CHAPTER 468: CHAPTER 94_3

"Assistant Minister Wu, what do you mean by this?" Chen Jiuge asked, his face full of trepidation.

Under Assistant Minister Wu’s repeated invitations, Chen Jiuge nervously took a seat.

Wu Yao chuckled. "Brother Chen, there’s no need to be so tense. You’re an official of the Snow Concubine Hall; surely I wouldn’t dare to pressure you?"

"Ahem, Assistant Minister Wu, I..." Chen Jiuge said, somewhat embarrassed.

"HAHA. Brother Chen, let’s not beat around the bush. The last two times I handed over the Yin Yang Deer, I skimmed quite a bit off the top. Unfortunately, some scoundrel snitched about it to His Majesty. Although I’m a member of the Wu Family, I am merely from a distant branch. I thought I was dead for sure this time, but I didn’t expect the Snow Concubine to plead on my behalf," Wu Yao said, still shaken by the ordeal.

"A favor owed must be repaid, and a favor from the Lady is quite valuable. If I had to buy it with money, I would probably go bankrupt—this is the wealth I’ve painstakingly accumulated over more than thirty thousand years!"

"My entire family, my hundred-plus beautiful concubines, over a thousand lovely maidservants, several hundred children, and countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren all depend on me. I really can’t bear to lose it all."

"Luckily, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and you, Brother Chen, are my savior!" Wu Yao said, his eyes gleaming.

Chen Jiuge’s mouth twitched. This old bastard isn’t even human, is he? More like a breeding stud!

"The Snow Concubine said that taking care of you would count as repaying the favor. But we’re talking about the Snow Concubine here! Since the Yin Yang Deer was proven to actually possess the qualities of an Immortal, she is now the most favored concubine in the harem."

"So I’ve been thinking, this matter must be handled well—excellently, in fact. As it happens, one of my great-grandsons returned from his travels. Not only did he return, but he also brought back a Taiji Deer. And coincidentally, the shop where he bought the Taiji Deer secretly belongs to the Yu Family."

"So, Brother Chen, let’s cooperate," Wu Yao said, his eyes reddening slightly.

Chen Jiuge was speechless. This Yu Niang, this Yu Family, aren’t they utterly incompetent? They got caught after just one transaction?

"I...."

"Wait, wait."

Wu Yao’s plump hands twisted and clasped together repeatedly before he slammed them hard on the desk. Bright Array Patterns flared to life, saving the desk from shattering.

"I’ll increase your breeding allotment tenfold, and I’ll increase your loss quota fivefold. Can you breed more Yin Yang Deer in the next ten years? At least thirty," Wu Yao demanded fiercely.

After a moment of silence, Chen Jiuge nodded slowly. "It’s possible."

"HAHAHA! I knew it! I knew you folks from the Lower Realm always hold something back!" Wu Yao exclaimed, his rolls of fat quivering with excitement.

"I don’t ask for much. Just give me five million Taiji Deer every ten years. I can assure you, you’ll encounter no trouble at the Beast Control Department. Of course, your losses cannot exceed the loss quota."

Chen Jiuge’s Divine Sense rapidly processed the information. Because of his position, the Assistant Minister manages more Spiritual Beasts now, but the actual increase in their attrition rate isn’t that significant. Five times the quota would be ten million. The normal losses over the past ten years were 1,870,000. After giving Wu Yao five million, there’s still over three million left.

There’s also the Snow Concubine’s guarantee. Perhaps I can be a bit greedy, but the risks are considerable. Besides, my own treehouse can hide a good number of Taiji Deer; some things are just tricky to manage!

Watching Chen Jiuge’s eyes flicker with indecision, Wu Yao seemed to think of something. He pulled out a Jade Talisman, and a familiar voice rang out, "Wu Yao?"

"Great Official Zhu, I have conveyed your kind intentions. This youngster is a bit cautious; he needs to hear from you personally," Wu Yao said cheerfully.

"Chen Jiuge, you can trust this fatty. His position in the Wu Family isn’t high, yet he firmly holds the position of Chief Inspector of the Second Grade Beast Control Department. Many in the Wu Family want to pull him down; those who reported him this time are likely from the Wu Family as well."

"Don’t worry about him setting a trap for you; the Lady will be your advocate," said the cool voice of Zhu Ying.

Chen Jiuge then earnestly recounted Wu Yao’s entire cooperation proposal to Zhu Ying via the talisman.

This maneuver completely caught Wu Yao off guard. His face alternated between pale and red—quite a range of expressions for a True Immortal.

"I see. Wait a moment."