That night, the Red Pavilion was trashed by several young masters from the Niu Clan, accompanied by their servants, because one of the girls had bad breath.
When Zhu Qigao reported this incident to Zhu Xiaosuo in front of Zhuang Yun, Zhuang Yun's face turned green.
Zhu Xiaosuo chuckled and said, "This month has been smooth sailing, and we've made quite a bit of silver. It's time to have a little clash with them. In the name of Senior Brother Zhuang and myself, invite all the cultivators from the three great clans and County Magistrate Qin Ruyu to a banquet at the Red Pavilion tomorrow night."
"Yes!"
After Zhu Qigao left, Zhuang Yun said, "I won't make a move. We haven't earned much spirit stones, and it's just brought trouble. Besides, if I make a move, they'll report it to the Immortal-Knocking Town, and the Immortal Sect will punish me."
Zhu Xiaosuo replied, "Senior Brother Zhuang, I haven't shortchanged you on spirit stones. It's just a meal; you don't need to take action. Why are you so anxious? By the way, Senior Brother, how long until you break through to the Bone Transformation Stage?"
Zhuang Yun didn't want to answer, but Zhu Xiaosuo insisted on the last line of their heart oath, which required Zhuang Yun to answer Zhu Xiaosuo's questions. If he violated it, he would suffer from inner demons.
Zhuang Yun didn't dare to gamble with his path of cultivation, so he answered every question.
These days, even which hand he used to support himself in the bathroom was asked by Zhu Xiaosuo.
Fortunately, Zhu Xiaosuo had boundaries and never asked inappropriate questions, like what Zhu Xiaosuo's weaknesses were during cultivation.
The question about breaking through wasn't a secret.
Zhuang Yun said, "I've already obtained the Rebirth and Marrow-Washing Pill to break through to the Bone Transformation Stage. I'm a Blue Vein cultivator, and I just need to seclude myself for a year to break through."
"I see. Then let me congratulate you in advance, Uncle Zhuang!"
"No need, you're my uncle! I just want to get through these three months and cut ties with you completely!"
"Senior Brother Zhuang, what are you saying? I've never been unfaithful or dishonest. The spirit stones that reached your hands weren't short, and I didn't cook the books. Heaven and earth can testify!"
Zhuang Yun coldly laughed, "Yes, you didn't short me on money, but you've caused plenty of trouble! You even put my name on a brothel! I'm telling you, after I leave, you must close the Red Pavilion! Otherwise, if our fellow disciples find out, I'll have no face to stay in the Immortal Sect!"
"Senior Brother Zhuang, why are you denying everything after the fact? If I close the Red Pavilion, what will happen to Xiao Hong, Xiao Fang, Xiao Xia, Xiao Die, and Xiao Cai? They were all good families sold into the Red Pavilion, and besides Senior Brother Zhuang, I've never let anyone else touch them! I treat them like my own mother!"
Zhuang Yun's face turned red with embarrassment.
These days, he had indeed tasted the pleasures of the company of women.
After his only son was killed by Zhu Fulu, his wife also fell ill and died shortly after. Having cut off worldly attachments, he spent years cultivating in the Immortal Sect, ignoring worldly affairs and avoiding women.
Cultivation was dull and monotonous, and Zhuang Yun had thought about finding a companion.
Unfortunately, his appearance was not outstanding, making it difficult for him to attract the female cultivators he admired in the Immortal Sect.
Those who liked him, he didn't love; those he loved, ignored him.
So he simply gave up.
That's why when Zhu Xiaosuo once praised his father's handsomeness as an advantage, he chose to agree.
Only those who are not handsome know how important it is to be good-looking.
Half a month ago, unable to resist Zhu Xiaosuo's temptation and the descriptions of Zhu Fulu's various techniques by one of Zhu Xiaosuo's brothers during the Vein Opening Pill examination, he was dragged into the water by Zhu Xiaosuo to "rescue" fallen women.
Once he tasted it, he couldn't stop.
He indeed had some lingering feelings.
After a long while, he forced a smile and said, "You say you treat them like your own mother, that's quite thoughtful. Wait! Do you mean your own mother is also... Can I?"
Not to mention that after seeing Madam Feng, Zhuang Yun couldn't forget her elegance, just the idea of being with the wife of an enemy was a temptation he couldn't resist.
"Senior Brother Zhuang, what are you thinking? No matter how rebellious I am, I wouldn't let my own mother work at the Red Pavilion! I call you Senior Brother, do you want to be my father?"
Zhuang Yun didn't know why he said such things.
It was as if Zhu Xiaosuo had flipped a switch inside him.
Lewd thoughts kept pouring out.
But Zhu Xiaosuo continued, "My father is already dead. If you're willing, you can be my godfather! Godfather above, please accept my bow!"
For the sake of cultivation resources and the Immortal Sect examination, Zhu Xiaosuo completely let go of his pride.
He realized that in front of Zhuang Yun, dignity wasn't important; flattery was.
He had to seize the opportunity; once it passed, it wouldn't come again.
What's wrong with acknowledging a godfather?
There's no blood relation, and once he breaks through to the Bone Transformation Stage, they could go back to being brothers.
"What are you doing!"
Zhuang Yun didn't expect Zhu Xiaosuo's moral boundaries to be so flexible.
"Godfather, I discovered that Madam Feng has quite a bit of research on certain novels..."
"Godson, tell me more..."
The next morning, Zhuang Yun became Zhu Xiaosuo's godfather.
Little did he know, this was all part of Zhu Xiaosuo's plan.
The plan was proposed by Madam Feng, asking Zhu Xiaosuo to help her connect with Zhuang Yun.
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Of course, Zhu Xiaosuo wouldn't agree.
Letting Madam Feng gain power would only create obstacles for himself.
But Madam Feng offered him a spirit stone and promised not to harm him, only seeking benefits and opportunities for revenge for herself.
Zhu Xiaosuo was tempted.
He needed spirit stones.
Even if it was like drinking poison to quench thirst, he drank it without hesitation.
He had to give his all to pass the Immortal Sect examination.
Every additional spirit stone was another chance to break through.
Although, based on business income, he could eventually gather enough spirit stones.
But he was too cautious.
Though it seemed like he was flourishing now, in reality, it was all borrowed power, just a facade.
Seizing cultivation resources was a matter of urgency; delay could lead to changes.
He believed he had to break through to the Second Layer of the Rebirth Stage as soon as possible, not taking three years as a deadline.
So, even without Madam Feng's promise, he would have been swayed.
However, since Madam Feng was willing to offer a spirit stone, it was definitely not her bottom line.
After bargaining, they finally settled on three spirit stones.
Madam Feng worked hard to seduce, and Zhu Xiaosuo used his words to entice.
This resulted in a powerful godfather.
At the banquet, the cultivators of the Four Great Clans gathered together.
As the only non-cultivator, County Magistrate Qin Ruyu took on the role of an introducer.
"Yang Clan's head, Yang Linqiu, and her third aunt, Yang Shuru."
"Ma Clan's head, Ma Baoying, and her niece, Ma Weixin."
"Niu Clan's head, Niu Shilin, and his nephew, Niu Daijie, and his son, Niu Daihao."
Zhu Xiaosuo noticed that the four cultivators from the Ma and Yang Clans were all women.
When he saw Ma Clan's head, Ma Baoying, Zhu Xiaosuo was momentarily stunned.
With willow-like eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, red lips, and white teeth, her neck was graceful, and her figure was elegant. Her entire aura exuded a natural charm. It was no exaggeration to say that Zhu Xiaosuo had never seen such a stunning beauty. Any man with blood in his veins would find it hard to resist her allure.
Unfortunately, she was an enemy, not a friend.
"This is Zhu Clan's head, Zhu Xiaosuo, and..."
Zhu Xiaosuo interrupted, "This is my godfather, Zhuang Yun."
Godfather?
The cultivators of the three great clans and County Magistrate Qin Ruyu were taken aback.
Wasn't Zhuang Yun only supposed to stay in Mountain Chicken County for three months? How did they end up as father and son?
Wouldn't that mean Zhuang Yun would get involved in the distribution of interests in Mountain Chicken County?
If that were the case, the three great clans wouldn't be pleased.
How could they survive if you and your godson took over so much business?
Blocking someone's path to wealth is akin to killing their parents.
Even if you're a disciple of the Immortal Sect, that would be an offense.
Niu Clan's head, Niu Shilin, said, "I've been cultivating for over seventy years and luckily broke through to the Late Stage of the Rebirth Stage. I'm currently at the Seventh Layer of the Rebirth Stage. I wonder what Zhuang Daoist's cultivation level is, and can you handle all the business in Mountain Chicken County?"
The "Cultivator's Beginner Guide" states that among cultivators, the strong are respected.
The strong can look down on the weak.
The way cultivators resolve disputes is simple: a duel.
Whoever wins gets to call the shots.
Zhuang Yun said, "I'm not hiding my cultivation. You can use the Spirit Cleansing Sight to take a look."
Everyone present was puzzled, not knowing what the Spirit Cleansing Sight was.
Only the well-informed Niu Clan head turned red and said, "I... I'm not a disciple of the Immortal Sect, so I can't practice the Immortal Sect's Spirit Cleansing Sight."
This was Zhuang Yun intentionally reiterating the distinction between their statuses.
Although Zhu Xiaosuo wasn't clear about the status of an Immortal Sect disciple, it wasn't hard to see from Niu Shilin's demeanor that it was a status he couldn't reach.
"But, Zhuang Daoist, you can't just leave us with no way to survive because you're an Immortal Sect disciple, can you?"
Zhuang Yun didn't reply.
Zhu Xiaosuo spoke up, "My godfather is at the Tenth Layer of the Rebirth Stage and should break through to the Bone Transformation Stage in a little over a year."
"Bone Transformation Stage?!"
The cultivators of the three clans and Qin Ruyu were dumbfounded.
If Zhuang Yun were just a Rebirth Stage cultivator, Qin Ruyu could still report to the town, and the local authorities could pressure the Immortal Sect to punish him.
But the Bone Transformation Stage was different.
The heads of several cultivator clans in Immortal-Knocking Town were only at the Bone Transformation Stage.
Why would a Bone Transformation Stage cultivator compete with us for small-scale business in the county?
Why not go to the town and pursue your own business?
Isn't there more to earn there?
Niu Shilin said, "Zhuang Daoist, since you're already a Bone Transformation Stage cultivator, why not seek immortal opportunities in Immortal-Knocking Town instead of running a business in Mountain Chicken County?"
Zhu Xiaosuo feared Zhuang Yun would say he was only here for three months and quickly said, "A parent's love for their child is deep and far-reaching. Do I need to spell out why my godfather is doing business in Mountain Chicken County?"
At this point, the three great clans and Qin Ruyu had no more complaints.
They couldn't beat him, and they couldn't deal with him.
Although the three great clans had connections with the cultivator clans in the town, getting those clans' Bone Transformation Stage cultivators to act against another Bone Transformation Stage cultivator would be extremely costly.
Moreover, this was a Bone Transformation Stage cultivator only doing business in the county, not affecting the town's layout in any way.
The cultivation world isn't about fighting and killing; it's all about profit.
Only a fool would do something that doesn't pay off.
The banquet was oppressively tense.
Zhuang Yun and Zhu Xiaosuo focused on eating, while the three great clans and Qin Ruyu were under pressure.
After the banquet, Zhu Xiaosuo arranged for Zhuang Yun to proceed with the next project.
At this time, Zhuang Yun asked, "Using my name as a shield again? Do you really think you've got me figured out?"
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't play dumb, "From now on, we'll split the profits eighty-twenty. How could I ever figure out my godfather? I can only figure out my godfather's feet!"
Saying this, he helped Zhuang Yun sit down and began massaging his feet.
"Godson, your hands are a bit stronger than Xiao Hong and Xiao Die's."
"It's my fault! I'll go call them right away."
"By the way, let's give Madam Feng half a percent of the profits. She's raising two daughters on her own, and as your stepmother, it's not easy for her."
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't hesitate, "Of course! Everything is up to godfather's arrangement!"
After saying this, Zhu Xiaosuo left the room and arranged for Xiao Hong and Xiao Die to enter.
As soon as he left the room, Zhu Xiaosuo's face darkened.
Madam Feng was doing nothing and taking half a percent of the profits.
He was left with only one and a half percent.
From this one and a half percent, he still had to cover the Zhu Clan's expenses.
He was almost out of profit.
But fortunately, with the three spirit stones Madam Feng gave him, the one he had saved before, and the monthly profit share that could be exchanged for one spirit stone, he only needed to gather three more spirit stones to pass the Immortal Sect examination.
One and a half percent profit, gathering three spirit stones in three years wasn't too big of a problem.
But greed is never satisfied.
Zhu Xiaosuo keenly sensed that Zhuang Yun didn't want him to pass the Immortal Sect examination.
Zhuang Yun had no foothold in the town, and others wouldn't easily give up their interests to him.
Rather than struggling to establish himself in the town, it was better to be a local king in the county.
He didn't have to worry about anything, just focus on cultivation, leaving everything to Zhu Xiaosuo.
Perhaps, Zhuang Yun just wanted him to quietly be a money bag in the county.
His profits would surely be squeezed to the last penny.
He thought he could use Zhuang Yun's power to grow and strengthen, but he ended up being devoured by a tiger, unable to protect himself.