Zi Yang sipped the wine and clicked his lips, replying “Well, how else was I supposed to get your attention? Also, your grandson is pretty good! Lucky you!” Then he shook his head and added “The rest of your so-called ‘Assassins’ however…”

The old man sighed and said “What can you do? This town doesn’t have many talents that are available for the taking.” Zi Yang leaned over and clicked his tongue, saying “Old man, haven’t you heard the saying ‘Hard work beats talent’?”

The old man sneered “What are you talking about, old bastard. You need talent to be an assassin, what do you think this is? We have to train from childhood to be good. You think just anyone can pick up a sword and become an assassin? Please.” the old man shook his head and laughed.

Zi Yang’s eyes lit up and he asked “So… Old man assassin, I assume this is your organization?” the old man frowned and said “What do you mean?” Zi Yang grinned “Yours. You old bat, are you going deaf?! I asked if it was yours or if you have some sort of god-like backer! Why is everyone so tight-lipped nowadays?”

He crossed his arms and added “I’m on my deathbed, there’s no need to lie to me…” The old man gawked at him and said “You… You just called me deaf?!” Zi Yang looked at him in shock and knocked on the table, replying “Hey… old man I was just kidding, are you actually deaf? I spoke for like a minute and that’s all you got?”

The old man almost spit out his wine as he said angrily “Of course I heard you! I was just shocked and repeated what you said for confirmation!” Zi Yang rolled his eyes and answered “Good. Now can you give me an answer? I’ve been waiting.”

The old man suddenly narrowed his eyes and said “Why are you asking me this.” Zi Yang ignored the pressure and smiled, swirling his wine in his cup as he responded “Well, I was just wondering… Maybe we could do something about that.”

The old man frowned, “You want me as your underling?!” He was getting angry at this point. Zi Yang tilted his head from side to side, replying “Ehhhh… Sorta? Not really. It’s complicated to explain.”

The old man sneered, “Try me.” Zi Yang chuckled and winked saying cutely “You can’t tell anyone, ‘kay? Our little secret~” The old man shivered and Zi Yang suddenly frowned and added “Hey. Old man, I was just playing around. I don’t have that kind of hobby.”

The old man leaned back in his chair and Zi Yang almost threw the wine cup at his head, he took a deep breath and said calmly “Simply put, I’m thinking of reforming my clan thereby this city. I am looking for potential candidates to become a part of my Zi clan and spread around the city.”

The old man looked at Zi Yang like he was an idiot before bursting out laughing as he said “Are you serious?! Bahahahahaha!” Then he started coughing and slamming his fist against his chest, having gotten wine in the wrong pipe.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The old man calmed down and wiped his eyes before patting Zi Yang’s shoulder, saying solemnly “Zi Yang, you have a bright future in comedy. I will be at every show.” Zi Yang’s eyes twitched and he said through gritted teeth “I’m not joking, you old fuck.”

The old man gasped and said in disbelief “You’re not?! What!?” Zi Yang snorted and finished the wine in his cup, pouring himself more. The old man looked at him in shock and added “Hey, Old Yang. Are you okay? Did you hit your head? How are you going to do all the things you said, you can’t even have a stable position in your own clan and you want the entire city, you’re a bit too greedy, no?”

The old man looked to the ceiling and calculated “Not to mention, you’re completely crippled. No cultivation, can’t even walk…” he shook his head and looked at Zi Yang in confusion, asking “What gives you the courage?”

Zi Yang replied in a bad mood “What does it matter to you? I have my secrets, you have yours. Does it matter what it is? If it can be done, are you willing to become my subordinate? That’s all I need to know.” the old man went silent for a moment as he thought about it.

Zi Yang looked at his wrist and noticed that he didn’t have a watch. He sighed to himself and looked around for a clock. Finding nothing, he looked out the window with a lonely expression, could it be? I’m the only educated person in this world?

After all, who didn’t have a clock?

Cavemen surely.

Zi Yang gasped to himself, was he surrounded by cavemen?!

The old man looked at Zi Yang, who was lost in his own world, and his lips twitched. He coughed and Zi Yang came back to reality before asking “Have you decided?” as if he had been paying attention all this time.

The old man couldn’t grasp onto the level of shamelessness this guy had, he was so old, couldn’t he be more reserved?

At least pretend to be wise and calm!

The old man put his words into practice and pretended to know the secrets of the cosmos as he stroked his beard “Hmm… If Patriarch Zi can really do it… then perhaps I can do you a favor…”

Zi Yang rolled his eyes and pointed at the old man’s nose, saying with a straight face “Listen Old man, no bullshit. I want to know if you’re in or you’re out. Not of this fence sitting garbage, stop pretending to be an immortal in front of me. I don’t care how old you are.”

The old man choked and shouted “You’re very rude, you know that?!” Zi Yang frowned and replied “I don’t care. I want people, good people. I don’t care about cultivation talent. I just need skills and personality. So far, your grandson is the one I’m interested in, not you. I’m taking you along by chance. We’ve been talking so long because I’m showing you respect.”

The old man’s face changed and he gawked at Zi Yang, who continued seriously “If it wasn’t for your grandson, I wouldn’t bother with your rag-tag group of pretend assassins. Tell me right now, are you in or not.”

His eyes were sharp and piercing, the old man was dazed and asked “Wha-” Zi Yang reached across the table and grabbed the old man’s beard, pulling him close to his face and staring at him in the eyes as he said again “I. Said. Are. You. In. Or. Out.”

His tone got colder with every word and the old man suddenly shivered for some strange reason, he looked into Zi Yang’s eyes to see the flames of ambition and revenge.

This was a man with a motive!

The old man had been conquered.