Chapter 1: Rescue

As soon as he stepped forward, Ding Yuan felt a complete darkness before him, his head spinning as he fell straight ahead, and he vaguely heard a little girl exclaim, "Be careful!"

The young boy did not pay her any attention, not even casting a glance in her direction, as he struggled to push himself up from the ground.

The woman sighed and said, "It's just a child, why must it be made into such a situation?"

This world has never truly possessed any fairness; fairness is only granted to those who are domineering or capable. Ding Yuan recalled the words his mother had once said to him in his childhood, which he had only vaguely understood at the time, but now he has gained a profound understanding of them

With a thud, the boy's hand went limp, collapsing weakly as low moans escaped his lips, a drop of fresh blood falling onto the muddy ground

The little girl stared blankly at the young man and asked, "But why isn't he moving?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Yuan was immediately stirred by pride and coldly replied: "Even if I were to die, I would not beg you for a single word!"

Most of the shops on Yushui Street in the eastern part of the city have already closed for business, and a few farmers are passing by, swaying their empty bamboo baskets on their shoulders

"I can recuperate just as well away from here." Ding Yuan stood up and said, "Please tell me your name, Uncle. Although I, Ding Yuan, am young, I understand the principles of a true man regarding gratitude and grievances. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will surely repay you."

However, this middle-aged man, who was a complete stranger, along with his wife and daughter, came to his rescue. Not only that, they took great care of him and showed him abundant affection.

But the girl exclaimed in shock: "Father, he has fainted!"

In the crowd, two tavern workers were vigorously pinning a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy to the ground, beating him with enthusiasm. One of them, a burly man weighing around two hundred pounds, had simply mounted the boy, raining down massive fists upon him like a shower.

The young man cast her a cold glance and silently continued his efforts to climb up

However, the people on the ground remained completely still. The little girl was taken aback and reached out her small hand to feel beneath the boy's nose, noticing that he was still breathing. She let out a sigh of relief.

The young boy, drawn by the enticing aroma, opened his eyes and, with great effort, lifted the bowl of soup to his lips, drinking eagerly as if he had not eaten for three days

Su Zhen was not angry; she merely smiled and said, "Ying Mei, let him be. If he falls and dies, it is his own business."

The middle-aged man chuckled coldly and said: "I, Su Zhen, have not descended from Gathering Cloud Peak for sixty years. I never expected that nowadays, even children are more unruly than I am. Do not think that just because I might save you, I won't do anything to you. If you provoke me, be careful of having your skin peeled off!"

Ding Yuan's right foot landed heavily on the ground, breathing heavily with a coarse sound. With just this one step, it felt as if he had traversed thousands of rivers and mountains.

The young boy lay on the ground, coughing painfully a few times, and weakly replied, "My life and death are none of your concern, you all get lost."

The woman furrowed her brow in silence, thinking that this child seemed to be just an ordinary person's offspring, likely never having learned poetry, literature, or etiquette. It was indeed pitiful for him to be all alone and wandering outside, suffering such treatment just to have a meal.

The little girl said sympathetically, "Brother Ding, you are truly pitiful"

"That's enough, if you hit again, someone will die." A middle-aged man said while standing next to the strong man and the librarian.

The woman raised her eyebrows slightly and said with mild anger, "You child, someone is kindly helping you, yet you are so rude."

Ding Yuan did not understand why he simply did not like this little girl, and replied irritably: "This is not my home, why should I leave?"

As the burly man was leaving, he spat a thick phlegm towards the young man and said: "Consider yourself lucky this time, but don't let me catch you again next time."

The little girl looked at him with reluctance and said, "Brother Ding, please don't be stubborn. Lie back down so my father can treat you."

Father! The little girl looked at her father with dissatisfaction and said: "You are scaring me again"

But the fist was unable to move beyond halfway, as the slender and fair fingers of the middle-aged man gripped his wrist like a pair of iron pincers

The two individuals spoke one after the other, their attitudes and tones completely different, making them appear to be a father and daughter

He put on his shoes and was taken aback, only to realize that his old, tattered straw sandals had been replaced with brand new, well-fitting boots

Ding Yuan supported himself against the corner of the table, took a deep breath, but the movement triggered the broken bones in his body, sending waves of excruciating pain slicing through his nerves like a saw. Yet this stubborn youth remained silent and resolutely took a third step forward

The woman sighed and said, "Child, why must you be so stubborn? Quickly return to bed." As she spoke, she reached out to help Ding Yuan.

Ding Yuan cast an impatient glance at the woman and coldly replied: "I have no home; what would I steal to eat?"

At this moment, the noise outside grew louder, and there were quite a few people at the entrance who wanted to see the commotion but could not squeeze in. They stood on the steps, tiptoeing to look inside, while some continuously cheered and shouted: "Well done, beat him to death!"

Are you alright?" The little girl thought the boy had not heard her and asked again with concern

Daddy— the little girl pouted her small lips, and tears began to well up in her eyes

Although the fists fell mercilessly upon him, he was unwilling to utter a single plea for mercy, for he knew that the more he begged for mercy, the more those people would enjoy beating him.

Su Zhen snorted, "If it weren't for Yu'er and my wife, you could die right in front of me and I wouldn't even blink an eye"

The middle-aged man scoffed, "You little rascal, trying to play the good Samaritan. Can you save him for a moment, or can you save him for a lifetime?"

The middle-aged man's eyes suddenly widened, and in an instant, two beams of brilliance shot out. He reached out and gently patted the strong man's back: "Get lost!"

"Then what about his father?" The little girl, somewhat puzzled, with a pair of pure and innocent big eyes sparkling, asked, "Why don't his parents take care of him?"

The middle-aged man chuckled and said, "Have you once again felt a pang of compassion?"

There were also a few people who could not bear to watch, softly sighing, "At this rate, won't someone be beaten to death?" Yet, in the end, no one stepped forward to intervene

The woman slightly frowned, put down the fabric in her hands, and softly said: "Listening to this child's breathing, it seems like he won't last much longer; if this continues, it will surely lead to a fatal outcome."

The little girl was taken aback and asked Ding Yuan, who was putting on his boots, "Brother Ding, why are you leaving?"

Haha, this chicken leg was worth it, finally willing to speak up?" Su Zhen clapped his hands and said: "Now you should tell me your name, right?"

It is unclear what elixir Su Zhen administered to him, but the pain in his body has diminished significantly, and the bruising has also subsided considerably. However, as soon as he stood up, a sharp pain still shot through his ribs, and he saw a flurry of golden stars before his eyes, nearly causing him to fall.

The thin man exclaimed, "What the hell do you want to do?"

Su Zhen smiled and said, "If you can take three more steps with three broken ribs, I will be impressed by you."

Ding Yuan thought to himself, and then said: "In any case, thank you for saving me. However, I must leave now"

The woman is in her early thirties, exceptionally beautiful, and although her attire is simple, her every gesture exudes grace and elegance, with a faint smile always gracing her face

The little girl was startled by his appearance, and then joyfully asked, "Are you alright?"

Su Zhen laughed heartily and said: "How interesting! I have been down the mountain for many days and am about to return, yet I never expected to encounter such an amusing child as you. It is a pity that you are unwilling to follow me; otherwise, I might consider taking you as my disciple."

A windfall unexpectedly arrived, and the two companions no longer cared about anything else, releasing the young boy on the ground with smiles on their faces

"Take the silver and get out of here quickly," the middle-aged man said in a low voice, unable to tolerate the sight of someone drooling over the silver.

It is better to leave on your own before others drive you away

"Are you alright?" The little girl took out a delicate red silk handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to the young man

Su Zhen walked to the bedside and said to Ding Yuan: "If you dare to speak to my daughter in that tone again, I will throw you out of the house and onto the street!"

Her patience was remarkable; she looked at more than ten pieces of fabric without the slightest hint of annoyance. On the contrary, the little girl kept pestering her mother to leave, tugging at her clothes and pouting in a display of childish affection.

The boss seemed quite fond of this girl, who was as delicate as a finely carved jade. He smiled and said, "He doesn't have parents to take care of him like you do, little sister. I don't know where Xiao Dingzi came from; in any case, I've never seen any adults around him. It's quite pitiful, really, for a child of only twelve or thirteen years old"

The boy's head was firmly pressed into the mud, his hands pressed against his chest, yet he tightly clutched half a roasted chicken, refusing to let go even in death

The strong man was taken aback, raised his head, and glared, saying: "What do you, a scholar, know? If we don't teach this little thief a harsh lesson, how will he ever learn his lesson?" After saying this, he swung his fist and struck again

Though the words may seem regretful, in reality, they are commendable

When he woke up again, he was back in bed, but only Su Zhen remained in the room

The little girl did not expect the other party to react this way, and she stood there in a daze. Holding a silk handkerchief, she turned to look at her parents, her big eyes shimmering with tears, and this time she was truly about to cry.

The middle-aged man shook off his daughter's hand and said: "No, having you, this little brat, is already enough for me and your mother to endure. I don't have the spare time to serve another little master."

"Father, what is happening outside?" the little girl asked curiously

The surrounding crowd, having witnessed the commotion, dispersed in a rush. It turned out that most of them were the assistants and shopkeepers from nearby stores.

The little girl seemed on the verge of tears as she said, "Brother Ding, my name is Su Zhiyu, and my parents call me Yu'er. Please don't go, okay?"

"It's nothing, just a child caught stealing and being beaten up by the staff," the middle-aged man replied nonchalantly, his eyes fixed on the store, yet seemingly fully aware of what was happening on the street.

Beside him, almost everyone regarded him as an incorrigible thief and a piece of trash, either despising or mocking him; occasionally, someone would show pity, but that was merely to offer him some food. Although today he was beaten half to death by two thugs on the street, for him, it had long been a commonplace occurrence

The young man gulped down the chicken soup in one go and, grabbing a chicken leg, exclaimed: "Better to die from poison than to die of hunger"

What a lonely and defiant gaze it is

The woman approached and gently touched the child's shoulder, advising, "Zhen Ge, no matter what, let's save the person first."

Ding Yuan was even less aware that the three Wuyou Pills he consumed were meticulously crafted by Su Zhen over a span of thirty years. For practitioners, taking just one pill would allow them to open their meridians and strengthen their foundations, providing endless benefits. Moreover, he had taken three pills at once

Then, nothing else was known

He firmly remembers the appearance of every person who has bullied him, and one day, he will seek justice for this.

The owner of the brocade hall and a few of his associates rubbed their eyes, wondering if the bright sun had dazzled them, as they were puzzled by how he had squeezed into the crowd and made his way inside

Before the middle-aged man could respond, the boy struggled to lift his head from the mud, revealing a dirty face smeared with dust and blood. Despite the bruises scattered all over and the blood continuously seeping from his nose and the corners of his mouth, his eyes remained bright, filled with deep hatred and rebellion

Ding Yuan was taken aback, and after a moment of silence, he finally asked: "Why do you want to interfere with me?"

The burly man stumbled but thought nothing of it, and happily went with his companions, carrying the silver.

He found it strange that his injuries had healed so quickly. However, he did not anticipate that Su Zhen had just used her years of pure cultivation to help him circulate his blood and energy, and had also applied the coveted "Wuyou Dan" for both external and internal treatment.

The middle-aged man nodded and said, "This kid has quite a stubborn temper; he was beaten half to death and didn't utter a word. For this reason, I will play the role of a good Samaritan today." As soon as he finished speaking, he was already standing in the street.

Ding Yuan remained silent, struggling to lift his foot and step forward, with cold sweat dripping from his forehead like rain

The middle-aged man pondered for a moment, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, and murmured, "You little rascal, you don't want me to take care of you, yet I insist on doing so. Let's see what you can do about it." With that, he picked up the young boy and strode purposefully towards the street.

Ding Yuan did not understand why they were doing this; what ulterior motives could be behind all of it

He stood at the window with his tall and resolute figure, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the desolate night outside. Without turning his head, he said: "Lie still and do not move; otherwise, you will be the one to suffer."

"Young man, my dear daughter is asking for your name, did you hear that?" The middle-aged man stood aside, speaking to the picture book.

Ding Yuan showed no fear; instead, he smiled disdainfully and said, "Ha, you think that by giving me a bowl of chicken soup, you can teach me a lesson? Stop dreaming. You are merely using me to flaunt your so-called kindness. No need for you to throw me out; I will leave on my own."

Ding Yuan gritted his teeth and lifted his leg again, but his body stumbled and nearly fell. He reached out to steady himself against the corner of the table, barely managing to regain his balance

"He is awake, but he is about to leave again," Su Zhen replied

Get lost! The boy showed no appreciation and pushed the little girl's hand away with a backhand, but it was soft and lacked any strength

Ding Yuan and the little girl were both unaware of what they were discussing, staring blankly at Su Zhen and the woman, yet they could faintly sense a tension as if a storm was approaching.

In a guest room of the "Yingfu" inn located in the eastern part of the city, a little girl sat on a chair by the bed, gazing at the young man with a pair of curious eyes

"Child, do not listen to his nonsense, come and have a sip of chicken soup first." The woman pushed open the door and walked to the bedside holding a bowl of hot soup

However, he just wanted to leave this place quickly, to leave this family of three. He would rather return to the cold street than lie on a comfortable bed

Su Zhen smiled faintly and thought to herself: "What do you know, child? Back in the days when your father roamed the Nine Provinces of Tianlu, even fools would tremble at the sound of my name. If it weren't for meeting your mother, the demonic sect of Tianlu would have long been under my unified control."

The sun rises high, and the scorching heat waves cause the ground to emit smoke.

Su Zhen burst into laughter upon hearing this and said, "Interesting, I might as well tell you my name, but you need not return the favor. I am called Su Zhen, and I have always acted according to my own likes and dislikes. Today, saving you is merely a whim, so consider it as having saved a cat."

The young boy lay on the bed, his dirty body having been washed clean, and he was dressed in new clothes. He appeared to be in much better spirits, leaning against the pillow and half-reclining on the bed

The middle-aged man chuckled without responding

The middle-aged man took a piece of broken silver from his collar and tossed it on the ground, saying lightly: "This should be enough to buy ten chickens, so why not let go!"

A middle-aged couple was leading a girl of about ten years old, casually sifting through fabrics in "Jinyi Hall." They mentioned wanting to make a small vest for the child, but after browsing for a long time, the woman could not find a fabric that satisfied her.

Su Zhen exclaimed, "Young man, eat slowly. Are you not afraid that there might be poison in the soup?"

"Where do you come from, and where do you go back to?" Ding Yuan replied while getting out of bed, only to realize that the pain in his body had almost vanished, with only a faint ache in his ribs.

What is your name, young man

The little girl said softly with concern: "But your injury hasn't healed yet. Father said that you need to rest for at least another five days."

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the shop, and I faintly heard someone shouting: "Today, I will beat you to death, you little brat. Let's see if you dare to steal again!"

There are still two steps left. Su Zhen coldly stared at Ding Yuan, calculating.

The little girl's long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and with a clever smile, she said: "Then Father can take him home too, teach him to read and write, and in the future, no one will dare to bully him anymore"

Another lean man, alongside a *picture* book, was relentlessly kicking the young boy with his foot, shouting: "You little brat, tired of living, daring to steal our chickens from Zui Xian Ju, I will make sure to beat you to death today!"

Ding Yuan bowed his fist and said to Su Zhenyi: "Whether or not to save me is your affair; however, whether or not to repay is my affair. Uncle Su may consider it as having saved a wild cat, while I will regard it as having been saved by another cat"

The woman did not know when she had walked in, standing beside Su Zhen and whispering, "An old friend has come to visit"

"Where to?" Su Zhen asked, gazing out the window

The middle-aged man stood by the shop door, his slightly closed eyes seemingly indifferent to everything happening around him, with his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of contentment.

He could not stand the way that couple doted on and spoiled their little daughter, feeling an indescribable mix of jealousy and disgust, and he simply felt that he was, in fact, an extraneous person here

The thin man picked up the silver, wiped it with his sleeve, then bit it with his decayed teeth, grinning as he said: "Hey, this is really more than two taels of silver!"

The little girl tugged at her father's big hand and pleaded, "Father, he looks so pitiful; let us help him."

The young man simply turned his head to the other side, pretending to rest with his eyes closed

The little girl ran up to the young man, crouched down, and called out: "Hey, the person who hit you has been driven away by my father, you can get up now"

Do not say that it is merely an ordinary injury like that of Ding Yuan; even if one is hanging by a thread, with breath as faint as a wisp, it would not take a day’s effort to bring one back to life, like a withered tree encountering spring.

The woman looked at the middle-aged man's back, shook her head, and said with a bitter smile: "Sixty years of quiet cultivation, yet he still cannot change this stubborn temperament"

Although he is still very young, he lost his parents at an early age and has experienced a tumultuous life, enduring various hardships of the world. As a result, he has gradually developed a reclusive and eccentric personality

A middle-aged man was heard saying behind: "Yuer, don't worry, he is fine"

At that moment, the door opened, and the little girl ran in, exclaiming: "Father, has Brother Ding woken up?"

Su Zhen was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed, and he coldly laughed, saying: "It is rare to come out for a stroll, yet there are always those who do not wish to let me enjoy my peace."

The woman walked up to the middle-aged man, gazed at the strong man walking away, and said softly with a smile: "With that slap, he will probably be in pain in bed for three days starting tonight"

"It must be that little Dingzi again," said the owner of the brocade-clad hall, shaking his head. "He is still very young, yet he has already become a notorious little hoodlum on Yushui Street, idling away his days without engaging in any proper work. Some people, feeling sorry for him, give him a bit of food, but he doesn't even bother to say thank you. If no one offers him anything to eat, he simply resorts to stealing food; he has caused a ruckus in all the restaurants and teahouses on this street!"

"Ding Yuan." The young man casually spat the chicken bone onto the ground as he replied

Ding Yuan replied: "I have grown accustomed to being at ease on my own and do not wish to be anyone's disciple"

Ding Yuan, like a stray cat that had been kicked, growled: "Who cares about your pity!"

Ding Yuan waved his hand and gasped, "You don't need to worry about it!"

Upon this thought, a sense of pity arose in my heart, and I then said: "Where is your home, and why have you come out alone to steal things on the street?"

The middle-aged man chuckled and said, "Good lad, quite interesting." There was surprisingly a sense of appreciation in his words