Chapter 242 - 204: Thank You Gift

Feng Jiu’s face immediately showed a disappointed expression as she said, "You old fox, all those years of cultivation might as well have been spent on a dog."

The old man, unfazed by her words, stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Don’t try to provoke me with that tactic; I’m no greenhorn, and such tricks won’t work on me."

"Speaking of which, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have broken free from your shackles. You owe me a favor that you need to repay," Feng Jiu said softly, her eyes darting around mischievously.

"Don’t talk nonsense, young girl. I owe this young brother by your side, not you. Without me covering up the secrets of heaven for you, you wouldn’t be standing here today," the old man said, still smiling.

"His favor is my favor," Feng Jiu declared matter-of-factly, not minding Lin Fang’s astonished look.

Shaking his head with a sigh, the old man said, "You’ve become much more troublesome than before. Tell me, what exactly do you want me to help you with?"

"Don’t worry, I won’t make things too difficult for you. I just want you to cover up a few people’s destinies," she said, then whispered a few names into the old man’s ear.

The old man’s expression darkened slightly as he finally said, "Are you sure about these people? What mischief are you planning in your heart? Be careful not to lose more than you bargain for."

"Rest assured, as long as you help me cover up their destinies, this matter will already be half successful," Feng Jiu said confidently.

"Enough, I’ll help you one more time. But don’t bother me after this," the old man said, waving his hand in exasperation.

Feng Jiu beamed a smile, her eyes gleaming with cunning light.

The old man approached the desk, took out some straw, and began to fashion straw figures on his own.

Lin Fang watched the old man’s techniques closely, only to discover mysterious runes flickering between the old man’s fingers, and an enigmatic aura appeared on the otherwise ordinary straw.

It was the power of destiny, and Lin Fang was amazed. Such power was rare even among the great powers of the Three Realms; it was unexpected that this elderly man could achieve it, and his real identity remained a mystery.

After all, someone who could befriend the Demon Emperor and even address him as "young girl" must be someone who survived from ancient times.

Such a person could hardly be unknown.

In less than a quarter of an hour, three small straw men were born from the old man’s hands, surrounded by an esoteric and profound aura.

The old man handed two of them to Feng Jiu, saying, "Take these two straw men, leave a trace of the other person’s aura on them, and they will naturally take effect."

"Haha, I knew you were the most reliable," Feng Jiu laughed as she took the straw men from the old man’s hands, her demeanor affectionate enough to make anyone think she was the old man’s granddaughter.

"You only compliment me during times like this," the old man said.

Having said that, the old man held the last straw man in his hands and muttered an incantation. The originally immobile straw man suddenly burst into a bright green light, as if it had come to life.

The incantation was long, and it took the old man a while to finish. By the time he did, the straw man in his hands had changed dramatically, glowing with a green light.

The straw man radiated a vibrant vitality that anyone could see its preciousness.

At this moment, the old man was also somewhat out of breath, it was clear that the incantation had been a considerable burden to him.

He gently wiped the sweat from his forehead and handed the straw man to Lin Fang, saying, "This straw man is for you, consider it a thank you for this time."

Then he started to explain how to use the straw man on his own: "This straw man, as it is made with a secret technique by me, can shield against divine detection. The incantation I cast later allows the paper figures to take your place in face of calamity. Just leave a wisp of your breath within it, and when you face a certain death in the future, the straw man will bear it for you."

Upon hearing the old man’s explanation, Lin Fang realized how precious the straw man in his hand was—it was like having an extra life.

Moreover, this straw man seemed to possess the ability to attract fortune and repel disaster, as long as it was carried on the body, luck would improve.

Receiving the straw man solemnly from the old man, Lin Fang quickly thanked him, but the old man stopped him, saying, "You allowed me to free myself from shackles; this thing cannot sever the karma between us. If you encounter difficulties later, you can come to find me."

After finishing, he took out a jade pendant and handed it to Lin Fang, saying, "Take this jade pendant. If you want to find me, just knock on the pendant three times, and you will naturally see me."

Lin Fang took the jade pendant and saw that it was made of white jade, engraved with a demon beast he had never seen before, shaped somewhat like a deer, but with distinct differences in some areas.

Feng Jiu, seeing this jade pendant, chuckled and urged Lin Fang to put it away quickly.

"This is a fine item indeed, the old man has a lot of precious knowledge in his head, you can consult him if you encounter any problems."

Once everything was arranged, the old man slowly stood up, a relaxed smile appearing on his face as he said, "I have waited in agony here for so many years; I can finally leave. This loft is well-built; if you don’t mind, I would like to gift it to you."

Having said this, he did not wait for Lin Fang and his companion to react before a breeze picked up around them, blowing into their eyes. When they looked again in the direction of the old man, he was already gone.

Unexpectedly, the old man had departed so abruptly; no sooner had he bid farewell than he had vanished.

While Lin Fang was still contemplating the old man’s style, Feng Jiu had already started eagerly examining the environment inside the loft.

It must be said, the old man knew how to enjoy life; he had kept this large loft meticulously organized, with bookshelves filled to overflowing with books.

Lin Fang randomly opened a book, only to find it recorded methods for practicing spells, making him click his tongue in wonder.

Such a book, if placed outside, would have many people fighting over it until their heads were bloodied, yet here it was lying quietly on the shelf.

Lin Fang continued browsing, finding that the books covered all subjects, mostly about the practice of cultivation, truly invaluable.

It was clear they were carefully collected by the old man, and unexpectedly, he had gifted them all to Lin Fang.

This was an unexpected fortune, leaving Lin Fang momentarily feeling as if he were dreaming.

Feng Jiu also looked around and laughed, saying, "This old guy has hidden quite a few treasures."

She then picked up a pitch-dark small bowl, stared at it intently for a moment, her face breaking into a brilliant smile as she quietly slipped the bowl into her bosom.