Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The man seemed to have lapsed into a choking fit, unable to recover from his coughing spasms for a long time.
After half a day, he finally managed to utter, “… You… At such a young age, who did you learn such shameless manners from? That’s a little vile, don’t you think?”
It was as if he would choke to death upon hearing Yun Yang’s words.
It’s not that hard to kill a hundred men for you; it’s not terribly unacceptable.
However, a hundred tasks… Until when will I be able to complete all of them? I might as well sell myself to you. There’s no guarantee that I can complete them even if I die trying!
If I have to pick this option, can I choose to be your protector for three years?! I definitely won’t be able to complete a hundred tasks in three years, would I?
As for cultivating until you attain the status of Supreme Saint …
You’re pretty unreserved about this, aren’t you? With just a twitch of your lips, you aren’t afraid to spout any form of nonsense at all!
Supreme Saint… Do you even have what it takes to cultivate until you reach the status of Supreme Saint?
Do you know the number of resources, time and manpower that would be used up for this endeavor?
“Young friend, this old man here is being serious about negotiating our business deal. Can you show a bit more sincerity from your side? Stop demanding for the impossible and something that is completely out of my hands!”
“Very well, we can continue to negotiate if the terms are not agreeable. If a price is too much, surely it can be reduced by a great deal.” Yun Yang smiled until his eyes resembled a thin line, ready to go with his suggestions.
“Complete three tasks, kill three men and the provision of resources to reach the rank of a Royal Saint. My terms are already brimming with good faith.”
“Fine, fine, fine. I’ll take one huge step back then. Ninety-nine tasks, ninety-nine men, until Supreme Saint is attained! I believe this should be fine.”
“You… The most I can do for you is four tasks, four men, and attain the level Royal Saint!”
“I’ll take yet another huge step back. Complete ninety tasks, kill ninety men, and only stop at the level of Supreme Saint! This step back should be one that is large enough. I’m starting to feel a little bitter about this. My good faith…”
“Impossible! I’m a man with a bottom line. Your terms are plain nonsensical and impossible — it’s even more preposterous than offering a sky-high price!”
“It’s not like I wasn’t up for negotiation. I’ve already taken a few steps back, how am I being preposterous?”
“The furthest I can go is five tasks, five men and Royal Saint!”
“Eighty-five. This should do!”
“Six!”
“Eighty!”
“You’re shameless! How can someone as overbearing as you who rides on the misfortune of others even exist!”
“You’re shameless! You’re the one being overbearing!”
Yun Yang was incensed. “The price I first quoted was a hundred, but you reduced it to three — is there anyone else besides you who would haggle like this? I took a step back, again and again, cutting it down almost twenty percent of its original value. Twenty percent — but here you are, adding only one every single time… Is this how business should be conducted? You still have the face to call me shameless? Who’s the shameless one here, and who’s the one being insincere?”
When he was smacked with that reply, he suddenly felt his brain swirling into a giddying loop. For a brief moment, it actually felt like the fellow was making sense…
However, it was followed instantly by a stream of rage!
“Clearly I was the one who named the price first!”
“That’s correct. You offered three, but I brought it up to a hundred. I admit that I’m asking for a sky-high price, but I still allowed you to cut the price down. I’m being honest, open and utterly frank about it!”
“… Y-Y-You… You’re blatantly… Shameless!”
The two of them started to bicker like women bargaining in a market, completely tossing away their previous claims of good conduct stemming from their identities as high-level practitioners.
At the very end, this man’s final price was to complete ten tasks and kill ten men. As for assisting Yun Yang to ascend one level higher, this term continued to be overruled by Yun Yang. Instead, Yun Yang stated his ultimatum; besides completing ten tasks and killing ten men, that man has to provide whatever resources needed for Yun Yang to attain Royal Saint Level Three.
The man gave it a long thought and sat on it for half a day before agreeing to it reluctantly.
“One more thing — before the ten tasks are fully completed, you cannot leave.”
With one quick thought, Yun Yang came up with another request.
“Could you possibly require my presence to execute that many matters?” This man had begun to raise his suspicions.
From the way he imagined it, he would only be required to step in when the situation turns extraordinarily complicated, but things like this would not happen so frequently, would it?
“What are you talking about? My sect was just newly formed and there are many jobs to be done — this is a prime time that requires all hands on deck!” Yun Yang replied in a serious manner. “This is something that I swear to the heavens I won’t lie to you about!”
This man was unsatisfied when he heard that retort. Who am I, that I’m needed to execute everything?
However, come to think about it, this brat in front of me might possess air of vitality, but his cultivation base was still extremely shallow and his experience might be just as negligible. It’s not necessarily a bad thing for him to think like this and order me around. With his current level, how many urgent tasks could possibly be associated with a newly-formed sect?
Completing ten tasks and killing ten men would take at most a few months to complete, wouldn’t it? It could definitely be completed within a year’s time. Hence, this could actually a good thing — there was nothing I should find unagreeable with. This bit of time means nothing if I put my long life into perspective.
This was especially so since Yun Yang had promised; for the resources required for cultivation until the level of a Royal Saint, you can take your time and give them to me in the future once you have your conditions set — there’s no need to hurry.
It seemed like there was plenty of room to play with.
When he imagined the moment this brat realized his true identity, potential, and level and regretted that he never bothered to make amends, when he imagined the brat’s expression when he never thought of employing his help only for serious matters, he could barely contain the joy from the sheer thought of it!
Hence, he agreed wholeheartedly after a bit of hesitation.
“Alright. Next, please take an oath towards the heavens to validate this matter.”
“Fine!”
“Hold up, I still don’t know your name, do I? Pray, tell what’s your name, good sir?”
“This old man’s…” The man felt his breath clogging up. What the hell — you didn’t ask for my name, yet you bargained with me for so long…
“This old man is called Dong Qitian! The young generation like yourself surely must’ve heard of me, have you not?” When he mentioned his name, Dong Qitian had a sense of pride. He was somewhat proud of himself — no matter how much time had passed, the name Dong Qitian was fated to not be forgotten by the world!
“I was known as ‘Qitian Who Stands Tall’ back then! Do you understand what that means?” Dong Qitian was basking in glee as he recalled those fond memories of his prime, waiting for the boy to reel in shock and pay his respects.
“Never heard of it.” Yun Yang honestly never heard of it. “Whatever Dong Qitian (天 tiān = sky), Dong Qidi (地 dì = ground); I’ve truly never heard of you. Are you famous?”
When he heard that response, Dong Qitian was speechless for quite a stretch of time, fuming with frustration.
How much more ill-informed can this brat be? He hasn’t heard of me, Dong Qitian? Technically, he should still be familiar with the higher-up matters with his Honor Level Four standards and quantifiable cultivation base!
“Have you truly not heard of me before?” Dong Qitian asked dubiously as he could not believe his own ears.
“I swear to the heavens, I’ve never heard of you!” Yun Yang claimed, being completely honest.
Dong Qitian was suddenly plagued by a sudden sense of disappointment. He remained silent.
Could the forgetful nature of this martial world be so severe?
Have I, Dong Qitian, been forgotten?
