The fact that the other party dared to do this only indicates that someone offered a price high enough.

At dawn, sounds came from outside. Someone opened Old Meng’s room door. Old Meng lay quietly on the table waiting, and the mixed-breed dog rushed out the moment the door was opened, disappearing instantly into the disordered residential area.

The visitor took Old Meng’s "body" and drove away with an electric tricycle, carrying Old Meng’s tricycle as he leisurely left the residential area.

All the way out of the city, they arrived at the edge of the dug-out pit. The visitor looked at Old Meng’s body and sighed.

"Don’t blame me; I don’t want to die. I still have things unfinished, and besides, once some steps are taken, there’s no turning back. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to die once."

The person dug the pit and prepared a coarse wooden box as a coffin. When everything was ready, he looked up and saw the sky seemed dark again.

He turned warily and saw Old Meng sitting quietly on the box, staring at him.

"Dug it well? It’s rather inappropriate to leave you exposed, given our acquaintance. You’ve chosen a decent spot. Once you’re gone, I’ll burn you a house."

The digger saw Old Meng alive and sitting there, while the surroundings fell silent like night. After his arm gripping the iron shovel tightened suddenly, he released it with a bitter smile.

Struggling was futile; Old Meng, the sly merchant, had grown cautious and prepared himself. Anything done now would be useless.

No one knew what Old Meng held in his hands.

The visitor threw down the shovel and sat by the pit.

Old Meng wasn’t in a hurry. He pulled out a roasted chicken and a pot of wine, arranging a small table.

"Eat something first, have a few drinks."

"Old Meng..."

"There’s no need to say much; you might feel justified, but regardless of your reasons, I’m not keen to hear them or accept them.

We’ve known each other for years. There’s no need to be so confrontational at this point.

We understand each other well enough; we might as well have a couple of drinks and keep some dignity."

Old Meng poured the wine, raised his glass waiting, while the other faced complex emotions, eventually approaching to drink a full cup.

After finishing the pot of wine and chicken, Old Meng said nothing more throughout.

Once they were filled and satisfied, Old Meng stood up and tidied things up.

"Matters of the Jianghu stay there; family isn’t harmed. This ends here."

Old Meng prepared to leave on his bike, when the other could no longer hold back and said.

"Old Meng, be careful. Yesterday, someone offered me a price I couldn’t refuse.

Just information about you led to an irresistible offer.

Three months!

Three months of lifespan. Whether I can live those months is uncertain; I couldn’t resist the temptation."

Old Meng paused, turned back to glance.

"Who set the bug?"

"Local people, just outside the city."

"Okay, I’ll cover your kid’s study abroad expenses."

Old Meng left these words and turned to leave, while the person by the pit bowed towards Old Meng.

He knew that, although a cunning merchant, Old Meng’s words were always trustworthy.

Covering the tuition implied ensuring his child’s safety.

With no regrets left, he jumped into the coarse wooden coffin, drew a handgun, looked at Old Meng’s back, and shot at his own head.

As Old Meng rode away, everything reverted to normal here, with only the pit having added a body.

Soon, someone found it, and the local law enforcement quickly judged: terminal illness late stage - dug his own pit, fired his own gun, nothing unusual.

A few hours later, a sudden fire burned down a riverside residence outside the city, where a supposedly wealthy local mage was burned alive.

At the same time, Old Meng was already hundreds of miles away, calling Wen Yan.

"I’ve discovered something, thought it necessary to let you know."

"News already?"

"In Nanyang, people are trading lifespans. Some offer rewards at the cost of extra lifespan, and this is no longer isolated.

I’ve found someone who received a lifespan. I originally wanted to confirm if he indeed got the extra lifespan.

Unfortunately, he’s uncooperative, so I can’t be sure."

"Are the Fateless Pawnshop people crazy?" Wen Yan pondered for a while, finding only their madness remarkable.

When lifespan is used as a resource, it’s indeed a hard currency.

But being this crazy, the circulated news doesn’t mean those utilizing such resources can reap steadily.

Even with Scorching Sun in control, Wen Yan didn’t dare shout everywhere.

Let alone something like lifespan, consumed every moment by everyone.

This tests human nature.

"That’s probably the case. I guess someone truly obtained it, leading these folks to gamble even without prepayment.

Anyway, things are strange. Be careful."

"I heard, in the Fateless Pawnshop, there’s a General Manager, a Shopkeeper, and several Managers."

Plus their guard power, not to be underestimated."

"Got it. Old Meng, stay safe. Don’t get killed; I have plenty of Big Yellow Fish stored with you."