Chapter 14

"An old friend?"

Zhuang Buran tilted his head lazily:

"So-called old friends shouldn't be people who shouldn't appear in one's life anymore, which is to say, dead people."

For a moment, Hong Qigong was silent, not knowing what to say, but he also discovered that this boy's rebellious, evil-spirited temperament was increasingly like that old friend who had long resided in the East Sea.

While the two were talking, Huang Rong, who was on the side, saw the middle-aged beggar who had arrived suddenly; after noticing his right hand only had four fingers, missing an index finger, her heart stirred, and she immediately took action.

She was seen hurriedly picking up a Beggar Chicken from the fire, removing the dried mud to reveal the fresh, tender, and fatty chicken meat, then stepping forward prettily and handing it over.

"Old senior, this person has always been arrogant and rude, not knowing what etiquette is, and is quite deserving of a beating. I'll give this Beggar Chicken of mine to you."

"You are the sensible one, little girl."

Facing the delicacy, Hong Qigong couldn't help but swallow his saliva. Without further ado, he took it joyfully and, like a gust of wind sweeping away clouds, ate the entire Beggar Chicken clean.

On the other side, Zhuang Buran also began to eat unhurriedly. Although his eating manner was quite graceful, his speed was not much slower than Hong Qigong's, and the Beggar Chicken in his hand soon turned into a pile of chicken bones at his feet.

"Exquisite! After eating this Beggar Chicken, it just makes this old beggar feel like all the Beggar Chickens I've eaten before were for nothing." Hong Qigong praised repeatedly.

Huang Rong smiled brightly and flattered him:

"It is the greatest honor for this Beggar Chicken to enter your esteemed stomach, old senior."

"You little girl are very well-behaved and speak quite nicely, unlike this kid."

Hong Qigong glanced at Zhuang Buran, then fished a few gold darts from his bosom and handed them to Huang Rong:

"Not long ago, I ran into a few people fighting. One of them was quite wealthy, and the darts he threw were all gold-plated. I just happened to 'borrow' them; they should be enough to pay for the Beggar Chicken just now."

"I have always respected the old and loved the young. The Beggar Chicken just now was meant as a treat for you, old senior; how could I accept this?"

Huang Rong feigned sadness:

"Old senior, don't tell me you take me for that arrogant, disrespectful, and overbearing jerk too."

Upon hearing this, Hong Qigong stared at Huang Rong's brows and eyes for a moment, then looked at Zhuang Buran:

"This old beggar thinks you two should have quite a connection, at the very least you count as blood relatives, so why is your attitude like this?"

"Who is a blood relative with him? He is surnamed Zhuang, I am surnamed Huang. This guy is just a big jerk who eats for free." Huang Rong was like a cat with its fur standing on end.

"Then, in that case, you aren't together?" Hong Qigong looked suspicious.

"Who is together with him? I get annoyed just seeing him. I wish the Heavens would send down a bolt of lightning to take him away." Huang Rong said hatefully.

Guo Jing hurriedly explained:

"Senior, Brother Zhuang just has a temperament that isn't easy to get close to, and he has some small conflicts with Rong'er. Please, you must not misunderstand."

"Alright, this old beggar doesn't owe people in his life. You little girl are quite interesting and suit my taste. Tell me, what wishes do you have?" Hong Qigong's attitude was friendly.

Huang Rong said with a smile:

"What is one Beggar Chicken? I have a few other signature dishes I'd like to ask you to taste, old senior. There happens to be a market not far away; why don't we go there together?"

Hong Qigong was overjoyed to hear this and nodded repeatedly: "Very good, very good."

"The famous Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar is actually this gluttonous. I heard that the missing index finger was lost due to gluttony, yet in the end, you still cannot control your appetite." Zhuang Buran spoke up out of the blue.

"Zhuang, are you looking for trouble?" Huang Rong said crossly.

"Are you feeling guilty?" Zhuang Buran put on an enlightened look:

"Knowing this Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar is gluttonous, you want to start from there. After all, he isn't even willing to owe the favor of eating a Beggar Chicken for free. If he eats meal after meal for free, the clever plan you have in mind will likely all come true."

"Let me think, what exactly is it that you want to do?"

His tone paused slightly, and he immediately put on a look of sudden realization:

"Could it be that you want to take him as a master, thereby becoming the successor of the Northern Beggar, learning the Beggar Sect's peerless arts, and then becoming the next Beggar Sect Leader to reach the pinnacle of life?"

Zhuang Buran's eyes were strange:

"Tsk tsk, I really underestimated you. In the blink of an eye, you've calculated a grand strategy to become the leader of the greatest sect under Heaven."

"You are spouting nonsense! I don't have any thoughts of becoming the Beggar Sect Leader."

Huang Rong was both angry that Zhuang Buran had exposed her idea of wanting to learn martial arts, and afraid that Hong Qigong would really misunderstand that she had the ambition to plot for the position of Beggar Sect Leader, so she blurted out what she was thinking:

"Yes, I heard that the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar is a senior expert who is like a dragon that shows its head but not its tail, so I thought about having him teach me a few moves. When the time comes, I'll use the martial arts I've learned to give you a sound beating."

When she said this, her eyes couldn't help but brim with tears:

"Who told that shameless old guy to pass all his powerful martial arts to you? I just refuse to accept it. I'm preparing to defeat you completely after I've learned them, to prove it to him."

"That's truly rare. You're actually crying."

Zhuang Buran was unmoved and said quite insensitively:

"I was originally thinking that a little girl as fair, beautiful, clever, and cute as you would probably cry for a long time if I punched you."

"Now there's no need to use force; you can show me."

Once these words were out, the pained expression on Guo Jing's face froze instantly, and even Hong Qigong was stunned. He truly hadn't expected this green-robed youth to say such things, but he also heard from their conversation that their connection was indeed not shallow.

And after Huang Rong heard this, she was so angry that she couldn't help but hold back the tears in her eyes, gritting her teeth and saying:

"As expected of you, constantly breaking my existing perception of you. Your temperament is so vile; I really want to see the day you die on the street."

Zhuang Buran chuckled, his gaze darting back and forth between Huang Rong and Guo Jing.

"What do you mean by that?" Huang Rong questioned angrily.

"It means nothing. I just feel that if things continue like this, you probably won't see the day I die on the street, but I might have the day where I help you collect your corpse."

Zhuang Buran reminded her with a serious face:

"But don't worry, I've never liked meddling in other people's business. As long as you don't die in front of my house, I'm too lazy to go to the trouble of helping you collect your corpse."

"Despicable! Who wants your help?" Huang Rong was so angry her head was buzzing, and she retorted without thinking.

Then she suddenly reacted, gritting her teeth:

"Do you think I won't live as long as you?"

"Regarding worldly affairs, I don't take any of them to heart, and I prioritize being unrestrained and carefree. Why do you think you can outlive me?"

Zhuang Buran wore a look of laziness:

"Practicing martial arts helps extend one's lifespan, yet you adopt an attitude of 'fishing for three days and drying nets for two.' I really find it hard to believe your lifespan can be longer than mine."

Huang Rong's lips trembled as she heard this; she was clearly furious.

"Furthermore, just like me arguing with you now, I only feel happy, but you—"

Zhuang Buran shook his head gently, his face full of pity:

"You don't even understand the principle that excessive anger harms the body."

"Ah, hateful!"

Huang Rong was furious and clawed at Zhuang Buran. Guo Jing was quick-witted and grabbed her by the waist, sincerely advising:

"Rong'er, it's not like you don't know how high Brother Zhuang's martial arts are. As the old saying goes, 'as long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood.' Let's endure it for now."

"Don't stop me! Today, either he dies or I die." Huang Rong was in a state of being unable to endure any longer.

"Kid, is this how you treat your own sister? It's truly unbearable for this old beggar to watch."

Hong Qigong's face was stern:

"Did your elders not tell you what it means to care for and look after others?"

A smile appeared on Zhuang Buran's face:

"Finally succeeded. Hasn't Zhuang been teasing this little girl for so long just to cross hands with the Northern Beggar?"

"Come, let's vent for the little girl who owes a small favor. If you can beat me to death, that would be even better."

"If you just want to simply cross hands, why go to such lengths? Just say so. This old beggar is also a person who loves martial arts." Hong Qigong frowned.

"What's the fun in a fight without temper?"

Zhuang Buran laughed loudly, his muscles and bones ringing in unison, and he was the first to throw a heavy, powerful punch.

(End of chapter)