Those words made Jiang Fan laugh. "Wei Qi is a fool with a love-addled brain, but at least he's generous when doing business. You, on the other hand, are truly shameless. You want to buy my Qi and Blood Raw Stone for thirty thousand? Jiang Youtian, let me ask you: who gave you the nerve?"
Wei Qi let out a grunt. That didn't sound like praise to him, either.
Jiang Youtian choked for a moment, then continued looking at Jiang Fan with his nose in the air.
"Jiang Fan, don't make it sound so nasty. Like I just said, you must be short of money right now, and urgently, at that. After all, you're an early-stage martial apprentice now. You need nutritious food every day, or you won't be able to supply what your body needs. I can give you thirty thousand right away, which would put out the fire singeing your eyebrows. It's one thing not to thank me, but you're even insulting me."
Jiang Fan turned to Wei Qi. "Tell him how much you were about to offer me."
"Five hundred thousand," Wei Qi blurted out.
He regretted it as soon as he said it. Why had he answered just because Jiang Fan asked?
Oh, this mouth of mine! Why does it always run faster than my brain?
Jiang Youtian was stunned. He looked at Wei Qi as though he were an idiot.
Wei Qi's teeth ached, and they ached terribly.
Just then, Jiang Fan spoke again.
"Fine. It's not impossible for you to buy this Qi and Blood Raw Stone, but there's a condition."
"What condition?" Jiang Youtian asked in confusion.
"Simple. The two of us get into the arena. As long as you beat me, this Qi and Blood Raw Stone is yours."
Not only did Jiang Youtian freeze at Jiang Fan's words, but everyone who heard them looked at Jiang Fan as though he were a fool, an idiot.
"Are you serious?" Jiang Youtian's voice carried a faint note of excitement.
Jiang Fan's expression was indifferent, his tone calm. "Of course."
"Good. It's a deal! Whoever cheats or fails to show up has to strip naked and run ten laps around the field!" Jiang Youtian was so excited he almost laughed.
"Sure," Jiang Fan said nonchalantly.
"When?"
"Tomorrow, then."
Jiang Youtian looked at everyone. "You're all witnesses! Jiang Fan said he wants to PK me, tomorrow, right here in this gymnasium. If he gets cold feet and doesn't dare show up, he has to strip naked and run ten laps around the field!"
Everyone wore the look of someone anticipating a good show. In particular, almost every gaze directed at Jiang Fan was full of gloating.
He had only just become an early-stage martial apprentice, yet he wanted to challenge Jiang Youtian, a middle-stage martial apprentice. What on earth was going through his head?
Whatever the case, all that mattered was that there would be some excitement to watch tomorrow.
That evening was Tang Guo's birthday.
Jiang Fan took out the Qi and Blood Raw Stone and handed it to Tang Guo.
"Guoguo, this is my birthday present for you."
Tang Guo looked at the red stone before her in confusion. "What is this?"
Jiang Fan said, "A Qi and Blood Raw Stone."
Those words made everyone at the dining table hold their breath.
Tang Fugui was the first to react. He snatched the Qi and Blood Raw Stone from Tang Guo's hand and stuffed it back into Jiang Fan's.
"You child, how could you give Guoguo something so valuable? Guoguo is just a little kid. What would she need this for? Besides, you're in the special training class now. You need this for your cultivation."
"Yes, Xiao Fan, your dad is right. We know you adore Guoguo, but even that needs limits," Wang Shuqin added, trying to persuade him.
Jiang Fan smiled. "Dad, Mom, you don't need to make such a mountain out of a molehill. These Qi and Blood Raw Stones-I actually have several more. I couldn't use them all myself. Besides, you might not know this, but the first Qi and Blood Raw Stone you absorb has the best effect. After that, the effects get weaker and weaker. And now that I'm in the special training class, it'll be easy for me to get Qi and Blood Raw Stones in the future. They aren't that precious to me."
"This one is for Guoguo. She's young, so absorbing it now isn't worthwhile overall, but rich people have their children absorb Qi and Blood Raw Stones from an early age to strengthen their bodies. Our Guoguo can't fall behind other people's children, either. If Guoguo slowly absorbs this Qi and Blood Raw Stone, she'll finish in about a month, and her physical fitness will far surpass others her age. We don't need her to start cultivating right away. At least she won't get sick so easily in the future."
Those words genuinely convinced Tang Fugui and Wang Shuqin.
Yes, they didn't need Tang Guo to embark on the path of cultivation. The thought of her no longer getting sick after absorbing this Qi and Blood Raw Stone made them happy however they looked at it.
"Here, Guoguo. Keep it safe." Jiang Fan pressed the Qi and Blood Raw Stone into Tang Guo's hand again.
The little girl's face was rosy, her large eyes brimming with gratitude.
"Thank you, Big Brother Xiao Fan. You're so nice! Guoguo likes Big Brother Xiao Fan best!"
The little girl's tongue was as sweet as though it had been coated in honey. Jiang Fan couldn't resist reaching out to pinch her soft, pink cheek.
Then the little girl's face grew even redder.
After dinner.
Jiang Fan went straight to Crazy Old Man's home.
As he was nearly finished stir-frying the dishes, he heard what sounded like someone arriving outside.
"Teacher, I've come to see you. I brought your favorite liquor."
Huh? That voice sounds a little familiar.
Jiang Fan kept his ears pricked, and then he heard Crazy Old Man's brusque voice.
"Shoo, shoo! Who told you to come? I said years ago that this old man didn't want to see any old acquaintances again for the rest of his life."
"Come now, listen to yourself. Won't you try the liquor I brought you?" At that point, Wei Cangyue heard sounds coming from the kitchen and asked in surprise, "Is someone cooking in there?"
Wei Cangyue was surprised because he knew Crazy Old Man's temper very well. When he said he would live alone in seclusion, he meant alone. Moreover, in all these years, Wei Cangyue had never heard of Crazy Old Man getting close to anyone.
"Mm." Crazy Old Man gave only a flat acknowledgment and did not pursue the subject.
Instead, he asked, "Why did you suddenly come here? To a little place like Fortress No. 31? Don't tell me you came specifically to see me. This old man doesn't believe it."
"Ha-ha!"
Wei Cangyue laughed and sat down. "Visiting you really is part of it, Teacher. The other reason is that our squad hasn't had any fresh blood in a long time, so I wanted to see whether I could scout any promising seedlings."
At those words, Crazy Old Man's expression grew complicated. Only after a long while did he say, "Has the Sharp Edge Squad fallen this far since that boy Wang Feng passed away? You're a distinguished fifth-rank expert, no matter how you look at it. Have you fallen to the point where you, the captain, have to come personally to a little place like No. 31 to recruit?"
Wei Cangyue poured himself a cup of liquor, tilted his head back, and gulped it down.
He grinned. "That makes us sound a little shabby. Fortress No. 31 is indeed a mere speck of land, but hasn't it produced a martial arts genius like Lan Shengxue? She hasn't even taken the martial examination yet, and she's already an early-stage first-rank martial artist. A genius like that is well worth recruiting."
Crazy Old Man said, "Lan Shengxue? Someone from the Lan Family of Fortress No. 1?"