Whatever you gentlemen would like to eat, just tell my wife and daughter."

"You look no different from living people!" Perhaps Lin Bai had given him enough confidence, for Luo Congwen quickly recovered. He stepped closer and studied Song Jinnan's family before his gaze finally settled on Song Ling, her white robes drifting around her. "Everyone says Ghosts are frightening. Turns out it's all lies..." he marveled.

Song Qing and Zhu Huan also entered. Standing behind Luo Congwen, they examined Song Jinnan's family curiously. "Their feet don't touch the ground. They aren't people in costume. This trip was worth it—we've really broadened our horizons today. Shopkeeper Lin truly is a marvel of his generation."

"Please take your seats, brothers." Song Ling floated over timidly and led them farther inside. "Tell Xiao Ling whatever dishes you'd like..."

"Young Master Luo is treating, so bring one of every dish and wine." Zhu Huan stared unblinkingly at the gentle, delicate Song Ling. After a moment's hesitation, he turned to Song Jinnan and asked tentatively, "Brother Ghost, once the food and wine are served, could your daughter join us for a drink? We mean nothing else by it. We simply want to experience the pleasure of sharing a meal with a Ghost..."

By then.

Wu Xiuxiu and Song Ling had already filled the table with food and wine and were standing timidly beside it.

Song Jinnan gave him an indifferent glance. "Naturally. Shopkeeper Lin said that as long as our guests' requests aren't excessive, we should do our best to accommodate them."

"Shopkeeper Lin really is a delightful fellow. He's thought of everything." Song Qing laughed and clapped his hands, then sat down first and patted the seat beside him. "Xiao Ling, sit beside me in a moment."

"I'm paying, so naturally she should sit beside me." Looking at Song Ling, Luo Congwen felt as though he were seeing Nie Xiaoqian, and romantic fantasies filled his mind. "Had I known, I would have come alone. What's the point of drinking with you two oafs? Xiao Ling, sit by... Fuck!"

A startled cry rang out.

Luo Congwen lurched backward, knocked over his stool, and stumbled to the floor. His face was filled with horror as he pointed at Song Ling, unable to utter a single word.

"Brother Luo, you really are timid..." Song Qing chuckled and turned toward Song Ling, about to speak.

Instead, what greeted his eyes was a terrifying, pitch-black face with blood streaming from all seven openings...

"Aah!"

A shriek rang out.

Song Qing's eyes rolled back, and he fainted clean away.

Seeing that things had gone wrong, Zhu Huan turned and ran for the exit.

Bang!

Song Jinnan slammed the door shut from inside. He, too, had reverted to his hideous appearance at death, black energy rippling around him. "Fool. You think you can leave after coming here? Did you really believe Lin Bai could control us?"

"Oh no! The Ghosts are out of control!"

From outside came Lin Bai's frantic pounding on the door. "Gentlemen, hold on! I'll go fetch Qingfeng Daoist right away..."

At those words, Zhu Huan's expression changed drastically, and he screamed hysterically, "Lin Bai..."

The candle flames flickered.

Then went out.

The room plunged into darkness.

Zhu Huan felt a chill against the back of his neck, as though someone had breathed on it.

Then a spine-chilling voice sounded beside his ear. "Young master, let me attend to your meal!"

"No!" Warmth spread through Zhu Huan's crotch as he scrambled forward on hands and knees. After a couple of steps, he came to his senses, flattened himself on the floor, and kowtowed like a pestle pounding garlic. "Spare me! Spare me! I was wrong! I shouldn't have asked you to drink with us..."

"Lin Bai, you liar! You and I cannot live beneath the same sky! If I survive today, I'll tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

Luo Congwen felt an icy hand touch his neck. Goosebumps rose all over him, and he kicked and thrashed, screaming hysterically.

Before his words had faded.

The candles were relit.

"Young master, the performance is over. Are you satisfied with the dining atmosphere?" Song Jinnan held back his laughter and kept his voice as calm as he could.

Luo Congwen's voice stopped abruptly.

He opened his eyes in confusion. The terrifying monsters were gone, replaced by Song Jinnan's perfectly presentable family.

Wu Xiuxiu was supporting Song Qing's neck and pressing the point above his upper lip.

Song Ling was putting the tables and chairs they had knocked askew back in place.

It was as though none of the horrors had happened.

Noticing Luo Congwen's gaze, Song Ling turned and smiled apologetically. "Young Master Luo, please don't blame us. Shopkeeper Lin instructed us to do it. He said we must make every guest feel right at home and ensure you get your money's worth from every copper..."

How could Luo Congwen fail to realize Lin Bai had played him again? A mouthful of blood seemed to lodge in his throat, and tears immediately streamed down his face. His lips trembled. "Lin Bai, I fuck your ancestors."

"Oh, are you still going to eat the food on the table?" Song Ling asked. "The proprietor said you must pay the full price whether you eat it or not. Also, there are clean trousers upstairs, but those cost extra if you need them..."

Hearing this, Luo Congwen felt as though he had returned to the day Lin Bai had toyed with him. He looked at the mortified Zhu Huan, then at Song Jinnan's innocent-looking family, and ground his teeth. "Lin Bai, you really are a piece of shit!"

Outside.

[Deng Libuduo] listened to the voices inside and looked at the utterly relaxed Lin Bai, his face dark with exasperation. That's fucking vicious!

He couldn't help asking, "Master, which aspect of the Virtue of a Gentleman does this fall under?"

Tallying the income from this round of maneuvers, Lin Bai glanced at him and smiled. "Honesty!"

"..." [Deng Libuduo] choked, then suddenly felt completely reassured. By Lin Bai's standards, Luo Congwen would never become his disciple, even on his deathbed.

Just then.

A plainly dressed man emerged from the shadows, approached Lin Bai, and cupped his fists. "Am I speaking to Proprietor Lin?"

"That's me." Lin Bai looked at the newcomer and returned the salute. "And you are, sir?"

The man gave Lin Bai a long look and snorted coldly. "A Shadow Guard from the City Lord's Residence."

"So you're a Shadow Guard, sir!" Lin Bai's eyes lit up, and he spoke with instant familiarity. "Have you come to experience dining at the Haunted House? Out of respect for the City Lord's Residence, I can give you a two-percent discount and have the Ghosts inside put in some extra effort."

[Resentment from Zhou Jiang; +1]

The muscles at the corners of the Shadow Guard Zhou Jiang's eyes twitched involuntarily. "No need. Proprietor, come with me. The City Lord requests your presence."