After the God of Wealth, Zhao Gongming, left Huaguo Mountain, he intended to take a stroll in the mortal world. However, no sooner had he left the mountain than he noticed a persistent shadow trailing behind him.
This shadow had been following him for five years.
He stopped under a humble pavilion and calmly turned to look at the person behind him. "How much longer are you going to follow me?"
Yang Jian halted as well. He casually took out his fan, curled his lips into a smile, and said, "Finally willing to talk to me?"
Zhao Gongming rolled his eyes. "I kindly request that you be more discreet next time. We have no grudges against each other. Why are you ruining my reputation?"
"Ruining your reputation?" Yang Jian raised an eyebrow and slowly walked up to him. He said seriously, "I cherish you so much that I wouldn't have enough time. Why would I ruin your reputation? You might be overthinking. I'm sure the whole Three Realms is spreading the rumor that we've had a feud, that I, Yang Jian, have done something wrong and look at you with guilt, often following you around to repent. Am I right?"
"..." Zhao Gongming flung his sleeve and walked forward, not wanting to pay any heed to this eloquent madman!
Yang Jian grinned triumphantly. Then he tapped his fan, a fleeting look of disappointment crossing his face. He quickened his pace to catch up.
"You two have quite the elegant mood." Just then, a gloating voice suddenly came from above their heads.
Then, Sun Wukong jumped down from the treetop and stood in front of Zhao Gongming.
"Why are you here?" Zhao Gongming brushed past his shoulder impatiently. "Instead of going home to accompany your wife, why are you here causing a stir?"
Sun Wukong smiled. "You're wrong. I, the Great Sage, really have no intention of causing a stir. It was my wife who sent me here. She asked me to convey a message to the God of Wealth."
"What message?" Zhao Gongming took a few steps back in confusion and sized up Sun Wukong. "What dirty trick are you up to?"
"Hey~" His gaze flitted back and forth between Yang Jian and Zhao Gongming. He lowered his voice meaningfully and persuaded Zhao Gongming, "My wife's words are true. There's definitely something going on between you two."
"Great Sage, please go back!" Zhao Gongming glared at him and turned to leave.
"Wait. I have a wonderful thing to give you." Sun Wukong leaned close to Zhao Gongming's ear. "My wife said that she was able to safely evade the pursuit of the Heavenly Court thanks to your kind care back then. Now she wants to return you a huge favor. She said, 'Cherish the one in front of you. Don't wait until the flowers are gone.' This is what she's giving you. She said you don't need to thank her."
With that, Sun Wukong tossed a Qiankun Bag into his arms and was about to leave.
Zhao Gongming quickly asked, "What is it?"
"You'll know soon enough." With that, Sun Wukong patted his shoulder and said something thought-provoking, "Face your own heart and accept him."
Zhao Gongming looked at Yang Jian standing not far away. When he came back to his senses, he found that Sun Wukong had already left.
"Humph. Just because you're married doesn't mean you can go around matchmaking others. Aren't you tired?" After saying that, he angrily picked up the bag and was about to check what was inside.
Yang Jian raised his hand to stop him. "I advise you not to open it too soon."
"Mind your own business!" Zhao Gongming shook him off but still put away the bag and walked straight onto the street.
Yang Jian followed not far behind him and unconsciously walked side by side with him.
Just as they reached the street, Zhao Gongming casually glanced back and saw two begging children lying under a big tree in the distance.
His brows furrowed. "Why are such young children homeless?"
"The mortal world is full of hardships. Such cases are not rare." Yang Jian pointed at a woman not far away. "Look at the way she walks. She must have been ill when she was a child but couldn't afford the treatment, which led to her current state."
Zhao Gongming took a closer look and found that the ragged woman was struggling to speak and her whole body was tense.
He couldn't help but think of the scene when he saw Yang Xue burying a corpse. The reason she became a sage was not only because of the help of the Heavenly Dao.
"What, is the God of Wealth going to distribute his wealth?" Yang Jian leaned closer to him and pointed at the children in the distance. "Even if you give them money, it might be snatched away by others. Doing good deeds is not as simple as just giving away money."
"What should we do then?" Zhao Gongming didn't realize that Yang Jian had moved closer to his ear and was staring at his soft earlobe in a daze.
"I have experience with this." Yang Jian smiled and walked past him towards the two children under the tree.
Zhao Gongming followed behind him, curious to see how he would handle it.
Unexpectedly, Yang Jian said a few words to the two children and then followed them to a dilapidated courtyard on the outskirts. Inside, there was a group of beggars, old and young, weak and disabled.
The two children who went out to beg were the hope of these people.
Zhao Gongming watched intently as Yang Jian negotiated with the beggars. He said something to their leader and then turned to him, holding out his hand. "Give it."
"What?"
"Money." As Yang Jian said this, without waiting for him to react, he directly grabbed his sleeve and shook it.
Silver ingots of various sizes and copper coins fell with a clatter. The beggars, who were used to such things in the courtyard, rushed towards them like crazy and started picking up the money on the ground.
"..." The God of Wealth stared straight at Yang Jian. "Although the Heavenly Court has revised the Heavenly Laws, if I distribute my wealth like this, I'm afraid I'll lose my position as the God of Wealth."
"Don't worry. As long as Yang Xue is on your side, the Jade Emperor will never punish you." With that, Yang Jian lifted his other sleeve and shook it. A look of joy spread across his face. "This sound is quite nice."
"Nonsense. This is the most wonderful sound in the world!" Zhao Gongming retorted. "Miss Yang said that this is the most reliable sound."
"How much have you given her then?" Yang Jian frowned, with a hint of sourness in his tone. "She has a grown - up child now. Don't tell me you still haven't given up. Even if she needs money, with Sun Wukong around, she won't be short of it. Have you become addicted to being a fool?"
"Unreasonable!" Zhao Gongming retrieved his sleeve, turned around, and walked out of the courtyard, disappearing from sight.
The beggars in the courtyard knelt on the ground excitedly, kowtowing and shouting, "The God of Wealth has appeared! The God of Wealth has appeared!"
"Thank you, God of Wealth. From now on, we'll live a good life, do more good deeds, and help others to repay the kindness of the two immortals!"
Hearing their voices, Zhao Gongming shook his head. "I hope so."
He hoped that they would be grateful and use the money to live a good life, doing something diligently.
However, people are often greedy and lazy. I'm afraid that after they've exhausted the money, they'll still end up as beggars.
"Gongming, there's someone right now who really needs your help, and I guarantee that he'll be grateful and do more good deeds in the future. Will you help him or not?" Yang Jian grabbed his wrist and stared at him intently.
Zhao Gongming averted his gaze and forcefully withdrew his arm. "Where?"
"Right here." Without further ado, Yang Jian directly grabbed his hand and placed it on his hot chest. His voice was controlled yet hoarse. "It's been more than five years. You're so cruel. How could you bear to let me follow you like this without even looking back?"
"I didn't ask you to follow me... Ouch..." He felt a sharp pain in his hand. The next moment, the back of his head hit the wall. He was pinned against the hard wall by Yang Jian. Before he could react, his hands were held together and pressed against his chest.
He actually resorted to force!
The God of Wealth immediately lifted his leg, intending to kick him down.
"I can't wait any longer!" Yang Jian clamped his leg between his knees with force. He leaned forward with his strong chest, and his warm breath fanned across his face and nose. He growled desperately, "Today, I'm here to collect my debt!"
"Yang Jian, how dare you!" He struggled desperately and found that he had somehow been drugged and passed out.
...
When he woke up again, he was tied to a large bed. His hands and feet were bound to the bedposts with the Immortal - Binding Chains and he couldn't break free.
To make matters worse, he was only wearing a white inner robe.
"Yang Jian, I'm warning you. If you dare to do anything improper, I'll kill you!" He had never suffered such humiliation before. Wherever he went, he, the God of Wealth, was highly regarded. Even the immortals would want to worship him, but Yang Jian had insulted him like this!
Suddenly, he felt his eyes being covered with a white cloth. He could vaguely see Yang Jian's figure.
"I'll give you my life, but tonight, I must get what I want." As his voice fell, Zhao Gongming felt the bed sink. It seemed that Yang Jian had gotten on the bed.
"Slap, slap~" There was also the sound of a whip hitting the palm.
Zhao Gongming's eyes were filled with hatred. He actually liked this kind of thing!
"You perverted homosexual. Yang Jian, I'll curse your ancestors for eight generations! Can't you just let me go and we can take it slow?" He was extremely scared and pleaded in panic, "Wait a little longer. Wait for two years..."
"Sure." He replied faintly above his head, and Zhao Gongming's hands and feet were untied.
"Good for you..." Just as he was about to jump up and summon his weapon to subdue Yang Jian, his legs suddenly went weak and he fell onto the soft bed.
Oh no. His body was weak and he had no strength at all.
"Um..." Hearing his own voice, he bit his lips in shame.
Damn it. Why did his voice sound like this!
Yang Jian's cold voice came, calm and unlike his usual self. "This is the great gift Miss Yang gave you. Even the Supreme Lord Lao Jun doesn't have such a medicine. It's called Huagu Rou. After taking it, it will arouse the most instinctive desires in the body and make people involuntarily speak their innermost thoughts."
"What on earth do you want to do!" Zhao Gongming was a little scared. He raised his hand to remove the cloth from his eyes. His whole body was starting to heat up and his forehead was covered with fine sweat. He said with difficulty, "Don't..."
"If you really don't want this, I won't pester you anymore after tonight." With that, his voice gradually faded away.
Zhao Gongming was horrified to find that his body was undergoing a huge change, and even his mouth was starting to act out of his control, saying things he had never said before.
"Yang Jian, kiss me."
"Yang Jian, hurry!"
"Slow down..."
"Give it to me... One more time. I can't wait."
"Does your family need a God of Wealth? Please invite one. I don't ask for much. Just let me see you every day..."
...
After regaining consciousness and seeing the red marks all over Yang Jian's body, the God of Wealth wished he could find a hole to hide in.
"Sure. I'd be more than happy to invite the greatest God of Wealth in the world home." He pulled the man out of the imaginary hole, slung him over his shoulder, and headed straight for his mortal residence.
"..." Zhao Gongming covered his ears. Just kill him.
"You clearly have feelings for me and called my name so passionately, yet you've been avoiding me for five years. You're really something." Yang Jian raised his hand and gave his buttocks a couple of pats. "You're not honest."
"..." Zhao Gongming gritted his teeth and thought to himself, Sun Wukong and Yang Xue, just you wait!