27: Everything comes at a price

"Xu Tian, you're fast on your feet. Go to Nan Shu Village and call Village Chief Fang. He must be present to handle the Black Bear Demon's bones and fur."

After Li Fu gave his instructions, the group eagerly followed Liu Chunsheng, preparing to go find Jin Zihua.

At this moment, Shopkeeper Jin in the back mountain was still obsessively waiting for the demon bones, his drool almost flowing out.

Jin Er watched from the side, a little puzzled.

"Shopkeeper, didn't you warn us before that when we encounter good things, we should learn to disguise ourselves, pretend not to care, and only then can we avoid being manipulated and finally acquire them at a low price by surprise?"

"The way you are now, your eyes are almost glued to the demon bones. This isn't what you taught us!"

Shopkeeper Jin looked up, glared at Jin Er, and said irritably:

"What the hell do you know! What I said was about ordinary things. Can that be compared to these demon bones?"

"This is a rare treasure. Not to mention our small county town, even if it were placed before the high-ranking officials and cultivators in the capital, it would be a valuable item that would make them fight over it."

"If I can acquire it today, I'll be able to live worry-free for the rest of my life."

"Shopkeeper, these villagers probably don't have that kind of insight..."

Jin Er retorted weakly.

"You boy, is your brain just for show! Can't you think properly? This small village has an existence capable of killing a Black Bear Demon behind it. Are we playing this game right under their noses because we're tired of living?!"

Jin Zihua was almost angered to death by Jin Er.

"I usually teach you to be more adaptable! Why didn't you remember that!"

At this moment, Jin Zihua didn't care whether the being cultivating here was a demon or not. Even if it was a demon, as long as it could bring him wealth, he would worship it as a God of Wealth without batting an eye.

This Chang Sheng Village was definitely a blessed land, a blessed land that could greatly prosper him!

Jin Er shrank his neck, not daring to ask again, fearing that the Shopkeeper would get thirsty from too much drooling, and thoughtfully handed him a cup of water.

"Shopkeeper, you've worked hard. Have a cup of water to moisten your throat."

On the other side, not long after, Liu Chunsheng and his group arrived at the back mountain.

Seeing Jin Zihua and the two others, Liu Chunsheng was the first to step forward and greet them.

"Shopkeeper Jin, you've waited a long time."

Jin Zihua quickly stood up and waved his hand, his Face full of smiles, "No problem, no problem. You must be the Temple Official of this Lord Chu Ping Temple. I've heard all about your matters from Aunt Liu."

Liu Chunsheng nodded slightly, a humble smile on his Face.

"That would be me. Shopkeeper Jin, you've come a long way. It must have been tiring."

"You've also seen the Black Bear Demon's demon bones and fur. They are indeed rare good items. However, these things currently belong jointly to our Chang Sheng Village and another village chief."

"We have just invited the other village chief to come over. So, I must ask you to wait a moment longer."

Shopkeeper Jin waved his hands repeatedly, his smile undiminished.

"Of course, of course!"

"Good things are worth waiting for, especially such rare items. Don't worry, I, Jin, have always been fair in business and will never let you or the village suffer a loss."

Liu Chunsheng smiled and said no more, only turning to whisper a few words to the villagers behind him, asking them to prepare some tea and snacks to properly entertain Shopkeeper Jin.

Li Fu sat beside him, watching Liu Chunsheng's effortless demeanor, nodding frequently.

"Excellent, excellent, truly impressive."

"As expected of the person personally chosen by Lord Chuping. This child is truly the hope of their entire village."

In the main hall, both sides were eager to befriend each other, and the atmosphere quickly became lively.

Jin Zihua picked up his teacup, gently blew away the tea leaves floating on top, a subtle glint flashing in his eyes.

He asked casually, "Temple Official Liu, the Lord Chu Ping Temple has flourishing incense, so the deity in the temple must be quite efficacious, right?"

Liu Chunsheng smiled slightly. Although he didn't know why Shopkeeper Jin asked this, there was no need to hide the fact that Lord Chuping was efficacious.

"Shopkeeper Jin is right. Lord Chuping protects this region and is indeed very efficacious."

A glint flashed in Jin Zihua's eyes, and he asked with feigned curiosity.

"Oh? Then, Temple Official Liu, could you tell me about the origin of this Lord Chu Ping Temple? I, for one, love listening to these stories of immortals."

Liu Chunsheng pondered for a moment, seemingly weighing his words, then slowly said:

"The specific origin of Lord Chuping is still something we are exploring. Perhaps he was an ancestor of our Chang Sheng Village, or perhaps a deity worshipped in this area long ago. It's just that the years have been too long, and the villagers can't quite explain the reasons, and even the temple once fell into ruin."

"This temple is also newly built."

Shopkeeper Jin listened thoughtfully.

"So that's how it is. In these turbulent times, it's truly fortunate that Chang Sheng Village has the privilege of divine protection. I, Jin, am truly envious!"

Hearing Shopkeeper Jin say this, Li Fu couldn't help but interject.

"Shopkeeper Jin, you exaggerate. I hear the Wanbao Merchant Guild is quite a powerful force in the Great Yan Dynasty, even demons give it some Face. Why envy our small mountain village?"

He had always been quite envious of people who could travel freely outside, especially since they had a force spread throughout the Great Yan Dynasty behind them.

Why envy them?

Upon hearing this, Jin Zihua's smile faltered slightly, and a subtle gloom flashed in his eyes.

He gently put down his teacup, sighed, and said with a hint of helplessness: "Village Chief Li, you don't know. Although the Wanbao Merchant Guild has some reputation in the Great Yan Dynasty, all of this comes at a price."

Liu Chunsheng frowned slightly: "Shopkeeper Jin, why do you say that??"

"What price?"

"Could it be like them before?"

As soon as the word 'price' was mentioned, Liu Chunsheng easily had negative associations, just like how their village was 'kept' by the Naked Ghost before, with the price being the villagers' lives.

It was no wonder he was so sensitive; in this world, many demons and ghosts acted this way.

Sacrifice seemed to have become the only way for ordinary people to survive.

Indeed, Jin Zihua shook his head and said with a bitter smile.

"Temple Official Liu, you don't know. Although the Wanbao Merchant Guild appears glorious on the surface, it is fraught with dangers internally. Over the years, countless offerings and treasures have been sacrificed to demons, plus the suppression of the imperial court and immortal sects on the merchant guild, our lives as merchants are not easy."

Liu Chunsheng nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.

"So that's how it is. No wonder Shopkeeper Jin values these Black Bear Demon bones so much. It seems the Wanbao Merchant Guild truly needs some rare items to boost its reputation."

Jin Zihua nodded.

"Temple Official Liu is indeed clever. In this world, living in a secluded corner like Chang Sheng Village is not necessarily a bad thing."

While they were talking, Fang Youjin had already rushed over and joined the conversation.

"Shopkeeper Jin, to be honest, our news here is limited, and this Black Bear Demon is the first demon corpse we've ever encountered. You can just name your price."

"Temple Official Liu is indeed a straightforward person. I won't beat around the bush. How about my Wanbao Merchant Guild buying it for five spirit pearls?"

Liu Chunsheng and the two others: ???

"Spirit pearls? What are those?"