Little Beggar?

Shi Xuan offered his advice. As for whether Zhang Li followed it, that was Zhang Li's own business.

When Zhang Daquan and his wife entered the room afterward and saw that Zhang Li's coughing had greatly improved, they were naturally overcome with gratitude. They listened to Shi Xuan's instructions and pounded their chests in promise that they would properly nourish Zhang Li back to health.

Shi Xuan remained in the small town for three days, yet the Divine Lord Crimson Cloud Temple sent no one else. At the same time, the lively and vigorous Shi Xuan deepened the doubts in the hearts of those townsfolk who still believed in the Divine Lord, while those who already harbored doubts had basically abandoned their faith altogether.

Over those three days, anyone in town with headaches or fevers came to Shi Xuan. He refused no one, since the Soul-Bewildering Banner happened to need to absorb sickly qi. Still, this was only a small town, and there were not many seriously ill people, which left Shi Xuan rather regretful.

The small town was not far from Kaiyang City. Shi Xuan set out after breakfast and arrived before noon.

As a vital crossroads linking five provinces, Kaiyang City was not much inferior to Yangzhou Prefecture or Chuzhou City. Especially now that the New Year had just passed, many people from outside the city were flooding in. Rare leisure time only came once a year, so naturally they had to enjoy themselves properly here.

Among the line entering the city, Shi Xuan spotted many monks, nuns, Daoists, beggars, and strangely dressed people. Yet when he examined them with the Qi Gazing Technique, they were basically all swindlers waving banners and cheating people. Shi Xuan found this somewhat strange. With so many odd people rushing into the city at once, there had to be some reason for it. They could not possibly have arranged to go to the market together. Yet from the expressions of the soldiers guarding the gate, this seemed perfectly ordinary to them.

Shi Xuan quietly asked the auntie in front of him, who wore a new cotton-padded coat, "Auntie, may I ask you something? Why are so many people beyond the secular world hurrying into Kaiyang City?"

At first, the auntie did not want to pay Shi Xuan any mind, but after hearing his question, she could not suppress her urge to talk. "So you really didn't know? I thought you young Daoist priest had come for the same reason as them. Let me tell you: the Governor fell seriously ill. They invited every famous physician nearby, but nothing helped. Even the imperial physician from Luojing and prayers to Divine Lord Crimson Cloud were helpless. So the moment the New Year passed, notices were posted throughout the surrounding villages and towns, inviting extraordinary people and strange talents to the Prefectural Office. If anyone can cure him, tsk tsk, there will definitely be a rich reward!"

Only then did Shi Xuan understand why so many strange people were rushing into the city. If one could cure the Governor, never mind the reward first—earning the Governor's gratitude in Fengzhou was an enormous invisible fortune. No wonder everyone, capable or not, wanted to try their luck.

On second thought, Shi Xuan recalled that the Governor had been transferred here from Liangzhou, while Divine Lord Crimson Cloud had also spread here from Liangzhou. It was hard to say whether there was any connection between the two. He might as well use this opportunity to slip in openly and honestly. As long as he saw the Governor and examined his qi, he could at least gain some information. If he sneaked in at night, it would still be another matter whether he could even find the Governor.

With so many people gathered together, their qi naturally mingled together, and the Qi Gazing Technique could not separate them at all. Only by standing before someone could he clearly see that person's qi, unless there was an especially powerful or unusual qi within the crowd that could be seen at a glance. Just as when he had observed qi in the small town, apart from the enormous human qi of Kaiyang City, he could only see the divine radiance of Divine Lord Crimson Cloud.

When entering the city, the gate guards did not question Shi Xuan much. After all, far too many Daoists had entered the city these past two days. They collected two copper coins as the entry tax, then waved him through.

After entering the city, Shi Xuan hurriedly asked the group of monks ahead of him, "Masters, may I ask what procedure is required to apply at the Governor's residence?"

The leading monk was fat-headed and big-eared, his face oily and shining, though he still looked rather kind and benevolent. Upon hearing this, he immediately frowned. "Young Daoist Priest, it would be better not to wade into this muddy water. Healing the sick and saving lives still depends on real ability."

The young novice monk beside him stepped forward. His fine features carried a trace of pride. "Our abbot is renowned far and wide for curing illnesses as soon as the medicine is applied. Even when it comes to catching ghosts and subduing demons, he is famously skilled. Young Daoist priest, don't you know who Zen Master Zhiguang of Great Buddha Temple is? Stop dreaming of fishing in troubled waters."

"Amitabha." The fat-headed, big-eared Zen Master Zhiguang softly intoned a Buddhist invocation, maintaining an outward appearance of calm composure.

Helpless, Shi Xuan had to ask others again. Unfortunately, these people all feared someone might steal their business. They wished fewer people would go, so why would they possibly give him any information? In the end, he had to ask local residents of Kaiyang City. Only after piecing their answers together did he learn the accurate details.

First, one had to register at the entrance of the Governor's residence. Then, at dinnertime, one could attend the banquet in the main hall of the Governor's residence. During that time, the Governor would come to the hall and receive everyone's treatment. By then, each would rely on their own skills. After all, among the one or two hundred monks, nuns, laymen, Daoists, and physicians from the previous day, not a single one had eased the Governor's illness in the slightest. Naturally, they had all been beaten out with random clubs. But 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 genuine skills would be allowed to treat him. There were so many people, after all, and taking them one by one would be unbearable for a Governor who was already ill.

Following directions, Shi Xuan arrived at the entrance to the Governor's residence. Since the Governor lived in the Prefectural Office, there was a large square before its gates. The place in the square surrounded by a crowd should be where registration was taking place. But those people sitting around the square in twos and threes—were they planning to wait directly until dinner?

During registration, the plump middle-aged steward was extremely cold toward a young Daoist priest like Shi Xuan. Presumably, he did not believe Shi Xuan had the ability to cure the Governor. Yet Shi Xuan gained quite a bit. From what he saw through qi observation, even the steward of the Governor's residence had some connection to Divine Lord Crimson Cloud. The Governor himself likely had an even deeper connection.

Shi Xuan found a fairly decent little restaurant and planned to eat lunch before visiting the Divine Lord Crimson Cloud Temple that afternoon to investigate. While he was eating and drinking, he heard a waiter loudly shouting. Turning his head, he saw that the waiter was driving out a tiny beggar. Her face was black with grime, making it impossible to tell her age, but judging by her little body, she was probably no older than ten.

The little beggar moved with nimble steps, weaving in and out of the restaurant. No matter what the two waiters did, they could not catch her. Shi Xuan gave a soft sound of surprise. This little beggar actually had a foundation in Lightness Skill. Could she be from the Beggars' Gang? But did this world even have a Beggars' Gang?

After running the waiters dizzy, the little beggar suddenly darted to the steamers, grabbed a white steamed bun, and ran outside. Unfortunately, the waiters had learned their lesson and sent one man to block the doorway. The little beggar was immediately caught between advancing and retreating.

The little beggar's dark eyes rolled around. She stretched out her hand and said in a crisp, troubled voice, "How about... I give the bun back to you?"

The white steamed bun was already marked with grimy fingerprints. At the sight, the waiter flew into a towering rage and rolled up his sleeves. "Just watch how I teach you, you lousy little beggar!"

For some reason, Shi Xuan, who had been watching coldly, thought of the scene in The Legend of the Condor Heroes where Guo Jing first met Huang Rong. There had also been a beggar, steamed buns, and black fingerprints. This little beggar was simply far too young. Smiling, he said to the waiter, "I'll pay for it. Don't make things difficult for this child."

Seeing someone pay, the waiter naturally stopped. This little beggar was far too nimble. If he truly tried to deal with her, would he not turn the whole restaurant upside down, with chickens flying and dogs jumping?

The little beggar apparently had not expected this. Her pair of large eyes, black and white distinct, stared unblinking at Shi Xuan. Shi Xuan smiled gently at her. "Why not come over and eat? Look, I have chicken and fish on my table."

Gulp. The little beggar swallowed a mouthful of saliva, but her eyes remained full of wariness. "Mother said that if an uncle with a very fake smile invites you to eat, you must never agree!"

Shi Xuan touched his face. Was his smile really that fake? He was merely feeling nostalgic at the sight of this scene. "Then eat your bun. I'll slowly eat by myself." With that, he picked up his chopsticks and sampled a little of every dish, while secretly casting a spell on the little beggar to calm her emotions.

Watching Shi Xuan's actions, a clever glint flashed through the little beggar's eyes. With the spell's influence, her fear and vigilance greatly diminished. She cheered, set the bun on the table, picked up chopsticks, and began wolfing down the food.

Shi Xuan beckoned a waiter over and had him bring a basin of water and a cloth. Then he said to the little beggar, "Wash your hands and face first. The food isn't going to run away."

"No. Mother said not to put food outside your line of sight, or something might happen." She continued eating without even raising her head.

Shi Xuan broke into a slight sweat. Her mother had taught her quite well, but how had this little girl ended up outside looking for food on her own? It was not convenient to ask that question directly, so he followed her lead. "Uh, what might happen?"

The little beggar seemed stumped. She poked her lips with her chopsticks again and again, staring blankly for a moment before saying, "Maybe you'd spit in it to tease me! I 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 coaxed her step by step.

"I'm not telling you!" The little beggar looked at Shi Xuan warily. After a while, she seemed to think of something and said pitifully, "Could Mother have sent you to catch me and take me back? I've been very careful not to say my name."

When he first heard her refusal, Shi Xuan had still been considering how to draw information out of her. Unexpectedly, the little girl had confessed on her own. Smiling, he shook his head. "I don't know you, and I don't know your mother either."

"Really?" The little beggar leaned her little face closer. Seeing Shi Xuan's solemn expression and that he did not seem to be lying, she immediately relaxed. Happily, she lowered her head and continued eating and drinking. But after she picked up another piece of chicken and ate it, she froze for a moment, then suddenly burst into tears. "Wuwuwu... but what if I want to go back?"

Shi Xuan felt he was having trouble keeping up with the little girl's train of thought. Her emotions changed far too quickly.

After the little beggar finished sobbing and sniffling, Shi Xuan asked, "Then where is your home? What is your surname and name? How about I help you send a message, or simply take you home?"

The little beggar raised her head. The grime on her face had been washed by tears into two trails, revealing skin as fair as jade. Somewhat puzzled, she answered, "Mother is called Mother. Oh, right, some people call her the Saint Empress, and some call her the Demon Empress."

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

Having finished crying, the little beggar continued wolfing down food. With her mouth full, she answered indistinctly, "My surname is Chu, and my name is Wan'er."