Chapter 458

Hu Xiaotian couldn't be bothered with him, turned and left; just after taking a step, the old beggar appeared ghostlike before him, blocking his path, and laughed: "Kid, you haven't answered my question yet."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Old sir, you've already eaten and drunk, don't toy with me; I have things to do, excuse me." He stepped left to go around the old beggar, but the old beggar didn't move his feet and still blocked his way. Hu Xiaotian had seen the old beggar's martial arts before; he knew this person was absolutely a master-level figure, possibly even the Beggar Sect chief. If they really wanted to make things difficult for him, he could only passively endure. Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile: "Senior, I don't know where I've offended you; why are you pressing me so hard?"

The old beggar stroked his sparse beard, sized up Hu Xiaotian up and down, and said, "You seem to be called Hu Xiaotian, right?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Senior, your memory is really good."

The old beggar said, "Kid, you just said you'd treat me to a meal, didn't you?"

"Still eating!" Hu Xiaotian recalled he had indeed just said that; he'd wanted the old beggar to let go of the offerings, but now the beggar had eaten them all clean and still wanted Hu Xiaotian to treat him to a meal—really pushing his luck. Hu Xiaotian said, "Old sir, you're up in years; your digestive system isn't like a young person's—eating too much is bad for your health. So I'll give you some silver; buy whatever you want to eat." Hu Xiaotian took a silver ingot from his money bag and handed it to the old beggar.

The old beggar took the silver ingot and indeed made way.

Hu Xiaotian finally managed to break free, hurried away, but after two steps he heard a wailing sob from behind—who else could it be but that old beggar? He hadn't wanted to deal with him, but hearing him sob so sadly he couldn't bear to leave him. After a moment's hesitation, he returned to the old beggar's side and asked with concern, "Old man, why are you crying?"

The old beggar buried his face in his sleeve, his shoulders shaking; since his face couldn't be seen, it was unclear whether he was truly crying or feigning. The old beggar said, "What did you give me silver for? Do you think I, an old beggar, am short of money? Do you know that by doing this you make me feel terrible; my heart is hurt."

Hu Xiaotian hearing this couldn't help but feel a mix of laughter and tears—giving you money makes you feel hurt, so why don't you give me some? Hurt me once?

The old beggar lifted his head. His face had not a trace of tear, still firmly gripping the silver ingot in his hand: "I'm not short of money; I'm lacking affection. Do you understand?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Are you looking for an old companion?"

"Pah!" the old beggar jumped three feet high, pointing at Hu Xiaotian's nose and said, "You think I'm as lecherous as you? Seeing a woman I can't even walk?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "I was just speaking offhand. Please don't take offense."

The old beggar sighed, "What is love in this world? It makes people pledge life and death… none of my business, none of my concern! With this old beggar's virtue, what woman would like me?"

Hu Xiaotian teased, "Although you're now old and faded, who's to say you weren't a tall, mighty, jade-tree-in-the-wind handsome young man in your youth?"

The old beggar heard him say that, straightened his face, finally couldn't hold back his pride, and burst out laughing hysterically; this laugh left Hu Xiaotian dazed—this old beggar seems a bit mentally off; I'd better hurry away.

The old beggar said, "Kid, I really didn't expect you to have any taste; back in the day I was also quite a famous handsome man—who knows how many noble ladies and peerless beauties wept and begged to marry me."

Hu Xiaotian forced a smile, thinking inwardly, "Yeah right, as if I'd believe you—look at your disheveled state; any beauty seeing you would surely cover her nose and flee."

The old beggar closed his eyes, seeming to fall into fond reminiscence of the past, a look of blissful yearning on his face.

Seeing this scene, Hu Xiaotian thought, "If not now, when will I leave?" He tip-toed trying to sneak away, but after a few steps he found the old beggar already waiting ahead; feeling vexed, he realized today he'd been entangled by the old beggar, with no chance to shake him off, and gave a wry smile: "Senior, what else do you want?"

The old beggar said, "Do you know what's most important in a lifetime?"

Hu Xiaotian thought and said, "The most important thing is just to stay alive; a poor life is better than a good death."

The old beggar spat and said: "The most important thing is family ties; a person should, while young and strong, with vigorous energy, take several wives and bear several children. Since Heaven has given you a life root, it is to make full use of it; in old age, with children and grandchildren filling the hall, happiness abounds. Not like me, entangled by worldly affairs, I missed countless good matches, ending up alone, helpless, and during the New Year, I have not even a single person to talk to."

Hu Xiaotian now somewhat understood; the old beggar was lonely and bored, so he sought him for diversion. He smiled and said: "You shouldn't be lonely, old sir; all beggars under heaven are one family. Given your age, your standing in the Beggars' Sect must be quite senior—if not the sect leader, then at least an elder. Your disciples and grand-disciples surely spread across the four seas; when lonely, just grab a couple to chat with you, or if that fails, take on a few dry sons and daughters."

The old beggar said: "Those turtle grandsons of the sect are all boring; none can compare to you."

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile and said: "Old sir, we really aren't acquainted; we only met yesterday. You've guessed my identity—I'm a eunuch, not a normal person. There are still many matters in the imperial palace urging me on; please do me a favor and treat me like a fart and let me go quickly. If I return late to the palace, the superiors will investigate and I could lose my head."

The old beggar said: "Anyone who possesses the Imperial-bestowed Coiled Dragon Gold Tablet can come and go in the imperial palace as they please; who would dare to stop you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "You overestimate me, old sir; in the imperial palace I'm just a tiny, insignificant role." He secretly thought: This old beggar knows palace affairs extremely well; he is certainly no ordinary person. Logically, he wouldn't have sought me out for no reason.

The old beggar said: "You just said you would treat me to a drink, didn't you?"

Hu Xiaotian heard him bring this up again; seeing that if he didn't fulfill it today, the old beggar wouldn't let him go easily, he smiled and said: "Old sir, if you can stomach it, I'll treat you to a drink—you pick the place."

The old beggar's brows relaxed and eyes smiled, he nodded repeatedly, but soon after he shook his head firmly and said: "No, always letting you treat me would make me feel awful; reciprocity is proper, so this time I'll treat you."

Hu Xiaotian sized him up: the silver ingot clutched in the old beggar's hand was given by him, and the dog-skin coat he wore was also given by him yesterday; those were the only valuables he had. To invite himself to a meal? Surely he'd be using my money to treat me.

The old beggar glanced toward the cemetery and said: "Wait a moment, I'll go see if there's any edible offering left."

Hu Xiaotian hastily clasped his hands in plea: "Old sir, I appreciate your kindness, but I won't eat this meal—I'm not hungry."

"Not giving me face?"

"It's not that I won't give you face; I really have something to do, I'm in a hurry!"

The old beggar's face changed: "You little brat, leaving like this—wouldn't I owe you a favor? I've lived my whole life, with yellow earth buried up to my neck, and I've never owed anyone a favor; doing this is just screwing me over!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Please don't think that way; neither of us owes the other. Senior, I really must go—I have business to attend to."

The old beggar said: "Try walking away and see!"

Hu Xiaotian was indeed frightened by him; strength decides everything, and before the old beggar he could only be abused.

The old beggar chuckled: "Timid as a mouse, you're already scared by me?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "This isn't timidity; it's knowing the times that makes a hero."

The old beggar narrowed his eyes and smiled at him: "You may leave if you wish, but you must agree to one condition."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What condition?"

The old beggar's gaze lingered on his face, finally settling on his lips: "Let me kiss you."

Hu Xiaotian covered his mouth in fright, his eyes wide as bells: "Senior, how could you be joking?"

The old beggar split his oil-stained lips, revealing a mouthful of dark, yellowed teeth: "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Hu Xiaotian suddenly turned and ran with both legs spread, damn it! I'd run into an old pervert; just as I built up speed, in a blink the old beggar was already blocking his front, eyes shut, puckering his greasy lips, looking utterly lewd. Hu Xiaotian hastily halted his steps, feeling thunder roll; although he was no longer experiencing his first kiss, he couldn't let this old pervert take advantage for free, so he turned and slipped away to the right.

The old beggar clung like a shadow, his voice continually sounding behind Hu Xiaotian's ears: "What are you running for? Just let me kiss you; a kiss won't take a piece of flesh."

Goosebumps rose all over Hu Xiaotian's body; seeing a dead tree ahead, he used hands and feet together, executing the Golden Spider Eight Steps to the utmost, scraping scraping scraping—thus human potential truly is limitless; normally, Hu Xiaotian would never climb a tree so nimbly.

Having thought he had escaped the old beggar's pursuit, he turned and looked down—there stood the old beggar below. Hu Xiaotian wiped sweat while saying: "Old sir, don't toy with me."

"Come down!"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and turned back, only to find the old beggar had silently appeared opposite him, nearly face-to-face; the old beggar laughed heartily, Hu Xiaotian was frightened out of his wits and fell straight down from the tree.

The old beggar drifted down from the tree like a falling dry leaf, landing softly beside Hu Xiaotian, and poked his chest with a finger: "If you've got the skill, keep running!"

Hu Xiaotian weakly shook his head, both hands covering his mouth: "Old sir, please spare me! I've never been kissed by a man in my life."

The old beggar laughed: "Then this is a perfect chance to experience it."

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