“Greetings, Master Tai.”
A well-dressed middle-aged man clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect, bowing to Chen Tai.
Chen Tai looked at the man before him – the renowned wine, fruit, and logistics tycoon of the Three Sides Slope region, known as Fourth Master.
His carefully styled hair was slicked back without a single strand out of place.
His dyed hair was a pure black, but a few strands of white were mixed in, adding a unique charm to his appearance.
He wore a crisp, dark blue suit, paired with a white shirt and an elegant tie.
He didn't seem like the leader of hundreds of men, but rather a refined businessman.
He stood out from the others around him, yet oddly harmonious.
A leader, naturally, was different.
But when this leader's gaze fell upon Chen Tai.
A hint of shock couldn't help but flicker across his face.
His eyes twitched involuntarily.
It turned out that Chen Tai was constantly playing with a Ghost-faced Black Widow spider in his hand.
This was a venomous spider that could easily kill someone with a single bite.
Yet in the hands of this "Master Tai" before him, it behaved meekly like a pet.
“Bring the gifts in!” Fourth Master commanded his subordinates.
He felt a wave of relief at that moment.
When he was told to personally come to the dam.
He had been quite annoyed.
He had prepared himself for the possibility that this 'master' was a fake, ready to eliminate him if necessary.
But now it seemed that just with this single insect-taming skill, the master undoubtedly possessed some genuine abilities.
Moments later.
His subordinates carried in a multitude of precious items, including gold, jewels, and rosewood.
“Just a humble gift, I hope Master will accept it.”
Chen Tai casually glanced at the offerings.
Gold and silver treasures were of no use to him.
Only the old tree root could be used for carving a statue, along with some magic tools.
He pointed at the rosewood.
“This one can stay, the rest is useless to me.”
Then he took out a small box.
“Courtesy demands reciprocity, please accept this pill, Fourth Master.”
Fourth Master furrowed his brow seeing that Chen Tai didn't want gold or silver.
But seeing Chen Tai accept the wood, he felt a little less worried.
When Chen Tai presented the box.
He could smell a faint, sweet fragrance even from a distance.
Suddenly, a craving surged within Fourth Master.
He longed to open the box and swallow its contents in one gulp.
But he managed to restrain himself.
Then, Chen Tai briefly discussed Buddhist teachings with him.
Drawing upon his memories of infiltrating the Buddhist sect in his second life, he elaborated on the Buddhist teachings with extraordinary eloquence.
Fourth Master listened, mesmerized.
“Master, would you be willing to return to my estate with me? I would like to personally dedicate myself to your service!”
Chen Tai looked at Fourth Master's expectant expression.
Who are you? You think you can just dedicate yourself to me?
He thought dismissively.
Chen Tai raised a finger, waving it before Fourth Master's eyes.
“Our destinies are not yet intertwined.”
“Certain things will come to pass when the time is right.”
Fourth Master reluctantly departed.
Before leaving, he specifically instructed the dam worker to treat Chen Tai with even greater reverence than his own father.
Back at his lodging.
Fourth Master couldn't wait to open the box.
Immediately, a rich fragrance filled the air.
He stared intently at the jet-black pill inside the box.
“Eat it!”
“Eat it!”
Fourth Master felt as if all his cells were yearning for it.
He grabbed the pill and swallowed it whole.
The pill dissolved instantly, and as it reached his stomach, a surge of heat erupted.
Suddenly.
His eyes bulged out.
His hands gripped his neck, his face turning a bright red.
“Ugh ugh ugh!”
Hearing the commotion outside, his subordinates rushed into the room.
“Fourth Master!”
“Boss!”
“Brother!”
They all gathered around.
Some even pulled out their guns, ready to confront Chen Tai.
“What kind of poison did that guy give Fourth Master? We need to make him hand over the antidote!”
Just as the crowd was growing increasingly agitated.
“Silence!”
A booming voice roared from within the crowd.
Fourth Master, his face flushed, pushed through the crowd.
He paced back and forth, frantic.
“Find me some women, quickly!”
“And, Master took that piece of wood today. Go get me more wood, lots of it.”
“I want to present it to Master myself!”
He looked up at the brightly lit hotel, his eyes burning with fervor.
...
After Fourth Master left.
Damzi felt rather dejected.
He was the one who found the master first.
He had been the one serving the master all this time.
But Fourth Master was the one who reaped the benefits.
Plus, he had exposed the fact that there was a mole among his men, sent by Fourth Master.
How could he possibly feel happy about this?
Seeing this, Chen Tai merely smiled.
He pulled out another pill and handed it to Damzi.
“I've seen your respect, this is for you.”
Through his interactions with Damzi over this period.
Chen Tai had a change of heart about him.
Though this man had no education.
And was prone to violence.
He was surprisingly honest.
And he kept his word.
He was considered a promising prospect.
Originally, he intended to exploit him and then dispose of him as a mere material.
But now he thought, why not let him help him acquire materials?
Damzi, receiving the 'Fourth Master edition' pill, was overjoyed.
He knew it was made from five kinds of highly venomous substances.
But why would the master want to harm him?
He swallowed the pill whole.
Immediately, he felt a burning sensation in his stomach.
He looked at Chen Tai.
His expression twisted.
Chen Tai chuckled and waved his hand, “Go, go.”
If it were a cultivator.
He would have immediately sat down in meditation.
But these people were unversed in cultivation, so they were like this.
Damzi, as if granted a pardon.
He clutched his stomach and ran out.
Halfway through his run.
He suddenly turned his head toward the bamboo building.
His face lit up with an epiphany.
...
“Master, this is a little something from me to show my respect.”
With Chen Tai's permission, Damzi cautiously led a girl into the bamboo building.
He was all smiles, fawning.
The girl he brought in was indeed visibly terrified.
She clutched the torn clothes on her chest and trembled.
She wasn't just afraid of Chen Tai.
She was also afraid of the furry, venomous creature she had caught a glimpse of earlier.
Chen Tai looked up at her.
The girl was surprisingly pretty.
She was unlike the locals.
Damzi shamelessly introduced her, “Master, her name is Wu Meng. Her father owed a debt and used her as collateral. I figured Master needed someone to take care of things here, so I brought her to you.”
“Master, you see, she has Dragon Nation blood.”
Chen Tai's thoughts stirred.
It had indeed been lonely these past few days.
Chen Tai was a demonic cultivator.
Naturally, he had some knowledge of the “Great Yin-Yang Harmony Scripture.”
Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up having a falling out with those righteous sects for certain reasons.
But after arriving in this desolate Three Sides Slope.
The locals he encountered were all gloomy and lacking in appeal, not to his taste at all.
But now, this Wu Meng that Damzi brought.
Her virginity was intact.
She also fit his aesthetic.
While she couldn't compare to the righteous saintesses of his previous life.
She could still be considered a dessert after a meal.
“Damzi, you have a good heart.”
Chen Tai nodded to Damzi.
Damzi’s face lit up.
He hastily pushed Wu Meng in front of Chen Tai.
“What are you crying for? You know, being able to serve Master is a blessing you’ve earned over several lifetimes!”
Chen Tai waved his hand, dismissing him.
He then turned to the girl.
And in the girl's eyes.
Countless golden lights suddenly burst forth from behind the tall young man before her.
He appeared like a divine being.
She couldn't help but kneel on the ground, her head lowered.
“May the master show compassion.”
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