Yama Rising

Chapter 143: What Do I Do with Bribes from the Elderly? Lodge A Complaint?

Everyone grew taciturn and introspective. Arthis’ words had caused everyone to remember what exactly Hell entailed.

There would be the print and the press, delectable cuisine, residences, transportation, communication channels, and each and every major governmental department seen in the mortal realm. There were even buildings, facilities and establishments that were unique to Hell, including the six paths of reincarnation, the Eighteen Abysses of Punishment, the Naraka Bridge, the Three Births Stone…

Even if they were indeed standing on the shoulder of giants, how insurmountably tall was this order? It would be a gross understatement to call this merely a difficult task!

Why do I get the feeling that… this meeting is going to reek of drama and tension, almost as though I’m having a tiff with an aunty from a neighbourhood committee? This just feels like a poor showing…

After all, who could forget Qin Ye’s cold-blooded showing of exterminating hundreds of Yin spirits with a single slash just a little while ago?

Qin Ye discreetly sized up the Yin spirits standing before him - Not bad. Quite the proper attitude.

Arthis had earlier mentioned that companies and corporations would thrive and flourish with the gradual expansion of Hell. However, whether the exceptional businessmen of the mortal realm could perform in a similar fashion and make a name for themselves in the netherworld was quite something else.

Huang Liangchuan truly lived up to his name as a shrewd and experienced man, and he didn’t reveal a single trace of dissatisfaction at Qin Ye’s display of authority. Instead, he only smiled more radiantly. The billionaire of the mortal realm cupped his hands and bowed respectfully, like a monk welcoming his guests, “We truly deserve death for involving the esteemed King Yanluo for such trivialities. But this old bag of bones has risked the life and limb of his friends to seek an audience only for the sake of Hell’s development. I hope Your Excellency will be magnanimous and look past our transgressions.”

“Just this once. There shall be no next time.” Qin Ye leaned back on his seat and added placidly, “If you ever partake of any actions that may be interpreted as a challenge against Hell’s authority again, then… you should be prepared to follow in Gao Dahu’s footsteps. These are peculiar times, and everything shall be subject to the most exacting of standards.”

Before coming here, the group of them had the impression that their King Yanluo was capricious and moody. Just the other day, he had killed Gao Dahu without even batting an eyelid, and yet he was already painting the picture of an ideal life to everyone in Hell today.

Earlier, when Qin Ye made his casual remark, they had even experienced a trace of killing intent from him.

Qin Ye nodded his head, “I’m also curious as to how you intend to make good on your offer of ten million RMB to us.”

He was a man of influence and authority in the mortal realm, and he naturally began to lapse into his usual style of speaking as he dropped clues in an inviting fashion, “For instance, my hobby… is in antiques.”

But he didn’t interrupt at all. Huang Liangchuan continued, “This is Mr Mo. He deals in feed, and his interest lies in jade artifacts.” “This is Mr Qiao, and his interest lies in jadeite.” “This is…”

His eyes gleamed with passion as he deliberately paused for a moment. Qin Ye smiled slightly, yet Yin energy erupted from his body in the very next second.

Qin Ye’s voice boomed like an evil ghost, “You were all in positions of authority and influence back in the mortal realm. Have you already forgotten what superiors hate most of their subordinates?”

Huang Liangchuan’s forehead was already percolating with sweat, and he immediately got the urge to give himself a tight slap across the face. Oh, how quickly the tables have turned. He spoke with a certain flair that had developed over decades. Qin Ye’s genial disposition earlier had caused him to let his guard down, and he had lapsed into his old way of speaking with his subordinates without realizing it at all.

“Don’t make me guess. If you’ve got a request to make, do it in a single breath. I’ve got no time to play guessing games with you.”

Seconds later, Huang Liangchuan cupped his hands and responded hoarsely, “My apologies, my lord. It was an oversight on my part. There won’t be a next time.”

“The soul of the Red Topped Hat Businessman, Hu Xueyan, has been here before.”

“Even the soul of the great emperor investor ”

A pair of dark-grained silk shoes appeared in Huang Liangchuan’s field of vision. Huang Liangchuan’s scalp immediately went numb, and his entire body began to tremble vigorously. It was as though his soul had shrunk back in shock.

It wasn’t just the separation of life. There was also the separation of identity.

“I… wouldn’t dare…” Huang Liangchuan responded with a quivering voice.

“Yes.” The five ghosts wiped off the cold sweat on their foreheads, and Huang Liangchuan chuckled dryly. This time, he continued flatly, “My lord, I’ve got an old mansion in Ink City where I’ve hidden four treasures. The most valuable of these is a genuine Tang Dynasty pottery.”

Qin Ye’s gaze flickered intently, and he nearly even shot to his feet.

We’re talking about a genuine set of dragon and phoenix Tang Dynasty pottery… Qin Ye immediately responded, “How much do you estimate these items would fetch?”

Qin Ye drew a deep breath.

With this, he would no longer need to worry about capital until the construction of the first development of Hell is completed!

Qin Ye made a mental note of the details of each and every item. And finally, he got to the nub of the issue, “So how do I obtain these treasures? How do I sell them? What do you want in exchange?”

Clever.

If they had asked for the sun and the moon off the cuff, they would no longer be able to ingratiate Qin Ye to themselves. It was far more prudent of them to bide their time and wait for a better opportunity to bring up the matter again in future.

Another old man chimed in, “Selling these goods is even easier. The wealthy have their own circles, and auctions within these circles isn’t an uncommon thing. It’s just that the ordinary man on the street wouldn’t be aware of such affairs. You’ll need an invitation to the auction, as well as have your qualifications verified by the relevant organizers. The organizing contractors are reliable, and they would never disclose any of your personal particulars.”

Everyone breathed a silent sigh of relief.

Qin Ye waved his hands to dismiss them and fell into deep thought.

One hundred million RMB… He wasn’t entirely sure whether this sum of money would suffice for the construction of the entire development. After all, there wasn’t any labour costs in Hell, nor did he have to bear some of the other miscellaneous expenses that were incidental to the construction works in the mortal realm.

And the next project would concern the entire neighbourhood.

Even before that, there was still the underlying question of whether he would come across so many wealthy people in the first place!

After all, most people would no longer have access to their wealth when they died, because they would have left everything to their descendants or willed it away.

“I should still find a more sustainable source of wealth… The best way to do this would be to establish trade links with the mortal realm, including a currency exchange. But… what the Hell am I going to use to trade with the mortal realm? My glorious good looks?”

1. A notable chinese businessman in the 1800’s, he was prominently the only person of the merchant class who was awarded the red-topped hat, an imperial accolade, during the Qing Dynasty.

2. Another notable chinese businessman of the Ming Dynasty who did so well he was exiled by the emperor. Even in exile, his connections and influence formed the basis for the development of an ancient tea route for the transport and trade of tea, china, handcrafts, etc.

3. He was a chinese businessman of the Qin state during the warring states period (291-235 BC) who transitioned from business into politics. One of the most famous stories about his switch was recorded as follows: On returning home, he said to his father, "What is the profit on investment that one can expect from plowing fields?"

"And the return on investment in pearls and jades is how much?"

"And the return on investment from establishing a ruler and securing the state would be how much?"

4. These were two wealthy persons who loathed each other, and often attempted to outdo each other’s extravagant display of wealth.