"As I kept stealing, I gradually joined the gang and learned a few tricks of the trade from some masters."
Cui Jiuyang said evenly, "Then why didn't you go back to the Children's Welfare Hall when you were hungry? They could at least give you something to eat, couldn't they?"
Liu San silently lowered his head and shook it hard. "I'll never go back! I'd rather die!"
There was no telling what this child had experienced at the Children's Welfare Hall to make him so unwilling to speak of it. Even his fear of the white snake right beside him was temporarily suppressed.
Cui Jiuyang took it all in and sighed softly.
The boy had a complicated background and deep ties to an ancient demon of the Liu Family. Divination would yield no more information for now. It seemed he would get nothing more out of him tonight, and the boy had already been badly frightened.
Forget it. Stop putting him through this. Let him go for now.
With that thought, Cui Jiuyang reached out and gently patted the boy's shoulder, softening his voice a little. "Go on."
He paused, then added, "The silver dollars you stole this time will keep you fed for a while."
"But remember, no more stealing on this train."
The boy could hardly believe his ears. He stood stunned for a long moment before realizing that the man was letting him go.
He hurriedly agreed. "Yes! Thank you, sir! Thank you! I promise I won't dare do it again!"
As though granted a pardon, he cautiously shifted his feet and slipped quietly toward the third-class carriage. He seemed to find it unbelievable that he had gotten off so easily. Even the silver dollars he had stolen had not been confiscated, which made him feel all