"Mr. Lin, you've misunderstood... my n were thoughtless and offended you today. I will take them away now and not disturb your peace any further."
After speaking, Cang Heng swallowed and quickly gave a deep bow with clasped fists. He glanced once more at the little beggar, gritted his teeth, and prepared to leave with a few subordinates.
"Hold on."
With just two words, the mbers of the Cangying Gang trembled all over, and Cang Heng forced a smile as he turned around.
"I wonder if Mr. Lin has any other instructions?"
"The door is broken."
"Mr. Lin, here are fifty taels of silver. We will imdiately hire soone to repair the door for you. Please show rcy."
Cang Heng took off a money bag and handed it to soone beside him. That person hesitated, but then braced himself and stepped forward. Su Mu reached out to take the money bag, and the person from the Cangying Gang let out a sigh of relief and quickly left.
Just as Cang Heng intended to leave again, a voice ca from behind.
"I, Lin Mou, do not like the na Cang Heng. Slap yourself three tis, and this matter will be concluded. Otherwise..."
As the words fell, the Cangying Gang mbers each instinctively placed a hand on their sword handles at their waists. They had already paid money, but the other party's demand seed excessive.
In their view, no matter how strong Su Mu was, he was just one person, and a cripple at that. anwhile, they had six people present.
However, the unexpected happened in the next mont.
Upon hearing the words, Cang Heng's face changed several tis before he quickly raised his palm and slapped himself hard three tis in front of the five dumbfounded Cangying Gang mbers behind him.
"Pah! Pah! Pah!"
The crisp sound of three slaps echoed over the courtyard. Afterward, Cang Heng deeply bowed again. This ti, Su Mu said nothing further, allowing them to leave.
Cang Heng walked out of the courtyard, his face burning with sha and anger. Once he stepped out of Spring Rain Street, he shouted in anger.
"Were you fools trying to get killed back there?"
Cang Heng berated the five people harshly, having clearly noticed that these fools were monts away from drawing their weapons. He couldn't even gauge the other party's strength — if a fight had broken out, they might have all perished in that courtyard.
A person of such caliber, even his elder brother would have to show great respect towards — yet these fools still wanted to draw swords and fight.
"Hall Master..."
"Shut up, let's go back."
After Cang Heng's group left, the townspeople of Spring Rain Street ca out, gazing with respect at the courtyard that had lost its wooden door.
Su Mu sensed the gazes from the street and sighed quietly. With his ridians severed, he had co to Qingshui Town to avoid attention and find a peaceful place to recuperate.
But sotis peace is unattainable, like a tree desiring calmness, yet the wind ceaselessly blows.
Nevertheless, Su Mu paid no mind to the so-called Cangying Gang.
After the Cangying Gang mbers left, Su Mu squinted at the little beggar, activating his soul incarnation to see a layer of light on the beggar.
A layer of jade-white light with hints of mysterious yellow hue, though the yellow seed volatile.
This little beggar possessed destiny!
This was the second person with great destiny Su Mu had seen in Qingyun County, apart from officials. Coincidentally, both were beggars: one sold poems at the Shuangbai Poetry Gathering, and the other was the little beggar in front of him.
"Could it be that I, Su Mu, have a destiny with beggars?"
Su Mu thought silently as the little beggar noticed his eyes upon him. The beggar kowtowed repeatedly, expressing gratitude for saving his life.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin, for saving my life, ..."
"You may rise."
The little beggar trembled but did not stand, keeping his head on the ground.
"I am willing to serve as your laborer, Mr. Lin. Please take in."
Su Mu remained silent.
"I can do anything: laundry, cooking... if you wish to read, I can grind ink for you..." The beggar pleaded anxiously but got no response from Su Mu, finally eking out another sentence, "Your movent may be difficult. I can be your legs and take you wherever you want to go."
"I do need soone to push my wheelchair. Get up."
"Thank you, Mr. Lin, for taking in."
With permission granted, the little beggar finally rose.
"Your issues with the Cangying Gang are your own. I won't assist you. If you seek revenge, you'll have to achieve it yourself," Su Mu said calmly, tossing a money bag at him.
"Use the money to buy so clothes, and then go get so at for dinner."
The little beggar staggered as he caught the money bag. "Sir, this is too much money."
Heeding no reply, Su Mu closed his eyes again. Seeing this, the beggar feared displeasing him and promptly ran out the courtyard to carry out his errands.
After the little beggar left, Su Mu slowly reopened his eyes. He had taken in the little beggar mainly to observe soone with great destiny, though compassion played a part, as did needing soone to push his wheelchair.
"This fake boy is rather clever."
Thus, Su Mu took in the beggar, aiming to act always in accordance with his spirit.
Soon after Cang Heng's departure, a mber of the Cangying Gang arrived with two carpenters. "Mr. Lin, on our gang leader's orders, we are here to fix your gate."
Su Mu remained unresponsive, eyes closed, and the person from the gang heaved a sigh of relief.
Before the gate was fully repaired, the little beggar returned.
The beggar carried several pounds of at into the house, appearing to prepare a al.
"The gate is repaired. We won't disturb your solitude any longer," he said.
In the carpenters' astonished eyes, the typically overbearing Cangying Gang mbers bowed respectfully to the figure under the old pagoda tree before hastily departing.
"The Cangying Gang addressed him as Mr. Lin... Just who is this Mr. Lin?"
The two carpenters were internally shaken, witnessing the gang mbers' unusually respectful deanor for the first ti.
Once the gate was fixed, tranquility returned to the courtyard. Su Mu detected a burnt sll in the aroma wafting from the kitchen — the fake boy had burned the dish.
Error text - Su Mu stood up from his wheelchair, beginning to practice the Five Animals Qigong he had been inferring earlier.
Not long after, the fake boy ca out hesitantly.
"Sir... eh, you can stand up?!"
The fake boy was shocked, watching the sir practice in the courtyard with an expression of disbelief. Su Mu exhaled gently, quickly leaving his cultivation state, noting that mastering the Five Animals Qigong would not be achieved overnight.
"Let's eat first."
He casually remarked, sitting back into his wheelchair under the boy's startled gaze, propelling himself towards the main hall.
"Ah... sir, let help you!"
The fake boy hurried to the wheelchair, placing his hands on it to push it along.
When the al was finally served, as expected, the at dish bore a charred hue. The boy anxiously eyed Su Mu for his reaction.
Su Mu picked up a piece of the dish with chopsticks. As he tasted it, a strong salty flavor overshadowed the char, showing the boy's cooking skills had vast room for improvent.
"What are you hesitating for? Eat together."
"Ah, alright."
The little beggar first glanced at Su Mu's expression, cautiously picked up a piece of at, and only after seeing no change in Su Mu's reaction did he eat it, instantly freezing with a frown.
"Sir... I, I..."
"Don't speak during als."
"Yes, sir."
After the al, Su Mu instructed the boy to heat water for washing while he continued his inference and cultivation of the Five Animals Qigong in the courtyard.
Soon, the boy washed away the dirt. The simple light lotus-colored robe did not hide his youthful charm. His eyes were extraordinarily bright, and while his features weren't fine on their own, together they were rather appealing.
"What's your na?"
"Sir... this boy has no na."
"Like a lotus erging unsullied from the mud, untouched by the clear water, I am not interested in your past. From now on, you shall be called Qinghe."
The boy froze, an unconcealable panic flickering in his eyes. "Thank you, sir, for bestowing the na Qinghe."
"If nothing else arises, get so rest for the night; tomorrow, accompany to Bailu Mountain."
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