Dao Companions Help Me Live Forever

Chapter 12: So I lack manners, but do you have any?

Outside the courtyard gate, a middle-aged man in his forties stood quietly, dressed in a blue robe. He had a sharkskin scabbard hanging from his left waist, and his right hand was behind his back. He had a tall and straight figure, a steady aura, and the demeanor of a grandmaster standing between heaven and earth.

This person was Ding Le, who had come to visit.

Upon hearing the impolite summons from inside, Ding Le's face darkened, but he did not immediately lose his temper. Instead, he walked through the courtyard gate.

There, he saw a young man leaning loosely behind a stone table, with his pants sagging. Behind him was a charming young woman with a flushed face, busy adjusting her clothes.

"You are Yu Gongfeng?" Although Ding Le had heard that this Yu Gongfeng was young, he didn't expect him to be this young. He looked like he was in his early twenties, yet he was already a martial arts master who had captured Chen Xiao, a mid-stage innate expert, as rumored.

"That's me." Yu Xian didn't even lift his eyelids. He didn't have a good expression for someone who had interrupted his interest.

"And who might you be? Since you've come to visit me without even bringing a gift, do you have any manners?" Yu Xian's voice sank as he spoke. "The one lacking manners is probably you, sir. Ding Le considers himself quite courteous. He came to pay his respects, but you first spoke disrespectfully, belittling Ding Le as an insignificant pawn. When Ding Le entered, you didn't even bother to get up. Have you ever shown any courtesy?"

Yu Xian was taken aback for a moment and retorted, "So I lack manners, but do you have any?"

Ding Le: "..."

Damn it! I made a mistake!

Faced with this kind of rogue tactic that aimed to bring everyone down to the same level of manners, Ding Le chose to avoid its sharpness and get straight to the point.

"I've always heard that Yu Gongfeng is highly skilled in martial arts, but I didn't expect your mouth to be so sharp. However, I have come this time to discuss a matter. Building No. 2 of the Tianzi Estate has beautiful scenery, and I really like it. I kindly ask Yu Gongfeng to give it up."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xian pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, "Is this the prince's intention?"

He thought that the Wang Mansion was starting to become dissatisfied with his lack of enthusiasm for work. Even if he didn't do any work, as a martial arts master, wasn't he worth two hundred taels of silver per month?

Yu Xian felt dissatisfied and began to consider changing jobs. The Sun Family Medicine Shop was not bad. Last time when they came to deliver money, they subtly hinted at welcoming him with open arms, and the benefits were substantial.

Ding Le didn't answer directly, but sneered, "The prince has asked me to choose my own residence in the Gongfeng Courtyard, and I happened to have my eye on your yard. If you're unwilling, then let's settle it with our hands. The houses in this Gongfeng Courtyard should be occupied by the virtuous."

(Translation by @lucia)

Yu Xian finally reacted: "You are the newly appointed celestial-level offering of the Wang Mansion. Are you here to establish your authority with me?"

Ding Le was caught off guard but didn't argue. He continued to sneer: "If you dare not fight, then please vacate Building No. 2."

Yu Xian scratched his head and sighed helplessly:

"Why don't you just say it boldly? Why do you like resorting to violence?

Here's the deal, give me two thousand taels of silver, and I'll move out immediately. I remember Building No. 3 is still vacant, I can go there."

Ding Le thought that Yu Xian was afraid, so he spoke with even more confidence: "What if I don't want to give it?"

Yu Xian crossed his arms and said matter-of-factly: "If you don't give it, then I won't move."

"What if I insist?"

"Well, how about 1,800 taels then? A friendly price."

"Isn't it beneath a martial arts master like you to keep talking about money?"

"Fine, fine. Since you want to negotiate, I'll give in. 1,500 taels, no less."

"I didn't come here to rent a house!"

Clang!

A cold light flashed, and a sword aura shot out from the tip of the sword, hitting the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. A large number of branches and leaves fell, making the fragrance in the air even stronger.

Even though Ding Le was skilled in cultivating his qi, he was so angry that he drew his sword and spoke:

"Yu Xian, don't pay attention to his words. If you're afraid to fight, just say it. Ding Le will turn around and leave!"

Yu Xian finally stood up, feeling quite indignant.

"Damn it, I don't even know who you are. You inexplicably come to my door wanting to fight, and you don't even want to give me money but want to live in my house. Who's being unreasonable, you or me?

You want to fight, huh? Come on! Take a punch from me!"

He relied on his reputation to freeload and make a living. If his reputation was ruined, it would be like smashing his rice bowl!

Yu Xian condensed his palm with his qi, forming a red palm print. The air twisted from the high temperature, and the temperature in the courtyard suddenly rose.

As the only offensive spiritual technique Yu Xian possessed, the Fireball Technique may not have reached the level of a grandmaster, but it had reached a high level. He could freely manipulate the shape of the fireball, giving it a taste of fire manipulation technique.

At this moment, the fireball took the shape of a palm, vividly resembling a fiery red jade, with a crystal-like texture.

"You're attacking me by surprise!"

Ding Le recognized this palm as Yu Xian's famous skill, the Crimson Flame Divine Palm. He immediately felt a sense of danger and his face showed a look of shock.

This palm was much more powerful than he had imagined.

He didn't dare to directly confront it. With a step and his hands open, he looked like a giant eagle spreading its wings as he retreated at an extremely fast speed.

But Yu Xian's move was unexpected.

The fireball transformed into a blazing palm and suddenly exploded in the air. Ding Le was unable to dodge in time and was splattered with sparks, causing his clothes to immediately catch fire.

This fireball was formed from spiritual energy and was beyond ordinary fire. Once it touched someone, it would continue to burn until it was completely extinguished.

Ding Le felt the scorching heat and the fire poison drilling into his body. His true qi surged out as he struggled to resist the flames.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Ding Le was already unable to divert his attention. He felt his true qi rapidly depleting. The power of the flames was unreasonable. It took almost ten times the amount of true qi to extinguish a fraction of the flames.

When his true qi was depleted by seventy to eighty percent, the flames slowly extinguished.

At this moment, most of Ding Le's long hair was burnt, and his blue robe had turned into a scene of fire. He looked disheveled and no longer had the demeanor of a master.

"You can't even take a single palm from me, and yet you dare to talk about changing rooms?"

Yu Xian stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Ding Le.

He didn't take the opportunity to kill Ding Le. After all, they were only engaged in a verbal conflict, not a major grudge. Besides, Ding Le was a member of the Wang Mansion, so he had to give him a chance.

But if there was a next time, he would have to resort to a three-step process of tying him up, hitting him with a club, and drowning him.

Furthermore, regardless of whether this was a test approved by the Prince of Fu, he had once again demonstrated his strength today. If he wasn't given an explanation, the plan to switch sides would have to be put on the agenda.

With his strength, he couldn't tolerate being wronged anywhere he went.

Thinking about this, Yu Xian couldn't help but have a thought, and a crude panel appeared below his field of vision.

[Name: Yu Xian]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Sixth Layer (83/130)]

[Soulmate: Yu Lan (1/1)]

If he worked harder recently, he could break through to the later stage of Qi Refining within a month.

Yu Xian thought to himself.

On the other hand, Yu Xian's arrogant attitude made Ding Le, who had been proud all his life, burn with anger. He almost wanted to fight back.

But thinking about the power of that palm just now, he quickly calmed down.

This was definitely not the strength that a cultivator in the early stage of the innate realm should have. Even in the prestigious Changle Sword Sect, perhaps only the Elder could be his opponent.

A real man can bend and stretch.

Ding Le quickly found a reason for himself and apologized to Yu Xian with a fist salute.

"Brother Yu's martial arts are powerful, and I admire you. Let's forget about changing rooms. I won't mention it again in the future!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

"Hold on!"

Yu Xian called out to Ding Le, pointing at the fallen osmanthus petals on the ground.

"You said it's fine, but how are you going to compensate me for damaging my flowers and plants?

I won't extort you, but these are osmanthus trees that I carefully cultivated. Just give me a thousand or eight hundred taels of silver as a gesture."

"Brother Yu, let's spare each other. I'll leave today, and we'll meet again in the future." Ding Le clenched his fist.

Yu Xian turned his palm and observed the patterns, as if he was ready to strike at any moment.

"Do you believe that I can make sure you have no future right now?"

"Do you dare?!"

Ding Le swallowed his saliva and showed a fierce look.

"I'm also a member of the Wang Mansion. If you dare to kill me, the Lord won't spare you lightly."

"Shall we make a bet?"

Yu Xian smiled, his expression somewhat reminiscent of a young man.

"I don't have any silver on me. I'll send it to you another day."

Ding Le wisely admitted defeat. This wasn't a matter of whether to bet or not. It was his own life.

"Alright, you're from the Changle Sword Sect, right? You have three days. If you don't send the silver, I'll go to your sect to collect it."

When it came to silver, Yu Xian's memory suddenly improved.

"Take care, no need to send me off."

Ding Le left with a spirited and dispirited demeanor.

This was different from the script he had in mind. Wasn't it said that this Brother Yu's strength was average and that he only knew how to ambush?

He did know how to ambush.

But if this strength could be called average, what should he call himself, trash?

Yu Xian watched Ding Le leave but didn't move. After thinking for a moment, he said to Yu Lan:

"Go and call Chen Yi. I have something for her to do."

Yu Lan witnessed her master's power and was both nervous and excited. She couldn't help but ask:

"Master, Sister Yi is practicing. Do you have something for me to do? Can I help you?"

"You have another task." Yu Xian rubbed Yu Lan's cheek and smiled. "Go, she has been eating for free with me all day. It's time for her to contribute."

"Oh."

Yu Lan showed a hint of disappointment, but she obediently went to find Chen Yi.

(End of this chapter)