Chapter 659: Accepting the Deposit
Seeing that none of them had accepted the Concordance Talismans in front of them, Zhang Changchun knew clearly that it was time for him to offer benefits.
If the benefits weren't enough, how could others willingly lend a hand? Zhang Changchun understood this point. He didn't hesitate, and with a smile on his face, he successively promised benefits to each of them, and paid some deposits.
After all, the matter the Zhang family was worried about hadn't happened yet. He contacted Xu Meijing and the others merely to take precautions in advance, to avoid being caught off guard when the time came.
Since it hadn't happened yet, giving all the benefits upfront wasn't quite appropriate. Zhang Changchun was also a shrewd veteran; he wouldn't do such an unreliable thing.
Although there was no need to give out all the promised benefits, a deposit certainly had to be paid. Only then would it show sincerity.
Since Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing were Underworld Officials, Zhang Changchun paid each of them an Evil Spirit and promised each of them a Malevolent Spirit afterwards.
Neither Yang Haoran nor Xu Meijing found it strange that the Zhang family possessed powerful ghosts. It was as normal as the Ma family collecting zombies. After all, the Zhang family was a clan specializing in the study of ghosts; how could their collection lack powerful spiritual entities?
Regarding the Zhang family's methods, Xu Meijing had always turned a blind eye. Logically, as an Underworld Official, she should have found a way to take all the ghosts collected by the Zhang family back to the Underworld Office. But the Zhang family wasn't an easy target; if she truly followed the regulations, it wouldn't benefit either party.
Since Xu Meijing didn't bother with the matter, there was no reason for Yang Haoran to bother either. With a smile on his face, he gladly accepted the Evil Spirit.
Zhang Changchun didn't pay Evil Spirits to everyone. Because the others weren't Underworld Officials, the deposits paid were different. Yang Haoran had some interest in these things, but not much. Compared to other items, he still found spiritual entities more appealing.
"Gentlemen, I, Zhang Changchun, will certainly not shortchange you a single cent of the promised remuneration afterwards. So, I'll trouble everyone to take this matter to heart and lend a hand to my Zhang family when the time comes."
Zhang Changchun had a sincere expression. A smile blossomed on his face once again only after he saw the others successively put away their Concordance Talismans.
"Old man Zhang, what if the matter you're worried about ultimately doesn't happen? Will we have to return the deposit you paid us then? " Ma Yuanjin asked with a smile.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's gazes converged on Zhang Changchun.
"Hahahaha, everyone, rest assured. If it truly is as Old Man Ma said, and that ghost ultimately doesn't appear, I, Zhang Changchun, will absolutely not take back the deposits paid to you all. Although our Zhang family isn't an extremely wealthy and powerful great clan, we haven't fallen so low as to take back what we've given away. Consider these deposits a means to deepen our relationship. Furthermore, it's best if this ghost doesn't come looking for trouble. I certainly don't want our Zhang family to become a battlefield."
Zhang Changchun laughed heartily. Judging from his expression, he seemed to wish that this ghost wouldn't come looking for trouble with their Zhang family, not even caring if he lost a little deposit because of it.
"Haha, I also think it's best if this ghost doesn't come, because then I can get the deposit for free. My old bones can't endure much more torment. If there's no fighting and killing, perhaps I can live a few more years," Ma Yuanjin said with a smile.
Zhang Changchun smiled at Ma Yuanjin, then thanked the others again, promising that if they ever needed help with trouble in the future, they could come to the Zhang family to find him at any time, and his Zhang family would definitely assist with all their might.
Whether the Zhang family would assist with all their might, none of them dared to be certain of this. However, in the current situation, if they truly encountered any trouble, even if the Zhang family only provided a portion of their strength to help, it would be a good thing for them.
Yang Haoran decided to get involved in this matter mainly because of Xu Meijing. Besides that, he also wanted to befriend the Zhang family. After all, in such a chaotic world, having more friends could always bring some help.
Zhang Changchun wanted to host a banquet to entertain them, but he was refused by the others. In these troubled times, no one was willing to stay here long. Zhang Changchun naturally understood this point, so he didn't try too hard to keep them.
The group exchanged some pleasantries, and only then did they go down to the second floor.
Arriving on the first floor, Yang Haoran greeted Xu Meijing and then walked towards Zhang Li.
Zhang Changchun, who had originally been full of smiles, had the smile on his face recede after seeing Zhang Li, and his expression became somewhat unpleasant.
Because there were guests present, Zhang Changchun didn't immediately let his inner anger erupt.
Zhang Li's appearance did not cause doubt or surprise to appear in Zhang Changchun's eyes, because after Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing left the second floor earlier, his third son had informed him of the detailed situation.
Although he knew Zhang Li was downstairs, seeing Zhang Li with his own eyes at this moment still caused a change in his expression.
The unpleasant expression only lasted for a moment on Zhang Changchun's face. Afterwards, he adjusted his mindset, and a smile returned to his face.
Zhang Li saw this entire scene. Because after Zhang Changchun came down from the second floor, his gaze had been fixed on Zhang Changchun. Even Yang Haoran, who was walking towards him, was ignored by him. Therefore, he saw all the changes in Zhang Changchun's expression.
In response, Zhang Li's expression didn't show much fluctuation. He simply looked at Zhang Changchun as if he were looking at a stranger.
"Have you thought it through? How do you need me to help you? " Yang Haoran stopped in front of Zhang Li and asked.
Zhang Li gently shook his head, then looked at Yang Haoran and responded.
"I just wanted to come up and see my grandfather, and then ask him a few questions face-to-face. Thank you for bringing me up to see him. As for what happens next, I will handle it myself."
Yang Haoran thought for a moment, then he gently nodded at Zhang Li.
"Alright then. Some things indeed require you to learn to handle them yourself. Only then can you truly grow. I still have many matters to attend to, so I won't waste any more time here. Good luck to you."
Yang Haoran didn't force Zhang Li. After leaving these words, he left the Zhang family with Xu Meijing.
Returning to the Death God Temple where Chu Jiu was, Xu Meijing spent some time gathering all the souls of her Night Watchers. After giving some instructions, she immediately found Yang Haoran, summoned the Ghost Gate, and headed to the Underworld.
After arriving in the Underworld, the two first found the counter for submitting souls, submitted all the souls in their possession, and successfully exchanged them for the corresponding Soul Pills.
This time, the number of Soul Pills Yang Haoran obtained was astonishing. He exchanged for a total of eight Soul Pills, while Xu Meijing only exchanged for three Soul Pills.
The gap between the two was so large because Yang Haoran had submitted the souls of some Spirit Mediums. These Spirit Mediums were almost all Spirit Master level existences; the rewards were extremely generous. Plus the souls of ordinary Wangling, as well as several powerful spiritual entities, that's why he managed to exchange for eight Soul Pills at once.
Yang Haoran wanted to keep the souls of these Spirit Masters and the powerful spiritual entities to deal with privately, but he didn't dare to do so. Because these Spirit Masters' souls and powerful spiritual entities were almost all from Cloud River City; this was no secret. He worried that secretly keeping them would cause him trouble, so he simply handed them all over to the Underworld in one go, minimizing the risk.
The gap between Xu Meijing and him was so large, of course, because Xu Meijing hadn't submitted enough souls, the spiritual entities weren't strong enough, and there were few souls of Spirit Mediums.
Yang Haoran knew clearly in his heart that Xu Meijing definitely had more than just these few spiritual entities in her possession. The reason she hadn't taken them out was certainly because she had secretly held them back, to refine Soul Pills for herself.
He understood Xu Meijing's thoughts. Xu Meijing, however, somewhat didn't understand his thoughts, because Xu Meijing was very puzzled in her heart as to why Yang Haoran would submit so many souls, and among them, there were even several not-weak Evil Spirits and Malevolent Spirits.
Although she was curious, Xu Meijing didn't ask much. After all, this was the Underworld. Some questions should absolutely not be asked, otherwise, both of them would die.
After submitting the souls, the two then collected the ten Soul Pills issued by the Underworld Office. In this way, Yang Haoran obtained eighteen Soul Pills on this trip, while Xu Meijing obtained thirteen Soul Pills.
Comments