Chapter 52: Do Con Artists Not Even Need Basic Skills Anymore?

Money just for walking through the door?
Zhao Yu's eyes lit up instantly.
Most importantly of all, with someone as formidable as the Nanshan Master ahead of him, he wouldn't need to take any risks. All he had to do was walk in and pick up the cash.
Heaven helps those who help themselves.
It was a good thing he hadn't been in a rush to leave; a way to make money had just presented itself.
"Woodcutter, quickly now, let's go make some money." With joy written all over his face, Zhao Yu strode rapidly toward the center of the town.
The Woodcutter hurriedly muttered in response: "Zhao Yu, Zhao Yu, once you make some money, I want a scabbard—a really ornate scabbard."
Though Zhao Yu felt a simple woodcutter's blade didn't need a scabbard, he answered generously: "If there's extra money when the time comes, I'll have a scabbard made for you!"
After all, the Woodcutter was his good friend.
Accompanied by the Woodcutter, he excitedly arrived at the massive estate situated in the heart of the town.
The guards at the entrance frowned as they looked at Zhao Yu: "What business do you have here?"
Zhao Yu's appearance... in the eyes of the guards, carried a sort of inexplicable strangeness.
First was his clothing. If you called it fine clothing, it really wasn't much—it looked like rough hemp cloth. But if you called it coarse cloth, it seemed to possess the texture of some kind of silk, because the material of Zhao Yu's garments exuded a subtle delicacy.
And then, tied around his waist was a woodcutter's blade...
Because they caught sight of the woodcutter's blade, the group of guards shook their heads inwardly... Which high-level expert or young noble of a prominent family would tie a woodcutter's blade to their waist?
This was just a hunter.
Zhao Yu's face remained completely calm, his breathing steady: "I am a master mage, here to help your master deal with evil spirits."
The guards found this amusing: "Is that so? Then may we ask, Master, how long you have practiced the Dao?"
Zhao Yu answered with utmost honesty: "I am a Golden Core True Person."
He was a genius who had condensed a Golden Core the very moment he began practicing... Speaking of which, a True Person is a Golden Core, a Venerable is a Nascent Soul, and a True Monarch is a Deity Transformation, but what level of cultivation is a Master Mage?
It seemed to have been mentioned in storybooks, but he couldn't quite remember... He really hadn't read enough books.
The guards trembled slightly: "A Golden Core True Person?"
A Golden Core True Person? And a Golden Core True Person this young?
Real or fake?
The group found it rather hard to believe.
However... as the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry!
What if this fellow really was an eccentric expert of the Golden Core realm?
After a moment of thought, the captain of the guards forced a smile: "Sen... Senior, please come inside. This subordinate will go notify the steward right away."
Regardless of whether he was real or fake, he was just a guard; he would let the higher-ups of the estate figure it out.
Zhao Yu was delighted: "No need to be so polite."
Ten taels of silver were practically in the bag.
I wonder how many things these ten taels of silver can buy.
The guard forced a few more smiles and led Zhao Yu into the estate, walking continuously through the corridors.
Before long, a plump man came running over, huffing and puffing.
The guards hurriedly saluted: "Steward."
The fat steward gave a slight nod and waved for the guards to leave.
Then, the steward stared intently at Zhao Yu... He had heard the servants report that a Golden Core True Person had arrived at the gates, and it had scared him so badly he came scrambling over in a panic.
As a result, this was a Golden Core True Person?
Was he being played with?
Yet, what if he really was one?
After all, appearances can be deceiving! That was a lesson paid for in blood by many people.
There were countless experts with peculiar quirks.
After pondering for a moment, the steward asked very cautiously: "Senior, might I ask where your immortal abode is located?"
Zhao Yu pointed toward the Million-Li Yin Mountains: "Over there."
The steward took a look and fell into silence.
Inside the Million-Li Yin Mountains, there were only barbarian tribes.
Of course, there were also experts from the Great Qian Dynasty, but the Yin Mountains were teeming with evil spirits... It was said that only the legendary Nascent Soul Venerables possessed the ability to settle alone within the Yin Mountains.
A Golden Core True Person... well, a Golden Core True Person entering there simply became rations for the evil spirits.
These days, didn't even con artists bother to do basic homework? And he couldn't even be bothered to change his clothes?
Let's test him again.
Rolling his eyes, the steward smiled: "Brother, I understand your intentions. You're here to scam those ten taels of silver, right?"
"I won't expose you. Once the money is in hand, you give me five taels, and I'll bring you inside to fleece those ten taels. If you aren't willing, I don't want to stir up trouble either—you can just go back the way you came. How about that?"
With that, the steward put his hands behind his back, his face full of confidence.
Zhao Yu couldn't help but give a thumbs-up: "Impressive."
Fortunately, he hadn't acted recklessly earlier. Look at this Liu family... this steward was just like the roundworm in his stomach, actually knowing he was here to scam those ten taels of silver.
The steward's smile grew a bit forced.
Verdict confirmed; this was a thoroughly lazy swindler.
The steward then turned around with his hands behind his back: "Let's go, I'll take you in."
Zhao Yu felt his heart ache: "Woodcutter, we're only going to have five taels of silver left."
He had come piteously to make money, but before he even started earning, half of it was going to be extorted.
The Woodcutter comforted him: "This is fine too. When we go in to scam money, there won't be any risk of getting exposed. We're not losing out at all..."
Before he finished speaking, the Woodcutter fell into deep thought... Wait a minute, putting aside Zhao Yu's special circumstances and looking solely at his current cultivation level, wasn't Zhao Yu indeed a genuine, flesh-and-blood Golden Core True Person?
How could he be here just to scam money?
Where on earth had something gone wrong?
Also, he remembered that if a Golden Core True Person acted as a master mage to subdue demons and vanquish devils, their appearance fee usually started at a few hundred to a thousand taels, right?
Could it be that after living in the Yin Mountains for too long, he had remembered incorrectly?
Or was it because too much of his origin essence was missing, causing his memories to blur and become chaotic?
The Woodcutter began to doubt his blade-existence.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yu followed behind the steward, continuing through various corridors and courtyards.
Finally, they stopped at a side hall.
There were already several people inside.
At the very top sat a pot-bellied man.
Seated below him was the immortal-looking Nanshan Master.
There was also a bald, burly man radiating an aura of fierce hostility, looking like someone you definitely shouldn't cross.
Lastly, there was a woman with a red dot painted between her brows.
The steward bowed respectfully to the pot-bellied man: "Master, another master mage has arrived."
Master Liu instantly beamed with joy: "Welcome, welcome! Quickly, fetch a seat for the Master..."
A servant led Zhao Yu forward, having him sit down beside the Nanshan Master and the other three.
The three of them also glanced toward Zhao Yu, subconsciously flashing looks of disdain... These days, any stray cat or dog dared to impersonate a master mage?
Master Liu stood up once more, bowing with utmost solemnity: "Four Master Mages, as long as you can help this Liu family subdue that evil entity, Liu will certainly not be stingy with the promised reward."
Zhao Yu thought for a moment and lowered his head to eat.
He was just here to scam money, so this definitely wasn't directed at him.
Once he finished eating and the Nanshan Master dealt with the evil spirit, he would take his money and go home.
The Nanshan Master stroked his beard and spoke slowly: "Master Liu, though I have heard of the evil entity in your estate, the specifics remain unclear. To put it bluntly, for a full two years, your esteemed estate has not yet turned into a forbidden zone... What is the origin of this evil entity? Is there some hidden story behind it?"
"This..." Master Liu wore an expression of difficulty.
The woman with the red dot spoke with displeasure: "Master Liu, if you wish for us to eliminate the evil spirit, we cannot be completely kept in the dark, can we?"
"Sigh..." Master Liu shook his head slightly, his face full of grief.
The steward stepped forward slightly and sighed softly: "The four Master Mages are unaware, but this is a long story."
"Then make it short," the fierce-looking brawny man interrupted.
The steward didn't get angry; he nodded and said: "This subordinate will heed the Master Mage's words. It is like this..."