Chapter 158: Making Up a Story
Gu Fei lowered her gaze and shook her head. "I don’t know how that gold was purified. The gold, the telescope, and the Blood Drop were all left to me by my master before he passed away."
Xiao Yu’s brow furrowed. "Your master passed away?" ’This is going to be a problem.’
Gu Fei nodded, doing her best to look mournful. "My master passed away last year. He was an eccentric man, but a grandmaster in his own right."
A nostalgic look appeared on her face. "It seemed like there was nothing in the world he couldn’t do. He clearly had gold, but he never used it. He would dress in rags and beg on the streets every day."
"I took pity on him and gave him alms a few times, so he taught me some basic martial arts for self-defense."
"Strictly speaking, I’m not really his disciple. Besides some basic martial arts, I didn’t learn anything else from him."
Xiao Yu’s brows knitted even tighter. ’So, this girl doesn’t have any of her master’s skills at all.’
"When my master was on his deathbed, he gave me the Blood Drop. He warned me that it’s very dangerous and easy to injure yourself with, so I shouldn’t use it unless it’s a matter of life and death."
Xiao Yu leaned forward. "What about the blueprints for the Blood Drop?"
"There are no blueprints." Gu Fei shook her head, her expression utterly sincere. "My master said he poured his entire life’s work and countless rare materials into making just one Blood Drop. He lost everything because of it—even his wife left him. In a fit of rage, he burned the blueprints."
"He originally intended to have it buried with him, but he couldn’t bear to let his life’s work never see the light of day, so he gave it to me." After she finished, Gu Fei took a breath. ’Making up stories is exhausting.’
Xiao Yu was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop. "So, you’re saying there are no blueprints, and this is the only one in existence?"
Gu Fei nodded.
"What a pity." Xiao Yu looked at Gu Fei. "Name your price for this Blood Drop. I want it."
’As long as I get my hands on it,’ he thought, ’I’m sure I can find someone to replicate it.’
Gu Fei’s expression changed. "Young Master, I’m truly sorry, but I can’t give this to you."
"Before he died, my master forced me to swear a deadly oath that I would never give the Blood Drop to anyone else. If I do, I’ll die a horrible death, my guts torn to shreds."
Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes at Gu Fei. "One hundred taels."
Gu Fei shook her head.
Xiao Yu said slowly, "I’m talking about Gold."
Gu Fei continued to shake her head.
"Two hundred taels—"
She shook her head frantically.
"Five hundred taels—"
Gu Fei almost lost her composure. ’Five hundred taels of Gold... that’s equivalent to five thousand taels of Silver. It’d be a lie to say I’m not tempted, but I know full well that this thing—this handgun—can absolutely not get out. If it does, there will only be more trouble.’
She gritted her teeth. "Young Master, there’s no need to raise the price any further. No matter how much you offer, I won’t sell it."
"I have to keep the promise I made to my master. Young Master, I apologize. Even though I said I would repay you if I had the chance, I really can’t do this."
Gu Fei stood up and made to leave.
Xiao Yu gave her a sidelong glance. "Did I say you could leave?"
The corner of Gu Fei’s mouth twitched, but she had no choice but to sit back down.
Xiao Yu tapped the table with one hand and said nonchalantly, "And what if I were to say that I must have it, no matter what?"
Gu Fei looked at him pitifully. "Young Master, please don’t force me to do something I can’t."
Xiao Yu snorted coldly. "Am I forcing you? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you? If I kill you, the item will naturally be mine."