Chapter 39: Hungry Hell
The Watchtower Guild didn’t hold as high a position in Lost Paradise as the Jade Society did, since they lacked top-tier combatants and mainly operated within the Hunger Hell. More importantly, while they owned their own stores, they weren’t part of the Merchants’ Alliance — and the Watchtower Guild’s leader even had some history with that person.
The Watchtower Guild definitely had distribution channels for goods. As long as they could convince its leader, most of the startup problems would be solved.
Seeing how confident Tang Mobai looked, Yan Wuzhen didn’t say much and simply introduced him to the Watchtower Guild’s leader.
Their meeting place was a luxury suite near the commercial street — private, high-end, and strictly invitation-only. Unlike the ostentatious, gaudy style of the Devil Casino, this venue was minimalist wood-themed, yet refined in every detail.
The Watchtower Guild’s leader was already waiting inside. At first glance, he was a man with long hair, well-proportioned build, and a calm, elegant demeanor — the complete opposite of Qiong’s temperament.
The moment Tang Mobai and Yan Wuzhen entered, the leader immediately stood up, extending both hands for a handshake. “Nice to meet you. I’m Cang. Thank you for helping deliver Qiong’s message.”
Tang Mobai was startled but quickly reached out to shake hands. “Nice to meet you, you’re too polite.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you. I truly appreciate what you returned to me.” The long-haired man bowed slightly, and a necklace with a red crystal pendant slipped from his collar. “This means a lot to me.”
It was an emotion crystal left behind after Qiong’s death — a drop item produced when an awakened Desire-type demon perished. If a non-awakened demon consumed it, there was a chance to awaken their corresponding Sin Fate. And if an already awakened demon of the same Sin — for instance, one with the Wrath Fate like Tang Mobai — consumed it, they might gain random stat boosts. Naturally, its market value was high.
Shortly after returning to the Hunger Hell safehouse, Tang Mobai had asked Yan Wuzhen to deliver the crystal to the Watchtower Guild’s leader — which was why they were meeting now.
“Qiong helped me a lot during the Revival Tournament — it’s the least I could do,” Tang Mobai said, shaking his head. He didn’t accept Cang’s gratitude. Behind him, Yan Wuzhen kept his face blank, but secretly shot Tang Mobai several dagger-like looks.
Really? You’re refusing his thanks now? Didn’t he realize having the Watchtower Guild’s leader owe them a favor would be huge leverage in the upcoming negotiations?
Meanwhile, Seth’s thoughts were simpler: Cang’s hair looks so smooth. I kind of want to touch it.
Cang’s expression flickered with surprise. “Qiong helped you?”
Tang Mobai nodded. “Yes. If not for her warning, we might never have figured out how to escape.”
“May I ask… what is Qiong to you?”
“She’s… more or less my sister,” Cang said, expression briefly complicated before returning to polite composure. “So, you wanted to meet me — is it about the Jade Society’s bounty? We’re willing to help, but our Watchtower Guild can’t really compare to their power.”
“No,” Tang Mobai shook his head quickly. “I did come for your help, but not about the Jade Society.”
He took out three items and laid them neatly on the table — a disposable talisman of safety, a healing potion, and a Fasting Pill.
The small woman standing behind Cang stepped forward at his nod, picking up the talisman first. She seemed to have some kind of appraisal ability; after staring for less than a second, she said calmly, “Low-grade tool. Works only on lesser paranormal entities in low-level worlds. Effect extremely limited, and likely breaks after one use.”
Out of respect for her leader, she barely swallowed the word ‘trash’. To her, a skilled potion maker, the energy flow from the talisman was barely stronger than that of an ordinary trinket.
Tang Mobai nodded. “You’re right — but the production cost can be cut down to 0.5 points, with materials being just xx, xxx…”
He listed ingredients so common they were practically trash-tier, the kind people ignored even when lying on the street. The guilds that harvested them usually sold them by the ton.
Hearing this, the woman’s disdain faded; she grew thoughtful. “In that case, there’s profit to be made. Paranormal-world dungeons are common, after all. If we go with a low-margin, high-volume model, this could work.”
Cang began to understand Tang Mobai’s intent, and his expression warmed with appreciation. “You want to pitch these items to us? Not a bad idea.”
In the Hunger Hell, only guilds had the channels to distribute goods widely — they were like e-commerce platforms, each with a fixed customer base. The Merchants’ Alliance was basically a giant marketplace made up of these guilds, while the Watchtower Guild was like an independent small online shop outside that network.
Cang had assumed Tang Mobai came to seek protection from the Jade Society’s pursuit — which would’ve been understandable, and Cang had planned to help once. But he hadn’t expected Tang Mobai to bring something so much more ambitious.
He wanted partnership. That was the typical win-win model between freelancers and guilds — the freelancer provided loot or crafted items, the guild handled sales for a commission, and in return, kept an eye out for items the freelancer needed. Mutual benefit.
And a person who could mass-produce items was even more valuable — usually, guilds would either recruit them directly or make them an exclusive supplier, giving them privileges and even full sponsorship.
If the Watchtower Guild could strike such a deal, it’d be fantastic — and for Qiong’s sake, Cang would even offer special terms.
“Don’t be hasty — that’s just an appetizer,” Tang Mobai said, pushing forward the other two items.
This time, the woman’s expression turned serious. She picked up the second item, examined it, and after a few seconds, pulled out a test tube and dripped in a sample. When the liquid separated into colored layers, her eyes widened. “Better performance than the Red Potion?”
She lunged forward, momentarily forgetting her manners, gripping Tang Mobai’s shoulders in excitement. “How much of this do you have? What’s your source? Even if it’s priced slightly lower than the Red Potion, it’ll sell like crazy!”
Seth stepped in to separate them, and she quickly realized her breach of etiquette, stepping back in embarrassment.
Cang apologized, “Sorry, Zhan’s a potion maker herself — she gets a little carried away.”
“Potion maker?” Yan Wuzhen arched an eyebrow.
“Yes,” Zhan said frankly. “I’m no alchemist, but when it comes to potions, I’m confident I’m not far off.”
Yan Wuzhen let out a soft chuckle. “Oh really? Then why did your Watchtower Guild’s potion sales get crushed by the Jade Society this quarter?”
“You said it yourself — the Jade Society,” Zhan shot back irritably. “They’ve got armies of alchemists. Even if half of them were idiots, they could still churn out something passable. And don’t even start about their price wars.”
“But the potion in front of you,” Yan Wuzhen said lazily, “was made by a new alchemist.”
Both Cang and Zhan looked at Tang Mobai in shock. Everyone knew Tang Mobai had backing — and that he’d obtained alchemical knowledge — but having knowledge and producing results were worlds apart.
And this alchemist had just created something stronger than the Red Potion.
The Hunger Hell might really be about to change.
Cang’s eyes burned with sudden fervor. Even knowing Tang Mobai had support, he couldn’t help trying to recruit him, “Mr. Tang, are you affiliated with any guild yet? If not, perhaps you’d consider joining us? We can provide significant support within the Hunger Hell.”
Tang Mobai gave an awkward smile. “Um… maybe let’s finish looking before we decide?”
There’s more? Zhan’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she picked up the last item — a small round pill. She scraped a little off, tested it, then paused, disbelief flashing in her eyes.
She hesitated, then cut off a third of the pill, got permission, and swallowed it.
It was the first time Cang had seen so many emotions cross her face — shock, confusion, disbelief, fear. He couldn’t help glancing at the pill. Could this be something beyond even the healing potion?
“You… you know what you’ve created?” Zhan’s trembling voice finally broke the silence. Cang rarely saw her turn pale — not even when facing monsters in dungeon worlds.
Tang Mobai smiled faintly. “I know exactly what it is.”
Zhan bit her lip, then suddenly stood and grabbed Cang’s arm. “Leader, we have to go!”
Cang blinked in confusion. “What? What’s going on? Is the pill dangerous?”
Yan Wuzhen blocked their path with an outstretched arm, his voice cold. “Leaving before we’ve even explained? Isn’t that a bit rude? Or did the Watchtower Guild get a new leader, and you’re now qualified to make executive decisions?”
Zhan’s face darkened, and Cang frowned slightly. Tang Mobai stepped in smoothly, “Alright, Zhen, enough. And Leader Cang, Zhan — I’m not asking you to sell this pill. I know it’s risky. We just need you to introduce us to the right channels. We’ll handle the rest ourselves.”
Yan Wuzhen snorted but stepped back.
Cang nodded. “Zhan, let’s at least hear them out.”
“Leader, this isn’t something we can touch!” Zhan hissed, almost shouting. “They’re trying to overturn the entire Hunger Hell!”
Her words were nearly a growl, though the room’s excellent soundproofing kept it private.
Cang frowned deeply, staring at Tang Mobai. “Explain. What is it?”
Zhan exhaled shakily, forcing herself calm. “It’s…”
“It’s a pill that can make you feel full,” Tang Mobai said evenly. “One pill keeps you from feeling hunger for an entire day — enough energy to sustain an adult body. And the cost is far cheaper than daily food.”
Cang’s face changed slightly. “You intend to sell this? Do you know what that means?”
“The Merchants’ Alliance will come after us? We’re already wanted by the Jade Society — the strongest of them. What’s there to fear?”
“It’s not that simple!” Cang snapped. “You’re threatening the profits of every guild in Hunger Hell! Food prices here are set by the Merchants’ Alliance. You’re basically slapping all of them in the face!”
Tang Mobai only smiled faintly. “I can’t just sit back forever, can I?”
Zhan muttered in disbelief, “Can’t you just endure for a bit? With your talisman and healing potion alone, you could make a fortune! The Jade Society can’t even track you. Why stir up such trouble? If you go through with this, not even escaping to Crisis Hell will save you!”
Tang Mobai mumbled, “I’ve got asthma — I can’t swallow this breath.”
Zhan looked at Yan Wuzhen in exasperation. “He’s new here — fine. But you? You know how dangerous this is! And you’re still going along with it?”
Yan Wuzhen’s tone was cool. “Maybe it’s strategy. Ants don’t get to challenge giants — unless they bite hard enough to make them bleed. Besides… he’s Wrath Fate.”
At that, both Zhan and Cang visibly relaxed.
Ah — Wrath Fate. That explained everything.
A demon couldn’t lie to its own desire, especially high-level ones. So if Tang Mobai said “I just can’t stand it,” others might think he was crazy — but if it came from someone with the Wrath Fate, then it made perfect sense.
Normally, those on the Path of Wrath just killed a few people who offended them and called it a day — this was the first time anyone had seen something that extreme, directly smashing through the unwritten rules of the Merchant Alliance.
“Besides,” Yan Wuzhen said meaningfully, his tone vague, “do you really think just us would dare pull off something this big?”
At first, Cang didn’t understand, but then his gaze shifted to Tang Mobai, and realization slowly dawned on his face. Right — he’d nearly forgotten. There were powerful figures standing behind Tang Mobai, likely high-ranking demons from the upper layers of Hell.
Hiss— that made sense. How could a few nameless nobodies possibly have the guts to go against the colossal Merchant Alliance? Of course someone — or some power — was backing them up.
So this whole thing was really a clash between upper-level powers? Was it that some great demon had grown dissatisfied with the Merchant Alliance’s monopoly over the Hungry Hell’s markets, and was using these people to stir up trouble?
If that was true… what would happen if he refused them? Wouldn’t that risk drawing the wrath of a great demon upon himself?
Cang’s expression shifted between gloom and hesitation, but in the end, the looming shadow of the Merchant Alliance won out. He gritted his teeth. “I’m really sorry. Our small guild just doesn’t have the capability to get involved in a conflict of that scale. Maybe you can try someone el—”
“Don’t rush,” Tang Mobai interrupted lightly. “I haven’t even named my price yet.” He tapped the healing potion on the table. “I can give your guild the exclusive distribution rights for this.”
“This…” Cang’s heart wavered. He glanced at Zhan, who immediately shook his head.
“In Hungry Hell, there will be no patent fees,” Tang Mobai continued. “All I need is for you to supply the materials, and guarantee a weekly output of 700 bottles.” He added, as if remembering, “With mass production, the cost can be brought down to two points per bottle.”
Cang’s expression visibly faltered. His mind began racing through the math. This potion worked better than the common ‘Little Red Potion,’ yet cost less to make. Even factoring in marketing costs, they could easily bring in over twenty thousand points of profit per month.
That might not sound like much to big guilds like Jade Society or Secret Forest — who had placed bounties on Tang Mobai’s team — but for a small guild like Watchtower, which operated only within Hungry Hell, twenty thousand a month was a fortune.
No patent fees, just material costs? That was practically free money.
And the impact of a new product wasn’t just financial — it also boosted reputation, credibility, and recruitment. When two guilds tried to recruit members, one boasting a hit product and visible funding while the other was unknown and broke, even an idiot would know which to join.
Many guilds had risen thanks to a signature product or a popular demon-streamer, drawing in new members and growing over time. Watchtower had tried the same thing before, but they’d never had a standout product or any remarkable broadcasters. Competing with big names like Jade Society was impossible.
But now, opportunity was staring them in the face.
Even Zhan, who had been firmly opposed just moments ago, was wavering.
Tang Mobai quietly observed their reactions, breathing a silent sigh of relief. Thank goodness for Yan Wuzhen’s preparation, their reconnaissance, and the real-world negotiation experts’ analysis — they’d correctly identified Watchtower’s pain point. Without sufficient profit on the table, no one would agree to a deal that could put their entire guild at risk.
He knew he had to strike while the iron was hot. Without giving Cang a chance to decline, Tang Mobai smoothly pulled out a thick product proposal folder — meticulously prepared by the expert team beforehand.
When it came to convincing a hesitant client, real-world businessmen were masters. He launched into the pitch: market background, consumer pain points, comparison with existing products like the Little Red Potion, the advantages of the new product, even rollout strategies, distribution plans, and competitive analysis — everything laid out like a professional presentation.
“Leader Cang,” Tang Mobai said with an easy smile, “let me show you the numbers. Our product directly targets the Little Red Potion market — an essential consumable — and our current advantages are as follows…”
Cang had only done a rough profit estimate before, but Tang Mobai — or rather, the corporate veterans behind him — had already thought through everything: cost structure, logistics, marketing, distribution, scalability. He made it sound like wealth was just a few easy steps away, and success was guaranteed.
Professional. Too professional.
Zhan and Cang were dumbfounded, staring blankly as Tang Mobai spoke. The more they listened, the more dizzy they became. Was it really that profitable?
Seth, having at least lived in civilized society before, was familiar with this sort of corporate pitch. But he’d never handled the business side of things in a guild. Watching the two dazed men, he leaned toward Yan Wuzhen and whispered, puzzled, “There’s no such business process in Hungry Hell?”
Yan Wuzhen shot him a look. “Let’s put it this way — here, ‘business competition’ usually means literal physical dominance.”
What did that mean? If another guild’s product was cheaper than yours? Then in the next dungeon, you hunted down their members to cut off their material supply. If someone invented a new product? Then you assassinated the inventor in the next dungeon run.
Simple. Brutal. Effective.
Most demons didn’t know a thing about business anyway — and between constant dungeon runs, who had time to manage an “operations department”? Even if a project started, its leader could die in a dungeon halfway through — and then what?
While Lost Paradise had some support staff, they weren’t exempt from dungeon duty either.
So the business environment here was nowhere near as structured or competitive as in the human world. Hardly anyone in Hungry Hell studied proper commercial strategy — which was exactly why Tang Mobai’s Earth-style professionalism left the Watchtower leaders completely stunned. If not for their lingering sense of caution, they might’ve signed the contract on the spot.
Cang finally spoke with effort. “I… need to discuss this with the rest of the guild. May I take the proposal with me?”
“Of course!” Tang Mobai had already prepared two copies — just waiting for Cang to ask.
Cang accepted it somewhat dazedly. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “Since you plan to let us handle the sales of the healing potion… why go to such lengths to prepare all this?”
He could’ve just shown the profits and made the offer — but this proposal was absurdly detailed, practically a manual. It even included data analysis of Lost Paradise’s entire commercial ecosystem. It almost felt… too polished. Yes, it could be explained as part of the negotiation, but it was so smooth, so perfectly aligned, that it made him uneasy — like finding an angel suddenly appearing in hell.
“You don’t need to be so cautious, Leader Cang,” Tang Mobai said with a calm smile.
“Believe me, our interests are aligned. The better the healing potion sells, the easier it will be to implement our next marketing strategy for the Fasting Pill.”
Cang couldn’t help asking curiously, “What strategy? Can I ask?”
“It’s no big secret,” Tang Mobai said, scratching his head and grinning.
“Tell me, have you ever heard of a viral social group-buying model?”
He paused for effect — then added with a mischievous glint:
“Or to put it another way… have you heard of Demon ‘Pinduoduo’ [1]?”
Footnotes:
[1] Pinduoduo – a Chinese e-commerce platform known for its “team purchase” social shopping model, which offers lower prices when users invite others to buy the same products.
