Chapter 226: Two benefactors, see you again in the next life!

"That year, my brother was only four years old," the chicken-stealing youth glanced at his friend sleeping nearby, "After his parents died, only his grandmother and he depended on each other."

"A few months ago, we had a major flood here; the County Office, wanting to save trouble, directly opened the sluice to discharge water, causing his small village to be submerged—a village of about a hundred people, only he survived……"

Saying this, the chicken-stealing youth paused a moment, lowered his head and wiped his eyes, then added, "Those beggars you two met on the street are mostly children who lost their families in other nearby villages hit by the disaster. Of course, since the flood hasn't been brought under control, even ordinary townsfolk in the city aren't doing much better."

"What background does the Duyanlong couple have?" Xiao Qidi asked.

The chicken-stealing youth snorted coldly, eyes showing contempt, "Actually, there's not much to it—he used to be a hunter outside the city, later opened a fried chicken stall in town, cozied up to the officials, raised some lackeys, and gradually became a local bully. Countless ordinary people have been bullied by these two; one day I'll rid the populace of this scourge."

Xiao Qidi said lightly: "Already eliminated."

"What? Eliminated?" the chicken-stealing youth blinked, "Who eliminated it?"

"Me."

"You?"

"Don't believe me?"

"How am I supposed to believe that? You're an outsider with no grudge against anyone; you wouldn't just say you're a righteous hero, would you?"

Xiao Qidi gave him a sideways glance, "Speaking of which, I owe it to you."

"Me?" the chicken-stealing youth was baffled.

Ning Jinli immediately explained the whole story.

After listening, the chicken-stealing youth stared in disbelief for a while, then grabbed Xiao Qidi's hand and examined it, "One punch and you killed Duyanlong? You guy… you're born with divine strength!"

Xiao Qidi flicked his arm away in disgust, "Don't touch me."

The chicken-stealing youth stepped back two steps, bowed with clasped hands to Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi, and said solemnly:

"Today you two let my friend avenge his great grudge and saved his life; great kindness needs no thanks—from now on, my life belongs to you two."

Xiao Qidi stared at the youth, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

"This kid, he's quite interesting."

Ning Jinli asked: "Avenging him was purely a fluke, not really our help; as for treating your friend's illness, that's just common human decency—we couldn't just stand by and watch someone die, so you don't need to be like this; furthermore, if you really must thank someone, it certainly shouldn't be you doing the thanking."

The chicken-stealing youth slowly raised his head, "He's my best friend; we've grown up together since childhood, and he calls me big brother—I ought to shoulder the responsibility of an older brother."

Xiao Qidi's lips twitched slightly, "You're actually quite righteous."

The chicken-stealing youth looked puzzled, "Isn't being righteous just common human decency?"

A hint of appreciation flickered in Xiao Qidi's eyes.

At that moment, a noisy clamor drifted faintly from outside the ruined temple.

Footsteps intertwined with hoofbeats, not even the sound of the heavy rain and thunder could completely drown them out.

Clearly, many people had come outside.

The chicken-stealing youth immediately said, "Surely it's the officials coming to arrest you!"

"That fast?" Xiao Qidi said, somewhat surprised.

The chicken-stealing youth explained, "This county seat is extremely small; if all the dozens of constables were mobilized, they could search every corner of the city in no time. Besides, there's nowhere to hide outside the city, and with this awful weather, of course they'd find the ruined temple quickly. But don't worry, I can guarantee your safety."

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli immediately became interested.

"This kid has no power, influence, or money—how could he protect them?"

"Is he just boasting, or does he really have some unexpected good plan?"

Soon, the ruined temple's rotten door panel was kicked to pieces from outside.

A dozen or so constables filed in.

Sun Captor Head immediately followed, and at a glance spotted Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli.

Outside the temple gate, another hundred or so constables surrounded the ruined temple on all sides.

Sun Captor Head ignored the chicken-stealing youth, his gaze locked firmly on Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli, and he sneered, "You dare come to my turf to kill and commit violence, and still think you can run? Can you escape? Kneel at once and surrender!"

He had personally witnessed Xiao Qidi take down Duyanlong with a single punch.

Such formidable ability is not to be underestimated.

That's why he brought more constables.

Before Xiao Qidi could say anything, the chicken-stealing youth grinned and stepped up to chum around, "Sun Captor Head, long time no see, eh?"

Sun Captor Head gave him a once-over, "How come you know these two bandits?"

"Know them? Of course I do!" the chicken-stealing youth said, making no attempt to distance himself, but rather openly admitted, "Although I've only just met them, these two are already my great benefactors; please, Sun Captor Head, give me a little face and release them."

As soon as those words left his mouth, not only Sun Captor Head, but even Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli found it rather funny.

"What kind of face could he possibly have?"

Sure enough, Sun Captor Head burst out laughing, doubling over, while the few constables present roared with laughter, looking at the chicken-stealing youth like he was an idiot.

Sun Captor Head laughed and scolded, "I say, do you think that because I've caught you a few times for stealing chickens, dog‑fighting, brawling, and rioting, we're close? Give you face? What are you even?"

After scolding, he waved his hand and ordered the constables, "Take this brat back, lock him up, and have his father come to ransom him."

"No way, no way," the chicken-stealing youth hurriedly said, "My family's already out of money."

Sun Captor Head snorted coldly, "Huh, no money? You still have an ox, don't you? Kid, cut the chatter—don't hinder my investigation."

The chicken-stealing youth slapped his thigh, "How about this—just arrest me instead."

Sun Captor Head was bewildered, "Kid, you don't understand human speech? I was going to arrest you anyway!"

"No, no, no," the chicken-stealing youth laughed, stepping closer and bowing politely, "What I mean is, arrest me as the murderer who killed Duyanlong."

As soon as he said that, Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli were stunned, unable to figure out what he was up to.

Sun Captor Head also wondered, raising his hand to slap the chicken-stealing youth's face, "Your brain's soaked? I've got these two real killers right here and I'm not arresting them, but I'm arresting you? Besides, this is a murder case! Two lives!"

"What happens after I'm arrested?" the chicken-stealing youth asked.

Sun Captor Head replied indifferently, "Life for life—of course it's beheading, what else?"

The chicken-stealing youth laughed, "Then chopping me would be the same, right? After all, you just want the case to have a conclusion to report upward—I'm willing to plead guilty, wouldn't that save trouble? And besides……"

The chicken-stealing boy leaned in and whispered a few words into Sun's ear.

Sun's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, then he broke into a smile, patting the boy's shoulder, "You little brat... fine, that's settled. I'll be waiting at the gate. Don't pull any tricks."

"How would I dare pull any tricks? Otherwise, how would my parents make a living?" the chicken-stealing boy said with a smile.

Sun nodded satisfactorily, then led the constables out of the temple gate.

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli looked utterly incredulous.

What kind of scheme is this?

"What did you say to them?" Ning Jinli asked anxiously.

The chicken-stealing boy gave a hehe laugh, "Within three days, you two privately give Sun fifty taels of silver, then I'll take the blame, be beheaded, and the case will be closed; you two will be fine, and they'll act as if they never saw you."

"What?!!"

Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi's pupils both trembled.

The chicken-stealing boy then said:

"Rest assured, these officials all just want to avoid work; they always take the easiest way. Besides, the one-eyed dragon couple are dead, these two have no other relatives, as long as there's a culprit the County Gate can close the case, who the culprit is doesn't matter to them. I not only save them trouble, I also let them earn fifty taels of silver—there's no reason for them to refuse."

"As for those fifty taels of silver... I told Sun, judging by your clothes and demeanor, you're surely from a minor wealthy family and can easily come up with it, so he naturally agreed."

"Of course, this silver doesn't need to come from you two..."

Having said that, the chicken-stealing boy ignored the pair's shocked, speechless expressions, glanced furtively at the temple gate to make sure the constables weren't eavesdropping, then lowered his voice and continued:

"I don't have much skill, but I'm somewhat lucky at gambling; not long ago I went to a gambling house near a nearby county town and won a hundred taels. I originally planned to take some out to buy a small residence for my friend in town so he'd have a place to stay, and then look for an opportunity to give the rest to my parents."

"I'll tell you where that hundred taels are hidden; after you retrieve it, give fifty taels to Zhao, and from the remaining fifty taels, give ten to my friend—enough to last him several years—and the final forty taels... please give them to my parents, but on no account say they're from my gambling winnings, or my parents would refuse them even if beaten."

"That's settled—better not let my parents know it's my money; just think of another way, as long as it ends up in their hands."

After finishing his instructions, the boy took off his shoe, pulled out a thin bamboo sliver from inside, and said he had noted the hiding place of the silver on it, equivalent to a small map.

"Benefactors, see you in the next life!"

The boy dropped to his knees, kowtowed deeply, then rose with a fearless, composed smile, strode out of the temple gate, and willingly allowed the constables to truss him up tightly.

"Take him away!" Sun barked.

The constables lashed the boy sideways onto a horse's back, then mustered and returned to the city.

Before leaving, Sun doubled back to the ruined temple, sneering as he warned Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli, "Three days, just three days—if I don't see the silver, not only will he lose his head, I'll still arrest you two without fail. But once I have the silver in hand, I'll keep my promise, after all I'm only after money, not lives."

Having said that, he strode off.

"What talent..." Xiao Qidi still hadn't come to his senses, gazing outside the ruined temple and sighing.

Ning Jinli said, "This guy truly values loyalty, even sacrificing his life to repay his friend—he's utterly righteous; don't mock him."

Xiao Qidi shook his head with a smile, "No, I'm praising him—it's truly ingenious that he came up with such a bizarre method."

Ning Jinli added, "But you have to admit, in this situation it really is an effective method—only someone as loyal and self-sacrificing as him could think of it."

"Hmm... that's right." Xiao Qidi pondered, "At just fifteen years old, to have such courage and wit truly makes me look at him anew; this person is capable of great responsibility."

Ning Jinli added, "His seriously ill friend is also quite admirable, equally loyal—he hid his own illness so as not to burden him."

Xiao Qidi nodded, "I just don't know whether those two will be willing to come with us to Daxuan; leaving them in Marsh State, especially in such a place, would be a waste."

Ning Jinli blinked her big eyes, "We'll just ask them then and find out."

That night, Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi made do in the ruined temple.

The next morning the rain stopped.

The bamboo-thin boy, in a daze, smelled something fragrant and gradually woke up.

Upon opening his eyes, he felt completely comfortable, his aches gone, and his body warm.

"Am I... already dead?"

He dazedly rubbed his eyes and sat up.

Only then did he notice he was covered with a thick, clean blanket, and a mattress beneath him.

Such warm bedding is absolutely rare, found only in the homes of officials and the wealthy.

Ordinary folk's blankets are made of hemp or ramie, stuffed with straw, reed floss, or willow catkins, and if a bit better off, they might add sheep or dog hair.

Having lived over ten years, he had only seen such bedding a few times when doing odd jobs at wealthy locals' houses, spotting the servants airing it out and secretly touching it.

The memory of that soft, warm feel is still fresh.

But the feel of what he's touching now is far superior; he can't even tell what fabric the surface is—it's unlike anything he's ever seen.

This only strengthened his belief that he was dead.

Surely his soul had reached the Immortal Realm; otherwise how could he be pain-free and covered with such fine bedding?

But strangely, the surroundings still seemed to be the original ruined temple...

"Awake? How do you feel?" Ning Jinli approached, holding a bowl, and asked softly.

The bamboo-thin boy started, "Fairy sister!"

Ning Jinli burst out laughing, "Hahaha, you don't recognize me? Yesterday when you were talking with your older brother, I was right there beside you."

The bamboo-thin boy tried to recall; he had a vague impression, but his mind had been fuzzy then, so he figured he must have seen this fairy before he died.

"This is the chicken soup I cooked for you, with some healing and nourishing herbs; drink it while hot." Ning Jinli handed him the bowl of chicken soup and medicine.

His eyes widened, "How fragrant! So that's what I just smelled!"

The boy took the bowl, instinctively reaching to eat the meat and drink the soup, but then snapped to attention and urgently asked, "Fairy sister, they say the dead can bless the living—can I bless my older brother so he lives free of illness and disaster? Also, my parents and grandmother... have they reached the Immortal Realm too? Can I see them?"

Ning Jinli laughed through tears, "You can't bless others, nor can you see your family."

"Ah?" the boy lowered his eyes, full of disappointment.

Ning Jinli added, "Because you're still alive!"

The boy blinked, "I... I'm not dead? How could that be..."

Ning Jinli lifted a corner of the blanket, showing him the injured spot on his leg, which was now properly bandaged.

The boy tried to move a bit, and a familiar pain surged instantly, but this pain had already been greatly reduced compared to before.

"Fairy sister, where is my older brother? I want to eat with him." The boy stretched his neck to look around.

Ning Jinli said: "He has something to do and left, he asked me to take care of you first, it's fine, he'll be able to eat later too. Tell sister, what's your name?"

The boy sniffed, "My name is Fang Hui."

"Fang Hui?" Ning Jinli, upon hearing this name of a famous founding general in Huaxia history, shuddered, "You're called Fang Hui?!"

The boy blankly said: "Yeah, what's wrong, fairy sister? Is there something wrong with my name…?"

Ning Jinli urgently asked: "The kid you call older brother, is his name Li He?!"