In a daze, Fyren slowly opened his eyes.
The light around him was dim, with jagged and bizarre rocks everywhere. The air smelled damp, fishy, and sour.
Gritting his teeth, he struggled to sit up and saw a white-haired old man before him—matted hair, unkempt beard, dressed in tattered clothes—meditating with his eyes closed.
Across from him, Sherry lay unconscious on the ground.
Otto, battered and bruised, was glaring at him.
"Hahaha!" The old man suddenly burst into manic laughter. "This old man has been secluded in meditation here for years, yet today, so many guests arrive all at once... This cave has truly become lively!"
Otto weakly clasped his fists in respect. "May I ask for Senior's esteemed name?"
The old man smiled faintly. "This old man's humble name has long faded from the jianghu—no need to mention it."
Fyren's mind raced.
Fuck!
The protagonist is still the protagonist—I knew he wouldn't die!
Luckily I followed him down, or else this old coot would've taken him in as a disciple, bestowed him with supreme techniques, and powered him up!
No way! I've got to ruin this!
Fyren hastily clasped his fists as well. "Seeing Senior's vigorous gaze, resonant voice, extraordinary bearing, and heroic aura between his brows... Could Senior be the long-lost legend of the jianghu—?"
"Not bad! The Mystic Six-Fingered Ape Demon, Herbert—that's me!"
Otto was furious.
Did he say your name was Herbert? Did he even utter "Herbert"?
He was just buttering you up, and you blurted out your whole title yourself!
Fyren thought, This story's completely derailed—half these characters weren't even in the original!
Fyren hurriedly continued, "Senior Herbert's heroic deeds are renowned throughout the land! To meet you today is an honor—this junior could die without regret!"
Herbert shot Fyren a glance. "Hmph, a bootlicker. This old man despises slippery, flattering rats! Look at you—oily-headed and shifty-eyed. No good comes from someone like you."
Otto burst out laughing. "Fyren, did you really think you could win Senior's favor with empty praise? Senior, this man is Fyren—Crystalpeak City's most unscrupulous merchant! He exploits the poor, cheats the rich, kidnaps women, and commits every evil imaginable! Elder, you must deliver justice!"
Fyren narrowed his eyes: Good move, Otto! Clearly you can't move yourself, so you're trying to use Herbert to kill me!
Fyren hurriedly said, "Elder, I'm no crooked businessman - I'm a businessman with a conscience! I just invested fifty billion dollars into the shantytown renovation program for the poor. This is common knowledge throughout Crystalpeak City!"
"Enough!" Herbert glared imperiously at both men. "Neither of you look like good people. I, Mystic Six-Finger Ape Demon Herbert, have always valued benevolence above all else in the martial world. All who are unkind, unrighteous, or evil-minded - I execute on sight without mercy!"
With that, he struck out with his palm. A stone twenty meters away exploded with a thunderous crack.
The demonstration shocked both Fyren and Otto.
Splitting a rock at close range would be nothing special - any proper ancient martial artist could do that. You couldn't even call yourself a martial artist if you couldn't smash a rock!
But from over twenty meters away? To shatter stone with just internal energy? The depth of cultivation required was unimaginable!
Both men grew nervous.
Herbert clearly had been living in seclusion too long, making his temperament erratic. With this kind of eccentric, if he took displeasure with you, he might just cave your skull in without warning. Who could withstand that?
Otto said, "See that, Fyren? You're dead today."
Fyren thought for a moment. "Senior, this palm technique... could it be the long-lost—"
"Correct!" Herbert examined his palm and sighed. "You've got a sharp eye. This is indeed the long-lost Mixed Yuan Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Otto nearly choked with frustration.
First Herbert announces his own title, now he's announcing his technique!
Did Fyren even say it was the Mixed Yuan Eight Trigrams Palm? No! The old man just declared it himself!
Why did he answer as if Fyren had completed the question?
This old freak hates flattery but also hates villains, Otto thought. I need to be careful. Best use his hand to eliminate Fyren!
Meanwhile, Fyren praised admiringly: "Senior's palm technique is truly formidable - both powerful and supple, executed with profound skill. I doubt there are many in this world capable of mastering it. Only a heavenly genius could comprehend the mysteries of this technique!"
Herbert shot Fyren a sidelong glance. "Horse shit."
Fyren smiled. "This junior speaks from genuine admiration."
"Genuine?"
"As true as the sun and moon."
"Well then... are you hungry? I've got roasted meat here."
Otto's eyes bulged. What the hell?!
You claim to hate schemers, yet when Fyren flatters you, you just... accept it?!
Fyren said: "This junior is in mourning and cannot eat rich meats."
"Oh, you... you fell quite hard. But coincidentally, I happen to have a Fugu Jianyuan Pill here. If you take it, it can heal all bone injuries!"
Herbert hesitated for a moment. "But... there are two of you here... this..."
Otto grew anxious upon hearing this. "Elder, you mustn't save him! He's a bad person - a truly unkind villain!"
Herbert looked at Fyren. "Are you truly a villain?"
"No."
Herbert immediately glared at Otto and shouted, "He says he's not!"
Otto felt utterly incredulous.
Is this old man out of his mind? Just because he says he's not means he's not? Why are you glaring at me?
After a moment's thought, Otto smiled. "Fyren is wealthy beyond measure, yet unkind with his riches. He's amassed tremendous fortune through deceitful means. The people of Crystalpeak City all want to eat his flesh and drink his blood! Why don't you ask him if he admits to this?"
Fyren nodded. "I admit it!"
Otto exclaimed excitedly, "Elder! He admits it! He admits it!"
Herbert glared at Otto. "I'm not deaf! Stop making such a racket!"
Turning back to Fyren, Herbert asked, "Kid, why are you so unkind with your wealth, so deceitful and wasteful?"
Fyren replied, "Senior, this involves economics and sociology."
"Oh?"
"The world needs capital to function. Capital generates kinetic energy, and kinetic energy drives society forward. Capitalists must consolidate resources to accomplish great things. I established a pharmaceutical factory, gathered engineers and scientists to develop new medicines to cure the poor. All of this requires money."
"A good capitalist must excel at making money, because the more you earn, the more resources you have to make an impact. At the same time, you must know how to spend it - no one can possibly spend such vast sums alone. That money must be converted into kinetic energy, into a force that advances society. The more I earn, the more I spend. The more I spend, the faster society progresses and the more people benefit. When capital accumulation reaches a certain level, I can take the company public in batches, entering the stock market so the general public can all become... shareholders. Everyone gains the right to dividends from my business..."
Otto interjected angrily, "Fyren! The senior is a recluse, a lofty figure! Why are you talking to him about capital, industry, kinetic energy and equity? Do you think he can understand any of this?"
Herbert had been struggling to follow along, clumsily trying to keep up with Fyren's explanation. Hearing Otto's words, he immediately flew into a rage: "Nonsense! How do you know what I understand? Isn't he just saying that... making money and spending it makes the world better!"
Otto was shocked.
He said, "You really want to act tough!
Not very smart, are you?"
Fyren immediately clapped his hands. "Senior! So concise! I explained so much, yet you captured the essence in one sentence! Yes, it's all about making money, spending money, and then world peace! Your philosophical insight makes me worship you!"
Herbert looked satisfied, his face full of smiles as he waved his hand. "Don't bother with such flattery - I despise those who try to butter me up."
Otto was furious.
You hate flattery? Then why are you clearly enjoying this?!
Herbert moved closer to Fyren. "Actually, I don't give away things for free."
"Mmm, that's reasonable."
"Making money is similar to practicing kung fu. Kung fu requires effort, and so does making money."
"Senior, you're practically divine! How are you so wise?"
"Do you think all ancient martial artists are old-fashioned and stubborn? I have a very open mind."
"Elder, today's lesson has enlightened me. I regret not falling off this cliff sooner to hear your teachings earlier."
Herbert laughed: "Enough nonsense. I'm someone who never listens to bootlickers."
Otto felt completely stifled.
He had been beaten by Iron King and suffered internal injuries. Not to mention, this cliff fall had broken several bones, adding trauma upon trauma. If not for Sherry shielding him with her body, he surely would have died.
Now, after barely surviving, he had to deal with this senile old man.
Completely brainless!
Being led around by Fyren's nose.
I need that Fugu Jianyuan Pill. Once I can move again, I'll finish off Fyren!
Herbert rummaged through his belt several times before producing the elixir. "This one - recognize it?"
Otto said, "You just called it the Fugu Jianyuan Pill yourself! Are you senile? Why is this person so confused?"
Fyren, however, looked shocked. "Elder, could this possibly be...?"
"That's right!"
Otto finally exploded: "Enough from you two!"
Fyren and Herbert both turned to look at him.
Otto was beside himself:
"What kind of act is this? Starting with your name - whenever he says the first half of a sentence, you supply the second! Whatever he hints at, you confirm! How can you fall for such cheap tricks, senior? He clearly knows nothing - he just says the first half and lets you volunteer the rest yourself! He's deceiving you!"
Herbert slowly turned his head and stared directly at Fyren. "Are you lying to me?"
Fyren shook his head. "No."
Herbert turned his head. "He says he isn't!"
Otto's chest tightened with rage.
"Elder, this elixir - as you yourself said earlier - is the Fugu Jianyuan Pill. That's why he's pretending to be surprised! He's definitely deceiving you! I guarantee he'd never heard your name before today. And as for your palm technique, I can swear that before you mentioned 'The Mixed Yuan Eight Trigrams Palm' yourself, he didn't even know such a technique existed in this world! Ask him if you don't believe me!"
Herbert narrowed his eyes and turned his head. "Kid, you've got some nerve lying to this old man?"
Fyren replied calmly, "Elder, with your wisdom, how could I possibly fool you? Are you the type to be easily deceived?"
"Let me put it this way - you've achieved great things in your life and now live here in seclusion. Then two random youngsters fall half-dead from the sky and somehow manage to completely fool you? Do you really believe that? Your wisdom completely surpasses mine. We juniors can only look up to you. Any petty schemes would be like dancing with swords before Guan Gong or wielding axes at Lu Ban's door - utterly shameful and transparent! You'd certainly see through my meager tricks!"
Herbert laughed. "Don't try flattering me - this old man isn't fooled by that!"
Otto felt his internal injuries flare up as a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips. He nearly fainted from sheer fury.