Chapter 28: Only a Fool Passes Up a Bargain
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“Heh heh! It seems Mr. Xu is still angry. We can discuss the partnership later.”
“To demonstrate my sincerity in working with you, Mr. Xu, I am willing to offer my terms first.”
“First, I will not interfere with Huang Dabao’s channels or Scar’s businesses.”
“Second, I guarantee that none of my people will ever approach your teacher or his family.”
“Third, I hear you are still renting a place to live. As it happens, I have an empty house in Jiangtai District. Consider it compensation for offending you today.”
“How about it?”
Xu Yi frowned. He could not figure out what this madman was trying to do. It was obvious that Zhang was in the stronger position, yet the three terms he had offered were all to Xu Yi’s advantage.
His own influence was still too weak.
This madman was clearly an old hand. He had taken complete control of the pace of their conversation.
It was precisely because of this that any so-called partnership would certainly be far from simple.
Cooperating with this man would be no different from bargaining with a tiger.
However…
Heh heh! This madman could never imagine that Xu Yi possessed the ability known as Heart-Piercing. As long as the two of them met face-to-face, Xu Yi could see through his thoughts. No matter what schemes or plots he had, they would be useless against him.
Since someone was offering him a house, why would he refuse?
Only a fool would turn down a free advantage!
At that thought, Xu Yi immediately felt relieved. The gloom that had weighed upon him dispersed as well.
In an indifferent tone, he said, “In that case, thank you, Mr. Zhang. Whenever you have time, just contact Dabao. Goodbye!”
With that, Xu Yi hung up before the madman could reply.
He then tossed the phone to Lu Huaibin.
Looking at Xu Yi with a faint smile, Lu Huaibin said, “There is no need for that. I cannot say too much, but Master Zhang is extremely generous toward talented people. You will not lose out by working with him.”
Xu Yi shook his head noncommittally and said nothing more about the matter.
Lu Huaibin shrugged. “It was only a suggestion. Since everything is settled, I shall take my leave.”
With that, Lu Huaibin turned and walked away.
“Wait!”
Xu Yi stopped him, then asked cautiously, “There is something I would like to ask, though I do not know whether I should.”
Lu Huaibin seemed to know what Xu Yi intended to ask and immediately shook his head.
Although Xu Yi had expected that he might not receive an answer, he still felt somewhat disappointed when Lu Huaibin rejected him so directly.
Lu Huaibin said calmly, “You have misunderstood. You want to ask about the martial arts techniques we used when we fought just now, correct?”
“It is not that I am unwilling to answer. It is simply that this particular skill is not difficult for you. Since you have already seen it, with your talent, you may well master it within a year if you practice diligently,” Lu Huaibin said calmly.
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Xu Yi frowned. “It takes a year to master? That is too long.”
“Hmph!”
A-Wen could not help interrupting. “Do you think this method of generating force can be mastered just like that? We practiced for three years before achieving a small measure of proficiency, and it took five years to reach our current level.”
“You! One year? Heh.” A-Wen sneered at Xu Yi.
Xu Yi was stunned. “Is there no faster way?”
Lu Huaibin smiled. “There is one. Find an expert to spar with you every day and feed you techniques. After gaining enough experience, your progress will become much faster, and mastery will come naturally.”
Xu Yi’s eyes lit up.
As far as experts went, he had never encountered anyone more formidable than Lu Huaibin. If he could get Lu Huaibin to spar with him and guide his movements…
“Hmph! In your dreams! You want my master to train with you? Who do you think you are? Do you really think you are that impressive? My master simply did not want to make things difficult for you. Otherwise, do you think you could have walked away unscathed today?”
A-Wen became furious when he saw Xu Yi’s expression.
Xu Yi froze in astonishment. Only then did he realize that the two men were Lu Huaibin’s disciples.
Lu Huaibin smiled. “If you want me to train with you, I am afraid that will not be possible. I will be leaving Eastsea City tomorrow.”
“Hmm…” Lu Huaibin pondered for a moment. “How about this? Although I will not be here, A-Wen and A-Wu will remain in Eastsea City. Let them train with you.”
A-Wen’s expression changed, and he hurriedly said, “Master, this…”
Lu Huaibin stopped him, then turned to Xu Yi. “However, I am not helping you for no reason. You must agree to one condition.”
“What condition?” Xu Yi asked at once, his spirits rising.
Lu Huaibin said calmly, “I am leaving this time to fight someone to the death. Whether I will survive is unknown.”
“Master!”
A-Wen and A-Wu cried out sorrowfully, their eyes reddening in an instant.
“There is no need for this. This battle is also what I desire. If I die, it will simply mean that my skills were inferior. You must not seek revenge for me.”
With that, Lu Huaibin looked at Xu Yi. “My condition is simple. Take care of these two disciples of mine. Help them whenever they are in trouble.”
At the same time, Lu Huaibin pulled a notebook from inside his robe.
“Besides that, this notebook contains my insights from five years of martial arts training. I will give it to you as well.”
Lu Huaibin tossed it over. Xu Yi raised a hand and caught it, then bowed solemnly to Lu Huaibin.
“Rest assured. As long as I am alive, I will keep my promise.”
Lu Huaibin smiled. “Good. Then let us part here. I hope we will meet again someday.”
Waving his hand, Lu Huaibin departed with A-Wen and A-Wu in tow.
After they had left, Huang Dabao finally dared to breathe a sigh of relief. He had not dared say a word during the confrontation just now.
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Now that they were gone, he asked cautiously, “Brother Yi, what should we do next?”
Xu Yi pondered for a moment. “There is no need to investigate the madman any further. Since he has agreed not to interfere in our affairs, your most urgent task is to consolidate the territory left behind by Scar as quickly as possible.”
“However, we cannot stop gathering information on the Huo family. Continue the investigation.”
“Understood!” Huang Dabao nodded repeatedly.
At that moment, sirens sounded from downstairs.
Xu Yi said, “This is no place to stay. We will talk after we get back. Let us go.”
After speaking, Xu Yi pulled Huang Dabao out through the back door.
Before coming here, Xu Yi had already told Liangzi to pick up the others and return directly to their headquarters.
With Huang Dabao leading the way, the two of them took a taxi through a maze of winding streets before reaching their destination.
Huang Dabao’s headquarters was unexpectedly located in a shabby house in a severely underdeveloped area on the outskirts of the city.
Xu Yi frowned. “Did you not get five million from Scar? Why are you still living in a place like this?”
An awkward look crossed Huang Dabao’s face. Liangzi hurriedly explained, “Brother Yi, Brother Bao invested most of the money into his information network. You have no idea how expensive it is to maintain those channels.”
“Besides, Brother Bao still has to distribute money among the brothers. He really does not have much left.”
Xu Yi glanced at Huang Dabao. “If you were short of money, why did you not tell me?”
Huang Dabao said awkwardly, “Brother Yi, do not listen to Liangzi’s nonsense. I can live anywhere. The money may seem like a lot, but it still has to be spent where it matters most.”
Xu Yi sighed. “If you have to save money while working for me, then I must be a complete failure.”
As he spoke, Xu Yi took out his phone and made a few operations.
Huang Dabao’s phone rang. When he picked it up and looked at the screen, he found that another five million had appeared in his account.
Huang Dabao stared in amazement. “Brother Yi, I really have not spent all the money I had. You…”
Xu Yi waved a hand to stop him. “This money is not for expanding your information network. It is for you and the brothers to spend.”
“Today’s trouble happened because I asked you to investigate Zhang Feng. So spend this money freely. You are not allowed to leave a single penny unused.”
“Understood?”
Huang Dabao and the others were instantly moved, their eyes filled with gratitude. Someone shouted excitedly, “Thank you, Brother Yi!”
Immediately, everyone cried out, “Thank you, Brother Yi!”
After settling the matter, Xu Yi drove his large SUV back to his rented apartment. Although it was already late, he felt no trace of sleepiness and immediately opened the martial arts notes Lu Huaibin had left behind.
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