Chapter 1439 - 723: Not a Good Person (2)
"Don’t be polite, eat as much as you like." Lin Beichen handed him chopsticks with a hearty attitude.
After they were full from the meal, Lin Beichen began to speak.
"Do you remember the first day we met?"
The old fortune teller recalled when Lin Beichen first came to his house, saying he wanted to take him as a disciple. He had refused on the spot and even chased Lin Beichen away with a stick.
"What’s up? Why bring this up all of a sudden?" The old fortune teller asked, puzzled.
"I’m a stranger here, and this town is so small you should know everyone." Lin Beichen said, "I came here from another city, journeying, and saw you fortune-telling for someone. I was very interested and kept following you, ultimately touched by your kindness, which is why I wanted to take you as a student."
The old fortune teller then realized Lin Beichen was referring to the moment he helped the homeless children.
"The reason I invited you to dinner today is to tell you that I plan to take the children to the big city to give them a better life."
Lin Beichen explained, including paying for them to attend better schools, ensuring they’re well-fed and clothed each day, no longer worrying about money.
The old fortune teller knew Lin Beichen meant no harm, yet he hadn’t anticipated Lin Beichen helping these children.
These children are the sole attachment he has in this world, and everything he did was for them.
For the children to have a better life is his greatest wish, but his abilities are limited to letting them study in this small town.
Now there’s a better option, provided by Lin Beichen.
The old fortune teller was so moved he knelt down and bowed to Lin Beichen, "I’m so grateful to you. It’s my great fortune to have met you. The children are even luckier."
Lin Beichen hurriedly helped him up. "This is within my power, and it’s to ease your worries. Don’t worry about other things. You’re my disciple; your issues are mine."
The old fortune teller suddenly recalled that he and Lin Beichen were already master and disciple, but he hadn’t yet told Lin Beichen his own name.
So he introduced himself, "My name is Deng Feng."
Since Deng Feng had introduced himself, Lin Beichen also clarified his identity.
When Lin Beichen revealed his authentic Daoist Skill identity, Deng Feng felt immense shame.
Remembering his previous disdain for Lin Beichen, thinking he was young and only knew a little about Daoist Skill, far less than himself.
In the small town, everyone favored him, allowing him to act recklessly, even planning to win the competition through underhanded means.
However, Lin Beichen won through genuine talent.
Even so, Deng Feng still felt some dissatisfaction. Only upon learning Lin Beichen was an authentic Daoist did he finally realize he had been making an axe at the master craftsman’s door.
Recalling his various negatives in front of Lin Beichen, his face blushed red and purple, feeling utterly embarrassed. Never thought, he had stumbled mistakenly before a master.
Seeing Lin Beichen achieve such success at a young age filled Deng Feng with admiration.
All previous dissatisfaction vanished instantly, and he expressed willingness to follow Lin Beichen in earnest study of Daoist Skill.
Thus, on his journey, Lin Beichen successfully accepted his first disciple. Though the process had some twists, the outcome was satisfying.
Early the next day, Lin Beichen dialed his friend Zhang Ming’s phone, asking him to come to the small town to pick up these homeless children and arrange for them to study in the big city.
Simultaneously, to take charge of their living arrangements, while also providing them new clothes and shoes for a genteel appearance to attend school.
Otherwise, in their ragged state, they might be shunned by other children, which could eventually lead to psychological issues.
Upon learning, Zhang Ming came immediately to handle these matters. As for why Lin Beichen didn’t do it, it’s because he still needed to continue his journey; taking on disciples was his task, leaving him no time for other things.
"Make sure you take care of yourselves. I’ll come visit you!" Deng Feng was filled with reluctance at their parting. However, for the children’s better future, he had to let go.
As the car drove further away, Deng Feng still stood watching into the distance, and Lin Beichen came over to pat him on the shoulder comfortingly.
Upon learning Lin Beichen arranged for the children to live in the big city, Deng Feng was extremely happy. But at the moment of farewell, he realized he couldn’t leave these children.
Despite their poverty, each day was filled with laughter. Now that the children had left, he felt an emptiness in his heart.
To fill this inner void and stop missing the children, Deng Feng proactively asked Lin Beichen for something to do.
"Since I’m your disciple, assign me some tasks." His gaze earnest, filled with determination to work for Lin Beichen.
"I’m sorry, there’s nothing to do right now. But we must prepare to set out since I’m here to take on disciples during my journey, and can’t stay in this town for long." Lin Beichen said.
With the children gone to the city, Deng Feng was now carefree. Following Lin Beichen, no need to worry about food or clothing, nor handle fortune-telling anymore. After packing a bit, Lin Beichen took Deng Feng along.
Leaving the mountains, they arrived at the desert’s edge. Lin Beichen learned that gathered here were explorers from various professions, a heaven for adventurers.
Lin Beichen immediately noticed a Ghost Head mingling here. Through conversation, he found this Ghost Head was a middleman, introducing guides to explorers.
"You seem young, are the intermediaries you introduce reliable?" an explorer questioned Ghost Head’s competence.
"You can’t judge my capability on looks and age alone. I’m twenty years old, ask around here, see if my introduced intermediaries are reliable." Ghost Head remained disdainful amid scrutiny.
Since entering this profession, many doubted the intermediaries he recommended due to his youth. But in the end, everyone praised his strong business skills.
These words naturally reached Lin Beichen. Though of similar age to Ghost Head, he became even more intrigued by him, focusing entirely on him.
He noticed that while he and Ghost Head were similar in age, their manner of interacting was vastly different. Ghost Head was smooth, exceedingly clever, able to memorize details in a single glance.
The boy, Ghost Head, wasn’t just sharp; he could extrapolate principles, a rare talent indeed. Lin Beichen pondered how wonderful it’d be if he could become his disciple.
"There’s a Ghost Head over there, about my age. I took note earlier; this kid is pretty clever, a talent. Go check his character." Lin Beichen instructed Deng Feng.
Being visually impaired, Deng Feng fit the role perfectly. He listened to Lin Beichen’s words and felt his way toward Ghost Head.
Though blind, his hearing was very sharp. Hearing Ghost Head’s voice, he continued toward its direction.
Using his stick to sweep the front, he pretended not to have felt a stone ahead and walked straight forward.
Consequently, the stone tripped him, and he took a fall.
"Ouch!" Deng Feng feigned pain, groaning.
He intended to catch Ghost Head’s attention.
Ghost Head had just finished introducing an intermediary, intending to attend to other matters, when Deng Feng’s fall drew his notice.
Yet Ghost Head didn’t help Deng Feng up, merely glanced and walked past him.
Instead, a nearby person saw and immediately came to help Deng Feng up.
"Are you alright, sir?" the person asked with concern.
"I’m fine, thank you, kind-hearted person." Deng Feng replied gratefully.
Though the passerby helped him up, he was slightly disappointed as he’d hoped Ghost Head would assist him.
Lin Beichen then came over, saying to the passerby, "I’m sorry for not noticing earlier, letting him walk here alone and fall. Thank you so much for helping him up."
The passerby advised Lin Beichen to take care of Deng Feng, then left.
Deng Feng complained to Lin Beichen, "I think Ghost Head’s character isn’t good; not a bit of compassion. Fell right in front of him, he turned a blind eye and walked past without meaning to help."