The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 800 - 769: Trade, Each Takes What They Need

Chapter 800: Chapter 769: Trade, Each Takes What They Need

Cui Yong listened and remained silent for a long time. Huo Yingjie had no reason to deceive him, and his daughter and son-in-law had mentioned it to him before.

Divine Dragon? Monster Cultivation?

That made Huo Yingjie entirely beyond his comprehension, perhaps even from a place unknown to him.

He recalled his brother, daughter, and son-in-law had once said there was a large tortoise in Huo Yingjie’s yard that was also versed in the Dao and was above them in rank.

"Sir, can you tell me where you are from?" Cui Yong asked, filled with curiosity.

Huo Yingjie chuckled and said, "From where I came, to where I go."

Clearly, he did not wish to reveal his origins to Cui Yong.

Cui Yong was smart. He had guessed that Huo was more capable than him, but he had not expected Huo to be so far beyond his imagination, at an unknown number of levels above.

"Sir, you must have asked for me to come for some other matter, right?" Cui Yong gave up on delving into Huo Yingjie’s identity. If Huo Yingjie was unwilling to disclose it, it was impossible for him to find out.

"A wise man indeed," Huo Yingjie said with a smile. "Seeing as you and your family hold no malice towards me and mine, I will not trouble you, but I have a request..."

"What request?" Cui Yong was startled, but from Huo Yingjie’s words, he heard no danger to life.

Huo Yingjie did not respond but instead, his right palm manifested over a dozen pieces of paper which floated to Cui Yong like leaves.

The sight before Cui Yong made him question whether his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Though he knew lightfoot, he certainly couldn’t conjure objects from thin air, let alone deliver them through space, thin sheets of paper or not.

"What... what is this?" Cui Yong asked, just as the items landed in his hands, immediately captivated by the words written on them.

Huo Yingjie smiled and said, "Nothing special, just that I found you’ve been practicing Taoist Cultivation Techniques, and I happen to have a copy here!"

"Taoist Cultivation Technique?" Cui Yong was stunned. Good heavens, this was exactly what the Unfettered Sect was lacking. In the past, his master and senior brothers had died, leaving nothing of use behind. Even if some scriptures remained, they were too basic, and he couldn’t find his own sect’s techniques.

Cui Yong read carefully, word by word, with some diagrams beside the text to explain the words.

After an indeterminate length of time, Cui Yong finally finished reading. Only then did he realize the manuscript was incomplete, as if someone had torn it from a book.

What a waste of such precious material!

"This cultivation technique is incomplete?" Cui Yong asked. "And why would you give me something so valuable? What do you need me to do? If it’s anything illegal, no matter how valuable the thing you give us, I won’t agree to it."

"Heh, it’s incomplete," Huo Yingjie chuckled. "That’s only the first two levels of the technique. There are eight more levels beyond. Even if you obtained all of them, not everyone could reach the tenth level. I am a law-abiding citizen, the thing I ask of you is simple! Have Huashan, Cui Ying quit her current job, support and share her work, and protect her safety at the appropriate times."

"Ah?" Cui Yong was taken aback. "That’s it?"

It seemed far too simple.

"Just that," Huo Yingjie nodded. "Every ten years, I will give you another level."

"Deal," Cui Yong said. They had been searching for decades without success; such a good opportunity was not to be missed.

Huo Yingjie smiled. "I prefer that Tiantian doesn’t find out about our transaction, so you should know what to do in the future!"

Cui Yong nodded and said, "I understand. I once lived in the secular world, until my wife passed away. Then I returned to the mountain with my daughter. Back then, I didn’t want her to know about my affairs either; I just wanted to be an ordinary husband and wife with her."

"Mm-hm!" Huo Yingjie nodded. "Exactly! You’re a smart man and know how to behave accordingly. Alright, you can leave now."

"Thank you, sir!" Cui Yong was excited. This was truly an unexpected windfall.

Just as Huo Yingjie turned to leave, Cui Yong hastened to ask, "Sir, why have you chosen us?"

"Merely because I find Cui Ying and Huashan to be quite good," Huo Yingjie said. "Oh, and also because you don’t have many enemies!"

Cui Yong sighed in relief, a smile finally spreading across his face, "Don’t worry, sir, I will ensure my daughter and disciple protect your wife well."

"That would be good," Huo Yingjie nodded. "You know I’m sometimes absent from Nan City, but that doesn’t mean I lack control here. If you harbor any disloyal thoughts, you should know what action I will take."

"Understood, understood," Cui Yong said promptly, without a moment’s hesitation.

Huo Yingjie nodded and added, "Alright, you may go back."

"Yes, sir," Cui Yong replied, his heart swelling with happiness as he had turned danger into treasure by obtaining precious cultivation techniques.

He had barely taken two steps when Huo Yingjie stopped again.

"Sir, do you have any other commands?" Cui Yong asked, clutching the papers in his hand tightly, worried that Huo Yingjie might change his mind.

"Right, I nearly forgot to mention that once you start practicing this technique, I will be aware of your every move," Huo Yingjie stated. His words were roundabout but the meaning they conveyed made Cui Yong gasp.

"This... does this contain such mysterious techniques?" Cui Yong was inwardly alarmed. Indeed, it was hot potatoes in his hand; if he declined them now, he might never get them in the future.

But by accepting, they would come under Huo Yingjie’s control.

"Heh, humans are very complex creatures; I understand that better than anyone," Huo Yingjie said. "Rather than trust your assurances, I prefer to rely on my own spells. You have five hours to think it over; after noon, the technique in your hands will disappear."

Cui Yong was torn. He had no intention of betraying Huo Yingjie, but the thought of being controlled by Huo’s tactic was hard to accept.

Yet, if he put himself in Huo Yingjie’s place, he might do the same.

He couldn’t give up such a complete technique!

The temptation was irresistible!

Now, what he most wanted to know was how many years they would be controlled?

"Sir, does this spell follow us for a lifetime?" Cui Yong asked. He truly did not want to become Huo Yingjie’s puppet.

Huo Yingjie chuckled and responded, "I just want my wife to live her life in peace and safety. As you progress through the technique, your lifespans will extend, and you should live longer than average. At that time, I will relieve you of the spell."

"Oh, that’s good," Cui Yong nodded, somewhat relieved. There had to be a limit, no matter how long it was.

Tiantian was an ordinary person who, even if long-lived, would at most make it past a century, which was only about seventy-odd years.

For ordinary people, this was a very long time, but for cultivators, it was only a part of life. Since they wanted the technique and had no intention of betrayal, agreeing to Huo Yingjie was the best outcome.