Lin Chi, the head of the department managing the affairs of the underworld, and his family were all insiders of Sabia or high-ranking officials (high-ranking officials knew of Sabia's existence), so there was no need for concealment. I revealed the origin of this seal and, in passing, mentioned the Battle of Erqi City and my friendship with the King of Hell.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Lin nodded approvingly, "Young and promising, young and promising!"
"Old Master, so please accept this seal. While it might have a high value in the market, as a gesture of respect from a junior, it is priceless, truly priceless."
The first "priceless" meant it couldn't be measured by monetary value, while the second "priceless" indicated there was no upper limit, signifying respect and sincerity.
The Old Master happily accepted. Perhaps feeling that his gift of a box of internal cigarettes was too meager, he instructed Lin Xi to fetch his treasured vest from the adjacent room.
I expected something like a leather jacket, but it was even smaller, just a waistcoat. It was only because I was thin that it fit me; any adult weighing over 150 pounds would not be able to fasten it.
"This soft-shell vest is for you, Chengfeng. Traveling the martial world inevitably leads to bumps and bruises. Having this to protect you is better than nothing." The Old Master spoke politely, but as soon as I touched the vest's material, I knew it was no ordinary garment. It was soft yet firm, with excellent elasticity, not an antique but some kind of modern technological material.
Lin Xi explained, "This vest is a trial product, or rather, a failed one. Two years ago, Wu Qian's company accidentally developed this new material, similar to a Newtonian fluid. Its defensive capabilities were several levels higher than Kevlar fiber used in bulletproof vests. It could not only defend against bullets but also against true qi attacks. A master's palm strike on it would have the true qi dispersed and diffused, reducing the damage. Unfortunately, it was a temporary experiment at the time, and the technicians didn't record the material's formula. Later attempts to recreate it failed. Thus, that piece of fabric became a unique item. Coupled with its irregular shape, it could only be designed into this vest."
After speaking, Lin Xi held the vest up against me, "It's a perfect fit, as if tailor-made for you. You'll need to maintain your weight, though. This material doesn't have much stretch; if you gain weight, you won't be able to wear it."
"Such a good item, why don't you two keep it for yourselves?" I politely demurred. For a martial arts novice like myself, it was indeed a remarkable item.
The Lin sisters exchanged a glance, looking somewhat embarrassed. "This... this is a men's size."
I understood. If they wore it, their waists would be fine, but above that, they wouldn't be able to fasten the buttons. It seemed that having a good figure could sometimes be a disadvantage.
Lin Ji Ze suggested I try it on. I removed my outer jacket and tried it with my shirt on; it was a bit tight. When I took off my shirt, leaving only my close-fitting undershirt, and put it on again, it fit perfectly, with no gaps and no hindrance to my breathing.
"To be frank," Lin Chi said, "the original owner of this vest was a great general in our Sabia. He unfortunately sacrificed his life later. This treasure was returned to Sabia Headquarters. HQ decided not to bestow it upon any individual and instead gave it to our Lin family as a memento."
"Oh? Was that general also a hero of your Lin family?" I asked with reverence.
"Not of our Lin family," Lin Ji Ze looked at Lin Xi, who sat beside them with a blank expression. "He was an orphan, raised by our Lin family since childhood. Later, he was betrothed to Lin Xi... a sort of engagement, but he died before they could marry."
"My condolences," I patted Lin Xi's shoulder, then turned to the Old Master. "This vest holds far more sentimental value than practical performance. Perhaps I shouldn't take it. How about this, Old Master, I notice that jade bottle behind you looks quite good. I'll trade you the vest for that bottle."
I said it casually, but that bottle did exude a strong purple aura, suggesting it was indeed a treasure. It should be worth at least eight figures, and even if it wasn't comparable to Li Yuanhao's seal, it was still considerable. After all, I had acquired that seal through sheer cunning; a discount of one-tenth would suffice as a gesture.