"Little Bai Cang, I have a manual on external martial arts techniques for the Great Vajra Pestle, priced at five thousand taels. Do you want it?"
Zhang He magically produced an old, secret manual and looked at Bai Cang with a smile.
It seems to be the old man who sells "Buddha's Palm" in Stephen Chow's movies.
Upon hearing this, Bai Cang's smile vanished instantly, and he looked up at Zhang He in disbelief.
Old Deng, you've changed. You weren't like this before.
Didn't you give away the internal cultivation method of the Great Vajra Pestle for free?
Why are they charging for external training methods now?
Who exactly has tainted your "pure" heart and sown discord between us, father and son?
Faced with Bai Cang's "resentful" gaze, Zhang He remained unmoved, pretending not to see it.
The past is the past, and the present is the present. Don't mistake the past for the present.
At this moment, the changes in Bai Cang and Zhang He's expressions perfectly illustrated the "law of conservation of smiles".
The smile won't disappear; it will simply transfer from your face to mine.
The same applies to the "law of conservation of pain": as long as you are unhappy, I am very happy!
"Okay, I'll write you an IOU right now!" Bai Cang gritted his teeth and spat out the words.
It's not that he really harbors resentment: it's a favor if someone helps you, and it's reasonable if they don't.
Given the value of the "Great Vajra Pestle," five thousand taels is practically a bargain.
What is there to resent?
However, Bai Cang also knew that he had to act as if he was "feeling defeated" in order to let Zhang He vent his anger.
After all, the other party made almost no attempt to hide his displeasure at Bai Cang's achievement of cultivating true qi in ten days.
If Bai Cang doesn't even understand this simple thing, then he's being incredibly rude.
If you yourself are unwilling to be dignified, then don't blame others for helping you be dignified.
So Bai Cang took out paper and pen and immediately wrote down an IOU: I, Bai Cang, hereby borrow 10,000 taels of silver from my godfather Zhang Hewen...
But before Bai Cang could finish writing the IOU, Zhang He snatched it away, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the wastebasket.
Bai Cang looked up in surprise, his face full of sincerity as he looked at Zhang He: I knew you still loved me, Godfather!
But the next second, Zhang He showed with his actions: You're celebrating too soon!
"Nine out and thirteen back should be 14,444 taels, 4 mace, 4 fen, 4 hao, and 4 li."
Zhang He smiled slightly, "We've been father and son, I'll waive the difference for you."
"Let's write 14,444 taels on the IOU."
Thank you so much, Ning! You like Si so much, why don't you just die?
However, Bai Cang quickly wrote a brand new IOU and signed it.
Zhang He took a look and immediately raised an eyebrow at Bai Cang, "You brat, your godfather is of one heart with you, are you trying to outsmart him?"
"They didn't even write down a repayment date. Are they planning to repay this debt by serving me as a beast of burden in my next life?"
"Add one more condition: you must pay it off within one year, or you will have to do something for me. As long as this matter does not endanger your life, you must obey my orders unconditionally."
Hearing this, Bai Cang could no longer bear it and stood up on the spot: You old scoundrel, don't push your luck!
Isn't it just that I want to get something for nothing? Putting aside the facts, what did I do wrong?
In a fit of anger, Bai Cang immediately snapped and hastily added the aforementioned clause.
What else can you do? When lending money, you have to let the creditor act like the boss, right?
Otherwise, how can you have the nerve to renege on your debt when he's begging you to pay him back on his knees?
"The money and goods are settled, all of this is yours!"
Zhang He carefully read the IOU three times to make sure there were no loopholes for Bai Cang to exploit before pushing the manual and medicine bottle away.
Bai Cang received the manual, and a myriad of insights arose in his heart, the great Dao's eloquence resonating throughout his body and mind.
【Great Vajra Pestle (External Training Method): Masterful】
In an instant.
Bai Cang was overjoyed and felt a strong urge; his gaze towards Zhang He changed.
As the saying goes: "He who possesses a sharp weapon will naturally harbor murderous intent."
Although Bai Cang did not regard Zhang He as an enemy, with a hammer in his hand, everything looked like a nail.
If it weren't for the huge gap between him and Zhang He, he would have really liked to practice on this old man.
"Don't say I didn't take care of you, I'm giving you this weapon."
Just then, Zhang He suddenly got up and went into the house. When he came out again, he had a gilded bronze vajra in his hand.
"This is the weapon I used back then. It weighs 320 jin and took me two whole years of savings to make. I used it to kill 36 bandits in Yandang Mountain and kill hundreds of people."
Zhang He casually tossed the Vajra Pestle towards Bai Cang, as if it were a wick, saying, "I hope you will treat it well and not tarnish my infamous reputation."
Bai Cang took the Vajra Pestle, and his body swayed involuntarily: even with his current strength, he felt that the object was a bit too heavy.
"But it's okay, once I finish taking these drugs, I should be able to use it as a normal weapon!"
Bai Cang felt a surge of anticipation, and even a strong urge to immediately go back to "seclusion" and take the drugs.
But he didn't leave in a hurry. Instead, he held the Vajra Pestle upside down and bowed respectfully to Zhang He, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Godfather. I am deeply grateful!"
If Bai Cang's previous actions had some element of "performance," then...
But this bow was sincere; it could even be said that it was the first time he had truly opened his heart to Zhang He.
Despite Zhang He's many difficulties with Bai Cang this time, including lending him money at exorbitant interest rates and forcing him to write IOUs, this is precisely his way of "letting Bai Cang off the hook."
This was because it meant that Bai Cang's relationship with him had changed from this moment on.
He was no longer Bai Cang's "benefactor," and Bai Cang was no longer his loyal follower.
It's about the relationship between "angel investors" and future partners.
This is why Bai Cang, despite being severely punished, was genuinely grateful to Zhang He.
Of all things in this world, only those that are free are the most expensive.
"No need to express gratitude, just remember to pay me back."
Upon hearing this, Zhang He simply waved his hand listlessly, "Don't think I'm being kind. I'm just afraid you'll rebel."
“You brat, you’re bold and ambitious, and you also have amazing martial arts talent. You’re not destined for mediocrity. You’ll either soar to great heights or be crushed to pieces. I don’t want to be dragged down by you.”
After saying that, Zhang He added, "Since you know how to be grateful, I also have two things to tell you."
"First, all medicines have some degree of toxicity. Take one small health-preserving pill every ten days, and save the large health-preserving pill for when you are trying to break through the first meridian. Remember not to be greedy and rush into things."
"Secondly, we need to pay more attention to the external training methods. Recently, the relationship between Guanzhong and Majiazhai has become increasingly tense, and there may be chaos soon."
"We martial artists can't rely on anything but real strength!"
Zhang He's words were clearly well-intentioned, showing that he truly acknowledged Bai Cang's abilities.
Unfortunately, Bai Cang was currently preoccupied with taking drugs to level up and didn't pay much attention to it.
He simply bowed with his hands clasped, then turned and left, his steps lighter than ever, filled with excitement.
With this, birds can fly freely in the sky, and fish can leap freely in the sea.
The day of takeoff is today!!!
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