Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 706 - 690: Packaging Like This

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan suddenly remembered something.

A couple of years ago, he worked at a small design company in an office building, and next door was a beauty salon.

The owner hadn’t even finished junior high; she used to work as a waitress in a karaoke bar. Later, after being guided by a master, she trained for a few days somewhere and opened a beauty salon, offering services like eyebrow tattoos, face slimming injections, and double eyelid surgery.

Surprisingly, she had a lot of customers. It was said that after just a year in the industry, she bought two houses and a BMW.

Once, he went over to design a flyer for an event, and they exchanged WeChat IDs. Later, his eyes were opened by her social media posts — the master who guided her was the one she worshipped.

During festivals, she would place stacks of cash, at least a hundred thousand each time, on a red tray. Starting from the gate of the master’s villa, she would kneel and walk the entire way into the "Buddhist Hall." The young master wore a kasaya and a golden Pilo hat, sitting on a lotus throne receiving bows and offerings.

In addition to cash offerings, she had to burn incense and worship the "master" daily, claiming it would ensure her business success.

"Huh, it’s all just trickery," Huang San scoffed, twirling his moustache. "Do you know why they collect cash? Because it’s difficult to track in case of trouble, they won’t be implicated! Even the Gray Immortal, the most adept at transferring fortune, wouldn’t dare to mess around like this.

People’s fortune and luck are already predetermined. Unless you’re a great benevolent person saving lives and doing good deeds, usually there’s not much fluctuation.

If someone is meant to earn five million in thirty years but uses some kind of evil technique to make it in a year, that master certainly gains some benefits, while the worshipper prematurely exhausts their own fortune and luck, and foolishly thanks the master. When the evil technique backfires, there’s nowhere to cry!

We receive incense and offerings, but we don’t do such unethical things. We work honestly, putting in one effort and getting one reward, neither owing ourselves nor others."

Jiang Yuan nodded thoughtfully, then searched his phone for the WeChat friend, only to find he had deleted them during a recent clean-up.

So, he searched for the beauty salon.

"Unlicensed operation, illegal medical practice leading to death!"

All the keywords led to official news reports. When he opened one, the images were indeed of the beauty salon he remembered. The gist was that they were operating without a license, engaging in illegal medical practices, injecting victims with counterfeit hyaluronic acid purchased online, leading to death.

After compensating the victim’s family for economic losses and obtaining forgiveness, the owner was sentenced to eleven years in prison and fined thirty thousand.

There were many related links referring to black-market beauty practices in the news. Jiang Yuan casually clicked on a local news story and discovered that another beauty salon owner from his social network’s bragging videos had also experienced a medical accident the same month, leaving a customer blind and paying over 800,000 in compensation...

"So it’s all part of the same production line; once they’ve fleeced enough, they start getting exposed, and I bet that so-called master has long since fled with the money!"

Jiang Yuan suddenly understood, lamenting, "What a shame. I didn’t know any better back then. If I had, I might have been able to bring him down, and the victims could have avoided this disaster."

Huang San didn’t quite understand what bringing him down meant, but seeing Jiang Yuan sympathize with the deceased, he sighed and said, "Some people are just doomed.

Sometimes there’s nothing you can do; as the old saying goes, it was meant to be. That person might not believe in these small operations normally, but when the time of misfortune arrives, they’re too bewildered to be persuaded.

In our line of work, we do our best when we encounter such situations. If we can’t solve it, that means it’s not our job, so let it go and don’t hold onto it.

If you’re always thinking about what could have been done better, you’ll get stuck in a rut!"

"Thank you for the advice, Third Master." Jiang Yuan said in a lowered voice, "I will treat you to incense later."

Huang San was a bit surprised and overjoyed inside, but he said modestly, "Oh, this is too much..."

"The Third Master’s guidance is based on experience, helping me avoid many detours. It’s only right."

"Heh! This just means you are meant to meet, my friend. You got the job and still think of sharing with Tiezhu. We’re all honest people here..."

...

Under the guidance of the dedicated driver, the car sped smoothly along the highway.

Yang Hongye’s hometown was located on the edge of the Taihang Mountains in North China. Although it was said to be in a mountainous area, it wasn’t deeply nestled in the mountains.

Exiting the highway, they wound around the not-so-high mountains past a county town, traveling on well-maintained wide roads.

The navigation also indicated a few unfamiliar little scenic spots, suggesting good economic development.

"I booked a hotel in the county. It’s only a half-hour drive from my house to the county town. After we deal with the issue, we’ll come back to stay the night." Because her brother Yang Yaozong would have episodes at night, and Li Tiezhu mentioned that nighttime is better for ghost hunting, the group had dinner at a service station as Yang Hongye arranged accommodation and gave directions.

At eight-thirty in the evening, the countryside was still brightly lit. The street lamps were somewhat dim, and lively TV sounds and the aroma of food occasionally wafted through the air, indicating that many families were still having dinner.

Weaving through the not-so-wide alleys for a moment, the car finally stopped in front of a small courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles.

"Sniff sniff!" As soon as he got out of the car, Huang San sniffed, as if he smelled something, his expression growing a bit serious. Leaning on Li Tiezhu’s shoulder, he whispered just for him to hear, "If you’re not planning to step in, let’s watch how we handle it tonight. Don’t be reckless. I reckon it might be tricky, so let’s take it slow and steady."

Hearing that, Li Tiezhu turned to Yang Hongye, "The situation might be a bit complicated, little sister, be prepared to pay more."

Then he asked the driver to help get his suitcase out and began to skillfully put on his "work clothes."

With a tasseled long sword on his back, along with a flower drum, incense sticks, and some things Jiang Yuan couldn’t recognize, Li Tiezhu’s impressive presence was fully displayed once he was all geared up.

"Hey! In our line of work, appearances matter. At the very least, the clients should feel secure at first glance, the emotional value must be fully delivered," Huang San explained to Jiang Yuan: "The attire is part of the package. Even good wine fears deep alleys, these days, no matter how skilled you are, you need proper packaging, otherwise, people would rather believe street swindlers than us."

Jiang Yuan nodded to show he had learned something.

Upon entering the house, a faint sobbing and roaring could be heard from the west room, likely that Yang Yaozong was acting up again.

"Why were you guys so slow?" Yang Shushuan complained to his dusty daughter in an almost unintelligible dialect, "Your brother has suffered greatly, and as a sister, you don’t seem to care at all!

Only coming back so late. If I knew it would be such a hassle, I’d just give you the ten thousand yuan and hire Master Liang to solve it!"

Yang Hongye felt a surge of nameless anger hearing this, and retorted in dialect, "Who told you not to keep an eye on your precious baby? Once I heard something happened to him, I immediately took leave, didn’t even want my bonus, borrowed money, and hurried home.

We just got off the car, and instead of asking if we’ve eaten, or if we’re tired after the whole afternoon rush, all you do is blame me! I’m just a year older than him, and ever since I was little, it’s always the elder yielding to the younger, do I owe him anything?"

After yelling like a firecracker, Yang Shushuan finally noticed the group standing behind her.

Besides the older Li Tiezhu in "work clothes," there was the charming Chuci, the refined Jiang Yuan, and the driver and bodyguard who were all ex-military, each younger and more handsome than the last.

His eyes lit up immediately, and he lowered his voice to ask, "Why so many people? Did you bring someone home? Which one are you seeing, is their family wealthy? How much dowry can they give?"

"Bring a piece of crap!" Yang Hongye rolled her eyes, pointing at Chuci, "I borrowed money from him, this is the creditor here to identify the address to prevent me from running away with nowhere to collect the debt!

The rest are the master’s driver, bodyguard, and colleagues. What are you thinking all day long, with our family situation, still dreaming of finding a rich partner? Do you think rich people are fools?"

"What kind of relationship lets them lend you money? He looks like a rich guy, you’re just silly! Young and pretty and still a college student, he’s definitely into you, quickly let him knock you up, and won’t all his family’s money be yours?"

"Stop reading those domineering CEO falls in love with me stories, take a good look in the mirror and wake up. Isn’t Yang Yaozong in trouble or are you not worried, is he faking illness to scam money again?"

Dragging the topic back to his precious son, Yang Shushuan reluctantly tore his eyes away from the obviously wealthy young men, "Don’t even mention it, he’s acting up again, quickly let the master take a look."

The group entered the westernmost room, and Chuci, having applied a special ointment, took one look and was so frightened that he hid behind Jiang Yuan—a constantly writhing, seemingly solid black humanoid figure was crouching on Yang Yaozong!

Its face had no features but a huge crack from which a black long tongue extended, strangling Yang Yaozong’s neck, making his eyes roll back, his entire body convulsing as he struggled, forcing beastly growls from his throat.

"Hiss!" Jiang Yuan slightly frowned, "What is this thing?"

Huang San whispered to remind, "This is called a ’Sha,’ more powerful and ferocious than ordinary ghosts. Looks like today I’ll have to show my real skills!"

He turned his head to tell Li Tiezhu, "Let’s begin, remind them not to record videos with their phones. Stick to the usual saying, that capturing the wrong things will bring misfortune, at best losing money, at worst ruining the family."

After saying that, Huang San specifically explained to Jiang Yuan, "Just bluffing them, otherwise if they film and spread it around, it could easily cause trouble."

With its reminder in his ear, Li Tiezhu negotiated with Yang Shushuan, perfectly describing Yang Yaozong’s symptoms, instantly earning great trust.

To avoid attracting misfortune or losing money, he hurried to lock the main door, put the phones in the living room, and clear the table to set up an incense altar.

After bustling for a moment, Li Tiezhu was ready, lighting incense and tapping the drum, he began to chant the summoning song, "Sunset darkens the western hills, every household locks their doors, magpies and crows rush to big trees, house sparrows and pigeons head for eaves..."

It’s worth mentioning that in the dim lights of the countryside at night, the sudden, penetrating call of the summoning song instantly filled the room with an eerie atmosphere, even the two ex-military men smoking in the yard felt a chill in the air.

"... nine out of ten houses locked, one remains unclosed. Ask why it’s left ajar, incense burning and drum beating, I’m summoning the Immortal, oh hiya..."

Li Tiezhu was not only a great singer, but he also beat the drum while skillfully performing body techniques, making Yang Hongye look at him in awe and ask in a low voice, "Jiang Yuan, can you do this too? Can you also bend your leg to your head?"

Jiang Yuan’s face tightened, he coughed slightly in embarrassment and said, "Everyone has their methods, I don’t summon the Immortal."

As she watched avidly in admiration, Jiang Yuan turned his attention to Huang San, "Is it always this complicated to let you take over someone?"

"Actually, no need." It chuckled, nudging its glasses and whispered, "I don’t even need a word, if I want to take over, I can just do it directly.

But the sense of ritual is needed, it’s also packaging, providing emotional value to the client, making them feel their money is well spent. They can’t see anything, without these maneuvers, who would believe a member of the Immortal Family was summoned?

Watch, later I’ll have to cooperate still.

But it’s strange, normally, after this fuss, that ’Sha’ should be either angry or scared, showing some reaction, but it just seems like it can’t hear or see anything?"