Old Wang Next Door Returns

Mr. Hong nodded without saying much, as though he did not wish to discuss martial arts.

Mother Lin stroked the children's little heads and said, "Mr. Hong, what do you think of our children?

"They're getting older. We'd like to send them here to study and learn manners."

Mr. Hong stroked his beard. "They're all good children, bright and clever every one of them."

A smile appeared on Mother Lin's face. "Then, Mr. Hong, you're willing to accept them as students?"

Mr. Hong said, "I can teach them to read and write, but not every day. They can come once every three days and study for a day."

Mother Lin hurriedly nodded. "As long as you're willing to take them, anything will do. Why aren't you children hurrying up and greeting your teacher?"

The five little children promptly knelt and kowtowed, calling out in their childish voices, "This disciple pays respects to Teacher."

Mr. Hong smiled. "No need for such ceremony."

Seeing Mr. Hong's pale complexion, Lin Feng said, "The weather is so nice, Mr. Hong. Why not go outside and get some sun?"

Mr. Hong glanced at the brilliant sunlight outside the window. "My legs are inconvenient. I won't be going out."

Lin Feng had already assumed Mr. Hong was a martial arts master and did not regard him as disabled.

With that level of skill, he could walk outside on his hands.

Even if he did not move himself, he could have the maid Yue'e carry him out on her back.

Judging from Mr. Hong's pale face, he had certainly not left the house in a long time. Why was that?

After thinking briefly, Lin Feng understood. Mr. Hong was injured and could not easily use force.

And Yue'e was a woman, so it was ultimately inconvenient for her to attend to a grown man like him.

Lin Feng said, "How about I carry you to the courtyard, Mr. Hong? You can sit for a while, get some sun, and have some fresh air."

Before Mr. Hong could speak, the maid Yue'e hastily said, "Yes, yes!"

Yue'e's attitude confirmed Lin Feng's guess.

Mr. Hong looked out the window once more, then nodded. "Then I'll trouble you."

Lin Feng quickly stood and went to carry Mr. Hong. "It's no trouble, no trouble. Just call me Xiaofeng, Mr. Hong."

Lin Feng carefully carried Mr. Hong into the courtyard and gently set him down in the rocking chair there.

Sitting beneath the sunlight, Mr. Hong seemed to be in much better spirits. He immediately began teaching the children to write on the ground.

Only then did Lin Feng remember that he had not prepared any brushes, ink, paper, or inkstones. It seemed he would have to make another trip into the city tomorrow.

Lin Feng stayed in the courtyard with Mr. Hong, serving him tea and pouring water.

Whenever Mr. Hong felt hot, Lin Feng held up an umbrella to shade him from the sun.

The maid Yue'e went to the kitchen to make dinner.

Mother Lin and Zhou Chunlan went over to help.

Only Mr. Hong and Lin Feng remained as adults in the courtyard, along with five children practicing writing with tree branches.

Mr. Hong said softly, "Young man, the killing intent on you is rather heavy."

Lin Feng answered calmly, "This boy has only killed those who deserved killing. My conscience is clear. If my killing intent is a little heavy, there's nothing to be done about it."

"Oh? Then what sort of people deserve to be killed?

"I have no great ambitions, nor do I understand all those lofty principles.

"I only know that anyone who wants to harm me or my family deserves to die.

"The world is growing more chaotic by the day.

"It's hard to survive without getting a little blood on your hands."

Mr. Hong nodded, tacitly agreeing with Lin Feng's words.

"Then why do you think the world is becoming increasingly chaotic?"

Lin Feng thought for a while before saying, "Because this world lacks the rule of law.

"When common folk have disputes and go to the county office to report them, they still get beaten with boards.

"Over time, the people stop relying on the authorities.

"They settle everything themselves.

"As a result, conflicts and disputes among the people grow ever more severe.

"On top of that, the officials in every city know only how to squeeze the people dry and indulge in luxury and pleasure. They do not know how to govern their territories.

"They dare act this way because the power in their hands is too great and faces no restraints.

"If things go on like this, how could the world not fall into chaos?"

Mr. Hong's eyes lit up as he turned to look at Lin Feng.

He had only asked casually, never expecting Lin Feng to offer such a speech.

"What exactly is this rule of law you speak of?"

Lin Feng said, "The rule of law means using laws as the foundation, using laws to regulate how officials exercise power, using laws to protect the rights of the people, and maintaining social order, fairness, and justice..."

Lin Feng explained to Mr. Hong the ideas of governing the country according to law from his previous life.

Even an old scholar like Mr. Hong was left stunned again and again.

"I never expected a hunter like you to possess such insight. Go on."

What else was there to say? I've forgotten almost all that political theory from my previous life.

He then combined it with the system of this world and offered a few suggestions.

"Although this world reveres martial strength above all else.

"People like you, Mr. Hong—knowledgeable and learned—are still needed to govern a place.

"As long as the laws can be improved and the functions of the county offices expanded, social order will become much better..."

Lin Feng also took the opportunity to flatter Mr. Hong.

After chatting with Lin Feng for most of the day, Mr. Hong's complexion improved considerably.

Once dinner was ready, Mr. Hong invited Lin Feng's family to eat in the courtyard.

After the meal, Mother Lin and Zhou Chunlan helped clean up the bowls and chopsticks.

Lin Feng carried Mr. Hong back into the house, and only then did the family leave.

Over the next half month,

Lin Feng lived a peaceful life and encountered no one foolish enough to provoke him.

Every day, he hunted and fished.

Every three days, he sent the children to Mr. Hong's place to learn reading and writing.

Each time Lin Feng went, he brought meat with him.

Mr. Hong found Lin Feng's insights extraordinary, so he also taught Lin Feng some scholarly knowledge.

Whenever the weather was good, Lin Feng carried Mr. Hong into the courtyard to get some sun and kept him company with conversation.

Life was quite pleasant.

Over those half a month, Lin Feng accumulated fifteen Breakthrough Points, but had not used them yet.

He figured that if Mr. Hong taught him one or two superior martial arts techniques, he would add the Breakthrough Points to them.

Yet after so much time had passed, Mr. Hong showed no intention of teaching him martial arts.

Lin Feng was not in a hurry. There was still plenty of time.

During this period, Lin Feng also made a trip into the city.

He had planned to buy some Martial Arts Manuals, but could not find any place that sold them.

The martial arts schools could teach kung fu, but they cost a lot of silver and required frequent attendance.

More importantly, the schools only taught Low-tier Martial Arts.

In the end, Lin Feng only bought some brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, pastries, and iron nails.

The brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were for the children to practice writing.

The pastries were for the children and Mr. Hong.

Lin Feng noticed that Mr. Hong and the maid Yue'e rarely left the house, so they probably seldom ate pastries from the city. Thus, he brought some for them as well.

Lin Feng could not look after Mr. Hong every day. He bought the iron nails because he wanted to make Mr. Hong a wheelchair.

With a wheelchair, Mr. Hong could go outside to get some sun by himself.

That day, Lin Feng was making the wheelchair in his own courtyard.

Knock, knock, knock. Someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Who is it?" Mother Lin, who was cooking, wiped her hands on her apron and went to open the gate.

"Oh my, isn't this Little Wang?"

Lin Feng's heart jolted. He looked up and saw that the visitor was none other than Wang Shanxiong.

He had thought he could enjoy peaceful days for a while longer.

But Old Wang Next Door had returned.

Lin Feng put on a smile and went forward to greet him. "Brother Wang, when did you get back?"

Wang Shanxiong replied, "I just got back too."

Lin Feng did not know whether it was an illusion, but he felt that there was something strange in Wang Shanxiong's gaze.

Lin Feng checked Wang Shanxiong's status panel again.

This man's vitality attribute had actually recovered to twelve.

Could it be that Wang Shanxiong had gone out seeking doctors and medicine during this time?

That was a bit troublesome.

Wang Shanxiong would definitely try to kill him.

Once his injuries fully healed, Lin Feng would no longer be able to deal with him. He had to strike first.