The Evil Deity's Second Career - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The Prince of Zhennan ascended the throne, stepping over the cold corpse of the former Emperor.

The era name was changed to “Tianshou,” meaning: Heaven bestows its mandate upon you; you must govern with diligence.

Ji Lanci returned to the ruined temple with me, lugging two massive bundles of gold, silver, and jewelry she had scavenged from who-knows-where.

I still couldn’t wrap my head around it, leaning against the door in a somber daze.

“My Lord, what do you think about me mounting this ruby on your sword hilt?”

Ji Lanci held a red stone the size of a pigeon’s egg, constantly gesturing and measuring it against me.

I frowned. “How exactly does one open the Investiture Register…”

“And these two obsidians would be perfect as eyes.”

I glanced at them; they were just two pitch-black stones, not particularly attractive.

“Do you think that list has changed its name by now?”

“This jade belt is nice. It would be a perfect waistband for you, My Lord.”

Ji Lanci used her hands to measure a white jade belt, nodding incessantly to herself.

I propped my chin in my hand. “It shouldn’t be like this…”

When Shi Jia returned, I was sitting on a threshold made of pure gold, staring blankly into space.

“Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Zhu, you’ve certainly struck it rich now. Don’t you go abandoning your old friends from the gutter.”

“It turns out I’m simply not worthy. Anyone can get on the Investiture Register, yet I cannot.”

“Wha… what?”

I looked up at the sky. “If I can’t be on the Investiture Register, what’s the point? My whole life…”

Shi Jia raised his hand and rapped me hard on the head, but the gold crown I wore stung his hand.

Shi Jia bared his teeth in pain, rubbing his palm as he spoke with bitter disappointment. “You refused to come with us just for that damn list? You think that thing is so great? You have to report in every morning and evening. And you even have to pay a cut of your meager incense money to the higher-ups.”

Having said that, he pointed at Ji Lanci. “Look how good you have it! You have someone offering incense to you every single day!”

I remained sitting there, dazed. “My name isn’t on the Investiture Register.”

Shi Jia had a breakdown. “Stop being so ungrateful for your blessings! You’re not on the Investiture Register, but you’ll definitely have a spot on the wealth rankings in the future!”

Ji Lanci was a woman of her word; she truly built fifty temples for me!

Every single temple was built with extraordinary opulence.

The neighboring deities were green with envy.

Word somehow got out that praying for wealth at my place was incredibly effective. Countless worshippers flocked to my temples to kneel and kowtow, begging me to grant them vast fortunes.

Even Zhao Caishen, the God of Wealth himself, paid me a personal visit to thank me for giving him a vacation.

But I couldn’t actually do it; they were praying to the wrong deity.

I still only knew how to kill-though I hadn’t killed anyone in a very long time.

When Shi Jia came to find me, I was sitting bored on the Shrine, counting the scattered beads on my belt.

This was a new belt Ji Lanci had just replaced for me. Her business had been picking up lately, to the point where she even hired people to burn the incense on her behalf.

“Zhu, seeing you now makes even me want to kowtow to you.”

I flicked my sleeves, and the sound of the gems and white jade clinking together filled the air.

“Kowtowing to me is useless. You have to kowtow to my personal ‘God of Wealth’ for it to work.”

Shi Jia turned away with a huff.

“She still owes me fifty more temples!”

***

Back at the bank, Ji Lanci, who was busy checking the account ledgers, suddenly sneezed for no reason.

“The weather is getting cold. It’s time to add a cloak for My Lord. I’ll use gold thread this time.”

(The End)