Chapter Seven: Kill the Fellow Daoist, Spare Not This Poor Daoist.

After enjoying another hearty meal, he did not linger any longer.

He set off back to Qinghe Town. With these ten taels of gold, he could live there carefree for quite some time.

“Young master! Don’t you feel even a little reluctant? I saw that young lady’s eyes were red from crying,” Fox Enchantress asked curiously.

“No,” Lin Chen replied expressionlessly.

In truth, he did feel some reluctance, but considering his identity and Xiao Yunyao’s—she was a wealthy heiress, and he was a fallen Taoist— they were simply from different worlds. Perhaps an early separation was best for both of them.

“That’s good! From now on, young master belongs solely to me,” Fox Enchantress murmured softly, floating in the air.

Lin Chen was used to her fanciful talk by now and simply smiled without a word.

Seeing him ignore her, Fox Enchantress sighed, “Alas! What a pity. If you could see me, you wouldn’t be like this.”

“Oh? You must be quite the sight then!” Lin Chen feigned thoughtfulness and continued, “Never mind, I wouldn’t want to be scared out of my wits.”

Fox Enchantress, flustered, whipped up gusts of chill wind as if attempting to frighten him.

But it was nothing like she imagined; Lin Chen continued riding his donkey at a leisurely pace.

They didn’t rush back but stopped in Xining Town—one man, one donkey, and one ghost.

As soon as they entered the town, Lin Chen sat down in a corner on the ground.

When he took out a battered bowl and began to wail loudly, countless beggars lying sprawled on the streets nearby did not cry with such heart-wrenching sorrow.

Fox Enchantress awkwardly held her forehead, her toes curling in frustration.

“...”

“Young master! Can you stop crying? It’s embarrassing—no, it’s disgraceful for a demon. Get up, I’ll give you money,” she said, one hand on her forehead, the other pulling at his collar, her cheeks flushed.

Through his sobs, Lin Chen said, “Stop making noise. Do you think a Taoist’s tears come free?”

Fox Enchantress rolled her eyes and retorted, “I mean, you don’t have to beg, do you?”

“This is a Taoist’s old trade; it can’t be lost. Besides, no one can see you, so what’s the fear?” Lin Chen said calmly.

“...?” Fox Enchantress was speechless.

Unable to persuade him, she gave up and sat quietly beside him.

Yet, seeing this fellow with ten taels of gold in his pocket still begging for food was truly incomprehensible to her.

She murmured in despair, “Heavens! How can there be such shameless people in the world?”

Moments later, a foot suddenly kicked his bowl away, causing the cracked bowl to clatter and roll far before stopping.

What followed was a venomous curse: “Damn it! Do you know the rules? Who allowed you to beg here? Don’t you know whose turf this is?”

Lin Chen looked at the flying bowl and muttered, “As expected, even begging here someone profits?”

He turned and said coldly, “I’m not sure where I offended you, sir, but there’s no need for violence, is there?”

“You blind bastard, what tone are you taking?” the man growled, staring at him word by word. “Get lost…”

Fox Enchantress, seeing the man’s aggressive manner, suddenly stood up and scolded angrily, “You brute, so unreasonable!”

She cracked her knuckles, ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

But the man paid no attention to her and continued threatening Lin Chen in a low voice.

Lin Chen stood up, turned his head, and pulled the cloth from his eyes to reveal a pair of snow-white eyes. With a sinister smile, he said, “What if I don’t leave?”

Seeing those eyes, even the fierce man shivered involuntarily but forced himself to remain composed. “Damn it, what bad luck. If you don’t leave… I’ll break your dog legs.”

He reached down to the ground to find his bamboo staff. Seeing this, Fox Enchantress handed the stick to Lin Chen.

The man was intimidated by the staff suddenly appearing in Lin Chen’s hand and threw a punch at him in fear.

The fist came at Lin Chen swiftly, cutting through the air.

Lin Chen calmly dodged the blow and struck the man’s back of the head with the staff.

A dull thud rang out as the man screamed in pain and turned around.

But as he spun, the bamboo staff was already pressed firmly against his throat.

Cold sweat trickled down the man’s pale face as he gasped, “I was wrong, master... I didn’t recognize your greatness. Just treat me like a fart and let me go.”

The beggars nearby froze, unwilling to covet him.

This man was the leader of their beggars’ gang, and all the beggars had to pay him protection money to survive.

“Pick up my bowl,” Lin Chen said coldly.

“Alright, alright, I’m going now. Thank you~ thank you…” The man scrambled to retrieve the broken bowl.

Moments later, the man returned, trembling as he handed the bowl back.

Humbly, he asked, “May I... leave now?”

Lin Chen spat coldly, “Get lost.”

The man, relieved to have escaped, smiled and thanked him before turning away.

Suddenly, a bamboo staff pierced his throat, blood dripping down with a soft “drip drip” sound.

The man turned back painfully, glaring fiercely as if to say Lin Chen did not keep his word.

Lin Chen pulled out the staff, wiped off the blood, and calmly said, “You hit me first, that’s cause. Killing you is effect. A Taoist is always fair and just.”

The man slowly collapsed. From behind came Fox Enchantress’s applause, “Clap clap clap!”

She pursed her lips and said, “Splendid~ I think I’m starting to enjoy being an audience.”

Lin Chen calmly placed the broken bowl into his cloth pouch and said somewhat regretfully, “Ah, what a pity. Let’s go.”

He knew showing off like this made crying here inappropriate, so he packed up and prepared to leave.

“Why aren’t you crying anymore?” Fox Enchantress asked with interest.

“That’s enough for today,” Lin Chen shook his head.

“Congratulations, host, you have gained 25 merit points. Remaining merit: 127 points. Level 1 Clear Mind Spell, Level 1 Clear Wind Sword Technique. Remaining lifespan: 10 years.”

“Upgrade Clear Wind Sword Technique.”

“Congratulations, host, upgrade successful. Remaining merit: 27 pointsI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.