In a daze, Lu Chengwen slowly opened his eyes.
The surrounding light was dim, with jagged rocks everywhere, and the air was filled with a damp, sour smell.
Struggling to sit up, he saw an old man with disheveled white hair and a shabby robe sitting cross-legged in front of him, meditating with his eyes closed.
Opposite him, Hua Xuening lay unconscious on the ground.
Long Aotian, covered in wounds, was glaring at him.
"Hahaha!" The old man suddenly burst into maniacal laughter. "I've been meditating in seclusion here for years, and today, so many guests have arrived. This cave is really lively!"
Long Aotian weakly clasped his hands in a salute. "May I ask for the esteemed elder's name?"
The old man smiled faintly. "My humble name is unknown in the martial world, no need to mention it."
Lu Chengwen's mind raced.
Damn it!
The protagonist is still the protagonist. I knew he wouldn't die!
Luckily, I followed him down here. Otherwise, this old man would definitely take him as his adopted son, teach him supreme martial arts, and help him level up.
No! I have to ruin this!
Lu Chengwen quickly clasped his hands in salute. "Seeing the elder's sharp eyes, resonant voice, and heroic demeanor, could it be that you are the long-lost..."
"Correct! The Six-Fingered Ape Demon, Hun Tiangang, that's me!"
Long Aotian was furious.
Did he say you were "Hun Tiangang"? Did he?
He just flattered you a bit, and you spilled your own name and title!
Lu Chengwen thought to himself, this book is completely messed up. There are so many characters I don't recognize. Was this guy even in the original story?
Lu Chengwen hurriedly said, "Elder Tiangang's heroic deeds are renowned throughout the world. It's my great honor to meet you today, and I would die without regret."
Hun Tiangang glanced at Lu Chengwen. "Hmph, you flatterer. I despise those who suck up and flatter others! You don't look like a good person, with your slick appearance and cunning face."
Long Aotian laughed heartily. "Lu Chengwen, do you think you can win the elder's favor by flattering him? What kind of person do you think the elder is? Elder, this man is Lu Chengwen, the biggest unscrupulous merchant in Snow City. He is ruthless, cunning, and has committed every evil deed imaginable! Please, elder, uphold justice!"
Lu Chengwen narrowed his eyes. Long Aotian, you're really something. You're clearly too injured to move, and now you're trying to use Hun Tiangang to kill me!
Lu Chengwen quickly said, "Elder, I'm not some unscrupulous merchant. I'm a conscientious businessman. I just invested 50 billion in a slum redevelopment project for the poor. This is well-known in Snow City!"
"Enough!" Hun Tiangang sternly looked at both of them. "You two don't seem like good people. I, the Six-Fingered Ape Demon Hun Tiangang, value benevolence above all. Those who are unrighteous and malicious, I kill on sight without hesitation!"
With that, he struck out with his palm, and a distant rock exploded with a bang.
This move shocked both Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian.
Splitting a rock with a single hand isn't that impressive—any decent martial artist can do that. If you can't even smash a rock, can you even call yourself a martial artist?
But from here to the cave entrance was over twenty meters. To shatter a rock from such a distance with just internal energy—how profound must his internal strength be?!
Both of them were inwardly nervous.
This Hun Tiangang seemed to have been isolated for so long that his temper had become quite eccentric. If this eccentric old man decided to give you a slap in a bad mood, who could withstand it?
Long Aotian said, "Lu Chengwen, do you see? Today, you're doomed."
Lu Chengwen thought for a moment. "Elder, this palm technique, could it be the long-lost..."
"Correct!" Hun Tiangang looked at his palm and sighed. "You have a good eye. This is indeed the long-lost Hunyuan Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Long Aotian was about to explode with anger.
First, he revealed his own name, and now he's revealing his palm technique!
Did Lu Chengwen say anything? Did he say it was the Hunyuan Eight Trigrams Palm?
You just blurted it out yourself!
So, Lu Chengwen says half, and you just finish the sentence for him?
Long Aotian thought to himself, this old man's temper is too strange. He doesn't like flattery, and he doesn't like bad people. I need to be careful. Maybe I can use his hand to kill Lu Chengwen!
At this moment, Lu Chengwen exclaimed in admiration, "Elder, your palm technique is truly powerful, combining strength and flexibility with exquisite skill. Such a profound technique must be beyond the comprehension of most people in the world. Only a genius could grasp the intricacies of this palm technique!"
Hun Tiangang shot Lu Chengwen a glance. "Flatterer, hmph."
Lu Chengwen smiled. "I truly admire you, elder."
"Really?"
"Absolutely, I swear on the sun and moon."
"Hmm, are you hungry? I have some roasted meat here."
Long Aotian's eyes widened. What the hell?!
Didn't you say you hate flatterers? What's this? Lu Chengwen flatters you a bit, and you just accept it all?
Lu Chengwen said, "I'm too injured from the fall to eat anything heavy."
"Hehe, you fell pretty hard. But coincidentally, I have a Bone Restoration Pill here. Take it, and it will heal all your bone injuries!"
Hun Tiangang hesitated. "But there are two of you here... This..."
Long Aotian panicked. "Elder, you must not save him. He's a bad person, a truly unrighteous villain!"
Hun Tiangang looked at Lu Chengwen. "Are you a villain?"
"No."
Hun Tiangang glared at Long Aotian. "He said he's not!"
Long Aotian was utterly baffled.
Is this old man out of his mind? Just because he says he's not, that makes it true? Why are you glaring at me?
Long Aotian thought for a moment and then smiled. "Lu Chengwen is immensely wealthy but utterly unscrupulous. He has amassed his fortune through exploitation and deceit. The people of Snow City all want to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Ask him if he admits to this."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "I admit it!"
Long Aotian excitedly said, "Elder, he admitted it! He admitted it!"
Hun Tiangang glared at Long Aotian. "I'm not deaf, stop shouting!"
Hun Tiangang asked Lu Chengwen, "Kid, why are you so unscrupulous, exploiting and amassing wealth?"
Lu Chengwen replied, "Elder, this involves economics and sociology."
"Oh?"
"The world runs on capital. Capital generates momentum, which drives society forward. Capitalists need to concentrate capital to accomplish great things. I set up pharmaceutical factories, gather engineers and scientists, develop new medicines, and treat the poor. All of this requires money."
"A good capitalist knows how to make money because the more money you make, the more you can do. At the same time, you must know how to spend money. The money you earn is far more than you can ever spend yourself. This money must be turned into momentum, into a force that propels society forward. The more I earn, the more I spend. The more I spend, the faster society progresses, and the more people benefit. When capital accumulates to a certain level, I can take the company public, enter the stock market, and let the masses become shareholders... I mean, let everyone have a share in the profits..."
Long Aotian angrily interjected, "Lu Chengwen, the elder is a recluse. Do you think he can understand all this talk about capital, industry, momentum, and equity?"
Hun Tiangang, who had been struggling to follow Lu Chengwen's explanation, became furious upon hearing Long Aotian's words. "Nonsense! How do you know I don't understand? He's just saying... earn money, spend money, and the world gets better, right?"
Long Aotian was stunned.
Are you really that stubborn?
Do you have to pretend to understand?
Lu Chengwen immediately clapped his hands. "Elder! Brilliant! I explained so much, and you summed up the core of it all in one sentence! Yes, it's about earning money, spending money, and then peace reigns! Wow, elder, your philosophical thinking is truly awe-inspiring!"
Hun Tiangang was pleased, his face full of smiles. He waved his hand. "Enough of that. I hate flattery."
Long Aotian was about to explode with anger.
You hate flattery? Then why are you enjoying it so much?
Hun Tiangang leaned closer to Lu Chengwen. "Actually, I'm not stupid."
"Of course, of course."
"Earning money is like practicing martial arts. You have to put in the effort to practice, and you have to put in the effort to earn money."
"Elder, you're truly a god. What you say is so profound!"
"Do you think martial artists are all old-fashioned and stubborn? My thinking is very open."
"Elder, you've really taught me a lesson today. I regret not falling off the cliff earlier so I could have heard your wisdom sooner."
Hun Tiangang laughed. "Enough of that. I never listen to flattery."
Long Aotian felt like his chest was about to burst.
Not only had he been severely injured by Iron Pagoda King, but he had also broken many bones from the fall. If it weren't for Hua Xuening shielding him with her body, he would have died.
Now, after finally waking up, he encounters this old fool.
Completely brainless!
Being led around by Lu Chengwen.
I need to get that Bone Restoration Pill. As long as I can move, I can kill Lu Chengwen!
Hun Tiangang fumbled around his belt and pulled out a pill. "Do you recognize this?"
Long Aotian thought to himself, you just said it was the Bone Restoration Pill. Are you out of your mind? How can someone be so clueless?
Lu Chengwen, however, was shocked. "Elder, could this be..."
"Correct!"
Long Aotian couldn't take it anymore. "Enough, you two!"
Lu Chengwen and Hun Tiangang both turned to look at him.
Long Aotian was so frustrated he could cry. "What's going on? Starting with your name, he says half, and you finish the sentence. Whatever he says, you just say 'correct.' Elder, how can you fall for this? He clearly knows nothing and just says the first half, letting you fill in the rest! He's deceiving you!"
Hun Tiangang slowly turned his head and stared at Lu Chengwen. "Are you deceiving me?"
Lu Chengwen shook his head. "No."
Hun Tiangang turned back. "He said he's not!"
Long Aotian felt like his chest was about to explode.
"Elder, you yourself just said it was the Bone Restoration Pill, so he pretended to be surprised! He's definitely deceiving you! I guarantee he's never heard of your name before. And your palm technique, I can swear, before you said 'Hunyuan Eight Trigrams Palm,' he had no idea such a technique existed. If you don't believe me, ask him!"
Hun Tiangang turned his head, narrowing his eyes. "Kid, you're quite cunning. Dare to deceive me?"
Lu Chengwen calmly said, "Elder, with your wisdom, could I possibly deceive you? Are you the type to be easily fooled by a couple of half-dead kids who fell from the sky? Do you believe that? Your wisdom far surpasses mine. I can only look up to you in admiration. Any attempt to deceive you would be like showing off in front of Guan Gong or Lu Ban. You'd see through my little tricks in an instant!"
Hun Tiangang smiled. "Stop flattering me. I don't fall for that!"
Long Aotian felt his internal injuries worsen, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
He was so angry he almost passed out.