Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Shen Wang was quite surprised when he received a call from Xiao Hei Ge.

After all, Xiao Hei Ge's whereabouts were always a mystery, shrouded in secrecy. Although they had exchanged contact information, they had never reached out to each other before.

Hearing the other party's words, Shen Wang was even more astonished: "You're saying the special department has terminated its cooperation with the Tang family? And they want to collaborate with us?!"

Xiao Hei Ge said on the phone, "Yes."

Shen Wang: "..."

Knowing Xiao Hei Ge had impressive means, Shen Wang didn't expect him to be so powerful, even able to sway the official cooperation of the special department.

Shen Wang suddenly became curious about what lay behind Xiao Hei Ge's mask, wondering about his hidden story.

Xiao Hei Ge spoke indifferently, "Would you mind if I shared your talisman-making formula with others for profit?"

Shen Wang: "Of course not. I gave you the method of making talismans, so it's yours now. My only condition was to use it against the Tang family, and you've done that."

Xiao Hei Ge added, "To capture the market, although your talismans are superior to Tang's, I’ve set the price much lower than theirs..."

"That's fine, I wasn't planning to make money from it anyway. As long as you're not losing money, that's what matters," Shen Wang was quite open-minded.

He wouldn't pass up a chance to make money, but he wouldn't chase after every opportunity. Clearly, suppressing the Tang family was more important.

Xiao Hei Ge's voice softened, "I didn’t realize you had such trust in me."

Shen Wang didn’t understand why Xiao Hei Ge suddenly said that, and he chuckled awkwardly, "After all, we are friends."

"How does that compare to Gu Dongting?"

Shen Wang: "...You are all the same to me."

Shen Wang couldn't understand why Xiao Hei Ge seemed to be competing with Gu Dongting. Was he jealous of Gu Dongting's status as the foremost figure in the metaphysical world?

Fortunately, Xiao Hei Ge didn’t probe further and soon hung up the phone.

Shen Wang pondered a bit and then searched for the current situation of the Tang family.

Unaware until he checked, Shen Wang was initially shocked and then delighted at what he found.

Recently, due to the Tang family buying trending searches to target Shen Wang, a boycott against the Tang family started, pushing the already struggling Tang family over the brink of bankruptcy.

The Tang family had declared bankruptcy, and their company was swiftly acquired by others.

The companies acquiring the Tang family were familiar to Shen Wang - one was the Yu Family Company, and the other was the Song Family Company.

As victims of the Tang family's curse, these two families joining forces to take over the Tang family seemed like poetic justice.

Delighting in their misfortune, Shen Wang went to online forums and discovered that the Tang family's downfall had even spread to the metaphysical community.

Many cultivators don't follow trending searches, and quite a few had not connected the Tang family from the trending searches to the Tang family selling talismans in the metaphysical community.

It was only because of Shen Wang’s issue that people realized they were the same Tang family.

Suddenly, the metaphysical community's view of the Tang family shifted subtly. Although the Tang family's talismans had dominated the market, their poor reputation was widely known, yet tolerated out of necessity.

However, just when the Tang family’s reputation hit rock bottom, another store selling special talismans emerged, offering better quality at lower prices than the Tang family's products.

No need for a second thought, it was clear which option people would choose.

Shen Wang couldn't help but laugh: "This is really like lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet."

Who could have thought that the Tang family's inexplicable decision to buy negative trending searches against him would trigger such a massive chain reaction, not only bankrupting them but also undermining their standing in the metaphysical community.

Reflecting on the Tang family's past, Shen Wang mused to himself, "I wonder if they can still maintain their close and harmonious family relations now."

The Tang family.

After the company was acquired, Tang's father sat silently in his study.

Tang's mother had thought that once Tang's father and Tang Jiu sorted things out, everything would return to normal and she could resume her life as a wealthy lady, spending her days shopping and beautifying.

She never imagined the company could actually go bankrupt!

Tang Jiu sat gloomily on the sofa, seemingly oblivious to Tang's mother quietly weeping beside him, lost in despair.

The growing sobs of Tang's mother finally broke through to Tang Jiu, who suddenly looked up: "Stop crying! What good will your tears do!"

Tang Jiu had caused a scene at Gu Manling's door the previous day. Not only did he fail to secure any funding, but he also received a harsh kick from Gu Manling, leaving his abdomen aching.

What troubled him most was that the image he had so painstakingly built in front of Gu Manling had crumbled away after yesterday's debacle.

Having lost both Gu Manling's favor and the support of the Tang family, Tang Jiu's head throbbed with pain. He felt that things should not have unfolded this way, nor should he be facing such an end.

Tang's mother's sobbing only aggravated Tang Jiu's already foul mood, and he snapped irritably, "If you hadn't mismanaged the company while we were being investigated by the special department, how could we possibly have gone bankrupt!"

Tang's mother's eyes widened in shock. At such a time, not only did her doted-on son not comfort her, but he also blamed her for the bankruptcy!

A chill ran down her spine as her tears fell more fiercely, "I never learned how to manage a company, how was I supposed to know what to do?"

"You didn’t know how to manage a company, but didn’t you realize your sole job was to stabilize the morale and maintain operations?" Tang Jiu coldly rebuked, "During your time in charge, there was a mass exodus of employees. Who knows what you did."

Tang's mother stood up abruptly, both angry and anxious: "Tang Jiu, I am your mother!"

Tang Jiu glanced at her indifferently: "Not my biological mother."

As soon as these words were spoken, both Tang's mother and Tang Jiu were stunned.

Since the exposure of Tang Jiu's status as an impostor, Tang's mother had not dwelt on it. She had even driven away her own biological son for Tang Jiu.

Yet, this was the response she received in the end.

Tang's mother's vision blurred, suddenly regretting that she had neglected her real son for such an ingrate.

As Tang's mother and Tang Jiu faced off, the Tang father, who had been sitting silently in his study, finally emerged. Overnight, his hair had become flecked with white, and his youthful appearance aged significantly.

Tang's father looked dejected, his eyes showing an unusual glint as he said somberly, "Without the secular world's company, we still have the metaphysical realm's business. How are our talismans selling?"

Hearing this, Tang Jiu's expression grew even more unpleasant: "Not good at all."

Tang's father looked at Tang Jiu: "Even without the contract from the special department, what about the contracts with other sects? And the independent cultivators?"

Tang Jiu gave a bitter smile and remained silent.

The sects they had previously collaborated with, when he approached them, were now equivocating and dodging, giving no clear answers.

Clearly, compared to the more expensive and less effective talismans from Tang's family, longstanding cooperation and friendship were insignificant against tangible benefits.

Tang's father's face darkened, his internal fury having no outlet, causing his spiritual energy to surge chaotically and suddenly coughed up blood.

Amidst Tang's mother's cries of alarm, Tang Jiu supported his father, comforting, "Dad, in the metaphysical world, strength is revered. As long as I improve my abilities, we can regain our footing."

"We are cultivators after all. If I undertake a few high-reward missions, we can earn a substantial amount."

So, there was still a chance for a turnaround, they hadn’t reached a dead end yet!

Tang Jiu firmly believed that this was not the end for him. He had a premonition that his future would be incredibly brilliant, so dazzling that everyone would look up to him!

As the Tang family was striving to find a new path and grasp at straws, Shen Wang had had his fill of their misfortune and got busy with his affairs.

Cultivating, watering the flowers in the backyard, refining materials for artifacts... He even had to supervise Xiao Kong's cultivation.

After receiving the ghost cultivation technique exchanged from the Metaphysical Association, Xiao Kong absorbed ghost energy much faster, regaining a normal human size in a short time.

Still a bit chubby, but no longer comically so, he now appeared endearingly plump.

Shen Wang sat in his study drawing talismans, replenishing his previously sold stock, while Xiao Kong practiced his cultivation nearby, each occupying their own space without interfering with each other.

To promote Xiao Hei Ge's talisman store, Shen Wang had nearly exhausted all his stock. Fortunately, though he had dispersed all his talismans, the subsequent payments were quickly deposited.

Shen Wang's account swelled with a substantial sum of money.

Coupled with the three billion Xiao Hei Ge scammed from Qingcheng Mountain at the auction, Shen Wang wouldn’t have to worry about money for a while, as long as he spent wisely.

Absentmindedly drawing talismans while calculating his assets, Shen Wang’s face was filled with a contented smile. He hadn’t realized until now just how wealthy he had become!

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang urgently.

Shen Wang's brow furrowed, unfazed as he completed the talisman in one stroke. After confirming that the talisman was unaffected, he turned to Xiao Kong.

Cultivation was truly dull and boring. As a child who had never attended school, Xiao Kong's cultivation sessions felt like forced homework. Hearing the noise, he couldn't wait to float out.

"I'll get the door~~"

Shen Wang narrowed his eyes: If a child dislikes cultivation, a good scolding should do the trick.

The sound of the door opening came from the entrance, followed by a sudden, abrupt scream.

Shen Wang's eyebrows twitched as he walked over and saw a strangely dressed man lying unconscious on the ground, his face still showing the terror of the moments before he passed out.

Xiao Kong was hiding to one side, looking aggrieved: "I didn’t do anything; he fainted on his own."

Shen Wang: "..."

Recognizing the distinctive ghostly aura on the man, Shen Wang remembered who he was.

It was the young man carrying a ghost fetus whom he had encountered in the temple some time ago.

Being a regular person, and one haunted by an infant ghost at that, it was no wonder he fainted upon opening the door to see a ghost child of five or six years old.

Shen Wang nonchalantly comforted Xiao Kong: "It's not your fault; it's his own for being too faint-hearted."

"He's actually an ordinary person, huh." Seeing that Shen Wang wasn't blaming him, Xiao Kong became bolder, "Why would he have a ghostly aura on him?"

Since being subdued by Shen Wang, Xiao Kong had encountered either various cultivators or evil spirits beaten up by Shen Wang. Even the ordinary people he met, like Li Pingping, weren't afraid of him at all.

Xiao Kong hadn't felt the thrill of scaring someone unconscious in a long time… and he kind of missed it.

Shen Wang stared at the man's stomach. In just a few days, the previously flat belly had swollen noticeably, resembling both a middle-aged man's beer belly and a nine-month pregnancy.

Coupled with the man's thin frame, it looked particularly eerie.

Xiao Kong curiously asked, "Should we move him inside?"

"No need," Shen Wang casually pulled out a water talisman, summoning cold water to splash on the man's face, "Don't dirty my house."

Startled by the water, the young man woke up, and the first thing he saw was a curious little ghost peering at him. He screamed, almost fainting again.

"Help, please! Spare me, get away!!"

Terrified, the man hugged his head, waving his hands frantically, appearing completely unhinged. Shen Wang, unimpressed, said, "Calm down."

The man, as if not hearing him, curled up, his voice breaking into sobs, "We have no quarrel, why come after me? Go find someone else, I'll burn more paper money for you…"

Shen Wang rolled his eyes and stepped forward, forcefully pulling away the man's arms that were tightly covering his eyes.

The man, startled, struggled violently until he saw Shen Wang's face. He then stopped and cautiously looked at Shen Wang: "Master... are you the master?"

Seeing him calm down, Shen Wang let go and stepped back, looking down at him: "What brings you to me?"

The man's expression changed upon hearing Shen Wang's question.

He glanced around, spotted Xiao Kong, and shuddered. The man tried to shift his gaze, pretending to see nothing: "Master, do you have any more talismans?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he screamed in agony, clutching his stomach and rolling on the ground: "It hurts, help, it's so painful, master, save me..."

Shen Wang watched coldly and said: "I have talismans, but are you sure you want to buy them? If you provoke what's inside your stomach any further, I'm afraid it will burst out soon."

The man, sweating profusely in pain, his teeth chattering, begged: "Master, I don’t want to die, please save me..."

Xiao Kong looked at the man in confusion. He saw that inside the man’s swollen belly, there was a fully-formed baby continuously turning and kicking. Every movement of the baby caused terrifying bulges on the man's stomach.

As if sensing the gaze, the baby's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened, staring straight into Xiao Kong’s eyes.

Xiao Kong greeted it excitedly: "Hi, are you a little brother or a little sister?"

The baby stared coldly at Xiao Kong. It bared its teeth, revealing sharp, gleaming fangs in a chilling smile.

Xiao Kong, as if hearing something, nodded and asked curiously, "Why don’t you have a gender?"

The last time he saw a baby in someone's stomach, it was about the same size but already had a gender – an ugly little sister.

Shen Wang beckoned with his finger, calling Xiao Kong back to him. He rubbed Xiao Kong's head like a pet dog: "Because it's not really a baby."

Finally, the thing inside the man's stomach seemed tired, or perhaps had enough fun. It closed its eyes again and quietly fell asleep.

The man, drenched in cold sweat, his back soaked, struggled to get up and knelt on the ground: "Master, I know you can save me, please, get rid of this thing. I'm young, I don't want to die."

"I've told you, just carry it for five months, give birth to it, and it will naturally leave you unharmed," Shen Wang said slowly, "What did you think this was?"

The man looked up at Shen Wang in confusion.

From his angle, Shen Wang looked down with a gaze filled with compassion, reminiscent of a Buddha statue in a temple.

"This is not a ghost that's latched onto you. It is neither a fetus nor an infant, but merely a specter formed from the resentment of countless women and unborn babies who never had the chance to come into this world."

The man's pupils dilated: "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Shen Wang said, observing the ghostly aura around the man's belly. "Relying on your decent looks, you treated women like playthings, seducing countless of them... You made them believe you truly loved them, wanting to marry and have children with them, without taking any precautions."

"Once they were pregnant, you abandoned them, forcing them to terminate the pregnancies."

The man's face changed repeatedly, his voice hoarse in defense: "The decision to abort was theirs, and the doctors performed the procedures. What does that have to do with me? Why should this thing haunt me instead of them?"

Unrepentant to the end. Shen Wang clicked his tongue: "Even now, you're trying to blame the doctors."

Some people think that evil spirits lack thought and logic, but in reality, many are simply bound by their obsessions, repaying their karmic debts.

Some sow the seeds and thus must repay the fruits, like a child yearning for their parents, or a husband unable to let go of his wife.

Others reap the fruits and must seek out their causes, like innocent spirits wrongfully killed, seeking revenge on their murderers.

The act of terminating a pregnancy may seem to be in the hands of the doctors, but they bear little of the karmic consequence. Rather, it's the mothers who make the decision, or those who influence it, who are the true culprits.

The man, clutching his stomach, looked frightened and helpless: "Master, can't you really save me?"

He didn't want to die, nor did he want to carry the child for ten months, let alone give birth to it!

"Either die or carry it for ten months and give birth," Shen Wang smiled. "No matter which Taoist priest or monk you go to, you'll get the same answer."

After speaking, Shen Wang kindly warned: "But I advise you not to seek them out. If you anger it, you won't even live for ten months. It will burst out of your belly immediately."

With a sudden pain in his swollen belly, the man turned pale and sat on the ground.

Having said his piece, Shen Wang pointed outside and remarked, “Take care on your way, I won’t see you out.”

The man arrived in a disheveled state and left looking utterly distraught.

Xiao Kong curiously watched the man’s retreating figure, clearly seeing the contents of his belly even from behind.

Perhaps disturbed by the man's movements, it lazily turned over, stretching its limbs. As it moved, the man staggered in pain, hastily grabbing a nearby tree for support to avoid falling.

After its exercise, it looked back at Xiao Kong, tilting its head and baring its sharp, white teeth again.

Xiao Kong, holding onto Shen Wang's clothes, excitedly said, “It’s greeting me!”

Shen Wang's eye twitched, “Such creatures usually lack sentience, driven by the resentment of harmed and deceived women, and the grievance of unborn children.”

What sentience could resentment hold?

Xiao Kong dissatisfiedly retorted, “Really, it smiled at me.”

Shen Wang, puzzled, looked at Xiao Kong and was about to speak when a thick ghostly aura rushed towards Xiao Kong. Shen Wang moved to intercept, but Xiao Kong, shielded behind him, leapt up and caught the ghostly aura with his mouth.

Savoring it, he swallowed and said, “See, it likes me. This is its gift to me.”

Shen Wang: “...”

Do ghosts nowadays tear off a piece of their aura as a housewarming gift?

Following the trail of the ghostly aura, the man had already staggered away. Shen Wang smiled faintly, sincerely wishing him well.

Hoping he finds joy in the company of the little being inside him.