Seeing that the old man seemed about to fly into a rage, Xiao Yi showed no fear at all. Instead, he looked himself up and down, felt his empty Daoist robe pockets and waist, then glanced at the scattered talisman ashes on the floor and the last talisman on Xiao Yan's forehead. "Tsk, looks like I'm out of talismans..."
Xiao Yi's eyes darted around. Then, as though something had occurred to him, a crafty gleam flashed in his eyes, and both hands suddenly reached for his waistband!
"Hey! Xiao Yi! What are you doing?!" Xiao Yan reacted first, jumping back in fright and crying out.
"Boy! Stop! In broad daylight... uh, although it's nighttime now... what are you trying to do?!" Yao Chen's phantom jolted too, his face filled with horror and disbelief, his voice even changing pitch.
Xiao Yi had already undone his belt and was preparing to pull down his trousers. At the same time, he replied with utter conviction, "I'm out of talismans, and this old scoundrel is so vicious. Shouldn't I find a powerful weapon to defend myself? Don't worry, I've got some freshly brewed virgin boy's urine! This stuff works wonders for warding off evil!"
Watching Xiao Yi undo his waistband, poised to "make use of materials on hand," Xiao Yan felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head! This lunatic would actually do it! In his desperation, he threw caution aside, snatched up the dusty, battered wooden stool in the corner, and swung it in a full arc at the back of Xiao Yi's head!
He put real force into that blow, intending to knock this foul-mouthed, outrageous fellow unconscious before he could do anything that would shock the world.
Thud! The sound was duller than the earlier knock from the Wooden Sword. Xiao Yan had thought the blow would be enough to knock Xiao Yi out, but to his surprise, Xiao Yi merely staggered, then turned around, clutching the back of his head and baring his teeth in pain. A large, clearly visible lump quickly rose near his temple.
"Damn you, Xiao Yan! Traitor!" Stars swam before Xiao Yi's eyes, but his fury instantly overwhelmed the pain. Whether Xiao Yi's skull was too hard or Xiao Yan's loss of Dou Qi had left him unable to control his strength properly, Xiao Yi had not fainted. Instead, he grew even angrier.
"I'm working my fingers to the bone catching a ghost for you, and you attack me from behind! You're even helping this old ghost fight me!"
Roaring in fury, Xiao Yi raised the Wooden Sword in his hand again and brought it down once more on Xiao Yan's already disaster-plagued head! Clack! With that crisp sound, Xiao Yan successfully collected his third lump. Tears welled in his eyes from the pain as he clutched his head and retreated again and again.
Seeing the two boys grow more heated with every blow, each more bullheaded than the other, and one seemingly determined to use something unclean against him, Yao Chen's phantom rippled. As the dignified Venerable Yao, he had no desire to be sullied by such filth.
A trace of helplessness and resolve flashed through Yao Chen's eyes. While Xiao Yi raised his sword to strike back, his attention entirely on Xiao Yan, Yao Chen gave an almost imperceptible flick of his spectral finger. A tiny pinch of nearly invisible, pale white powder drifted silently from his fingertip, floating straight toward Xiao Yi's nose and mouth.
Xiao Yi had just finished calling Xiao Yan a "traitor" and was about to deliver another strike when an overwhelming wave of drowsiness suddenly washed over him. His eyelids weighed a thousand pounds, and his head grew foggy. "I... I haven't used my virgin boy's urine yet..."
Xiao Yi muttered indistinctly. The Peachwood Sword in his hand fell to the floor with a clatter, and his entire body went limp, toppling backward. He hit the floor with a faint sound, then began snoring softly. He had fallen straight asleep.
The room instantly fell quiet, leaving only the sound of Xiao Yan sucking in sharp breaths as he clutched his head, along with Xiao Yi's gentle snores. Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yi, sleeping dead to the world on the floor, then turned an uncertain, suspicious gaze toward the elderly phantom. Just now... had this old ghost done something?
Looking at Xiao Yi sprawled motionless on the floor, Yao Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then he straightened his illusory robes-although there were no physical robes, the gesture helped him recover a little of his air as an esteemed master.
Once finished, he struck a carefully devised pose and cleared his throat. Looking at Xiao Yan, who was guarding his three lumps with a wary expression, he finally assumed the manner of a senior, his tone becoming considerably steadier. "Ahem... young friend, I admit that taking your Dou Qi without permission was indeed my fault."
He paused, seemingly weighing his words. A slightly awkward expression appeared on his spectral face as he continued explaining, "As for draining this... hmm, this young friend's Dou Qi, it was an act of necessity, as well as a moment of greed. I saw that he seemed to have only just arrived and had yet to find his footing. Thinking he might not dare speak up... I absorbed a little more to stabilize my soul. In this matter, I failed to give things proper consideration."
Listening to Yao Chen's words, half admission and half sophistry, Xiao Yan's hands paused over the three lumps on his head. Although the old fellow made it sound trivial, the pain and humiliation Xiao Yan had endured during this time had been all too real.
But... a "Venerable Yao" who could drain his Dou Qi without anyone knowing and even exist as a soul? This seemed like an enormous opportunity.
Xiao Yan's mind began turning, his eyes flickering. As he looked at Yao Chen's spectral figure, it was as though he were looking at a walking treasure vault. His earlier anger and wariness were quietly replaced by something called "calculation."
"Ahem, Senior... look, you've already absorbed my Dou Qi. Whether you call it a misunderstanding or greed, you've caused me quite a bit of trouble all the same, haven't you?"
Xiao Yan rubbed the three large lumps on his head, trying to sound as tactful as possible, though his meaning was perfectly clear. "During the time I've been without my Dou Qi... I've suffered endless scorn and ridicule. There's the emotional distress, not to mention the very real decline in my cultivation... Senior, don't you think some compensation is in order?" As he spoke, he carefully watched Yao Chen's reaction, preparing to start bargaining.
What sort of man was Yao Chen? How could he fail to hear the meaning behind Xiao Yan's words? Inwardly, he chuckled at the boy's cleverness, but outwardly, he betrayed nothing. Instead, he offered a kindly smile and stroked his nonexistent beard. "Hehe, you have a point, young friend. My conduct was indeed somewhat improper."
Yao Chen first followed Xiao Yan's lead and admitted his mistake. Then he shifted the subject, a measure of pride entering his voice. "However, young friend, do you know who I am? Back in my day, all the great powers under heaven competed to curry my favor, and countless mighty experts flocked to me! As long as I was willing..."
At this point, he glanced at Xiao Yan, a tantalizing gleam in his eyes. "...I could take you as my disciple and teach you everything I know! Never mind restoring the talent you once possessed-even helping you become a truly powerful expert on the Dou Qi Continent would be no difficult task! Of course..." He deliberately drew out his words, adding a hint of temptation. "My current state is rather unusual, so I would also need you to do me a few small favors and help me recover..."
Xiao Yan's heart gave a jolt. Become a powerful expert? The temptation was enormous! But he also knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Just as he was weighing the pros and cons, preparing to continue his in-depth "negotiations" with Yao Chen over the specific terms, Xiao Yi, who had been lying quietly beside them all this time, suddenly stirred.
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