Zhu Dajun finished speaking, looking hopefully at Li Yang:
"Immortal, I've got a big problem, can you solve it?"
A trace of a smile crossed Li Yang's face:
"I can solve it, go ahead and talk."
This Zhu Dajun is quite interesting.
Zhu Dajun's eyes sparkled with delight, he lit a cigarette and began to spill his troubles:
"I'll be honest with you, Immortal.
Don't be fooled by my appearance, my business is actually quite extensive, Da Jun Media Culture Co., Ltd. is just a façade.
I own a media company, an entertainment company, over forty bath centers.
I can't even remember how many KTVs and bars I have.
The biggest Emperor Nightclub in the South Sea is also mine.
Let's just say, I dominate the entertainment industry in the South Sea.
Whatever kind of girl you want, whether a minor celebrity or a model female streamer, I can find them for you.
As you can guess, my business is a bit on the shady side, and I've made quite a few enemies over the years...."
To put it bluntly, Zhu Dajun's old trade is pimping, the biggest pimp in the South Sea.
To put it nicely, he's a big player in the South Sea underground syndicate.
This big player is a genuine crime lord.
The badass gang bosses you heard about in school are small fry compared to this big player.
Zhu Dajun recently encountered a troublesome issue.
The rival big player is called Zhou Qing, whose son died a few days ago.
Zhou Qing is convinced that Zhu Dajun killed his son and has gone mad with revenge.
Zhu Dajun didn't spoil him, and Zhou Qing couldn't get the better of him several times.
Lately, Zhou Qing somehow got some supernatural support, leading to many of Zhu Dajun's subordinates dying mysteriously at home.
Zhu Dajun is not having a good time either.
He's been staying at different places every half-night, afraid Zhou Qing will find his location and have him killed at home.
He's been so stressed recently that he's become delirious.
In his delirium, he saw the Witch.
He thought he was having mental problems and went to the hospital.
The hospital only said he was under too much mental stress.
But... the Witch appeared way too often and kept talking about this pharmacy.
He couldn't help but suspect the Witch was pointing him in the right direction.
After Zhu Dajun recounted his ordeal, Li Yang's expression turned peculiar:
"Zhou Qing's son is called Zhou Hang?"
The one Suzu killed a few days ago was named Zhou Hang, could it really be such a coincidence?
Zhu Dajun showed great respect, giving a thumbs up:
"Immortal, you truly are divine!"
Then he cautiously added:
"I've been so unlucky recently, can you break this curse?"
Li Yang said:
"I can, but it's very expensive!"
Zhu Dajun patted his chest:
"Immortal, rest assured, if there's one thing I have, it's money! Ten million, twenty million is not a problem!"
Li Yang snickered and no longer looked at him.
Zhu Dajun frowned.
Ten million, twenty million isn't enough?
The rent for your little shop can't be more than a few million a year, right?
Zhu Dajun timidly asked:
"How about you name a price?"
Li Yang kept reading his book without even lifting an eyelid:
"Two options.
First, I want one billion, plus your desires, and I will protect you for a week.
Second, I want your Emperor Nightclub, you must submit to me, and I will protect you for life."
If Zhu Dajun chooses the first option, Li Yang will dispatch a demon to protect him for a week, then have Suzu erase his memory.
This would count as a proper demonic transaction, he would get one billion and Zhu Dajun's Desire Power.
The second option would turn Emperor Nightclub into a physical location for the Demon Club, and make Zhu Dajun a member.
Either way, Li Yang wouldn't lose, but to Zhu Dajun, it's a different story.
Zhu Dajun looked at Li Yang like he was an idiot, then turned and left.
He came to Li Yang because he felt too lost, too scared, and wanted some reassurance.
Add to that the recent hallucinations of seeing the Witch made him think there might be some kind of guidance in the dark.
But this offer made it seem ridiculous.
One billion?
Emperor Nightclub?
Submit to you?
Is this for real?
Even if the Witch himself approached him, he wouldn't agree to this.
After Zhu Dajun left, Suzu ran downstairs with a tablet in her hands, resting her face on the counter as she said:
"You asked for too much and scared him off.
Actually, you could have just turned him into a demon, then you could do whatever you wanted with him.
At that point, forget just his assets, even his wife could be yours."
Li Yang shook his head.
Collecting desires requires sincerity from both sides.
Zhu Dajun must sincerely express his desires.
Strong desires are hard to voice out.
Because strong desires represent the weakest part of oneself.
For example, would Female Streamer Zhang Shi'ai tell everyone she wants to become beautiful?
For example, would college student Xiaocheng tell everyone he hopes others fear him?
Those strongest desires lie buried in the deepest, darkest corners of one's heart.
A resolute social big player like Zhu Dajun is even more so than Zhang Shi'ai and Xiaocheng.
To become Death God and frighten Zhu Dajun into revealing his truest desires?
Li Yang fears that after seeing his Demon Body, Zhu Dajun would be scared and run away, which is a normal reaction.
Better to gradually make him ask to engage in this demonic transaction voluntarily.
Once he's come here, there's no fear he won't return.
The Black Witch's Enchantment ability, coupled with Zhu Dajun's intrinsic desires driving him, his return is only a matter of time.
Moreover, he'll return soon.
As for asking for too much....
Li Yang believes that in transactions like these, transparency is key, having the terms laid out clearly.
If he followed Suzu's method of oppressing and humiliating his demons in a perverse way, sooner or later this King of Hell would become an enemy to all the demons.
Even though he has absolute control over the demons, there's no need for trouble when there are gentler ways.
As for Zhu Dajun, he'll come back eventually.
....
South Sea, inside a villa.
In the first floor living room and second-floor hallway, stood men in black suits, backs straight and faces serious.
Two men in black led wolf dogs, patrolling the villa.
These men all exuded a bloody aura.
Outside the master bedroom on the second floor, a young man with white hair respectfully spoke to someone inside:
"Boss, everything's arranged, the villa is secure inside and out, please rest well tonight."
Zhu Dajun glanced at his watch and said:
"Alright, Ah Lang, you go to the club first.
Come back to wake me up later in the night, and we'll head to the apartment in Hongluo Bay."
The young man with white hair hesitated for a moment, quickly saying:
"Boss, I'd rather stay here with you, I'm worried about you being alone."
Zhu Dajun scolded:
"Nonsense! Tonight is President Su of Detai Group's banquet at Emperor.
Even if I don't show up, can't you at least make an appearance?"
The young man with white hair knew that many figures from the South Sea would be at Emperor tonight.
Detai Group's Sect Leader Su Yutang, having recently recovered from a serious illness, was hosting various local big shots at Emperor to show business as usual.
Su Yutang extending an invitation at Emperor was a friendly gesture towards Zhu Dajun.
It would be bad enough if Zhu Dajun, the head of Emperor Nightclub, didn't show, but if he didn't, it would genuinely offend people.
The young man with white hair sighed:
"Fine, I'll be back in five hours."