"Stop with the jokes and pay up."
"I really don't have any money. Even if you sold me, I wouldn't be worth that many spirit stones."
"Girl, I don't have a good temper. If you're trying to freeload, you've made a miscalculation."
"Boss Shen, I really didn't mean to deceive you. How about this, you're short-handed here, right? Let me stay and work off my debt. I'm really good at fighting."
Shen Zhao was deeply shocked by this shameless freeloading spirit.
Looking at the beautiful face in front of him, showing a pitiful expression, Shen Zhao just wanted to say, "What a good girl, but what a mouth."
Just as Shen Zhao was considering whether to teach this arrogant girl a lesson, a middle-aged man with a center part suddenly entered the door.
"Excuse me, is this Boss Shen's territory?"
Shen Zhao glanced at the door, asking with annoyance, "What is it?"
The next moment, the middle-aged man immediately untied the bundle on his back and walked straight into the room, repeatedly saying, "Great, I finally found you. I didn't expect Qingyang City to be so big. It took me half a day to find this place."
After saying that, he directly grabbed the teapot on the table and gulped down a large mouthful of water.
"Who exactly are you?"
"Let me introduce myself first. I'm Ding Buer. I used to be a secretary in fifteen counties of the Yin Heaven Dynasty. He Yishou of the Yangwei Dojo is my brother-in-law. Hearing that Boss Shen is about to do great things, I came here specifically to find Boss Shen and get a bite to eat."
Ding Buer was a real smooth talker, acting as if he was home as soon as he arrived at Shen Zhao's place, drinking tea and introducing himself at the same time.
Shen Zhao frowned. "He Yishou sent you?"
"Yes, he said you could make a lot of money here, so he specifically told me to follow you."
"Why don't you go sponge off at his dojo?"
"Follow him? Forget it. That guy was stingy as hell when he was with my sister. He'd try to split a penny in two. You'd never get anywhere with him."
"And what makes you think I'll take you in?"
"When I look at Shen Zhao's face, I see a man destined for great things. Someone like you will definitely make a name for himself, and you'll accumulate a lot of wealth. Someone will need to manage all that, right?
I just happen to have been a clerk for fifteen counties. I can help you manage things. In the future, you could invest in a sect or something and just sit back and count the money."
"Do you think you're funny?"
Ding Buer genuinely amused Shen Zhao. Looking at his shifty, cunning eyes, Shen Zhao kept recalling information from his previous lives related to him.
However, there didn't seem to be any record of a Ding Buer. Maybe his position was too low, or he hadn't done anything significant, so he wasn't on Shen Zhao's radar.
Ding Buer looked at Su Yunying standing beside Shen Zhao, his eyes immediately lighting up: "Oh my, this young lady is so beautiful! I've been in the official world for thirty years, and I've never seen a beauty more stunning than this."
Su Yunying smiled faintly: "You really know how to talk. If you can say more, please do, this young lady loves to listen."
Ding Buer chuckled: "Only a beauty like you can match a hero like Shen Zhao. Just looking at the two of you, you're a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Not to brag, but if you and Shen Zhao stood together at the sect gathering, those so-called saintesses and saint sons would all have to step aside."
Upon hearing this, Su Yunying's face immediately flushed, making her even more alluring.
Shen Zhao coughed lightly, changing the subject and asking, "By the way, you said you came from the Yin Heaven Dynasty?"
"Precisely."
"Then you know something about the recent events in the Yin Heaven Dynasty?"
"As a secretary, I'm familiar with various government offices, so I naturally know a few things."
"How is the Yin Heaven Dynasty doing these days?"
"The Empress has been decisive since ascending the throne, sweeping away the redundant officials and old bureaucrats from the previous dynasty. She seems determined to govern well and revitalize the Yin Heaven Dynasty."
Shen Zhao nodded upon hearing this.
After nine lifetimes of interaction, Shen Zhao believed he understood Yu Xiyan completely. Whether he was present or not, the Yin Heaven Dynasty would inevitably move towards prosperity.
However, whether it could reach the level it had achieved in his previous life, he couldn't say.
"You were a secretary, doing well in your position, so why did you suddenly come to this godforsaken place to waste your time?"
At the mention of this, Ding Buer immediately became agitated: "Me, Ding Buer, I've been in the official world since I was eighteen. Thirty years in total. I consider myself to have outstanding literary talent, yet I haven't even achieved a degree,
"It's because I took a little something on the side to make ends meet. Some bastard ratted me out, and I lost my job! Doesn't that piss you off?"
Su Yunying immediately cut him off, saying, "You make it sound so innocent. Isn't that just corruption? No dynasty would tolerate corruption, would they?"
"Oh, miss, that's easy for you to say. But I have to make a living too. With such a meager income every year, my whole family can barely get by. What was I supposed to do?
Honestly, I took such a small amount. It wasn't even a fraction of what that county magistrate was pocketing. But that dog official got away with everything, while I was dismissed from my post.
Doesn't that piss you off?"
"Mr. Ding, no matter what, you shouldn't have taken other people's money. You're a grown man with hands and feet. Why don't you earn money through your own abilities?"
"Oh, miss, please stop. I'm only at the Body Tempering Realm, third grade. If I went out alone in the world, I'd be dead the moment I ran into a bandit. How could I earn money with my abilities?"
"You're only at the Body Tempering Realm, third grade? That's hilarious. Even with the worst aptitude, you should have reached the Qi Condensation Realm by your age, shouldn't you?"
"Born with a useless spiritual root and no talent, how could I compare to a celestial maiden like you? Besides, fighting and killing is so dangerous. Making money and enjoying life is much more practical."
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While they spoke, Shen Zhao used his God's Eye to examine Ding Buer's cultivation level.
After seeing it, Shen Zhao could only silently sigh in his heart: They say a so-called useless spiritual root is a necessary plot device for the protagonist to show off. But in reality, they're all at a heaven-defying level. Now it seems those fantasy and xianxia novels are really fucking unreliable.
I've lived in this world for ten lifetimes, and today I finally truly understand the meaning of the word 'useless'. This guy isn't just a useless spiritual root; he's at a level that even a mouse would find absurd.
Without external medicine, he's basically done for this lifetime.
So, Shen Zhao said, "Alright, stop talking nonsense. Since you're here, just stay for now. Later, send me fifty spirit stones, and let's see how strong you are."
Ding Buer: "???"
Su Yunying: "???"
"Ahem, I mean, tomorrow is the birthday of Lu Zhantian from the City Lord's Manor. I happen to have a batch of goods that I need to find more channels to sell.
Try talking to those who come to celebrate his birthday and see if they need any Lesser Recovery Pills or Qi Gathering Pills."
"No problem. As long as I don't have to use a knife or a gun, just use my words, it's nothing."
"Right, and also, in three days, there's a match at my fighting gym. I'll be personally fighting. You have to ensure at least a thousand people are watching that day."
"I understand. And then open an outside betting ring to make some money. I understand all these tricks. Leave it to me."
"Very good, looks promising."
"Boss Shen is too kind, but as for the reward..."
"Don't worry, I won't treat you badly. From today on, you are my Shen Zhao's advisor, and also the Sinister Alliance's strategist."
"Then this little one thanks Shen the Boss for the promotion!"
Ding Buer's face lit up like a flower, and he kept bowing and saluting, acting like a standard yes-man.
Seeing this, Su Yunying quickly said, "What about me?"
"Clean up here first, then cook me some food. You're not getting off the hook so easily!"
"Thank you, Shen the Boss."
Su Yunying immediately got busy with a cheerful air.
Only then did Ding Buer say, "Shen the Boss, isn't this girl your woman?"
"Go do your job. Don't pry into your Shen Ye's personal affairs. Right, from now on, call me Shen Ye, got it?"
"No problem, as long as Master Shen can help this little one get rich, I'll call you Dad without a second thought!"
"Get lost!"