In a daze, Lu Chengwen slowly opened his eyes.
The surroundings were dim, filled with jagged rocks, and the air carried a damp, sour stench.
Propping himself up with effort, he sat up and saw an old man with wild white hair and a matching beard, dressed in tattered rags, sitting cross-legged in meditation.
Across from him, Hua Xuening lay unconscious on the ground.
Long Aotian, battered and covered in wounds, was glaring at him.
"Hahaha!" The old man suddenly burst into wild laughter. "I've been secluded here, meditating for years, and now, all of a sudden, so many guests drop in! This cave's getting lively!"
Long Aotian, weak but respectful, clasped his fists. "Junior dares to ask, what is Senior's esteemed name?"
The old man smiled faintly. "My name's not worth mentioning. The martial world hasn't heard it in ages."
Lu Chengwen's mind raced.
Damn it!
The protagonist is the protagonist for a reason. I knew he wouldn't die!
Thank goodness I came down here. Otherwise, this old geezer would've taken him as a godson, taught him some ultimate technique, and powered him up.
No way! I've got to sabotage this!
Lu Chengwen quickly clasped his fists as well. "Judging by Senior's piercing gaze, thunderous voice, and heroic demeanor, could it be… you're the legendary figure who hasn't appeared in the martial world for years…"
"Indeed! I am Hun Tianguang, the Six-Fingered Ape Demon!" the old man declared.
Long Aotian was livid.
Did he say your name was Hun Tianguang? Did he!?
All he did was throw out some flattery, and you just blurted out your name and title!
Lu Chengwen thought to himself, This book's plot is completely off the rails. I don't even recognize half these characters. Was this guy in the original story?
He hurriedly added, "Senior Hun's heroic deeds are renowned across the land. To meet you today is a blessing of three lifetimes, a moment I could die without regrets!"
Hun Tianguang glanced at Lu Chengwen. "Hmph, you silver-tongued brat. I despise bootlickers and sycophants! You don't look like a good person either—oily hair, powdered face, and a scheming look."
Long Aotian burst out laughing. "Lu Chengwen, you think you can win Senior's favor with flattery? Who do you take him for? Senior, this is Lu Chengwen, Xuecheng's most notorious crook. He's a heartless profiteer, cunning as a fox, bullying men and harassing women, committing every evil deed! Please, Senior, deliver justice!"
Lu Chengwen narrowed his eyes. Oh, you clever bastard, Long Aotian. You're too injured to move, so you're trying to borrow Hun Tianguang's hand to kill me!
He quickly countered, "Senior, I'm no crook. I'm an honest businessman! I just invested fifty billion in a slum redevelopment project for the poor in Xuecheng. Everyone in the city knows about it!"
"Enough!" Hun Tianguang's voice boomed as he glanced at both of them sternly. "Neither of you looks trustworthy. I, Hun Tianguang, the Six-Fingered Ape Demon, have roamed the martial world with one principle: benevolence. Those who lack compassion or harbor wicked intentions—I kill them without mercy!"
With a single palm strike, a boulder in the distance exploded with a bang.
The display stunned both Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian.
Splitting a rock with one hand wasn't impressive; any decent martial artist could do it. If you couldn't even break a stone, could you call yourself a martial artist?
But that boulder was over twenty meters away, near the cave's entrance. To shatter it from such a distance with pure internal energy—what kind of profound skill was that!?
Both men grew tense.
Hun Tianguang's long seclusion had clearly made him eccentric. One wrong move, and a palm strike to the head from this quirky old man would end anyone.
Long Aotian said, "Lu Chengwen, you see that? You're done for today."
Lu Chengwen thought for a moment. "Senior, that palm technique… could it be the long-lost…"
"Exactly!" Hun Tianguang looked at his own hand, sighing. "You've got sharp eyes. This is indeed the long-lost Primordial Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Long Aotian was about to lose it.
First, you gave away your name, and now you're revealing your technique!
Did Lu Chengwen say it was the Primordial Eight Trigrams Palm? Did he!?
You're the one spilling everything!
So, you just finish his sentences every time he pauses?
Long Aotian strategized. This old man's temper was odd—he disliked flattery and hated evildoers. He'd have to be careful and, ideally, use Hun Tianguang to eliminate Lu Chengwen.
Lu Chengwen, meanwhile, praised, "Senior's palm technique is truly formidable, blending strength and finesse with incredible skill. Such a profound technique—few in the world could master it. Only a genius of unparalleled talent could grasp its mysteries!"
Hun Tianguang shot him a glance. "Bootlicker, hmph."
Lu Chengwen smiled. "This junior's admiration is genuine."
"Genuine, you say?"
"Absolutely, as clear as the sun and moon."
"Hm. Hungry? I've got some roasted meat."
Long Aotian's eyes widened. What the hell!?
Didn't you just say you hate sycophants? What's this about?
Lu Chengwen flatters you a bit, and you're eating it up?
Lu Chengwen replied, "This junior's too battered from the fall to eat anything heavy."
"Heh, you took quite a tumble. But you're in luck—I have a Bone-Restoring Vitality Pill. One dose, and it'll heal all your skeletal injuries!"
Hun Tianguang hesitated. "But… there are two of you, and…"
Long Aotian panicked. "Senior, you cannot save him! He's a villain, utterly devoid of compassion or righteousness!"
Hun Tianguang looked at Lu Chengwen. "Are you a villain?"
"No."
Hun Tianguang turned to Long Aotian, bellowing, "He says he's not!"
Long Aotian was dumbfounded.
Is this old geezer brain-dead? It's not like he says he's not a villain, and that's that! Why are you yelling at me?
Long Aotian smiled slyly. "Lu Chengwen's wealth rivals nations, but he's heartless, amassing riches through deceit and exploitation. The people of Xuecheng want to tear him apart and drink his blood. Ask him if he denies it."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "I admit it!"
Long Aotian grinned excitedly. "Senior, he admits it! He admits it!"
Hun Tianguang glared at Long Aotian. "I'm not deaf. Why are you shouting?"
Turning to Lu Chengwen, he asked, "Kid, why do you lack compassion, exploiting and hoarding wealth?"
Lu Chengwen replied, "Senior, this involves economics and sociology."
"Oh?"
"The world runs on capital. Capital generates momentum, and momentum drives society forward. Capitalists like me gather resources to do great things. I build pharmaceutical factories, hire engineers and scientists, and develop drugs to help the poor. That takes money."
"A good capitalist must excel at earning money—because the more you earn, the more you can do. But you also have to spend it wisely. You can't use all that wealth yourself, so you turn it into momentum, into a force for societal progress. The more I earn, the more I spend; the more I spend, the faster society advances, and the more people benefit. When capital accumulates to a certain level, I list my companies on the stock market, letting the masses become… not leeks, but shareholders, sharing in my enterprises' dividends…"
Long Aotian interrupted angrily, "Lu Chengwen, Senior is a reclusive master! You're throwing around terms like capital, industry, momentum, and shares—does he understand any of that?"
Hun Tianguang, already confused and struggling to keep up with Lu Chengwen's spiel, exploded at Long Aotian's words. "Nonsense! Who says I don't understand? He's just saying… earn money, spend money, and the world gets better!"
Long Aotian was floored.
You're really doubling down, huh?
Pretending you get it?
Lu Chengwen clapped his hands. "Senior! Brilliant! I rambled on and on, but you summed it up perfectly in one sentence! Earn money, spend money, and the world's at peace! Your philosophical insight leaves this junior in awe!"
Hun Tianguang, smug and beaming, waved a hand. "Don't try that trick. I hate bootlickers."
Long Aotian was about to explode.
Hate bootlickers? You're clearly loving this!
Hun Tianguang leaned closer to Lu Chengwen. "My brain's not for show, you know."
"Of course, of course."
"Earning money's like training martial arts. You've got to put in the work."
"Senior, your wisdom is spot-on!"
"You think all martial artists are old fossils with rigid minds? I'm very open-minded."
"Senior, you've taught me a lesson today. I only regret not falling off that cliff sooner to hear your teachings earlier."
Hun Tianguang laughed heartily. "Don't try that trick. I never fall for flattery."
Long Aotian felt his chest tighten.
Not only had he been internally injured by Tie Tuo Wang and broken multiple bones in the fall—saved only by Hua Xuening shielding him—but now he was stuck with this brainless old man.
Completely led by the nose by Lu Chengwen!
He had to get that Bone-Restoring Vitality Pill. If he could move again, he could take out Lu Chengwen!
Hun Tianguang rummaged through his belt, finally pulling out the pill. "Recognize this?"
Long Aotian thought, You literally just said it's a Bone-Restoring Vitality Pill. Is your brain waterlogged? How's this guy so muddled?
Lu Chengwen, however, gasped dramatically. "Senior, could this be…"
"Exactly!"
Long Aotian snapped, "Enough, you two!"
Both Lu Chengwen and Hun Tianguang turned to look at him.
Long Aotian felt utterly wronged. "What is this? From your name to now, he says half a sentence, and you finish it with 'exactly'! Senior, how can you fall for this? He knows nothing—he's just baiting you to spill the details!"
Hun Tianguang slowly turned, staring daggers at Lu Chengwen. "Are you tricking me?"
Lu Chengwen shook his head calmly. "No."
Hun Tianguang spun back to Long Aotian. "He says he's not!"
Long Aotian's chest heaved with frustration.
"Senior, you said it was a Bone-Restoring Vitality Pill, so he pretended to be shocked! He's absolutely deceiving you! I guarantee he's never heard of your name before. And your palm technique—I'd bet my life that until you said 'Primordial Eight Trigrams Palm,' he didn't even know it existed. Ask him!"
Hun Tianguang turned, squinting. "Kid, you're pretty cunning. Trying to fool me?"
Lu Chengwen replied calmly, "Senior, with your wisdom, could I possibly fool you? Are you the type to be easily duped?"
"Let's put it this way: you've achieved greatness in your life, secluded here in this cave. Do you really think two half-dead kids falling from the sky could trick you? Do you believe that yourself? Your wisdom far surpasses mine. All I can do is bow in respect. Any little schemes I might have? They'd be like waving a blade before Guan Gong or swinging an axe at Lu Ban's door—not even worth your glance. You'd see through them in an instant!"
Hun Tianguang chuckled. "Don't try putting a high hat on me. I don't fall for that!"
Long Aotian's internal injuries flared, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
He nearly passed out from rage.
_
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