Chapter Eighty-Three: A Partnership with Zhao Mangong

They were summoned at once and stood respectfully in a neat line, already changed into the uniforms of the Su family’s estate guards. The household’s shortage of men had finally eased somewhat.

“Master, why have you called for us?” Zhang Long asked with deference.

In the room set aside for dealing with demonic corpses, the air still reeked strongly of blood.

Su Yang placed four small leather pouches before them and said, “These are the corpses of four ninth-rank wild demons. The tumors within have been completely removed, making them comparable to a ninth-rank old medicine. Count this as this year’s first allocation of ninth-rank old medicine to you.”

“Many thanks, Master.”

Seeing that the corpses inside the pouches had already been cleansed of their tumors, the four men immediately brightened with delight and hurriedly expressed their gratitude.

They had originally thought they would have to wait some time longer; they had not expected a ninth-rank wild demon corpse to be issued so soon. With such a corpse in hand, their strength would surely leap forward by a great stride.

After receiving the corpses, the four withdrew. Those not on duty could scarcely wait to boil the corpse and use it to strengthen themselves.

“You two need not worry. This year you will each still have an allowance of two ninth-rank old medicines. Aside from that, Hu Shi, Hu Jiang, Tu Lang, Fei Lang, and Wan Jian will all have their shares as well.”

Su Yang said.

“Many thanks, Master.”

Wang Hanmao was overjoyed. He had not expected to be blessed with such favor and fortune, and he hastily voiced his thanks.

...

That day, Su Yang bought some books and stayed at home to make up for his studies, while also deepening his understanding of the culture of this world.

At the same time, several groups of ninth-rank martial artists came by. There were far fewer than the day before, and the same issue remained as before: in the end, only one or two were suitable. Su Yang told them to think it over carefully and return the next day.

The rebels outside the city attacked again, and many of the black-furred rat demons were killed or wounded. By estimation, a large number of corpses had once more accumulated in the military camp. All of these were resources for building up his own forces.

It was only that the incense offerings were too few; he had to hurry and finish the family advancement.

Su Yang made a rough circuit of the several estates around the Duke Residence. Aside from the Wang family and the Hong family, there were more than twenty large households gathered together. Among them, some had been ruined and their clans extinguished for various reasons, while the title deeds had been taken by the government and the clansmen did not dare to reclaim them rashly.

Among the households still living in peace, there seemed to be seven or eight left. Most had eighth-rank experts in residence. One household even had a seventh-rank expert, and it was also the largest manor in the vicinity: the Cheng family.

As for those seven or eight estates, if he went to negotiate with them one by one, they would soon fall into his hands. If they failed to understand their place, then the law of the jungle would decide matters.

Only, the remaining estates were all in government hands. If he wanted to buy them back from the authorities, he would have to bleed heavily. He would need to think of a way.

Another day passed.

It was also the third day Su Yang had promised. Carrying six black-furred rat demon corpses in leather sacks, he went to the military camp. The soldiers on guard recognized him and led him inside.

The atmosphere in the camp was not good.

Perhaps because the rebels had twice attacked the city with the help of black-furred rat demons, the defending soldiers had suffered heavy casualties. No one knew how long Yanggu County could still hold out, and the mood was deeply oppressive.

In the same tent as before, Su Yang took out all the black-furred rat corpses and said, “General Zhao, the three-day deadline has arrived. Here are the corpses of six black-furred rat demons whose tumors have been removed. Please inspect them.”

Zhao Mangong waved a hand, and two soldiers immediately stepped forward with daggers, slicing open the black-furred rat demon corpses bit by bit to check whether any tumors had been missed, or whether any flesh had been contaminated.

Once a tumor burst, the poison would instantly contaminate the flesh. This was a very serious matter, and the corruption spread extremely quickly.

“Report to the general: the six black-furred rat demon corpses are clean,” said the soldier holding the dagger.

At the report, Zhao Mangong finally opened his eyes and said, “Master Su, how many black-furred rat demon corpses can you handle in a day?”

“I wonder, General, how many black-furred rat demon corpses do you have here?” Su Yang asked.

“There are about one hundred and thirty ninth-rank ones, about ten eighth-rank ones, one seventh-rank, and one sixth-rank.”

Zhao Mangong, clad in armor and radiating the iron and steel bearing of a man born to war, replied.

“General Zhao, I can process the one hundred and thirty ninth-rank and the ten eighth-rank corpses, but for the seventh-rank and sixth-rank corpses I must ask for another expert. After all, the stronger the wild demon forces, the more stubborn the tumors within them, and the lower the success rate.”

“For a ninth-rank wild black-furred rat demon, I still have a sixty percent success rate. For an eighth-rank wild black-furred rat demon, I am left with only a forty percent success rate. If I were to process seventh-rank and sixth-rank black-furred rat demons, I would likely only waste them.”

Su Yang declined politely.

Though with incense he could process a corpse with absolute certainty, there was only one seventh-rank corpse and one sixth-rank corpse. Which was he supposed to do—succeed, or fail?

He might as well not take the job.

“You may first process this batch of ninth-rank and eighth-rank black-furred rat demons. If your success rate for the ninth-rank corpses reaches sixty percent, and for the eighth-rank corpses forty percent, then I will hand over those seventh-rank and sixth-rank corpses for you to process as well. You may fail completely if you wish.”

“In Yanggu County, even the best corpse-processing master could not match your success rate.”

After thinking it over, Zhao Mangong still decided to entrust the two corpses of sixth and seventh rank in the storeroom to Su Yang as well.

“General, and the payment?”

“For every corpse you successfully process, you take one-tenth.”

“If you successfully process the sixth-rank corpse, I will gift you one portion of seventh-rank old medicine. If you successfully process the seventh-rank corpse, I will gift you one portion of eighth-rank old medicine.”

“As for the two portions of eighth-rank old medicine you placed with me last time, I am returning them to you now.”

After speaking, Zhao Mangong took two wooden boxes from the cabinet behind him and placed them on the table before him.

“General Zhao, are you not afraid I will run?”

“You are a son-in-law of the Wang family and the master of the Su household. With Yanggu County besieged by rebels, you may run, but your women and your family cannot.”

“Thank you, General Zhao. Then let us work together in mutual delight.”

...

Su Yang summoned his servants and had them haul more than one hundred black-furred rat demon corpses home.

For ninth-rank wild demons, with a sixty percent success rate, he could keep forty percent for himself, which amounted to fifty-two corpses, equivalent to fifty-two pieces of ninth-rank old medicine.

For eighth-rank wild demons, with a forty percent success rate, he could keep sixty percent, which amounted to six corpses, equivalent to six pieces of eighth-rank old medicine.

Beyond that, there was also a portion of the payment.

This single haul was equivalent to tricking and annihilating a family with a century of inheritance and profound foundations, on the level of the sixth-rank Dongmen Qing.

A tremendous windfall.

Only, he did not know whether there might be a chance to scheme over the sixth-rank black-furred rat demon corpse. That would be equivalent to one piece of sixth-rank old medicine, and would greatly aid the improvement of his realm.

After returning home, he threw all the black-furred rat demon corpses into the storeroom, waiting to use incense on them all together on the final day before sending them to General Zhao Mangong.