Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

"No, this is heaven's wrath upon me, how could you possibly help!?" The middle-aged man wailed, appearing utterly hopeless, as he shook his head.

"Anyway, you don't have any better options now, right? As the saying goes, 'a dead horse can be treated like a live one', what if we really can help?" Jiang Liu continued speaking.

Listening to this man's words, Jiang Liu actually became even more pleased.

What did he say? He said that I couldn't help? So, helping him must be extremely difficult, right?

Since it's such a difficult task, naturally, it means the task is very challenging, offering numerous rewards?

"This..."

Although he believed the Monk before him wouldn't be able to help with his troubles, the man currently had no other options, so he pondered a bit and then spoke.

"Well then, Master, this city's weather is so hot, do you have any way to sell winter clothes?" After a brief silence, the middle-aged man asked Jiang Liu.

"Ah!? Selling winter clothes in such hot weather?" Hearing this middle-aged man's words, Jiang Liu paused slightly, surprised, and asked.

"Yes, Master, can you do it?" Seriously looking at Jiang Liu, the middle-aged man asked.

"This..." Jiang Liu hesitated for a moment, finding it difficult to respond.

After all, he could also feel the scorching summer, selling winter clothes out of the blue?

"I knew it, no one can help me..." Seeing Jiang Liu's hesitant silence, the middle-aged man shook his head and said.

Clearly, he wasn't surprised by Jiang Liu's reaction.

"What exactly is the reason behind this?" Jiang Liu pondered for a moment before speaking.

It's just selling some winter clothes; it doesn't seem too difficult. However, Jiang Liu felt that he should clarify the cause and effect before proceeding.

"The specific reason? Ten days ago, I noticed the weather was getting cooler, and thought this year's temperatures would be very low. So, I used all my savings to make winter clothes, just waiting for snowy days to make a big profit!"

"Who knew that in recent days, the weather would be abnormal, getting hotter and hotter? It's already November, yet it feels like midsummer."

"Tell me, how can I sell these winter clothes? My family is going to have nothing to survive on!"

The middle-aged man couldn't help but sob again towards the end.

"Alright, so that's what's going on..." With the man's explanation, Jiang Liu nodded his head in understanding.

"This issue, I might actually be able to help!" Having understood the matter's cause and effect, Jiang Liu nodded and said.

"Oh? Really? Master, do you have a good solution?" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, the middle-aged man's eyes lit up, and he looked at Jiang Liu with surprise.

"Namo Amitabha, since you want the humble monk to help, you must formally ask for the humble monk's assistance!" Jiang Liu spoke, guiding the middle-aged man.

"This? Master, do you mean I need to show sincerity first? But, as I just said, all my savings were used for making winter clothes, even affording meals is a problem..."

Jiang Liu's words made the middle-aged man appear slightly embarrassed, awkwardly rubbing his hands.

"No, rather than requiring sincerity, you must formally request help! This is very important to me!" Jiang Liu seriously stated, looking at the middle-aged man.

"Alright!" Although he didn't understand why Jiang Liu needed this, since he said it was important, the middle-aged man thought for a moment and nodded.

"Master, I formally request your assistance in selling this batch of stockpiled winter clothes!" Looking solemnly at Jiang Liu, the middle-aged man requested.

Prompt: trigger task "Sales", task requirement, successfully assist the man before you in selling over a hundred winter clothes, task successful, rewards Experience Points 150,000, reward Healing Potion*1, task failure, deduct Experience Points 150,000, accept/refuse?

As the man's words fell, the system's prompt came as expected, but upon hearing this task prompt, the corners of Jiang Liu's mouth twitched slightly.

150,000 Experience Points? Reward of one Healing Potion?

How long has it been since I triggered such a low-difficulty task?

"Uh, Benefactor, this request, should not be phrased this way..." A task with mere 150,000 Experience Points reward is naturally not taken seriously by Jiang Liu.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Liu smiled and said: "Think about it, why can't you sell winter clothes? It's because of the unusually hot weather, right?"

"Yes, that's indeed the case!" Hearing Jiang Liu's words, the middle-aged man nodded and said.

"That's right. Since we've found the root cause, you should be asking me to investigate, or even resolve this abnormal weather situation, shouldn't you?" Jiang Liu continued to guide him.

"But, I don't really care if the weather is hot or not. I just need to successfully sell off the winter clothes that are piling up in my hands!" The man looked at Jiang Liu strangely and said.

Indeed, for an ordinary person like him, the most important thing is to sell off those winter clothes.

As for whether the weather is hot or cool? As long as all his winter clothes are sold, why would he need to care about the weather?

"No! You care a lot!" The middle-aged man's words left Jiang Liu with a slightly amused and helpless expression. He then seriously stared at him and spoke.

"This..." Seeing Jiang Liu's serious demeanor, the middle-aged man wanted to stick to his own beliefs, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn't utter them.

In the end, he could only nod his head and say, "Master, you are indeed right, I, I do care!"

"That's good!" Seeing the middle-aged man being so sensible, Jiang Liu showed a smile and said, "Now, you know how to ask me for help, right? Go ahead, express your request earnestly!"

"Master, this exceptionally hot weather is unbearable, please investigate the cause and restore the weather to its original state!" The middle-aged man somewhat reluctantly requested Jiang Liu.

Alright, though this request was a bit disingenuous, as long as the weather cools down again, in this man's view, he can surely sell all his piled-up winter clothes.

Therefore, although the content of the request has changed slightly, as long as it is fulfilled, it's beneficial to him. The middle-aged man felt somewhat relieved.

Prompt: Task "Unusual Weather" triggered. Task requirement: Successfully identify the reason for the current area's abnormal heat and resolve it. Task success: Gain 800 million Experience Points, obtain a Legendary Level Treasure Chest *1; Task failure: Deduct 800 million Experience Points. Accept/Reject?

This time, the task prompt changed.

But, only 800 million Experience Points? Just a Legendary Level task?

Jiang Liu still felt the task's difficulty was a bit low, but it was much better than just getting 150,000 experience points earlier.

After pondering privately for a moment, Jiang Liu accepted the task.

"Rest assured, Benefactor, leave this matter to me!" After accepting the task, Jiang Liu nodded and said to the middle-aged man.

"Master, if you indeed have such abilities, please hurry, I, I..." After urging slightly, the middle-aged man's face showed an embarrassed expression.

"Amitabha, I understand. Here, borrow this for your needs. You can return it to me after managing to sell all your winter clothes someday!" Jiang Liu, understanding the middle-aged man's thoughts, smiled.

He then retrieved a Silver Ingot from his bag space.

A hefty five-tael Silver Ingot, in Jiang Liu's view, should adequately support a family of several for two months, provided there's no extravagant spending.

"This, this..." Seeing the Silver Ingot Jiang Liu produced, the middle-aged man's expression wavered.

His rational mind told him he couldn't accept this Silver Ingot, as he was not entitled to others' help.

But thinking of his family, with children crying for food, and his elderly mother almost too hungry to walk...

Otherwise, he wouldn't have felt such pressure, a grown man hiding here in tears.

"Thank you, Master. Once I've successfully sold my winter clothes, I will repay you in full, without a penny short!"

After a brief silence, ultimately familial obligations outweighed his resolve, so the man extended his hands to receive the Silver Ingot from Jiang Liu earnestly.

"Amitabha, it's just a small matter, not worth mentioning!" Jiang Liu waved his hand with a nonchalant expression.

Indeed, it was just some trivial money not even gained from monsters, just mundane Silver Coins usable in the store, so Jiang Liu didn't care much about it.

Yet, while Jiang Liu could be indifferent, the middle-aged man couldn't ignore it.

After putting away the Silver Ingot, the man quickly turned and headed to the grain store to buy some rice and flour.

Watching the middle-aged man's rapidly departing figure, Jiang Liu's lips slightly curled up.

Honestly, witnessing a middle-aged man hiding here in tears simply because of unsellable winter clothes left Jiang Liu quite emotional.

Perhaps, this is what people from the previous lifetime called the middle-aged crisis pressure?

If a small effort could alleviate his immediate plight, Jiang Liu was actually very willing.

Shaking his head, Jiang Liu composed himself.

Now's not the time for sentiment; since I've accepted the task, it's time to start dismantling the predicament collaboratively set up by Tathagata and Maitreya Buddha.