The first thing I did was to find out

Chapter 505 The Beast's Last Breed

Seeing that Luo Jun was about to lose his temper again, Qin Huai quickly calmed him down and then began to follow the proper procedures. First, he introduced the situation of each spirit to Gong Liang, and then introduced his own game system. Even the well-informed E'shou showed a surprised expression.

There was some surprise, but not much.

Gong Liang said that he would read some novels in his spare time, including fantasy, urban, and supernatural genres. When Gong Baozhu was in high school, she was obsessed with romance novels about youth and heartbreak and bought a lot of physical books. Gong Liang would occasionally go to his daughter's room to take a couple of romance novels to read.

In Gong Liang's words, if he can be a spirit or monster, then it's perfectly reasonable for Qin Huai to be the male protagonist of a system novel.

Qin Huai almost burst into tears upon hearing this, wanting to hug Gong Liang and cry his heart out, marveling at how tolerant the E's Beasts were.

All those years of reading novels haven't been in vain!
After the background introductions for Qin Huai's side were finished, it was Gong Liang's turn to talk about how he failed his tribulation and what happened in the silk weaving factory in his early years. Shi Dadan still had an unfinished side quest about the truth behind Xu Nuo's death, and Qin Huai's side had quite a few spirits related to the cotton mill, including Shi Dadan, Gong Liang, and Wang Gensheng.

Shi Dadan was confused, Wang Gensheng and Xu Nuo were acquainted but still hadn't woken up, Gong Liang and Xu Nuo probably didn't have much interaction, but as a top salesman at the silk weaving factory, he must know about the notorious spendthrift son of Director Xu of the neighboring cotton mill.

Gong Liang might be able to provide some new clues or ideas.

Gong Liang was very familiar with the process. Seeing that Qin Huai had finished speaking, he knew it was his turn. He took another sip of ice water to clear his throat and was about to speak when Qin Huai raised his hand to stop him.

"Mr. Gong, please wait a moment. Zhao Cheng'an hasn't returned yet. I'll call and urge him."

Qin Huai asked Zhao Cheng'an to find a pretext to take Wang Gensheng away. Zhao Cheng'an found a good reason and used Wang Gensheng's favorite crab shell pastry to lure him away.

The person has been taken away, and Zhao Cheng'an has disappeared.

Qin Huai spent a lot of time making coconut mooncakes. Waiting for the mooncakes to cool down, stuffing them into Gong Liang's mouth, and waiting for Gong Liang to wake up took several more minutes. He also spent half an hour explaining the basic process. That's enough time for Shi Dadan to have a 5-jin afternoon tea. Zhao Cheng'an still hasn't returned.

Qin Huai dialed Zhao Cheng'an's number, and Zhao Cheng'an answered immediately.

"Hey, Qin Huai, what's up?" Zhao Cheng'an's voice was a little muffled, sounding like he was eating.

Where are you? Why aren't you back yet?

"Oh, do I have to go back?"

"...Gong Liang is awake, don't you want to come back and listen to the story?"

"Wait for me for 5 minutes, I'm already at the entrance of Yunzhong Community, I'll be there soon!"

Although Zhao Cheng'an had picked up Chen Sheng's unreliable personality after waking up, he still had a good grasp of time. He said 5 minutes and arrived at Luo Jun's house exactly 5 minutes later.

When she came in, she was carrying a bag of osmanthus cakes.

Qin Huai: ...Dude, you actually went to buy osmanthus cake at the entrance of Grandpa Wang's residential area?

Zhao Cheng'an placed the osmanthus cake on the dining table: "I've always heard people say that Grandpa Wang's osmanthus cake at the entrance of the community is quite delicious, so I specially bought a big bag, but the taste is just so-so, not as good as mine."

Shi Dadan consciously took out a piece from the bag, tasted it, and nodded: "It's just average, far inferior to what Qin Huai made."

Qin Huai: "...The old lady selling osmanthus cakes only sells them for 5 yuan a box, there's no need to be so demanding."

Once everyone had arrived, Gong Liang took another sip of ice water, paused, and began to tell his story.

Let's start with the first generation.

As a beast, Gong Liang's eloquence and ability to lie are almost ingrained in his bones. The beast itself doesn't have any extraordinary abilities; it can't breathe fire like Bifang, nor does it have the auspicious beast buff that Kang and Wenyao fish possess. It's even inferior to a small bird like Qu Jing and a plant spirit like Chen Huihong.

Qu Jing could even cut off pieces of her own flesh to cure amnesia and satisfy hunger, and Chen Huihong could survive by eating her own tree bark as long as she didn't act recklessly in the chaotic world. Compared to these spirits and monsters, E's beast seemed quite ordinary. Apart from having a silver tongue, an excellent ability to read people's expressions, and the skill of telling one lie after another to convince and confuse people, it had nothing extraordinary about it.

Therefore, the E's Beast must enter the mortal world to successfully transcend its tribulation. Under normal circumstances, as long as the E's Beast can live a prosperous and peaceful life by relying on its clever tongue, it can successfully transcend its tribulation.

Gong Liang's first life was during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, a chaotic era, but also an era full of opportunities for E'shou. In Gong Liang's words, that era was numb, feudal, and suffocatingly dogmatic, but it was also vibrant, rebellious, and had all kinds of ideas and all kinds of people.

When Gong Liang discovered that the world was not quite what he had imagined, and that the times seemed to have changed, he did not, like Luo Jun, casually read a few storybooks and think he understood this complex world. Instead, he spent several years slowly learning, observing, and integrating, and after living cautiously for a few years, he felt that this was an era in which he could make great strides.

Then Gong Liang was taught a lesson by reality.

Luo Jun can be arrogant because he has the means to be arrogant. Gong Liang wants to make a name for himself, but he lacks the ability to protect his wealth.

Gong Liang started out doing small business and quickly earned his first pot of gold thanks to his good reputation and good interpersonal relationships. Then he was targeted by the local gang, who robbed him and beat him up, almost killing him.

Having learned from his first failure, Gong Liang decided to find a powerful backer and pay protection money to the gang to continue his business. His business gradually grew, and he even opened a factory. However, when the factory was doing well, the local warlord took over, and he had to pay off all his savings to barely save his life.

Having learned from his second failure, Gong Liang realized that gangsters were not a good backer. He once again changed his ways and started paying protection money to local warlords, making a comeback once more by going into shipping. Just when he was about to become a shipping tycoon, his backer collapsed, and high-ranking government officials took all the credit. He became an ordinary businessman on the losing side, losing all his wealth and spending two years in prison.

After his third failure, Gong Liang reflected deeply and realized that the problem wasn't with him, but with the current situation. His ability to extort beasts was not the issue; he should have been doing well. Although he was eloquent and liked to tell small lies, he hadn't done anything truly heinous. Each time, just as he was about to succeed, those in higher positions would take everything away in an unreasonable way.

Gong Liang believed that if the problem couldn't be solved, the people who created it should be dealt with. So he formed alliances, wanting to become a strategist and change the situation. He continued his business, amassed wealth, and skillfully navigated the complexities of the situation, no longer acknowledging only one leader, while secretly observing which faction had the most potential.

Gong Liang felt that he had done the right thing this time.

Then reality taught him an even harsher lesson.

Gong Liang offended a superior over a trivial matter.

Those in power mocked Gong Liang's ignorance and arrogance, saying that he thought himself clever, that he was good with words and had some skills, and that he wanted to be successful in all directions. They said he didn't even look in the mirror to see his own worth. Did he really think that in this world, a lowly person like him with no background or connections could climb up the social ladder based on his so-called strength?

This time, the authorities did not give Gong Liang a chance to escape. On the contrary, they wanted to use Gong Liang as an example to teach a lesson to those who, in their opinion, were equally ignorant and dared to try to change the world.

They broke Gong Liang's bones, pulled out his fingernails, cut off his tongue, and skinned him, demanding that he reveal which factions he was involved with, how much money he was secretly hiding, and his business acumen, including his secrets to overcoming numerous failures and starting over.

Gong Liang said he remembered that before he died, he fell into a pool of blood, his whole body was numb with pain, and he didn't even have the strength to cry out. He could only open his eyes and look vaguely at the superior he had offended, who looked down at him with contempt.

The man asked his henchman who had tortured him, "Have you searched all the money?"

My brother said he's searched everything.

The man asked again, "Did they confess everything?" The underling handed over a piece of paper. The man glanced at the contents and smiled contemptuously, "I thought I had raised a dog, but it turns out it's a dog that has recognized countless masters. Did you really think that just because you're a little clever and good at talking, you could turn the tables and become the master?"

Gong Liang remembered that the man leaned down to look at him as if bestowing a favor, and said, word by word, "Actually, you don't have to die, but I want you to die. Who told you to overestimate yourself and try to be my equal? ​​You're still looking at me with that annoying look. Let me tell you, remember your place, and don't forget it in your next life, or you'll live longer."

Then Gong Liang's eyes were gouged out, and he died in unease, fear, and resentment.

Gong Liang's obsession was very complicated, even he himself found it very complicated.

He couldn't tell whether he felt more resentment, fear, or doubt in his own abilities, which led to his failure to overcome the tribulation.

E'shou is arrogant, at least in terms of eloquence. In Gong Liang's words, even a powerful Bifang and a blessed Qilin would be defeated by E'shou when it comes to silver tongue. This is E'shou's livelihood and its greatest source of pride.

However, it became the death warrant for Gong Liang's first life, a life of failure and torment. Before his death, he was also subjected to a mental attack, with his most prized possessions trampled underfoot.

From then on, Gong Liang began to fear his own abilities.

He forgets quickly. In his second life, he still retains some memories of his first life. Because he lived in the shadow of his first life, even though he lived a long life, he was always cautious, mediocre, timid, and hesitant.

A beast, he lived as a socially anxious person who dared not socialize or speak. The shadow of his first life made him subconsciously fearful whenever he wanted to show his abilities. He had tried to overcome this fear, but the physical torment was temporary, while the mental torment continued to plague him because he had never forgotten it.

Gong Liang even sighed, feeling that for spirits who fail, the hardest thing to do is succeed in their second life. Spirits who have the memory of failure, live in the shadow of failure, and still have to stay in the human world to be reincarnated and undergo tribulations are the most tormented. Therefore, he was very surprised that Shi Dadan actually succeeded in undergoing tribulation for the second time.

I'm amazed that the auspicious beasts of Dang Kang truly have a buff.

Shi Dadan simply smiled and said that his tribulation was not as difficult as Gong Liang's, and he had not suffered such terrible torment.

The current Gong Liang is the third generation.

He is also a very rare spirit who lived a relatively long life in both his first and second lives. Based on Zhao Cheng'an, Qin Huai estimated that his two lives combined were enough for Zhao Cheng'an to be reincarnated 10 to 12 times.

Qin Huai said this directly.

Zhao Cheng'an said that people in Qinhuai are now using really vulgar language.

“They say that spirits only encounter their destined straw in their last life, but I think I’ve already found mine in this life. Even if you hadn’t given me this coconut mooncake, I might have woken up in a few years,” Gong Liang said. Adhering to the principle of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” Gong Liang changed his address for Qin Huai from “Master Qin” to “Little Qin.”

"In this life, I have completely forgotten that I am a spirit, but some residual memories affect me through dreams. However, I still retain some of the characteristics of the beast, so I have been quite eloquent since childhood, otherwise I would not have entered the silk weaving factory as a salesperson."

"But I get stage fright."

“When I first joined the sales department, everyone had high hopes for me. They thought I was talented enough to be a good salesperson. Our department head even thought it was a waste that I was working in the silk weaving factory. He believed that I could have achieved great things if I had gone to the cotton mill next door.”

"But I know I can't."

"When the section chief took me out to discuss a big deal for the first time, I was well prepared and even prepared a draft in advance, thinking about many scenarios and how to deal with them. But when I actually got to that occasion, I only felt fear and dread."

“I have a natural fear and dread of people who are above me. I am so scared in front of them that my lips tremble, I can’t speak, and my mind goes blank.”

"The section chief thought it was my first time showing my weakness, so he didn't blame me and even comforted me, but I know that thing is ingrained in my bones."

"I don't know why, but I'm just afraid, an instinctive fear."

"Then the section chief took me out to discuss the deal a second time, and just like the first time, I messed it up again."

“The section chief comforted me, but at that time I was starting to have second thoughts. I felt that I couldn’t be a salesperson and I needed to find a job that was more suitable for me. I was doubting myself and even started to have auditory and visual hallucinations like Qu Jingzhong did, and I couldn’t distinguish between dreams and reality.”

"It was Master Jing who saved me."

“He sensed that something was wrong with me. He didn’t ask me anything, and he didn’t even encourage me at first. He treated me like a child who was in a bad mood and needed comforting. Every day after get off work, he would bring me lots of delicious and different snacks and tell me that if I was in a bad mood, I should eat something sweet, and it would make me feel much better.”

“He didn’t tell me what was right or wrong, nor did he blame me for running away. He just told me to do what I wanted to do, and that I was still young and that any choice I made would lead to a bright future.”

As Gong Liang said this, tears welled up in his eyes: "Master Jing is truly my lifeline."

"Without him, I might have become like I was in my second life, gradually becoming introverted, living in fear all day long, becoming eccentric, being misunderstood by others, and then living a mediocre and painful life."

“If things get even worse, it might be like what happened to Qu Jing, tormented by dreams that make it hard to distinguish between illusion and reality, leading to madness and then suicide.”

"But I didn't."

"It's all because of Master Jing."

Gong Liang paused, then said, "He saved me, but I didn't save him."

"For many years after Master Jing injured his leg with coal briquettes, I kept thinking: if I hadn't been out doing business and had gone home instead, would I have been able to hear Master Jing's cries immediately?"

"If I had been able to convince Zheng Da and Shengli to transfer Master Jing to a hospital in Shanghai as soon as he was taken to the hospital, would I have been able to save his leg?"

“If I had cared for Master Jing the way he cared for me after he injured his leg, instead of being busy with work and thinking about how to start a business, but instead spending more time with him next door, would Master Jing have been able to stay away from home so soon?”

“After Master Jing passed away, Zheng Da wanted to start his own business, and I gave him money to support him. Shengli wanted to keep the state-run restaurant and turn it into Huangji Restaurant, so I invested money to help him buy the state-run restaurant and renovate it, which is how Huangji came to be today.”

"Everyone says that I help them so much because the three of us have known each other since childhood and have a good relationship, but it's not just because of that."

"The most important reason is that they are Master Jing's apprentices."

"As long as they are still around, as long as Huang Ji is still open, and as long as Zheng Da is still willing to do the dim sum business, I will feel that Master Jing's skills have not been lost."

"My pillar of support is still there."

"Even if I don't wake up this time, he will still be my true lifeline."

(End of this chapter)