The next morning at eight o'clock, Zhang Yuanqing took a taxi to the International Building. Traffic was congested, crawling along at a snail's pace. He sent Xiao Yuan a message saying he would visit the Wuhen Hotel tomorrow.
He had tried contacting her over the past two days, but had received no response.
Unable to figure out what she was thinking, Zhang Yuanqing had turned to his life mentor for guidance and told him about their bet.
Ling Jun had said, "Isn't it obvious? Now that you've won the championship, she's afraid you'll show up on her doorstep demanding she roll in the sheets with you."
Zhang Yuanqing had asked, "So she's shy?"
Ling Jun replied, "No, she probably feels put on the spot."
Zhang Yuanqing said, "I know how that goes. Women love playing hard to get, hesitating back and forth."
Ling Jun: "What I mean is, she's struggling with whether or not to beat you to death when you show up."
*It's not like I actually planned on sleeping with her; it was just a joke...* Seeing no reply from Xiao Yuan, Zhang Yuanqing thought, *In that case, I might as well go shopping with my aunt this afternoon.*
He sent his aunt a message, agreeing to meet at the usual spot at two in the afternoon.
He put his phone down, stared out at the jammed traffic, and began pondering how to sell the straw doll for a high price.
As an item belonging to Hei Wuchang, the straw doll was indeed of Saint quality. It could contaminate both items and the mind, making it exceptionally effective in combat.
However, its cost was far too ridiculous and its target demographic limited, which gave Mr. Bill an excuse to drive down the price.
Zhang Yuanqing's expected price was 10 to 15 million RMB, or an item of equivalent value.
Under normal circumstances, a straw doll would be priced above twenty million. Saint-quality items were simply that expensive—rare treasures with high demand and virtually no supply.
Just then, the red light turned green.
The cab driver stepped on the gas, started off in first gear, shifted smoothly into third, and sped ahead.
Suddenly, a bus ran a red light, violently crashing into the side of the taxi—right toward where Zhang Yuanqing was seated.
*Fuck.* His pupils dilated, adrenaline surging. He leaned back, rolled from the left side over to the right, and quickly seized the interior grab handle.
*Crash!*
The speeding bus slammed into the taxi's flank. Shards of glass and bumper debris flew everywhere as the taxi was flipped over, rolling on its side for over a dozen meters.
Inside, the driver and Zhang Yuanqing were thrown into complete disarray. Because he hadn't fastened his seatbelt and the space was so cramped, Zhang Yuanqing's forehead slammed against the roof and window several times, burning with pain.
The accident brought the already congested traffic to a standstill. Some cars slowly maneuvered around it to keep moving, while kindhearted drivers hopped out of others to check on the situation.
Pedestrians along the sidewalk stopped in their tracks.
*Thud!*
Zhang Yuanqing kicked open the car door, dashed to the driver's seat, and dragged the unconscious driver out through the window.
*Heartbeat normal, no external injuries, no internal bleeding...* Zhang Yuanqing did a swift examination. Confirming that the driver had merely passed out temporarily, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Pulling out his phone, he called the traffic police while asking a bystander to call for an ambulance. At the same time, he marched up to the bus, banged furiously on the door, and roared:
"How the hell do you drive? Get out here and see if I don't beat your ass!"
He was genuinely furious—the fury of having his physical safety threatened. Even if a crash of this scale was far from life-threatening given his power, that didn't mean he wasn't angry.
Having lost his father in a car crash, he had zero tolerance for reckless drivers.
The bus driver had a dazed expression, as if unable to believe he had made such a rudimentary mistake.
By the time the traffic police and ambulance arrived and the accident was sorted out, Zhang Yuanqing—who had experienced a car crash for the very first time in his life—finally arrived at the International Building at ten-thirty in the morning.
Inside the luxurious, Western-style office, Zhang Yuanqing sat down under Mr. Bill's warm hospitality.
"Yuanshi Tianzun's presence brings light to my humble abode, as you say in Chinese!" Mr. Bill opened a cigar box and said, "These are from my personal collection over the years."
*As long as I don't inhale into my lungs, having one with him is fine...* In the spirit of doing business, Zhang Yuanqing did not decline the cigar Mr. Bill offered.
Beside them, Annie said softly, "Allow me!"
She took the cigar, clipped the cap with a V-cutter, and toasted the foot with a torch lighter.
Annie was dressed exquisitely today. She wore striking eye makeup and lipstick, her hair freshly styled, and a skirt suit paired with a white blouse. The top two buttons of her shirt were undone, offering a tantalizing glimpse of her fair, luscious cleavage.
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at her, catching the gaze of her ocean-blue eyes. Annie's eyes curved into a gentle, demure smile.
After Yuanshi Tianzun and Mr. Bill agreed on a deal yesterday, Annie had spent the entire night planning. First, she had paid a Scout to do a personality analysis on him. Following that Scout's advice, she abandoned her overtly seductive style in favor of dignified office attire, with understated yet refined makeup befitting an elite businesswoman.
She stopped throwing flirtatious glances, opting instead for the persona of a workplace goddess.
Oh, by the way, that Scout was from the Kangyang District Spirit Realm walker Team Two, named Guan Ya.
A woman intimately familiar with Yuanshi Tianzun.
*This woman...* Zhang Yuanqing took the cigar and took a casual puff, with only one thought in mind:
*A boy really needs to protect himself when he's out in the world.*
In Annie's eyes, he saw the exact same thing Zhu Rong had displayed yesterday—covetous desire.
*Desire-class individuals love investing in Night Wanderers; the Demon Lord was an example. And I'm a Night Wanderer who has shot to fame in the arena tournament, displaying talent and ability that any organization would value. It's only natural she'd want to seduce me...* Zhang Yuanqing stayed on high alert.
He had no desire to fall into the same trap as the Demon Lord—unless Fu Qingyang lent him that Knight-class item.
Annie asked with a smile, "What would Mr. Yuanshi like to drink?"
"Black tea, please!" Zhang Yuanqing replied.
Annie nodded with a reserved smile, opened the cabinet under the wine cooler, retrieved a tin of black tea, and began boiling water.
Glancing at his busy female assistant, Mr. Bill cut straight to the chase, unable to wait any longer:
"What is the item you wish to sell?"
Zhang Yuanqing said, "An item—one of Saint quality."
"Saint quality?!" Hearing this, Mr. Bill's spirits soared, his gaze instantly turning fervent. "May I inspect its attributes?"
"Of course." Zhang Yuanqing retrieved the straw doll from the faction inventory and quickly set it down.
Mr. Bill, who had just been about to catch it with his hands, paused in surprise, but paid it no heed. Looking down at the straw doll, his sharp eye quickly told him it was an item belonging to a Witch Doctor.
His eyes immediately lit up. Witch Doctors belonged to the evil professions, which were far scarcer than orthodox professions and exceptionally powerful. A Saint-quality evil item was worth even more than an orthodox one.
*This is an exceptional deal.* Thinking this, Mr. Bill picked up the straw doll and held it in his hand, waiting several seconds until the item attributes surfaced.
He eagerly inspected the attributes.
A few seconds later, Mr. Bill dropped the straw doll as if struck by lightning, treating it like a scorching ember.
"What happened, Mr. Bill?" Annie asked with concern as she brewed the tea.
*Nothing much, he just doesn't want to fall in love with a pig's tail...* Seeing Bill's reaction, amusement flickered in Zhang Yuanqing's eyes.
Mr. Bill drew a sharp breath. "Undoubtedly, this is an extraordinarily potent item. But at the same time, it has a fatal flaw. Mr. Yuanshi, the price I can offer is ten million RMB, and I'm not lowballing you. As you well know, no normal human would ever accept such a cost; they would rather forfeit its functions entirely."
*Ten million? Even top-tier Extraordinaire items can fetch that price, you swindler.* Zhang Yuanqing shook his head, adopting a serious tone:
"Mr. Bill, you think that way because you belong to an orthodox profession and maintain high moral standards. Evil professions, however, have no bottom line. I trust that with your connections, you can find a suitable clientele for it."
He subtly implied: you can sell this item to an evil profession.
In the regulations of the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect, dealing with evil professions was a severe felony. But abroad, in capitalist nations where profit reigned supreme, while orthodox and evil factions remained hostile, the boundaries were nowhere near as strict.
Doing occasional business with them was exceedingly common.
Bill fell silent.
Zhang Yuanqing continued, "Besides, sometimes a cost can actually be an advantage. In my personal experience, the straw doll's side effect helped me through many tough spots."
Hearing this, Mr. Bill grew intrigued. "For example?"
*For example, your assistant will never succeed in seducing me...* Zhang Yuanqing said slowly, "It helps me resist any female charms. I believe back in your home country, it would have quite the market."
Overseas, there were practitioners of the Desire profession, and not all Spirit Realm walkers were horndogs. Yet they couldn't overcome their physiological instincts, and that was where the straw doll's utility shone.
Mr. Bill saw the light. He finally understood how Yuanshi Tianzun had repeatedly resisted Annie's temptations.
After a moment's contemplation, he said, "You make a fair point. However, not everyone needs such an effect. Moreover, compared to the straw doll's price, I believe far more people would rather indulge in carnal desire."
"No, Mr. Bill, I think you've misunderstood something," Zhang Yuanqing said in a deep voice. "I don't have to sell it to you. If you can't offer a satisfactory price, why wouldn't I turn it over to my organization? With my merits and standing, I'm confident the Five Elements Alliance would pay a premium."
This was the truth. If Mr. Bill insisted on driving the price into the dirt, there was no reason to trade with him; selling it to the Five Elements Alliance would yield just as much.
Seeing Mr. Bill remain quiet, Zhang Yuanqing added, "Of course, if you genuinely believe the straw doll isn't worth that much, you're free to decline. It's just business: if we can agree, great; if not, so be it."
Bill pondered for a long time before asking, "What is your ideal price?"
He tossed the ball back into Zhang Yuanqing's court.
Right at that moment, Annie finished brewing the tea. With fair, slender hands, she carefully held up the steaming cup and offered it to Zhang Yuanqing:
"Mr. Yuanshi, your black tea."
Just as she finished speaking, her fingers seemed to get scalded. Her hands twitched, splashing the boiling hot tea straight toward Zhang Yuanqing's crotch.
!!!
In that split second, Zhang Yuanqing displayed agility that would leave even a Merchant in awe. Raising a hand to block the steaming liquid, he bent forward and pulled his hips back.
Part of the scalding water splashed onto the leather sofa with a muffled hiss, while the rest spilled across the back of his hand.
Zhang Yuanqing's cheek twitched with pain.
"I'm so sorry, so sorry..." Annie apologized profusely, pulling out tissues to dab at the back of his hand, her face full of guilt and distress.
*Is this woman doing this on purpose? But splashing boiling water on my crotch—isn't that a bit too vicious?* Zhang Yuanqing frowned.
With the transaction still pending, he swallowed his annoyance and stated:
"Eight million in cash, plus an item."
Mr. Bill nodded. "Agreed, but it can only be an Extraordinaire-grade item."
Zhang Yuanqing immediately said, "I want that Flawless Human Skin."
Mr. Bill was visibly taken aback. He hesitated, then said, "Very well, but I must warn you: both the previous owner and the one before him met truly miserable ends."
*I know. One was hacked to death, and the other ended up as a call girl taking turns getting creampied...* Zhang Yuanqing said calmly, "Understood."
Though bizarre, that item possessed an extraordinary capacity to shoulder karmic retribution. Used properly, it was practically a divine relic capable of miraculous effects.
Zhang Yuanqing's main reason for choosing it was that he could have a yin corpse wear it and then take mental control of the corpse. That way, even if the yin corpse ended up covered in burly men, it wouldn't matter—the one getting degraded was Corpse No. 1, so what did that have to do with Yuanshi Tianzun?
The two signed an agreement on the spot and exchanged items. Annie noted down the bank account number Zhang Yuanqing provided and stepped out to have accounting wire the funds.
Now that Yuanshi Tianzun's identity was public knowledge, there was no longer any need to transact solely in cash.
Holding the thin skin in both hands, Zhang Yuanqing waited a few seconds until the item attributes surfaced:
[Name: Flawless Human Skin]
[Type: Special Item]
[Function: Disguise]
[Description: An indescribable entity fell in love with a woman he was forbidden to love. To possess the woman of his dreams, that entity forged this item and disguised himself as her husband, successfully winning her. Upon discovering the truth, the woman was consumed by agony and laid a curse: anyone who used this item would meet a wretched end.]
[Note 1: The entity's lovemaking with the woman lasted sixty minutes. Whatever you use it for, do not exceed this time limit.]
[Note 2: No one can see through your disguise, unless they are a god.]
*This item's description sounds like quite the tragic tale... So it's a cursed item. No wonder its past owners came to a bad end...* Zhang Yuanqing stowed away the human skin, reasonably satisfied.
He had initially considered the Scavenger's Hat, but its treasure-seeking function overlapped with Little Doubi, and its concealment effect wouldn't be very effective against Saints. With the slaughter trial fast approaching to advance him to Saint, the Scavenger's Hat simply couldn't keep up with his progression.
"A pleasure doing business with you. I hope we have more opportunities in the future."
Zhang Yuanqing rose and took his leave.
Having reluctantly seen off her "sweetheart," Annie clicked back into the office in her high heels and called out:
"Mr. Bill, did you hear that? Yuanshi Tianzun just said that item was the reason he could resist my charms. Now that he's sold it to you, does that mean I have a chance?"
Bill thought about it, then said earnestly:
"If you stick a pig's tail onto your butt, I'm confident Yuanshi Tianzun will be yours for the taking."
***
At five in the afternoon.
Zhang Yuanqing returned home thoroughly exhausted. Lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
"Have I been too unlucky today?"
After parting with Bill that morning, he had experienced an elevator malfunction in the International Building. The cab plummeted dozens of meters straight down, triggering screams throughout the car.
Though disaster was averted in the end, Zhang Yuanqing broke out in a cold sweat.
During his shopping trip with his aunt, he was nearly hit by a car; because his aunt was too beautiful, a middle-aged man wearing an angel-wings T-shirt picked a fight with him; and his phone accidentally dropped into the toilet.
Add that to the morning car crash and getting splashed with boiling water...
*Something's off. Something is definitely off...* His brows locked tightly as a theory flashed through his mind:
*A curse!*
"Wait, that's not right either. If it were a curse, I would have been done for long ago. How could a curse be this mild? Could it really just be terrible luck?"
Zhang Yuanqing thought it over and sent a message to Auntie Xiao Yuan:
Yuanshi Tianzun: "I think I might have been cursed. Bad luck has been hounding me all day, yet it also feels like normal misfortune. Can I come over to the Wuhen Hotel?"
Breaking a curse was simple enough—using the Demon-Subduing Pestle would do the trick. But he wanted to consult a professional first to confirm whether he was genuinely cursed.
Magical Auntie Xiao Yuan: "If bad luck is hounding you, stillness is better than movement. Send me your address."
Zhang Yuanqing promptly texted back his residential compound address.
Forty minutes later, a message arrived from Magical Auntie Xiao Yuan:
"I've arrived."
Zhang Yuanqing left his bedroom, walked past the entryway, and went out into the hallway. Looking down from the hallway window, he indeed spotted a white sedan parked downstairs.
"Coming down right away."
He replied with a message, rode the elevator to the first floor, and pushed open the access door.
The white car's window rolled down slowly. Auntie Xiao Yuan sat in the driver's seat, mature and sexy, striking and graceful.
Zhang Yuanqing smiled and hurried over.
Suddenly, Xiao Yuan's face changed drastically. She urgently called out, "Watch out!"
Chapter 219