Chapter 49 – The Bruised and Battered Merchant

Yangping County was right next to Qingshan County, but it was far from being as bustling. The night wasn’t even fully set, yet the streets were already nearly deserted.

“Why is it so deserted here?” Xiaojiu  asked curiously.

“This place is close to the border, and there are often mountain bandits around. Ordinary folks usually close up early and stay indoors. Who would dare to wander around at night?” Jingxin explained.

Hearing that, the children couldn’t help glancing around. The street was lit only by a few sparse lanterns swaying in the wind. Occasionally, the distant bark of a dog would break the silence, adding to the sense of desolation.

Xiaojiu  frowned. “Don’t the authorities deal with the bandits?”

“In recent years, with constant battles on the border, the government has been short on soldiers, so they don’t have the manpower to wipe them out. The bandits have taken advantage of the chaos to grow stronger. Still, they only rob passing merchants and wealthy travelers, and haven’t harmed the local common folk,” Jingxin said, sounding almost fond of these bandits.

“I remember there weren’t any bandits near Yangping County before,” Shi Xian frowned.

Five years ago, when he was still stationed at the border, this area had been lively both day and night, nothing like the desolation now.

“That’s because the Shi family was here back then. No one dared to provoke the border. But five years ago, when the Shi family fell in battle and the Shi family army vanished with them, the border—well, just look at it now,” Jingxin said with disdain.

“You seem to know the border pretty well?” Shi Xian asked in puzzlement. How could a Taoist priest know so much about border affairs?

“Qingshan Temple isn’t far from the border. I often go down the mountain for training,” Jingxin replied, a little guilty.

The truth was, the temple was dirt poor. To get a good meal, he often snuck down the mountain to tell fortunes, earn a bit of silver, and satisfy his cravings.

Who would’ve thought a dignified temple could be so poor that it rattled like an empty coin jar, barely scraping together enough for the next meal?

His master had probably been fed up with his appetite, because he actually told him that someone who could ensure he’d never go hungry for the rest of his life was living in Taoyuan Village of Qingshan County.

As if anyone would believe that! They weren’t royalty, nor high officials, nor wealthy merchants. Just a tiny mountain village—how could they possibly keep him fed and clothed forever? If his master was going to make up an excuse, he could at least make it believable.

Before long, the group found an inn with its lights still on and booked rooms for the night.

After a whole day on the road, everyone quickly fell asleep.

Even Mancang, still recovering from the blow he had suffered, had no energy left to dwell on his sorrow.

The next morning, as the first pale light crept across the horizon, the town slowly stirred from its slumber.

Xiaojiu  opened the window, and the fresh air, laced with the scent of earth, rushed in—so different from the desolate night before. On the street below, a few early-rising vendors were setting up their stalls. There weren’t many, but it brought a small spark of life to the place.

By the time Xiaojiu  came downstairs, Qin Xu and the others were already seated at the table.

“It’s livelier in the daytime,” Qin Xu said.

Jingxin, now awake, rubbed his eyes and joined in as he came down the stairs. “Yeah, daytime’s always safer. Folks can come out and make a living while the sun’s up.”

Shi Xian looked at the street, his heart heavy. The lively little town from five years ago contrasted sharply with its current state of decay.

After a simple breakfast, the group packed up to set off—and also to watch the spectacle of Jingxin settling an old score.

They once again followed Jingxin in grand formation to the place where he had lost an argument to a merchant last time.

Only, before Jingxin could find the man and give him a good thrashing, they saw that the merchant had already been beaten to a pulp—face bruised, nose swollen.

Jingxin looked him up and down and couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Jingxin poked the merchant, who was lying on the ground with a bruised and swollen face, and laughed smugly.
“Hahahahahaha! So you finally got what’s coming to you!”

Xiaojiu  and the others crowded around to join in the fun.

Soon, the group was cackling together like a band of deranged villains.

Shi Xian and Qin Xu pretended not to know them, quietly stepping back.

Qin Xu eyed the mask on Shi Xian’s face with envy—if he’d known it would come to this, he would have covered his face before leaving too.

Shi Xian: I just didn’t want people to find out I came back from the dead so soon… Who would have thought the mask would come in handy like this.

“What? Got short on the weight again and got beaten for it? Serves you right. Walk in the dark long enough and you’re bound to run into a ghost.”

At that moment, Jingxin felt completely refreshed. Even though he hadn’t personally given the man a beating, seeing him in such a sorry state was strangely satisfying.

Xiaojiu  turned to the vendor at the neighboring stall. “Who beat him up?”

The vendor glanced around, then whispered, “Heard it was someone from the capital.”

“What?” Xiaojiu  thought she’d misheard.

This guy could even manage to offend someone from the capital?

“Tell me in detail.” Xiaojiu  quickly pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds and handed them over as a sign for him to continue.

The vendor took them without ceremony, cracking the shells as he spoke.
“A so-called young heir from the capital came to buy something from his stall. The rice was ten copper coins a jin, but he charged thirty. The guy bought thirty jin, and he only gave him twenty. The young heir’s servant spotted it right away, and without another word, went up and gave him a beating.”

Xiaojiu  nudged the battered merchant with her toe and said to Jingxin, “Looks like he actually went easy on you.”

Jingxin had to admit, this man’s greed was fearless—borderline suicidal.

The merchant, still lying on the ground, growled, “Cheating him is nothing. I’d have loved to beat up that so-called young heir! That bastard dares to say the Shi family’s no heroes, that they lost their battles, and that any victories they won were just luck! Damn it—he’s a pampered second-generation brat hiding in the capital, living a peaceful life. What’s he worth? Pah…”

“If it weren’t for the Shi family army back then, he wouldn’t be living so comfortably now.”

The more he spoke, the angrier he got, forgetting the pain in his body entirely.

Xiaojiu  thought that while this merchant might be a bit unscrupulous, at least his sense of loyalty was in the right place.

Jingxin, too, looked at him with new eyes. “Didn’t expect that while your mouth is filthy, your heart’s pretty clean.”

Saying that, he hauled the merchant to his feet. “Come on, I’ll take you to the clinic.”

Once again, the group marched grandly down the street—this time escorting the battered merchant to the medical hall.

Before they left, Xiaojiu  slipped ten taels of silver to the merchant.

Outside the clinic, Xiaojiu  turned to Jingxin. “We’re heading home. What about you?”

Jingxin remembered his master’s words. “I’m going to Taoyuan Village in Qingshan County. Farewell.”

With that, he waved and started to leave.

“Wait—what are you going to our village for?” Xiaojiu  didn’t remember anyone there being into Taoism.

Could it be that this guy was so bored he wanted to come and tell fortunes in her village? No way. The way he talked wasn’t exactly pleasant—she was afraid the villagers would find him annoying and pull his hair on the spot.

“You’re from Taoyuan Village?”

No way… Could my master have been telling the truth?

“Is there anyone really rich in your village?” Jingxin asked.

“You planning to scam people in our village?” Zhao Hu glared at him.

Ever since this guy had told him he had the face of someone with a short life, Zhao Hu had taken a dislike to him.

“Do I look like a scammer?”

“Yes!” the children all answered in unison.