Chapter 544 - Serve Tea to Master Rooster!

Chongming seemed insulted, flapping about even more fiercely. “Fine! Just wait, my little pup will be here soon! None of you will get away!”

As if to verify his words, the beast’s roar came again, clearer than ever. Gu Han’s expression shifted slightly.

The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow. “Little Brother Fu, it seems you’ve run into some trouble?”

Gu Han hesitated for a moment, then said with utmost seriousness, “Can you really guarantee my safety?”

The middle-aged man declared proudly, “Of course! As long as you pay the protection—ahem, pay the service fee, we’ll keep you safe with everything we’ve got! Of course, if you need our clan’s help in certain trouble, that would be a separate price.”

He’d heard the roar too, but he didn’t take it to heart at all. In the Tiannan Realm, aside from a few first-rate forces, no one could actually do anything to the Lin Clan.

Gu Han stopped hesitating and pulled out dozens of drops of Transcendent Substance and a half-saint herb. ”Fine! I’ll trust you this once!”

After seeing him pull out these items so casually, the group’s eyes lit up. This kid is rich!

Gu Han added, “This is the deposit.”

The five men’s eyes turned somewhat green. This much, just for a deposit? A fat sheep! A big client! So naive!

Instantly, they pinned these labels on Gu Han’s head, resolving firmly not to let him leave until they’d bled him completely dry.

The middle-aged man said with a sincere tone, “Little Brother Fu, since you’ve traveled a long way, you must be quite tired. Why not come to the Lin estate for some spirit tea and a short rest?”

They crowded in tighter. If Gu Han refused, they’d stop pretending and rob him on the spot.

As if oblivious, Gu Han’s eyes brightened and he immediately nodded. “Sure! I never imagined the Lin Clan would be so warm and hospitable. I suppose my trip here wasn’t wasted! Man, paying the deposit sure is worth it!”

After being chased by a dog all the way, he really was tired. And so, with each side harboring their own schemes and wearing smiles, they continued deeper into the Lin clan’s territory.

The five Lin Clan members sneered inwardly. You want to leave? No way!

Gu Han sneered inwardly as well. Only Chongming, who stared alternately between Gu Han and the Lin Clan members, remained uncharacteristically silent. He was still angry and waiting for his beloved little pup!

***

Inside the Lin Clan’s reception hall, the middle-aged man ordered, “Tea!”

The servants immediately presented spirit tea.

With another wave, he guided Gu Han to a chair. “Please, have a seat!”

Gu Han didn’t stand on ceremony, sitting down comfortably and casually tossing Chongming aside, drawing considerable displeasure from the rooster. After taking a casual sip, he complimented, “This is some good tea you have!”

Chongming wasn’t having it, casting sidelong glances at the group. “What about mine?! Who do you think you’re looking down on?! I’m thirsty too! Serve tea, serve tea!”

The group was taken aback by how arrogant the rooster demon was.

Gu Han obligingly handed over his spirit tea. “Do you want mine?”

Chongming flew into a rage, glaring viciously at him. “Outrageous! How dare you insult me! Once I recover, you’ll be the first one I beat senseless!”

Upon seeing the man and the rooster about to start arguing, the middle-aged man frowned slightly. He waved his hand, and had another cup of spirit tea brought for Chongming.

Just one taste and Chongming nearly flipped the table. “Pft!!! You call this spirit tea? Even a dog wouldn’t drink it!”

Gu Han’s face darkened. He could tell Chongming was deliberately trying to make things difficult for him. The group’s expressions turned grim as they silently resolved that after bleeding Gu Han dry, they would roast this insufferable rooster!

The middle-aged man reigned in his anger and smiled at Gu Han. “You look like you were in quite a hurry just now. I assume you’ve encountered some trouble? Why not tell us about it? We will help you as much as we can. But of course, the rules... you understand.”

“Protection money?”

The middle-aged man emphasized. “It’s a service fee! We do business with fairness and mutual consent as our principles. If you aren’t willing, you’re free to leave at any time!”

He sneered inwardly. If you actually walk out that door, we might as well admit we’re useless!

Gu Han considered it. “Well then, how much would it cost?”

The middle-aged man stroked his beard. “Two saint herbs and we’ll help you solve all your problems.”

“What?! That’s far too expensive!”

The middle-aged man shook his head. “There’s a reason for our prices! I won’t boast, but within a hundred thousand li, there’s no problem the Lin Clan can’t solve! Our family head is an eighth-stage Feather Transformation expert. Even our old ancestor is at the fourth stage of the Ascension realm! But of course, business is business. We can always negotiate!”

In truth, he wasn’t expecting Gu Han to produce two saint herbs. He was just probing Gu Han’s resources. However, who would have thought that Gu Han didn’t haggle at all?!

Gu Han appeared genuinely surprised, but then frowned. “You guys are that strong? But I don’t have that many saint herbs on me. Would a deposit suffice?”

Without waiting for their reaction, he waved his hand and produced two more half-saint herbs.

The group was stunned. Hm? An unexpected bonus?

They could clearly see that Gu Han had definitely stumbled upon some great fortune and opportunity. He wasn’t just an ordinary fat sheep, but the kind they could slaughter and eat for three years!

With a hearty laugh, a man in an embroidered robe landed in the middle of the room.

The group bowed in unison. “Family Head!”

The family head frowned at the rather ordinary spirit tea, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure. “Bring the finest tea!”

Then, he smiled warmly at Gu Han. “Please, take the seat of honor!”

With a wave of his hand, he guided Gu Han to the most prestigious seat. Earlier, the middle-aged man had already sent a secret transmission, informing him of Gu Han’s situation. Normally, such matters didn’t require the lofty family head’s personal involvement, but Gu Han was practically sizzling with wealth. That was why he’d made an exception to appear.

“Fu Yulin? Excellent! A name befitting a divine steed and qilin!”

Gu Han was speechless as he felt like he’d just been insulted.

The Lin Clan head began his probing. “To think you’ve already reached the Saint realm at such a young age... The younger generation really is formidable!”

Gu Han put on a flattered expression. “To be honest, I only started scavenging not long ago. If I hadn’t stumbled into some ruins a few days ago... Ahem, you flatter me, Senior!”

The group sneered inwardly. Ha! We see right through you! You’re practically spilling your own secrets! You’re clearly just a naive greenhorn!

Suddenly, before they could speak again, a roar faintly reached everyone’s ears. They could even sense a trace of demonic qi. That giant beast had caught up!

Feeling that increasingly clear demonic qi, the Lin Clan head’s expression grew somewhat grim. “The demon clan? When did the Tiannan Realm get such a powerful demon... Is this the trouble you’re facing?”

“Yes!”

Chongming sat back smugly. My little pup is here. Just wait and see!

The Lin Clan head deliberately put on a troubled look, casting an inconspicuous glance to the side.

The middle-aged man thought for a moment. “This demon is at least at the Feather Transformation realm. Two saint herbs might not be enough. We’d need you to—”