Chapter 7: I Brought an Idiot!
Chapter 7: I Brought an Idiot!
The Herb Field was several miles from the village. Even with Jiang Taixuan’s pace, the trip would take at least a quarter of an hour. That was why Ximen the Fatty had been busy for two hours.
“Field Master, I’ll carry you.” Wu Song, annoyed by Jiang Taixuan’s slow walk, grabbed his shoulder and sped forward.
“This is the strength of an Innate Realm expert?” Jiang Taixuan gasped inwardly. Everything before him whizzed backwards like riding in a car in his previous life, no— even faster than a car!
Several miles were covered in mere minutes. By now, the sky was faintly brightening, and only a few villagers were active.
The whole village consisted of wooden huts. At the entrance stood a large grindstone.
Jiang Taixuan wasted no time planting the signboard beside the grindstone, the words clearly visible: “Professional Strongmen for Rent. Live Map of Monster Beast Mountains Outer Regions. Contact Jiang Taixuan.”
He had been here many times before. Belonging to the Clear Moon Academy, most villagers recognized him and knew where to find him.
“They came. Is that them?” Wu Song spoke suddenly, his gaze fixed ahead.
Jiang Taixuan had just planted the sign. He looked up to see a middle-aged man in a long robe, a full moon embroidered on his chest.
Behind the middle-aged man were more than a dozen youths in student attire, each with a crescent moon embroidered on their chests.
“That’s them. Crescents are students. The full moon is the Mentor,” Jiang Taixuan nodded.
Rubbing his hands eagerly, he was about to step forward when a hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder, halting him in his tracks.
“Wu Song, what are you doing?” Jiang Taixuan turned to see Wu Song holding him back. He asked, puzzled, “We go up, sweet-talk them casually, you show off a bit, and business walks right in!”
“As Gods and Demons, how could we demean ourselves by approaching them first?” Wu Song declared with haughty dignity. After a pause, he added, “You are the Field Master! You simply cannot afford to lose that face!”
Oh no!
We came here to get business! You were the one dying to do something earlier, and now you care about dignity?! We’re already here, and you won’t even let me go?!
“Then what do you suggest? It’ll be too late soon,” Jiang Taixuan pressed urgently. At that moment, the Mentor was leading his students swiftly through the small village towards the Monster Beast Mountains.
“We wait. As the noble Gods and Demons, as the supremely exalted Field Master, they should come begging to us,” Wu Song stated calmly, wearing an expression that suggested this was the only possible course.
“…”
System… can I swap Gods and Demons?! He’s stopping me from doing business!
I’m just a lousy Martial Arts Stage Four nobody! I’m counting on finishing this first deal to get the task reward and my commission! And now you’re blocking me?!
“I am NOT exalted! Could you please let go?” Jiang Taixuan pleaded, growing desperate as the group was nearly past them.
Wu Song remained resolute, showing no sign of loosening his grip.
Jiang Taixuan felt like crying. As much as he longed to act, he could only watch helplessly as the Mentor led his flock of students away.
A few students did glance curiously at the pair and scanned the signboard, but none approached.
“There. Now are you happy?” Jiang Taixuan watched the students vanish from sight and slumped weakly.
His plan had been simple: go up, smooth-talk, the Mentor would likely test them, Wu Song would casually block, showing off just a little—awe-struck students trembling in fear— then seize the moment for a pitch. Business secured.
Instead, before the Mentor could make any move, Wu Song moved— blocking him! This wasn’t the plan at all!
Bringing Wu Song had been a colossal mistake!
“Their failure to approach shows their blindness, their inability to recognize Gods and Demons,” Wu Song stated disdainfully. After a slight pause, he added, “The village has plenty of people. We can do business here just the same.”
“Hey! Field Master! Where are you going?”
“I’m going the hell back to sleep!”
Jiang Taixuan felt like he’d brought an idiot. The Mentor was leading the group! You weren’t running over to solicit people, to sell? You expect them to break ranks and seek you out?!
He doesn’t understand the basics of doing deals! Fine, he doesn’t get it, but then he stops me?!
Those students from the Academy— in this world, anyone who could afford the Academy generally had a bit of money. Some were born rich, others into powerful families.
The poor villagers? They sometimes struggled to feed themselves! How much could they possibly spend on such a service?
Jiang Taixuan went back. He decided to bring Ximen the Fatty next time. In Wu Song’s eyes, Ximen the Fatty had low dignity and could probably function as a Salesman.
“Field Master,” Wu Song stated with principled firmness, “As a God and Demon, there is dignity involved. We can accept employment. We can be sold. But we absolutely cannot demean ourselves by clinging to others’ legs, peddling ourselves!”
Jiang Taixuan looked at the incredibly haughty Wu Song and sighed. “Understood. Go hang on the tree again for now.”
He was annoyed just looking at Wu Song. If this weren’t the first God and Demon he’d grown, and if he wasn’t still needed, Jiang Taixuan would have sold him off cheap right then.
He only had three days. It was already the second day. He’d missed the prime business opportunity. Even if he did complete the task, the completion rate was probably going to be low now.
“System, for this first deal… what’s the minimum price?” Jiang Taixuan asked mentally.
“No minimum. Host sets the price. You could complete it for one Copper Coin, or one hundred million Yuan Coins. The first mission is just a test of the Host’s capability,” the System replied.
“A test of capability?” Jiang Taixuan paused, then managed a bitter smile. I have capability! But I’ve got a pig for a teammate!
The crucial point was, he couldn’t even beat this pig teammate!
Jiang Taixuan knew this concerned his future development. Plus, task failure meant no new tasks for three months, and the God-Demon Snack supply would be cut off. That was absolutely unacceptable!
Having tasted the God-Demon Pill, Jiang Taixuan was unwilling to give it up. This was his chance to change his fate!
“Brother Xuan! Brother Xuan! I’m here!”
Ximen the Fatty’s voice came from afar. Wu Song reappeared in a flash.
“Why are you here so early?” Jiang Taixuan questioned. The sky had just brightened. Coming this early didn’t match Ximen the Fatty’s lazy, sleep-loving nature.
“I came to cook for you, Brother Xuan,” Ximen the Fatty chuckled, a sack of rice slung over his shoulder.
“Go ahead then,” Jiang Taixuan rolled his eyes. He wasn’t fooled. The fatty was after meat.
After another hearty tiger meat feast, Jiang Taixuan felt slightly better, but the worry still gnawed at him.
“Brother Xuan,” Ximen the Fatty said cautiously after washing the dishes, “Could you tell me how you became a Martial Artist?”
Becoming a Martial Artist meant stepping into their ranks, a world apart from ordinary people. It granted high status.
If he could become one, maybe he could return to his family someday… become a young master.
Jiang Taixuan lifted his eyelids lethargically. “Want to know?”
“Yes!” Ximen the Fatty’s eyes gleamed, burning with excitement. Brother Xuan was going to share a Secret Technique?!
“Do you have money?”
“No,” Ximen the Fatty blinked, momentarily confused. What did money have to do with becoming a Martial Artist?
“No money? Forget becoming a Martial Artist! See my sign? If you have money, if you have valuables to pawn— forget Martial Artist— become a god? Laozi can arrange it!” Jiang Taixuan jabbed a finger at the signboard, his tone testy.
Ximen the Fatty was stunned, looking hurt. “Brother Xuan, we’re such good friends. Helping out a friend… how can you charge me?”
Jiang Taixuan snorted coldly, pointing at the bones on the ground. “I even gave you Innate Monster Beast tiger meat! Still saying I don’t help you?”
Ximen the Fatty fell quiet. He stared at the bones, and a spark lit his eyes. “Brother Xuan, I have no money now. Lend me a few pieces of the tiger meat? I’ll sell them and get cash.”
Jiang Taixuan’s laughter turned even colder, making Ximen the Fatty shudder. “You can try. Selling Innate Monster Beast meat? Go ahead. I’ll wager you won’t even make it to Clear Moon City!”
Ximen the Fatty trembled, his face turning white. He was terrified. What Jiang Taixuan said was true. A regular person carrying Innate Monster Beast meat? Murder and theft were practically guaranteed.
Could Jiang Taixuan have missed something Ximen the Fatty thought of? As for Jiang Taixuan selling it? Impossible. Wu Song was standing right there, proof enough: the Gods and Demons’ dignity absolutely forbade hunting down beasts to sell like common wares. They accepted employment. They permitted themselves to be sold. Not the other way around!