Chapter 8
Master Mu wore a grim expression. The thought of Xinghua Pavilion changing hands filled him with unease. But the prospect of Qin Shiwei and his companions simply walking away without a word left him even more terrified. These were cultivators! Powerful cultivators who could end a mortal’s life with a mere flick of their fingers.
“Hero Ah Heng, you can’t leave like this. What if Qin Shiwēi and his group return?” Seeing Ah Heng and Old Wen about to leave again, the innkeeper quickly grabbed Ah Heng’s beggar’s staff. “Old Ding has already gone to the Wuji Immortal Sect to find our Wooden Ancestor. You must help our Apricot Blossom Pavilion!”
Ah Heng hesitated slightly. “But I’m just a beggar.”
Mr. Mu retorted, “Beggar? You’re a tiger fallen from the mountains, a dragon trapped beneath the waves! Brother Ah Heng, you’ve saved Xinghua Pavilion! Please, come in! Quickly, prepare a feast!”
Er Gouzi and Old Wen sat once more on the second floor of Xinghua Pavilion. Though chaos reigned below, the guest rooms above remained elegantly appointed.
Er Gouzi felt like he was dreaming. “Old Wen, pinch me! Make sure this isn’t a dream!”
Old Wen had already reached out his grubby claw to grab a greasy pork knuckle covered in thick sauce and started gnawing on it.
Faced with Mr. Mu’s attentive hospitality, Ah Heng remained remarkably composed. He politely declined, saying, ” I’m no match for alcohol. Allow me to offer you a cup of tea instead.”
Truthfully, Ah Heng was genuinely awkward around merchants. Both times Mr. Mu had hosted him, he’d felt stiff and uncomfortable. This kind of atmosphere made him feel terrible. He’d rather sit on the floor of a dilapidated temple gnawing on stale buns than face a table of delicacies and people seeking favors from him, forced to engage in polite banter.
While Ah Heng was clueless about banquet etiquette, Er Gouzi had somehow mastered it without any teaching.
Just moments ago, Er Gouzi charged into Xinghua Pavilion wielding a bench, ready to fight Qin Shiwei and the others to the death. Now, the fear was setting in: “Holy crap, did I lose my mind just now?”
Old Wen slurred, “You definitely lost your mind. Usually, when danger comes, you’re the first one to bolt.”
Now drenched in cold sweat from overexertion, Er Gouzi stammered, “But that was a Taoist master! I actually swung a bench at him! Old Wen, did you see that?”
Not only Old Wen saw it—Boss Mu and the others witnessed it too. Who would’ve guessed this little beggar had such guts? But not everyone looked at Ah Heng differently now. The tattooed hulk who’d blocked the crowd downstairs earlier had a bone to pick. His name was Zhu, the captain of Xiaoyan Town’s constables.
Whenever Xinghua Pavilion faced danger, Constable Zhu had always been the first to charge forward. Now he heard the inn had offered a fortune to recruit a beggar—only to be rejected. Zhu felt bitter, and the reason was simple: Mu Chuanfeng had troubled him countless times without ever giving him a spirit stone.
This was the first time in his life that Constable Zhu had shared a table with a beggar, and the beggar was seated in the place of honor. Rage had been building inside him for a long time. He took a sullen sip of wine and slammed his cup down on the rosewood table. “What kind of nonsense is this? Those cultivators came suddenly and left suddenly. Who knows if they just had to leave for some reason? Who knows if you chased them away or not?”
Ah Heng smiled without comment. Er Gouzi couldn’t stand it anymore. He raised his cup to Zhu and said, “Officer Zhu, we’ve never had the chance to dine together before. Today’s opportunity is truly rare. Let me offer you a toast. You see, Xiaoyan Town owes its peace and stability today entirely to you…”
Er Gouzi’s flattery and praise worked wonders. The grim expression on Zhu’s face slowly gave way to a smile.
Ah Heng and Old Wen exchanged glances. They hadn’t realized Er Gouzi possessed such skills—what a smooth talker! His talent for spinning yarns with his eyes closed was truly remarkable.
After a few cups, Er Gouzi was already calling Constable Zhu “brother.” Zhu’s face glowed crimson, clearly well-lubricated by Er Gouzi’s libations. Old Wen, being elderly, felt full after just a few pieces of meat and dozed off in his seat.
Mr. Mu continued to tug at Ah Heng, pleading with him to stay at Apricot Blossom Pavilion. He insisted Ah Heng must remain until the day Old Master Mu arrived before leaving. Unable to refuse, Ah Heng finally agreed to Mr. Mu’s request.
Throughout the feast, Ah Heng sipped only a few cups of tea. Old Wen and Er Gou ate until grease dripped from their chins, while Constable Zhu was so drunk he couldn’t find his way home. With Ah Heng’s assurance, Mr. Mu felt relieved. Since Xinghua Pavilion hadn’t collapsed today, it would surely hold out until the arrival of the Old Patriarch Mu.
Behind Xinghua Pavilion stood a small building where the waiters lived. Ah Heng and his companions temporarily settled into this building. They were assigned a large room—complete with its own bathhouse!
It was Er Gouzi’s first time staying in a room with windows and a bed. He was thrilled. He and Old Wen eagerly grabbed clean clothes, rushing to take a bath. As a beggar, Er Gouzi had barely had a proper bath in his entire life.
The bathhouse at Apricot Blossom Pavilion featured a large communal tub capable of accommodating dozens bathing simultaneously. Since Ah Heng and his companions were about to use it, the waitstaff deliberately avoided the area. Firstly, Ah Heng and his group were considered honored guests at Apricot Blossom Pavilion. Secondly… the moment Er Gouzi and Old Wen’s head entered the water, it turned pitch black! The waitstaff had to change the water twice before its color barely returned to normal.
“Mind your wounds,” Ah Heng cautioned Lao Wentou and Er Gouzi, though they paid him no heed. Once washed clean, Er Gouzi revealed himself to be a rather handsome youth. Years of meager food and clothing had left his ribs clearly visible.
The beggar trio, however, were a pitiful sight. Each was gaunt and sallow, especially Old Wen. Once he stripped, he resembled a walking skeleton. After scrubbing himself several times, he finally managed to untangle his matted hair. Now he sat on the bathhouse steps, eyes half-closed, humming a tune.
“Life’s a dream now…” Old Wen sighed. “To live like this before I die—it’s worth it! Worth every moment!”
“Bah! What nonsense! Talking about dying? Slap yourself, slap yourself!” Er Gouzi sat beside Old Wen, his chest still throbbing from the blow. But as a beggar, he’d grown accustomed to beatings since childhood.
“Ah Heng, you seem troubled,” Old Wen murmured, drowsy from the warm water. Through the steaming mist, he saw Ah Heng sitting on the opposite side of the bath. Behind him, the black begging staff lay horizontally across the edge.
“What’s wrong?” Old Wen asked. “We have good food and drink. Why do you look so heavy-hearted?”
Ah Heng replied, “I shouldn’t have gotten involved in all this.” If what he’d seen earlier was true, Xinghua Pavilion would still be consumed by flames. His previous actions had been meaningless. He should have sought safety and avoided danger, not plunged into the fray.
“Heaven’s will cannot be defied. By helping Xinghua Pavilion this time, I might have brought them even greater calamity. Old Wen, perhaps I made a mistake.” Maybe he shouldn’t have saved Er Gouzi by cutting down the tree in front of Apricot Blossom Pavilion. Or maybe he shouldn’t have accepted Old Wen’s kindness in the first place.
“What’s right or wrong about it? If you hadn’t helped today, Apricot Blossom Pavilion would’ve changed hands by now. We wouldn’t even be able to snatch kitchen scraps anymore. Not to mention getting baths, eating well, and sleeping on comfortable beds. Isn’t that better than sleeping in a dilapidated temple, scared out of your wits?” Er Gouzi couldn’t understand Ah Heng.
Old Wen also chimed in, “Yeah, didn’t you say this morning you didn’t want to beg anymore? Look, by afternoon, you won’t have to beg anymore!”
Ah Heng shook his head with a bitter smile. “Everything in this world has its cause and effect.” Some causes and effects, he didn’t want to be entangled in.
Er Gouzi couldn’t care less about Ah Heng’s ramblings. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he groped his way over to Ah Heng. “Hey, Ah Heng, tell me how you beat that Qin Shiwei. I heard he’s pretty formidable.”
Ah Heng replied, “I didn’t defeat him.”
Er Gouzi frowned in confusion. “Huh? If you didn’t defeat him, why did he just leave? Could it be that Third Dog (San Gou) was right after all—that Qin Shiwei suddenly had to leave?”
Ah Heng smiled faintly. “He didn’t defeat me either.”
Er Gouzi scratched his cheek. “A draw.”
Ah Heng fell silent. A draw was worse than defeat.
Er Gouzi turned to Old Wen Tou: “Old Wen Tou, I think Ah Heng must be mentally unstable to be out begging. Look at him, all weird and rambling.”
Old Wen Tou chuckled: “Being a useful lunatic isn’t so bad.”
Ah Heng: …He really was crazy to make such an untimely remark. Better wash up and go to bed early.
Just as Ah Heng said, a draw was worse. Had he defeated Qin Shiwei and his crew, they’d fear him and stay away. Had he lost to Qin Shiwei, they could’ve seized Xinghua Pavilion, and that would’ve been the end of it.
To repay Boss Mu for a spirit stone, he’d agreed to help. Little did he know that this first favor wouldn’t resolve the debt—it’d only drag him deeper into trouble.
He should have defeated Qin Shiwei and his group decisively, but lacking the ability, he could only absorb their power. This was trouble—absorbing their energy would draw their attention. They might have already returned to their sect to report him to their elders.
If their elders came for him, Ah Heng feared he wouldn’t escape unscathed. To repay a low-grade spirit stone, he might end up paying with his life.
“Ahhh, this feels absolutely divine. What a heavenly life. I wish it could stay like this forever.” Er Gouzi sat back on the stone steps beside Ah Heng, stretching his arms behind his head as he relaxed.
“Ah Heng, I owe it all to you. If not for you, I might never have experienced such bliss in my lifetime.” Er Gou flashed a dazzling grin at Ah Heng, revealing a row of uneven white teeth.
Ergou’s smile was so bright it sent a shiver through Ah Heng’s heart. Heaven’s ways were indeed unforgiving; everything had its cause and effect. He’d wanted to mind his own business, yet found himself swept into the vortex against his will. Well, since he’d come here and met Ergou and Old Wen, since he’d received their kindness, he would strive to secure a better life for them.
Ah Heng glanced across the pool at Old Wen, who lay drowsy on the opposite bank. The dark mist swirling around Old Wen’s face seemed to have grown thicker.
Extreme Bliss Immortal Sect
Carved balustrades and painted beams adorned the jade-like towers, creating a scene straight from the realm of immortals. Within the main hall, Qin Shiwei bowed respectfully to his master: “This is the situation. I await your decision, Master.”
Tian Jizi, his hair and beard entirely white, stroked the spirit beast in his hand. His tiger-like eyes narrowed slightly. “It absorbed your spiritual energy. You don’t know what it is. I’ll go take a look. Perhaps it’s some rare treasure that has gained sentience.”
“Master, that thing feels deeply unnatural. It might be a demonic cultivator. I sense no spiritual energy flowing within him,” Qin Shiwei said. “He… is like a walking corpse.”
Tian Jizi snapped his fingers in calculation. “The Heavenly Dao has not issued a warning… This matter is not urgent. Tomorrow, your Grandmaster Tian Huan will emerge from seclusion. You will accompany me to see him.”
![Flying Dust [Fei Chen]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/9k.png "Flying Dust [Fei Chen]")
