Chapter 36: Gentlemen Do Not Take What Others Love

"This matter is that our young master was implicated by these two cowardly dog servants, so our young master received a severe punishment from our lord!"

Luo Man glared at Yu Lan and Gao He, who were kneeling before Wang Lin, and ranted:

"If it weren't for our lord, I hope you, Lord Wang, could forgive and let me bring these two bastards over. Our lord would have already beaten those two dog things to death. After all, our Luo family is a scholarly household; how could we possibly tolerate such thieving scoundrels!"

"Steward Luo, spare us!"

Yu Lan and Gao He's faces changed drastically; when they were being whipped, learning that their young master was punished to kneel at the ancestral hall, they both knew this matter would not be easily settled, their lord would not let them off easily, knowing pleading to Luo Man was useless, they again begged:

"Lord Wang, please show great mercy and spare the lives of the two of us!"

Luo Man ignored the desperate pleas of Yu Lan and Gao He, saying that what they did—stealing and thieving—was a minor matter, but it tarnished the reputation of the Luo family and their young master, and they deserved to be beaten to death:

"Lord Wang, just say a word—whether to beat or to kill, we will obey. Our lord has spoken; everything follows your command!"

Wang Lin stared coldly at the trembling Yu Lan and Gao He, who were kneeling before him, and felt no sympathy for their pitiful state.

Those who thieve must be prepared to be beaten to death before they even commit the crime.

If we easily let those thieving beasts go, what will the honest victims think?

Isn't that encouraging others to steal?

Just.

There's an old saying: when beating a dog, you must consider its master!

Whether Steward Luo speaks truth or lies, it cannot be taken seriously.

Wang Lin smiled and said, "Steward Luo, since your lord has already punished those two beasts for us, let's consider this matter settled. What do you think?"

Luo Man hadn't spoken yet, but Yu Lan and Gao He, their faces full of unhidden joy, hurriedly said, "Thank you, thank you, Lord Wang, for your great mercy, sparing the two of us!"

Zhang Guihua replied irritably, "Old man, these two beasts are planning to steal our family's Ping'an's spirit cat. The young Daozhang of the spirit cat has said it can protect our family's Ping'an's safety. If they actually steal it, who will protect Ping'an when danger comes?"

"Letting them go like this is too cheap on them, isn't it?"

Luo Man interjected, "Lady Wang, we value your opinion; say whatever you want, even if it means taking the lives of those two dog servants!"

Just as Zhang Guihua opened her mouth to say something, Wang Lin angrily cut her off: "What's that, you really think killing them will make you happy? Our Ping'an is a Great Benevolent Person Reincarnation; we must do good deeds for Ping'an, understand?"

"Consider this a discount for you two beasts!"

Zhang Guihua, unwillingly, glanced at Yu Lan and Gao He, seeing their pitiful state, knowing that further punishment would surely cost them their lives, said:

"If it weren't for doing good for our family's Ping'an, I truly wouldn't want to let you two beasts go!"

She had lived in the countryside for years; even if she hadn't seen it, she'd heard of cases where a family's ox was stolen, and the caretaker, feeling guilty for failing to look after it, hanged themselves when the family wasn't looking.

She had no good feeling at all toward such thieving scoundrels.

"Thank you, thank you, venerable lord, for your great kindness, sparing the two of us!"

Yu Lan and Gao He thanked tearfully. Zhang Guihua, expressionless, said, "Don't thank me; if you must thank anyone, thank our family's Ping'an, for he is a Great Virtuous Person reincarnated."

"Thank you, thank you, young master; he truly is a Great Virtuous Person!"

Yu Lan and Gao He thanked again.

"Ding! You received Yu Lan and Gao He's heartfelt gratitude, earned the title 'Great Virtuous Person', and were rewarded Physique+1!"

A mechanical, cold voice rang in his mind; Wang Ping'an, who was lying in his mother's arms watching the commotion, changed his expression slightly—somewhat surprised but not overly so. Even his pet Hei Mao Bu Tou had earned the title 'Divine Cat Hero', so why couldn't he?

Only.

What surprised him was that he actually received the title 'Great Virtuous Person'; logically, people had called him a great virtuous person before, but only this time did it become an official title.

Steward Luo, hearing this, seemed unwilling and said, "Lord Wang, Lady Wang, you are letting those two dog servants off so easily?"

"Who made our Ping'an a Great Benevolent Person Reincarnation?"

A hint of arrogance flickered across Wang Lin's old face.

This novel, you have arrived.

"Lord Wang, I'm afraid not only the young master is a Great Benevolent Person Reincarnation, but also you, Lady Wang, your daughter‑in‑law, and your son Wang Ruhai are all first‑rate virtuous people, which is why the young master Ping'an was reborn into your family!"

Luo Man flattered with a remark; not long ago, he had just learned that Wang Ping'an might be a Great Benevolent Person Reincarnation, a rumor that came from Xuanqing Daozhang. He didn't take it seriously, even though Xuanqing Daozhang is a capable person.

He just treated it as a casual compliment!

It wasn't until he received more information about Wang Ping'an—specifically, news from Hei Mao Bu Tou—that he gradually believed Wang Ping'an might be a Great Virtuous Person Reincarnation.

Even a spirit cat that acts chivalrously can be attracted to become a protective beast for a baby; if it weren't a Great Benevolent Person Reincarnation, he couldn't think of any other explanation.

"You two dog servants, what are you still doing here? Get out quickly, don't stain Lord Wang's eyes!"

Luo Man snorted coldly; after Yu Lan and Gao He, their bodies riddled with scars, limped away from the Wang household, he then continued:

"Lord Wang, our lord, besides having me bring these two dog servants to apologize to you, also has another matter to discuss with you!"

Wang Lin spoke first: "Steward Luo, you heard just now about our spirit cat. It is the protective beast of our family's Ping'an; no matter how much money you offer, we will not sell it!"

He knew that the Luo family is a top‑tier wealthy household in Qingyang County, so they wouldn't casually come to offer compensation; originally he thought it was because of that beast, but now it seemed the Luo lord had other motives.

They want to obtain their spirit cat!

"Lord Wang, you misunderstand. Our lord is a gentleman of the Dao, naturally understanding that a gentleman does not take away what others love. Our lord knows the situation of your spirit cat and your young master, so how could he possibly buy the spirit cat?"

Luo Man explained, "I am here for another matter to discuss with you, Lord Wang."

(End of Chapter)