Plan

"I'd like to hear the details."

The reason Xie Xun had revealed this secret was to win Ye Xiu's favor. Seeing that Ye Xiu was willing to take the initiative, he naturally had no objection to backing down.

"According to the wager, you did land that shot. You won. But I did indeed take you down with one shot, so I didn't lose either. Since that's the case, let's each take a step back."

As Ye Xiu spoke, he reached out and took the bag of spirit stones.

"I can see it now. What you really want is this gun, isn't it?"

Xie Xun scratched his head, with no intention of pretending otherwise.

"That's right. This is what I want. Though it's a treasured artifact of your master's sect, brother, if possible, I'd like to get one too."

"The gun in my hand definitely can't be given to you. It's Number One, painstakingly crafted by my master. If I lost it, the old man would definitely skin me alive."

As he said this, a trace of fear appeared on Ye Xiu's face.

Everyone had always seen Ye Xiu as someone who feared neither heaven nor earth. Seeing him display such an attitude, they were curious—and their awe for Ye Xiu's mysterious master deepened.

After all, anyone who could make a person like Ye Xiu behave so obediently, while also forging such a powerful magic artifact, had to be an unimaginably powerful expert.

He might even have been some elder within the inner sect who had lived in seclusion for many years.

"But this isn't..."

Just as he reached the most crucial point, Ye Xiu suddenly began to play coy.

Seeing Ye Xiu deliberately whet their appetites, everyone present cursed him inside their hearts.

He was clearly a useless good-for-nothing relying on his master, yet now he was putting on such an impressive act. It was truly irritating to watch. If it weren't for that magic artifact of his, who the hell would care to watch him show off?

Xie Xun thought the same. But compared to the others, he was better at keeping his patience, because since Ye Xiu had brought it up, there had to be room for negotiation.

"Isn't what? Brother, why not tell us what difficulties are involved? When everyone gathers firewood, the flames rise high."

A smile hung on Xie Xun's face.

Ye Xiu gave a light cough and gestured toward the wine jar beside him with his chin. Xie Xun immediately understood and, smiling, poured him some wine.

Only after the two had shared a cup did Ye Xiu begin speaking at an unhurried pace.

"If you want one of these guns, there's no chance for the first batch. But during the process of making them, quite a few defective products were left behind."

"My master is good in every way, except he was born unable to tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes. Any item with the slightest flaw—once he sees it, he insists on destroying it completely."

"Ah, there were so many defective products. They clearly had nothing wrong with them, just some differences in appearance, yet my master directly discarded them."

"To be honest, brother, I find it both heartbreaking to watch and painful to deal with."

At Ye Xiu's words, the eyes of everyone present immediately lit up. Xie Xun, in particular, gripped the edge of the table so hard that he did not even realize it.

"B-brother."

In his excitement, Xie Xun even began to stammer.

"You mean our master left behind many defective products while forging artifacts, and those defective products are even handled by you, brother?"

Xie Xun felt as though his head was about to explode. Wasn't Ye Xiu practically hinting that he could provide him with defective products?

It could even be said that those defective products were scarcely inferior in effect to the genuine one in Ye Xiu's hand.

What else was there to say?

He had to get one. Even if he had to scatter his entire fortune to the winds, he had to get one!

Xie Xun roared inwardly, though he forcibly maintained his composure on the surface. Ye Xiu, meanwhile, nodded with considerable emotion.

"Of course. As my master's personal disciple, when the master has work to do, it is only natural for the disciple to bear the labor."

Upon hearing Ye Xiu's confirmation, everyone present immediately grew excited.

Xie Xun even disregarded all decorum and grabbed Ye Xiu's hand.

"Brother, you have to help me. You absolutely have to help me! Before long, it'll be the sect advancement tournament. As long as you can get one for your brother, I—I..."

At the height of his emotion, Xie Xun began stammering outright.

Of course he knew that exposing his desperation like this was not the right way to negotiate.

But was this even a negotiation now?

Ye Xiu could choose not to sell to him. But Xie Xun had exposed his trump card in front of everyone, only to gain nothing. What would he do when the sect advancement tournament came?

Others had prepared ways to deal with him. Was he supposed to sit around and wait for death?

"Easy, easy."

Ye Xiu smiled and nodded. "When has Yan Lou ever failed to keep his word?"

Hearing Ye Xiu say this, Xie Xun finally felt somewhat reassured.

Just as he was about to take a drink to steady himself, Ye Xiu abruptly changed the subject.

"Still, the risk in doing this is rather great. My master told me to dispose of them, but he never told me to sell them. If the honored master finds out, I'll be confined again for a long time. Ah, perhaps we should just forget it..."

Before he could finish, Xie Xun cut him off.

"Brother, stop teasing me. What's wrong with this? You aren't selling them—you're, you're..."

He stalled and hemmed and hawed for a long while, yet could not find a suitable way to phrase it.

Seeing him like this, Ye Xiu sighed inwardly.

People in this cultivation world really were too lacking in polish.

"This should be called asking senior brother to handle the defective products on my behalf, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes. Your brother here is simply warmhearted, so I'm helping handle the defective products."

Xie Xun was so moved that he nearly cried. He hurriedly nodded along. "Everyone knows that I, Xie Xun, am the most warmhearted person in ordinary times. Whenever my fellow disciples face any difficulty, I always do everything in my power to help."

Hearing this nonsense, everyone present could not help cursing inwardly. Bah, you, warmhearted?

Who did not know that you cultivated the Blood-Melting Art and loved consuming blood meals? Several mortal towns had been wiped out because of you, and you still called yourself warmhearted?

But curse him as they might, under Xie Xun's murderous glare, they could only nod and agree.

"Yes, yes, yes. We can all testify for Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother Xie usually helps everyone a great deal."

Naturally, Ye Xiu did not believe such nonsense either, but polite words were only words.

"Since I'm asking Senior Brother to help clean up my things, I ought to give Senior Brother some compensation."

"Senior Brother Xie, how much compensation do you think I should give you to match the great trouble you've helped me deal with?"

As he spoke, Ye Xiu smiled at Xie Xun before him.

Xie Xun's scalp prickled beneath his gaze. It would be one thing if I didn't give you benefits, but why are you giving me benefits instead?

Seeing Xie Xun remain silent, Ye Xiu slowly lifted his wine cup.

"How about three thousand spirit stones per gun?"

The moment that number emerged, Xie Xun's heart gave a violent thump.

Three thousand spirit stones? That was more than half his fortune.

Could he really receive a magic artifact and still collect spirit stones?

"Brother, th-this doesn't seem appropriate, does it?"

Xie Xun coughed awkwardly.

Ye Xiu looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, then nodded.

"Mm, three thousand truly isn't appropriate. It's a little too little. Three thousand five hundred spirit stones—how about it?"

Seeing Ye Xiu's smile, Xie Xun suddenly shuddered.

Damn it, how is he giving me anything? I'm clearly the one giving them to him! Am I an idiot? Why did I complain it was too little?

While cursing himself wildly inside, Xie Xun hurriedly grabbed Ye Xiu's hand.

"Hey, hey, hey, Junior Brother, I think three thousand five hundred is quite good. Three thousand five hundred it is. Three thousand five hundred."

As he spoke, he pushed the spirit stones toward Ye Xiu.

Holding the spirit stones, Ye Xiu laughed inwardly, though a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly pushed the spirit stones back.

"Senior Brother, what do you mean by this?"