The mad old man’s face sank. “What exactly do you want to say?”
Tie Lilanshan smiled enchantingly. “Alright, no more riddles. I’ve heard that your current achievements are all thanks to your self-created martial art, the Bai Quan Shi. How about we exchange it?”
The mad old man laughed heartily and stood up. “Bai Quan Shi is my entire martial arts style. It’s like my lifeline. If it gets out, there will be ways to counter it, and then wouldn’t I be easily targeted by the martial artists of this world?”
Tie Lilanshan shrugged, glancing at the sky. “It’s getting late. There’s only one Tianse Lixiang, and it’s already up for auction. If we go now, it’s not too late. If we delay, even if you give me the Bai Quan Shi later, I won’t be able to do anything, as it will already be in someone else’s hands.”
The mad old man slammed his hand on the table and rose from his seat. “Are you threatening me?”
Tie Lilanshan shook her head. “I’m just stating facts.”
Helpless, the mad old man took out a simple, old booklet from his robes and tossed it over. “Take it.”
Tie Lilanshan put down her teacup and easily caught it, then opened it to check.
The mad old man frowned. “You don’t even trust me?”
Tie Lilanshan didn’t look at him but continued to read. “A transaction is a transaction. Basic procedures must be followed.”
The mad old man snorted. “This is the ultimate skill I’ve created in my lifetime. It records the essence of my responses to every encounter, truly a case of mending the fold after the sheep are lost. Come on, take me there quickly.”
Tie Lilanshan closed the booklet and smiled. “Alright.”
They arrived at the hall, where the auction was nearing its end. The female attendant was calling out prices: “Tianse Lixiang, fifty thousand Yuanbi, first call… Tianse Lixiang, fifty thousand Yuanbi, second call…”
Tie Lilanshan hooked her arm and said, “Bid as you please. My Linglong Pavilion will cover any price.”
The mad old man, dragging his chains, quickly stepped forward. “Wait!”
The female attendant continued, “Fifty thousand Yuanbi, third call…”
The mad old man raised his hand. “I bid five million!”
“Huh?!… Wow~!”
The crowd erupted in an uproar. Who would bid five million for a mere herb?
The mad old man gnashed his teeth in anger. He had traveled thousands of miles to Linglong Pavilion, only for it to be valued at fifty thousand Yuanbi, and no one was even bidding for it. These ants truly had no taste!
The female attendant looked towards them. Tie Lilanshan gave her a nod of confirmation. The attendant understood and announced, “Congratulations to this gentleman for winning a Tianse Lixiang for five million Yuanbi! And thus concludes this auction. We look forward to seeing you next time!”
The mad old man took the wooden box containing the Tianse Lixiang. Tie Lilanshan smiled. “I didn’t lie to you, did I? If we had been a step later, this item would have belonged to someone else.”
The mad old man glared at her. “Let’s go.”
Tie Lilanshan returned to the pavilion’s rooftop, clutching the Bai Quan Shi booklet. “Alright, we’re safe. Phew… Thank you, Mo Cheng.”
A man in black appeared silently beside her. “It’s good that you’re alright. If this mad old man had truly fought, I wouldn’t have been confident.”
Tie Lilanshan sighed. “He acts so arrogantly every day. Is there no one who can check him?”
Mo Cheng pondered. “There is one person, living in Bieyang City, named Kong Chang. He is also the ruler of the Iron Horse Empire, but he is currently in seclusion and doesn’t concern himself with worldly affairs. There’s also the leader of the Angel Legion, a fellow named Ming Zhi Tian, but I heard he betrayed the Iron Horse Empire a year ago and his whereabouts are unknown.”
Tie Lilanshan looked at the pear blossom window. “So, in the Northern Desert, is there anyone who can be his opponent?”
Mo Cheng replied, “No.”
…
On the road, Hai Mianyi couldn’t hold back anymore. “Hey… Elder! We haven’t had a drop to drink. Aren’t you afraid we’ll die? At least give us some water.”
The mad old man, dragging his clanking chains and with the wooden box tucked away, said enthusiastically to the four of them, “What’s the hurry? Once I turn you into medicinal puppets, you won’t have to worry about food or drink.”