Bai Yu Sheng's decision to strike his ancestor, Bai Shi Xi, was something Yan Shou Yi had never anticipated. Yet, upon reflection, it seemed quite logical.
For a family like the Bai clan, the paramount rulers of Rong Cheng, power was of utmost importance. How could the Bai clan's ancestor permit the emergence of another Ghost King? Wouldn't that be inviting trouble?
Therefore, the Bai clan ancestor secretly ordered Bai Yu Sheng to make a move against Bai Shi Xi. This way, by controlling Bai Shi Xi with the Heavenly Sound Soul Shifting Incantation, the Bai clan would effectively have two Ghost Kings, without compromising the ancestor's own status. Brilliant!
As the saying goes, there's always someone worse than you to deal with the wicked.
Observing Bai Shi Xi pleading desperately, even resorting to kneeling before him, Yan Shou Yi was inwardly overjoyed. Bai Shi Xi, accustomed to wielding authority, hadn't expected his influence over the Bai clan's Ghost King. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late. However, he absolutely refused to become a puppet!
Thus, he pleaded with Yan Shou Yi:
"Yan Shou Yi, I know you are a descendant of Lu Ban, and you have many tricks up your sleeve!"
"If you agree to remove the Soul Shifting Incantation, not only will I spare you, but I will also help you. I will help you kill all the people of the Bai family!"
"I have also accumulated immeasurable wealth. As long as you agree, all my fortune will be yours!"
Bai Shi Xi was desperate, practically offering his entire fortune to Yan Shou Yi. Among those present, only Yan Shou Yi possessed the ability to remove the Soul Shifting Incantation.
Any ordinary person would have been tempted by Bai Shi Xi's offerings. But Yan Shou Yi was different.
Facing Bai Shi Xi's temptation, Yan Shou Yi remained unfazed and chuckled, "Bai Shi Xi, do you think I would believe your tall tales?"
Bai Shi Xi was momentarily taken aback.
Yan Shou Yi continued, "How can I be sure that after I remove the Soul Shifting Incantation for you, you won't turn on me? Don't talk to me about trust. We are enemies, and there can be no trust between us."
Bai Shi Xi felt a pang of guilt. He had no intention of honoring his promises. Once Yan Shou Yi removed the Soul Shifting Incantation for him, he planned to kill everyone present, including Yan Shou Yi and Bai Yu Sheng. After all, Bai Shi Xi was an extremely selfish individual; he didn't even care about the Bai family, let alone a promise to Yan Shou Yi.
Despite his inner thoughts, Bai Shi Xi dared not show it. He tried his best to put on a pitiable, harmless appearance, trying to look like a helpless, innocent old man:
"From the beginning, we had no real enmity. I was merely acting on behalf of my family. Yan Shou Yi, we are not irreconcilable enemies!"
"Stop with the useless words. If I were you, I'd offer some tangible benefit to show my sincerity at this point," Yan Shou Yi said with a smile.
Damn it! That brat! Bai Shi Xi cursed Yan Shou Yi in his heart. The kid really knew when to exploit a situation! Yan Shou Yi knew Bai Shi Xi was running out of time and was deliberately pressuring him.
Alas, Bai Shi Xi had no choice but to do as Yan Shou Yi said.
With that, Bai Shi Xi opened his mouth and spat out a cowhide box! The box was at least eighteen inches in size, and it was a mystery how Bai Shi Xi had managed to swallow it.
Bai Shi Xi opened the box, revealing it was filled with gleaming gold bars! Amidst the ghostly aura, the gold bars were blindingly conspicuous.
"These gold bars are worth at least two million. They are all yours now!" Bai Shi Xi presented the gold bars with both hands.
Yan Shou Yi burst into laughter. Then, he kicked the cowhide box over! The gold bars scattered across the floor, each worth tens of thousands. But Yan Shou Yi couldn't care less. Were the treasures he possessed less valuable than this pile of gold? The betrothal gifts Yan Shou Yi had shown Lin Ruo Fu the previous night were thousands of times more precious than this box of gold bars.
"Bai Shi Xi, are you trying to bribe a beggar? I am a descendant of Lu Ban, not a beggar from the Beggars' Gang!" Yan Shou Yi fully embodied the principle of extorting the wicked.
If anyone unaware of the situation had witnessed this, they would have thought Yan Shou Yi was the truly wicked villain. However, Yan Shou Yi felt no guilt. Was robbing a villain considered robbing? No, it was called redistributing wealth! Moreover, Yan Shou Yi was not driven by money; he had no particular feelings for it.
Bai Shi Xi's expression shifted from one moment to the next. He realized that Yan Shou Yi was not easily fooled. If he didn't produce something truly valuable, this kid might actually stand by and do nothing! This was a matter of life and death, so Bai Shi Xi dared not continue to trifle.
He gritted his teeth and spat out another item. It was a red human-skin umbrella!
"What is this..." Yan Shou Yi's eyes lit up.
"This is the Red God Umbrella!" Bai Shi Xi quickly explained. "Legend has it that the Red God is the deity in the underworld who governs love and marriage. This Red God Umbrella is her magical artifact. Its canopy is made of human skin, its ribs are ground from ivory, its shaft is made of Vajra Bamboo, and its handle is made of finest mutton-fat jade. Look at the red tassel below the handle; it is said to be dragon whiskers..."
"This Red God Umbrella is indestructible and possesses the power to collect souls. Furthermore, I have a feeling that the Red God Umbrella has other abilities I haven't discovered yet. Perhaps it truly is a divine artifact!"
If Bai Shi Xi's description was accurate, then this Red God Umbrella was truly a priceless treasure. From Yan Shou Yi's perspective, the Red God Umbrella was not as exaggerated or mystical as Bai Shi Xi claimed, but it was undoubtedly an extraordinary treasure. Yan Shou Yi himself had no use for it. However, it would be quite suitable to gift it to Lin Zi Tong.
So, Yan Shou Yi snatched the Red God Umbrella and directly put it into his satchel. This sight stunned Bai Shi Xi. How could such a small satchel hold a Red God Umbrella?
Yan Shou Yi shot Bai Shi Xi a look: I haven't even asked you how you managed to swallow the Red God Umbrella.
After receiving the Red God Umbrella, Bai Shi Xi expected Yan Shou Yi to intervene. He had even begun planning how to kill Yan Shou Yi later and reclaim the Red God Umbrella. No, not only the Red God Umbrella, but his satchel too!
As Bai Shi Xi was planning, Yan Shou Yi still hadn't made a move. Their eyes met, and Yan Shou Yi spread his hands, "Is that all? You are a Ghost King, surely you don't think your life is only worth a broken umbrella?"
"You???" Bai Shi Xi was so incensed that he almost lost his soul on the spot. This little brat was truly demanding an arm and a leg! He had given you the Red God Umbrella, and you're still not satisfied!!
Bai Shi Xi kept comforting himself. If he killed Yan Shou Yi now, no one would be able to save him. So, he gritted his teeth and spat out more of his treasured possessions. Each item was something Bai Shi Xi cherished dearly, something he was reluctant to even take out and play with.
To Yan Shou Yi's surprise, among Bai Shi Xi's treasures, there was a medicinal gourd. This gourd was only palm-sized, looking somewhat withered and yellow, tied with a red string in the middle. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but Yan Shou Yi's discerning eye was far superior to that of ordinary people. He detected the medicinal fragrance emanating from the gourd. This fragrance wasn't from a single type of medicine but was the scent of long-stored medicinal pills.
"What is this?" Yan Shou Yi asked, pointing at the gourd.
Bai Shi Xi explained, "This is the Eastern King Gourd, another treasure I collected years ago. Any medicinal pill stored in this gourd will remain as potent as when it was freshly made, no matter how long it is stored. Its medicinal efficacy will never diminish."
"Good stuff, I'll take it." Yan Shou Yi took the Eastern King Gourd without hesitation.
Bai Shi Xi chuckled, preparing to retrieve his other treasures. Unexpectedly, Yan Shou Yi stopped him, "What are you doing?"
Bai Shi Xi blinked, "What am I doing?"
"What are you doing with my treasures?"
"These are my treasures!"
Yan Shou Yi smiled, "You don't seriously think your life is only worth a broken umbrella and a broken gourd, do you?"
Bai Shi Xi's eyes widened. This kid... was he a bandit in his past life?? This act of extortion was masterfully executed! Were the items he gave considered broken umbrellas and broken gourds? Each and every one of them was a top-tier treasure!!! People should have some limit to their shamelessness!
Bai Shi Xi almost lost his composure. But for the sake of his life, he reluctantly offered all his treasures. After all—he would snatch them all back later!! You just wait, you scoundrel!