"Who doesn't want to live forever?" Chen Xian countered.
Qian Yue laughed heartily. "Then you've certainly come to the right person."
"What do you mean?" Chen Xian leaned closer to Qian Yue, his face full of yearning.
In Qian Yue's eyes, that yearning became a handle he could use to manipulate Chen Xian.
He had seen too many old things nearing the end of their lifespans. They wore the same expression when they questioned him.
"Brother Chen, you should know my Qian Family has a black tea called Shou'er Tea. But that day, Youde didn't explain its effects to you in detail."
Qian Yue remembered that the tea Li Youde had brewed when Chen Xian visited his residence last time had been Shou'er Tea.
But he couldn't remember whether Chen Xian had drunk any.
Chen Xian nodded and smiled. "Of course I know. Isn't Shou'er Tea the very name on the sign hanging outside your tea house? Speaking of which, business at your tea house is truly booming!"
Qian Yue laughed heartily, his eyes brimming with pride. "Hahaha, the tea house owes all its success to Shou'er Tea!"
Lowering his voice, he leaned close to Chen Xian and said mysteriously, "Even the elders of the Mortal Elder Pavilion are full of praise for my Qian Family's Shou'er Tea! They come to my Qian Family Tea House every day to drink tea and listen to opera!"
Chen Xian's thoughts raced. Without revealing anything, he asked, "Oh? Which elders are so obsessed with this tea?"
Qian Yue answered without hesitation. "Elder Liu, Elder Yan, Elder Han..."
Chen Xian committed each name to memory. Seeing that Qian Yue had stopped, he pressed, "Who else?"
"Also... Xu..." Qian Yue was about to continue when he suddenly realized he might have been tricked into revealing information. He eyed Chen Xian warily. "Brother Chen, why are you asking about them?"
Chen Xian reacted instantly. "Naturally, I need to understand a little more before I can feel at ease."
"With so many elders favoring this tea, it must have something special about it!"
Qian Yue's expression eased. "Of course! To be honest, drinking a pot of Shou'er Tea a day can extend your life by three days. If you keep drinking it for a year, you're guaranteed at least three extra years!"
"It has such remarkable effects?" Chen Xian feigned shock and knocked over the wine cup on the table.
Jian Shan and the others all turned to look at their grand-uncle. Lin Xiaoyan even stopped drinking, placing a hand on his Mustard Seed Bag. A pressure like a sheathed heavy sword emanated faintly from him.
Qian Yue couldn't help glancing at this disheveled drunkard.
He had a vague feeling that this man's strength was almost on par with his own. But since he cultivated the Martial Dao, he couldn't discern the details very clearly.
He immediately grew wary, realizing that Chen Xian was no easy opponent.
"Eat and drink, all of you. Brother Qian and I have some matters to discuss."
Chen Xian reassured the others, his expression already calm again.
He deliberately let disappointment show and shook his head. "Only three extra years? That's too little. This old man is nearing the end of his lifespan. Is there anything with stronger effects?"
"If it works better, I'm willing to trade anything for it."
Chen Xian acted as if time were pressing. And since he truly had only a little over two years left to live, he wasn't lying, lending his words a little more authenticity.
Seeing that Chen Xian seemed sincere, Qian Yue hesitated briefly, then leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Since you need it so urgently, Brother Chen, I won't keep it from you. My Qian Family also has a tea called King Shou'er Tea. It's made from the essence of a hundred-year-old tea tree. Drinking a pot a day can extend your life by ten days! Drink it every day for a year, and it can extend your life by ten years!"
"Even the elders haven't had a chance to try it."
Chen Xian's pupils contracted sharply. He grabbed Qian Yue's sleeve, his voice trembling. "Is that really true?"
"Of course."
Qian Yue took the opportunity to draw away, then smiled faintly. "But this tea is the foundation of my Qian Family. We don't supply it to outsiders."
Chen Xian's breathing quickened. He moved close to Qian Yue again and gripped his arm tightly. "Name your price. I'll give you anything I have, including the candied hawthorn recipe!"
Qian Yue sneered inwardly. He had seen too many old things whose lifespans were running dry, willing to pay everything just to live a few more days.
So this so-called grand-uncle of the Xuanyun Sword Sect is just like all those old fossils.
In that case, I already know what to do.
Qian Yue patted the hand gripping him, reassuring Chen Xian. "Don't get so worked up, Brother Chen. Since we've become brothers, I certainly won't treat you like an outsider."
"Excellent." Chen Xian loosened his grip slightly, as if relieved.
But Qian Yue changed tack. "I won't treat you like an outsider. So shouldn't you do the same for me?"
Chen Xian understood. This fellow's about to play the friendship card and make demands.
He composed himself, once again becoming that haughty old man. "Let's be frank and each get what we want. Brother Qian, if you need my help with something, just say so."
Qian Yue was delighted and stopped hiding his intentions.
"The Sword Sect Grand Competition is next month, when they'll be selecting disciples from the Aristocratic Clans. Brother Chen, what do you think?"
Chen Xian frowned. So this is Qian Yue's plan. He wants to use me to get Qian Family disciples into the Sword Sect—or perhaps whoever goes in won't even be from the Qian Family!
Seeing Chen Xian frown, Qian Yue assumed he thought the request was too much, so he brought over the chest full of silver notes and set it beside Chen Xian.
"Whether it works out or not, these five hundred thousand taels are still yours, Brother Chen."
Chen Xian looked at the chest, closed the lid, and stored it in the storage space of his Spirit-Concealing Jade Ring.
After taking the money, he stroked his beard and smiled. "Heh, it's a small matter. Qing Yang and I are close as brothers. I only need to put in a word, and there won't be a problem. But I'll still need this money to grease a few palms."
"Then I thank you in advance, Brother Chen!"
Qian Yue was overjoyed. He hadn't expected this old thing to have such a close relationship with Lei Qingyang, the Sword Sect's leader!
Wouldn't that make the task assigned to him by the Holy Sect's Honored Envoy a breeze?
Then he could get as much Shou'er Tea as he wanted, and obtain the Blood-Irrigated Body's subsequent cultivation methods!
With him at the helm, the Qian Family's rise to greatness was just around the corner!
"What about the King Shou'er Tea?" Chen Xian hadn't forgotten the real reason he was here, and continued asking.
Qian Yue quickly nodded, though his expression turned hesitant. "What I promised you, I'll certainly deliver. But the King Shou'er Tea in our clan has already been used up. I can't give you any just yet."
Chen Xian's expression darkened. "Then your promise is just empty words, Brother Qian. Are you trying to get something for nothing from me?"
Qian Yue froze. Hadn't he already given him five hundred thousand taels of Dao Silver?
This old thing isn't about to die this instant. Why the rush?
But since he needed Chen Xian's help, he could only curse inwardly and smile apologetically. "I'm really not making things up, Brother Chen. The clan truly has no new stock at the moment, and the old stock has long since sold out."
"If you really need it urgently, Brother Qian can introduce you to a big shot in a few days!"
Chen Xian's expression remained bland. "Who could possibly be more important than me?"
Qian Yue placed a glistening piece of meat in Chen Xian's bowl and said mysteriously, "You'll know when you meet him. As long as he's satisfied, forget King Shou'er Tea—even getting you a young body wouldn't be impossible!"
Chen Xian's heart shuddered. He was almost completely certain the big shot Qian Yue meant was someone from the Blood Demon Sect.
What do you mean, give me a new body? Isn't that fucking possession?
Qian Yue really deserves to die!
If Qian Yue really introduces me to someone from the Blood Demon Sect, can I get Lei Qingyang to catch them all in one fell swoop?