Chapter Sixteen: The Old and Young Beggars

After finalizing numerous details, Chu Linfeng waited for Cai and Shuang’er to pack their clothes, preparing to visit the airport the next day and scout Deep City first. Housekeeper Mo and the others from the valley stayed behind to take some time sorting and selling off belongings.

Meanwhile, inside the grand hall of the Xuanming Sect, everyone was lined up on both sides. Lu Chengzong stood beside the main seat like a eunuch holding the imperial seal, presiding over the meeting.

“Now, let us respectfully invite Sect Leader Li to announce the sect’s new policy!” After completing the opening formalities, Lu Chengzong led everyone in kneeling to await the order.

Each sect leader, upon taking office, would set the future goals for the sect and pass down the directives to all disciples—this was known as the Sect Policy.

Seated in the center, Li Xiaoxue held a young Husky puppy, which was no ordinary Husky; its only difference was a colorful, rainbow-like tail, as if it had just had a grooming session at a pet salon.

Li Xiaoxue rose slowly with the puppy in her arms and announced, “All disciples of the Xuanming Sect, listen carefully!”

“Understood!” Everyone perked up attentively.

“The sect’s policy this term is: Find someone!”

After a long pause with no further words from Li Xiaoxue, Lu Chengzong raised his eyes and asked, “Sect Leader? Is that all?”

“Yes, I’m done,” Li Xiaoxue said lightly, stroking the puppy’s head.

Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. This sect leader truly did things differently. Previous leaders, upon ascending the throne, would deliver speeches that felt like multi-session assemblies, filled with political rhetoric lasting all day. Their policies would span three pages with the main text resembling a novel.

“Surely, the person the Sect Leader seeks must be of utmost importance! Either a beloved close relative or a mortal enemy,” Lu Chengzong said with a respectful bow.

Li Xiaoxue shivered slightly at his words. A beloved one, perhaps...

“Let’s say it’s someone with whom I share a deep and bitter hatred,” she replied. In her mind, the image of a handsome young man in white garments, graceful and refined, surfaced again. Her beautiful eyes welled with tears.

What was said unintentionally was taken seriously. Lu Chengzong, upon hearing that there was a deep grudge and seeing the hate-filled tears in Li Xiaoxue’s eyes, concluded that this must be a person who had killed her father, an irreconcilable foe. How could he miss such an opportunity?

“Rest assured, Sect Leader, even if this person hides at the ends of the earth, we will find them! Regardless of gender, we will first incapacitate, then kill, skin, flay, and tear into pieces!”

“First incapacitate, then kill, skin, flay, and tear into pieces!” The disciples shouted in unison, afraid of falling behind.

Li Xiaoxue stared in confusion.

Suddenly, the grand hall shattered with a thunderous roar, reduced to rubble. Birds scattered in fright. The entire mountain valley of the Xuanming Sect heard a woman’s mournful scream.

“If even a single hair on Chu Linfeng’s head is harmed, I’ll grind you all to dust!”

The most pitiful was the Husky, who had been sleeping soundly before its neck was suddenly grabbed, nearly suffocating on the spot.

...

[Huaxia Liangzi No.001 Jingji Branch]

As for the so-called “mad” cripple Ge, it had been three days since he descended the mountain.

His master had only told him to walk step by step, but with his cultivation, he could have traveled tirelessly at great speed. Exploiting this “bug” was like having a cheat code; a hundred miles a day was no problem.

But whether to use the cheat or not was another matter. Ge cared little for appearances but took great care of his feet, as his path to immortal longevity depended on them. Yet, after three days, he was still nowhere near Jingji.

Not because Ge was slow, but because on the very first day after leaving Kunlun, he had spent twenty years’ wages entirely at the largest foot massage chain’s headquarters in Huaxia. It was said the receptionist at the door that night was so excited she had to be taken away by ambulance.

“The 888 package, yes, that ‘Fragrant Concubine’ one—two of them, two tubs, one foot each!” Ge said while picking at his feet, familiar with the routine, occasionally sniffing his hands.

Soon, two technicians came running with their equipment, only calming down at the door, clutching their chests to steady themselves. The supervisor on the other end of the radio kept emphasizing, “Attention all departments! Provide top-notch service, no slacking off. Fulfill all the boss’s requests. This is the biggest customer in the chain’s decades-long history! Try to encourage him to spend more time here.”

“Boss, is the water temperature in the tub comfortable?” “Boss, let me feed you some durian.”

Served by two attendants, Ge ate durian while tapping on his communication device, editing a message.

[Dear Master, have you eaten? It’s been three days since we parted, and I miss you dearly! Since leaving the mountain, your disciple has followed your teachings, traveling day and night through wind and rain, enduring hardships, but never forgetting your instructions. Master, I continue on the journey. Love and miss you! —David Chasing Stars.] “Biu~”

Zhang Zhengdao, leisurely reading a novel in the guard post, opened the popup message. His expression darkened as an idea struck.

“Bang! Bang!” Two wooden tubs suddenly exploded, water jetting high and splashing onto Ge David, who was eating durian. The wooden boards flying onto the roof then fell heavily, striking Ge’s face and causing a sudden nosebleed!

This scene terrified the two young attendants inside, who screamed out loud. Even those who had worked in foot massage for years, including the seasoned Huaxia Liangzi staff, had never encountered a tub explosion.

Outside in the hallway, all the staff rushed over, while the supervisor on the radio nervously instructed: “Quick, calm the boss down and prevent the situation from escalating!”

The two girls were about to embrace Ge, but he suddenly sprang up, faced north, and knelt down with a thud.

This was a north-south facing room, with the north directly opposite the private room’s door. As Ge knelt, the staff entered.

Ge said nothing, repeatedly kowtowing to them, refusing to be pulled up. After roughly an hour, he finally rose. A large hole was smashed in the floorboards, but he said no more, barefoot and carrying a wrapped bundle, he left.

That night, the Huaxia Liangzi foot massage headquarters voluntarily refunded all money Ge had spent and even compensated him 100,000 yuan for personal and mental damages.

At dawn, as white light broke, this bustling Jingji gained a new barefoot, disheveled beggar.

The night before, Zhang Zhengdao had to use telepathy to stop Ge’s kowtowing; otherwise, the foot massage place would have owed far more than 100,000 yuan.

The telepathic command was simple: restrict all spending. All previous funds forbade use; no cultivation tricks allowed to earn money.

Ge David had once been an international missionary who arrived in Huaxia 200 years ago. He happened to meet Zhang Zhengdao, who reprogrammed his mind, then took him as a disciple. Since then, he had remained in Huaxia following Zhang.

But Ge only learned cultivation skills, nothing else—not even his mother tongue, which he had long forgotten. Now stripped of his “rank” and forbidden from spending money, he was at a loss, knowing only begging to survive.

“Tsk tsk, this beggar is pitiful, winter’s coming and he doesn’t even have shoes.”

Passersby stopped to comment as they saw Ge leaning against a trash bin on the street corner, tossing him a few coins, which he accepted without hesitation.

“Hey, old man, this is my turf. Move over!” A man lying on a wooden board with wheels rolled over, beckoning with his hand.

Ge was about to yield but his eyes flashed as he realized this man was a fake “cripple,” his legs wrapped in leather bags covered by thick quilts on his belly. He thought, “Bah, shameless, even better at faking than me. At least I have legs; you’ve faked them off completely.”

“Hey, old man, did you hear me? This is my spot. Where did you come from? Move now!” When Ge remained unmoved, the man pulled out a communicator to dial, “Alright, wait… Hey, Fourth Brother, someone’s trespassing on my spot!”

Soon, five ragged beggars appeared, led by the man called Fourth Brother, who glared fiercely at Ge: “Old man, this spot belongs to my brothers. If you know what’s good for you, get lost!”

Ge was stunned. Had the Beggars’ Sect been reformed? Begging now even had turf wars—times really were tough and competitive everywhere.

“Brother, do you have proof this spot belongs to you? An official seal from the Inspection Office or a deed? Show me,” Ge said calmly, though inwardly panicking.

He hadn’t argued in years and worried about losing face. If he lost, it would disgrace his master. His master forbade using cultivation techniques, so if he lost and got beaten by mortals, Senior Brother Wu would surely mock him.

“Hahaha! Old man, you’re amusing. Looks like you prefer your punishment to your drink. Brothers, drag him into the alley!”

Four men grabbed Ge’s limbs while Fourth Brother choked his neck as they dragged him toward the alley.

“Ah! Don’t kick my legs! If you’re brave, hit my face!” Ge had faked a limp for twenty years and was sensitive about his legs—he didn’t mind if his face was beaten, but his legs mustn’t be touched.

“Damn, this one’s stupid. Don’t mind him. If you want to hit, hit the legs! Cripple his legs!” Fourth Brother shouted as he kicked.

“Ah! Master, I really can’t stand it anymore. It’s too humiliating! Just let me use a little bit of true energy! Just a little bit!” Ge David begged through telepathy, clutching his leg. Zhang Zhengdao didn’t reply. Without his approval, Ge dared not use true energy, even to save himself.

“Stop!” A youthful voice came from the alley entrance. The attackers turned to see a scruffy boy with a head covering, about fifteen years old.

“None of your business, scram!” Fourth Brother snapped.

“I just saw two inspectors coming this way,” the boy lied.

“You’re lucky today. Don’t let us see you again, or next time we’ll beat you on sight!” Fourth Brother spat and led his men away. At the alley entrance, he shoved the boy aside. The boy fell to the ground but didn’t cry, dusted himself off, and stood up.

Watching them leave, the boy ran over to help Ge up. “Old man, are you okay?”

Ge thanked him and looked at the boy in surprise. “My heavens! This is Chu Linjie, Chu Xiaozi’s younger brother.”

His master was right—he would come looking for me. Truly, after endless searching, it comes without effort. Ge hurriedly reached to pull off the boy’s head covering, to check for the immortal birthmark on his forehead.

“You old man are so rude! You just saved me, why are you lifting my head covering? My master said no one must see this birthmark.”

“Hahaha, right, right!” Ge jumped for joy. The boy thought the old man must be dazed from the beating—how pitiful!

“Little friend, your name is Chu Linjie, right?” Ge asked trembling.

“Huh? Old man, you know me?” Chu Linjie was puzzled.

“Haha, I know you very well. You and your brother look quite alike!” Ge laughed heartily.

“You’ve seen my brother? Where is he?” the boy asked anxiously.

“He’s in the south. Come with me, and you’ll find him!”

“You’re lying! He’s clearly at Kunlun Academy! You’re just like those scammers!” The boy stepped back and took off running.

“Brat, come back!” Ge limped after him, newly relearning to walk normally after twenty years of limping. Without cultivation, he couldn’t keep up with the boy, so he called out while running, “I used to be at Kunlun Academy, I really saw your brother!”

“Lies, lies! Kunlun Academy is full of immortals; why would they be beggars!”

“Oh, that’s a story for later. Stop now!”

“I’m not listening! I’m not listening! I’m not listening to your nonsense!”

Ge watched Chu Linjie grow farther and farther away in frustration. Not paying attention to the steps, he missed a footing and fell flat on his face. The wrapped bundle on his back flew off, revealing the [Flying Rainbow] and [Setting Sun] swords clanging as they hit the ground.

Hearing the noise, the boy stopped and looked back. “Isn’t that my brother’s sword? You old man, you stole my brother’s treasure! Now you’re coming after me? I’ll beat you to death!”

The boy ran back and kicked Ge right in the face.

The sun was high as the old man and boy sat by the park lake. The old man kept rinsing his nose, still baffled how the young Chu Linjie could kick him hard enough to cause a nosebleed without cultivation—a true celestial descendant with extraordinary roots. The boy grinned and apologized.

“I was just scared after being duped by those guys. A pretty immortal sister took back my stolen money, but those two had accomplices who tricked her away. Then someone else came, said they’d take me to her, and they swindled my communicator and money too!” The boy threw stones into the lake as he spoke.

“Bah! All those are just external things,” Ge finished rinsing, spat, then got up to comfort him.

“It was your master’s way of teaching you a lesson!” he said lightly, though his heart churned. He thought, “Making money is best done selling medicine. With the Medicine King Valley and Five Poisons Sect’s Tianji Peak, Brother Zhuge spent tens of thousands on this kid. Why not leave some for me? I’m already begging now, and with this little beggar tagging along, it only makes things harder for us poor ones.”

“Old man, you know my master too?” Chu Linjie asked suspiciously.

“Ah, no, I don’t!” Ge twitched his eyelids, thinking the boy must have read his mind.

“Then how do you know my master wanted to teach me a lesson?” Chu Linjie retorted, leaving Ge momentarily speechless.

“Enough. It’s almost noon. We must keep moving, or who knows when we’ll reach Deep City!”

With that, the old beggar took the young beggar’s hand, heading south to begin a long journey of wandering.