Chapter 986: Trade
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Hold it!” Elder Song turned around.
The ugly young man hesitated in his steps but continued walking almost right after.
Elder Song asked hastily, “Who are you?”
“Zhao Dahe!” The young man waved his arm dismissively and pressed on, leaving a larger distance between himself and Elder Song.
Elder Song said in a low voice, “What’s the condition?”
Chu Li stopped dead in his tracks and turned his head. “White Tiger Power!”
Secretly, Elder Song heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he did not need to go against his Master.
After that, he became cautious once more. Why did the young man demanded the White Tiger Power from him? Obviously, Zhao Dahe already knew about the relations.h.i.+p between him and the Master. Zhao Dahe was also aware that Elder Song was hiding Zheng Yanwu.
Chu Li spoke calmly, “Relax, I’m not telling you to fight Zheng Yanwu.”
Elder Song finally concluded that Zhao Dahe really did know the Master was hiding in his residence.
Chu Li said, “I want the complete White Tiger Power. If you can get it, I will trade a Miracle Cure Pill for it!”
“How do I know you aren’t trying to trick me?!” Elder Song retorted.
His heart raced frantically.
Naturally, Elder Song had heard of the wonders of the Miracle Cure Pill. It was a specialty of the Holy Church of Light and it could restore one’s martial arts abilities.
A regular disciple would never be able to get his hands on such a pill. However, Zhao Dahe was a genius and an important figure nurtured and protected by the Holy Church of Light. Thus, it was not surprising for him to own the Miracle Cure Pills.
If Elder Song could consume the Miracle Cure Pill, his martial arts prowess, which had been crippled for many years, could be restored right away. Immediately, his life would be extended to two hundred years or even three hundred years. As someone who was nearing the end of his life, it was an irresistible temptation.
Chu Li declared, “I, Zhao Dahe, will never break a promise. You can find out from others about me! …Besides, it’s just one Miracle Cure Pill and nothing much!”
“You’ll silence me.” Elder Song’s voice deepened.
Chu Li gave him a sideways glance and said coldly, “Why would I silence you? Will the White Tiger Sect show me mercy if I don’t learn the White Tiger Power in secret? What can the sect do if I do learn their technique? I bet you are the one who’s afraid of leaking it, aren’t you?”
Elder Song was at a loss for words and nodded slowly.
The Master had violated the rule that disallowed hundred-year masters to involve themselves in the martial arts world and to disturb world peace by descending the mountain. He would be punished by the sect and have his martial arts prowess crippled. Nevertheless, if Zhao Dahe killed the Master, the sect would certainly not let this matter slide. They would definitely seek revenge.
Following that, he had a sudden realization. The Master was not dead, but he had already regarded the Master as a dead person!
“Do you have the complete set of White Tiger Power techniques?” Chu Li asked coolly.
“Yes!” Elder Song replied.
Chu Li looked deeply into his eyes and realized Elder Song was telling the truth. He did have the complete set of techniques.
“Do you want to trade?” Chu Li got out a jade bottle and poured out a snow-white pill. Suddenly, a small, thin knife appeared between his fingers and he used it to split the pill in half.
Chu Li tossed one half of the pill to the old man. “Take this. The other half must be consumed within an hour so that its effect won’t be reduced!”
Elder Song received it and stared at the oddly-scented pill. His expression was unreadable.
Instead of egging him on, Chu Li merely looked at him with a smile.
Elder Song’s heart was beating rapidly. On one hand, he could not betray the White Tiger Sect and reveal the White Tiger Power’s secrets. On the other hand, he only had a few more years to live and the sect was unable to help him restore his past abilities.
After heaving a few breaths, his hunger for survival overcame everything. He closed his eyes and swallowed the pill.
At once, a stream of fresh, clear air circulated Elder Song’s organs and entered his Dantian.
His dried-up meridians seemed to regain their moisture and a gust of warm air emerged from his Dantian like a seedling that was about to emerge from the soil, yet faced difficulties in doing so. This sort of feeling made him anxious and he desired for more.
Chu Li grinned. “As promised?”
“Follow me!” Elder Song said in a low voice.
Chu Li nodded with satisfaction. “If you don’t pull any tricks, the other half shall be given to you.”
“Don’t you worry!” Elder Song uttered unhurriedly.
Both of them returned to Elder Song’s residence and stepped into his study.
Elder Song removed a thick book from the bookshelf and handed it to Chu Li. “The incantations and White Tiger Portraits are all inside. My drawing skills are average, so the portraits aren’t that spectacular.”
Chu Li flipped through the book quickly. There were nine White Tiger Portraits in total as well as an incantation with almost a hundred characters.
He pondered for a while. These nine portraits differed from the Sun Cultivating White Tiger Portraits but there was a vague connection between them. Moreover, the incantations were arcane and hard to decipher, which made him furrow his brows.
“Is this the enlightenment technique you use when you pa.s.s on martial arts?” Chu Li asked.
“Yes.” Elder Song nodded. “The nine portraits use the enlightenment technique.”
“Try cultivating it for me to have a look,” Chu Li said.
Elder Song felt curious about Chu Li’s request to watch him cultivate. After all, he could not see anything that went on in his brain. Still, he did not refuse, for his time was almost up and the buzzing sensation in his Dantian became weaker. The pill was going to lose its effect soon and he would lose his opportunity to restore his martial arts prowess.
He was so close to achieving his dream and this made it impossible for him to deny Chu Li’s request.
Thus, he sat on the bed and began to channel his energy. The nine White Tiger Portraits appeared one by one in his mind.
Chu Li read his thoughts and nodded to himself. Elder Song was truly an honest man. He actually handed over the White Tiger Power to him and did not play any tricks to harm him.
“Okay,” Chu Li remarked.
Elder Song opened his eye, a dazed look upon his face. “Actually, there’s no point in knowing about the White Tiger Power. The incantation is tough and there is a collection of complicated practice notes in the White Tiger Sect. Without these notes written by elders and experts, you won’t be able to comprehend and cultivate the technique despite obtaining the incantation.”
Chu Li spoke, “You don’t have to worry about this. Come on, here’s the other half.”
He tossed the remaining half of the pill to Elder Song.
Elder Song hesitated momentarily, looked at Chu Li and consumed the pill.
He was also worried that Chu Li might have doctored the pill. At present, he was not a Grandmaster and was unable to sense danger. If the pill was poisoned, he would not be able to determine that.
It was too late anyway. He had no choice but to trust Chu Li.
A stream of fresh air penetrated his organs and gathered in his Dantian. The energy that buzzed about in his body suddenly expanded like a sprouting seedling and wisps of inner energy acc.u.mulated in his Dantian. The inner energy grew denser and Elder Song scaled the ranks from an Acquired Master to an Innate Master and ultimately a Grandmaster.
“Boom!” His robes fluttered about in spite of the absence of air and his white beard quivered as if he was standing in the midst of a gale.
Chu Li looked at him with a grin.
Elder Song opened his eyes, which gleamed with vigor.
Chu Li cupped his fists. “Congratulations!”
Elder Song saluted in return and he felt extremely grateful.
He never expected Chu Li to keep his promise.
Chu Li said, “Seeing that it has been a pleasant and successful transaction, I’ll grant you a word of advice.”
“Carry on!” Elder Song replied.
Chu Li spoke, “Leave this place in case the White Tiger Sect seeks you out. The world is vast and there isn’t a place you can’t go!”
Elder Song frowned.
Chu Li calmly continued, “You used to be a cripple, hence the elders of the Holy Church did not take your life!”
Elder Song shook his head. “I won’t abandon the Master!”
“He’s already dead!” Chu Li gave a fist salute and left.
When he appeared in Gale Branch and arrived at the two women’s residence, a beautiful middle-aged woman was treating their wounds.
The two women sat side by side on the bed while the middle-aged woman sat behind them. She pressed each palm upon each of the women’s backs as steam rose from her white hair.
Chu Li sat to the side and did not disturb them.
After some time, the middle-aged woman withdrew her palms, opened her eyes and looked at him.
Chu Li cupped his fists. “This is…”
“This is Zeng Hua, Master’s Junior Zeng,” Li Ruolan answered him as she opened her eyes.
Chu Li asked, “Is Master’s Junior Zeng here to help us?”
Zeng Hua responded emotionlessly, “I’m not here to help you. I’ve been sent here to take Zheng Yanwu’s life.”