It was nighttime in Gangde and when they were back in Beidu, it was a sunny morning.

Ning Tao first made a trip to the bank to withdraw an amount of $199,900. From the ATM and some cash savings he had at home, it made up a million dollars. He had initially intended to withdraw a million in one go but the young lady at the bank had informed him that it would require a reservation of one day in advance. So, he had no choice.

Banks were also a disadvantaged group, he should not make things difficult for them.

Around the afternoon, Ning Tao brought the huge sack of cash and a few other sacks of stuff he had bought from the mall and stepped into the convenient door leading to the demon village.

This convenient door opened inside the room of the clam family’s Ruan Tianyin.

Ning Tao walked out from the convenient door, dragging the few gunny sacks with him. Once he saw the scene, he did not feel good.

The clam lady was still asleep. Only a piece of rough linen was covering her body, an alluring view was somewhat exposed. Hazy and vague, it stimulated one’s imagination.

Anyway, how could she still be sleeping so soundly given the time now?

The convenient door vanished.

The clam lady, Ruan Tianyin was still lying in a shabby-looking bed. Not only did she not open her eyes, but she also mumbled unclearly, “Aiyoyo, what clear waters… I want to bathe here, don’t you peek…”

Ning Tao’s mind was filled with questions. Who could she be bathing with in her dreams?

Suddenly, a voice escaped Ruan Tianyin’s small mouth, “Master, your legs are so hairy…”

“Pft!” Ning Tao could not help but huff. Since when were his legs hairy?

Ruan Tianyin’s eyes immediately opened and grabbed her pillow. Once she saw that it was Ning Tao, she placed the pillow back again and patted her prideful chest. Her voice was soft, “Aiyo, you’ve scared me. Master… when did you get here?”

With such a level of alertness, it would be appropriate to call her a weakling.

“Um, I’ve just arrived and brought you some stuff. Oh, right, I’ve also brought you some gifts. See if you like them.” Ning Tao’s gaze finally left Ruan Tianyin’s body. He opened a gunny sack and took a gift box out and handed it to Ruan Tianyin.

“What’s it?” Ruan Tianyin appeared to be excited.

Ning Tao smiled saying, “You’ll know once you open it.”

Ruan Tianyin opened the gift box. It was a set of a women’s suit, along with a white blouse and a pair of black high heels, and a smartphone. She excitedly grabbed the phone once she saw it and said excitedly, “It’s a phone! I’ve always wanted a cell phone. I’ve never thought… that you would give me such an expensive gift!”

Seeing how happy she was, Ning Tao also smiled, “Do you know how to use it?”

Ruan Tianyin nodded, grinning from ear to ear. “I had a cell phone two years ago but it fell into the water and I had no money for a new one.”

Ning Tao joked, “You can produce such a big pearl every month. Couldn’t you just sell one of them for a phone?”

Ruan Tianyin suddenly jumped off the bed and approached Ning Tao’s ear, whispering into it, “Bao Zhimei had taken all of them and ground them into powder to apply on her face.”

Ning Tao was speechless.

“Master, please do not tell Bao Zhimei. She’s a very petty person, she’ll make things difficult for me,” Ruan Tianyin said.

Ning Tao nodded as his head tilted to the side. It was mainly because Ruan Tianyin was speaking into his ear and her breath hit his ear and the insides of it. He was sensitive to the warm and fuzzy feeling and felt very awkward about it.

Yet Ruan Tianyin was unable to detect Ning Tao’s feelings. She looked at Ning Tao intently, “Master, how could I repay you for such a valuable gift?”

“That…” Ning Tao continued, “How is the progress of the task I had delegated to you? If you do it well, it would be the best form of repayment.”

Only then did Ruan Tianyin recall something. She went to her bedside and took an elementary school student’s exercise book out from under the bedsheets, then handed it to Ning Tao. “Master, this is the information of all the fish people, what kind of demon they are, what their abilities are. I’ve investigated them all and recorded them in this book.”

Ning Tao opened the exercise book and the first page was Yang Sheng’s information.

Ruan Tianyin wrote: “Yang Sheng, the village chief, shark spirit. Good at biting through things, huge strength, great at fighting.”

“Bao Zhimei: Abalone spirit, good at make-up, pretty, seducing men, conning.”

Ning Tao could not hold his laughter. This description was quite accurate. It was immediately understandable.

This page was Ruan Tianyin: “Clam spirit, good at producing pearls, dancing, singing, calligraphy, cooking, folding blankets… and bodies… purifying water…gathering water…”

She wrote almost a whole page about herself.

Ning Tao stared at Ruan Tianyin. “You can purify water?”

Ruan Tianyin nodded very seriously. “Yes, I can clear the soil in the water and turn the minerals in it into pearls.”

“Then what is the power of gathering water?” She could be seen as a human water purifier with her water purification power. Yet Ning Tao could not figure out what was the power of gathering water and he was curious.

Ruan Tianyin said, “I’m a demon without combat ability so I was given a magic skill. I have my essential pearl, it can absorb light, emanate light, absorb water, gather water then spray water. If I were to spend some time in the river or sea, I would be able to release a pool full of water for you in the desert. I can even provide lumination for your bath in the night.”

Ning Tao remained silent.

There were many types of humans and so were there many types of demons. Humans were born with natural talents, regardless of whether they were good or bad, there was a whole variety. That was also why some could become singers while others were carpenters. It was the same for demons. They also had their natural talents. Even if it were a clam lady without combat skills, she had the ability to gather water. It was the same idea.

Was such an ability useless?

It would depend on its usage. For example, if she had to flood a place, somewhere like an enemy’s den, or an important generator room, then she would be invincible.

“Master, would you like me to show it to you?” Ruan Tianyin looked like she was very eager to show her water gathering and spraying abilities to Ning Tao.

Ning Tao was very curious, “How do you do it?”

Ruan Tianyin’s face turned red slightly. It was unknown whether she was holding the water or something else. The moisture content in the entire room suddenly increased. A delicate hand lifted, grabbing onto a belt…

Ning Tao suddenly recalled something, saying flusteredly, “No need, no need, cell phones can’t come into contact with water. You better not show it. I know you’re very powerful.”

Once Ruan Tianyin heard that the cell phone should be refrained from coming in contact with water, the moisture content in the air was retracted back into her body.

Ning Tao flipped to the fourth page.

“Man Zuli: Eel spirit. Can generate electricity. Electrician of the village. The village’s electricity source is provided by him. He has been learning hacking skills but has no money to buy learning materials.”

Ning Tao’s heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself, “This eel spirit Man Zuli is not too bad. He can generate electricity. This is a very invincible talent. If he could be cultivated into a hacker, it would be even better.”

Ning Tao mentally noted the name Man Zuli.

Ning Tao flipped to page five.

Zhang Qianshu: “Octopus spirit. Can squirt ink to pollute the air and sea in order to create confusion. Can fight with his demon form’s eight tentacles, catching enemies off-guard. Can climb mountains and scale buildings very quickly.”

“This is not too bad too,” Ning Tao noted Zhang Qianshu’s name.

Ning Tao came to the sixth page.

Wang Laoba: “Turtle spirit. Good at lurking. Had once lied on the ocean bottom for three months just to catch a small silver fish for his aquarium collection and all the other fish in his aquarium ended up dying from hunger. He is also good at carrying heavy weights. Had once carried a car back and it turned out to be a scrapped car.”

Having great strength was also useful in its own way. Ning Tao also took note of Wang Laoba’s name.

After finishing the entire exercise book, Ning Tao had an overall understanding of the fish demons of the demon village. The only few people who were useful to him were the few names which he had noted. Nevertheless, these were enough. If he could have them join him, his small team would grow even stronger.

After perusing all the information in the book, Ning Tao said, “Tianyin, I’ll be keeping this book, I’ll go look for Yang Sheng. You should try on this outfit and see whether it fits you.”

Ruan Tianyin stared at Ning Tao, “Master, am I… useful?”

Ning Tao grinned, “Of course. You try it out first. My clinic is still lacking a reception or a secretary. Your writing is very nice and you have a pleasant image. It has to be you.”

“Thank you, master!” Ruan Tianyin bowed deeply to Ning Tao, and her collar was revealing.

Ning Tao dragged the few gunny sacks with him out of her house in a fluster.

Before he reached Yang Sheng’s wooden building, the fish demons of the village surrounded him and kept calling him master. Then Yang Sheng and Bao Zhimei came and greeted him politely, yet their eyes were on the sacks Ning Tao had dragged here.

Ning Tao said, “I’m here to deliver my promise. I said I’ll give the demon village a million dollars every month. Apart from that, I’ve bought everyone some gifts. You may take whatever you like.”

With that, tens of fish demons rushed over and cleared the gifts brought by Ning Tao.

Yang Sheng yelled furiously, “Put them down! Damn it, are you thinking of rebelling?”

A group of fish demon looked at Ning Tao. They wanted to put the gifts down but they were unwilling. They were afraid of Yang Sheng beating them up if they did not let go. None of them knew what to do.

Ning Tao said, “I’ve said it. You may take whatever you want. So don’t scold them anymore.”

Only then did Yang Sheng give in but still yelled angrily, “Scram!”

Ning Tao furrowed his brows slightly and was feeling quite uncomfortable. He had finally figured it out. Even though Yang Sheng was willing to follow him, he still saw himself as the ruler here, throwing his weight around. Nevertheless, this was also his nature. Who could possibly ask a shark spirit to equal himself with octopuses and turtles?

With that thought, Ning Tao did not react except saying, “I am here to take a few of you out to see the world. The ones who I call out for can come with me, okay?”

A big group of fish demons who were about to leave suddenly paused in their tracks.

At this moment, Bao Zhimei had just opened a sack and excitedly winked at Yang Sheng.

Yang Sheng also saw that stack of new cash and certainly had no more questions. He continued, “No problem, of course. Master just take whoever you’ve taken a fancy to.”

Ning Tao scanned across the crowd of fish demons and started his roll call, “Man Zuli, Zhang Qianshu, Wang Laoba.”

The three fish demons came to Ning Tao. Their average height was over 6ft. They all had bronzed complexions, chiseled faces, and perfect fish demon figures. They were certainly three male models.

After the three reported their names, only then did Ning Tao recognize them and remembered their features.

Man Zuli had blue lightning patterns on his skin. They looked like tattoos but were not actually tattoos.

Zhang Laoqian had three sets of holes under his armpits. Those must be the “tunnels” for his other six arms.

Wang Laoba’s build was significantly bigger than Man Zuli and Zhang Laoqian. His hands were full of calluses and a turtle shell pattern could vaguely be seen on his back but his most obvious feature was his bald head.

While counting money, Yang Sheng asked, “Just these three?”

Ning Tao said, “Also Ruan Tianyin.”

“I’m coming,” Ruan Tianyin’s voice could be heard.

A big group of fish demons looked over in that direction. A clam lady was in a long-sleeved suit and a pencil skirt, along with a pair of black heels. She appeared to be an actual office lady and was nothing like a clam spirit.

Unfortunately, in just a few steps, Ruan Tianyin face-planted right into the sandy beach…

It was the fault of the heels.