Chapter 120: Pimping

Though silverleaf grass is a low-tier spirit herb, it has already crossed into the realm of spiritual objects, inherently possessing a certain sentience. The bamboo pit viper, having long dwelled here, has reaped many benefits. At this moment, a faint silver-white thread begins to shimmer along its body, signifying that its spiritual awareness has been awakened.

“Boss, this little creature is cold-blooded. I remember last time it even bit you once. How come it’s so tame now?” Zhang Ding, who had witnessed the bamboo pit viper’s fierce power firsthand, asked with genuine curiosity.

Zhao Ming wore a doubtful expression as well. In their understanding, cold-blooded animals lacked emotions entirely; they acted purely on instinct. To such creatures, everything was divided strictly into two categories: edible or inedible.

“That’s right. Cold-blooded animals can never be truly tamed,” Zhao Ming muttered softly. “When I was a child, I heard the story of the farmer and the snake. A kind-hearted farmer saved a frozen snake, but after it revived, the snake bit him to death.”

Ling Tian chuckled. “Your perceptions are too narrow. Let me put it this way: all things possess some degree of spirit—it's just a matter of how much. When we’re born, we know nothing, but we learn continuously as we grow. Enough of this philosophical debate.”

Seeing the suspicious looks on Zhao Ming and Zhang Ding’s faces, Ling Tian decisively ended the endless topic. He knew that if they continued, they would bombard him with countless ‘whys’.

“Just remember this: existence is truth. This bamboo pit viper is different from others, but its existence is real. That itself is the truth.” Ling Tian smiled, though deep down, his own doubts ran far deeper than theirs.

He contemplated, for example, that what is understood is like a circle, with the unknown lying beyond its edges. The more one knows, the larger the circle grows—and paradoxically, the more unknown there is to encounter.

Ling Tian waved his hand toward the silverleaf grass. The hidden formation activated, causing the silverleaf grass and the bamboo pit viper to vanish. In their place lay a patch of lush wild grass.

Zhao Ming and Zhang Ding marveled silently. Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it. Ling Tian was truly learned—and even performed magic tricks. “Boss, what kind of magic trick was that? Teach us! It might come in handy for wooing girls,” Zhang Ding said with a mischievous grin, still basking in the glow of his newfound romance and eager to impress his wife.

Ling Tian smiled faintly. “Magic? That’s a Western invention—a little parlor trick. Actually, ancient China had magic too, far more powerful. Back then, it was called illusion arts. Zuoci of the Three Kingdoms era was a master of illusions. Unfortunately, few remnants remain today.”

Zhao Ming and Zhang Ding looked a little bewildered but admired Ling Tian’s vast knowledge. They asked eagerly, “Is it hard to learn?”

“Of course it is,” Ling Tian laughed. “Illusions mastered to perfection are formidable, but they’re still mere tricks. When facing a true expert, only genuine skill counts, not these sleights of hand.”

Ling Tian returned to his room, took a cold shower, and changed clothes.

When he came out, he asked, “Zhang Ding, has the welfare center been quiet lately? Why have you come over again?”

Zhang Ding grinned. “The kids at the welfare center are happy. My wife spends all day playing with them. She even stays with them at night. Now I have to apply in advance just to have some time with her.” He ended with a sulky expression.

Ling Tian was surprised. “You’ve moved fast, huh? Already enjoying married life? How’s your performance? That old workhorse of yours holding up?”

Since Ling Tian had helped Zhang Ding unblock his meridians and restore his vigor, Zhang Ding felt stronger than ever. He boasted proudly, “Boss, I’m thinking of getting an iron bed. Otherwise, I won’t be able to keep up with my wife’s demands.”

Ling Tian slapped his forehead. Damn it, even such an honest man as Zhang Ding had been led astray—was it his influence?

“Boss, after you told me last time, I decided to follow your advice: get on the boat first, then buy the ticket. I have to say, it worked pretty well,” Zhang Ding said, beaming with pride.

Zhao Ming chimed in, “Zhang Ding’s doing the same. Ling Tian arranged a wife for me yesterday, and we got to consummate right away.”

“Our experiences are so alike?” Zhang Ding exclaimed in surprise.

The two men simultaneously glanced at Ling Tian, their eyes filled with a strange expression.

Ling Tian shuddered under their gaze and helplessly spread his hands. “Don’t look at me like that. You two are just shy types who can’t even fart around the girls you like. I had no choice but to use this method.”

“Zhao Ming, I just thought of a word—did you remember it too?” Zhang Ding teased with a grin.

Zhao Ming scratched his head, looking honest yet amused. “Yeah, I did. I think there’s a proper term for Ling Tian now.”

Ling Tian, curious, asked, “What word?”

“Pimp,” they said in unison, their eyes brimming with certainty.

Damn!

Ling Tian cursed with a laugh. “You two assholes, taking advantage and then playing innocent! Each of you found a beautiful wife, and now you dare to call me a pimp? Tell me honestly, how does ‘get on the boat first, then buy the ticket’ feel?”

Zhang Ding and Zhao Ming answered together, “One word: awesome! Two words: very awesome! Three words: extremely awesome!”

Damn it! This was classic—getting a good deal and then acting all coy. No matter how honest a man was, when it came to women, they all turned into the same scoundrels. Even the simple-minded Zhao Ming had learned some wickedness.

“Pimp… bah! I helped you find your wives, so you better treat them well. A real man must take responsibility, stand tall and proud. If I find out you mistreat these girls, I’ll send you off to Africa and find each of you a wife weighing over two hundred pounds,” Ling Tian warned.

The thought of two hundred-pound African women, black as charcoal with thick lips, shamelessly flirting made Zhao Ming and Zhang Ding shudder in terror. That was way too hardcore.

“Since you two are already on the boat, you better be ready to buy the ticket. Zhang Ding, don’t go to the welfare center anymore. Just be my personal driver. If the welfare center needs a ride, let your wife handle it. Zhao Ming, call Sun Yibin later and have him send a dedicated school bus to the welfare center,” Ling Tian instructed.

Zhao Ming and Zhang Ding eagerly nodded, determined to make up for their ‘tickets’.

As Ling Tian walked toward the door, he said, “Zhao Ming, I remember your sister dropped out of school.”

“She didn’t drop out—just on a temporary leave. She’s working outside now,” Zhao Ming replied.

“She’s still at the age to study. Don’t let her work anymore. Bring her along; we’ll have a meal together. After that, we’ll arrange for her to return to school,” Ling Tian said.

Zhao Ming was so moved he almost cried. Without a word, he followed Ling Tian onto the car, silently vowing to carve out a bright future alongside him.