Empress, please lay down your armor, for I will save the world with a single sword!

really,

As soon as Wu Liang finished speaking, a glint of light flashed in the eyes of the withered old man.

"That is the cure," he said immediately.

Wu Liang: "..."

I've been tricked by this old man.

The withered old man's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of sarcasm.

"Young people, if you speak too confidently, you'll easily lose your temper."

Wu Liang gave a forced smile. "Old fool, you're about to lose your life, and you're still so good at picking fights?"

The withered old man said calmly, "When a person is about to die, their hearing always becomes more sensitive."

Don't give me that.

Wu Liang snorted coldly, "When I said I could cure you, I meant I could try, not that I could guarantee you'd be perfectly healthy again."

The gaunt old man had a cold and arrogant look in his eyes.

"What I want is not to try."

"It's cured."

Wu Liang was so angry he laughed.

"You actually picked one?"

"Don't you know your own situation? Half of your body is buried in the ground, and the other half is crawling into the coffin."

"You should be grateful that someone is even willing to try to save you."

The withered old man looked at him and said, word by word, "I never burn incense."

"Gods and Buddhas cannot accept this."

Wu Liang choked.

Good guy.

That old man is incredibly arrogant.

The passersby burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Listen to this! Even gods and Buddhas couldn't bear it!"

"That old madman really dares to say that!"

"I think this young master is out of his mind. Why waste words with him?"

Wu Liang was too lazy to pay attention to those watching the spectacle.

He stared at the withered old man for a few moments, while his mind raced with calculations.

This old man's injuries are bizarrely strange.

Sword energy, lightning, death energy, and that black flame...

Regardless of his past identity, he is definitely not a simple person.

Most people would die from just one of these ailments.

He's quite something, mixing all four together and still managing to lean against a pillar and curse people.

If this is just an ordinary madman, then there are no normal people in this world.

However, since Yan Hai has already accepted today's good deed task, why not keep him alive for now and see how things go tomorrow?

What if a big mission triggers tomorrow...?

Wu Liang felt a sudden itch in his heart.

However, even though it itches, we can't work for nothing.

Wu Liang never does a business that loses money!

So Wu Liang stood up, clapped his hands, and made a move to leave.

"Okay, you're good."

"Since you're so skilled, then you can heal yourself."

The withered old man's voice came from behind.

"If you heal me, I will grant you all your wishes."

Wu Liang paused in his steps.

The gaunt old man leaned against a pillar, his voice hoarse yet chillingly arrogant.

"Vast wealth, divine weapons and secret manuals, beautiful wives and concubines, and a renowned reputation in the martial arts world."

"Whoever you want to die, I'll make sure they don't live past tomorrow."

"Whoever you want to kneel, I'll make him crawl to your feet."

"You desire fame throughout the land? I will make sure the entire martial world of the Great Zhou remembers your name overnight!"

"Apart from the emperor's chair, I can give you anything in the world you can name!"

That's incredibly arrogant.

He was so arrogant that even the onlookers couldn't laugh for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, someone else started cursing:

"Blow! Keep blowing!"

"Why don't you get yourself a pair of shoes first!"

"Beautiful wives and concubines, huh? Anyone who marries you is doomed!"

Wu Liang slowly turned around and looked at him with a half-smile.

"Old man, before you start bragging, can you at least take a look at yourself?"

"You can't even afford a bowl of ginseng soup at Jishi Restaurant now."

The gaunt old man calmly said, "I simply cannot afford it today."

"It's not that I'll never be able to afford it."

This was said very naturally, without the slightest bit of bluster.

It seems that vast wealth, divine weapons and secret manuals, and fame in the martial arts world are things that he can give away at will.

Wu Liang narrowed his eyes.

He increasingly felt that this old man's background was anything but simple.

But he knew even better that empty words were the least valuable thing.

I don't believe it.

Wu Liang shook his head. "Who knows if you're an old liar? If I go through all that trouble to save you, and then you just pack up and run away, where am I supposed to find you?"

The withered old man said coldly, "A promise I keep is heavier than mountains."

"Mountains can't be eaten."

Wu Liang said with a smile, "How about this, let's have something that can be paid out immediately."

The withered old man looked at him.

What do you want?

"Draw up a written agreement."

Wu Liang squatted down again, smiling brightly, "If I cure you, from now on you will be my servant."

"I told you to go east, you can't go west."

"I told you to beat the dog, but you can't chase the chicken."

The air suddenly turned a few degrees colder.

The old man's cloudy eyes suddenly became deep and profound.

An indescribable sense of oppression slowly seeped from his dilapidated and emaciated body.

He was sitting on the ground, his clothes tattered, looking as pathetic as a stray dog.

But at that moment, the onlookers inexplicably fell silent.

"You want me to be your servant?"

The gaunt old man spoke each word clearly, his voice as cold as ice, "Boy, you have quite the nerve!!"

Wu Liang's heart skipped a beat.

This old man's aura is really intimidating.

However, he showed no fear whatsoever; on the contrary, his smile was even more infuriating.

"I have no money to pay for the consultation, so I'm selling myself to pay off my debts."

"It's only natural."

The withered old man sneered.

"No one in this world has yet been born who would dare to make me their servant."

Wu Liang turned around immediately.

"Then you'll have to wait for the person who's born."

They could just pack up and go.

No nonsense.

He left decisively, without even turning his head back.

The onlookers were even more amused.

"Oh dear, that handsome young man really left!"

"Nonsense, why would we stay and listen to this madman bragging?"

"This old man may be stubborn, but he's probably really going to die."

The gaunt old man leaned against a pillar, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

He stared intently at Wu Liang's retreating figure.

He could sense that he couldn't hold on much longer.

Having fled from Youdu to Beiyong, he was already exhausted and on his deathbed.

Sword energy, lightning, and death energy within his body were constantly tearing at his life.

Those quack doctors at Jishi Hall couldn't understand it.

Even if you have a pharmacy all over the city, you might not find anyone who can understand it.

And this seemingly unserious young man was the first to accurately describe the three fatal injuries within his body.

Although this kid is greedy, has a foul mouth, and a frivolous look in his eyes, he doesn't seem like a good person at all.

But he did see it.

We can't let him leave.

At least, not now.

"stop."

The withered old man spoke in a hoarse voice.

Wu Liang's lips curled slightly.

However, when he turned around, his face was full of impatience.

"What's wrong now?"

The gaunt old man stared at him, his voice very low.

"I can do things for you for a year."

Wu Liang scoffed.

"A year?"

"Old fool, you're almost dead, and you're still so stingy?"

"I'm saving your life, not treating your athlete's foot."

"At least twenty years."

The withered old man said coldly, "Twenty years? You can't afford that."

Wu Liang shrugged. "Can you afford to die?"

"Two years."

"Eighteen years."

"Two years."

"Fifteen years."

"Two years."

"Ten years, no less."

"Two years."

Wu Liang's face darkened.

"Old man, are you trying to bargain or chant sutras?"

The withered old man closed his eyes and uttered only two words.

"Two years."

Wu Liang turned and left.

The withered old man's eyelids twitched violently.

"...Three years."

Wu Liang stopped in his tracks.

The withered old man opened his eyes, his voice so cold it sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth.

"At most three years."

"If you utter another word, I'd rather die."

Wu Liang was secretly overjoyed, but his face still showed a look of having suffered a great loss, and he let out a long sigh.

"Sigh, three years it is then."

"It's because I'm a kind-hearted person."

The gaunt old man sneered, "You have absolutely nothing to do with the word 'kind-hearted'."

Wu Liang smiled and said, "Enough with the nonsense, let's put it in writing."

The gaunt old man frowned. "A promise I keep is heavier than mountains."

Wu Liang shook his head. "I don't believe in mountains, I believe in written words."

After saying that, he turned and called out to the young apprentice at the entrance of the Jishi Hall.

"Hey, can I borrow your paper and pen?"

The apprentice rolled his eyes. "Why should I lend it to you?"

Wu Liang took out a few copper coins and tossed them over.

The medicine boy immediately turned around to get it.

Not long after, paper and pen were delivered.

Wu Liang spread the paper out in front of the withered old man and then stuffed the pen into his hand.

Write it down.

"Don't try anything funny."

The withered old man held a pen; his hand was as thin as a stick, yet he wrote with remarkable steadiness.

The handwriting is vigorous and sharp, like a knife.

Soon, a written agreement was completed.

The gist is very simple.

If Wu Liang can cure him, he will serve Wu Liang for three years.

The final signature consisted of only two words.

Black Nine.

Wu Liang picked up the document, blew on the ink, and examined it carefully.

"Black Nine?"

He raised an eyebrow. "This name doesn't sound like that of a respectable person."

The withered old man looked up.

"You look like it?"

Wu Liang patted his chest confidently.

"My name is Wu Liang."

The withered old man chuckled.

"Unscrupulous? Heartless, hahaha!"

"Kou Tian Wu, the kind-hearted Liang!"

"It doesn't live up to its name."

Wu Liang: "..."

This old guy really doesn't know how to have a conversation.

He carefully folded the document, tucked it into his pocket, and his mood immediately improved.

"Alright, come with me."

As he spoke, he looked Hei Jiu up and down.

"Are you still able to walk? Do you want me to find you a cart?"

Hei Jiu, supporting himself on a pillar, slowly stood up.

His movements were slow.

But he didn't utter a single sound from beginning to end.

It was clear that the sword energy within his body was cutting his meridians, the lightning and fire were burning his body, and the death energy was corroding his bones. Every movement should feel like being scraped by a knife through the cracks in his bones.

But he simply leaned against the pillar and stood up straight.

His face was still pale, and his lips were still black.

His eyes were cold, and his back was straight.

It's as if the injuries I have now, which are enough to make someone die of pain, are nothing more than this.

Wu Liang was secretly startled.

Holy crap.

That old guy is really something.

Despite being injured like this, he neither screams nor rolls around in pain, yet he can still stand up and walk with a nonchalant air.

If it were anyone else, they would probably be lying on the ground clinging to someone's leg and screaming for help.

Hei Jiu glanced at him.

"Walk."

Wu Liang blinked. "Are you sure you can leave?"

Hei Jiu said calmly, "I can leave before I die."

Wu Liang grinned.

"Fine, you've got guts."

"I hope you'll be just as hard when you're getting treatment later."

Hei Jiu said coldly, "Kid, you'd better be really capable."

"Otherwise, before I die, I'll take you with me."

Wu Liang was not afraid at all; instead, he patted the document in his arms.

"You've been my servant for three years now, threatening the master and having your wages withheld."

Hei Jiu: "Noisy."

Wu Liang chuckled.

"They're quite into character."

The two left the entrance of the Jishi Hall one after the other.

The onlookers behind them were still discussing it.

Some people laughed at Wu Liang for being fooled by the crazy old man.

Some people say this old man probably won't live past tonight.

Some people felt it was bad luck and quickly dispersed.

Wu Liang did not turn around.

He walked ahead, carrying a medicine bag in his hand, but his excitement grew stronger.

This old man is no ordinary person.

These wounds, this breath, this ability to endure pain...

Did you strike it rich?

No.

It's also possible that they've stumbled upon a huge, unjust case.

But no matter what, let's get them back and see how they are treated.

What if you actually make a profit?

……

Gentlemen of wisdom, can anyone guess who this old man is?

~(〃'▽'〃)~