Volume Two: Bandits of This Place, Chapter 124: A Guest Is About to Depart

Life was growing wild and delightfully idle.

If only it could stay this way forever, that would be fine. But things rarely turn out as one wishes; for instance, imagine you are having a meal when a fly suddenly buzzes in.

"You’ve been rambling for over ten minutes... I am quite hungry." Lin Changtian tapped his own skull, his voice heavy with impatience. He was about to lose his composure with the old scoundrel before him.

Liu Shiyong ignored the first half of the sentence entirely, feigning surprise: "Oh, Great Commander, you haven't eaten yet? Why must you treat yourself so poorly..."

Lin Changtian shot the old man a sidelong glance, too lazy to engage.

This fellow hadn't been thrashed in a few days, and his skin had likely grown loose. Had he not been so preoccupied with the affairs of the newly established city, he would never have tolerated the old man, given his own notorious reputation.

People are truly base creatures. If you beat them, they stay far away. If you don't, they insist on clinging to you shamelessly.

Liu Shiyong remained blissfully unaware that the Lord of Sishan had just conceived a plan to hang him from the city gate as a mascot. He kept a smile on his face, speaking in an overly intimate and suicidal tone: "Changtian, you are being too formal. You shouldn't miss your mealtime just because of a little old man like me. Your hunger is my pain."

In truth, it was just a polite pleasantry, a mere attempt at small talk. But Lin Changtian took it literally. He walked straight toward Liu Shiyong, grabbed him by the collar, and proceeded to give him a sound beating, muttering, "This is the first time in my life I’ve heard a request like that..."

A moment later, Lin Changtian, his urge to strike satisfied, drifted away. Watching his retreating back, Liu Shiyong stood stunned for a long while—partly from rage, and partly because he hadn't yet recovered from the severity of the beating. The old man wiped away a tear and sighed gloomily: "That brute from Sishan... he truly knows nothing of respecting the old or cherishing the young!"

...

Lin Changtian found a tavern—the one run by the exceptionally fierce landlady. He ate his fill and, feeling bored, watched the waiter and the accountant bicker.

The waiter was a martial artist who had been detained, while the accountant was a newcomer. He looked delicate, and upon closer inspection, he turned out to be the scholar who had been drunk that day.

As the saying goes, a scholar’s mouth is hard, but unfortunately, their bones rarely keep pace.

After the landlady’s first punch, the scholar shouted about civility; after the second, he lectured on reason. By the third punch... the scholar couldn't take it anymore. After fainting, he woke up in his current attire.

From then on, like the martial artist, he became part of the oppressed working class.

Logically, where there is oppression, there is resistance. Unfortunately, the woman running the shop was a bit too "calculating." With a few simple tricks, she kept the two men bickering every day, leaving no room for them to unite.

What did the landlady do? She did only one thing: she raised the accountant’s wages and greeted him with a smile all day long, while ignoring the martial artist entirely...

"Hmph, that woman has no taste, actually liking this pale scholar!" the martial artist muttered "softly" while wiping the table.

The scholar’s hand paused as he tallied the accounts. He looked up, glanced at the man, but said nothing, continuing his work.

Seeing that the "pretty boy" didn't respond, the martial artist grew bolder. He turned his head and shouted, "Perhaps someone has already hooked up with that woman! With such soft, fair skin, I bet he’s the one pinned underneath when they’re at it!"

This time, the scholar couldn't hold back. His face turned livid, and he cursed, "You low-born wretch, you haven't read a book, but surely you understand this much? If she were on top of me, my fragile frame would be crushed to pieces!"

"So you’re saying your ability to endure is strong; you’re usually so good at playing the part..." the martial artist blinked and said quite earnestly.

The scholar snorted coldly. He glanced at the martial artist, and seeing that the man wasn't intentionally mocking him, he swallowed his anger and corrected him: "That word cannot be used to describe this..."

"Then what should I use?" the martial artist snapped, waving his hand in disgust. He hated it when scholars nitpicked over words.

"Well... 'pressure resistance' would be better," the scholar said solemnly.

The martial artist paused for a moment, then his expression softened, and he laughed uncontrollably while patting the scholar on the shoulder.

"A lecherous talent! A lecherous talent!"

But their time of joy was soon to end. The woman was trained in martial arts and walked without a sound; she had been leaning against the door frame, listening to the entire profound discussion between the scholar and the martial artist.

That day, the tavern closed very early. It was said that the waiter and the accountant had "lightly" tripped while walking and accidentally broken their hands and feet...

Lin Changtian stepped out and walked through the streets, a smile on his face. He loved the appearance of this place.

The people lived in peace and contentment, and visitors flowed in a continuous stream. Merchants and disciples arrived one after another; scholars chanted in the bustling market, and martial artists gathered in the open spaces to watch others practice boxing. There were even beautiful girls walking on tiptoes through the streets, catching the eye of a suitor, a spark of emotion ignited with a single glance, an embroidered handkerchief tossed at a man’s feet, followed by a light laugh as she walked away, leaving the man who picked up the token of love feeling lost and longing...

What a portrait of life.

The Lord of Sishan looked on with affection, then turned his head to enjoy other scenery, but unfortunately, things went against his wishes; he ran into that unpleasant face again.

"Liu Shiyong, do you know why Old Man Wang next door lived to the age of ninety-nine?"

"Oh, that is quite a curiosity. May I ask which old man you speak of?" Liu Shiyong pulled his sleeves together, completely indifferent to the sarcasm in the question.

Lin Changtian curled his lip. Reasoning with this fellow was the stupidest thing he could do. "Because he isn't annoying, and... he is always straightforward and never asks nonsense."

"I understand what you mean," Liu Shiyong said, spreading his hands and stepping back a few paces. "Then I shall speak plainly, but let us agree beforehand: do not let resentment turn to anger... and beat this old man again."

The Lord of Sishan snorted coldly. He nodded, hands behind his back, staring at the sky, as if he wouldn't bother explaining himself twice to someone who questioned his credibility.

Seeing this, Liu Shiyong caught his breath, stepped forward, and said softly: "Actually, it’s nothing major. I just want to advise you to tear down this city or..."

Before he could finish, a solid fist came flying toward Liu Shiyong’s face. The old man was frail; one punch knocked him to the ground. Lin Changtian rolled up his sleeves and, mounting him, unleashed a storm of blows...

"Commander Lin! Commander Lin! Stop, please stop! If you keep this up, this old man is going to attain immortality!" An old man among the crowd of onlookers stepped forward, trembling as he pulled on Lin Changtian’s sleeve.

Lin Changtian wiped the sweat from his forehead, stood up, and sat to the side, tapping Liu Shiyong’s head as he laughed: "The people of Sishan are truly honest and simple. Even when you say something so deserving of a beating, there are people to stop me..."

"Commander, what did he say?" the old man asked curiously.

"Nothing much," Lin Changtian waved his hand, smiling: "He just told us to tear down the city."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the hand pulling his sleeve let go abruptly. The old man stroked his beard, handed over a sharp weapon, and said quite seriously: "Commander, that won't kill anyone. You might as well use this. Just once, and this old dog will be off to hell."

"Sishan really has such simple, honest folk..." Liu Shiyong struggled to his feet. He glared at Lin Changtian, his expression fierce: "I hate nothing more in this life than a man who goes back on his word. Since you promised not to lay a hand on me, why have you... done this? If you don't give me an explanation today, I will risk my life to reveal the true face of the Lord of Sishan to the world and ruin your reputation!"

Lin Changtian shook his head, looking at Liu Shiyong with contempt, and sneered: "You should go and ask around about my reputation! Is there anyone in the Northern Territory more shameless than me?"

The atmosphere between the two fell suddenly quiet. Liu Shiyong’s expression froze, and his face turned dejected.

This grandson was always a rogue. Who could reason with him?

Well, Liu Shiyong didn't know that there was indeed one such person on the mountain, but unfortunately, that person loved to play the hooligan with others and wouldn't give Lin Changtian the slightest chance to reason...

"I will not bicker with you. The city is already built; tearing it down would be a slap in the face to all of Sishan, and that is absolutely impossible. But, young man, listen to my advice: do not be in such a hurry to name the city." Liu Shiyong clutched his jaw, his expression still unkind, but it seemed a bit more sincere than before.

Lin Changtian did not answer. He pointed to the surrounding crowd and said calmly: "Look, the people of Sishan have eaten their fill. It’s hard enough for them to realize they are human beings, yet you want to stop them from doing what human beings should do."

Countless cold gazes fixed upon Liu Shiyong. Among the crowd were many with resentful expressions. He smiled bitterly, naturally understanding what was in their hearts.

When you are full, you want to fight for face. This is not greed; this is human nature.

"I... I only offer a suggestion. After all, I have stayed on the mountain for a long time. I am leaving tomorrow, and in my heart... I am a bit reluctant."

Lin Changtian frowned. He looked at Liu Shiyong, his expression indifferent, and said only two words: "Why?"

"It’s hard to explain in a moment..." The bitter smile at the corner of Liu Shiyong’s mouth deepened. He sighed and, after a long silence, said: "Originally, I was to leave alone, because my Commander needs these old, rotting bones. But after the city was established, as you know, on the surface, the young master is a member of the seven great clans of antiquity. Peiyou has no choice; he must leave with me."

"How long has Lin Peiyou been here? He hasn't even learned my true teachings yet!" Lin Changtian stomped his feet, looking somewhat... exasperated.

Well, perhaps it was because his moving cash cow was about to depart.

Liu Shiyong curled his lip. He secretly rejoiced that his young master hadn't been corrupted too much by this fellow...

"Peiyou wanted to say something to you before he left." Liu Shiyong turned away and pointed to a place at the foot of the mountain: "It should be there."

Lin Changtian waved his hand and walked away on his own. He followed the streets, twisting and turning; perhaps Mobai City was a bit too large, and after searching aimlessly, he found no way out.

He grew tired of walking, so he squatted in a corner, staring blankly at a patch of ceiling.

He had planned the city himself. Even if he were bad with directions... he shouldn't be a stranger to the pearl he had poured his heart and blood into.

"So, what are you afraid of?" Lin Changtian muttered. He was a sentimental fellow, and because of that... memories stirred up many people.

The Awakening World was not like the past. Without technological communication, even the most solid relationships could only end as "strangers at the ends of the earth."

The girl he met in the Central Plains, that bearded man. They all had their own destinations. Looking toward them from afar, they would never meet again.

Lin Changtian had once wanted to join "Yu." That idea had come to him on a whim and left just as quickly, because in an instant, he understood where he belonged.

"Dare I ask where the path lies..." someone sang softly in his ear, taking advantage of his troubled mood.

Lin Changtian looked up. It was Kuisheng. He raised an eyebrow, surprised that such a literary-sounding line would come out of his mouth.

Could it be that this fellow had also watched the 1986 version of *Journey to the West*? Well, that would explain why Kuisheng looked like the Second Brother from the show...

He looked up at the sky, smiling at everyone.

He lowered his eyes for a moment, and he was once again a kind-hearted disciple.

Lin Changtian suddenly realized: he had forgotten that before the Awakening World, this fellow was just a scholar who played with ink and brush. It was only the cruel hand of fate that had turned him into a fierce and terrifying bandit in the Northern Territory.

You see, there is no going back.

...