After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 359: Chapter 358: Divine Woman

”The Stone Gate Commerce Association was processing permits for a few people, and his was just slipped in with them. So he doesn’t count as having an unknown background,” the attendant said cautiously. ”Besides, his was completed before you gave your instructions to the Government Office.”

”That fast?” Third Master Gan narrowed his eyes. ”I just left yesterday, and the Stone Gate Commerce Association is already trying to undermine my Gan Family?”

He nearly slammed the table again. ”Who the hell are the Shi Family? When my eldest brother held a banquet at the Lotus Building, they couldn’t even get a sip of the soup!”

Just then, Mrs. Maoo called for him.

She’d heard the rumors about him killing his brother from some old woman and had actually summoned him to interrogate him, crying and cursing all the while.

Third Master Gan saw that his mother wasn’t in her right mind and couldn’t be bothered to tolerate it. He smashed the cups, plates, and medicine bowl on the spot, scaring both the old woman and his mother so much they trembled uncontrollably.

At that moment, Second Master Gan arrived and pointed at him, cursing him for being unfilial.

The two brothers got into a vicious fight.

Second Master Gan was at a disadvantage. He spent most of his time indoors; how could he compare to Third Master Gan, who loved to hunt and frequently practiced his martial arts?

The household was in utter chaos.

Even after winning the fight, Third Master Gan was still fuming. Ignoring the fact that his family was in mourning, he left the estate, rounded up his friends, and headed straight for the Red Hall.

In his current state, only strong liquor and women could help him blow off some steam.

Deep in his cups and carousing, Luo Xunyi arrived late.

He was originally a second-class Steward in the Gan Family Commerce Association but was kept on for his effective service to Third Master Gan. Now, he was Third Master Gan’s most trusted advisor.

When Third Master Gan saw him, a wine cup went flying. ”Where the hell were you when it mattered?”

Luo Xunyi dodged, and the cup shattered against the wall behind him.

He was already used to Third Master Gan’s temper and said directly, ”The Gan Family Commerce Association is at a life-or-death juncture. You can’t keep drinking!”

”Do you have a plan?”

Luo Xunyi grunted in acknowledgment and glanced around.

Third Master Gan wasn’t completely drunk yet, so he shooed everyone else out. ”Speak! Quickly!”

”You have three options. First, go apologize to this Hee fellow and beg until he changes his mind.”

Third Master Gan sneered. ”Say one more word of nonsense and you can get lost.”

”Second, wait for them to leave on their journey, then hire people to rob the Shi Family’s caravan and take back the Token. If that kid dies quietly in some remote place, no one can connect it to you. You might even be able to get rid of the Shi Brothers at the same time.”

”That... sounds plausible.” Third Master Gan stroked his chin. ”What’s the catch?”

”There’s no guarantee of success,” Luo Xunyi said in a low voice. ”I heard from the men who went in and out of the Demon Nest this time that the Hee kid’s Combat Power is impressive. He killed a good number of bandits, and even that Big Spider Demon, Second Madam Zhu, was polite to him. A character like that... another group of bandits might not be enough to handle him.”

Third Master Gan had heard stories about how terrifying Second Madam Zhu was since he was a child. That kind of Demon had only one way of dealing with ordinary people: knock them down and eat them. No nonsense.

’A human who can get Second Madam Zhu to treat him so well... his Combat Power can’t be weak, can it?’

Thinking of this, he let out a frustrated sigh. ”What’s the third option?”

”You ask the Divine Woman for help.”

”Her?” Third Master Gan’s face changed. ”My eldest brother made me swear an oath never to seek out the Divine Woman again!”

”You don’t have to go. You can send me. That wouldn’t break your oath,” Luo Xunyi advised. ”Only with the Divine Woman’s intervention can your troubles be readily solved. Only by getting back the Demon Nest Passage Command can the Gan Family maintain its footing in Wuze!”

”News of Uncle Gan’s passing has spread all over Wuze. The other Commerce Associations are like a Wolf Pack that’s smelled blood; they’re already starting to poach our people. Outsiders have already approached several of our best men. But that’s not even the worst part.” Luo Xunyi’s voice grew grave. ”Today, both Puli Money Shop and Fuji Money Shop sent people to inquire if the loans made to the Gan Family can be repaid. You’re aware of this, right? All of the Gan Family’s money is tied up in merchandise. What little liquid cash we have left is being used for payroll. There’s no way we can pull out enough to pay them back anytime soon!”

Third Master Gan was a little shocked. ”The Gan Family is short on money?” ’Everyone in the family spends money like water. When have we ever been short on funds?’

”A Commerce Association makes money through turnover. 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 Xunyi knew exactly what Third Master Gan’s weak spot was. ”Once we can’t repay the loans from the Money Banks, the Gan Family and you... will be out of money instantly.”

He pointed to the decadent scene around them. ”This villa, these girls, this fine wine—none of it will be yours. So, at the very least, we have to find a way to get the Passage Command and let everyone know that the exclusive business with the Demon Nest is still ours!”

”Right now, Mrs. Maoo and Second Master Gan are useless. The only one who can save the Gan Family from this disaster is you, Third Master,” he said urgently. ”Accomplish this, and the Commerce Association will naturally be yours to take over!”

Third Master Gan was still hesitant. ”What if this displeases Second Madam Zhu?”

”The Divine Woman will naturally make that kid nod and ’voluntarily’ give up the Passage Command.” Luo Xunyi sneered. ”It will be consensual. What reason would Second Madam Zhu have to be displeased?”

”That makes sense. You go find the Divine Woman,” Third Master Gan nodded. ”Get whatever you need.”

No one noticed a small spider scuttling across the floor.

...

That night, Hee Lingchuan looked at the little spider that had snuck back, feeling utterly exasperated. ”Why didn’t you just switch over to Luo Xunyi and see how he and the Divine Woman plan to deal with me!” ’Why did it just come back like this? It has no initiative!’

The Eye Spider raised a leg in protest.

’If you wanted me to switch targets midway, you should have said so beforehand! How was I supposed to know if you didn’t tell me?’

’Anyway, the job is done. I’d better get my reward.’

’Where’s the food? Hand it over!’

Hee Lingchuan tapped it on the head. ”Not so fast. You still remember Third Master Gan’s address, don’t you?” ’Even a dog can find its way back, let alone an eyeball plucked from Second Madam Zhu’s head.’

’Of course I remember.’

”Take me there.” Hee Lingchuan smiled. ”When we get back, I’ll give you and your little friends a plate of silkworm pupae. I won’t go back on my word!”

...

That night, Third Master Gan was resting in the Red Hall. He had drunk too much and was sleeping soundly.

In his dream, his eldest brother wasn’t dead and was still in charge of the Gan Family Commerce Association. He himself had beaten that Hee kid half to death and thrown him into a pigsty.

Suddenly, a basin of cold water was dumped on his head.

It was only early summer, and the well water was frigid. Third Master Gan yelled ”AH!” and woke up to find himself in pitch darkness. The warm, fragrant woman from his side was gone. He seemed to be lying on a pile of straw, and he was completely tied up.

’No, I’m on the roof of a thatched hut.’

”Sleeping soundly, were you? I saw you smacking your lips in your dream.” A man in black was crouching beside him, his voice vaguely familiar. When he pulled down his mask, Third Master Gan saw a face he hated so much it made his teeth itch.

”Where am I?! What do you want?”

Hee Lingchuan got straight to the point. ”Who is the Divine Woman, and how does she plan to deal with me?”

’Would he give this guy time to plot against him?’

’Of course not. When you encounter a threat, you have to extinguish it at the source immediately.’

Third Master Gan was aghast. ”How do you... You’re talking nonsense! I don’t know what you’re talking about...”

The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, though he didn’t know if it was from the wind or from fear. Even though they were at the Red Hall, only he and Luo Xunyi had been in the room discussing this. There were no outsiders.

’Yet Hee Lingchuan knew the exact title ”Divine Woman.” Could the walls have ears?’

Before he could finish, Hee Lingchuan punched him in the stomach.

Third Master Gan curled up in pain.

”Who is the Divine Woman?”

Gasping for air, Third Master Gan denied it. ”I don’t know. You’ve got the wrong person.”

Hee Lingchuan casually landed seven or eight hard slaps across his face, followed by two more punches. Third Master Gan saw stars, and a sharp, twisting pain shot through his abdomen. He couldn’t help but bend over and vomit.

Before he could finish, Hee Lingchuan grabbed him by the ear and pressed a dagger to its base. ”I’ll ask you one last time. If you don’t answer, I’ll cut off your head and let you go keep that Long-tusked Pig company.”

Remembering the gruesome sight of his Beheaded Hunting Pet, Third Master Gan shuddered. ”I’ll talk, I’ll talk.”

It turned out the Divine Woman was a plain-looking woman he had rescued from the water a few months ago. She had offered to do three favors for him to repay his kindness. Third Master Gan hadn’t believed her at first. ’If she was so powerful, how could she have been drowning?’

But the woman was unusually insistent, so he jokingly said that he had a ferocious and unruly Long-tusked Pig at home that he wanted to train as a Hunting Pet, and asked if she could do it.

Yes, of course, she could. That was the first favor.

That Long-tusked Pig had always been more stubborn than a mule—it wouldn’t move when pulled, would back up when herded, and would even bite people for fun. But after the Divine Woman placed a hand on its head, it suddenly became docile and would follow his commands.

Third Master Gan didn’t keep this a secret and told his eldest brother about it.

So, the second time the Divine Woman acted, it was to help Uncle Gan deal with an important guest from Beiga. The man was incredibly arrogant and looked down on merchants from a small, rural place, acting as if even speaking one more word to them would dirty his mouth. This kind of person was especially hard to handle, and he was intent on giving his business to another Commerce Association.

But after the Divine Woman’s ”persuasion,” the man suddenly changed his mind and entrusted a huge deal to the Gan Family Commerce Association.

However, Third Master Gan knew none of the details.

Afterward, Uncle Gan had summoned him and said the Divine Woman was an Evil Ghost, that making deals with an Evil Ghost would never lead to a good outcome, and repeatedly ordered him never to seek her help again.

Hearing this, Hee Lingchuan was dumbfounded. ”You didn’t believe your eldest brother?”

”I did.” Although his eldest brother often scolded him, Third Master Gan admired him.

’As for my second brother, heh, he’s no better than me.’

”Then why did you still dare to seek out the Divine Woman?”

Third Master Gan opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word.

’Wasn’t it all because of this man right in front of him!’

’If not for the fact that this Hee Lingchuan was too difficult to handle, that he couldn’t deal with him on his own, and that the Gan Family Commerce Association had been pushed to a dead end, how would he have dared to use the Divine Woman?’

Hee Lingchuan thought for a moment. ”What happened to that important guest from Beiga afterward?”

”He went back, I suppose?” Third Master Gan said blankly. ”It seems he only came that one time.”

”What was his name? What business did he have in Wuze County?”

”I-I’m not sure.” He had never paid much attention to or asked about the people involved in his eldest brother’s business dealings.

”Cancel the task, and I might spare your life.” ’Strike a snake at its vital point. If he controlled Third Master Gan, the one who commissioned the task, he should be able to resolve this, right?’

”I... Okay, okay.” Third Master Gan had long since thrown his anger and resentment to the wind. Nothing was more important than his own life.