Otherworldly Merchant

“Merciful Buddha,” Zen Master Baimei chanted. “The ancestors are gone, so why would the children find sadness themselves? When you see life, it can’t always be life. Likewise, when you see death, it doesn’t necessarily mean death. It’s a cycle that repeats itself indefinitely. There’s no need to be surprised.”

After listening to Zen Master Baimei, I knew that there was a problem surrounding my grandfather’s death. Due to that, I didn’t listen to his lecture about the great principle. If someone had caused my grandfather’s death, with my fierce character, I must find the murderer!

Immediately, I asked, “Zen Master Baimei, please tell me honestly. How did my grandfather die? Which enemy killed him? You don’t need to hide such information from me. I know I’m not strong enough now, so I won’t go and take revenge for him. When I’m strong enough, I’ll take action.”

Zen Master Baimei put his palms together in front of his chest. “Benefactor, your character and Brother Yaoyang’s are pretty similar. Good! I promise you. When you’re strong enough, I’ll tell you. For now, there’s no need to continue with this topic…”

Then, Zen Master Baimei closed his eyes and began to knock on his wooden fish, saying nothing else.

If I wasn’t thankful that he’d saved the mysterious man, I would’ve stepped forward and kicked his wooden fish away. 

When I pushed the doors of the zen room open, I saw the mysterious man waiting for me outside. 

I approached him and asked, “Are you okay now?” 

The mysterious man nodded, then took out something small and round like a grapefruit. The ball was black and white.  

I was shocked. The man had gotten a corpse bead? 

This corpse bead looked exactly like a human eye. However, it was calcified and it was really rigid. 

“Swallow it,” the mysterious man said.

“What?” I thought I’d misheard him. Bewildered, I looked at the man. 

The mysterious man spoke again, “Swallow it and it can lift the curse on your back.” 

Li Mazi arrived out of the blue. As soon as he’d found out that I had to swallow this antique worth one million, he’d felt an ache in his tummy and had hurried over to stop me. 

I also felt disgusted. It was actually some zombie’s eyeball! Even if I tried hard to swallow it, I would soon vomit. 

However, for the sake of my little life, I gritted my teeth and swallowed the corpse bead at once. 

The mysterious man told me that I shouldn’t eat any spicy food within three days or it would affect the corpse bead’s healing effects. After the curse was broken, I’d vomit the corpse bead out. 

Three days later, the mysterious man received the corpse bead and left without bidding farewell. My entire body felt much better. At least, the irritated feeling on my back was gone. I checked myself in the mirror and found that the eyes on each side of my spine were now scars. 

We didn’t stay in Dabei Temple for long since the meals here weren’t delicious, and Li Mazi really missed his son. So, on the second day after the mysterious man had left, we also bid farewell.  

As Yin Xinyue had helped Li Mazi take care of his son for several days, Li Mazi wanted to thank her. When he invited us for dinner, I didn’t deny him as it was rare for Li Mazi to be this generous. 

During the dinner, Yin Xinyue was extremely curious. She wanted to know about all the thrilling events that we’d experienced recently. So, Li Mazi immediately began to rant about how he’d fought against the zombies with his great intelligence, saving me from the zombie’s teeth. He fabricated such a nice story. 

I felt that this man somewhat resembled Lin Zhengying. [1]

Li Mazi’s son looked at his father with admiration in his eyes. I could tell how important Li Mazi was in his son’s heart. So, I didn’t interrupt and just patiently listened to him. 

Of course, Yin Xinyue didn’t buy it as she kept smiling at me. Looking at the sly tilt in her smile, I couldn’t help but recall Jing Jing. 

Regarding Jing Jing’s death, I still wasn’t okay with what had happened. However, I had tried my best, so I didn’t blame myself too much. 

After eating, Yin Xinyue suggested that we go shopping. Li Mazi happily agreed. 

However, Yin Xinyue was a shopaholic and she bought so many things, including clothes and bags, all from famous brands. Li Mazi furrowed his brows as he was full of regret. 

Li Mazi resolutely brought me to a remote corner, smiling as he said, “Little brother, I paid for dinner, but the shopping isn’t my treat. We’ll pay together, okay?” 

I knew that it wasn’t easy to make Li Mazi pay. I threw him a glance out of the corner of my eye. “When did it become a shared cost? We didn’t have a commission for this operation, so pay for it yourself.” 

“Who said there was no commission?” Li Mazi grinned. “You shouldn’t forget that we still have the Hongyang Blade. Don’t tell me that it isn’t worth anything. I asked the mysterious man and he said that it’s worth at least two million.” 

Damn, he had even checked the price! 

It was true that the mysterious man had left the Hongyang Blade to us, but I didn’t intend on selling it. Firstly, it was a gift from the mysterious man. Secondly, I didn’t know that weapon could do. Who would pay a high price for a rusty machete?

Anyway, Li Mazi would never accept these excuses. So, I lied to him and said that I’d find a suitable buyer for the blade. After I received the payment, I’d repay him today’s shopping expenses. 

No matter what, Li Mazi was a businessman. As he was worried that I’d do something during the transaction, he repeatedly told me to let him be present at the time the deal took place.

I agreed happily, thinking: Well, dude, you can wait for the rest of your life. I probably won’t be able to sell that blade before I die.

However, I never expected that a buyer would show up at my door, wanting to buy the machete...

He was a rich Taiwanese man who owned a security business. He told me that the Hongyang Blade contained the spirits of the Yang family Generals, which would help him subdue his competitors and protect his staff. Also, it would increase his reputation and power. 

At first, I thought that Li Mazi had disclosed the Hongyang Blade’s story. I was furious and didn’t want to sell the item. However, the buyer told me that it was the mysterious man who’d told him to come here. 

Now, I knew that it was all the mysterious man’s idea.

Since it was his idea, I wasn’t conflicted anymore. I sold the sword to the Taiwanese businessman for two million. 

Of course, that money wouldn’t just be divided between me and Li Mazi. I also added a share for the mysterious man. 

When Li Mazi received more than six hundred thousand, he was so excited, telling me I was his benefactor. If he hadn’t met me, his son’s leukemia wouldn’t have been treated. 

I told him, “If you’re really grateful, then you should give me fifty or eighty thousand. I’ll be happy to receive it.” Li Mazi disappeared in the blink of an eye… 

The otherworldly item business was a pit. Once you jump in, you shouldn’t think about getting out. Li Mazi and I were good examples. 

But, I never imagined that even Yin Xinyue would become involved as well. 

After the previous occurrence, almost every night, Yin Xinyue would ask me out for supper. It had somehow become our routine. 

She told me that her heavy workload exhausted her physically and mentally. It was only when she was with me that she felt better and happier. 

Although I was a little reluctant at first, after a while, it became a habit. 

Therefore, tonight, when Yin Xinyue didn’t meet me, I didn’t know why, but I felt unexpectedly empty. 

However, I didn’t call her. I thought perhaps that something new had caught her interest. Girls like her always favored new things over old, right? 

The next morning at around dawn, my mobile phone rang. Yin Xinyue’s portrait was vibrating on my screen. I felt somewhat excited, so I hurried to pick up the phone. 

However, on the other side, Yin Xinyue’s voice was hoarse and filled with tears. 

Instantly, I became nervous as I felt that something had happened to Yin Xinyue! 

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lam_Ching-ying