Chapter 46

More than a month ago, I obtained the Spirit Spring Space, and now another blessing is about to descend. Oh, my luck is really about to overflow!

Heaven’s gifts, if not accepted, will bring regret; opportunities, if not seized, will bring disaster.

Qin Yi no longer waited, for time waits for no one. It was time to embrace the blessing. He walked quickly, thinking about how to steer the conversation towards the topic of becoming a disciple. He didn’t notice that the six puppies became lively as he approached the stall, either squatting, standing, or leaning against the basket, their bright black eyes all fixed on him, their little tails wagging happily, showing their excitement.

The old man rolled another cigarette and smoked it, his eyes always on his puppies, his gaze kind, as if he were looking at his own children.

Suddenly, the old man noticed that the puppy, which had been listless and not eating for several days, had changed. He was immediately pleased and looked in the direction, seeing a confident and leisurely young man walking towards him. It seemed the new owner of the puppies was him. Looking at the puppies that wanted to run out of the basket towards the young man, the old man felt a mix of reluctance and joy. He took a deep puff of his cigarette and slowly exhaled a large smoke ring, watching it dissipate in the wind.

At this moment, Qin Yi was still pondering how to become a disciple. Should he bow and call the old man master right away, or should he build a relationship and gradually work towards it?

He was indecisive.

The road must be walked, especially a journey of just a few seconds. Although he hadn’t figured out how to learn the old man’s secret skills, he had to approach him. "Old man, I..." Before he could finish, the old man interrupted him.

"Do you want the puppies?" The old man took a deep puff of his cigarette and slowly exhaled, his cloudy old eyes deeply looking at Qin Yi. "Young man, can you take good care of them?"

Raise puppies?

Qin Yi remembered that he had indeed come to buy puppies, but he was here to become a disciple! Could the old man have seen through his intentions, using the puppies to block his words? After all, the situation wasn’t quite right. Or was he using the topic of raising puppies to test his love and responsibility?

Qin Yi looked around at the people and the six puppies wagging their tails, hoping to see him. He was a bit confused. This question was truly strange. Do all great people like to ask strange questions?

Qin Yi nodded, looking at the old man, making sure his eyes were full of sincerity. He said firmly, "Yes, I like these puppies." Then he looked at the six skinny puppies, finding it hard to see what was so lovable about them except for their bright eyes.

But no matter what, this answer should be right.

Indeed, Qin Yi was pleasantly surprised to see the old man nod slightly, looking at the puppies and reaching out his withered old hand to pet them one by one, his movements gentle, as if they were his treasures. Qin Yi was secretly delighted, thinking his answer was correct, and the old man really cared for his puppies.

But the old man’s next words were unexpected. He stood up, picked up the basket, and handed it to Qin Yi. "Then take them. Take good care of them!"

He took a deep look at the puppies, picked up his old cloth bag, and walked away without looking back, quite gracefully, though his thin figure looked somewhat desolate.

Qin Yi subconsciously took the basket, holding it in his hand, looking at the old man who was walking away, a bit confused. What was this? Was the test not over yet? What should he do next? He couldn’t just let the old man walk away, or he would fail the test without even knowing what it was, which would be too unfair. Besides, if the great man left, he would never find him again, and who would teach him the skills to charm women?

Qin Yi was thinking about all this, and the onlookers were scratching their heads: What was going on? When he offered to pay, the old man ignored him, but now he was giving them away for free. Was he senile? But he seemed to walk normally... After a moment, a few people exchanged glances, their eyes showing understanding: This must be a sign of early senility!

Qin Yi, holding the six puppies wagging their tails, his mind raced, thinking about how to keep the old man and understand his intentions.

Usually, if someone sells something and hands it to you without taking payment, you can call them back to pay and chat more. But this was a great man, and normal logic didn’t apply. If he offered money, the old man might get angry, so that wouldn’t work!

But the old man was about to walk away, and he had to say something!

"Old man, please wait!"

In a moment of urgency, Qin Yi shouted loudly, his voice powerful, surprising even himself. He had never realized his voice could be so penetrating, stunning everyone in the alley. The puppies crouched and whimpered, and the onlookers were dumbfounded.

The old man was also startled by Qin Yi’s shout. His already unsteady legs trembled even more, shattering the desolate mood he had just cultivated. He turned back, trembling, not understanding what this young man was up to.

Seeing the old man turn back, Qin Yi ignored the onlookers’ fiery gazes and quickly walked over. "I really like these six puppies, but I can’t just take them for free. How about this, it’s already noon, and it’s time for lunch. Let’s have a drink!"

"No need, just take good care of the puppies," the old man said, relieved that Qin Yi had no other intentions, but he couldn’t help muttering: "Inviting someone to eat and shouting so loud, who would dare to go? If you shout again, you’ll scare people to death!"

The old man’s refusal made Qin Yi anxious. Was he going to miss the chance to learn the skills to charm women?

But the old man’s love for his puppies might be the key. There was no other way. "Old man, these puppies are so skinny. Are they sick? Tell me, so I can take better care of them!"

The old man paused, turned back, hesitated, and finally nodded. "You’re right. I’ll tell you."

Qin Yi breathed a sigh of relief, finally able to chat. "I see a small restaurant across the alley. Let’s go there and sit down." He led the old man to the restaurant.

Inside, they sat by the door, ordered a few small dishes and two bottles of beer, and started talking.

"Old man, are these puppies sick? You’re giving them to me, so why hide it?" Qin Yi looked at the six skinny puppies in the basket, deeply suspicious. The puppies, seeing Qin Yi, gathered at the edge of the basket, wagging their tails happily, which made Qin Yi very satisfied. Since he had the Spirit Spring Space, small animals always became close to him!

The old man took a sip of beer and shook his head. "They’re not sick. A few days ago, my big dog died. Since then, these puppies haven’t eaten much, only a little meat broth and milk. They’ve been like this for a week, and I was afraid I couldn’t keep them alive, so I decided to find them a new owner."

Qin Yi didn’t expect this but believed the old man. If the puppies were sick, why would he give them away and not tell him? There was no need to lie.

"Many people wanted them. Why didn’t you give them to anyone else?" Qin Yi was eager to hear the old man’s answer. If he said he saw potential in him, should he immediately become a disciple?

"You should be able to tell that these puppies are my treasures. I wouldn’t give them away unless I couldn’t keep them! If I had to give them away, I would choose an owner they like. So, I ignored the people who came to buy them and just watched the puppies. They like you, so I gave them to you." The old man looked at the puppies and then turned to Qin Yi seriously. "I can see they like you. I hope you take good care of them!"

Qin Yi almost wanted to spit blood. Damn, it wasn’t a cold and calculated seduction technique but a genuine belief that he didn’t need to pay attention to the buyers!

He had thought the old man was a master of charming women, and he had been scheming to learn from him... All his efforts were in vain. Suddenly, Qin Yi felt deeply hurt, mourning the brain cells he had exhausted trying to become a disciple, and he felt terrible!

Qin Yi was speechless for a few seconds, calming his emotions, grateful he hadn’t bowed and called the old man master. If he had, his name would be known throughout the village! Looking at the old man who was still watching him seriously, Qin Yi’s lips twitched, feeling a bit embarrassed. After a long pause, he managed to say, "Of course, I’ll make them fat and healthy!"

He just didn’t know how the three black puppies and two yellow puppies would get fat and healthy!

Fortunately, the old man didn’t mind Qin Yi’s words and was satisfied, thinking Qin Yi didn’t look like someone who would lie, though he didn’t understand why the young man’s face had turned dark after hearing his words.

The old man picked up the wine bottle to pour for Qin Yi, but Qin Yi wouldn’t let him. No matter how uncomfortable or embarrassed, he couldn’t let an old man pour wine for him. The old man was stubborn, insisting on a toast, and the old generation believed that after drinking the toast, one must keep their promise. After a few attempts, Qin Yi had no choice but to let the old man fill both glasses, and they clinked and drank.

As they ate and drank, the old man shared some tips on raising twenty-day-old puppies. After a few drinks, he casually asked, "I heard your shout just now. Your voice is powerful. Have you practiced martial arts?"

Qin Yi was a bit puzzled. Was the old man not a master of charming women but a martial arts master? How could he tell he had practiced martial arts just from a shout? To avoid the awkwardness of the previous skills, Qin Yi decided to be straightforward.

"Yes, I learned Xin Yi Hu Quan from an old man in the village, but I didn’t achieve much."

"Xin Yi Quan?" The old man repeated, surprised. Qin Yi raised an eyebrow. "You know it?"

The old man didn’t speak, slowly pulling out a book from his old cloth bag. Qin Yi glanced at it and recognized it as the book the old man had used to roll his cigarettes. An uneasy feeling rose in his heart!