I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night

"You old bastard, have you no shame!"

The young man couldn't hold back any longer, stepping forward and grabbing the man's collar, angrily saying, "Grandpa Liu is a whole cycle of years older than you. Out of kindness for your sickly son, he took you in, and what do you do, you bastard? You can't even be bothered to go to the warehouse to move goods, lying here waiting for Grandpa Liu to provide for you and your son..."

"What are you doing? What are you doing? Are you going to get rough? With your two-day Pile Technique training, you haven't even gotten started..."

The middle-aged man pushed the young man aside with a sneer, "Kid, don't think I don't know, you're just planning to snatch Grandpa Liu's funeral savings! Let me tell you, I promised Grandpa Liu that when he died, I'd handle his burial. Whatever wealth he left, it would all be mine, not a dime for you!"

He looked at Old Man Liu and said, "Old Liu, if you don't bring the money out, Tie Zhu won't be going to school. At worst, I'll break his legs and throw him outside the Inner City, where at least some noble will give alms, enough to support us father and son."

"No..."

Old Man Liu's face was full of worry, and he said, "I'll turn to the caravan for a loan. I must get the child to school. His constitution isn't suited for martial arts. If he doesn't learn to read, he truly won't be able to make a living when he grows up."

"It has to be today. If you don't bring back the money tonight, my son and I won't need your support!"

The middle-aged man waved dismissively, "Look at yourself, being conned out of three silver taels, don't even consider that you're supporting a whole family... So many mouths to feed, if you lose three silver taels each time, a few of them might just starve in the future! You're using our meal money to give to others, isn't that a waste?"

"Brother Liu, there's some truth to his words."

Another old man, leaning on a cane, said with a sense of frustration, "You're getting on in years, and can't get a raise, fine, but how can you let yourself earn less?"

"And another thing..."

Another elder with silver-white hair, hobbling forward on a cane, said, "We see you're way too old, the outside world is perilous, you never know when you might lose your life out there..."

"You still have some connections here in Kang City, and have recommended a few children to join the City Guard Mansion military."

"My grandson has recently honed his constitution as well, you should get some Elixirs for him."

"Once he achieves Great Success in body and bone, you can recommend him to the City Guard Mansion again, even if only as a patrol soldier, it would be a proper livelihood."

Hearing this, Old Man Liu grew more distressed and said, "I've slipped quite a few people in these days, but the City Guard Mansion isn't showing as much favor anymore... Maybe I should discuss it with the caravan?"

"How can an escort Martial Artist do? Didn't you just say those two who swindled you out of silver also lost their lives? It's not like everyone is as blessed as you, accumulating virtue and merit over the decades to keep living."

The elder with silver-white hair angrily thumped his cane, "It's such a dangerous job, and you have the gall to send my grandson there?"

Old Man Liu said in a low voice, "Blessed people have their ways; I've studied Xiao Qi's face, and he has always been kind-hearted, a truly fortunate one."

"What blessed people have their ways? What good results for good people? According to your saying, you survived today because of good returns?"

The elder slammed the cane down angrily, "Keeping us isn't for any good returns? According to you, if not for keeping us, would you have lived till today? Old Liu, don't be ungrateful!"

"This... this..."

Old Man Liu's hands trembled, his eye corners twitching, fuming with anger.

The young man who had been pushed earlier came up to support him, gritting his teeth, "Grandpa Liu, they're all ingrates, why must we support them?"

"It's not like that..."

Old Man Liu hesitated and sighed involuntarily, "They too are pitiful folks..."

He paused, admitting with shame, "Maybe what they said isn't entirely wrong either."

——

Gazing afar.

Lin Yan silently observed.

The Little White Ape murmured, "This old man is really an incorrigible good guy... but being good to this extent is too much."

"In this vast world, there's nothing that doesn't exist."

Lin Yan said calmly, "For those being supported, the land they see is merely the money on Old Liu."

"They've become accustomed to Old Liu's benevolence. Perhaps initially there was gratitude, but over time, it became the norm."

"In the end, it's as if Old Liu owes them."

"Giving more is expected."

"Giving less means Old Liu isn't kind to them."

"They don't think there is anything wrong with their actions. They believe they're just securing their interests for a better life."

"But the interests they're fighting for are confined to Old Liu, just carving up the meat off this old kind man."

Saying this, Lin Yan set his gaze on the young man, "But not all of humanity is ugly; here is someone who discerns right from wrong, knows gratitude, and those children standing behind Old Liu..."

Pausing, Lin Yan said, "I roughly grasp what truly lies behind him..."

As his voice fell, Lin Yan grasped the Night Illuminating Divine Sword, turned, and looked towards the tall building.

A high restaurant railing overlooked the location of the Charitable Hall.

And at that moment, leaning on the railing was an old man dressed in white, with crane-like hair and child-like features, smiling gently, waving to Lin Yan.

The next moment, Lin Yan blossomed into a lotus under his feet.

He had arrived at the top of the tall building.

"Within the current Holy Alliance realm, for the last sixty years, all who have been targeted by the Great Evil Divine Artifact have not escaped my notice! But with you carrying the curse of the Great Evil Divine Artifact, you're beyond my sensing, you must be from outside the Holy Alliance!"