"The Shimen Merchant Guild was processing papers for several people, and his were slipped right in among them, so he can't be treated as having an unknown origin," the attendant said cautiously. "What's more, it was all done before you even gave word to the magistrate's office."
"That fast?" Third Master Gan narrowed his eyes. "I only just left yesterday, and the Shimen Merchant Guild is already trying to poach from my Gan family?"
He nearly slammed the table again. "What the hell does the Shi family count for? When my eldest brother hosted banquets at Lotus Pavilion, they couldn't even get a sip of the broth!"
Just then, Old Mistress Mao sent for him.
Having somehow heard rumors from some old maidservant about him murdering his elder brother, she had actually summoned him to interrogate him, weeping and cursing.
Seeing that his old mother had lost her wits, Third Master Gan was in no mood to endure it. He smashed cups, plates, and medicine bowls on the spot, scaring both the maidservant and his mother into trembling like leaves.
Just then, Second Master Gan arrived, pointing at him and berating him as unfilial.
The two brothers had a vicious brawl.
This was where Second Master Gan came out on the losing end. Having stayed cooped up indoors for so long, how could he match Third Master Gan, who loved hunting and frequently threw his weight around?
The residence was thrown into utter chaos.
Even after winning the fight, Third Master Gan was still bursting with fury. Caring nothing for the mourning in the household, he strode out the front gate, rounded up his cronies, and headed straight for the Red Pavilion Quarter.
In a time and mood like this, only strong liquor and women could douse his fire.
Just as the drinking and carousing were in full swing, Luo Xun'yi arrived late.
Originally a second-rank manager of the Gan Merchant Guild, he had been kept on because of his competence in running errands for Third Master Gan, and was now the counselor Third Master Gan relied upon most.
The moment Third Master Gan saw him, a wine cup went flying toward him. "Where the hell have you been at a crucial moment like this?"
Luo Xun'yi dodged, and the wine cup shattered against the wall behind him.
Long accustomed to Third Master Gan's temper, he cut straight to the point: "The Gan Merchant Guild has reached a matter of life and death. You can't keep drinking!"
"What ideas do you have?"
Luo Xun'yi gave a grunt of acknowledgment and glanced left and right.
Third Master Gan was not yet so drunk that his wits were completely dulled; he chased away everyone around them. "Speak! Out with it, quickly!"
"You have three options. First, go apologize to this fellow named He and beg until he has a change of heart."
Third Master Gan sneered. "Say another useless word and you can get the hell out."
"Second, wait until they set out on the road, then hire someone to rob the Shi caravan and seize the pass back. When the brat dies quietly in distant lands, nothing will link back to you, and maybe we can kill off the Shi brothers while we're at it."
"This... seems workable." Third Master Gan rubbed his chin. "Where's the catch?"
"There is no guarantee of success," Luo Xun'yi said in a low voice. "I heard from the workers who went in and out of the Demon Nest this time that this He kid possesses formidable martial skills. He killed quite a few bandits, and even that giant spider demon, Zhu Erniang, treated him with great courtesy. Against someone like that, finding another gang of bandits might not be enough to deal with him."
Third Master Gan had heard stories about how terrifying Zhu Erniang was since childhood. That kind of monster had only one way of dealing with ordinary humans: strike them down and devour them, without wasting a breath.
For a human to receive pleasant looks from Zhu Erniang, his martial strength could hardly be weak, could it?
At that thought, he exhaled a sullen breath. "What's the third option?"
"Ask the Spirit Medium for help."
"Find her?" Third Master Gan's complexion changed. "Eldest Brother made me swear never to seek out the Spirit Medium again!"
"You don't have to go yourself; you can send me. That wouldn't break your oath," Luo Xun'yi advised. "Only if the Spirit Medium intervenes can your troubles be neatly resolved. Only by taking back the Demon Nest Transit Pass can the Gan family continue to hold its ground in Wuze!"
"News of the Eldest Master's death has spread throughout Wuze. The other merchant guilds are like a wolf pack scenting blood; they've already begun poaching from us. Several capable hands in our guild have already been approached by outsiders. But that isn't even the worst of it." Luo Xun'yi said heavily, "Both Puli Bank and Fuji Bank sent people to sound us out today about whether the Gan family can repay the loans extended to us. You know how it is—the Gan family's money is all tied up in goods, and the little liquid cash left is used to pay the laborers. There is no way we can pull together the funds to pay them back anytime soon!"
Third Master Gan was somewhat astonished. "The Gan family is short on money?" The family had always spent money like water; when had they ever lacked funds for expenses?
"A merchant guild makes money through cash flow. The more capable you are, the more you borrow; the more you borrow, the more you earn; and only by earning more can you spend more." Luo Xun'yi knew very well where Third Master Gan's weak spot lay. "Once we default on what the banks lent us, the Gan family and you... will instantly be broke."
He pointed around at the decadent revelry before them. "This estate, these girls, this fine wine—none of it will belong to you. Therefore, we must at least find a way to get our hands on the Transit Pass and let everyone know that the exclusive business in the Demon Nest still belongs to us!"
"Right now, the Old Mistress and Second Master Gan are useless. The only one who can save the Gan family from the brink of ruin is you, Third Master." He urged hurriedly, "Once this is accomplished, taking over the guild will naturally fall to you!"
Third Master Gan still hesitated. "What if... what if doing this displeases Zhu Erniang?"
"The Spirit Medium will naturally make the brat nod and 'voluntarily' yield the Transit Pass." Luo Xun'yi sneered. "With both parties willing, what reason would Zhu Erniang have to be displeased?"
"True enough. Go find the Spirit Medium," Third Master Gan nodded. "Whatever is needed, go make the arrangements."
No one noticed a tiny spider scurrying across the floor.
***
That night, He Lingchuan looked at the little spider that had snuck back, feeling thoroughly exasperated. "Why didn't you switch over to Luo Xun'yi while you were at it and see how he and the Spirit Medium plan to deal with me!" Why come straight back like this? Completely lacking in initiative!
The eyeball spider raised its claws in protest.
*If you wanted me to swap targets halfway through, you should've told me beforehand! How was I supposed to know if you didn't say so?*
*Either way, the job's done, and I won't take less than the full pay.*
*Where's the food? Hand it over!*
He Lingchuan tapped its noggin. "Not so fast. You still remember where Third Master Gan is staying, right?" Even a dog could remember the way, let alone an eyeball plucked right off Zhu Erniang's head.
*Of course I remember.*
"Take me there," He Lingchuan said with a smile. "When we get back this time, I'll treat you and your little companions to a plate of silkworm pupae. I won't go back on my word!"
***
That night, Third Master Gan was resting in the Red Pavilion Quarter. Having drunk too much, he slept soundly.
In his dream, his eldest brother wasn't dead and was still in charge of the Gan Merchant Guild, while he himself beat the kid surnamed He half to death and tossed him into a pigpen.
Suddenly, a basin of cold water was dumped over his head.
It was only early summer, and the well water was freezing cold. Third Master Gan awoke with a startled cry to find pitch-black darkness all around him. The soft, fragrant warmth at his side had vanished, and he seemed to be lying on a heap of thatch, trussed up tightly with ropes.
No, he was on the thatched roof of a hut.
"Sleeping soundly, eh? Looked like you were smacking your lips in your dream." Beside him crouched a figure in black, whose voice sounded somewhat familiar. As he pulled—
"Where am I?! What do you want?"
He Lingchuan got straight to the point: "Who is the Spirit Medium, and how is she going to deal with me?"
Would he give this fellow time to move against him?
Of course not. When faced with a threat, one had to snuff it out at the source immediately.
Third Master Gan's face drained of color. "How did you... Nonsense! I don't know what you're talking about..."
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, though whether from the wind or from terror, he couldn't tell. Even though they had been at the Red Pavilion Quarter, only he and Luo Xun'yi had discussed the matter in the room; not a single outsider had been present.
Yet He Lingchuan had accurately named the "Spirit Medium." Could walls have had ears?
Before the words had completely left his mouth, He Lingchuan drove a fist into his stomach.
Third Master Gan curled up in agony.
"Who is the Spirit Medium?"
Third Master Gan gasped, still denying it. "I don't know. You're asking the wrong man."
He Lingchuan casually slapped him across the face seven or eight times, followed by another two punches. Third Master Gan saw stars, a twisting agony gripping his belly, and he couldn't help doubling over to vomit.
Before he could finish throwing up, He Lingchuan grabbed him by the ear and pressed a dagger to the base of it. "I'll ask you one last time. If you still don't answer, I'll take your head off and send you to keep that tusked boar company."
At the thought of his hunting pet's gruesome end with head and body severed, Third Master Gan shuddered. "I'll talk! I'll talk!"
It turned out the Spirit Medium was a woman he had pulled from the water a few months ago. Unremarkable in appearance, she claimed she was willing to grant him three favors to repay him for saving her life. Third Master Gan hadn't believed it at first—if she had such great abilities, how could she have nearly drowned?
Yet seeing how extraordinarily resolute the woman was, he had jokingly said that he had a fierce, unruly tusked boar at home that he wanted to tame as a hunting pet, asking if she could manage it.
She could, of course. That was the first favor.
That tusked boar had always been more stubborn than a mule—refusing to move when pulled, backing up when driven, and biting people for fun whenever it felt like it. But after the Spirit Medium pressed down on its head, it suddenly turned docile and began obeying his commands.
Third Master Gan hadn't kept the matter a secret and had told his eldest brother.
Thus, the second time the Spirit Medium acted was to help Eldest Master Gan deal with a distinguished guest from Beijia. That man held his chin high and looked down on merchants from backwater places, as though speaking even a single extra word to them would dirty his mouth. People like that were exceptionally difficult to handle, and he had intended to give the business to another merchant guild.
Yet after the Spirit Medium's "persuasion," the man abruptly changed his mind and entrusted a massive order to the Gan Merchant Guild.
Third Master Gan, however, had no knowledge of the details.
Afterward, Eldest Master Gan had summoned him and told him that the Spirit Medium was an evil ghost, and that making deals with an evil ghost would never end well. He gave strict and repeated orders forbidding him from ever asking the Spirit Medium for help again.
Hearing this, He Lingchuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You didn't believe your eldest brother?"
"I did." Though he was often scolded by his eldest brother, Third Master Gan admired him.
As for his second brother, heh, he was hardly any better than himself.
"Then why did you still dare seek out the Spirit Medium?"
Third Master Gan opened his mouth, at a loss for words.
Wasn't it all because of the man standing right in front of him!
If He Lingchuan hadn't been such a tough nut to crack, beyond his ability to handle, and if the Gan Merchant Guild hadn't been backed into a corner, how would he ever have dared turn to the Spirit Medium?
He Lingchuan thought for a moment. "What happened to that distinguished guest from Beijia afterward?"
"Went back, probably?" Third Master Gan said blankly. "He only seemed to come that one time."
"What was his name? What business did he come to Wuze County for?"
"I... I don't know either." When it came to the people and business his eldest brother dealt with, he had rarely paid attention or inquired.
"Call off the task, and I might spare your life." Strike a snake at its seven-inch mark; by pinning down Third Master Gan, the one who commissioned the task, he should be able to settle it, right?
"I... Fine, fine." Third Master Gan had long thrown his anger and indignation to the winds; nothing mattered more than his own life.
Chapter 352