It is said that money can make ghosts grind, but for Tang Xiaoyu, money can make Tang Xiaoyu grind.
"Alright, you guys rest early, I'll go back to my room first." Tang Xiaoyu wanted to go back and take a good look at those silver tickets.
After Tang Xiaoyu left, Xiao Hei sighed, "Ginger is still spicy when it's old. Little Xue, your father is still quite insightful!"
Yang Xue nodded, "No wonder my dad said: don't bite the hand that feeds you. As long as Master receives this money, things will work out for me."
Wenwen said, "Now we don't have to face the north wind anymore."
Xiao Hei nodded, "You're right, but we still need to share Master's worries and find ways to earn money ourselves instead of being freeloaders like those ungrateful people from Qingyun Sword Sect."
Then, Xiao Hei recounted Tang Xiaoyu's experience at Qingyun Sword Sect.
Yang Xue said angrily, "A bunch of unfed wolves. If I run into them, I must curse them to death."
Shanshan and Wenwen also said angrily, "When we become powerful, we must avenge Master and teach them a lesson."
Xiao Hei placated them, "Alright, that's for the future. What we need to think about now is how to earn money."
Shanshan said, "I can bring Little Bear to do odd jobs."
Wenwen said, "I can also do odd jobs."
Yang Xue said, "I discovered a business opportunity - sound stones are very popular among cultivators nowadays. People record songs in them and they sound wonderful."
"Master, since you're also a cultivator, why don't we buy some sound stones? I can sing songs in them and we can sell them."
Xiao Hei asked, "Can you sing?"
Yang Xue confidently said, "Of course I can sing well!"
"Are sound stones expensive?"
"Not really, it mainly depends on the spiritual energy stored inside."
Xiao Hei said, "So it depends on how much spiritual energy I put inside. The more I put in, the longer it can be used. The less I put in, the shorter the usage time, right?"
Yang Xue nodded, "It should work like that. Let's buy a few and try first."
Xiao Hei nodded, "Okay, we can slowly figure it out! What's the difference between lingqi (spiritual energy) and lingli (spiritual power)?"
Everyone shook their heads. Yang Xue suggested, "Why don't we ask Master?"
"Asking him is less useful than asking a pig's head." Xiao Hei disdained.
"I'll remind you guys not to ask him about cultivation matters if nothing's wrong. Other than cultivation, feel free to ask him anything."
Yang Xue curiously asked, "Why?"
"Because cultivation is my strength and experience is his strength. So it's better if you ask me."
At times like this, Xiao Hei would never undermine Tang Xiaoyu. It wasn't the kind of ungrateful dog.
Yang Xue said, "Turns out Master has many stories?"
Xiao Hei glared at her, "Stop fantasizing. Master is out of your league."
"I wasn't!"
The next day, everyone set out. Tang Xiaoyu was considering whether to start an exorcism and fengshui consultation business, which was their original job.
Yang Xue took Xiao Hei to the nearest town to buy some sound stones.
Shanshan and Wenwen took Little Bear to do odd jobs and earned quite a bit. They easily handled carrying lumber, moving rocks, loading and unloading trucks. The work that would take dozens of people, the three of them could finish. But considering others needed to make a living too, they only took on a small portion and moved on after finishing, working for several households and still earning good money.
As the sun set, everyone returned to the temple one by one.
Seeing the dirty Shanshan and Wenwen, Tang Xiaoyu asked, "What have you guys been doing to get so messy?"
Wenwen said, "We were out earning money."
Shanshan handed the money she, Wenwen and Little Bear earned today to Tang Xiaoyu.
Tang Xiaoyu was surprised. After looking at the money in his hand, he said approvingly, "Go get cleaned up and change your clothes, then come eat."
Tang Xiaoyu didn't plan on stopping them. He wanted them to get a taste of the real world instead of remaining so naive. People can teach people knowledge, but experiences teach life lessons instantly.
"Xiao Hei, don't let cultivation fall behind."
Xiao Hei said, "Haste makes waste. Life is also part of cultivation."
Tang Xiaoyu looked at Xiao Hei differently, "Didn't expect you to understand these things."
Xiao Hei said, "I gradually summarized them through my experiences over the years."
Tang Xiaoyu nodded, "When can you transform into human form? It would be less funny hearing you say these things in human form."
Xiao Hei said, "I also don't know! I feel like I can transform whenever I want to, just don't know how."
Tang Xiaoyu pondered, "Seems like one has to overcome Heavenly Tribulation to transform."
"Is there such a thing? Why didn't I encounter Heavenly Tribulation even in the Integration Stage?"
Tang Xiaoyu considered carefully, "Could it be related to our cultivation methods or identities? Or are we going with the flow of Heaven's will?"
"All are possible."
Unable to figure it out, Tang Xiaoyu decided to stop thinking about it. "Forget it, I'll stop thinking. Maybe we can transform after reaching the Joint Cultivation Stage."
After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
The next morning after Tang Xiaoyu woke up, he heard Yang Xue's ghostly wails.
"You once promised me you won't leave me unable to find you..."
Tang Xiaoyu felt she was nearly shouting her lungs out.
Walking over, he heard Xiao Hei say, "Xue, where did you learn to sing? Sounds like you're going to choke from singing too hard."
Yang Xue took several deep breaths, "This is the most popular song now. I learned it at my grandpa's place last time."
"Now if you don't know a couple of these songs, you don't even dare greet your friends."
"Let me tell you, the Great Elder of Qingyun Sword Sect was the one singing this song. Know about Qingyun Sword Sect? It's a top sect."
Tang Xiaoyu interrupted, "Enough bragging. They're all juniors in my eyes."
Yang Xue said unhappily, "Master, don't degrade my idols like that. If you're so capable, sing better than them."
"Xue, go ask around in town. I'm known as the singing god of Qingshan Town."
Yang Xue totally doubted him, "Keep boasting! I only know your childhood sweetheart ran away with someone else."
Xiao Hei cut in, "Xue, Master sings way better than you for sure."
"Nonsense, he's just jealous of my idols."
Tang Xiaoyu angrily said, "You look down on me? Tell me one of the currently popular songs. If I don't sing better than your idols, I'll formally apologize to you."
"I won't say it. You sing anything and I'll know after listening if you're capable."
Tang Xiaoyu sneered, "I bet you don't even know the song names!"
"Who said I don't! Just can't recall any right now."
Tang Xiaoyu was too lazy to bother with her. "Shanshan, Wenwen, Little Bear, sit tight and watch Master show you his real skills."
"I'll sing the song Xue was just screaming, West Sea Love Song."
Yang Xue happily said, "Yes yes, that's the name!"
After a few minutes, Yang Xue said full of admiration, "Master, turns out you're the real expert. Those people are incomparable to you."
Tang Xiaoyu proudly said, "Joking, I was the one who taught them those songs."
"Really? Can you sing all those songs?"
"Of course."
Yang Xue immediately jumped up, "Next time they dare mock me for being ignorant, I'll smash their face with this!"
Tang Xiaoyu and Xiao Hei said simultaneously, "Women!"