Chapter 59: The Second Test of Human Nature

Gold coins kept pouring out of Sorcerer Yuan’s pocket, and those around him bent down eagerly to pick them up. Before long, their hands were laden with gold and silver, scattered coins countless in number.

Xiao Zhi and Er Hu were overjoyed; even Uncle De, who usually remained indifferent to money, was happily gathering coins.

“Yuan Shu! Yuan Shu! Your money is falling out of your pocket!”

Uncle De anxiously slapped Luo Gan, trying to silence him, afraid the foolish sorcerer might want his gold back if he realized.

Could the heavens really drop such good fortune? Although Luo Gan was not a man of great ability, he understood that things one desired rarely came easily, and the sudden windfall left him uneasy.

Ahead, the path split in two: one to the left, one to the right. The left fork bore a clear arrow sign, marked “Next Trial,” directing the group that way. Yet Sorcerer Yuan, without a second thought, headed straight to the right.

Luo Gan was puzzled—did Sorcerer Yuan harbor some ulterior motive, leading them astray?

“Yuan Shu! Where are you going? The sign says we should go this way!”

Sorcerer Yuan ignored Luo Gan’s protest, marching mechanically forward as if he hadn’t heard a word.

Er Hu, burly as a tiger, scooped up gold with both hands, forming a makeshift basin, determined to fill it to the brim. Uncle De struggled on the uphill path, but the lure of wealth unleashed unexpected strength; he was out of breath yet relentless, his clothes bulging with loot.

The dragon-carved wooden staff had vanished long ago. Xiao Zhi, eager to earn a fortune that might further his ambitions, seized the opportunity, abandoning all pretense; he resembled a frog, leaping up the slope, drawn by the scent of money.

While Luo Gan pondered, the others continued gathering coins and followed Sorcerer Yuan—the prospect of riches too tempting to resist. When Luo Gan finally realized something was amiss, he found himself alone; everyone else had gravitated toward Sorcerer Yuan.

“Stop! Er Hu! Don’t go that way! Uncle De! Xiao Zhi! Stop right now!”

None of the three paid any heed to Luo Gan’s cries; the coins on the ground seemed to wind them up, compelling them onward, unstoppable once set in motion.

Only Yan Shan remained by Luo Gan’s side, filling him with sorrow. Friends he’d known for years, companions who’d forgotten their principles before wealth, yet Yan Shan, whom he’d met only recently, stayed loyal. Luo Gan felt the sting of loneliness, wondering if it was his own failings that left him unsupported.

Yan Shan stood upright, though gold and silver occasionally fell from his person. Luo Gan was calm, but Yan Shan looked nervous.

“President… I’m taking these home for my elderly mother. I hope you won’t mind.”

“Not at all—it’s only human nature.”

Though he said so, Luo Gan couldn’t help but feel tempted by the money. Yet what troubled him most was that his own recruits ignored his instructions—this was the very essence of being a commander without an army.

Sorcerer Yuan walked on, never looking back, indifferent to whatever happened behind him. Er Hu and the others focused only on collecting coins, unconcerned with where the money came from.

Gold rained down, and the slope grew steeper, making the climb more arduous. The group followed like devotees, struggling up an increasingly difficult incline, the path’s end nowhere in sight, each step demanding all their strength.

Even Er Hu, strong as an ox, was faltering; Xiao Zhi collapsed on the ground from exhaustion, clutching his gold tightly, unwilling to let go of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Uncle De sat down, panting, anxiously scanning his surroundings lest someone snatch his treasure.

Not a single coin was left behind on the path; only by moving forward could they hope for more.

“Uncle De… (panting) Your health isn’t up to this. You shouldn’t go any further.”

“If I stop, you’ll take all the coins behind me!”

“We can’t possibly collect them all. Isn’t what we have enough?”

“No, no! Enough for generations! My wife complained recently that I haven’t left anything for the family—I must… I must take more!”

Desire is endless; once the cap is removed, it gushes forth uncontrollably, never filling the bottle, never exhausting itself.

Everyone’s feet felt weighed down with lead; the slope became impassable, and all they could do was fiercely cling to the money in their hands.

Xiao Zhi spotted precious jewels on the ground, knelt down, scooped them up, and tossed them into the air, beside himself with joy.

He kept shouting, “I’m rich! No more foolish food deliveries for me! To hell with delivering, to hell with cooking! Now that I have money, I am Lord Zhi!”

Uncle De grinned from ear to ear, his face radiant, hunched over, the image of a nouveau riche, as the gold turned to golden mud, slowly consuming his feet.

Sensing danger, Luo Gan ran back and knocked the gold from Uncle De’s hands, shaking him to bring him to his senses.

“Uncle De! Uncle De! Wake up! We can’t take this money!”

No matter how Luo Gan called, Uncle De only smiled, and before long, his entire body became a golden statue, unresponsive.

Luo Gan and Yan Shan stared, dumbfounded, unsure what to do. Yan Shan instinctively threw away his coins, fortunate to have taken little.

Beside him, Xiao Zhi too became a golden statue, kneeling, arms outstretched, his face still gleaming with excitement.

With both Xiao Zhi and Uncle De transformed, Luo Gan immediately realized Er Hu was in danger—he couldn’t bear to lose another companion!

The man ahead, strong as a mountain, had also stopped, muttering to himself. Luo Gan and Yan Shan rushed to Er Hu, Yan Shan pounding on Er Hu’s golden thigh, while Luo Gan slapped his face, not yet consumed by gold.

“Er Hu! Wake up!”

Er Hu laughed blissfully, as if he were savoring the moment. Yan Shan saw the gold crawling upward and hurriedly retreated, shaking his head in despair.

Luo Gan kicked Er Hu’s golden thigh and then his abdomen, but it was useless.

“Er Hu! Ayu is still waiting for you at home! Don’t fall here!”

Er Hu paused, then instantly turned disdainful.

“That woman? I’m rich now, who cares about her?”

Luo Gan was deeply displeased by these words; his once heroic friend now blinded by greed, he longed to punch him, to set his character straight.

To a man overcome by greed, appeals to sentiment are foolish. As Luo Gan realized this, gold was already covering Er Hu’s face.

Yan Shan felt discomfort underfoot; lifting his leg, he found golden mud stuck to his sole, impossible to shake off.

Yan Shan pulled Luo Gan away, saying anxiously, “President! We must leave—the sorcerer is just ahead. If we stay, we won’t get out!”

Luo Gan, frustrated and disappointed, had only just rescued Er Hu from the sea of flowers, and now faced this fate.

“Fine, if I can’t save you, there’s something I need to say. Er Hu, your armpits stink like hell—every time I save you, I nearly gag. Your snoring is as loud as thunder! Everything here is fake, just like a dream. Enjoy your landlord’s fantasy!”

Er Hu was now wholly consumed by gold. Luo Gan and Yan Shan sighed and turned to leave.

Just then, Er Hu’s golden statue exploded, startling Luo Gan so much he fell to the ground.

“What? When have I ever snored! You bear-faced fool!”