Jiang Xiaojun looked up at me with disdain and said, “Who the hell do you think you are? Just because you can draw a few lousy talismans, you think you can do anything to me?”
I had no interest in arguing with him. Turning to Xue’er, I said, “You’re the client, you decide how to deal with him!”
“I… What can we do with him?” Xue’er seemed clueless.
“He’s a ghost cultivator,” I explained. “That dark aura is his soul, his true self, which is probably asleep right now. If we destroy his soul at this moment, his body will never wake up again.”
Zhao Yao chimed in, “Like a vegetable?”
“Sort of,” I replied after a moment’s thought. “A vegetable still has consciousness, but he would be nothing more than a breathing corpse without even that.”
Zhao Yao, pulling Xue’er aside, suggested, “Since he’s so detestable, why not turn him into a vegetable?”
Xue’er hesitated, not answering.
Zhao Yao pressed, “Didn’t you hear him say he’d come after you again if he had the chance? What are you hesitating for?”
Xue’er asked, “Wouldn’t this be the same as murder? Wouldn’t the authorities investigate?”
“Don’t worry about that,” I assured her. “It’ll leave no trace.”
“Alright, let’s do it!” Xue’er quickly made up her mind.
It turned out her hesitation wasn’t out of compassion, but fear of criminal charges. That surprised me.
Jiang Xiaojun certainly hadn’t taken me seriously at first. But his expression changed drastically when he heard us mention ghost cultivator, soul, and vegetable.
I quickly drew a soul-burning talisman. Jiang Xiaojun collapsed at the sight of it, pleading on the ground, “Don’t kill me, please, I won’t dare do it again…”
“Too late!” I declared, pressing the talisman to his body with my left hand while making a gesture with my right towards the talisman.
Boom!
In an instant, the talisman ignited, consuming Jiang Xiaojun’s soul in flames.
“Ah…”
His soul was extinguished amidst a piercing scream.
“Done!” I packed up the unused yellow paper and cinnabar, saying to the two ladies, “That settles this matter!”
“Thank you, sincerely!” Xue’er said, looking at me with gratitude.
I thought to myself, money would be better than thanks, as gratitude doesn’t fill one’s belly.
Zhao Yao was quicker to react, pulling Xue’er aside to whisper.
After a while, it seemed they had come to an agreement.
Zhao Yao explained, “Xue’er just sent a large sum of money home yesterday, so she’s a bit short on cash right now…”
“Huh?” I was dumbfounded.
These two women weren’t planning to stiff me, were they?
Looking at the luxurious house and their designer clothes, I said, “Come on, Zhao Yao, I really need the money!”
“I’m not joking!” Zhao Yao insisted. “We may look flashy, but it’s all for show; we don’t have much cash. How about this, you can live in my place for a year rent-free, how’s that?”
A year’s rent-free living.
Six thousand bucks!
Not a bad offer!
Just as I was about to agree, Xue’er suddenly said, “Zhang Yuan, first of all, thank you! Secondly, how about I treat you tonight?”
“To dinner?” I asked casually.
“Not exactly…” Xue’er blushed, stammering, “Didn’t you say… you wanted to ‘order’ me?”
“Ah?” I was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
Xue’er explained, “At Ding Sheng International, a private room costs ten thousand yuan a session, not including drinks and cigarettes. As one of their top performers, I get a free session every month, so… consider it my treat.”
I mulled it over and asked, “Your treat means I get to ‘order’ you?”
She nodded shyly.
Zhao Yao added, “Tonight, I’ll call a few more girls over, maybe you’ll get some leads!”
“Alright then!” I agreed. “It’s settled!”
As we were leaving, Zhao Yao thanked me.
“No need,” I said. “All things considered, I’m not at a loss!”
Zhao Yao confessed, “My Porsche is actually financed; I pay over ten thousand a month, and my live streaming career has just begun…”
“Let’s not talk about that,” I interrupted, curious. “You and Xue’er were colleagues before, right?”
“Yes,” Zhao Yao replied. “I introduced her to the industry, but it’s tough on the older ones, so I had to switch careers.”
I asked, “What can I do with her tonight?”
Zhao Yao gave me a sly look and asked back, “What do you want to do with her?”
“Heh,” I chuckled. “You know what I mean!”
“It’s pretty strict there; it’s just drinking, singing, and playing games. But if you negotiate a price, what you do and where you go afterward is your business.”
“Is that so…” I felt a twinge of disappointment.
Suddenly, Zhao Yao asked, “Do you have a girlfriend?”
I shook my head.
Zhao Yao remarked, “In that case, you two might have a chance. Xue’er is really nice, only a senior in college and has been at Ding Sheng for almost a year. I’ve never heard of her going out with a client!”
She paused, then added, “And Xue’er definitely won’t work there long; once her family’s debt is paid, she’ll find a proper job!”
I said, “Whether we date or not doesn’t matter; I really just want to sleep with her once!”
“Jerk!” Zhao Yao glared at me. “You’re no different from Jiang Xiaojun!”
Soon, we reached the ground floor.
Dawn was breaking in the east.
Time to get some sleep and recharge for the night ahead!
I was fantasizing about the evening when Zhao Yao rolled down her car window as if she had something to say.
I quickly did the same, asking, “What’s up?”
Holding up her phone, Zhao Yao said, “Xue’er asked me to ask you what you want her to wear tonight!”
I pondered seriously and replied, “I’m nostalgic; the outfit she had on earlier… was quite nice.”
“Jerk!” Zhao Yao said, then added, “Drive safe on your way home!”
That night had worn me out, but the payoff was substantial.
I didn’t make cash on this job, but the prospects looked promising.
Humming a tune, I began to dream of a bright future…
At nine o’clock that evening, I drove to Ding Sheng International.
At over twenty years old, it was my first time visiting such an upscale place.
Luxury cars filled the entrance: Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Continental, Mercedes-Maybach, Toyota Alphard…
The usual rides of big-time business owners!
Entering the place gave me another shock!
Rows of girls in uniform greeted me with smiles and bows: “Good evening, honored guest, welcome to Ding Sheng International!”
A young man led me upstairs.
Worried about being charged as soon as I reached the top, I quickly said, “I have an appointment with Xue’er!”
“Understood!”
He ushered me into a private room.
From the hallway, the door looked unassuming, but upon entering, it was a world apart.
The decor, the lighting, it was beyond lavish!
I had barely sat down when drinks, snacks, and fruit were served, filling the table.
Once everything was set, there was a knock at the door.
I cleared my throat and said, “Come in!”
As the words left my lips, a stunning beauty entered, bowed, and said, “Good evening, honored guest. I am Princess No. 88, Xue’er. May I have the pleasure of serving you tonight?”