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Chapter 554 Banlan Gong

Banlan Gong—this was the disheveled man, a second-rate divine cultivator—who could indeed eat a thousand catties a day.

Even if he doesn't get to eat for the next few days, he can eat 10,000 jin (5,000 kg) in one go.

If all the food is digested and there is no new food, it doesn't matter. The mud and sand on the ground, the grass and trees on the mountain, etc., are also edible.

But the things inside his belly will inevitably keep chattering and nagging, which will annoy him.

Reaching the top three is a huge hurdle.

Or you could say it's the "Dragon Gate" that allows fish to leap over.

The second tier is a standard: it means one can be ranked among the strongest in the world.

Therefore, even second-rate repairmen are addressed with the honorific "Gong".

To show the world's respect.

But these "gentlemen" still drift in the mundane world, spending the money of the living and eating the food of the world.

Social obligations and entanglements with karma mean that one still has to do some things that are unavoidable.

Banlan Gong was actually a member of the Imperial Horse Administration.

Of course, he was not a eunuch.

The Imperial Horse Stables had a tradition of recruiting "outsiders from the martial arts world" and "heroes from the streets."

It is said that in earlier years, the Imperial Horse Administration indiscriminately issued plaques for offering sacrifices. As long as one had the ability, regardless of one's character, one could have a title of offering sacrifices placed under the Imperial Horse Administration.

结果搞得地方上发个案子，查来查去，最后的结果就是，凶犯出自御马监。

Later... the supervisor took Mr. Feng, a man from the palace, as his apprentice, and somehow, this malpractice in the Imperial Horse Administration was stopped.

First, they confiscated the illegally issued license plates and then took matters into their own hands to "clean house."

后来御马监的供奉牌子就珍贵了，没有三流以上的水准，拿不起那块牌子。

The current second-in-command of the Imperial Horse Administration, the supervising eunuch, is the adopted son of Eunuch Wang, whom he promoted himself.

Xu Yuan asked Princess Ruicheng for help and told Eunuch Wang to ask that second-rate person to come to Champa a few months earlier.

王公公当然也是不耐烦的。

But Eunuch Wang was a kind man; he couldn't bear to see the rich suffer.

His Highness presented 20,000 taels of silver.

Eunuch Wang immediately made the impossible possible.

搬澜公不爽的地方也就在这里。

两万两是不少，但两万两能请动一位二流？
That is of course impossible.

不过两万两能够撬动王公公手中的权势，王公公发个话，搬澜公就只好捏着鼻子来了。

一路上他磨磨蹭蹭，不断在劝自己：不过是换个地方就食罢了，但心里还是有一口不平气理不顺。

In addition, he happened to kill someone last night, and after glancing at the person's soul, he discovered that the person had come to target Xu Yuan.

Then he thought, "I've already saved you from a great calamity as soon as I arrived, so what's wrong with being a little arrogant? What's wrong with giving you a hard time?"
Then he saw Little Thread Girl.

He couldn't see the "Yougong Zhengyin" destiny of the Thread Maiden, but the second-rate divine cultivator could clearly sense that the Thread Maiden was an excellent "successor"!
No one of the upper class could resist such temptation.

Once you reach the top three levels, you must consider the issue of successors.

This involves many things, and is far more complex than simply passing on one's skills.

When the cycle of reincarnation goes wrong, even those of the highest rank have a tiny chance to exploit the loophole and reincarnate after their lifespan is exhausted.

After reincarnation, one will need someone to protect them, right?
This is where the role of an excellent successor is demonstrated.

Second-rate cultivators have a greater chance of reincarnation than first-rate ones.

Even if Banlan Gong is a ruthless and unruly man, he can be flexible and adaptable when faced with this kind of situation!

Xu Yuan was taken aback by him.

Lord Xu was originally prepared to tolerate it—a second-rate official who traveled thousands of miles to Champa to help you, what's wrong with saying a few words to you?
But then Banlan Gong suddenly changed his tune and became friendly, leaving Xu Yuan bewildered.

"Your Excellency..." Xu Yuan asked tentatively, "Shall we talk inside?"

“Alright, alright,” Banlan Gong immediately agreed.

But his map of Yan was a bit too short, so he pointed to the little girl behind him and said, "This little girl looks very clever. Is she your sister? Come along with her."

Xu Yuan immediately understood.

“It is indeed my sworn sister.” Xu Yuan said with a serious expression, “Xian Niang, you come too.”

"Yes." The Thread Girl obediently replied, her two big, dark eyes filled with joy.

Little Thread Girl only feels safe when she's with Lord Xu.

Although Lord Xu brought the mother and daughter to Champa, they were "without a name or status," and Xiao Xianniang had been feeling uneasy these past few days.

Children from poor families mature early.

Now that Xu Yuan has opened his mouth and said that she is his "sworn sister", Xiao Xianniang is so excited that she wants to jump up.

Regardless of whether Lord Xu acknowledges this statement or not, Xiao Xianniang has decided to stick with him. I am his sworn sister, even if I am struck by lightning, I am still his sworn sister, and I cannot change it.

Little Thread Girl followed behind, carefully taking a few quick steps.

Originally, she followed Xu Yuan, always keeping five steps away and not daring to get too close.

现在却“贪心”的又上前了两步，跟进了三步之内。

Then, carefully observing Lord Xu, she found that he showed no anger or repulsion, and a sweet smile appeared on his thin face.

许源当然注意到了这一点，也是一阵心疼。

进了署衙的正堂，坐下来之后，许源便对搬澜公说道：“阁下，请您来是因……”

Banlan Gong didn't even look at Xu Yuan, and waved his hand: "We'll talk about it later."

他只盯着小线娘，笑眯眯的摸了摸自己的大肚皮，问道：“乖徒……咳咳，小姑娘，你能看见这里面有什么？”

Little Thread Girl held up one little finger and counted: "One, two, three, four, five... There are five in total... No, there's a sixth one."

"Hahaha!" Banlan Gong was overjoyed, laughing as he rubbed his messy hair.

At such a young age, before even having mastered the basics, being able to see the five Yin Generals within one's own abdomen is already an exceptional talent.

To be able to clearly see a Yin General, that is truly the most top-tier potential for divine cultivation in this world!
He couldn't wait any longer and was about to pat his belly to take out a "gift" for the meeting.

But then he thought that the young girl probably thought he was dirty, so he turned around and went behind the screen.

他在屏风后面吐出来了几件宝物——一把年纪的老头子了，却努力揣测起小丫头的喜好来：这些宝物，我那乖徒儿会最喜欢哪一个？
He came out after a while, holding a wooden puppet in his hand.

“拿着。”他将木偶往小线娘面前一递。

Little Thread Girl looked at the doll—in her opinion, it was ugly and strange.

But for some reason, I felt a genuine liking for this thing.

Unsure whether to accept the offer, she looked at Xu Yuan and timidly called out, "Brother?"

Xu Yuan smiled and said to Banlan Gong, "Your gift is too precious..."

Ban Lan Gong was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks.

If they won't even accept a gift when we first meet, how am I supposed to take on an apprentice?

"Oh dear!" He waved his hand forcefully and said to Xu Yuan, "Sir, you're being too formal. My surname is Wang, you can just call me Uncle Wang."

"This..." Xu Yuan hesitated, "Isn't it inappropriate?"

Old Wang is the second-rate person Xu Yuan has met so far who is least "aloof and ethereal".

He doesn't seem like a second-rate person at all.

Although Xu Yuan had not seen many second-rate people.

"What's inappropriate about it?" Banlan Gong glared and said feigned anger, "If you don't agree, I'll go back right now and have Eunuch Wang send someone else for you."

Xu Yuan then cupped his hands and smiled, "Then this humble official will presume upon this, Uncle Wang."

“诶，这就对了嘛。”搬澜公又把木偶塞给小线娘：“你兄长喊我叔，我就是你长辈了，这是长辈的见面礼，拿着。”

Little Thread Girl was still looking at Xu Yuan. She had called out "Brother" just now, and Lord Xu hadn't refused. Little Thread Girl felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

"Take it," Xu Yuan said with a smile.

Little Thread Girl then accepted the gift with both hands and said sweetly, "Thank you, Uncle Wang."

"Hahaha." Banlan Gong laughed loudly and started scratching his messy hair again.

Xu Yuan said, "Alright, Xianniang, go play."

"okay."

“诶诶诶……”搬澜公急忙拦住：“我还没有传授线娘怎么用这宝贝呢。”

Xu Yuan looked troubled: "Uncle Wang, my sister has a pitiful background, and I don't really want her to join the family..."

"What did you say?!" Banlan Gong glared suddenly. Such a good prospect, you don't want her to join the sect?
You little brat, do you want to listen to what you're saying?
Although Banlan Gong was careless and casual, he was, after all, a second-rate master repairman who was not good at scheming and intrigue, but he was experienced and had some sense of the situation.

He reached out and grabbed Xu Yuan's wrist: "Come on, let me have something to say to you."

不由分说就把许源扯到了屏风后面。

"Kid, what exactly do you mean? Just say it."

Xu Yuan still insisted: "I really don't want my sister to get involved in these messy struggles."

Banlan Gong snorted: "Alright, stop pretending with me, name your price."

Seeing that Xu Yuan was still trying to dodge the question, he became truly enraged: "If you keep using that excuse, I'll just snatch this little girl and leave! Let's see if you can stop me!"

Xu Yuan immediately became obedient, grinning as he said, "Since Uncle Wang values ​​her so much, it must be her good fortune. I can let her become Uncle Wang's disciple, but..."

Banlan Gong frowned: "I will do my best to handle the matter on the fifteenth of July."

而且在交趾这段时间，本公会全力助你。”

许源叹了口气，道：“七月半的那件事情，王叔尽力便好，您左右不了大局……”

Seeing the unconvinced look on Banlan Gong's face, Xu Yuan raised his hand and pressed down on him, saying quickly, "Uncle Wang, don't be angry. It's not that I look down on you. You'll see when the time comes."

Since I've accepted Xianniang as my younger sister, I have to consider her needs.

"Once the Ghost Festival is over, if I am unfortunate... I will entrust Little Thread Girl to you from now on."

Banlan Gong became increasingly curious: "Before I came, Eunuch Wang told me that another top-tier expert would be arriving. Still can't solve your problem?"

Xu Yuan shook his head: "I'm not entirely confident."

"What exactly happened?"

"Uncle Wang, please don't ask. I can't tell you."

Despite repeated questioning from Banlan Gong, Xu Yuan remained silent.

搬澜公一脸出恭不畅的神情。

许源心中反而有种莫名的快意。

No matter how much she pressed them for answers, her stepmother and Aunt Wang wouldn't tell her—now it's her turn to make others suffer like this.

我一个人受苦，那是真的苦。

But if someone is suffering just like me... then suddenly it doesn't seem so bad anymore.

Xu Yuan went out first, and Banlan Gong had no choice but to follow.

Xu Yuan beckoned to Xiao Xianniang, who obediently stepped forward and said, "Brother."

"Hmm," Xu Yuan responded, and said, "Uncle Wang wants to take you as his apprentice. Would you like to learn some skills from him?"

小线娘道：“我听兄长的。”    搬澜公眼巴巴地看着许源。

Xu Yuan didn't keep him hanging, and nodded, saying, "Then you should become his disciple."

"Yes, brother." Little Thread Girl obediently knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times to Master Banlan: "Teacher."

"Hahaha!" Banlan Gong was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Good disciple, good disciple, get up quickly."

He disregarded everything else and said to Xu Yuan, "Prepare a quiet room for me. I will now refine the medicinal ingredients for my good disciple."

"it is good."

The room was ready, but Ban Lan Gong pulled Xu Yuan aside: "This matter is somewhat related to you."

Banlan Gong spat out a one-legged greedy ghost.

这贪财鬼还扛着那只口袋，两只手死死的攥着袋口，不肯交出来：“这人在皇城司的悬赏上，价值五万两银子，你想要须得拿五万两银子来。”

自己的阴将还要跟自己讨价还价，搬澜公的老脸有些挂不住：“挂账便是。”

那独脚贪财鬼却是喷出了一口阴气，里边飞起一本账册，哗哗哗的自动翻着：“挂不得，你已经欠了三十七万六千八百两银子了，还整天从我这里拷索，我还没跟你细算呢……”

Banlan Gong roared, "Release them right now, or I'll beat you to death!"

From inside Banlan Gong's belly, a woman's voice gloated, "Kill him! Kill him now! I've had my eye on him for ages!"

The one-legged greedy ghost then adopted a "what's the use" attitude: "Then go ahead and kill me. You know I want money, not my life."

Xu Yuan then asked, "Who is inside?"

Banlan Gong gritted his teeth and said it.

Xu Yuan also felt a chill run down his spine.

It was fortunate that Banlan Gong came at the right time; otherwise, he would have had a really hard time getting through this hurdle.

Instead of the third-rate members of the Repentance Sect, they encountered a truly powerful third-rate divine cultivator.

Banlan Gongdao said, "I want to refine this fellow and condense it into a medicinal ingredient for my good disciple to use."

If he wants to use Ji Hu to refine medicinal ingredients, then it's no ordinary medicinal ingredient.

This is extremely beneficial to Xiaoxianniang.

Xu Yuan was still a little worried: "If the Thread-Guiding Mother takes this medicine, will it be counterproductive?"

"Absolutely not." Banlan Gong looked at him as if he were being underestimated again: "The medicinal ingredient is still the medicinal ingredient; it will only help my good disciple enter the sect."

"I will never allow her to inherit Ji Hu's cultivation level after taking the medicinal ingredient; that would harm my disciple."

Xu Yuan nodded and began to bargain with the one-legged greedy ghost.

Master Xu was also heartbroken at the thought of paying 50,000 taels, but the one-legged greedy devil was truly willing to risk his life for money, and after much persuasion, he still refused to lower the price.

许源也火了：“我王叔没钱，你也不可能真的自己去跟皇城司领赏，我现在肯给你两万两，你不要就一文钱都没有，你自己考虑吧！”

Banlan Gong was ashamed; he was making medicine for his disciple himself, but he wanted Master Xu to pay him.

Xu Yuan comforted him, "Consider it my sister's tuition fee."

Banlan Gong felt a little better after that.

My opinion of Lord Xu has also changed somewhat.

His politeness towards Xu Yuan was entirely for the sake of Xiao Xianniang.

现在觉得这小子吧，有那么一点点顺眼了。

The one-legged greedy ghost was in a dilemma; its already irregular nose and eyes were now completely twisted together.

"Alright..." The one-legged greedy ghost finally agreed.

若是不答应，那是真的一文钱都拿不到。

If the old man is really pushed to the limit, he will surely shamelessly torture himself and hand the person over.

Then Banlan Gong saw Xu Yuan take out a 20,000 tael silver note and hand it to the one-legged greedy ghost.

搬澜公两只眼睛等的巨大。

因为许源给的银票是假的……

Why did I have the misconception that "this kid is alright" just now?!

Xu Yuan couldn't remember when he had confiscated the fake banknotes.

It was probably during the sweep of the Pingtianhui's strongholds.

Counterfeiting of imperial silver notes was rampant.

Even with extremely severe punishments, it is still impossible to completely eradicate the problem.

However, the one-legged greedy ghost couldn't recognize it, and this was the first time it had ever received a silver note in its own hands.

Each note is worth one thousand taels, and there are a total of twenty notes.

The excited one-legged greedy ghost trembled all over.

Xu Yuan deduced that Uncle Wang was living a very frugal life.

Uncle Wang was a second-rate cultivator, so he must have handled quite a lot of money.

But his expenses must also be very high.

Furthermore, because his cultivation method requires a massive amount of "food," he truly has no spare money.

The one-legged greedy ghost just said that Uncle Wang owes it hundreds of thousands.

When they're short of money, they always have to squeeze some silver out of him.

That one-legged greedy ghost must have handled very few silver notes.

Furthermore, because it is a treacherous general, it hunts down high-level targets.

In those people's world, there would be no "fake banknotes".

Take Ji Hu for example—who would dare to try and fool a third-rate person with counterfeit silver notes? Would they be risking their lives?
Therefore, the one-legged greedy ghost would never have imagined that there would be a problem with the silver notes it gave him.

Xu Yuan guessed correctly; the one-legged greedy ghost didn't have many silver notes, and didn't even have the concept of "fake silver notes" in his mind.

The batch of counterfeit banknotes that Xu Yuan seized were so well-made that the average person would never be able to tell the difference.

The one-legged greedy ghost took the silver notes, then squinted its eyes and used the tip of its claw to dab non-existent spittle, counting the silver notes one by one.

数了一遍又一遍，十分的开心。

Xu Yuan noticed the look in Uncle Wang's eyes, which was full of moral condemnation!

Is this the tuition fee you mentioned, the fee you were supposed to give to my good disciple?

许大哥淡然的挪开了目光。

“Silver is too heavy and inconvenient to carry, but these silver notes are different. They can be used within the territory of the Ming Dynasty just like silver, and they are also convenient to carry.”

许源对独脚贪财鬼说着：“你点清了吗，可以把人交出来了吧？”

The one-legged greedy ghost carefully put away the silver notes, then suddenly said to Xu Yuan, "I still have some silver here, but it's too heavy to carry around. Could you help me exchange it for silver notes?"

Xu Yuan: ?!

But this time, Xu Yuan looked at Banlan Gong.

Exchanging Ji Hu for a fake silver note is nothing, since this guy was used as a medicinal ingredient for Xiao Xianniang anyway.

But directly using counterfeit banknotes to get silver from the one-legged greedy ghost... that would be cheating Uncle Wang out of his money.

As a result, Xu Yuan saw that Ban Lan Gong's eyes were full of affirmation!

许源更加错愕了。

Banlan Gong thought he was unwilling to help, so he gave Xu Yuan a look that said, "Give your uncle a hand."

Xu Yuan: You just condemned me with your eyes?!

许源干咳两声：“罢了，看在你是我王叔阴将的面子上，本官帮你兑换了吧。

I don't really want so much silver; it's heavy and unsafe..."

"Thanks!" The one-legged greedy ghost was overjoyed, and with a gurgling sound, he spat out a mountain of silver from his stomach!
搬澜公勃然大怒，抬手便打：“本公日子过得清贫，你这小鬼儿却是藏了这许多金银……”

The one-legged greedy ghost endured two blows, but still insisted, "This is my money, why should I let you use it?"

From inside Banlan Gong's belly, another muffled voice said, "My lord, please forgive me: this fellow once said that if he could, he wouldn't give you a single penny, would let you starve to death, and would help you commit evil deeds!"

The one-legged greedy ghost, its entire body radiating ghostly aura, bristled: "You treacherous ghost, stop making things up and spewing false accusations!"

Xu Yuan stopped Banlan Gong: "Uncle Wang, you go and refine the medicine first, I'll exchange it for him."

"Hmph!" Banlan Gong grabbed the unconscious Ji Hu and pulled him aside.

Xu Yuan and the one-legged greedy ghost counted the money together.

This huge pile of gold and silver jewelry is worth a total of 95,421 taels.

Xu Yuan said, "Round it down, here's ninety-four thousand taels of silver..."

The one-legged greedy ghost swallowed the twenty-one taels without hesitation: "That won't do, you can't take advantage of me!"

"I'll come back to exchange it with you once I've gathered another hundred taels."

Xu Yuan: "...Okay."

Xu Yuan counted out the silver notes and gave them to him.

The one-legged greedy ghost counted the money a few more times with delight before finally putting it away.

Banlan Gong opened his mouth and swallowed it back.

Xu Yuan heard a series of arguing, cursing, and fighting sounds coming from inside Uncle Wang's stomach.

It's clear that the one-legged greedy ghost went back for revenge.

Xu Yuan looked at Banlan Gong with a questioning look, and the latter touched his belly and said, "You can speak as you like, they can't hear you."

Xu Yuan pointed to the mountain of gold and silver piled on the ground: "Should I exchange these for silver notes for you, or would you like to take them with you?"

Banlan Gong was surprised: "Give it all to me?"

“那还用说？这本就是您的钱。”

Banlan Gong originally thought that since the two of them had joined forces to do this deal, Xu Yuan should at least get a share.

Unexpectedly, Xu Yuan gave it all to him without taking a single penny.

Suddenly I felt that this kid was a good person, someone I could befriend!
Banlan Gong was overjoyed. He pulled out a bag, swept the gold and silver on the ground, and all of it fell into the gourd-sized bag.

He patted his pockets contentedly; he had never been so wealthy before.

Xu Yuan then took his leave, and Banlan Gong immediately composed himself and began preparing the medicinal ingredients for his beloved disciple.

When Xu Yuan came out, he found Lang Xiaoba waiting outside the door: "Sir, Commander Zhao has arrived and is waiting for you in the front hall."

"Zhao Beichen?" Xu Yuan was taken aback and quickly walked outside, vaguely guessing Zhao Beichen's purpose.

Zhao Beichen was drinking tea in the front hall when he saw Xu Yuan and said, "Brother Xu, please dismiss everyone else."

Xu Yuan waved his hand, and Lang Xiaoba and the others withdrew and closed the door.

“赵大人，有什么事情？”

Zhao Beichen looked behind Xu Yuan—Da Fu was sticking his head out from behind Fan Zhezi in a comical pose, looking at Zhao Beichen.

The man and the goose took a liking to each other.

Zhao Beichen smiled wryly, then looked away and said to Xu Yuan, "The Grand Canal Administration had a plan back then to forge a batch of crafted beasts to suppress the evil spirits at various docks."

The materials used to create these beasts have mysterious origins; some came from the underworld, and others, it is said, fell from the sky!

(End of this chapter)