It took some time to process the loan.
Receiving the 5 Gold Coins from Elder Zhao Luo, Zhao Yao waited again for the North Mansion representative to come.
Zhao Wei personally came with the ownership document. After paying the balance 39 silvers and some fees, Zhao Yao became the rightful owner of Merry.
Zhao Wei didn't expect him to use his house as a loan because there was no way Zhao Yao could pay off the loan. Zhao Yao played it safe and used Elder Zhao Luo's presence to pay in full so that Zhao Ping's lackeys don't pose any further trouble.
Zhao Yao acted like an eccentric jumping in joy and hugging Merry while yelling. "You are mine now...Haha."
Zhao Wei didn't stay long and left.
Elder Zhao Luo didn't ask him anything, but Zhao Yao believed he understood what he needed to know by observing them. Zhao Yao hoped that he was able to convince them of his craziness. Even though he talked cleverly on occasions, he also tried to paint that he accepted his fate with the Merp to confuse Zhao Ping and others.
His plan required the presence of Su Ruo's father, Su Zhelan, in the selection contest.
Considering Uncle Su's personality, he will reach out to Zhao Yao to know the truth.
And if Zhao Ping was clever, he will plan something to prevent it.
By showing that Zhao Yao accepted his fate with the Merp, they may not resort to drastic measures. At least, he hoped so.
"Hi, can I buy some Subduing Powder?" Zhao Yao asked Little Hua. "Also, the Weakening stone."
Subduing Powder was a special drug used to tame aggressive beasts. Made from a special combination of medicinal and other plants, the Ancient Zhao clan used it exclusively to tame Demon beasts.
After making a Beast consume the powder, it doesn't show any effects. But when the beast gets aggressive, the tamer can use just expose the 'Weakening stone' to make the drug work and weaken the beast. The stone exudes a unique smell that made the beast that ate the powder weak.
"Why do you need it?" Little Hua asked suspiciously. "Merps are not aggressive."
"You see, I am a weak boy without cultivation. It takes so much effort to control this Demon Beast. Also, she isn't that cooperative with honoring our marriage together. You know what I meant. So..." Zhao Yao scratched his head shyly.
Little Hua wasn't stupid, and she understood what he intended.
Zhao Yao smiled at her. But, she couldn't manage to maintain her fake awkward smile anymore and showed full the disgust she had towards him.
"How much do you need?"
"Can I get the best Weakening stone?" Zhao Yao asked as he played with the Gold and Silver coins in his hand.
"Yes, the most powerful one we sell will cost 40 silvers."
"That much? I will take it." Zhao Yao put a Gold coin on the table and continued. "Can I get the best quality subduing powder for the rest?"
"You don't need that much." Little Hua looked at Merry and said. "Your Merp will only need a small amount."
"I am buying it in bulk, I want it to last an entire year. I don't want to come back here all the time. Hehe." Zhao Yao persisted.
Other than the Weakening stone and subduing powder bag, Zhao Yao bought some miscellaneous items and a Clan rule book before returning home.
*************
Sitting on the floor, Zhao Yao was in his 'Master Plotter' mode.
Every possible action he could take and the reactions he could encounter flashed through his mind.
Every dialogue he needed to deliver and every point he had to cover was jotted down in his memory.
In his stories, when the MC solves a puzzle or difficult situation quickly through pure genius, readers appreciate the character's brilliance and his 'quick' thinking. But, how could they know that it took authors like Zhao Yao weeks and months of brain wrecking and headaches to get that single moment of brilliance?
In stories, things always go according to his plan, but this was real life. He was plotting his own life story for the first time.
Even though Zhao Yao didn't want to fail, he had expected his plan to fail.
Zhao Yao made a failure plan and back up plan to that failure plan.
The easiest plan was to fake his death and start a new life under a new identity. His clan wouldn't relate his new cultivator identity to the crippled Zhao Yao. He can come back for revenge after becoming powerful.
But, that would be too boring for himself and the readers. It was said that revenge was best served cold, but Zhao Yao felt that it was Bullsh*t.
Harboring thoughts of revenge for a long time would end up consuming the person. His readers always liked instant retaliation.
Thus, he decided to try. Even if he failed to get any results, it was easy to fake his death later with the help of his Master.
'Hehe Zhao Ping, you gave me a Merp to f**k, now by bringing Uncle Su and arranging the contest, you are bending down and showing your own a** for me to f***.'
The Selection contest was the best opportunity he will get. The clan even invited Uncle Su to the contest.
The Zhao clan was trying to convince Uncle Su to rearrange Su Ruo's marriage with Zhao Ping by showing his 'awesomeness.'
But it also provided him an outsider who can support him. If Zhao Yao didn't guess wrong, then Zhao Ping will prepare something to block him from coming to the contest.
'Hehe.'
The latter part of his plan depended heavily on luck. If he had a favorable chance, he had prepared a trump card to solve both his and his Master's problems. Zhao Yao decided to improvise as he goes.
But, he needed his Master's full support to make this work.
Immortal Lu was his cheat.
The only way he may get a chance to pull this off successfully and without getting killed depended on his Master.
Zhao Yao walked to his weird Master, who was meditating upside down, hanging from the roof.
"Master, I need your help. You don't have to help me actively in the Selection contest, but you have to help me now to prepare for tomorrow."
Immortal Lu flipped in the air and landed without making a sound. He had his usual smile plastered on his face.
"Let me hear it first."
"Firstly, I hope the Master can protect and guarantee my life. Because I will be going to the mouth of Clan tigers." This was what gave him the courage to make a scene in the Selection contest or he would have opted for the 'fake death' strategy.
"Yes. You are my disciple, I will not let you die." His Master confirmed.
"Secondly, can you somehow keep my voice loud and heard by all." Zhao Yao wanted everyone who attended the Selection contest to hear his words. He didn't believe that he had the voice to make that possible. He bought a horn from the treasury but didn't trust it's effectiveness.
"Hmm, I can do that. Even though your clan may not recognize your cultivation, they could get suspicious if you speak loud without Qi."
"Thank you, Master. It is fine." Zhao was so happy that he had his Master.
"Thirdly, can you hide and safely bring me to the Selection contest venue? If I didn't guess wrong, Zhao Ping will try to lock me up or do something to prevent me from meeting Uncle Su."
"Yes," Immortal Lu nodded. "I am very interested in what you are planning to do. I will be watching."
"Lastly and most importantly, I want you to...." Zhao Yao explained his plan in detail. There was a lot his Master had to do tonight. And he believed that only his Master could do it.
"That. Are you sure?" Immortal Lu looked at Merry with hesitation. "That will be a little cruel."
"Absolutely."
Zhao Yao's grin became wide like an Evil Monster.
'Zhao Ping, you are dealing with the 'Master Plotter' now.'