Zhao Zhao and the others sat calmly in the Zhuang family's dining room for quite a while. After some time, Zhao Zhao, with her sharp eyes, saw from afar Zhuang Tingzheng, his face ashen and his hands constantly wiping away cold sweat, appear at the dining room entrance.
No one knew what his wife had said to him, but he was so panicked.
"Three masters, we're willing. We're willing to use the wooden carving to trade for this deal," Zhuang Tingzheng said with a forced smile as he walked to the seat opposite Lu Chukong, pulled out the chair, and sat down.
Lu Chukong raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. He thought that Zhao Zhao, this little girl, had really guessed right. It seemed that in terms of gauging people's hearts, Zhao Zhao was no less skilled than her cousin Song Yao. Thinking of Song Yao, the corners of Lu Chukong's mouth involuntarily curled up, showing a rather silly smile.
Although his smile was harmless, it made Zhuang Tingzheng, who had a guilty conscience, feel creepy. Zhuang Tingzheng's eyes kept darting around, and he had lost the gentle and refined manner he had when they first met.
Seeing this, Zhao Zhao was afraid that something might go wrong and delay the matter, so she quickly coughed to get everyone's attention. "Cough, cough!"
"Oh, easy to talk about, easy to talk about," Lu Chukong came back to his senses. He tapped his index finger on the tabletop and said slowly, "Since Mr. Zhuang has made up his mind, it's definitely for the best. But before this deal starts, besides the wooden carving, we have some other requirements. I wonder if Mr. Zhuang can meet them."
"Master, just say it. As long as we can finally make this deal, we'll definitely do our best to fulfill any other requirements," Zhuang's wife said. Maybe it was because of what had been said to Zhuang Tingzheng earlier. Now, all she could think about was the terrifying face she saw in the mirror every morning when she woke up. She was shivering all over and wished she could finalize this matter on the spot and then ask Zhao Zhao and the others to get rid of the evil ghosts in the villa.
In contrast, Zhuang Tingzheng seemed much calmer. He forced himself out of the previous terrifying atmosphere. "What other requirements do you have?"
Lu Chukong slightly curled his lips and gave Zhao Zhao a look. Zhao Zhao understood and nodded. "Heaven and earth have their own cycles and causal relationships. Everything in the world follows a set of fixed laws. Now, for us to break the regular laws and help the Zhuang family obtain good fortune and luck is already going against the heavenly way. Naturally, we can't attract more attention."
Zhao Zhao paused for a moment and then continued, "So, this is the first requirement. We hope that Mr. Zhuang can agree to undo the previous ritual he performed, that is, the act of seizing luck from others. According to our divination and fortune - telling, Mr. Zhong's fate can't support two shares of good fortune."
Zhuang Tingzheng seemed a bit hesitant. He didn't immediately agree, but he didn't immediately refuse either. He asked, "Are there any other requirements? What are they?"
"The second requirement is that you hand over to us the person whose luck you've taken away."
"You want Zhuang Ming?!" Zhuang Tingzheng couldn't believe his ears for a moment and exclaimed in disbelief.
"Zhuang Ming?" Cheng Sang, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly lifted his eyes and said with a half - smile, "Is the Zhuang Ming Mr. Zhuang mentioned a relative of yours?"
Of course they knew who it was. Cheng Sang said this just to make the act more convincing.
Zhuang Tingzheng's face turned even paler. He didn't rush to speak. After a while, he looked up at Zhao Zhao and asked sharply, "I can agree to these two requirements you've proposed, but how can you guarantee that everything you've said is true? I, Zhuang, am also a businessman. I can't just agree to everything you ask while you show no sincerity at all. Am I right, gentlemen?"
Even though Lu Chukong was usually so playful, he couldn't stand this hypocritical, cold - blooded, and selfish scoundrel. His face immediately turned cold. He asked coldly, "So what do you want?"
"Let me see," Zhuang Tingzheng's expression was a bit crazy, and his eyes were blood - red. "Let me see the real skills of the three masters, and I'll agree to you."
"Sure. Tell me what you want to see."
"Since the three of you can change fate against the heavens, I think it's not a big deal to fulfill a small part of your promise now. There's a cooperation project in my company that has been maliciously withdrawn from. How about the three of you give it a try? If you can bestow a bit of good fortune on me now and make this project come back to life within three days, then I'll believe that the three of you really have such abilities. By then, I'll surely abide by the requirements you've proposed, and I'll personally send the person to you."
Lu Chukong squinted his eyes. He didn't expect this scoundrel to come up with such a requirement. He was really cautious... hateful! Where could they find a cooperation partner for him?
Cheng Sang couldn't bear it any longer. Except for his junior sister, no one else had ever made him sit there and act. He was about to stand up and beat this bastard to death.
Just then, a pair of soft hands stopped his movement. Zhao Zhao shook her head at him.
"Sure, we agree. But there's a prerequisite. You have to let us take that wooden carving back first," Zhao Zhao said calmly. She looked up at Zhuang Tingzheng across the table and waited for his reaction.
"Okay. I'll have someone wrap it up and send it to you right away," Zhuang Tingzheng said, relieved to hear their agreement.
"No need. We'll go and get it ourselves," Zhao Zhao said. Then she stood up and left the dining room, walking towards the Zhuang family's garden.
Zhuang Tingzheng and his wife hesitated for a moment and then followed.
In the Zhuang family's garden, Zhao Zhao waved her hand casually, and the wooden carving instantly shrank several times. It lay in a small piece in Zhao Zhao's palm and was put into the small cloth bag she carried with her.
"Since the deal is settled, we'll leave now. When your cooperation project comes back to life, don't forget the requirements you've agreed to."
"Of course not. I, Zhuang, always keep my word."
With the matter settled, Zhao Zhao and the other two left the Zhuang family. Zhao Zhao was eager to go back and see what was wrong with that wooden carving.
Just as they had walked a few steps out of the Zhuang family's gate, they heard Zhuang's wife's urgent call from behind. "Wait a minute, please wait a minute, three masters..."
"Do you still have something to say?" Zhao Zhao looked noble and aloof. It was really hard for her to show any good attitude towards these two people. They were greedy, selfish, and cruel.
"I have another request," Zhuang's wife gasped, her face full of pleading. "To be honest, there have been ghosts in our house. I'd like to ask the masters to give us some magic treasures to get rid of the evil spirits. I'll surely offer a generous reward!"
Ghosts? Zhao Zhao paused. She had indeed felt a strong yin energy in the Zhuang family, but she hadn't found any trace of evil ghosts. Zhao Zhao had a hunch that if what she said was true, then this evil ghost must be related to Zhuang Ming's mother. She thought of the ghost fetus beside Zhuang Ming.
She had to find a way to investigate.
"Take these talismans back and stick them where you often encounter ghosts," Zhao Zhao said as she took out a stack of talismans from her cloth bag and gave them to her. The woman thanked her profusely and left.
"Tsk, tsk. Thousand - eye talismans. Little Zhao Zhao, how have you become so smart? Who did you learn from?" Lu Chukong looked at the back of Zhuang's wife walking away in disbelief, stroking his chin and clicking his tongue in wonder.
"Our junior sister is just smart," Cheng Sang, as always, sang praises for his junior sister.
Zhao Zhao ignored them and lowered her head to tidy up her cloth bag. Through the thousand - eye talismans, she could see what was going on in the Zhuang family. It was a perfect way to monitor without being detected.
"Hey, Zhao Zhao. I've helped a great deal today. Aren't you going to thank me?" Lu Chukong came to ask for a reward.
Zhao Zhao was really grateful to him. She asked seriously, "Then how do you want me to thank you?"
"Hey! I don't need anything else. Just give me a bit of your spiritual power. Come on, hit here!" Lu Chukong quickly took out the Matchmaker Stone given by Song Yao and held it in front of Zhao Zhao.
"?" Zhao Zhao didn't understand but respected his request. She injected her spiritual power into the stone.
"Okay, then I'll be leaving, young master. See you if we're fated!" Lu Chukong, who had received his reward, beamed with joy and disappeared in a flash.
Zhao Zhao retracted her hand in confusion, shook her head, and turned to walk towards the exit of the community.
Cheng Sang followed his junior sister, deep in thought. Why did that stone in that guy's hand look so familiar? What was it...