Little Beggar?

Shi Xuan gave his own opinion, but whether Zhang Li followed it or not was his own business.

Next, Zhang Daquan and his wife entered the house. Seeing that Zhang Li's cough had greatly improved, they listened to Shi Xuan's instructions with tears of gratitude, patting their chests to guarantee that they would nourish Zhang Li well.

Shi Xuan stayed in this small town for three days, and did not see anyone else sent from the Divine Lord Crimson Cloud temple. At the same time, the lively Shi Xuan made the townspeople who still believed in the Divine Lord even more suspicious. Those who were already suspicious basically abandoned their faith in the Divine Lord.

During these three days, some people in the town with headaches and fevers came to Shi Xuan. Shi Xuan didn't refuse anyone, as the Soul-Bewildering Banner needed to absorb the sick qi. However, since it was a small town, there weren't many seriously ill people, which Shi Xuan found quite regrettable.

The small town was not far from Kaiyang City. Shi Xuan set off after breakfast and arrived in Kaiyang City before lunchtime.

As an important hub connecting the five prefectures, Kaiyang City was not inferior to Yangzhou Prefecture or Chuzhou City. Especially since it was just after the New Year, many people from outside the city were flocking into the city, eager to enjoy a rare moment of leisure.

In the line to enter the city, Shi Xuan noticed many monks, nuns, Daoist priests, beggars, and people with strange attire. However, using the Qi Gazing Technique, he saw that they were mostly swindlers. Shi Xuan was puzzled by this. After all, so many strange people going to the city at once must be for a reason. It was unlikely that they had all agreed to go to the market together. However, the expressions of the soldiers guarding the city suggested that they were used to it.

Shi Xuan quietly asked the aunt in new cotton clothes who was standing in front of him, "Auntie, may I ask you something? Why are so many outsiders rushing into Kaiyang City?"

The aunt initially didn't want to pay attention to Shi Xuan's question, but after hearing it, she couldn't suppress her desire to speak, "You don't know? I thought you Daoist priest were here for the same reason as them. Let me tell you, the Governor is seriously ill. He's invited all the famous doctors nearby, but none of them have helped. Even the Imperial Physician from Luojing and those who sought help from Divine Lord Crimson Cloud are helpless. So, as soon as the New Year was over, they posted notices in all the surrounding villages, inviting talented people and strange experts to the Prefectural Office. If someone can cure him, tsk tsk, they'll be greatly rewarded!"

Shi Xuan then understood why so many strange people were rushing to the city. If they could cure the Governor's illness, not to mention the generous reward, gaining the Governor's gratitude in Fengzhou would be a huge intangible asset. No wonder everyone, regardless of their abilities, wanted to give it a try.

Then it occurred to Shi Xuan that the Governor had been transferred from Liangzhou, and Divine Lord Crimson Cloud had also been introduced from Liangzhou. It was hard to say whether there was any connection between the two. He might as well take this opportunity to openly mix in. As long as he saw the Governor and gazed at his qi, he could at least get some information. If he sneaked in at night, it was hard to say whether he could even find the Governor!

Because so many people were together, their qi was mixed together, and the Qi Gazing Technique couldn't separate their qi. Only by walking in front of someone could he clearly see their qi, unless there was particularly powerful or strange qi in the crowd that could be seen at a glance. Just like when he was gazing at qi in the small town, besides the huge human qi in Kaiyang City, he could only see the divine light of Divine Lord Crimson Cloud.

When entering the city, the soldiers guarding the city didn't question Shi Xuan much. After all, there had been too many Daoist priests entering the city these past few days. After collecting two copper coins for the city entrance tax, they waved Shi Xuan into the city.

Once inside the city, Shi Xuan hurriedly asked the group of monks in front of him, "Masters, may I ask what the procedure is for applying to the Prefectural Office?"

The leading monk, who was fat-headed, big-eared, and greasy-faced but still had a kind and benevolent appearance, immediately frowned upon hearing this, "Little Daoist priest, it's best not to wade into this muddy water. Curing illnesses and saving people requires real skills."

The little novice beside him stepped forward, his delicate and pretty appearance carrying a hint of pride, "Our Abbot is famous far and wide for curing illnesses with medicine. Even catching ghosts and subduing Demons is his specialty. Little Daoist priest, you should inquire about who Zen Master Zhiguang of the Great Buddha Temple is. Don't even think about muddling through."

"Amitabha." The fat-headed, big-eared Zen Master Zhiguang chanted a Buddhist prayer in a low voice, appearing calm and composed on the surface.

Shi Xuan had no choice but to ask someone else, but these people were afraid of having their business stolen, and they wanted as few people to go as possible. How could they tell him the information? It was best to ask the original residents of Kaiyang City and combine their answers to get accurate information.

First, register at the entrance of the Prefectural Office. At dinner time, go to the main hall of the Prefectural Office to enjoy the banquet. During this time, the Governor will come to the main hall to receive everyone's diagnosis. Then, it's up to each person's abilities. Anyway, none of the one or two hundred monks, nuns, laypeople, Daoist priests, and doctors from the previous day had alleviated the Governor's condition in the slightest, so they were all beaten out with sticks. However, it was said that because of the previous day's failure, the Governor planned to have these people demonstrate their abilities first. Only those with abilities would be allowed to see the patient. After all, with so many people, it would be difficult for the Governor, who was already ill, to go through them one by one.

Shi Xuan asked for directions and arrived at the entrance of the Prefectural Office. Because the Governor lived in the Prefectural Office, there was a large square in front of the gate. The area where a group of people were gathered on the square should be the registration point. However, were those people sitting in twos and threes on the square planning to wait directly until dinner?

When registering, the middle-aged, wealthy steward was very indifferent to Shi Xuan, a young Daoist priest. He probably didn't think Shi Xuan had the ability to cure the Governor's illness. However, Shi Xuan gained a lot. From Qi Gazing, even the steward of the Prefectural Office had some connection with Divine Lord Crimson Cloud, so the Governor himself was probably even more deeply involved.

Finding a decent-looking small restaurant, Shi Xuan prepared to have lunch before exploring the Divine Lord Crimson Cloud temple in the afternoon. While eating, he heard the waiter scolding loudly. Turning his head, he saw that he was chasing away a small beggar. His face was black and dirty, making it hard to tell how old he was, but judging from his small body, he was probably no more than ten years old.

The little beggar was nimble, running around inside and outside the restaurant. The two waiters couldn't catch him no matter what. Shi Xuan let out a soft "Huh." This little beggar actually had a foundation in Lightness Skill. Could he be from the Beggar Clan? But did the Beggar Clan exist in this world?

After confusing the waiters, the little beggar suddenly darted in front of the steamer, grabbed a white Steamed Bun, and ran out. Unfortunately, the waiter had also learned his lesson and assigned one to block the door, leaving the little beggar in a dilemma.

The little beggar's dark eyes darted around, and he stretched out his hand, saying in a clear voice, "How about I return the Steamed Bun to you?"

The white Steamed Bun already had black fingerprints on it. The waiter's face turned red with anger, and he rolled up his sleeves, "I'll teach you a lesson, you little beggar."

Shi Xuan, who had been watching coldly, somehow thought of the scene in Legend of the Condor Heroes where Guo Jing first met Huang Rong. It was also a beggar, a Steamed Bun, and black fingerprints. However, this little beggar was too young. Smiling, he said to the waiter, "I'll pay for it. Don't make things difficult for the child."

Seeing that someone was paying, the waiter took the money. The little beggar was too nimble. If he really tried to teach her a lesson, he would have to turn the restaurant upside down.

The little beggar didn't seem to expect this. A pair of clear, bright eyes stared unblinkingly at Shi Xuan. Shi Xuan smiled warmly at her and said, "Why don't you come over and eat? Look, there's chicken and fish on my table."

Gulp. The little beggar swallowed, but her eyes were full of vigilance, "Mother said, if a fake-smiling uncle invites you to eat, you must not agree!"

Shi Xuan touched his face. Was his smile really that fake? He was just feeling nostalgic seeing this scene, "Then you eat your Steamed Bun. I'll eat slowly." After saying that, he picked up his chopsticks and ate a little of each dish, while secretly casting a spell to stabilize the little beggar's emotions.

Seeing Shi Xuan's actions, a clever light flashed in the little beggar's eyes. With the influence of the spell, her fear and vigilance were greatly reduced. She cheered and put the Steamed Bun on the table, then picked up her chopsticks and began to gobble it down.

Shi Xuan beckoned the waiter over and asked him to bring a basin of water and a handkerchief, then said to the little beggar, "Why don't you wash your hands and face first? The dishes won't run away."

"No, mother said not to put the dishes out of your sight, or there will be problems." She continued eating without looking up.

Shi Xuan was slightly embarrassed. This mother had taught her well. But how was this little girl finding food outside on her own? However, it wasn't convenient to ask this question directly. He followed the little beggar's words and asked, "Uh, what kind of problems?"

The little beggar seemed to be stumped by the question. She poked her lips with her chopsticks, paused for a moment, and then said, "Maybe you'll spit in it and tease me! People often tease Senior Brother and Senior Sister like that."

"Oh, then where are your Senior Brother, Senior Sister, and mother? Why aren't they with you?" Shi Xuan asked coaxingly.

"I won't tell you!" The little beggar looked at Shi Xuan warily. After a while, she seemed to think of something and said pitifully, "You're not here to catch me and take me back, are you? I've been so careful not to say my name."

Hearing the refusal at first, Shi Xuan was still thinking about how to get information out of her, but he didn't expect the little girl to confess on her own. He smiled and shook his head, "I don't know you, and I don't know your mother."

"Really?" The little beggar brought her little face closer, seeing that Shi Xuan's expression was solemn and didn't seem to be lying, she immediately relaxed and happily continued to bury herself in eating and drinking. But after picking up another piece of chicken and eating it, she froze for a moment, and then burst into tears, "Wuwuwu, but what if I want to go back?"

Shi Xuan felt a little lost with the little girl's train of thought. Her emotional changes were too fast.

After the little beggar finished crying, Shi Xuan asked, "Then where is your home? What's your surname and name? Should I help you send a message, or just take you back?"

The little beggar raised her head, and the tears had washed away two streaks of dirt on her face, revealing fair, jade-like skin. She answered with some confusion, "Mother is just called mother. Oh, some people call her Saint Empress, and some call her Demon Empress."

Shi Xuan was stunned and immediately asked, "Then what's your name?"

The little beggar continued to gobble down her food after crying, answering vaguely, "My surname is Chu, and I'm called Wan'er."

PS: Asking for recommendation tickets~