After everyone else had gotten into the car, I took Zhang Xiaomiao back to Meng Po. Meng Po glanced at Zhang Xiaomiao, not daring to ask why she wasn't getting into the car.
"Old Meng," I didn't know her real name, and Meng Po might just be her official title, "I need your help with something."
"Lord Wu is too kind, please tell me."
"You're familiar with that side. I'll send you a hundred billion later. Help me transfer it to the deputy warden of the Prison Camp and ask him to look after these villagers for me."
"No problem, you don't need to come over specially. Just burn the money to me."
"How do I burn it?" I asked.
"The address is my WeChat name. For the payee, just write 'Shop Owner'."
"Okay, thank you for the trouble."
"Lord Wu, safe travels! Keep in touch!" Meng Po said with a seductive smile.
"If I were to go to the City God's Temple in other places and enter the Ghost Gate, would you also be guarding the Bridge of Helplessness?" I asked curiously.
Meng Po nodded, "There is only one Meng Po, but I have countless clones. They are all me, in essence."
Seeing my furrowed brow, indicating I didn't understand, Meng Po explained, "For example, right now, I am speaking with you here. And in other places, I am receiving a wave of newly deceased ghosts. Oh, and there's another place where I'm mediating disputes, and then..."
"Alright, alright, I understand. We can arrange to meet anytime then."
"Certainly, Lord."
What a schizophrenic Meng Po!
"Um, do you really have drinks here?" I asked, looking at her tea stall. There was indeed a Mixue Bingcheng sign, but I didn't see any beverage-making equipment. On the table, there was only a large teapot and over a dozen large bowls, all chipped. If sold in the mortal world, they might be considered antiques – could this be another path to wealth?
"Yes, we do. It's in the back. Lord Wu, what would you like to drink? I'm genuinely a Mixue Bingcheng franchisee. Many lords in the Underworld Prefecture like this brand," Meng Po said with a smile.
"Do you have orange juice?" I asked.
"Yes!"
"Then could you get me four oranges, please?" I said. I had bragged a bit earlier about buying oranges at the Bridge of Helplessness, but as far as I knew, Mixue Bingcheng didn't have oranges. They had something similar, oranges, and among their many fruit-flavored drinks, only the orange juice actually contained fresh oranges.
While Meng Po went to the back to get the oranges, I swiped a very old bowl and slipped it to Zhang Xiaomiao. The little one held it with uncertainty. I pointed to the inside of her clothes, and Xiaomiao understood, quickly hiding it within her loose attire.
"You go ahead," I whispered.
"Certainly, Lord."
Xiaomiao, cradling her belly, trotted away. Soon after, Meng Po returned, carrying four oranges in a square Mixue Bingcheng paper bag. I bid Meng Po farewell and quickly caught up to Zhang Xiaomiao, returning from the Ghost Gate back to the City God's Temple.
"You actually got oranges?" Chen Ke exclaimed, "Can this stuff be eaten?"
"Why not? Let's go," I said, distributing one orange to each of them. After bidding farewell to Judge Cui, we retraced our steps.
The eagle demon put the clothes in the car and continued to fly ahead, scouting the way. The destination this time was Chen Lu's villa.
Before setting off, for safety, I had Chen Ke disguise my face. This time, I didn't opt for a flashy celebrity look but a more ordinary one, though still quite attractive, to avoid offending Chen Lu, who was a bit of a looks-oriented person.
Half an hour later, we arrived at Chen Lu's villa. When I knocked, it was Chen Jianguo's male assistant, Xiao Liu, or something like that. Although he looked at me as a stranger, he recognized my voice as soon as I spoke and glanced warily behind me, whispering, "Young master, did you have plastic surgery?"
"Ah... I went to South Korea for a bit," I answered casually, "Is Chen Lu home?"
"Yes, she is. Please come in!"
Entering the courtyard, I took off the watch and returned it to the assistant.
"Oh, young master, please keep it! It's an honor for me to have you wear my watch!" the assistant said flatteringly.
"It's mainly because it was bumped and isn't very accurate anymore. It might need recalibration." I smiled apologetically.
"Oh, I see. Well then, I'll take it to be repaired. After it's fixed, I'll... no, no, I'll buy you a new one!"
"No, really. I appreciate your kindness, thank you," I said sincerely. "By the way, young man, could you do me a favor?"
"Please, tell me."
"Help me buy one hundred billion worth of spirit money. Make sure it's genuine, not counterfeit. Check if the seller has a business license; that's sufficient," I instructed. Li Jingxiang had told me before that only spirit money purchased through legitimate channels would be recognized in the underworld.