72: It’s a deal

"Hu Qian, Hu Qian..."

Old Huo called out as he walked to Hu Qian's door, slightly startled to see the open door.

Inside the room, Hu Qian sat by the table.

"What's wrong? You look so troubled," Old Huo asked, surprised.

"It's that girl Hu Jia again." Bringing up his granddaughter, Hu Qian sighed incessantly. If he hadn't kept such a close eye on her back then, the Medicinal Pill he had just acquired would have almost been given away by that girl.

These past two days, Hu Jia had finally absorbed the Medicinal Pill and then rushed out of the house impatiently.

"Why do you always interfere in a young girl's affairs? Even for the Inner Academy selection, that's two years away. Hu Jia now has the strength of a Nine-Star Dou Zhe; at her age in the Outer Academy, she's in a league of her own."

Old Huo shook his head. He couldn't get too involved in other people's family matters. "Let's go. You promised to help me fish, and today is the last day to fulfill that promise."

"Is it that your Medicinal Pills no longer attract Lin Xiu? He hasn't sent you any fish in two months." Hu Qian stood up and followed Old Huo out of the room.

Old Huo said, "I guess he's probably mad at me. I should have known not to send Huo Lan out."

Just as he finished speaking, he saw Huo Lan walking towards them.

"Elder Huo, Vice Dean Hu." Huo Lan was about to turn in a mission and immediately went to greet Elder Huo when he saw him.

After his report, Old Huo praised him a couple of times and patted Huo Lan's shoulder, making him feel a surge of excitement.

"Oh, right, did you see Lin Xiu when you came back?" At the end, Old Huo suddenly asked.

Huo Lan was startled and shook his head. "My student said he went out for training. I was also looking for him. Elder, is there something you need him for?"

"No, just asking casually." Seeing that Huo Lan had no news, Old Huo gave him a Medicinal Pill as compensation and sent him away.

He hadn't expected Elder Huo to actively inquire about Lin Xiu. Huo Lan was puzzled. "Could Elder Huo have taken a liking to Lin Xiu? But he doesn't have any alchemy talent, so what connection could he have with the head of the Alchemy Department?"

...On the other side.

Lin Xiu, who was fishing, encountered a small problem.

A girl with light red long hair stood before him, her gaze fixed on the White Carp he had just caught at his feet.

"Give it to me," the girl extended her hand. "Just name your conditions."

The girl didn't recognize Lin Xiu, but Lin Xiu recognized her; she was the girl he had accidentally bumped into on the road that day.

She should be Hu Qian's granddaughter. If she truly meant "just name your conditions," then he... Lin Xiu's eyes darted around, and he probed, "One Mystic-Rank Combat Skill for one fish?"

"Why don't you just rob me?" Hu Jia's eyes widened. She thought, *I said name your conditions, but he actually dares to demand such an exorbitant price.*

"Then what price are you willing to offer?" Lin Xiu calmly retorted.

"Let me think first."

Hu Jia had many good things on her, even Mystic-Rank Combat Skills; she actually possessed some.

However, she would certainly not agree to trade a fish for a Mystic-Rank Combat Skill.

Lin Xiu saw her fall into thought and didn't rush her, continuing to fish. Before long, he caught another White Carp.

"How did you do that?" Hu Jia, beside him, was astonished. *Since when was catching White Carp so easy?*

Seeing Lin Xiu smile without speaking, she knew he had a trick, but he would never reveal it easily.

Hu Jia's pretty eyes rolled, and she said, "It's not impossible to exchange for a Mystic-Rank Combat Skill, but let's change what we're exchanging. I won't exchange for fish; I'll exchange for your fishing technique."

*If I just buy fish, I'll definitely lose out. But if I learn the technique, I can keep catching fish. Grandfather Huo loves White Carp anyway, so I can recover my losses from him.*

"One isn't enough; at least three." Lin Xiu held up three fingers.

The Medicinal Pills that White Carp could be exchanged for were not of great need to him anymore. If he could exchange techniques for Fighting Skills, it wouldn't be a waste of the attribute points he had previously added.

"Three..."

Hu Jia counted on her fingers, her expression falling into hesitation.

Seeing this, Lin Xiu continued to cast his rod. Before long, he caught another White Carp.

"Have you thought it through? I'm getting ready to leave. If you miss this chance, it's gone." As he packed his things, Lin Xiu asked casually.

Not far away, Hu Qian was furious, wishing he could rush out immediately, but Old Huo held him back tightly.

"Let go, quickly let go." Hu Qian was very afraid that his granddaughter would agree to Lin Xiu's request.

"Hey, you, a dignified Vice Dean, why are you always meddling in young people's affairs?" Old Huo refused to let go, but his Mental Energy was fully released, and his ears perked up.

If he could hear Lin Xiu's fishing technique without spending a penny, he would make a huge profit. Why would he ever worry about not having fish to eat again?

As the two wrestled, they heard Hu Jia speak again.

"Three is too many. The old man will definitely hit me if he finds out. How about this, we try a different approach."

"What approach?" Lin Xiu was startled, feeling a sense of familiarity, and immediately perked up.

Hu Jia raised an eyebrow. "Let's make a bet. If I win, you give me all the fish you caught today, plus the fishing technique. I'll give you one. If I lose, you still have to give me the fishing technique, but I'll give you two."

"Not three?" Lin Xiu was unwilling.

Hu Jia shook her head firmly.

Lin Xiu sighed, "What are we betting on?"

"A duel!" A confident glint flashed in Hu Jia's eyes. She had cultivated diligently in seclusion for two months, and her strength had already broken through to a One-Star Dou Master.

Lin Xiu, on the other hand, only gave her the feeling of a Nine-Star Dou Zhe. She was full of confidence.

Hu Jia, worried he might back out, proactively said, "Although I am a One-Star Dou Master, I will suppress my strength to a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, the same level as you."

Lin Xiu hadn't spoken yet, but Old Huo, who was observing in secret, urged him, hoping Lin Xiu would agree immediately.

Hu Qian still wanted to go out and stop them, but Old Huo held him back.

"What are you doing? Hu Jia is a Disciple you personally trained. Do you not have confidence in your own granddaughter? Do you not have confidence in the Medicinal Pills I refined?" Old Huo said in a deep voice.

"I'm worried about the Mystic-Rank Combat Skill. Even if Hu Jia wins, she has to give one. Didn't you hear?" Hu Qian put on an Aura that said, *Don't stop me.*

For the White Carp... Old Huo sighed, "Fine, I'll compensate for that Mystic-Rank Combat Skill."

"It's a deal! Double happiness!" Hu Qian immediately beamed with joy. Clearly, he had been deliberately tricking Old Huo just now.

Hu Jia was personally taught by him; he knew her Fighting Skill combinations and her Realm of strength very well. Not to mention within the same Realm, even if he was one or two Realms higher, Hu Jia would still be confident of winning.

Seeing Hu Qian's reaction, Old Huo gnashed his teeth in anger. "You two, grandfather and granddaughter! Good! Really good!"

"If you want to regret it, I can go stop them now." Hu Qian said smugly, certain that Old Huo couldn't resist the temptation of the White Carp fishing technique.

Indeed, Old Huo just huffed and puffed in anger but didn't say he wanted to back out.

*Little rascal, after so many years as old friends, can't I still get a handle on you?* Hu Qian secretly chuckled to himself.

At the same time.

Lin Xiu, feigning deliberation, also seemed unable to resist the temptation and slowly nodded.

The joy in Hu Jia's eyes grew. She took out a Fighting Skill, placed it aside, and asked Lin Xiu to write down the technique first, so he wouldn't go back on his word later.

As if reminded, Lin Xiu also asked her to take out the other Fighting Skill first.

*Do you really think you can beat me?* Hu Jia snorted inwardly, but her movements were not slow; she still took out a Fighting Skill.