Chapter 11: The Wrinkled, Chrysanthemum-like Old Face

Upon receiving this warm inquiry from Elder Wuming, Hen Quexi’s eyes crinkled into happy slits, and her heart blossomed with joy. "Indeed, good deeds are rewarded! It’s rare for me to be so kind to this master-disciple duo, and finally, it has paid off!"

"Ahem! Let’s not talk about rewards; that would truly damage the bond between us! However, since you are so insistent on finding a way to compensate me, then without further ado, I shall..." Hen Quexi struck a pose of righteous integrity, though it nearly choked Elder Wuming to death.

Just as the elder began to hope that this dim-witted girl had truly had a change of heart, Hen Quexi flashed a brilliant, radiant smile that filled him with bitter despair.

She still wanted a reward; she was never going to waive it. He realized his hope had been far too extravagant. Expecting a villain to turn into a saint takes an eternity; it is absolutely impossible for such a change to occur in just a few seconds.

Hen Quexi wore a mischievous grin, her eyes darting around as she tried to feign a look of bashfulness. Instead of naming a figure, she held up a single finger, eager to play a guessing game with the elder.

Playing a guessing game was fine by him! Elder Wuming preferred that; if she had demanded an exorbitant sum, his heart might not have been able to take it.

Exhaling a long, weary breath, he recalled how Hen Quexi was always crying poverty, assuming she had never seen real wealth. Thinking this, he ventured, "One hundred..." He calculated that this was the most likely minimum figure she would demand.

However, it was clear that Hen Quexi’s shamelessness far exceeded the elder's bottom line. As soon as the word "hundred" left the old man’s lips, she cut him off, giggling as she decisively declared her true asking price.

"Final price: one thousand gold coins!" Hen Quexi spoke with such righteous indignation that one might have thought Elder Wuming was getting a massive bargain.

The elder, however, completely ignored her practiced, deadly-convincing expression. He leaped up, shouting, "One thousand gold coins? Are you robbing me? I have no money, only my life—take it if you want!"

Elder Wuming thrust his neck forward, brimming with defiance.

Yet, upon hearing this, Hen Quexi’s eyes lit up. She shrieked with delight, "Is that true? You’re really offering your life to settle the debt? Haha, that’s even better! Your cultivation is decent, old man; if I sign a contract and sell you off, it will absolutely, definitely fetch no less than a thousand gold coins! I’m making a profit! Don’t worry, once I sell you, I’ll take your disciple to wine and dine on the finest! You can go in peace!"

"Oh, Heavens! I, Elder Wuming, have roamed the Heavenly Spirit Continent my entire life, only to end up meeting my Waterloo at your hands!" Hearing this, the elder felt like crying but had no tears.

He waved his hand powerlessly. "Fine, fine! Since you’d drive an old man to his death just to get money! I don’t have much, but here are one hundred gold coins! Take them and go! Furthermore, don’t ever come to the Bitter Bamboo Forest again. I am preparing to enter seclusion to cultivate; if I do not achieve a breakthrough, I will never emerge! The duration is indefinite, so do not come here again! I am begging you, is that not enough?"

"Seclusion? Seeking a breakthrough?" Hen Quexi blinked her innocent eyes, ignoring the rest of the old man’s wailing. After observing him and confirming that he was indeed preparing to sequester himself for a breakthrough, she reached out and placed her hand upon the forehead of his wrinkled, weary face...