"Although that little freak's predicament here is unavoidable, I, this humble one, have never done anything similar. After all, although I have resided here for a long time, it is truly beyond my power. Beings like us find it incredibly difficult to reincarnate, yet my heart yearns for the day I can finally do so."
"Therefore, to accumulate merit, even though I dared not step forward to protect that little freak for my own self-preservation, I have never committed any evil deeds of this nature."
"Alas, perhaps I speak poorly. Bringing up these matters has likely made Lord Chen unhappy. It is my fault."
Ye Tiancheng and the little fox listened to Zhang Liushun's words and thought to themselves, Zhang Liushun claimed to have done nothing to bully the little freak in order to accumulate merit, but he also didn't protect him. However, calling him a "little freak" repeatedly seemed rather impolite. Why didn't he remember to guard his tongue now, which would also help him reincarnate sooner?
However, considering that the little freak never spoke to others and was assumed to be mute, no one knew if he even had a name. They only knew he couldn't speak, and it was likely believed he wasn't an evil spirit, not a peer of most beings.
Even Ye Tiancheng and the little fox, who had only just learned of his existence, could not help but call him "little freak" and "little monster" for similar reasons. Therefore, neither of them said anything further, nor did they remind Zhang Liushun of this.
After Zhang Liushun finished speaking, Ye Tiancheng finally said, "So your goal is to reincarnate?"
Zhang Liushun did not deny it and replied with a sincere expression, "Indeed. However, due to certain circumstances during my life and death, I have been unable to fulfill this wish. Yet, this is my greatest desire."
Ye Tiancheng lowered his gaze for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "If you are looking for a way to reincarnate, I might have some methods that can help you do so sooner."
As soon as Ye Tiancheng finished speaking, Zhang Liushun's eyes lit up. However, after a moment of excitement, Zhang Liushun, true to his nature, remained quite restrained. "Is... is there really a way?"
"Well, I truly long to reincarnate, but I also understand that nothing comes from nothing. If you can help me, Lord, and since you've brought it up, it should not be too difficult. However, you will likely require some compensation from me."
"I dare not be greedy and do not mind paying a price. If Lord Chen is willing to help me, no matter what conditions you set, as long as I know I can fulfill them, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."
Seeing him like this, Ye Tiancheng smiled and said, "Going through fire and water is an exaggeration, and it doesn't need to be to that extent. I don't need you to do anything extraordinary, as I am not lacking in anything."
"It's simply that I've noticed you've been very diligent in serving my brother and me these past few days, and this matter is truly not difficult for us. Since you have this wish, helping you is not impossible. The reason my brother and I do not use these methods is merely because we still cling to the mortal world and do not wish to forget our past lives."
"But since you are willing, it's not impossible to help you, considering your hard work these past few days."
"However, I also know that a pie falling from the sky might make one feel uneasy. Even if I were willing to help you for nothing, you likely wouldn't dare to accept it."
Zhang Liushun nodded with a slightly ashamed smile, "It's not that I'm timid, but this is a major matter. It's one thing not to want to owe this favor, but it's also true that for such a great favor, I truly cannot accept it calmly. Otherwise, I would feel guilty, and even if I could reincarnate, I would still feel uneasy."
Ye Tiancheng then said, "You seem to be a rare genuinely honest person. I am usually straightforward and dislike beating around the bush, and I am confident in my abilities, but you are different."
"Since that's the case, I won't make things difficult for you. I can help you, but if it comes to collecting a reward... let me think."
"Although this younger brother of mine is not related by blood, I found him. However, my brother and I have been together for a long time, and our bond is extraordinary, no less than that of blood brothers. Therefore, I cannot help but be very concerned about matters concerning my brother."
"When I found my brother, he was pitiful, with no relatives and no past memories. I put in effort to investigate for him but found no results. Now, seeing someone in this strange market who bears similarities to my brother, and is quite peculiar, is strange."
"I've thought about it over and over, and I want to figure out whether that little freak and my brother have any connection."
Ye Tiancheng's demeanor at this moment was as if he had just thought of this on a whim. "And regarding your matter, I've thought about it extensively, but I can't think of anything to ask of you. However, since you've been in the strange market for many years, your understanding of this place is likely unparalleled by others."
"Why don't you investigate all matters concerning that little freak for me, and then report back to me? No matter how much you find, as long as you have truly put in your best effort, it will be considered your compensation. Once you can leave this place, I will take you to reincarnate."
"If you handle things exceptionally well, even if you have special requests or ideas about your identity after reincarnation, I might be able to strive for them for you."
Zhang Liushun was not an ignorant young evil spirit. He was quite old, having died very early. He had truly been delayed, preventing him from reincarnating. If it were any other being saying this to him, Zhang Liushun might not have believed it.
However, over the past few days, Ye Tiancheng's methods, his strength, and the mere glimpses of the good things he possessed were enough to make Zhang Liushun increasingly convinced that Ye Tiancheng was a powerful being. Other beings might not possess this ability, but if it were Ye Tiancheng, it wouldn't sound like empty boasting.
Therefore, Zhang Liushun was almost overjoyed, even kneeling down on the spot and kowtowing several times. "I can do this, Lord Chen. You are truly benevolent. I am deeply indebted for this favor and will do my utmost to handle this matter for you!"
Ye Tiancheng nodded slightly with satisfaction, took out something, and gave it to Zhang Liushun, then said, "Take a look at this. It's a guarantee for you, and it also lets you know that I indeed have the ability to fulfill your wish. If you don't understand it, you can find someone who does to take a look for you."
"As long as you diligently work for me, I will not be stingy with further benefits."
Zhang Liushun respectfully took what Ye Tiancheng gave him with both hands, then carefully put it away. "This is already the greatest benefit. Such immense kindness, I ask for no more. If I can reincarnate properly, other things will not be taken with me in death, so it's fine if I don't have them. You don't need to spend more on me, Lord."
As Zhang Liushun spoke, he was already showing great loyalty, only thinking about how to better handle the task Ye Tiancheng had assigned him.
Ye Tiancheng didn't say much more. It was one thing for him to be willing to bestow favor, and since the other party said he didn't want more, there was no need for him to insist on forcing it. Some things are better left unsaid; if he were to push it further, it might seem like he had ulterior motives.
He simply said with a smile, "Let's leave it at that for now. You can take a good look at what I've given you later. It won't disappoint you. Then we can talk more about that little freak."
Ye Tiancheng changed the subject, returning the focus to the little freak. "You mentioned earlier that the little freak is not of our kind and is a little monster. How did you determine that?"
When Zhang Liushun heard Ye Tiancheng's question, he no longer dared to be negligent. He cautiously asked, "Why do you ask, Lord? Can't you tell as well?"
The word "as well" was used quite cleverly, clearly implying something more.
Ye Tiancheng had previously communicated with the little fox. Although he himself couldn't tell, since the little fox could, it was no different than him being able to tell. He just needed to use what the little fox had told him to fool Zhang Liushun.
Thus, Ye Tiancheng recounted what the little fox had told him earlier.
"I just felt that the aura on that little freak was too mixed. At first glance, it was impossible to distinguish what exactly he was, which is why I asked."
This explanation did indeed succeed in fooling Zhang Liushun, perhaps because it was the truth.
Zhang Liushun replied to Ye Tiancheng, "Lord Chen's strength is truly unfathomable. With just a casual glance, you can discern such things."
"Indeed, it is so. That's why when that little freak first arrived in the strange market, no one could ascertain his origin. Some thought he was a spirit, some thought he was a monster, and some thought he might be one of us, perhaps having consumed some杂七杂八 (miscellaneous things) that turned him into this state. Although this last theory was not widely accepted."
"Because if he had truly consumed something, there would be no reason for the little freak's strength to remain so low, nor for his aura to be so weak."
"But if you say he consumed something but couldn't digest it, that's also unlikely. Because if that were the case, he wouldn't have survived until today; he would have died from it long ago."
Zhang Liushun sighed and said, "Regarding this matter, everyone who has seen that little freak cannot explain it clearly. As time passed, no one bothered to seriously distinguish what he was anymore. It's just that for such a messy, unidentifiable being, most entities look down upon them, so they collectively refer to beings like that little freak as monsters."
Ye Tiancheng and the little fox exchanged glances, both appearing thoughtful. In fact, the little fox's aura should have been similarly indistinguishable to these evil spirits.
However, even if the little fox's strength was difficult to ascertain, his aura was not as mixed as that of the little freak. Moreover, with a powerful being like Ye Tiancheng protecting him, even if the little fox were truly a weakling, no one would dare to offend him or cast strange glances his way.
After leaving the mortal realm, in places even the underworld does not govern, the law of the jungle prevails. Either you are strong enough, or your backer is strong enough, and then you are worthy of being looked up to by all beings, with no need for reasoning.
Ye Tiancheng actually knew that the little fox's origin was likely unusual. Although the conflict between Ye Tiancheng and the little fox no longer existed, and Ye Tiancheng did not doubt the little fox, it did not mean that the little fox's background was not problematic.
After all, Ye Tiancheng had found the little fox under such abnormal circumstances. Even Ye Tiancheng dared not say that the little fox was definitely human. The only thing Ye Tiancheng could guarantee was that the little fox had earned his trust with sincerity for sincerity. Therefore, no matter what the little fox truly was, Ye Tiancheng no longer cared.