Chapter 41: Preparing to Make a Fortune by Selling Divine Artifacts!

"He Ranchao?"

Upon hearing this name, memories regarding He Ranchao instantly surfaced in his mind.

He was the youngest son of the grand Confucian scholar He Xiufei. Because he lacked any real talent and was good for nothing, he had been treated like garbage by his family since childhood. Together with the original owner of this body, they were known as the two great scourges of Chang'an.

Now that he had suddenly come to visit, there was a high probability that it was just as he had guessed: the Zhou family wanted to use the Zhao clan to stall the Wu family.

Realizing this, Shen Lang stood up with an amused smirk and said, "There is limited value to be squeezed out of the Zhou and Wu families right now, so there's not much point in me staying here."

"You guys continue executing my plan. I'll stay in the shadows and see if I can completely muddy the waters!"

Hearing these words from Shen Lang, Nalan Yanran asked with a hint of worry, "Will you be all right going out all by yourself?"

Understanding what Nalan Yanran was worried about, Shen Lang gave a playful smile. "I'm just a profligate young master right now. Who would target me?"

With that, Shen Lang walked out of the City Lord's Mansion with a mischievous expression.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw a fatty weighing well over two hundred and sixty jin running toward him like a small mountain.

"Brother Lang, I've missed you to death!"

Looking at He Ranchao's greasy figure, Shen Lang sidestepped quickly to dodge the embrace.

With a look of utter disgust, he scolded, "Get lost, get lost, get lost! I don't swing that way!"

" Weren't you in Chang'an? What brings you to Returning Cloud City?"

"Didn't I hear that An Yiyao has arrived in Returning Cloud City? I came specifically to find Brother Lang and go show our support together!"

An Yiyao?

Hearing this name, the image of a peerlessly charming and alluring beauty automatically arose in Shen Lang's mind.

She was a renowned courtesan of the Great Qin Empire. Back in Chang'an, the original body of this character had squandered countless sums of money just to win a single favor from her.

Yet in the end, aside from spending all his money and drinking some fake wine, he hadn't gotten a damn thing.

For someone like her to suddenly arrive in Returning Cloud City made Shen Lang instantly realize that something was definitely afoot here!

However, he didn't dwell on it deeply.

Instead, he feigned difficulty and looked at He Ranchao. "Brother, I don't have any spirit stones right now. How am I supposed to support her?"

"Brother Lang, are you trying to slap my face?"

"I came to take you out to the brothels, how could I possibly let you pay?"

"All expenses today will be covered by yours truly, Master He!"

Seeing the arrogant look on He Ranchao's face, Shen Lang understood that He Xiufei must have granted him financial freedom for this trip.

Without standing on ceremony at all, Shen Lang nodded and said, "Then what are we dawdling for? Why aren't we heading over right now?"

Seeing Shen Lang and He Ranchao set off for the brothels, He Xiufei, who had been watching this scene from a nearby pavilion, gave the feather fan in his hand a slight shake.

He muttered subconsciously, "It seems this Shen Lang really is just a dispensable puppet after all."

"I just wonder if that good-for-nothing He Ranchao will be able to extract any intelligence out of him!"

With that, He Xiufei glanced at the steward standing beside him and instructed, "Go to the First Pavilion, keep an eye on those two, and report back to me immediately if there is any intelligence!"

...

Revisiting the First Pavilion.

Looking at the bustling, sea-of-people scene before him, Shen Lang had to admit that as long as women were willing to lower themselves into this trade, making money really was as easy as flipping a hand.

An admission fee of one thousand spirit stones per person was still able to draw in such a massive crowd.

This made Shen Lang couldn't help but ponder inwardly:

If he were to adopt some of the shady business models from his past life in this world, wouldn't he never have to worry about gathering resentment points again?

Just as he was thinking about roping Shenxiao into starting some minor shady enterprises once he got back, a series of scolding voices rang out not far away: "Step aside, everyone! Young Master Zhou is here!"

Hearing this, Shen Lang instinctively looked up.

When he saw that the newcomer was not Zhou Yu, his pupils shrank sharply.

He Ranchao beside him was also quite startled, muttering, "Well, I'll be. Zhou Hao actually came back."

"You know this guy?" Shen Lang raised an eyebrow.

"Brother Lang, even though we're playboys, you still have to remember the people you can't afford to offend!"

"Otherwise, what would you do if you tried to act cool later and ended up getting your face slapped instead?"

He Ranchao's solemn reminder actually surprised Shen Lang a bit.

It seemed he hadn't expected this sleazy little fatty to have such a brain.

However, this wasn't what Shen Lang cared about most.

He was far more interested in knowing what the deal was with this Zhou Hao.

So, he nodded repeatedly. "Didn't I always have you, my brother, around before?"

"Why would I waste brain cells on that?"

"That's true, too!"

He Ranchao tossed his hair back with a rather narcissistic flair. "Let me tell you, that guy is called Zhou Hao, the eldest young master of the Zhou family and an inner sect disciple of the Blood Demon Sect, a tier-two faction."

"He is definitely someone we cannot afford to provoke. If he tries to act arrogant later, make sure you don't cross him."

"Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you!"

A tier-two faction.

The Blood Demon Sect?

Hearing this answer, a hint of solemnity flashed in Shen Lang's eyes as he looked at Zhou Hao.

It seemed he hadn't expected that just as he learned the Zhou and Wu families had factions backing them up, Zhou Hao would show up.

This made Shen Lang almost suspect whether that damned system had arranged it all in advance.

While he was lost in thought, Zhou Hao glanced at the steward beside him and instructed, "Go back and tell Father that Shen Lang is indeed a useless puppet."

"Just have Father focus his main efforts on Nalan Yanran."

"Understood!"

Upon hearing this, the steward immediately turned and left.

Afterward, without even casting a glance in Shen Lang's direction, Zhou Hao walked straight into the Zhou family's private room.

Watching this unfold, Shen Lang said with a meaningful tone, "That guy is really arrogant."

"Well, he's an inner sect disciple of the Blood Demon Sect now. How could he not be arrogant?"

"If I were as awesome as him, I'd definitely be even more arrogant than him!"

Hearing He Ranchao's words, a thought struck Shen Lang.

With a beaming smile, he said, "Brother, I happen to have an opportunity that can make you even more awesome, but it'll cost a bit of money. Do you want in?"

"You?"

He Ranchao looked at Shen Lang with deep suspicion.

Yet, recalling the strict warnings He Xiufei had drilled into him with a stick before he left, He Ranchao immediately straightened his attitude and asked, "What kind of opportunity?"

"I'm planning to sell my qualifications as a candidate. Do you want to buy them?"

"Holy shit! Candidate qualifications can be sold?"

He Ranchao couldn't help crying out in shock.

Seeing this, Shen Lang hurriedly stepped forward and clamped a hand over his mouth.

Then, glancing cautiously around his surroundings, he hissed, "Keep your damn voice down! Do you really think this place is your home?"

"If someone hears you, won't that woman Nalan Yanran kill me?"

Hiss...

He Ranchao also realized he had spoken out of turn.

Covering his mouth in a panic, he lowered his voice and said, "Right, right, right. Brother Lang is right to scold me."

"It's just that this brother doesn't understand—aren't candidate qualifications bestowed by His Majesty?"

"How can they be sold?"

Seeing that He Ranchao was no longer able to suppress his inner excitement, Shen Lang smiled and whispered softly into his ear, "Actually, the identity of a candidate is tied solely to that divine artifact."

"If the divine artifact is lost, the candidate automatically forfeits their status."

"Whoever acquires the divine artifact anew automatically becomes the new candidate."

"And once they complete the three trial tasks set by the Great Emperor Shenxiao, they can become a personal disciple!"

He Ranchao grew utterly thrilled. "Holy shit, how many spirit stones are you planning to sell it for?"