Chapter 718: No Choice
Zhang Changqing merely wanted to vent his inner frustrations and assert his presence, but he hadn't expected Xu Meijing, an Emissary of Death, to be so aggressive.
Declaring a death match right away left Zhang Changqing feeling unable to back down. It wasn't that he lacked confidence in his own strength; he simply felt there was no need for it.
After all, there was no blood feud between them; there was no call to fight to the death.
Zhang Changqing's face was redder than before. He was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.
Seeing the situation was amiss, Zhang Changchun hurriedly stepped in once more as a peacemaker.
"Emissary Xu, to take time out of your busy schedule to come to our Zhang Family, I, on behalf of everyone in the Zhang Family, express our deepest gratitude to you, Emissary Xu."
Hearing this, Xu Meijing glanced at the displeased Zhang Changqing, then withdrew her gaze and looked at Zhang Changchun, who had spoken.
"Since the matter has been dealt with, I won't waste any more time here."
As her words fell, Xu Meijing looked at Yang Haoran. Though she didn't speak, her meaning was clear: she wanted Yang Haoran to leave with her.
"Please wait, Emissary Xu. Our Zhang Family's trouble has not been resolved, and we still require your assistance."
Xu Meijing's brows furrowed slightly, and a look of confusion appeared in her large eyes. She glanced at Yang Haoran, who nodded lightly at her, before she looked back at Zhang Changchun.
Seeing this, Zhang Changchun quickly took a moment to explain the full story to Xu Meijing.
Zhang Changchun had originally intended to explain clearly to Yang Haoran, but Zhang Changqing's sudden interruption had cut him off. Thus, Yang Haoran also listened very carefully as Zhang Changchun explained in detail to Xu Meijing.
According to Zhang Changchun, this ghostly entity had set its sights on another ghost. Unsure if it was due to insufficient strength or a reluctance to take the risk itself, it had kidnapped Old Third Zhang, using him as leverage to demand that the Zhang Family retrieve this ghost for it.
As long as the Zhang Family captured this ghost and handed it over, it would not only return Old Third Zhang but also settle its grievances with the Zhang Family, wiping the slate clean.
Otherwise, it would kill Old Third Zhang and launch a furious retaliation against the entire Zhang Family until they were annihilated.
"Didn't these people arrive beforehand? How is it that they didn't stop that ghostly entity for you then? " Xu Meijing asked Zhang Changchun, her gaze sweeping over the few people present with a cool, aloof expression.
"By the time they arrived one after another, the ghostly entity had already left with Old Third," Zhang Changchun said with a soft sigh.
Hearing this, Xu Meijing looked at Zhang Changqing, a cold sneer appearing on her face.
"I thought you had accomplished something significant. Who knew you were no different from me?"
Zhang Changqing was so furious he nearly blew his top. He had just been rebuffed by Xu Meijing and hadn't yet recovered, and now Xu Meijing had turned her criticism towards him again. How could he not be furious?
Though he felt stifled with anger, this time Zhang Changqing didn't say anything more. Instead, he glared at Xu Meijing, forcibly suppressing the rage within him.
In his opinion, Xu Meijing was a lunatic. With such a lunatic, it was best not to respond, or he would be even more put on the spot. He certainly didn't want to find himself in an awkward situation again.
Seeing Zhang Changqing huff coldly, looking like he wasn't going to speak, Xu Meijing didn't continue to taunt him. Instead, she looked at Zhang Changchun.
"What are you going to do now? " Xu Meijing asked.
This question was not only on Xu Meijing's mind but also on the minds of everyone else present.
"I don't want Old Third to die, so I have no other choice."
Zhang Changchun's answer had already made his stance clear. He wanted to comply with the demands of the ghostly entity that had kidnapped his third son, because in his view, only this way could he save his beloved son's life.
"You're not suggesting you want us to help you capture the ghost that *that* ghost wants, are you?"
It wasn't Xu Meijing who spoke, but an Exorcist present. Yang Haoran had seen this person before; he had been there when collecting the deposit at the Zhang Family's residence back then.
When asking this question, he already had the answer in his heart. Not only did he have the answer, but everyone else present also had the answer.
"If possible, I would want to directly attack this ghostly entity. As long as I kill it, all problems will be solved. But Old Third is in its grasp, so I cannot do that. Once I do that, regardless of whether we can slay this ghostly entity, Old Third will surely die, and he will die before this ghostly entity. As an old father, I do not wish for white-haired people to send off black-haired people."
Zhang Changchun explained, his tone filled with helplessness and a father's worry for his child.
"However, according to our agreement, our assistance to your Zhang Family is limited to the ghostly entity that caused trouble. Other matters are not within the scope of our assistance, including this ghostly entity that has been targeted by *that* ghost," another person said.
Yang Haoran remained silent, Xu Meijing also remained silent, and Zhang Changqing and Wang Yiming likewise showed no intention of speaking.
"If you are willing to help with this matter, I will increase the remuneration beyond the original amount. I only need everyone to help me capture the ghostly entity together. Afterward, I will not trouble you further. I will personally take this ghostly entity to exchange for my son," Zhang Changchun said after some thought.
Upon hearing Zhang Changchun wanted to increase the remuneration, some people present were clearly tempted.
Their reason for coming to assist the Zhang Family this time, besides wanting to befriend the Zhang Family and earn their favor, was more for the benefits promised by the Zhang Family. If the Zhang Family could truly provide enough remuneration, they naturally wouldn't refuse. Man dies for wealth, birds die for food. In the face of immense profit, many people were willing to take risks.
Furthermore, these few people were quite strong, and perhaps they could easily complete the mission in the end and receive the Zhang Family's remuneration.
"Old Man Zhang, don't blame this old man for speaking out of turn. Although I don't know the origin of the ghostly entity your opponent wants you to capture, it must be of no small origin. Otherwise, why would he still need to borrow your strength and settle this matter himself? Why go through so much trouble?"
It was Ma Yuanjin who spoke. Today, Ma Ling hadn't come with him. Perhaps because he felt this trip was too perilous, he had refused to let Ma Ling follow.
Whether this was truly the case was unknown, but it was a fact that Ma Ling had not accompanied him.
After Ma Yuanjin's words fell, Zhang Changchun was about to respond, but unexpectedly, Ma Yuanjin interjected another sentence before he could.
"Furthermore, your Zhang Family is known throughout Ancheng as masters of ghost-catching. Countless ghostly entities have fallen at the hands of your Zhang Family over the years. Yet now your Zhang Family is being blackmailed by a ghostly entity. If you compromise, once this matter gets out, you will surely become a laughingstock among those in the circle. The negative impact it will have on your Zhang Family then—I trust I don't need to elaborate for you to understand."
Zhang Changchun did not immediately answer Ma Yuanjin's question. He remained silent for a moment, then shook his head with a helpless expression and gave his reply.
"Humans need face, trees need bark. Reputation is indeed important, but compared to my son's life, what does reputation amount to? As long as I can rescue Old Third, even if our Zhang Family's reputation is utterly ruined after this, and we become the laughingstock of the circle, I will never regret it."
These words from Zhang Changchun were not just for Ma Yuanjin to hear but also for everyone else present.
As his words fell, Zhang Changchun looked at Ma Yuanjin and asked a question.
"Old Ma, if one day your son were kidnapped by a zombie and your son's life was used to threaten you, would you choose your face or would you choose your son's life? Would you cooperate with that zombie?"
This question directly stunned Ma Yuanjin speechless. When tragedy hasn't befallen oneself, one can say anything, but once tragedy befalls oneself, actions and thoughts completely change.
"Anyway, it's all about dealing with ghostly entities. Dealing with any of them is the same. As long as you can afford the price, what's the harm in taking on both ghosts? First, tell us the true origin of the ghostly entity your opponent desires."
It was Xu Meijing who spoke. Her expression remained unchanged, still as cool and aloof as ever, and her words were as imperious as ever.
Comments