Lin Xiaoyou, What Do You Think?

In the alley, Lin Baici leaned against the wall and listened as the old man told him about the missing young women chosen for the palace. His eyes kept sweeping both ends of the alley to make sure no one was coming.

"Hero, I've told you everything I know. Could you please let me go?"

The old man clasped his hands and begged.

"Why do you know so much?"

Lin Baici narrowed his eyes and sized up the old man, wondering if he was a useful NPC who might have more information to squeeze out of him.

"I don't have any other hobbies. I just like going to teahouses to listen to storytellers. Go often enough, and naturally you learn a lot!"

The old man took a money pouch from his robes. He had planned to give Lin Baici a few taels of silver to get rid of him, but after thinking it over, he handed him the whole pouch.

"Hero, I've never done a wicked thing in my life. I've always paid my household servants well and never worked them like donkeys. If you kill me, several families who depend on me will be ruined!"

The old man tried to appeal to his sympathy.

Lin Baici hadn't planned to take the pouch, but when he heard that the old man was a wealthy man, he didn't hesitate. He snatched it up.

"If you dare report this or tell anyone what happened today, I'll kill your whole family!"

Lin Baici threatened him.

There was no other way.

If he didn't threaten the old man, he'd have to kill him to keep him quiet. Although this was only an NPC, Lin Baici couldn't bring himself to be that ruthless.

"Hero, I..."

Before the old man could finish, Lin Baici struck the