My Silly, Sweet Wife

Speaking of the spirit stone mine, Han Zhuang’s face was filled with lingering fear.

Seeing Han Zhuang’s disturbed emotions, Ye Guichen kept pressing for answers until he learned that the so-called spirit stone mine was practically a Ghost Gate.

Anyone sent there as a laborer basically never returned alive.

But as for the specific reasons, Han Zhuang couldn’t really explain, only knowing that the Song Family would receive many spirit stones from the mine each year, but those sent for mining never came back.

Therefore, unless there was no other option, no one wished to go work as a laborer in the spirit stone mine.

Thirty miles.

For Ye Guichen and his party, it wasn’t far.

In less than an hour, the group saw Taihe Town in the distance.

From the outside, the town appeared very peaceful, and there were many people using beasts as mounts, not as dangerous as Han Zhuang had described.

Upon arriving in town, Ye Guichen gave Zhu Biao and Wei Lin a meaningful glance, instructing them to scout, while also releasing Gui Tuo and Yan Fang, the two ghosts.

This had become Ye Guichen’s habit: to get a general sense of a place first to avoid ending up in trouble without knowing what hit him.

At the same time, Ye Guichen didn’t put away his martial uncle but let him stay by his side.

With Han Zhuang leading the way, they were not obstructed and easily entered the town.

Upon reaching the Song Family, Ye Guichen couldn’t help but feel the magnificence of the Song Family’s grand stature.

The towering gates, over three meters high, were guarded by two house servants, and each had a hunting dog on a leash.

The hunting dogs appeared larger than ordinary dogs and were likely of a beastly level.

Seeing someone approaching, the two hunting dogs opened their mouths wide and charged at Ye Guichen and Han Zhuang, scaring Han Zhuang into stepping back with trembling legs.

Ye Guichen, however, glared and stomped his foot fiercely.

The fierce hunting dogs immediately whimpered and lay down as if they had seen something terrifying.

The two house servants were puzzled but paid no further attention.

One of them scolded Han Zhuang, ”Han Zhuang, why aren’t you working honestly to earn spirit stones? What are you doing back here? Do you want to be forced to labor in the spirit stone mine?”

Han Zhuang shrank his head, hastily smiling apologetically, ”I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. Sirs, this brother wants to meet the Family Head, so, well, I’ve brought him here.”

”Wants to meet the Family Head?” the two house servants sneered. ”Do you think just anyone can meet the Family Head? Look at yourself in the mirror, and get lost before I let the dogs bite you!”

The house servants merely glanced at Ye Guichen, not taking him seriously at all.

The Song Family held considerable power in Taihe Town, and even the house servants benefited from it, flaunting their influence openly.

Furthermore, countless people tried to curry favor with the Song Family, and without special reasons, they would never let anyone in.

Hearing the house servants’ words, Han Zhuang gulped and warily glanced at the two hunting dogs.

He knew the Song Family had a dedicated dog farm that raised hunting dogs to a beastly level; they were not only obedient but also had combat capabilities.

Ordinarily, many of these dogs were stationed around the spirit stone mine, both to prevent escapes and to deter intruders.

These hunting dogs were typically fed human flesh, and the Song Family would even send them to the ice wall area to dig up corpses to eat.

Thus, the combat power of these dogs was not any less than Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Han Zhuang dared to bet these two hunting dogs could probably devour him and still not be full.

”Brother, you see, I’ve brought you in, but if we can’t get in further, it’s not my fault,” Han Zhuang said, knowing Ye Guichen’s prowess and connections with martial people, and wanting to avoid conflict with him.

Similarly, he didn’t want to cross the Song Family unless absolutely necessary.

He didn’t want to offend either side.

Ye Guichen said nothing but took out twenty spirit stones, placing ten in the hands of each house servant and tossing another ten to Han Zhuang.

The house servants and Han Zhuang were all stunned.

This guy was quite the spendthrift.

Though the Song Family had a spirit stone mine, these gatekeepers only earned two spirit stones a month; getting ten at once was nearly half a year’s income.

”Brother, what’s this about?” The house servant’s manner shifted as he looked at Ye Guichen, unconsciously calling him ’brother’ now.

Ye Guichen smiled, ”Hehe, I’m here to discuss business with your Family Head, and hope you brothers can pass on the message.”

Then, he pointed at Han Zhuang, ”He’s also here to pay this month’s tribute, ten spirit stones, which should be correct, right?”

”Oh-ho!” The two house servants were delighted.

They had personally witnessed Ye Guichen hand spirit stones to Han Zhuang, and their faces showed a hint of envy.

”Well, Han Zhuang, you’ve latched onto a big backer!” one of the house servants said with a playful tone.

Spending ten Spirit Stones with a single gesture, and without batting an eye—if that’s not a big spender, what is?

Han Zhuang hadn’t expected Ye Guichen to give him ten Spirit Stones. He originally thought he’d have to flee if approached, but now he switched to flattery, ”Brother, this, this is too generous!”

”Just take it.” Ye Guichen waved his hand, signaling Han Zhuang not to say more.

Han Zhuang was only being polite, and upon hearing this, he tightly clutched the ten Spirit Stones, afraid they might fly away.

With these ten Spirit Stones, he was secured for another month.

The two house servants, seeing there was money to be made, didn’t make things difficult for Ye Guichen anymore but insisted on reporting the matter.

After one of them spoke, he quickly entered the Song Family residence.

Not long after, the man hurried back, with a slap mark on his face, covering one cheek with his hand, impatiently waving them off, ”Get lost! The Family Head is not seeing visitors today; hurry up and leave!”

Ye Guichen saw that the two not only wanted him to leave but also seemed intent on keeping his Spirit Stones, amused, ”So, you won’t let me see anyone, and you’re planning to pocket my Spirit Stones?”

”So what if we pocket your Spirit Stones!” The two servants, hearing Ye Guichen’s unfriendly tone, got angry, ”We did pass the message for you. Get lost! Before I get angry, get going, or don’t blame me if I’m not polite!”

Ye Guichen raised an eyebrow.

He came to visit the Song Family today intending to make a transaction with them.

As for the transaction, it naturally concerned that Spirit Stone mine.

From Han Zhuang’s explanation, Ye Guichen vaguely felt that there might be something in the Spirit Stone mine causing those who went in to never return.

Ye Guichen had seen Spirit Stone mines before; the dense Spiritual Energy within often spawned unexpected lifeforms.

Sometimes it could cause ordinary beasts to mutate into demon beasts, or perhaps it nurtured even stronger existences through the Spiritual Energy.

And those lifeforms nurtured within the Spirit Stone mine often regarded it as their home.

If someone enters to dig within their home, isn’t it natural to try killing them?

However, over the years, the Song Family seemed unable to eradicate whatever the mine nurtured, proving it was not simple.

Ye Guichen came here this time to do this business with the Song Family.

With his current strength, as long as what’s in the mine is not beyond the Nascent Soul Realm, it’s no match for him. He doesn’t even need to take action himself; his martial uncle and twelve puppets can handle it.

Of course, Ye Guichen is no charity, doing favors for others.

Ye Guichen naturally has his own plans.

The Song Family is powerful, their Family Master is a formidable person, and the family is full of experts; since even they couldn’t handle whatever’s in the mine, it shows it’s not simple.

Ye Guichen intends to get his hands on whatever’s inside, alive or dead.

So, this time, Ye Guichen intends to make the Song Family owe him a favor and to take what’s in the mine for himself.

But by their looks, they don’t seem inclined to let him in today at all.

Moreover, judging by the two servants’ demeanor, it seems like something happened within the Song Family; otherwise, there’s no need for a slap.

”Tell your Family Head, I can handle the thing in the Spirit Stone mine!” Ye Guichen thought for a moment and didn’t take action, but continued speaking.

”What thing in the Spirit Stone mine!” The two house servants grew impatient and were about to make a move when Ye Guichen’s martial uncle slapped them, sending them flying.

”Damn! You, you dare hit us!” The two servants, once thrown out, were enraged and roared, preparing to retaliate, even ordering two hunting dogs to bite Ye Guichen.

But the two dogs recoiled like quails, too frightened to lift their heads.

Seeing this, the servants finally realized something was off with the person in front of them, ”What, what on earth do you want?”

Evidently, they didn’t know there was something inside the Spirit Stone mine.

”Go quickly!” Ye Guichen commanded, intimidating the two servants so much that they dared not linger.

Although unclear on Ye Guichen’s intentions, the two hurriedly scrambled back into the Song Family residence.

But this time, not long after, a middle-aged man came out in a hurry with more than a dozen people.

At the sight of the newcomers, Han Zhuang almost knelt on the spot in fear, ”Second, Second Master?”

The person was precisely Song Family’s Second Master, Song Botong.

”You dare make trouble at our Song Family?” Song Botong scowled at Ye Guichen and barked sternly.

Han Zhuang hurried forward with a smile, ”Second Master, Second Master, it’s a misunderstanding! I’m Han Zhuang; this brother had no ill intentions, it’s all a misunderstanding!”

”Misunderstanding?” Song Botong snorted coldly, his gaze falling on Ye Guichen, ”You said you could solve the thing in the Spirit Stone mine, is that true?”

Ye Guichen smiled brightly, ”Of course it’s true.”

”Good!” Song Botong didn’t say more but turned and led them back into the Song Family residence, his voice trailing off, ”Follow me, if you dare play tricks on the Song Family, I’ll make you pay dearly.”

Han Zhuang and the two house servants were stunned; they hadn’t expected Song Botong to actually let Ye Guichen in.

But Han Zhuang quickly scampered after Ye Guichen, following him into the Song Family manor.