Chapter 280 - 110: Price Difference
Fang Rui went to the Zhen Mansion.
"Fang Rui, what brings you here so early?" Zhen Daoji, dressed in a white robe, came in with a smile.
"Brother Zhen, is the Court cracking down on Ancient Spirit Masters?" Fang Rui didn’t bother with pleasantries and cut right to the chase.
"We are. The Court has always suppressed Ancient Spirit Masters, though the intensity has varied from one dynasty to the next. But now, their influence is waning. The current Emperor is mild-mannered, and policies differ from place to place..."
The subtext of Zhen Daoji’s words was: crack down on them when necessary, and turn a blind eye when it’s not.
"You’re worried about your friend Ge Changgeng, aren’t you? You don’t have to be. Before Zhou Changfa left his post, he made a deal with me. I tacitly approved of his presence in Huaiyin Prefecture."
"But from what I know, last night, Daoist Ge was attacked and killed at his home by our Divine Capture Bureau’s Zhang Yuzhang and Spirit Master Sun. His nine-year-old apprentice was the only one left, and he fled to my place," Fang Rui said with a bitter smile.
"Oh?"
Zhen Daoji frowned.
Just then, a servant happened to report, "Sir, Spirit Master Sun and Zhang Yuzhang are here and requesting to see you!"
"Let them in."
After Sun Shouchai and Zhang Henshui entered, Zhen Daoji didn’t waste any time and asked directly, "Did you two make a move on Ge Changgeng last night?"
If his tone with Fang Rui was one of equal respect between friends, then his tone with these two was that of a superior interrogating his subordinates.
"Yes, Sir, it’s just that..."
"We..."
Sun Shouchai and Zhang Henshui instinctively glanced at Fang Rui. They hadn’t reported this operation to Zhen Daoji, largely because they were worried about Fang Rui and feared he would sway Zhen Daoji’s opinion.
"Hmph!"
Zhen Daoji snorted coldly, cutting them off. He didn’t ask why they hadn’t requested permission but instead asked directly, "Do you have a personal grudge against Ge Changgeng?"
Suppressing Ancient Spirit Cultivators was politically correct, something that couldn’t be openly discussed.
As for reporting it?
In this regard, Sun Shouchai and Zhang Henshui had a certain degree of autonomy. There was no need to report every single thing. Coincidentally, this matter was neither too big nor too small; reporting it was optional.
"Sir, please allow me to explain: When Zhou Changfa was in office, he tried to have me secretly harmed for Ge Changgeng’s sake. Ge Changgeng and I were mortal enemies."
Zhang Henshui said quickly.
Sun Shouchai also spoke up, "When Zhou Changfa was in power, he mixed public and private affairs. He took many benefits from the Divine Capture Bureau’s Spirit Masters and gave them to Ge Changgeng..."
Hearing this, Zhang Henshui secretly curled his lip.
He didn’t believe a word Sun Shouchai said. For the man to have so proactively sought his cooperation, there had to be something shadier going on. He had originally hoped to get some dirt on Sun Shouchai during this operation, but unfortunately, he hadn’t found any.
’What a well-spun lie!’ Fang Rui sneered inwardly.
Zhen Daoji naturally saw through Sun Shouchai’s concealment but didn’t care. "Enough. I can’t be bothered with your personal grievances and devious machinations."
Suppressing Ancient Spirit Masters was politically correct, so he naturally couldn’t punish the two of them for it.
Besides, Zhen Daoji had only agreed to tacitly allow Ge Changgeng’s presence in Huaiyin Prefecture. He had never promised to guarantee Ge Changgeng’s safety. This incident was entirely a personal grudge.
"However, this matter ends here. Understood?"
The implication was clear: they were not to pursue the matter further by going after Ge Changgeng’s apprentice.
"Yes, Sir!"
Sun Shouchai and Zhang Henshui both felt a tremor of apprehension. They now had a new appreciation for how much Zhen Daoji valued his friendship with Fang Rui.
"Alright, if there’s nothing else, you may leave." Zhen Daoji waved his hand, dismissing Sun Shouchai and Zhang Henshui.
After the two of them left, Fang Rui clasped his fist.
"Thank you, Brother Zhen. However, a favor from you isn’t something I like to owe. I must repay it as soon as possible. As it happens, an opportunity has presented itself today."
Among friends, one party cannot owe the other too much. Otherwise, the relationship will likely become imbalanced, shifting from one of equals to one of dependence.
"Oh?"
Zhen Daoji looked at Fang Rui with curiosity.
He wasn’t a man who lacked for anything, so for a moment, he truly couldn’t imagine how Fang Rui could repay this favor.
"A clue to a certain Treasure." Fang Rui handed over the Journal.
’If it’s about the Zheng Family’s Dragon Pearl, I’ll be a little disappointed.’
Zhen Daoji thought to himself as he took the Journal.
"Yin Corpse Remnant Soul, Yang Attribute Dragon Pearl Origin..."
He read on, murmuring the words. His expression shifted dramatically, and then he suddenly let out a cold snort. "So that’s the Zheng Family for you! And that Sun Shouchai!"
Zhen Daoji had access to more comprehensive information. Whatever Fang Rui could guess, he could guess as well—and could likely glean even more details.
"Brother Zhen, is this enough to repay the favor?" Fang Rui asked with a smile.
"More than enough. It has allowed me to see certain things clearly ahead of time. In fact, you could say I’m the one who got the better end of the deal this time."
Zhen Daoji cupped his hands in a salute.
Certain aspects of Fang Rui’s character—his independence, his sense of propriety, and his principle of not owing or being owed—were things Zhen Daoji greatly admired. This was a major reason why the two could be friends despite the vast difference in their statuses.
"Since you’ve said so, Brother Zhen, then I’ll have to ask you to make up the difference."
Fang Rui decided to push his luck. "Do you have any more of that Fire-Spitting Chicken or Golden Dragon Fish, Brother Zhen? Today, I’ll make two portions of ’Immortal Leaping Wall’ and pack one to take home."
"’Make up the difference?’ That’s an interesting way to put it!"
Although it was the first time Zhen Daoji had heard the term, he understood it instantly. He pointed at Fang Rui with a laugh. "You... I know you’re thick-skinned, yet I don’t find it repulsive or annoying. Why is that?"
In truth, he knew the reason. Just like this time: relatively speaking, he had indeed gained a slight advantage, but not enough to be considered a full favor. Fang Rui had seized the opportunity to ask for some ingredients—a request that was amusing without being crass, and showed a perfect sense of proportion.
"I don’t have any Fire-Spitting Chicken, Golden Dragon Fish, or Golden Apple Seeds today. However, I do have Blue Crystal Turtle, Double-headed Python, Snow Rabbit, Ice Lizi, Golden Essence Bamboo..."
Zhen Daoji promised, "Whatever you can make today, you can take half of it with you."
"Alright, in that case, I’ll have to give it one hundred and twenty percent today. Hmm, let’s go with a ’Turtle’s Longevity’ and a ’Waiting for a Rabbit by the Tree Stump’!"
...