nycdaug Chapter 164 Ruined Temple
Chapter 164 Ruined Temple
They walked around, stopping frequently, but because of their status as beggars, they didn't sell anything besides food.
As evening approached, Chen An still had no plans to find a place to stay, and Shuo Ye became anxious.
Playing a beggar is one thing, but actually making him sleep on the streets is just too much.
He had only been with Chen An for a short while, enjoying a good life.
Where shall we rest?
"Using the sky as a roof and the earth as a dwelling." Chen An raised an eyebrow and scratched Shuo Ye's chin in a comforting manner.
Shuoye bit her lower lip, staring at the brightly lit street. After sulking for a while, the cat turned and lay down under the eaves of the inn.
He crossed his arms over his chest, curled his body up as much as possible, and lay on his side with his back to Chen An.
"Get out of the way, you beggar! Get lost!" A man dressed as a merchant jogged over, carrying an account book, his words full of impatience.
Shuo Ye covered his ears with both hands, cursing the man for being noisy. Before he could finish cursing, Chen An grabbed him by the back of the neck and took him away.
"Put me down, I want to fight him to the death." Shuo Ye hovered in the air, waving his hands forward incessantly, his face fierce as he continued to curse, "I'm going to teach him a lesson."
The merchant breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Chen An walk briskly. He clearly had skills, yet he disguised himself as a beggar to come to Kang Le City. Could it be that he really had some plans? It would be better for him to leave sooner rather than later.
They walked into a small alley, and there was no one around. Chen An let go of his hand: "If you keep messing around, I'll throw you away."
"You lost me?" Shuo Ye's eyes widened, his face full of two words—grievance.
"Wait, I smell it, it's the boss!"
Shuoye took off running, and after a few steps, he quickly transformed into his beast form, jumped onto the roof, and headed due north.
Chen An, however, limped a few steps on his crutches before decisively giving up the chase.
After casting a teleportation array at Shuo Ye, he sat down comfortably in place.
As night fell, the noise from the other side of the night finally stopped late into the night.
Chen An beckoned with his finger, sending the message to the roof of the City Lord's Mansion.
Shuoye glanced at her, then continued to look at the scene beneath him.
Chen An followed Shuo Ye's gaze, silently marveling at the luxury, before noticing the two people standing face to face.
The woman wore an exquisitely crafted white dress, the hem adorned with light-colored auspicious clouds. Her long, dark hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and she stood near the door, exuding a cool and relaxed aura.
The man opposite her had a refined and scholarly air about him. His hair was tied up high, and his hair ornament was inlaid with a blue gemstone the size of a quail egg. His azure collar, arrow sleeves, and belt matched perfectly, except for the dark green silk ribbon tied around his waist, which seemed somewhat out of place.
"Is she Shuoyue?" Shuoye raised his head and asked uncertainly.
These two people looked like they had stepped out of a painting, but Chen An had never seen them before and could only shake his head.
Shuo Ye lowered his head and looked at her for a long time before continuing, "That woman has a hint of the boss's scent. I'm not sure. I can't help you deal with Jiu Mo anymore. I have to go and follow her."
His voice grew softer and softer, tinged with a sense of guilt after betrayal.
Chen An just smiled and said, "You say that boss Shuoyue is so powerful, so I, the boss, must be just as good."
Shuo Ye stared at Chen An with a puzzled look in his eyes, the hope barely perceptible.
Chen An sat cross-legged with his hands crossed and then quickly separated them, forming a complex hand seal. Finally, he hooked his right ring finger onto his middle finger and struck at the woman.
The light vanished in an instant, and the people underground remained motionless.
Shuo Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, the boss he had chosen couldn't be too bad.
"Walk."
Chen An led Shuo Ye away from there, heading to the alley behind the inn next to Zuixianlou.
At midnight, Kang Le City was bustling with noise. Drunk cultivators walked arm in arm toward the inn, while many others simply took off their clothes and lay half-naked on the street, no different from beggars.
Shuo Ye listened intently to the sounds coming from the City Lord's Mansion, while Chen An watched the brazen thief stealthily taking what didn't belong to him, and no one stopped him. He thought to himself, "No wonder there are no beggars in Kang Le City; they've all become thieves."
"She's gone." Shuo Ye tugged at Chen An's skirt, urging her with a grave expression, "Let's go after her."
Chen An patted his head: "As long as she doesn't break the formation, she can hear it everywhere."
"What if she gets it off?"
"As far as I know, no one can solve this." Chen An patted his chest confidently, turned to look at the passersby, and decided to steal some things as well, so that he could blend in with these thieves and find out some information.
Coincidentally, a middle-aged cultivator with a bulbous nose staggered out and collapsed next to a poplar tree.
Chen An smoothed his hair, tiptoed up to the man, and placed his hand on the man's money bag. Before he could pull it away, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old snatched it away.
The professional thief's speed was indeed extraordinary. Chen An ran to the crying Shuo Ye's side, picked him up, and chased after him.
The boy had no training, yet he was quite fast and his feet were very light. If given the opportunity, he could be taken as a disciple and carefully taught; he would surely achieve great things.
The boy squatted at the corner of the courtyard wall inside the dilapidated temple, in front of him was a middle-aged man with gray hair and broken arms and legs.
"Jinning, you're back." The man spoke weakly, his eyes dark. "Father is much better. You go out of the city first, and I'll catch up with you in a couple of days."
The boy's lips were pressed tightly together, and his clenched fists trembled incessantly.
“I know what you’re thinking, but revenge isn’t that easy, especially when the other party is a high-level cultivator.” The man’s voice trembled slightly. “Your mother’s greatest wish is for you to grow up safely and not do anything foolish. Your father can handle things like revenge.”
The boy lowered his head and remained silent, stuffing the money pouch under the man's bedding. He then took out four steamed buns from his pocket and handed two of them over.
Those around who were seriously injured stared at the steamed bun with longing in their eyes, but were powerless to do anything about it.
Their wives, children, and elderly parents were all slaughtered; they survived by hiding and waiting to die.
Every piece of land in this city has a name and a surname. They have no means of resistance. Even if they lie on the street, they will still be bitten by passing dogs.
Fortunately, there was a kind-hearted mad Taoist priest in this dilapidated temple. He had reached the Great Perfection of Yin and Yang cultivation. He would steal food from merchants and then distribute the leftovers to the people. Over time, this place became a refuge.
Chen An scanned these people with his divine sense. Without exception, they had all been beaten, and their cultivation levels were not low.
She pulled her cane from her waist and staggered toward the boy.
"Young man, half of what you have should belong to me."
"I can not understand what you say."
"My name is Chen An, let's get acquainted." Chen An smiled kindly and handed the boy half a roast chicken.
The boy paused for a moment, then took it: "Fang Jinning."
He handed the roast chicken to his father, who declined, so he placed it directly on his lap: "Your name is interesting, exactly the same as that female demon's."
Hearing this description, Chen An felt powerless.