Chapter 12 - Transaction
Seeing that Lin Haoxue still didn"t speak, Mister Ai persisted, "However, I can help you keep this secret. Not only that but when you later enter the Profound Pract.i.tioner Academy, I will help you to the best of my ability. Be it profound skills, cultivation methods, or heavenly treasures, I will offer them to you free of charge and permit you to cultivate without any hindrances.""So good? What"s your condition?" Lin Haoxue finally opened her mouth."The condition is quite simple," Mister Ai looked at Lin Haoxue and slowly spoke, "You have to take me as your master and work for me for ten years.""That"s it?""Yes, that"s it.""But what if I don"t agree?" Lin Haoxue stared at Mister Ai and spoke word by word.
"If you understand the importance of cultivation resources, you will. I want you to know that all of the Profound Pract.i.tioner Academy"s resources can be yours with a single word from me!"
"Anyways, I don"t agree," Lin Haoxue calmly said. "If I"m guessing correctly, you were forced to leave your home for some reason and haven"t had an easy time. You probably want to return to your homeland, and in ten years something big will be occurring there. You think that this stage will be a good place to make a breakthrough, and I appeared at the perfect time which gives you an opportunity. So, for this reason, you need my a.s.sistance."
Although Mister Ai was smiling like before, Lin Haoxue was taking note of his expressions and could see a flash of amazement pa.s.s through his eyes so she continued.
"But Mister Ai, you really don"t understand me or my principles at all. First, I don"t accept gifts of unknown origin, not even if on the surface it seems to be of the biggest benefit for myself. Second, I am unwilling to work for the older generation, obey their orders, and lose my freedom. Third, fair deals can be made, but if you want to exploit me, that won"t happen. If you want to use force to coerce me, then that won"t work either. Not only this, but Mister Ai, you only look at my talent, but you still underestimate my cultivation speed. You want ten years of my life? Even all of your cultivation resources won"t be enough, not even all of the cultivation resources of the Saint Emperor Academy would suffice."
"You have this much confidence?" Mister Ai couldn"t help but be astounded when he looked at the young girl in front of him, unclear where her confidence came from.
"I am. I have this much faith in myself!" Lin Haoxue looked tranquil. Her imposing manner was steady and it didn"t resemble a twelve-year-old child"s at all. When she spoke, she conveyed a certain fort.i.tude that didn"t let people think she had gone mad. Instead, if one heard her speak, they would actually believe her words. "You might not know, but my profound veins have awoken a month ago, and in this one month, I already reached the Profound Pract.i.tioner realm becoming a true cultivator. With this kind of speed, do you still think you can be my master for ten years?"
"Seriously?" Mister Ai"s heart shook to its core. What kind of freak was she?! However, on the surface he appeared as if nothing had happened. "Although your first performance was stunning, things might not stay this way.""Of course, while that might be true of others, it won"t be for me!" Lin Haoxue was still as calm as before, but her self confidence was leaking out of her bones which caused Mister Ai to look at her with admiration.
"Good! Very good! I have no choice but to say that I really was looking down on you. You not only have an astonishing innate talent, but your wisdom is extraordinary and unfitting of your age. I admit that I quite like you, and I also wish to be convinced by you, so let"s discuss what a fair transaction would be for both of us."
"Mister Ai, I also want us to carefully discuss this," Lin Haoxue said while looking at him with an innocent and pure smile spread on her face, giving her a very adorable appearance. Seeing this, Mister Ai couldn"t help but think in his heart that she was indeed a freak. He was at the Profound Saint realm, and while the other was not even close to his strength, he had a sneaking suspicion that whoever regarded her as a child would end up dying without even knowing what happened.
"So you have conditions!" Master Ai stated, he now considered Lin Haoxue as an equal for their negotiation.
"My conditions are quite simple. First, you help me keep my secret. Second, you will protect and a.s.sist my Lin family for three years. These two are as easy as lifting one"s hand."
"No problem."
"What are your conditions then, Mister Ai?"
Hearing what she said previously, Mister Ai couldn"t help but become slightly anxious, "You have guessed correctly. I need to break through within the next ten years to be able to return to my family and protect them. I also need you to become a student at our Saint Emperor Academy. There, at the academy"s Profound Immortal ceremony, you need to take the stage as my head disciple and use the opportunity to seize the championship.
"You want me to do this because of some reward? Something that will help your strength improve quite a lot, I a.s.sume?" Lin Haoxue immediately understood what was going on.
"Correct, you really are exceptionally intelligent but for now your realm is still too low. It isn"t good to say too much. When you obtain a spot to enter the Saint Emperor Academy, then I will tell you the reason in detail," Mister Ai stated."Just one condition? To partic.i.p.ate and obtain the top spot in the Profound Immortal ceremony as your disciple?"
"There is one more thing. If you are capable of winning the Profound Immortal ceremony, then can you return with me to my homeland?" Mister Ai asked somewhat embarra.s.sed. "As my disciple?"
"Okay, it"s a deal. In three years, I will go to the Profound Immortal ceremony and take first place as your disciple. Later when you find the time, I will go home with you as your head disciple!" This was something that Lin Haoxue had to promise as it was an issue she had to be serious about.
"Three years?" Mister Ai couldn"t help but think that such a thing was somewhat inconceivable. He had originally thought that Lin Haoxue was trying to avoid taking responsibility, yet this girl didn"t resemble someone who exaggerated, so he had to convince himself that she truly had the ability.
"Right, three years."
"That is also not a problem," Mister Ai stated, feeling quite refreshed. "I will keep your secret and support the Lin family."
"Haha!"
After this agreement, Lin Haoxue"s heart loosened and she couldn"t help but laugh. This was the first time she had such an intense meeting. Her mind had been under pressure, but it felt good to negotiate like this. Although things might change in the future, the current situation was already the fairest way to ensure that no one suffered any losses.
"When you are at Profound Pract.i.tioner Academy, to make things convenient, just ask me if you need something and I"ll definitely help you."
"Thank you Mister Ai, but I don"t need anything!""They can be quite beneficial to your cultivation. Although the Profound Pract.i.tioner Academy is small, it still has many natural resources. They are especially good for you as you"re just beginning to cultivate so their a.s.sistance will help a lot."
"I know Mister Ai, but I"ll get them with my own capabilities," Lin Haoxue suddenly tilted her head to the side and laughed charmingly at Mister Ai. "Unless you"re not confident in the system your academy has set up?"
"Of course I am confident in my academy, our system is reasonable and fair. Since you want to rely on yourself, then I will not meddle. I"m starting to like you more and more, little girl," Mister Ai started laughing out heartily, not hiding his emotions any longer.
"Me too," Lin Haoxue also chuckled.
Although special help could increase one"s internal energy in the short term, genuine strength comes from working steadily and striving hard: to reach the apex one has to take it step by step, slowly climbing up.
"Let"s go! Your family head is probably worried."
When they came out, they saw that her grandfather and older sister were both waiting in the courtyard, looking at them with inquiring gazes; however, Lin Haoxue acted as if she didn"t notice their stares. Regarding the content of their chat, neither of them mentioned it, and neither Lin Ruoxue nor Lin Geng asked any questions.Mister Ai allowed Lin Ruoxue to stay home for several more days and told her that after half a month, she should bring Lin Haoxue with her to enroll in the academy. After giving his salutations, Mister Ai departed.
Several days later some shocking news spread throughout Taixing town. It said the following: The son of the Lin family head, Lin Haoxue"s father, was unexpectedly a very good friend of Profound Pract.i.tioner Academy"s princ.i.p.al Mister Ai. They had a good relationship when both of them were at the Imperial Capital, and later on, Mister Lin had left to experience the outside world and hadn"t returned for many years. Recently, he sent a message back to say that he would return in three years and had asked Mister Ai to temporarily take care of his family. When she heard the news, Lin Haoxue laughed in her mind. This Mister Ai truly was capable to unexpectedly figured out such a great plan. To be able to protect her family without exposing herself was exactly what Lin Haoxue wanted.