EFB Chapter 2405 The Empty Family Fortune
Chapter 2405 The Empty Family Fortune
Chapter 2405 The Empty Family Fortune
Like Aunt Zhu, the Eyeball Spider couldn't see the Red Monster either, so it found Shangguan Biao's behavior very strange.
Shangguan Biao ran faster and faster, and judging from his expression, it seemed he was about to be caught. So he turned and rushed into a dilapidated woodshed by the roadside.
The door to the woodshed couldn't be closed properly. Shangguan Biao rushed in, braced his back against the door, and gasped for breath for a long time.
He Lingchuan guessed that the red monster was talking to him again. Shangguan Biao clenched his jaw tightly and was covered in sweat.
It wasn't until about fifteen minutes later that he opened the door and went outside, presumably because the Red Monster had left again.
This time, Shangguan Biao's steps were heavy.
He Lingchuan said, "Let's retreat too."
The owners were almost back, so they couldn't stay any longer.
However, before the three of them left the cabin, the eyeball spider on Shangguan Biao's shoulder saw a slender figure dart out from the roadside and heard a clear female voice: "Hey, Shangguan Biao!"
Shangguan Biao stopped abruptly.
Standing in front of him was a girl of sixteen or seventeen, with almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, and fair skin with a rosy glow, like a red apple just pulled from the water.
When she smiles, a small dimple appears on her left cheek, which makes everyone feel good.
Shangguan Biao also subconsciously laughed along with her: "Xiaoying, what brings you here?"
"I brought you something." Xiaoying stared at the wound on his head and exclaimed, "What happened to your head? Why is it bleeding so much?!"
Shangguan Biao hit his head in the passageway and broke it open. To keep it fresh, he didn't remove the blood and apply medicine.
"I went to clean up the Earth Mother's lair, but I encountered a landslide." Seeing Xiaoying about to bandage him and apply medicine, Shangguan Biao waved his hands repeatedly, "No need, the bleeding has stopped, it just looks scary. I have good medicine, you don't need to do it."
Xiaoying tried to reach out, but he stopped her several times, so she believed that he really didn't need help. She then gave him a strange look and said, "I wanted to go to your house, but the terrain of Duzhishan is too bad. I can't figure out how to get around."
“Let’s not go back yet. It’s getting dark, and there are more and more people lounging around Huaiwu.” Shangguan Biao looked up at the sky. “Let’s go sit in Danxiang Pavilion. There are usually not many people there.”
The young girl had no objection.
There is a large rock halfway up the mountain, which looks like an eagle spreading its wings. The Danxiang Pavilion is located on the eagle's head. If you sit here, you can hear the babbling brook and see the golden and red mountain forests in autumn.
As Xiaoying walked over, she subconsciously took a deep breath of the crisp air: "The major sects are really different. The spiritual energy here is much richer than in my Yuan'an Sect. One year of cultivation here is equivalent to several years back home, right?"
Shangguan Biao smiled and said, "If you like, you can stay here for a few more days."
When he saw Xiaoying, his eyes softened, and his expression relaxed, all traces of his previous gloom vanished.
Xiaoying laughed and said, "Someone just said that second half of what I said to me."
"Who?"
“I think he’s one of your senior brothers, surnamed Xu. I asked him for directions when I went up the mountain just now, and he actually knew who I was and remembered that I had been here twice before!” Xiaoying blinked. “He gave me directions and we chatted for a bit.”
"Senior Brother Xu?" Shangguan Biao's expression changed, and he looked a little nervous. "What did he say to you?"
“He said that Du Zhishan’s work is very demanding, but you are hardworking and diligent, and Uncle Li has seen it all. Heaven rewards diligence, and you are more diligent than others, so your luck will surely turn around.” Xiaoying recalled, “I was so happy when he said that! Then he told me that Du Zhishan has many guests, and I can stay here for a few more days. The sect will also welcome me very much.”
She paused for a moment: "His attitude was very good, unlike the fellow disciples you usually talk about."
What could Shangguan Biao say? He remained silent for a moment before saying, "When you left last time, Senior Brother Xu asked about you. However, it's best to stay away from this person in the future."
"Oh, is this person really that bad?"
"Didn't I tell you that there are many people in this world who are all smiles and hide daggers, and who can even betray their own family members?"
"Is the Xu guy that kind of person? Okay, I'll avoid him from now on." Xiaoying casually mentioned, "By the way, this is the material your father asked me to bring to your door."
She took off a ring from her left hand and handed it to Shangguan Biao.
He took it and stared at it for a few moments: "It must have been very difficult for him to raise this much money and materials, right?"
“The Shangguan family is indeed not as good as before. Your father sold the last few shops on Salt Street, and I heard that he also sold several of the Shangguan family’s ancestral secret recipes.”
The Shangguan family has been medicine merchants for generations, possessing some powerful medicinal formulas—they're like golden goose laying golden eggs. Now, however, the Shangguan family has sold these golden goose directly to someone else, demonstrating just how desperately they need money.
Shangguan Biao's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed a mouthful of bitter water.
“This ring contains a rare 500-year-old Cistanche deserticola. Your father had to stake out more than a dozen auctions to finally buy this one. It was very expensive.” Xiaoying asked in a low voice, “Who wants to use it? The person who specifically asked for these herbs is really shameless.”
"Who else?" Shangguan Biao gripped the ring tightly in his palm.
"Your Uncle Li?" Xiaoying pouted her red lips. "He asks for this and that every few days, almost emptying your family's savings. Why hasn't he gotten things done for you yet? Didn't he say he could help you get back to your original identity?"
He Lingchuan and the others were all moved when they heard this.
So that's how it is. Shangguan Biao has realized that to survive and establish himself in Changfeng Valley, and to rise above others, he cannot do without external help, nor can he do without going through the complexities of human relationships.
So he asked Li Yun for help.
What is Li Yun's status and position in Changfeng Valley? He has high aspirations, how could you possibly show off your meager wealth?
If he wants Li Yun to help him back, he'll have to pay a price.
When Shangguan Biao was demoted to Duzhishan, his family was very anxious. They tried their best to get whatever Li Yun wanted. After all, Li Yun was the leader of the immortal sect that controlled Suzhou. Their son was in his hands, so how could they dare to refuse him? But Li Yun asked for things one time, then three or four, then five or six, then seven or eight. Eventually, he stopped pretending and simply gave the Shangguan family a list, telling them to prepare the materials according to the list.
Even the wealthiest family can't withstand such a stingy approach from the immortal. So Li Yun kept emptying the Shangguan family's pockets until he was practically broke.
This sheep is too thin; it can't withstand being sheared.
But Shangguan Biao was still at Duzhishan, doing menial tasks, and hadn't returned to his original status. He didn't dare hope to be promoted again; he only wanted to leave Duzhishan and return to his status as an inner disciple. This seemed like a simple matter for Li Yun, yet it had dragged on for so long without being accomplished.
The eyeball spider noticed that Shangguan Biao clenched his jaw, but he still said, "Actually, there were several attempts, but they were always just a little short, so we didn't get it done. Two months ago, Uncle Li was supposed to transfer me away, but Du Zhishan received a new task to cultivate spiritual herbs, and since I was doing well in my cultivation, I was temporarily kept here and not allowed to be transferred. Uncle Li said, 'Let's wait a little longer, there will be another chance after these two months.'"
(End of this chapter)