Chapter 111: The Swindler

  Old Man Hua said thoughtfully, "If there really is such a magical technique that can exchange the life of flowers and grasses, then Mr. Ma would be a rare talent in this world, and I, an old man, will have my eyes opened today."

  "Old Master is not bragging to you, this Mr. Ma is absolutely worthy of the title 'Extraordinary Person'." Little Cai was busy flattering Ma Youwei's face.

  Ma Youwei revealed a hint of a smile, waving his hand and saying: "Oh no, oh no, I don't dare to be called a strange person. It's just some unconventional methods, not worth mentioning."

  "Whether it's a white cat or a black cat, as long as it can catch mice, it's a good cat. Mr. Ma has such a wonderful skill, it seems that my orchid is going to be saved. I'd like to ask Mr. Ma to lend his magical hand and help my poor orchid. As an old man, I love this flower the most and cannot bear to see it wither away."

  Ma Youwei sighed and said, "I've long known about your love for flowers from Little Cai. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have come to see you specially. However, this Flower Transmigration Technique isn't something that can be easily performed. Not only does it require special tools, but it also causes great harm to the practitioner. So, if you want me to perform this extraordinary technique now, I'm afraid I don't have much confidence."

  Old Man Hua frowned and said, "Mr. Ma needs some props, as long as they can be found, I'll try my best to arrange them for you. As for the price Mr. Ma has to pay, don't worry, I won't let Mr. Ma suffer a loss."

  Little Cai immediately nodded beside him: "Yes, Teacher Ma, I told you before we came. This old man is a true flower enthusiast. As long as you can help him save this sick orchid, the old man will definitely not let you lose out. If you need money for anything, just name your price."

  Old Master Hua glanced at Little Cai and then turned to Ma Youwei, saying: "If it's just a matter of spending money, that's not a big deal. Mr. Ma, how much do you need to prepare? Just tell me. A small amount of money is nothing compared to this sick orchid."

  Ma You smiled helplessly and said, "Since the old man has spoken to this extent, I will not hide it anymore. The matter of props requires not only time for preparation but also a certain amount of money. As for my personal remuneration, let's just forget about it, consider it as making friends with an old man. The preparation time is roughly one month, and 300,000 yuan should be enough to buy the props I need."

  "Three hundred thousand?" Old Man Hua's face showed a look of surprise.

  Ma You hastily said, "Old master, don't think that 3 million is a lot. For this rare orchid of yours, even if you have the money, it's not necessarily something you can buy. With 3 million, he can be revived from death, and this is also thanks to old master you. If it were those wealthy tycoons who don't lack money, just my personal reward alone would be at least 10 million, I wouldn't easily let go of it."

  At this time, Qin Lang, who had been standing beside him without saying a word as if he didn't exist, suddenly spoke up and said: "This kind of life-reversing technique is too cheap for just 3 million."

  Ma Yu glanced at Qin Lang but didn't respond.

  It was Xiao Cai who, carrying the old flower master on his back, glared at Qin Lang with a fierce gaze and said in a sinister tone: "Young man, looking at your age, you should still be in school. You're spending your parents' money, but do you know how hard it is to earn money these days? Mr. Ma sees that the old master is advanced in years and doesn't have much money, so he's only willing to pay for the preparation of props and materials. Otherwise, even if it were 30 million or 300 million, it would depend on whether Mr. Ma has the mood for it."

  Qin Lang smiled slightly and shook his head: "Then you're wrong, this old man is a local tyrant, I'm right, aren't I, Master Hua?"

  Hua Lao Ye Zi laughed and pointed at Qin Lang with his hand, saying: "Little Qin, you're putting a hat on my head. I just treated you to a meal, and now you're helping others beat up the local tyrant, this isn't right."

  Qin Lang smiled and said, "No way, I'm a straightforward person, can't bear to see others being taken advantage of. Thirty million is really too cheap, why not just follow what Mr. Cai just said, let's go with three hundred million instead."

  "You... you don't mess around, do you?" Little Cai said anxiously.

  Old Hua shook his head and said, "Little Cai, don't get excited. I think my little friend is right, 3 million is too cheap. Let's go with 30 million instead. Mr. Ma rarely makes a move, we can't let him lose out. Besides, my little friend said it himself, I'm a local tyrant, and 3 million doesn't match the status of a local tyrant like me."

  Xiao Cai was stunned and quietly asked Ma Youwei with her eyes, as if to say, this play is not going right, it's all messed up.

  Old Master Hua winked at Qin Lang with a sly smile hidden in his eyes.

  "Old master is indeed a humorous and interesting person." Ma Youwei seemed to have also lost his composure, with a dry smile, saying: "However, I am not a greedy person. Even if the old master really wants to give 30 million, I absolutely won't take it. Thirty million is thirty million, don't joke about it anymore, otherwise, I can only bid farewell."

  Hua Lao Ye Zi didn't answer Ma Youwei, but instead smiled and asked Qin Lang: "Little friend, what do you think?"

  Qin Lang seemed to have not heard him and muttered to himself: "Three million, heh heh, enough to be sentenced..."

  Xiao Cai and Ma Youwei's faces suddenly changed.

  Ma Youwei immediately stared at Qin Lang with a cold gaze and said in a chilly tone: "What do you mean by saying this?"

  Xiao Cai also said with a dark face: "Young brother, you can eat recklessly, but you can't speak recklessly."

  Qin Lang smiled faintly and hummed, "Since you don't understand, I'll make it clearer. Tricks like yours might work on some naive village women or foolish husbands, but trying to deceive us in South Chen Alley? You've probably come to the wrong place."

  "Shut your dirty mouth, who's the liar? If you don't explain clearly today, don't blame me for being impolite." Little Cai showed a ferocious expression, rolled up his sleeves, and looked like he was about to hit Qin Lang.

  That horse is as fierce as ever, with a cold glint in its eyes, staring at Qin Lang like it's about to devour him.

  At that very moment, Qin Lang's keen sense picked up on the locking feeling, which grew stronger, tightly enveloping Xiao Cai and Ma Youwei in front of him, with a hint of murderous intent.

  It seems that if these two people make a slight move, they will be killed on the spot.

  "How strange."

  Qin Lang ignored the threats of these two people and instead looked around, but ultimately couldn't find the source of this locking force.

  "Hey, don't get excited!" Old Man Hua smiled and mediated, "This young friend of mine is still young and speaks his mind, I hope you two won't take offense."

  Ma You furrowed his brow and looked at Old Man Hua, saying: "Sir, you don't think I'm a swindler too, do you?"

  Old Master Hua smiled and said, "I'm old and my eyes are blurry, I don't have the ability to distinguish anything. However, this little friend of mine is quite good at distinguishing right from wrong, so what he says is still worth considering."

  Ma You hummed and said: "Since that's the case, if Ma certain one stays here again, it can only be self-inflicted humiliation, farewell."

  He huffed and puffed as he walked towards the front yard.

  Xiao Cai stamped her foot and said to Old Master Hua, "Old Master, you really are getting old and muddle-headed! You actually believe in this inexperienced young whippersnapper and have offended Mr. Ma, a truly extraordinary person. This matter today can be considered as me meddling in other people's business for nothing. I'm afraid I won't be able to help you save face now. Since you trust this young fellow so much, let him save you instead."

  Having said that, he chased after Ma Youwei and left.

  The two of them left, Qin Lang and Old Man Hua looked at each other, then burst out laughing together.

  "Thanks to you, Little Qin, I was able to see through the scam. Otherwise, my 300,000 yuan would have been gone. This old man's hard-earned coffin money can't be wasted like that." Old Master Hua smiled and thanked Qin Lang.

  Qin Lang shook his head and said, "Flower Grandfather, you're too modest. With just this little trick to deceive people, I'm afraid it's been seen through by your old eyes long ago. What I admire is your skill in cultivating your inner energy, being able to accompany two swindlers with a straight face and play along for half a day. You must be bored out of your mind, looking for some fun, right?"

  The old man burst out laughing again, pointing with his finger: "You little scoundrel, this is a clever way of scolding me, the old man. Actually, if it weren't for that mysterious 'Flower Grass Life-Changing Technique' of the Marquis', and if you hadn't been so obvious in your collaboration with Little Cai, I really wouldn't have suspected you of being a swindler."

  "What's this nonsense about a flower and grass moving life technique? If it really existed, he'd want to keep a low profile, but he can't even do that." Qin Lang thought back to the guy's words just now and found them hilarious.

  He was different from Old Man Hua, who judged others based on common sense and found their behavior too outrageous. But to a cultivator like Qin Lang, many things that ordinary people considered outrageous seemed normal.

  It's all because of this swindler that things have gone wrong. Why did he have to fabricate something like the "Flower and Grass Life-Transferring Technique"? If transferring lives were so simple, what would cultivators be for?

  The existence of a master is to go against heaven and defy the heavenly way. But if it's about changing one's fate, then that's breaking the heavenly way. If one can easily break the heavenly way, then there's no need for any cultivation at all, everyone can easily control the heavenly way and coexist with the sun and moon.

  So, from the root cause, this kind of thing belongs to the category of nonsense.

  Unless Qin Lang refines the Silent and Extinct Divine Pill, breaks through the Heavenly Way, perhaps he can then move to change his fate.

  "Alas, if only that person wasn't a swindler. This orchid is my most treasured possession, and now I have to watch it wither away before my very eyes. The mere thought of it pains me."

  Qin Lang smiled faintly: "Flower Grandfather, just because a swindler can't do something, doesn't mean others can't. This sick orchid of yours actually still has a chance to be saved."

  "Oh?" Old Master Hua's spirit lifted, and he hastily said: "Xiao Qin, you mustn't joke with an old man like me. Could it be that you know the art of transplanting lives into flowers?"

  Qin Lang shook his head and said: "I won't be able to do anything out of the ordinary, but for this sick orchid, I'm about 80% sure I can help you save it."

  "Good heavens, I had the real treasure right in front of me and didn't even know to worship it. Little Qin, let's not say anything else, you quickly think of a way to help me save this sick orchid. Whatever conditions you have, just go ahead and mention them." Old Master Hua suddenly became excited.

  Qin Lang smiled and said: "The condition is that it's the kind of wine I just drank, Uncle Hua, you send me a few bottles later, that wine is not bad."

  Old Master Hua smiled and said: "A few bottles of wine are nothing, you want how many, I'll give you how many."