Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 844: This Is Much Faster Than Robbery

“Interest?” Shi Huagu’s body gave a shudder.

It was hard to imagine a Fusion Stage expert being unable to control his own body.

“Of course. Loans naturally have interest. Otherwise, why would we lend you the money?” Meng Potian said matter-of-factly. He couldn’t understand why Shi Huagu was reacting so strongly.

The Meng Family isn’t running a charity. We can’t just lend money to anyone as long as they pay it back. If that were the case, the Meng Family would have gone bankrupt long ago.

Shi Huagu’s smiling face looked even worse than if he were crying.

Damn it, how could I have completely overlooked the existence of interest?

Beside him, Mu Baiyi also lost his composure, even though he was supposedly here to support his subordinate. He had forgotten about the interest too.

Not only does Shi Huagu owe money, but I do as well.

However, he had borrowed the money from the Luodi Merchant Guild after changing into the appearances of all the creed members. He had thought that once the barbeque shops were profitable enough, he could repay the debt as soon as possible to avoid the matter coming to light.

If this gets exposed, I won’t survive even if I’m at the Half-Step Transcendent Tribulation Stage.

“H-how much is the interest?” Shi Huagu was so frightened that he stumbled over his words, wishing he could dig up Qin Haoran’s corpse and whip it.

Meng Potian was quite enthusiastic about a major client like Shi Huagu. Moreover, he admired Shi Huagu’s loyalty and righteousness for daring to assume such a debt.

However, admiration aside, accounts have to be settled clearly.

“You see, it was clearly stated at the time of the loan—this is a ‘Tribulation Safety Insurance.’ As long as you successfully advance to the Transcendent Tribulation Stage, the interest stops accruing, and you only need to repay the principal. If you fail the tribulation, the interest is calculated at twelve percent per annum.”

Meng Potian wrote the calculation process in the air to help Shi Huagu understand.

“Forty years have passed since the original loan. At the time of the loan, it was stipulated that repayment would adopt the ‘equal principal and interest’ method. For a loan of one billion, the average monthly repayment would be about...one thousand one hundred...subtracting the one billion you’ve already paid, forty-five billion remains.

The air was filled with dense calculations, causing Shi Huagu’s heart to tremble with fear.

As a Fusion cultivator, he did not lack such simple computational ability. He just couldn’t accept this reality.

Beside him, Mu Baiyi’s eye twitched. If we had this many spirit stones, Fengdu Ghost City would have been built long ago.

And this is only what Shi Huagu owes. I myself owe even more.

I had originally thought I could repay the debt early and accelerate Fengdu Ghost City’s construction. But now, I suppose I should forget about it. Fengdu Ghost City can be built slowly; there’s no need to rush.

Currently, the Nine-Netherworlds Creed and the Radiant Sun Creed are thriving under the Heavenly Court Creed’s leadership. With Young Creed Leader Lu’s guidance, the Radiant Sun Creed quickly shifted their research direction. Items such as solar candles are about to enter the market, likely capable of earning spirit stones even faster than opening barbeque shops.

Mu Baiyi tried his best to think positively.

In the mental space, Lu Yang thought, No wonder your Meng Family follows the laws so strictly. This legal money-making method is faster than illegal activities.

Even if you make Shi Huagu go around robbing people, he still can’t get this much.

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy felt deep regret. “What a pity! This immortal lost out big time! I should have found a bank to deposit some spirit stones. After three hundred thousand—no, four hundred thousand years—how many spirit stones could this immortal have earned?!”

“...Uh, let me ask something. Your Majesty, are you certain any bank could have operated from ancient times until now?”

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy contemplated. Xiao Yangzi has a point.

Hence, the Everlasting Immortal Fairy returned to her usual cheerful self.

~~~

Shi Huagu and Mu Baiyi left the Meng estate, both crestfallen.

“Creed Leader, what now? Do we return to the headquarters?”

Mu Baiyi shook his head. “Haven’t you noticed? The standard of living for the imperial city’s populace is higher than in other cities. This implies that their ability to embrace new things is greater. Previously, when we opened barbeque shops, we started from small places and gradually spread to surrounding cities.

“Barbeque shops are common. Our advantage is the good flavor, something universally accepted. It’s not exactly a novel concept.

“But the things invented by the Radiant Sun Creed aren’t necessarily something anyone can accept immediately. To open up the solar energy market, I think we should start from the imperial city.

“How about this? You go contact the people from the Radiant Sun Creed. Let’s all come to the imperial city for a site inspection.”

Shi Huagu thought, No wonder he’s the creed leader. His observational and thinking skills are stronger than mine.

......

~~~

“Emperor Father, your son has returned.”

Within the imperial palace, the dignified First Imperial Prince paid respects to the Xia Emperor.

Three months ago, someone reported officials in Ji province for corruption, deception, and covering up. Jiang Qun traveled to Ji Province to investigate corrupt officials, traveling incognito and visiting the commoners to search for clues. When he encountered obstacles from officials, he revealed his identity to intimidate them. Incidentally, he also met a beautiful companion and gained a promising romance. Now, he had just returned to the imperial city.

Who would have thought that Emperor Father has aged so much in just three months?

That high-spirited Xia Emperor was nowhere to be seen. The current Xia Emperor resembled an old man on the verge of decay. His face was wreathed in wrinkles, and his eyelids drooped, covering his eyes.

Wasn’t it originally said that he has ten years of lifespan left? Less than half that time has passed, and he already seems to be on the verge of collapse!

The Xia Emperor favored his eldest son the most. Seeing Jiang Qun return, he smiled and put down the memorial booklet in his hand, beckoning him over.

“Emperor Father, your health...” A wave of sorrow rose in Jiang Qun’s heart.

He knelt before the throne, allowing his father to pat his head. In a daze, it felt like he had returned to his childhood, when his father sat on the throne and he sat on his father’s lap.

“Cough, cough... It’s fine. This emperor knows his own body. I can still live for a while longer.” The Xia Emperor’s eyes were cloudy, his vision severely declined. His speech was slurred and flecked with spittle.

“Even if Heaven wants to take this emperor’s life away, it’s still not time. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

“This emperor knows you seek a life of freedom and have no intention to inherit the throne. As a parent, I won’t force you.

“However, if the crown prince is not decided early, and one day I can no longer hold on and pass away, the national fortune attached to me will lose its master and may become restless. That will inevitably lead to turmoil, requiring the Old Ancestor to step in.

“This national fortune is the foundation of our Great Qia. No mishap can be allowed.

“Old Two is too scheming, prone to outsmarting himself. Old Three knows he lacks talent for governance, devoting himself solely to literature... Your eight younger brothers all have various flaws and are unfit for the great responsibility. I can’t be at ease if I entrust this kingdom to them. As for your seven younger sisters, you also know...”

“Emperor Father, say no more. I will be the emperor!” Jiang Qun was heartbroken, sobbing uncontrollably as he nodded in agreement.

I know Emperor Father has always held me in high regard. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have entrusted the matter of handling the Ji Province officials to me. This was for me to establish my authority.

“Ah, that’s what you said! No backing out!” The Xia Emperor suddenly straightened his back, his eyes clear and bright, shining with vigor as he looked at Jiang Qun. There was no trace of the man on death’s door from moments ago.

Jiang Qun, “...”

Dad, if you’re fine, could you please stop acting?

Second Younger Brother says there’s no honesty in imperial families, with schemes everywhere. He is absolutely right.