Chapter 128: 128, The binding spell (Third update, requesting monthly votes)

Ren Xiaosu saved Luo Lan precisely to gain entry into the Barrier through him, and now that his purpose has been fulfilled, he has, in a sense, realized a long-held wish.

As for how Luo Lan and his companions managed to persuade the Li Consortium and the Barrier administrators of 109, that was Qing Zhen’s responsibility. After all, consortiums have always maintained mutual interests, and some face must be given.

From Qing Zhen’s tone, it seemed this was not a particularly difficult task.

Wang Fugui, standing nearby, murmured quietly, “Some things, for us, are as hard as ascending to heaven, but for those from their world, they’re probably no more than a single word.”

Luo Lan replied, “The things you’ve promised, the Qing Consortium will certainly see through. A consortium of this magnitude could deceive a few refugees like you?”

At that moment, Wang Fugui suddenly spoke to Luo Lan, “Little Su saved your life, didn’t he?”

“Yes,” Luo Lan said, bewildered.

“Master Luo is a man of great stature,” Wang Fugui’s eyes gleamed with shrewdness. “Your life is invaluable. Merely entering the Barrier isn’t enough. If word spreads, people might think our Qing Consortium is petty.”

Back when Wang Fugui fled the settlement with Ren Xiaosu, he had already made his worth known to Ren Xiaosu. Now was the time to demonstrate it.

In truth, Wang Fugui was acutely aware of his own shortcomings: he had seen little of the world, and negotiating with someone like Luo Lan would make him appear crude, even as Luo Lan might inwardly mock him as a beggar holding a golden bowl.

But it didn’t matter. Wang Fugui was determined to secure every possible advantage for Ren Xiaosu, no matter the cost.

To this end, he could abandon all dignity.

The exchange between Qing Zhen and Luo Lan had made Wang Fugui realize that obtaining residency in the Barrier meant little to these magnates. Perhaps there was room to ask for more.

“What else do you want?” Luo Lan lounged in the cart, eyeing Wang Fugui. “Don’t go overboard!”

Wang Fugui’s heart lifted at these words. “A shop. Your Qing Consortium must own considerable property in the 109 Barrier. A shop shouldn’t be a problem!”

Luo Lan waved a hand dismissively. “My life isn’t worth a shop.”

Wang Fugui froze. This was getting brazen—how could a refugee like him stoop to such levels, let alone a magnate of the Qing Consortium?

In fact, Wang Fugui failed to grasp that consortiums were the most brazen of all, for otherwise they would never have become consortiums.

“Your brother mentioned he owed Ren Xiaosu a favor, a life debt, correct?” Wang Fugui pressed.

“What are you getting at?” Luo Lan fell silent.

“Is your brother’s favor, his life debt, worth a shop?” Wang Fugui pressed.

Luo Lan paused, then said, “It is.”

He could sacrifice his own dignity, but when it came to Qing Zhen, he could not.

“I’ll arrange a comparable shop for you,” Luo Lan said. “But from this day forward, the Qing Consortium owes you nothing.”

“Agreed,” Ren Xiaosu answered decisively. This would give them a stable industry within the Barrier. Even if they didn’t run the shop, the rent alone would sustain their daily lives. Moreover, he had promised Wang Fugui to reopen the general store.

Yet Wang Fugui seemed unsatisfied. “Then what do you think your five subordinates’ lives are worth…”

Luo Lan’s composure shattered. “Must you say it all at once? I’ve given you a prime shop—enough! Or would you prefer I die here and now?”

Wang Fugui opened his mouth to speak further, but Ren Xiaosu tugged his sleeve. Know when to stop!

If they pushed Luo Lan too far, he might renege once inside the Barrier, leaving them with no recourse.

Ren Xiaosu had saved Tang Zhou and the others because he sensed Luo Lan’s deep sense of obligation. Saving Tang Zhou would surely earn Luo Lan’s gratitude.

At that moment, Ren Xiaosu noticed Chen Wudi across from him, eyeing Luo Lan with ill intent, as if poised to strike down a demon on the spot.

He observed that Chen Wudi seemed altered, though he couldn’t pinpoint the change. Wait—Ren Xiaosu asked, “Hey, Wudi, is that a golden circlet on your head? Where did it come from?”

He was certain that until tonight, Chen Wudi had worn no such circlet.

Ren Xiaosu suspected it was another of Chen Wudi’s delusions, yet unlike the golden staff, this circlet did not fade.

“The circlet was bestowed by the Bodhisattva, Master. Surely you know?” Chen Wudi wore an expression of “of course you should know.”

“…I know,” Ren Xiaosu replied.

But that’s not what I’m asking!

Ren Xiaosu intended to brush it off. After all, his current role was that of the monk Tripitaka—how could he not know the origin of his disciple’s circlet?

Yet Chen Wudi fixed him with a serious gaze. “Master, do you remember the Tight Slaying Spell?”

Ren Xiaosu nearly collapsed. Where would I know that from?!

The original text, as conveyed by Guanyin to Tang Sanzang, had never specified the exact incantation. Staring at Chen Wudi’s expectant eyes, he ventured cautiously, “Eight hundred soldiers rush northward, artillery lines up to run north?”

“Ah!” Chen Wudi clutched his head. “Master, stop! Master, stop!”

Ren Xiaosu sat in stunned silence, thinking, *You’re quite the performer…*

At that moment, he realized the others were staring at him with eerie expressions, some students even lost in deep contemplation.

This Bodhisattva must be a comedian!

Luo Lan felt his intellect gravely insulted. He couldn’t fathom why Chen Wudi, this madman, would acknowledge Ren Xiaosu as his master.

If forced to believe that Ren Xiaosu, Chen Wudi, Wang Fugui, and Wang Dalong were all reincarnations of the Tang Sanzang quartet, he’d rather crash the cart into a tree this instant!

The vehicle raced for dozens of kilometers before finally slowing. Luo Lan asked, “Shall we rest? Will the wolf pack pursue us?”

Only then did Ren Xiaosu recall the wolves’ peculiar behavior. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Let’s rest. Only one person can drive, and we shouldn’t exhaust him. Besides, if the wolves wish to catch up, they might outpace us even without stopping.”

In truth, Ren Xiaosu had long harbored doubts. He had assumed the wolves had returned to the ruins of the 11th Barrier, hence their delay in attacking the refugees.

But now it was clear—they had been lurking on either side of the group, even once overtaking their ranks.

Why had they not attacked the refugee column?

It made no sense!

Unless… there was something in the group the wolves refused to harm!