Chapter 148 - 137: Dental Care

Chapter 148: Chapter 137: Dental Care"The current Hall Master is my older brother." Lin Xia added, "Our Tangkou entered Mingjiang Prefecture this time specifically to fight against the Kidnappers to the very end." "I wish you success." Zhou Xuan also wanted to take care of Food Heaven, but since Food Heaven had not shown themselves yet, getting involved in Jianghu conflicts would only invite unnecessary trouble. "By the way, Lao He from East Market Street has reported to your Liao Ghosts about the Kidnappers, and now the Kidnappers have said they’re going to settle accounts with him. Aren’t you going to intervene?" "We will intervene, and we must." Feng Xigui said, "It seems to be just one Lao He, but the stakes involved go beyond just him." Lao Feng was the biggest broker in Ping Shui Prefecture, and he understood the ins and outs of situations due to his sharp mind. "The Kidnappers’ threat to settle accounts is essentially a gamble with us. If Lao He dies, it proves that the Kidnappers can still behave arrogantly in Mingjiang Prefecture, and those who dare to report them will diminish. If Lao He does not die, the Kidnappers’ reputation will be greatly damaged, and more and more people will cooperate with us to report the Kidnappers’ hideouts. The Kidnappers are just well-hidden, and if they lose their hiding places, they’re not that intimidating." Zhou Xuan, upon hearing this, was prompted to ask, "I’ve always had a question. Why is no one targeting the Kidnappers, who commit so many crimes?" "There isn’t!" Feng Xigui said, "The Kidnappers’ Hall Master is ambitious and clever. He has roped in various great powers within Mingjiang Prefecture. As long as he doesn’t cross the line and offend these major powers, he can act arrogantly, leaving the smaller Tangkou unable to express their anger. Moreover, the situation in Mingjiang Prefecture is entirely different from that in Ping Shui Prefecture." "For example?" "Ping Shui Prefecture relies on the God Traveling Department to maintain order. As long as there’s not too much corruption and collusion within the department, the Kidnappers won’t dare to act too recklessly. But in recent years, the Kidnappers have become more domineering in Ping Shui Prefecture, clearly because they have inside people within the department." "However, in Mingjiang Prefecture, the God Traveling Department is not the highest authority, because there are deities within Mingjiang Prefecture. The power that is more solidly connected to the deities is the dominant force in Mingjiang Prefecture." "So which power is more solidly connected to the deities?" "Bone Elder and the Old Hall." The Old Hall? It’s my sister’s Tangkou! Zhou Xuan realized what this meant—that he was the so-called "second generation" of Yin? "However, the disciples of the Old Hall are all indifferent and unconcerned with mundane affairs. In contrast, Bone Elder is enthusiastic about various businesses, and their power is the leading authority in Mingjiang Prefecture. They have some people internally who are in cahoots with the Kidnappers." Feng Xigui sighed, saying. "We Liao Ghosts do not fear the Kidnappers but dread the intervention of Bone Elder. Bone Elder controls the ’City God’ Tangkou." When Lin Xia mentioned the ’City God,’ a hint of confusion flickered in her eyes. ... Mo Tingsheng sat in a simply decorated office, holding a list, his brows tightly furrowed. The office door was knocked. "Come in." A young man in a black horse armor and a white shirt gently opened the door, poking his head in and speaking softly, "Mr. Mo, Mr. Luo is waiting outside." "Invite him in." In no time, Luo Yunzhou, with a slightly hunched back, made his way into the room in small steps. Standing before Mo Tingsheng, he took off his hat and greeted with a laugh, "Mr. Mo, how’s business lately?" "Lao Luo, we’re all friends here, so no need to beat around the bush. You know what’s happening at Shande Hospital." Mo Tingsheng was the White Paper Fan of the Kidnappers Tangkou, responsible for the daily management of affairs within the hall. Luo Yunzhou was the Second Master of "Wuzuo." "The Shande Hospital has Mr. Bai Yun backing it, so there’s nothing to fear from them." "If it were just Mr. Bai Yun, there’d indeed be nothing to fear. But behind Mr. Bai Yun stands Bone Elder. Chun Meng died too absurdly in Shande Hospital. Dying wasn’t enough; he exposed our Kidnappers’ doings in the hospital, bringing a terrible impact. The reputation of Shande Hospital has suffered, and major figures within Bone Elder can’t sit idly by and demand an explanation from our Tangkou." "Who doesn’t know you have connections within Bone Elder?" "Even with connections, they can only put a stop to further loss; they won’t rest without taking a substantial piece of flesh." Mo Tingsheng handed the list to Luo Yunzhou for a look: "This list contains all the disciples of the Kidnappers who will be publicly executed at Mingjiang Pier this afternoon as a cautionary warning. This is our explanation to Bone Elder." Luo Yunzhou examined the list closely, growing more alarmed as he read. There were twelve people in total, and none were small-time Kidnappers of the lower incense levels; they were all at the three incense fire level and above. "This Lin Shanyue is almost at four incense levels..." "If not for the situation at Shande Hospital, it wouldn’t have taken a few months for them to reach the four incense level, but who could have predicted the incident?" Mo Tingsheng said with a bitter smile, shaking his head, "Yet, with the Kidnappers’ thirty years of foundation, losing some disciples would just injure us a bit. It’s often said we have the Kidnappers’ three great masters, Dog King, Chun Meng, and Yan Zhongdao, hah, Yan Zhongdao perhaps, but the first two are rather overestimated." This had to be said by Mo Tingsheng. The Tangkou faced trouble, and if Luo Yunzhou wasn’t given insight into their actual strength, he might lose his fear of the Kidnappers and act less sincerely. "Indeed, your Tangkou’s strength is formidable. I heard that Lord Buddha has almost reached the six incense level; has he?" Luo Yunzhou inquired for more intelligence. Mo Tingsheng’s expression darkened slightly, shooting him a glare, causing Luo Yunzhou to quickly avert his gaze and lower his head in a panic. "Lao Luo, if you truly want to know Lord Buddha’s incense level, I’ll give you a hint—he reached the six incense level a few years ago." "In that case, why did your Tangkou withdraw from Ping Shui..." "Conflicts between Great Divine Men and Great Yin People lead to mutual ruin; avoiding conflict is the best result." Mo Tingsheng crossed his legs, saying, "Lao Luo, I’ve given you the information you wanted; now, you must help with some matters." "Just give your commands." "First, find your Wuzuo brothers to listen to Chun Meng’s corpse language and find out who killed him. I can’t let my brothers’ lives be used as an explanation for Bone Elder in vain." "Second, Bone Elder is watching us closely now, but we made an earlier declaration to settle accounts with Lao He on East Market Street. We can’t spare any manpower, so find some elite disciples from your Tangkou to handle this for us, to earn some face for our Tangkou." Luo Yunzhou felt a curse rising within as he listened, thinking why must Wuzuo always do the hard work for the Kidnappers? The tasks were highly dangerous. Settling accounts with Lao He? Right now, who in Mingjiang Prefecture doing spiritual practices didn’t know "Lao He" was just a facade; settling with him meant going head-to-head with Liao Ghosts. "I’m afraid I can’t fight the Liao Ghosts." Luo Yunzhou was frank, unwilling to tackle such a thankless task. "Rest assured, we can definitely fight them..." Mo Tingsheng pointed upward, saying, "There will be backing from above. Why worry? After it’s done, you won’t miss out on rewards—recently, your incense has stagnated. Ordinary goods no longer benefit you. We have recently captured a Blood Well Spirit Communicator. Once this is done, from here to here, it will be yours..." He gestured from his neck downward to his abdomen. Luo Yunzhou smiled and nodded, then left the room. ... "Benefactor, please accept this as a token of our gratitude from the both of us as a couple." A presented brocade box lay open before Zhou Xuan, a present from Feng Xigui and Lin Xia to express their gratitude. The gift was unusually humble, consisting purely of golden bars. "I didn’t say I wouldn’t accept it. No need for persuasion." Zhou Xuan confidently closed the box and pocketed it, then rose to take his leave with Lv Mingkun. "Wait, benefactor, you haven’t gotten the bones and human skin." Lin Xia got up, went to the door outside the private room. A disciple of the Liao Ghosts stood with a package, having waited for a long time. After taking the package, Lin Xia let the disciple leave and then went back inside the room, handing the package to Zhou Xuan, saying, "The skin is inside; you’ll have to wait for the bones." After speaking, Lin Xia’s expression suddenly turned fierce. From her face grew small white buds, six in total. The buds elongated bit by bit, transforming into slightly curved tusks, each one longer than a middle finger. Lin Xia grabbed one tusk firmly, yanking it out, bloodied at the base, leaving her gritting her teeth in pain. "That’s entirely unnecessary, isn’t it?" Zhou Xuan was astounded, not anticipating that the prime-grade bone Lin Xia mentioned would be the tusks hidden within her face. "We Liao Ghost lineage naturally grow bone spurs in the shape of tusks. These spurs are also our method of battling enemies when our souls detach. With six spurs in total, gifting one to the benefactor is no big deal." "This... the gift is too precious..." Even with Zhou Xuan’s thick skin in accepting the gold without guilt, he was genuinely hesitant to accept the tusk. "Please take it, benefactor. This tusk is to repay you for transcending my daughter’s spirit as well as offering an apology for today’s unintentional injury." The remaining five tusks on Lin Xia’s face retracted as she sincerely spoke. "Then... it would be impolite to refuse." Zhou Xuan, feeling a sense of weight, accepted the tusk, placing his hands together in gratitude towards Lin Xia. ... Back at the shop, Zhou Xuan stared blankly at the tusk. "Feeling uneasy about it? Do you find it shameful to use something extracted from a living person’s body?" Lv Mingkun queried. "Not really; it’s just that the gift feels too heavy." Zhou Xuan held the tusk, feeling its cool and hefty texture, heavier by several times than normal bone. Just the feel and look made it top-grade bone. As Zhou Xuan and Lv Mingkun discussed the tusk, Yun Ziliang returned to the shop carrying a teapot. Upon entering, he immediately noticed the tusk in Zhou Xuan’s hand and froze in astonishment, exclaiming, "Did you go out to buy high-grade goods like Liao Ghost’s tusks?" "You recognize it too?" Zhou Xuan asked Yun Ziliang. "I told you before that I’ve roamed the lands and know a great many secrets." Yun Ziliang said, "This tusk is so straight and long, with dense bone. What’s the incense level of the owner?" "Sitting on four incense, aspiring for five." Zhou Xuan replied. "Then she’s extremely gifted," Yun Ziliang said, "The tusks extend as the incense level rises. At a sitting of four aspiring for five, the tusks should be no longer than a pinky. For hers to be as long as a middle finger reveals rare talent. Unfortunately, she doesn’t nurture her teeth!" "Do teeth require nurturing?" Zhou Xuan asked curiously. "Absolutely!" Yun Ziliang explained, "When Liao Ghost’s tusks reach the length of a pinky, they should be nurtured. The process is simple, requiring the carving of runes related to Alien Ghosts. Each rune must be the size of a rice grain, but if done completely, the tusk becomes a true Liao tooth." He then asked Zhou Xuan, "Liao Ghosts have two skills: Paperman Puppet and Detached Soul. Can the spirit mouth spit tusks?" "They can!" Zhou Xuan answered truthfully. "The Liao Ghost you encountered has greater skill with the Paperman than with the Detached Soul, right?" Yun Ziliang said, "Liao Ghost, Liao Ghost—the tusk of the soul comes first, the puppet of the ghost follows. The name of this Tangkou makes it clear! His lack of rune carving weakens the skill of tusks for the detached soul considerably." "Do you know how to nurture those teeth?" Zhou Xuan inquired of Yun Ziliang. "I don’t!" "Then why go on boasting like that?" "But you can!" Yun Ziliang pointed at Zhou Xuan...