Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence. [104]

As the only inn along this trade route, Wangshu Inn saw countless travelers pass through every day. There was bound to be someone, eventually, who’d need the kind of service Jiang Bai offered—so gathering a few leads certainly wouldn’t hurt.

And a referral bonus? That was real money.

Sure, some might find Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s line of work a little gloomy—but making money was nothing to be ashamed of.

Jiang Bai had no idea the man standing before him was the innkeeper himself. If he had, he might’ve turned the charm up another notch.

“My Director gives me a 1% cut for every client I refer. That’s 8,888 Mora. I wouldn’t shortchange you—I’ll split it fifty-fifty. Half for you, half for me. Sound fair?”

Each flyer Jiang Bai handed out was stamped with his unique mark. As long as someone brought a stamped flyer to Wangsheng Parlor to sign up for the service, it would count toward his commission.

So no matter how many hands the flyer passed through or who actually made the referral, Hu Tao only acknowledged the stamp.

Even split, he still netted over 4,000 Mora.

“Only one percent, huh?”

If he got the full 1%, it might’ve been worth it—but splitting it meant he’d only get half a percent. As a businessman, of course he wanted a better deal.

But 50/50 was as far as Jiang Bai was willing to go. Any less and it just wasn’t worth his while.

“It’s not a small amount, really—every Mora’s hard-earned.”

He let out a sigh and put on a look of weary resignation.

“Take this trip I’m on now—heading up to Dragonspine to recover a client’s remains. There’s a chance I don’t find the body at all and just end up freezing to death myself! This job’s literally life or death!”

“But you, boss, you’re clearly a man of means. Not like someone like me, uneducated and scraping by with grunt work. You wouldn’t even need to advertise—just pass the word along if a friend or relative ever needs the service. It’s a win-win.”

To seal the deal, Jiang Bai pulled out all the stops—sympathy, flattery, even self-deprecation so severe he basically cursed himself.

Huai’an was genuinely taken aback. He’d met plenty of bold types before, but none quite so… intense.

“You really shouldn’t say stuff like that! What you should be doing is praying for safe passage and the blessing of the Geo Lord.”

“Yes, yes! Watch me.”

Jiang Bai gave himself a light slap on the mouth, spat three times for good measure, and pressed his palms together in a solemn prayer for Zhongli’s blessing.

With that done, he pulled out a stack of flyers.

“So, what do you think, Boss? Wanna work together?”

Huai’an accepted the bundle.

“Why not?”

They could just leave them on the counter. If someone needed the service, they’d pick it up. No need for active promotion. No cost on his part.

Sure, the referral percentage was low—but it was clear the kid was risking his life out there.

“Where are my manners? I’m Huai’an, the innkeeper here. And you are?”

“Ah, so you’re the innkeeper! I’ve heard a lot about you! I’m Jiang Bai—Wangsheng Parlor’s own Soul Ferryman.”

“Should we put a contract in writing?”

“Of course! If we’re going to work together, it should be spelled out clearly. Black ink on white paper—keeps things honest.”

“Alright then. If someone comes in through me, I’ll have them mention my name so you can log it.”

They quickly drew up a simple contract. Deal struck, cooperation secured.

“Oh, by the way, Boss—could you point me toward Dragonspine?”

“Sure. Follow this path toward Mingyun Village. Once you’re there, head north. Then from here, climb upward—you should find a path that leads into the mountain.”

Huai’an hadn’t visited Dragonspine himself in years, so the directions were rough at best—mostly based on his memory of the map.

“Got it—thanks a bunch!”

“The roads can get slippery, and there are plenty of monsters in the mountain. Stay sharp,” Huai’an added kindly.

“Don’t worry—I’ve got a Vision!”

Jiang Bai proudly showed off the Vision embedded in his belt. The golden Geo crystal shimmered with a radiant light—definitely didn’t look fake.

He waved goodbye, leapt over the railing, and spread his wind glider, soaring toward Mingyun Village.

The funeral banner strapped to his back flapped wildly in the wind, looking ready to fly off on its own.

Midair, Jiang Bai scrambled to tighten the rope holding it in place. By the time he secured it, he was already approaching the wide river below. He pulled up just in time, gliding over the surface like a swallow.

As his feet finally touched down on solid ground, he exhaled a long breath.

“Whew… Scared me to death… One wrong move and the Director would’ve had to hold my funeral.”

Next time I use the wind glider, I’m taking that banner off first—it’s a hazard.

He activated the leyline waypoints as he went and followed the main road into Mingyun Village.

The village sat nestled against the border of Dragonspine, separated from the southern Yaoguang Shoal by a mountain range.

That natural barrier blocked the oceanic moisture blowing in from Guyun Stone Forest, which meant Mingyun hadn’t fallen under the snowy mountain’s influence. The weather here was temperate—neither cold nor damp—and quite livable.

Unfortunately, the village had long since been abandoned.

Originally, there had been no village here—just a mine rich in Noctilucous Jade. But as more and more workers gathered, they began to settle nearby, forming a community that eventually became a full-fledged town.

Its name, Mingyun (Bright Fortune), came from the luminous glow of the jade.

But the jade that built the town also sealed its fate.

The townsfolk depended entirely on mining the stone. With no other means of livelihood, the town’s prosperity was entirely tied to the mines.

And of course, all mines run dry eventually.

Once the veins were depleted, the town lost its value. People moved out bit by bit. When the last remaining residents passed away, the town was left to crumble.

Jiang Bai walked through the deserted village. The overgrown road hadn’t seen foot traffic in ages. Some of the houses had long since collapsed, while others were half-choked by vines and webs.

Abandoned mining tools lay scattered along the path. Pickaxes and ore carts were rusted beyond use. Some carts still held raw jade ore, untouched and unclaimed.

The mountains surrounding the village bore the scars of excavation, though the tracks used for hauling ore had been broken and overrun by monsters.

There was a strange chill in the air—a creeping sense of unease.

Jiang Bai scanned his surroundings, trying to pinpoint the source of the eerie feeling. But he didn’t see a single ghostly figure.

He was only a halfway-trained member of Wangsheng Parlor anyway—barely even a proper employee. He didn’t know any real spirit-banishing spells. The banner on his back was just for show, basically an advertisement.

If a real ghost did show up, he’d have no idea what to do.

Forget it. No time to investigate. I need to reach the base of the mountain before nightfall to set up camp. I’ll come back some other time—with the Director—see if this place really is haunted…

Rubbing his chilled arms, Jiang Bai picked up the pace.

—

This is a fan translation of 胡桃拿我冲业绩 by 余溯. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!