Trafford’s Trading Club

The third day.

For the working class, after 2 days of the typhoon, the news from the observatory reporting that it had ceased was definitely the best news they had heard in these two days. Yet, it still rained and was not convenient for pedestrians.

The business street was totally sluggish in the morning. Nonetheless, a customer came to the club.

“This is the top-grade tender bamboo shoots from Zhijiang, my regards.”

Looking at some pouches of bamboo shoots in the bag that Yang Taizi had passed, the servant girl took it over with a faint smile. It was so natural that one would think that it was as if she had bought them in the supermarket.

“Where’s the boss?” Yang Taizi looked at You Ye and asked in fear while trembling.

It was not that he was only willing to come again after such a long time, but because he had tried his best to kill Ghost King Tongtian in a short period of time on that day. Since then, he had chosen a place to heal his wounds and only showed up again when he almost fully recovered these two days.

Since he had helped Ghost King Tongtian, he felt that he might have offended this mysterious place… That day, the servant girl left without leaving any words, but how could Yang Taizi pretend nothing had happened?

Yang Taizi understood the principle of catering to another’s pleasure. It’d be better to send something they like than some treasures. Remembering You Ye’s question about tender bamboo shoots, this old Taoist got some top-graded products by using connections.

Miss Servant Girl said with a smile, “Master is sleeping upstairs, he’ll come down soon.”

He’d become the boss of the club, yet still didn’t change his meal times or his everyday schedule.

Yang Taizi nodded, “That’s OK. I can wait here.”

He sat down in a perfectly straight position, with his eyes closed, never looking right or left. Looking so peaceful due to the cultivation of a Taoist. Yet there was another thought generated from the heart of this old Taoist.

Yang Taizi couldn’t remember how long has it been since he was the waiting party.

It must have been 70 years ago when he was still cultivating Taoism. He had went to the hall of the grounds and kneeled on the cattail hassock.

“Sorry for letting the customer wait so long.”

Boss Luo knew that the customer was Yang Taizi, so he seemed to be more easy-going.

Yang Taizi opened his eyes.

The purpose he came was for two things. One was to confirm the attitude of the club regarding the issue of Ghost King Tongtian; the other was about the second half of the content concerning the white jade token.

Luo Qiu sat down and drank a mouthful of black tea to refresh himself. He then opened his mouth, “The reason for Taoist Priest to come is to complete the transaction from last time?”

He only asked about the issue of the transaction? Yang Taizi thought in mind. Since he didn’t mention the matter of Ghost King Tongtian, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. However, he couldn’t make sure based merely on this simple clue.

In his view, it was hard to guess the thoughts of this boss— but since the boss didn’t mention anything, Yang Taizi wouldn’t say it out at all.

“It’s not about the last transaction.” Yang Taizi breathed deeply, “Poor Taoist came this time for other business.”

Luo Qiu was curious, “Go ahead please.”

Yang Taizi said after a second of hesitation, “I hope this club could help me to fight…”

Yang Taizi started to tell the reason why he was so poor.

Originally, a powerful monster came to the mountain where this old Taoist had stayed 10 years ago. The Taoist grounds that had been inherited for countless years until it was passed to Yang Taizi and his master were forcibly occupied by this strong monster.

Therefore, he and his master went to find a common mountain. The old Taoist wanted to seize the lost Taoist grounds, so he tried to get back the missing cultivating method by all means.

Luo Qiu gradually knew about the circles of unordinary people. From there, he got to understand the situation of some uncommon beings in the modern society.

Just like those common traditional cultures and skills, eastern Taoists were declining. The difficult and hard cultivation made it harder and harder to seek people who were appropriate for cultivating. Pollution degraded the situation of Taoists, almost the same as that of monsters.

Yang Taizi’s group was one of the many branches that had fallen in the eastern Taoism-cultivated field, but at the same time, it was one of the few groups which still occupied a favorable cultivating environment.

Under such a tough environment, a few fierce and cruel monsters would embark on the road of slaughter. Massacring the same species or aiming at those Taoists who possessed ancient resources.

…

Hearing that every place had its local circle, Luo Qiu continued to ask curiously after the statement of Yang Taizi, “Since Taoist Priest’s mountain is robbed, why not find some fellows in the same field for help?”

Embarrassment appeared on the face of Yang Taizi, “Well… my mountain stronghold has been occupied by monsters, it’s … a disgrace to be exposed.”

Luo Qiu gave a start.

Even a Taoist would feel humiliated under such situation?

Meditating in silence for a second, Luo Qiu nodded, “Taoist priest wants us to help you get back your Taoist grounds?”

Yang Taizi nodded, then shook his head, calculating the deal, “I plan to use my lifespan as the transaction fee. I should have 70 years’ worth of lifespan. How many years do I have to pay to seriously injure this monster and reducing its power down to half of now?”

Taoists knew their lifespan. The one whose cultivation reached to a certain extent like Yang Taizi would definitely be aware of how long they would live.

Boss Luo said, “What’s the real body of the monster and what’s its name?”

“It’s a 350-year-old boa demon. And it’s called ‘Black Water’.”

Luo Qiu closed his eyes slowly, then opened them after a short while, “Let’s say 50 years.”

“Fine! Just 50 years!” Yang Taizi confirmed without hesitation, “Let’s sign a contract!”

Luo Qiu was surprised at the frankness of the old Taoist… but it seemed that he had studied the means of exchange with the club. Therefore, he said the words about signing contracts as if he was afraid the opposite party would regret later.

Yang Taizi left at top speed, appointing that they’d meet in a small town on his mountain 10 days later.

Luo Qiu looked at Yang Taizi who left in a hurry, saying suddenly, “This Taoist priest seems to live a tough life.”

You Ye stroke her hair, tucking it behind her ears, “Once we seriously injure Black Water, he should be able to exterminate it himself and get back his Taoist grounds. There’s probably something there that could be exchanged for his lifespan, hence he won’t choose to exchange something more valuable like his soul for direct elimination of the target.”

Luo Qiu didn’t care about these. He stood up and said, “I have to go back to university this afternoon for some issues. Who knows how Qin Chuyu handled the matter of the professor, the dean’s office notified me to go back to school today.”

You Ye nodded, sending Luo Qiu away.

Before going away, Luo Qiu turned around, “Your earrings look nice.”

The Servant Girl revealed a slight smile.

…

…

Ye Yan suddenly opened his eyes.

The gloomy weather gave him have a slight hint of fatigue. However, rings from some machine on the table woke him up.

He hurried to the window, looking through a high-powered telescope. He moved swiftly and licked his lips before whistling, “You finally came out.”

The black leather windbreaker had been kicked up and wrapped around him. He walked towards the mirror, combing his black hair and stepping out from the room which he stayed for so long with a smile.