"Take it. This is your pocket money from me. It has a limit of five million too, enough for ten meals at 'KFC.'"
Qian Daoliu held the black card out to Qian Renxing and placed it straight into his hand. "You didn't know how to spend money before, so I never gave you any pocket money. Now, if you need money, just ask Grandpa."
"But don't go wandering outside these next few days. Things are a little tense out there, and Grandpa is far too worried about your safety!!"
"Okay, okay, orders received!!"
The moment Qian Renxing received the black card, he saluted Qian Daoliu, raising both hands. "I always listen to Grandpa! These next few days, I absolutely won't take even half a step outside my Holy Son Hall!!"
What sort of salute is that? I've never seen it before.
Qian Renxing's strange salute made Qian Daoliu chuckle inwardly, but he could also feel his grandson's respect for him in it.
It seemed that this dim-witted grandson of his did respect his wealthy grandpa after all.
"Behave yourself for a month first. I'll let you go out and play after that."
"Okay, okay, Grandpa. For this entire month, I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely won't take even half a step outside Holy Son Hall~"
"Then I can rest easy."
That was what Qian Daoliu had originally thought. After seeing Qian Renxing off, he could be said to have breathed a sigh of relief.
But he had set his mind at ease far too soon.
He had never expected the rumor to spread so quickly. In just half a day, it had spread into an uproar, becoming common knowledge.
At least within Spirit City, it had reached the point where not a single person was unaware of it!
Qian Daoliu could no longer sit still, for several enshrined elders actually came to visit him, even bringing gifts such as whale rubber.
"Big Brother, ah, there's no need to say anything. You've had it hard all these years."
Holding a deep-yellow crystal of excellent quality, Golden Crocodile Douluo pressed it into Qian Daoliu's hand, tears brimming in his eyes. "I've failed in my duties as your younger brother all these years. I never realized you were enduring such inhuman suffering. Keep this piece of whale rubber. If it's not enough, I'll go out to sea and hunt whales myself. Even if I have to throw away my life, I can't let you suffer like this, Big Brother!"
"No, what is this... explain yourself! What suffering have I endured all these years?!!"
Qian Daoliu was dumbfounded. Looking at the amber-like crystal in his hand, he had an extremely bad feeling. "Don't tell me this is the legendary whale rubber? No, I really have no use for it! Second Brother, take it back. Keep it for yourself!!"
"Big Brother, we're brothers, and you're still putting on an act with me? There's no need to stand on ceremony. We're all family here, and besides, I have no use for this stuff either!!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo hurriedly waved his hands, hastily said goodbye to Qian Daoliu, and left Douluo Hall, breathing a sigh of relief inwardly.
Big Brother had accepted it. Now he wouldn't have to endure that sort of suffering, would he?
Ah, that was the trouble with getting old. Big Brother, who had once pissed thirty feet into the wind, probably wet his shoes even with the wind at his back now...
Before Qian Daoliu could recover his senses, Golden Crocodile Douluo had left. After his departure, another enshrined elder arrived at Douluo Hall.
"Big Brother, no need to say anything. Take this!"
Azure Luan Douluo silently pressed an amber-like crystal into Qian Daoliu's hand, then silently departed.
He came and went like the wind, truly a man like the wind.
"No, why are you doing this too, Third Brother? Huh? Do I, Qian Daoliu, need this stuff?!!"
Qian Daoliu was even more bewildered. Why had Third Brother also pressed a piece of whale rubber on him after Second Brother left? Why was everyone acting so strangely today? He really didn't need this stuff!!
After Azure Luan Douluo left, Mighty Lion Douluo also arrived at Douluo Hall. The moment he arrived, he shoved a pile of golden-yellow things into Qian Daoliu's arms:
"Big Brother, you should've told us sooner that you couldn't get it up!! Your little brother has a solution! You know that as Mighty Lion Douluo, I've never had any trouble in that department. Ah, you've had it hard all these years, Big Brother, bearing this suffering alone. But now that you have this, you won't have to suffer anymore!!"
Mighty Lion Douluo's blunt words finally made Qian Daoliu understand.
"No, who exactly is spreading rumors that I can't get it up? I work perfectly well!!"
Qian Daoliu grew furious. This concerned a man's dignity; even he could not endure such fury.
He threw aside the whale rubber in his arms, seized Mighty Lion Douluo by the collar, and demanded, "Who exactly is spreading rumors that I can't get it up? I'll settle the score with him!! And how many people know about this now?"
"You don't know, Big Brother? Everyone in Spirit City knows your secret about not being able to get it up now."
Mighty Lion Douluo froze. He had never expected that, despite the uproar throughout Spirit City, where practically everyone knew about it, Qian Daoliu himself still knew nothing.
"Huh? How could this happen? It shouldn't! Even a rumor shouldn't spread this quickly!!"
Qian Daoliu was incredulous. He simply couldn't believe this was real.
"Big Brother, did you go to the Spirit Hall Chamber of Commerce today and personally guarantee the transfer of whale rubber stocks from all over the continent?"
Mighty Lion Douluo explained what had happened. "There were quite a few Soul Masters there at the time. When they heard you couldn't get it up, they couldn't bear to let you endure such suffering. Grateful for your kindness as well, they all opened their purses to help. One told ten, and ten told a hundred. Now all the Soul Masters in Spirit City are voluntarily donating whale rubber for you!!"
"No, that was what my grandson said! He's dim-witted! Why would anyone believe what a dimwit said?!"
Qian Daoliu's vision went black, and his eyes grew moist. Having never cried before, he suddenly heard this terrible news, and a tear fell. "My lifelong reputation!"
With a patter, the tear struck the ground, splashing into a crystal-clear blossom.
Upon hearing the deeply moving tale of Soul Masters voluntarily donating whale rubber for him, Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall, was moved to tears!
"So this was actually a misunderstanding?"
Mighty Lion Douluo froze. He had never expected that the news of Big Brother's impotence, which had spread into an uproar and become common knowledge, was actually false!!
"What do I do? Fourth Brother, tell me, what do I do? My lifelong reputation!!"
Qian Daoliu, who had never felt at a loss before, was truly at a loss now.
To think that he, Qian Daoliu, renowned for his wisdom all his life, would be saddled with a reputation for impotence in his twilight years. It was worse than being killed!
Mighty Lion Douluo comforted him. "Don't worry, Big Brother. Since this is a misunderstanding, wouldn't clearing it up solve everything?"
"Clear it up? How? Haven't I been humiliated enough already?!"
Qian Daoliu was nearly furious enough to die. "Tell me, how am I supposed to clear it up? At my age, do I have no dignity left?!!"
"Now, only the young master can step in!"
Mighty Lion Douluo, however, thought otherwise. He had always believed Qian Renxing possessed great wisdom beneath a foolish exterior and was no ordinary person:
"As the saying goes, whoever tied the bell must untie it. Since the young master accidentally spread the rumor, he must have a way to clear it up!!"