Chapter 780: Chapter 777: Wish Fulfilled
This is like when you’re about to fall asleep from exhaustion, and someone suddenly comes into your room, takes off their pants, lets out a fart, and then pats their butt and walks away, leaving you to smell it.
The person who farted may feel relieved and quickly fall asleep, but they don’t consider the feelings of the person who has to smell it.
Seeing Xiao Tian and Lin Bingxuan’s faces filled with frustration, almost ready to lash out, the old man finally shifted the topic: "Let’s talk seriously. My condition is simple and won’t be difficult for you!"
"Get to the point!" Xiao Tian squeezed out the words between his teeth. He couldn’t stand people who rambled without getting to the main topic, and then when they finally did, they started to make no sense.
"Don’t rush, it’s really simple for you. All I need is for you to deliver a message for me!" The old man said calmly, "Remember, say it and then run immediately, or you might be in mortal danger. Do not linger!"
Xiao Tian was a bit exasperated; you haven’t even told me what the message is, or who to give it to, and you’re already saying these useless things, don’t you think you’re putting things out of order?!
Luckily, the old man soon said, "Her name is Chen Zhenfang, about the same age as me. If you ever have the chance to meet her, please tell her I’m sorry!"
"Chen Zhenfang?... Sorry?" Xiao Tian repeated and raised an eyebrow, "That’s it?!"
The old man nodded, "As I told you before, it’s very simple for you, it won’t be difficult."
"Aren’t you worried that I might not meet her, or if I do, I won’t keep the promise?" Xiao Tian asked curiously.
"No, no!" The old man said with certainty, "I’ve lived so many years and seen all kinds of people; you will keep your word!"
Xiao Tian agreed silently, then asked, since Huang Feihu wasn’t back yet, "If I’m not mistaken, among the younger generation in the Huang Family, the strongest should be Huang Shangtian, right?"
The old man stroked his beard and said, "Hmm, Huang Shangtian is indeed a good prospect, but unfortunately Huang Feihu is not a good father!"
"You know Huang Shangtian was stuck at a bottleneck with no progress, right?" Xiao Tian pursued, "With your strength, helping him should be as easy as lifting a finger. Why did you let him be stuck for over a year?"
"He’s not my son, I’m not Huang Feihu, why should I help him?" The old man said coolly, "Besides, sometimes helping him might not necessarily be a good thing, given Huang Shangtian’s character."
"Why do you say that?!" Xiao Tian was indeed curious, how could helping him not be a good thing?
"You only see Huang Shangtian as a martial arts enthusiast, but do you know what he did during that year he was at a bottleneck?" The old man asked, his tone was indifferent, without favor.
Xiao Tian naturally expressed he didn’t know, but couldn’t help thinking, why does this seemingly senile old man always like asking such obvious questions?
Little did he know, this old man who hadn’t left the Huang Family compound for decades and rarely spoke, was once a lively person, but had to pretend to be indifferent to everything.
Now, encountering Xiao Tian and Lin Bingxuan who were outsiders to the Huang Family, he couldn’t help but say a few more words.
The old man continued, "In over a year, Huang Shangtian spent almost 80% of his time seeking help everywhere, and the remaining 20% wallowing in self-pity and despair, looking like he’s deep in suffering and hatred."
"Thinking from another angle, if he had spent this year focusing on developing the cultivation technique, given his aptitude, even lacking insight, he could have broken through by trying different approaches."
Xiao Tian frowned, "Huang Shangtian’s eagerness for stronger power shouldn’t be like what you said, right?"
The old man said nonchalantly, "Everything in the Huang Family compound can’t escape my eyes, Huang Shangtian has practically locked himself in his room, did I get it wrong?"
"I know what you want to say!"
Before Xiao Tian could argue again, the old man said, "Desiring greater power, you’re right about that, but does desiring more strength relate to not putting in personal effort?!"
"This..." Xiao Tian opened his mouth but couldn’t bring himself to argue dishonestly, feeling that his judgment had gone wrong, which was indeed rare.
"Regarding strength, Huang Shangtian is undoubtedly devout, you didn’t get that wrong, however..."
The old man shifted his tone, saying, "Among every ten people, there’s always an exception; experienced wisdom doesn’t fully apply to everyone, otherwise there wouldn’t be treachery in people’s hearts!"
Xiao Tian pondered for a long time and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you!"
"No need to thank me!" The old man said lightly, "Now you should understand why I don’t care about Huang Shangtian anymore, right? You help him progress once, then what about next time? Who can guarantee there’s always someone ahead to help him?!"
"For someone like Huang Shangtian, who places all hope on others, once there’s no one helping him, his path is practically at its end!"
This is something Xiao Tian had to admit, but seeing this elderly man who could speak at length on such issues, one couldn’t help but wonder what his descendants would be like given his strength.
"Do you have a son?" Lin Bingxuan asked first, evidently quite curious about the question.
The old man was silent for a while before saying something the two couldn’t refute, "If I had a son, would Huang Feihuang’s son be the heir to the Huang Family now?"
...
Though they didn’t speak in rebuttal, Xiao Tian believed that such a pessimistic view wasn’t a good thing either, but after all, it was the Huang Family’s own matter, worrying too much about it was indeed unnecessary!
While he was thinking, Huang Feihu’s voice came from outside the door, "Seventh Uncle, the family treasure has been retrieved."
"Come in!" The old man reluctantly collected his expression, instantly reverting to the indifferent appearance that was unaffected by anything, a swift transformation that amazed Xiao Tian and Lin Bingxuan.
As the words settled, the door opened, revealing Huang Feihu and his three companions, and in the box he opened were the other half of the pendant.
Finally seeing the treasure they came for, Xiao Tian and Lin Bingxuan both became a little excited, feeling that the effort was worth it.
Feeling somewhat like he was benefiting without contributing, Xiao Tian solemnly said, "I said since we’re borrowing, it certainly won’t be free; we will definitely give you corresponding benefits."
Then he turned his gaze to the old man, "Of course, what I promised you still stands, both sides won’t offset each other!"
The old man showed a grateful look, then his figure turned semi-real and semi-illusory, and with a couple of flickers, vanished from the hall.
