Chapter 45: Who Dares Use a Daoist Who Doesn't Charge Money?
Good heavens.
No wonder he became a wealthy steward—this smooth-talker is certainly filial!
A short while later.
Steward He emerged from the inner room with a bruised and swollen face, trailing behind his thoroughly satisfied-looking father.
After beating his son, all resentment was gone, making the soul salvation easier.
"Thank you, Daoist Wang."
Steward He said with tears streaming down his face: "If you hadn't brought my father into the residence, I would have missed my last chance to see him."
"I'm so moved, truly moved~"
Saying this.
He clapped his hands and ordered the nearby guards to bring out an exquisite wooden chest: "A small token of my appreciation—please don't refuse, Daoist."
Bang~
The chest lid opened, and suddenly golden light blazed forth.
Inside the chest, gold bars were arranged in neat rows—over a thousand taels worth—dazzling to behold.
"Steward, what does this mean?"
Wang Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly: "Our Three Pure Immortal Sect has rules. You're asking this humble Daoist to commit an offense!"
Ehh~
Steward He shook his head: "How could that be, Daoist?"
"You risked your life to eliminate demons for Maple City. This is your rightful compensation."
"Furthermore."
"If you hadn't helped, my father might have been kept outside with resentment in his heart."
"I... I, He Daren, am known far and wide as a filial son. You saved my father, so you're a great benefactor to our family!"
"What's a mere thousand taels of gold?"
[Ding!]
[Detected someone bragging. Congratulations, Host gains +1 Spiritual qi.]
Good heavens.
Though this steward had been beaten black and blue, his flattery remained as smooth as ever.
To be honest.
If Wang Xiu hadn't recently fattened his purse and seen something of the world, he might not have been able to resist this temptation.
"Steward, this humble Daoist truly cannot accept this money!"
"Immortal Master, you must accept this. I know the price you true transmission disciples command—a small token is nothing."
"This mission is being provided free of charge."
"How can we let a Daoist work for free! If you don't accept this money, neither my heart nor my father's will be at peace."
...
Good heavens.
Throughout the banquet, Wang Xiu and Steward He pushed back and forth.
Wang Xiu's lips were nearly worn through, yet he still couldn't convince Steward He, who stubbornly insisted that if the soul salvation was free, he'd rather not invite Wang Xiu at all.
After all.
Who dares use a monk or Daoist who works for free?
What if they hold a grudge and secretly tamper with your ancestral graves—twenty years later, a zombie might crawl out! Wouldn't that be disastrous?
They wouldn't even need to do anything major.
If Wang Xiu took a dislike to Steward He, he could summon his old father back every now and then to beat him—that would be torment enough.
After dozens of rounds of back-and-forth.
Finally.
Wang Xiu sighed and chose to yield: "Since the Steward is so generous, this humble Daoist will be presumptuous."
"This humble Daoist can accept the money."
"However!"
Wang Xiu's tone shifted as he smiled: "This humble Daoist wishes to receive it in a different form."
Just as expected!
Even immortals are human—who in this world doesn't love money?
Steward He relaxed and said with a smile: "Please enlighten me, Immortal Master. In what form? Pearls and jade? Antiques and calligraphy?"
Wang Xiu shook his head slightly.
He smiled: "Pearls and jade, antiques and calligraphy have no meaning for us cultivators."
"Since the Steward insists on giving me a thousand taels of gold, I hope you'll use it to purchase grain and medicine, and distribute porridge and provide medical care in the surrounding cities."
"Let poor families have a full meal, let the sick receive treatment."
"This way, I will have accumulated merit."
"And you will also have accumulated merit. Virtuous people naturally receive heaven's protection and abundant wealth—it will also benefit your future business. I wonder what the Steward thinks?"
It wasn't that Wang Xiu didn't love money.
In truth.
If this had been several months ago, seeing such a large sum, Wang Xiu might truly have been unable to resist.
But.
Wang Xiu was no longer the poor young man he once was—he now carried a full 2,000 spirit stones and had Soul-Nourishing Lotuses worth tens of thousands more in his pocket.
Even.
The Nether-Blood Immortal-Slaying Sword on his back was a treasure worth at least several hundred thousand spirit stones. Converted to gold in the mortal world, that would be several hundred thousand millions taels.
A thousand taels of gold.
Was no longer enough for Wang Xiu to sell his soul.
Rather than accepting this tip and risking punishment if the sect found out.
He might as well use it for charity, which would benefit the Three Pure Immortal Sect's and Divination Peak's reputation.
With a good reputation, he could make friends everywhere.
With many friends, he could drink and make merry with more geniuses, listening to them brag and level up!
This~!
Looking at Wang Xiu's frank expression, Steward He was stunned.
He had followed his father in business since childhood, seen plenty of deception, and was skilled at reading people. He could tell Wang Xiu wasn't joking.
This Immortal Master truly intended to donate the entire thousand taels of gold for doing good and accumulating merit.
Consider this.
Steward He had previously inquired about the market rates in the cultivation world—one spirit stone was worth approximately one tael of gold.
A thousand taels of gold was no small sum even for a cultivator.
Would this Immortal Master really donate it?
Could this young Daoist before him truly be a noble gentleman concerned with the world and possessed of high moral character?
In that moment.
Steward He felt ashamed, but simultaneously felt surprise and relief.
Yes.
Surprise and relief.
A Daoist willing to accept dirty money is somewhat reassuring, but if they accept it once, they can accept it twice.
Even.
They might deliberately create trouble when your family originally had none, then devise various pretexts to demand benefits.
Steward He's father had heard many such cases during his years of traveling for business.
Some corrupt Buddhists were particularly fond of such tactics.
But.
A Daoist who accepts a thousand taels of gold yet casually uses it to provide relief to disaster victims and free medical care is many times more reliable by comparison.
"Daoist Wang's righteousness is unparalleled—I, He, am truly ashamed!"
Steward He said from his heart: "Please rest assured, Immortal Master. Tomorrow I will order my people to set up porridge stations in Maple City—it will definitely be reliable!"
Wang Xiu nodded slightly, relieved.
First time meeting someone so dead-set on forcing gold on others.
If he hadn't been clever.
Who knows how many words he'd have been entangled into by Steward He!
...
The sky was already dark.
After chanting the 'Sutra of Rebirth' to send off Old Master He's soul, Wang Xiu stayed in the He residence's guest quarters.
He planned to rest well and select a burial site for the old master the next day.
Meanwhile.
At Steward He's command, Maple City, which had been quiet and cold, suddenly became lively.
Porridge stations appeared overnight in various residential areas.
Attracting much attention.
According to insiders: The reason Steward He set up stations around Maple City seemed to be because his father's seventh day had passed and he was preparing for burial.
So.
He was preparing to treat the entire city's elders to a feast—porridge and buns provided free, even pork stew with vermicelli!
In an instant.
Those who heard the news were dumbfounded: Good heavens, Steward He is quite a character!
His father died.
And everyone celebrates?
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