Chapter 267 - 253: This Benefactor Is Toxic
In a secluded residence in the southern part of the city, Lai slowly got out of bed.
He stretched lazily, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he gazed at the bright sunshine outside his window.
Today was another fine day to "open for business." He skillfully dragged a box out from under his bed and opened it. Inside was his complete getup.
A sackcloth garment covered in seven or eight patches, a broken bowl with a chipped rim, and a small packet of ginger powder to make his complexion appear more sallow.
He carefully applied his disguise, donning the beggar’s clothes and grabbing the broken bowl. He gave a nod to the sallow, emaciated "pitiful man" in the bronze mirror before heading out toward his spot on the main street.
Business was surprisingly good today.
In just one morning, Lai’s broken bowl was already lined with a thick layer of copper coins, tossed in by generous, kind-hearted passersby.
’Another sucker!’ Lai gloated inwardly as he watched a lavishly dressed lady, supported by her handmaiden, toss in a small string of copper coins and hurry away.
He hefted the bowl, feeling its weight, and his mood brightened even more. At this rate, he wouldn’t even have to wait until evening. By noon, he could change his clothes, head over to the Fuman Building, order a plate of braised pork knuckle and a pot of warm yellow wine. The taste... TSK TSK, not even an immortal could ask for more!
However, just then, a pair of brocade boots stopped in front of him!
’Here we go! Another big spender! Judging by the material of those boots, this one’s definitely loaded!’
Lai’s heart leaped with joy. He quickly buried his head deeper into his rags and, with all the acting talent he could muster, squeezed out a few weak moans.
However, the expected crisp clink of copper coins never came. Instead, he heard a few dull thuds. THUD... THUD.
Confused, Lai lifted his head from under his sackcloth rags.
Then, he froze completely, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes wide with astonishment.
Before him were no copper coins, no silver pieces. Instead, there was a small mountain piled high with white steamed buns and a bundle of... dry animal fodder.
’What... What is this?! Just give me some copper coins! What am I supposed to do with this?!’
’These buns look dry and hard, not nearly as good as the braised fish I bought from the tavern last night! And this fodder... Is this damn stuff even meant for humans?! This new do-gooder doesn’t understand the rules at all, does he?’
A waterfall of curses flooded his mind, but on his face, he executed a rapid, complex transition from astonishment to wild joy, and finally to tearful gratitude.
He did have some professional integrity, after all! Lai scrambled to his feet, dropped to his knees before the finely dressed "great benefactor," and slammed his forehead onto the ground with a THUD.
"Thank you, kind sir! Thank you! You’re a living Bodhisattva, a saint sent down to save us from our suffering!"
"Go on, eat," Lin Qingfeng said, bending down with a look of profound compassion on his face.
"You look terribly hungry. I couldn’t just walk by. Here, eat up. There are plenty of buns. Don’t choke, there’s water here." He pointed to a nearby waterskin, then gestured to the bundle of fodder, hesitating for a moment. "...This fodder, er... it can also fill your stomach."
"That’s just the kind of person I am. I can’t bear to see the poor suffer."
Lin Qingfeng’s act of charity quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.
"Oh, look, that gentleman is so kind. I don’t think I’ve seen him around before."
"Yes, he couldn’t bear to see the beggar suffer, so he bought him all this food."
"You don’t see many genuinely good people like that these days."
Murmurs of heartfelt praise came from all around.
Listening to the praise, Lin Qingfeng pressed a hand to his forehead to suppress the wild laughter building inside him, even as he reached out and made a gesture to help up the endlessly kowtowing Lai.
"Get up, get up. A man’s knees are as precious as Gold. There’s no need for such a grand bow."
Lai took the opportunity to stand, picked up a steamed bun, and began to nibble on it in small bites, his eyes darting toward Lin Qingfeng from time to time.
Chewing with difficulty, he mumbled, "Kind sir... if... if you’re not busy, you can go about your business. You don’t have to mind me... HIC... I’ll just eat slowly."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingfeng sighed deeply. "Alas, look at you. You’ve been hungry for so long you’ve even become timid about eating. Very well. We are but strangers who met by chance; it must be fate. In that case, I shall not disturb you any further."
As he spoke, he actually turned, shot a look at Su Ling’er, and seemed ready to leave.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he ambled slowly toward the street corner, shaking his head and sighing as he walked. He muttered, "So much suffering in this world, so much suffering..."
His figure, backlit by the sun, seemed noble and grand, filled with the air of a great master who, "having done a good deed, dusts off his clothes and retreats into anonymity."
Watching this scene, a crack appeared in the high wall Su Ling’er had built in her heart because of the Demonic Sect. ’So... Eldest Senior Brother actually has such a kind side.’
From his leniency with the official upon entering the city to his compassion for the beggar now, it seemed... he truly had no intention of harming mortals. ’So, beneath that flippant exterior, he really hides a kind heart... a kindness I can’t comprehend at all.’
A mixture of emotion and confusion swirled within her. She prepared to quietly follow Lin Qingfeng and leave with him.
On the other side, as Lai watched that lunatic... uh, no, that great benefactor finally leaving, his heart—which felt as if it had been choked by steamed buns—instantly came back to life!
He was so happy he could have wept! ’He’s gone! The living Bodhisattva has finally finished his miracle and is returning to heaven!’
However, just a few moments after Lin Qingfeng disappeared around the corner, he... came back!
"Hm? Didn’t I give you food? Why are you still here?"
Lai’s body instantly stiffened, the smile frozen on his face.
Su Ling’er also froze, stopping in her tracks.
Lin Qingfeng slapped his forehead with a look of sudden realization and strode back.
"Ah! I knew you weren’t full! You were probably just too embarrassed to eat earlier, afraid you were holding me up!"
Without another word, he pulled seven or eight even bigger, rounder white-flour buns from his sleeves and piled them all in front of Lai, adding another layer to the small mountain.
"Come on, come on! Don’t be shy! This time, it’s more than enough! That’s just how I am—I believe in seeing a good deed through to the very end! I’m telling you, if you don’t eat your fill right here in front of me today, my conscience won’t be clear!"
Lai: "..."
The onlookers, however, were moved once again.
"Listen to that! Just listen! Now that’s what you call true warm-heartedness!"
"He’s not just kind, he’s thoughtful too! He’s treating this man’s troubles as his own!"
Inside the beggar’s mind, a tsunami of curses was crashing through him.
’Brother! I’m just trying to scam a bit of money for a meal, I’m not actually starving! For the love of God, give me a break!’
But as he looked into Lin Qingfeng’s "sincere" eyes and saw the ring of approving gazes from the crowd, he knew he had to eat these buns whether he wanted to or not.
He could only lower his head in resignation and quicken the pace of his chewing.
One bite, two bites... he forced down three whole buns, then grabbed the waterskin and took several large gulps. GULP, GULP.
A feeling of fullness bloated his stomach. He let out a burp, put down the half-eaten bun in his hand, and forced a smile for Lin Qingfeng that looked uglier than a grimace.
"K-kind sir... I... I’m full now. Thank you. Your great kindness will surely be rewarded..."
As he spoke, he began to nimbly pack up his wooden board and broken bowl, preparing to make a run for it.
"Hey, kind sir, I’m full now and just want to find a place to rest. I’ll be on my way."
Lai backed away in terror as he spoke, constantly looking over his shoulder and muttering, "Thank you, kind sir, thank you..."
He fled in such a panic, he looked like he was escaping some prehistoric beast.
’I’ve gotta find a new spot, fast! That patron is toxic! I can’t mess with him, but surely I can avoid him!’
Su Ling’er watched the beggar’s hasty retreat, then looked at her senior brother, who wore a gratified expression. Her heart was filled with a thousand complex emotions.
’The process was... well... a little bizarre, but the result was good. Eldest Senior Brother... really was doing a good deed.’
He hadn’t gotten angry at the mortal’s disrespect, nor had he ignored the mortal’s suffering. It seemed he was also practicing his own version of "goodness." At this thought, the heavy stone that had been hanging in Su Ling’er’s heart over Anhe City finally, slowly, settled.
’Maybe... I was just overthinking things. Perhaps Eldest Senior Brother really won’t do anything drastic to Anhe City.’
The nerves that had been stretched taut finally relaxed completely. Su Ling’er even felt that the air around her had become much fresher.
She looked at the bustling crowds on the street, listened to the vendors’ cries, and a feeling of "reassurance" enveloped her.
However, just when she thought the day’s story would conclude with "The Demonic Sect’s Eldest Senior Brother’s Good Deed for the Day," Lin Qingfeng suddenly stopped walking.
He didn’t continue forward. Instead, he leaned in mysteriously and whispered into Su Ling’er’s ear:
"Come on, Junior Sister. Let’s follow him and have another look."
Su Ling’er followed his gaze to the street corner where the beggar, Lai, had disappeared.
Her eyes were filled with immense confusion. ’What... What is going on?! Eldest Senior Brother, what are you doing?!’
’Didn’t he already eat his fill? You want to follow him and see what? To check if he has indigestion?! Does the Eldest Senior Brother of the Demonic Sect enjoy providing after-sales service and follow-up visits for his good deeds?’
’Could it be... your real goal wasn’t to give alms, but to observe the beggar’s subsequent behavior in order to comprehend some profound truth about the mortal world?’