The old Taoist's gaze sharpened slightly as he watched Ren Ze walk out.
In the world of cultivation, it was difficult to judge one's seniority by appearance. After all, most cultivation methods could prolong one's life, and it was not uncommon for cultivators to retain their youthful looks.
The old Taoist realized that he could not see through the other man's cultivation, which likely meant the other party's cultivation was above his own.
But since the other party had attacked him for no reason, there was naturally no need to fear him. With that thought, the old Taoist straightened his back and said, "What do you mean by this, fellow Daoist? Why are you making a fool of me?"
"So what if I am making a fool of you? Weren't you making a fool of this farmer too? What, you're allowed to toy with others for amusement, but no one else is allowed to toy with you?"
Ren Ze asked mockingly, making the old Taoist's expression turn even uglier.
"You... I merely saw that he did not know what was good for him and gave him a slight punishment."
"A slight punishment? Have you even taken a good look at him?"
Ren Ze pointed at the farmer beside him.
"What?"
The old Taoist did not quite understand.
"I knew you hadn't."
Ren Ze sighed softly.
"Look at his clothes—tattered beyond repair. Then look at his feet. Would you wear those rotten straw sandals? He walked a long way to bring these pears into the city to sell. Have you ever considered what losing this cart of pears would mean to him? What it would mean to his family?"
Ren Ze spoke with some emotion. He was not some indiscriminately kind-hearted person, and ordinarily he would not meddle in other people's