Chapter 107 - 106: Layman, Don’t Get Excited, Everything is Negotiable

Chapter 107: Chapter 106: Layman, Don’t Get Excited, Everything is Negotiable

"Daoist Master, it looks like I need quite a few things. Can we make a deal? How about you give me a little discount?"

"That depends on how much you’re buying, Patron. If it’s a large enough quantity, a discount isn’t out of the question."

Shouyangzi was overjoyed. ’Looks like I’m going to make a killing today.’

He had to admit, secretly hiking up the prices was the best way to quickly accumulate cultivation resources.

Ever since he’d multiplied the price of the Protective Talismans several times and added an extra zero to the price of the divine statues, he hadn’t made a sale in ages. His cultivation had even started to stagnate recently.

His own disciple was quite talented; otherwise, he never would have accepted him.

But unfortunately, the lack of Spiritual Energy Crystals had kept the boy from officially beginning his cultivation.

And now, here was He Xiaotian—a guy who looked like a total big shot—wanting to buy a huge batch right off the bat while also asking for a discount. It was a true godsend.

’Supreme Celestial Venerable!!’

"The ultimate edition Protective Talismans, I’ll take five of those to start. As for the divine statues, I want the Six Ding and Six Jia, the Sixty Yuan Chen, and the Four Great Marshals. All of them."

"Hiss!"

Shouyangzi sucked in a sharp breath. Two thousand five hundred and fifty Spiritual Energy Crystals.

’Holy shit?!’

’He never thought this guy would be so loaded.’

He did a quick calculation. After making this sale and handing over the two hundred and fifty-six crystals required by the Daoist Alliance, he’d still profit two thousand two hundred and ninety-four!

’With that much, not only could I greatly improve my own cultivation, but I could also help my disciple officially begin his path.’

Shouyangzi resisted the urge to hug He Xiaotian, plant a kiss on his cheek, and scream, ’Sugar daddy, please spoil me!!’

’An honest man. I’ve met a truly honest man today.’

’All those TV dramas I watched weren’t for nothing. A little sob story is all it takes to fool someone without raising suspicion.’

"Patron, when would you like to make the exchange? As for the Spiritual Energy Crystals, will you be delivering them, or should this humble Daoist send someone to pick them up?"

"Ahem..." He Xiaotian cleared his throat, then spread his hands and continued, "Daoist Master, not so fast. I’m not finished yet."

"You want to buy more?"

"..."

"It’s like this, Daoist Master... See, I was wondering if I could buy on credit? How about I write you an IOU? Don’t worry, I’m a man of my word."

In that instant, Shouyangzi’s heart shattered.

’So, after all that talk, you were just bullshitting me? You don’t have any money at all?’

’My two thousand two hundred and ninety-four Spiritual Energy Crystals!!’

"Daoxuan, show our guest out."

’This is no way to mess with people!’

All that excitement for nothing.

’Scammer! Pah!’

Little did he know which of the two was the real scammer.

"Daoist Master, no, wait a second."

"Patron, it’s not that I’m unwilling to be reasonable. The Daoist Alliance has a rule: cash on delivery. If everyone did business like you, how would we eat? How would we cultivate?

We might as well open a charity hall and give things away for free! Protective Talismans, divine statues—they all require Spiritual Energy Crystals. Did you really think we just dab on a little cinnabar and the statues can suddenly protect a household?

That’s something out of a novel, not reality! The path of cultivation is incredibly difficult, and the world is in upheaval. Demons and evil spirits run rampant. We’d love to make things cheaper, but reality just doesn’t allow it."

Shouyangzi spoke with such raw emotion he was on the verge of tears.

THUD! THUD!

The moment he finished speaking, two iron hammers, each the size of a grown man’s torso, fell from the void and crashed to the floor.

The floor of the hall was instantly smashed to pieces.

The master and disciple, one old and one young, stared at the vicious spikes covering the hammerheads and swallowed hard.

"Daoist Master, I’m a man of my word. When I say I’m writing you an IOU, I’m writing you an IOU. You’re not allowed to refuse." He Xiaotian planted his hands on his hips, a ferocious aura erupting from his body.

It was as if he would grab the hammers and send the master and disciple duo to the afterlife if the old Daoist so much as uttered a single word of refusal.

Shouyangzi wanted to cry but had no tears left. ’You’re a man of your word, sure.’

’But I never agreed to you giving me an IOU in the first place!!’

He Xiaotian didn’t want to be so shameless and unprincipled either.

But reality didn’t allow for it!

He was always running around outside. What if his family ran into some evil creature while he was away?

So, for the sake of his parents, he’d just have to be shameless.

’Compared to my family’s safety, what’s a little face?’

He Xiaotian took a step forward, lifted the iron hammers with both hands, and knocked them together.

CLANG!!

"Daoist Master, just give me a straight answer. Are you accepting this IOU or not?"

GULP!

’Are you even human?!’

"Patron, don’t get excited. We can talk about this."

The two hammers together looked to weigh at least seven or eight hundred pounds.

’He’s twirling them around so easily, like they’re a couple of plastic toys. Are you even human?!’

"Then it’s settled. I’ll write you an IOU, and I’ll pay you back when I have the money."

As soon as he said that, He Xiaotian, without another word, pulled a pre-prepared pen and paper out of his storage space.

This whole maneuver left the master and disciple duo completely dumbfounded.

’Who the hell agreed to this, you bastard!!’

’And could you at least show a little sincerity? Why are you writing with your left hand?’

’Are you afraid the police will analyze your handwriting after we report you?’

In short, everything He Xiaotian did was to reveal as little about himself as possible.

Just snatch the items and run?

’No way. I’m a model youth of the new century. How could I do something as unprincipled as robbery!’

Writing an IOU was basically buying on credit. Any unpleasantness that arose from it would, at worst, be a civil dispute.

Taking the items and leaving would be a criminal case.

Besides, the country was cracking down hard on crimes committed by people with special abilities. Causing trouble at a time like this would just be asking for it.

Although He Xiaotian and the city’s Cleaner department were ’old acquaintances,’ he couldn’t expect them to bend the rules for him.

SCRITCH, SCRITCH, SCRITCH...

The rustling sound of He Xiaotian furiously scribbling echoed through the secluded side hall.

"Here. Take it and keep it safe. If you lose it, I’m not responsible."

Shouyangzi dazedly took the paper and glanced at it out of reflex.

On the IOU, a crooked script read:

[Today, I owe Daoist Master Shouyangzi of the Divine Void Temple 2,550 Spiritual Energy Crystals for the purchase of Protective Talismans, divine statues, and other items. After a peaceful and friendly negotiation between both parties, the full amount will be repaid within ten years.

Borrower: X.

Date: August 19, 2019.]

No ID number, no real name, and no guarantor either.

"Patron, you can’t do this."

Shouyangzi was about to cry. ’Are you sure this IOU is legally binding?

And even if it is, and it’s legally valid...

...I don’t even know what you look like or where you live!

If you decide to go back on your word, where am I supposed to find you?

And what part of this was "peaceful and friendly"?!

Why didn’t you just write that you’d pay it back in a hundred years?!’

"Daoist Master, don’t bring trouble upon yourself. I, X, am somewhat well-known among the relevant authorities. What’s said is said. I’ve already written the IOU. If you refuse me now, I’ll feel like I’m losing face.

And when someone makes me lose face, I tend to make them disappear. Disappear in both the spiritual and physical sense. How about this? To show my sincerity, I’ll pay you back a little today."

After speaking, He Xiaotian once again reached into his storage space, took out an exquisite wooden box, and handed it over.

Shouyangzi reluctantly took it and opened it.

Fourteen sparkling, translucent Spiritual Energy Crystals lay quietly inside.

"F-F... Fourteen?!"

"I just finished writing the IOU, and I’ve already paid back a small portion. What do you think? Am I a man of my word or what?"

Shouyangzi almost ground his teeth to dust.

’A man of your word, my ass!’