CHAPTER 311: CHAPTER 311 FROM MIDNIGHT TO CRYING_1

"Master, please have some water!"

Zhang Shan had already turned on the lights in the mourning hall, fetching some water from the dispenser and offering it to the master.

"I don’t drink this kind of water." The master shook his head, took out a small stainless steel flask, and tapped it gently with his knuckles. "I only drink Rootless Water."

But what is Rootless Water?

Zhang Shan, who had been an avid reader of *Journey to the West* since childhood, knew a thing or two about this. In the sixty-ninth Chapter, Sun Wukong needed Rootless Water as a medicinal catalyst to cure the king of the Zhu Zi Kingdom. The book even provided a specific explanation for it:

"Water from wells and rivers all has a source. My Rootless Water is of a different sort. It is that which falls from the sky and is consumed before it touches the ground. Only then can it be called Rootless Water."

Therefore, to obtain Rootless Water, one had to collect rain or snow falling from the sky. Only that was truly Rootless Water.

"How meticulous!" Zhang Shan couldn’t help but exclaim. He was completely in awe of Master Zou.

But seeing Master Zou’s aloof and grandiose demeanor, Zhang Shan couldn’t help but worry. He said to him, "Master, when my boss arrives, could you perhaps be a little more courteous? Maybe a bit more cordial toward him?"

"Ah, the ways of the mortal world!" Master Zou sighed lightly, took out his phone, tapped the screen a couple of times, and placed it in front of Zhang Shan.

Zhang Shan’s mouth twitched when he saw it. Master Zou had actually pulled up his payment QR code.

He’s asking me for money!

"Didn’t we agree to pay after the matter is resolved?" Zhang Shan asked, feeling awkward.

If the problem isn’t solved, won’t the money be a complete waste?

"That’s a separate matter." Master Zou stroked the grizzled beard on his chin. "You just asked me to bow my head to a common mortal, which is detrimental to my spiritual cultivation. How can you not show a little sincerity?"

"Uh..." Finding the master’s words reasonable, Zhang Shan opened his mouth. "How much sincerity do I need to show?"

Master Zou held up one finger.

"A thousand yuan?"

"Not quite."

"Ten thousand?"

"Scan the code!"

The corner of Zhang Shan’s mouth twitched again. His heart ached as he reluctantly transferred 10,000 yuan to Master Zou.

"Rest assured, I won’t let your sincerity go to waste," Master Zou said nonchalantly. "When I meet your boss later, I will certainly be very polite to him. I’ll even put in a few good words for you, saying something like you’re destined for wealth and will surely be a lucky charm for him."

"Excellent! A lucky charm sounds wonderful!" Zhang Shan was finally satisfied.

Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed.

Zhang Shan hurried to look outside and was immediately dumbfounded. He saw a figure approaching, carrying a long staff. As someone well-versed in *Journey to the West*, his mind instinctively jumped to Sun Wukong. But as the figure drew closer, he realized it was his boss, Su Xuan!

"Boss, what are you..." Zhang Shan hurried over to greet him, eyeing the iron rod in Su Xuan’s hand with confusion.

"Just carrying it for fun," Su Xuan replied coolly, his gaze shifting to Master Zou, a strange look in his eyes.

"Boss, this is Master Zou," Zhang Shan quickly made the introduction. "He came specially tonight to help us with our problem." He then turned to Master Zou. "This is my boss, his surname is Su. Master, you can call him Mr. Su."

As he spoke, he even winked at Master Zou, but then he suddenly remembered that Master Zou was supposedly blind.

But the next second, he froze.

He watched as Master Zou, who had been maintaining the air of a lofty expert, immediately put down his cane. He stood up, wiped his hands on his clothes, and then strode forward with both hands outstretched. He grabbed Su Xuan’s hand and spoke in a tone of reverent humility.

"Gr...Greetings, Boss! You must be tired from your journey! Please, have a seat, have a seat!"

Master Zou supported Su Xuan’s arm, ushering him to a seat as if serving an emperor. He even poured out some of his own Rootless Water and offered it respectfully. "Boss, drink this. It’s good for your health!"

What the hell! Was my 10,000 yuan really that effective? Master Zou’s performance has far exceeded my expectations! You can’t even call this ’cordial’ anymore! This is freaking groveling! Compared to Master Zou, I’m starting to look pretty useless!

"Old Zhou!" Su Xuan suddenly lowered his voice and whispered in Master Zou’s ear, "Why are you out swindling people again? And you even tried to swindle me!"

That’s right. This "Master Zou" was none other than Zhou Xingxue, the old man who had accompanied him to Zhuilong Mountain! Zhou Xingxue was neither blind nor lame.

"Boss, I had no idea you were the owner of this funeral home!" Zhou Xingxue said with a pained expression, whispering back to Su Xuan. "I was just out trying to earn some extra cash and ran into you. Please, don’t hold it against me!"

It was only natural for him to call Su Xuan "Boss." After the incident at Zhuilong Mountain, Su Xuan had made him a project consultant for Huatian Heavy Industries to prevent any more strange occurrences during construction. And Huatian Heavy Industries paid him a salary for his work. So, wasn’t Su Xuan his boss? His use of the title was completely sincere, with no pretense whatsoever!

At the same time, he was utterly astonished. How is Su Xuan also the boss of the West Crane Funeral Home? His portfolio is quite diverse! And what are the odds that another one of his companies is having this kind of bizarre trouble?

"Is there something wrong with your eyes?" Su Xuan glanced at the sunglasses on Zhou Xingxue’s face.

"No, no!" Zhou Xingxue hurriedly explained. "It just looks more professional this way."

"And your leg?" Su Xuan asked. Zhou Xingxue had been limping when he walked over to shake his hand.

"I fell." Zhou Xingxue grimaced. "I was climbing over the funeral home’s wall, used a trash can for a boost, and accidentally took a tumble. Ahem."

"You’re really something else!" Su Xuan’s mouth twitched. He then turned to the bewildered Zhang Shan and said, "This master you found seems decent. He probably has some real skill."

Zhang Shan was thrilled to hear this. "Yes, yes! I saw him pass right through the funeral home’s wall with my own eyes! He’s incredibly impressive!"

Zhou Xingxue looked embarrassed. "Just a minor trick, a minor trick..."

TICK-TOCK! TICK-TOCK!

A large clock hung on the wall. The hour, minute, and second hands suddenly aligned.

Midnight had arrived.

Zhang Shan tensed up instantly and looked at Zhou Xingxue. "Master, it’s midnight. Is it... is something supposed to happen now?"

Zhou Xingxue immediately took out a brand-new Compass and placed it in front of him. His pearwood Compass had broken back at Zhuilong Mountain. The magnetic needle on the new one trembled, pointing north-south.

"Looks normal for now," Zhou Xingxue said, peering at the Compass from under his sunglasses.

"Master, you..." Zhang Shan’s eyes widened. "You can see?"

"When did I ever say I couldn’t?" In front of Su Xuan, Zhou Xingxue couldn’t be bothered to keep up the act.

But just as the words left his mouth, a strange, wailing cry drifted into the mourning hall.

SOB... SOB...