Scourge Messenger

Chapter 85 You Made a Mistake
I really can't find it.

The Buddhist faith in Jiangnan city is truly strong. There is a temple every three streets and a cluster of pagodas every five streets. It is a place where incense is burning brightly and believers are everywhere. Everywhere you look, there are compassionate statues and you can hear devout voices. There are 480 temples in Jiangnan, and the pavilions and towers are all locked with the fragrance of Jinling.

But Yan Qing couldn't find a place to burn incense.

Even the first temple he encountered was considered generous; the minimum charge at several subsequent temples was five spirit jades, and there was no cheap incense that cost only one spirit jade.

At first, Yan Qing was a little angry and wanted to argue with these money-grubbing monks, but later he became indifferent. Seeing that the temple only had expensive incense, he simply turned around and left.

It's not that he can't afford expensive incense, but that this kind of money-grubbing temple is not worthy of his worship.

To be honest, given Yan Qing's current rate of earning a thousand spirit jades in half an hour, the time he's wasting is already far exceeding the price of an incense stick. But Yan Qing is the kind of person who can be ruthless and merciless when playing games, prioritizing efficiency above all else. However, if he feels it's worthwhile, he can also spend dozens or even hundreds of times more time pursuing a trivial achievement.

For example, in The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1, he tried collecting 99 puppet insects to save Lin Yueru, as the rumor said; in Red Dead Redemption 2, he exploited a bug to complete all the challenges so that Arthur could wear the Eastern Legends outfit; in Black Myth: Wukong, he was prepared to fight a great battle with Wind Spirit Moon Shadow when he saw his fourth sister being captured.

The elderly couple, who performed a good deed every day, escorted him all the way, hoping he could help pray for their daughter-in-law. Even without any reward, Yan Qing was willing to do his best to fulfill their request.

He wanted to find a truly compassionate temple, even if it meant earning incense through labor, rather than spending money to worship at a shady temple. He couldn't explain the difference between "incense earned through labor" and "incense earned with money," and deep down he didn't even believe that gods and Buddhas would bless people, but he stubbornly felt that only the former could repay the kindness of the old folks.

Of course, Yan Qing can be so relaxed because he has nothing to do right now.

After entering Jiangnan City, 'Rat Monk' has already achieved his current goal. Next, Yan Qing will have to wait until they discuss their action plan in the early hours of tonight before he can determine where to send 'Rat Monk' to investigate.

He continued strolling along the main street, visiting temple after temple, only to be ushered out each time. The sun was nearing its zenith, but Yan Qing wasn't impatient. He bought street food as he walked, feeling he wouldn't need dinner later, and could even admire the beautiful women of Jiangnan. Perhaps because he was in the main city, the streets were filled with young women holding umbrellas, radiating youthful energy and laughter. When they saw the 'Rat Monk,' they would greet him with smiles and clasped hands.

On such a beautiful day, one should go out for a stroll, admire beautiful women, enjoy freshly made street food, and feel the refreshing breeze blowing from the river, instead of hiding in one's room like a mouse, spying on other people's lives through a screen.

Yan Qing started reflecting on himself again, and after reflecting, he continued eating the rice cakes. He was just reflecting on his lifestyle; even if it was safe outside, he was too lazy to do anything.

Unbeknownst to them, 'Rat Monk' had already reached the inner ring of Jiangnan City, and could see the outer walls of the imperial palace in the distance. Just as Yan Qing was about to go to the temple in the eastern part of the city, he saw a bustling crowd at the temple not far away, and it seemed that people were arguing.

"Let me go! Let me go! I won't go, I won't go!"

"Oh dear young lady, you're only hurting yourself by making such a fuss. You've disgraced the Li family, and who knows how much suffering you'll have to endure later."

"Don't waste your breath on this little fool. You're a member of the Li family now, and you'll die a member of the Li family. How dare you run away!"

Several strong women surrounded a young girl. The girl's hair was loose, with a wooden hairpin in it. She had a slender waist and wore a patched, dirty gray shirt. She also wore a gray belt on her wrist, which clearly indicated that she came from a poor family. However, even though she had not washed or groomed herself for a long time, was thin, and dressed simply, her natural beauty could not be hidden.

The strong women, armed with sticks, didn't hit her; they simply surrounded a makeshift cage and pushed her around. No matter what she did, An Cuihua couldn't break free of the women's encirclement, like a rabbit caught in a trap.

Outside, several servants were shouting, "Gentlemen, gentlemen, this is An Cuihua's indenture. My master bought her from her father for thirty spirit jades. It's officially stamped; this woman was not forced! Please make way! Make way!"

Many people gathered outside, gossiping and discussing. Yan Qing eavesdropped for a while and basically understood what had happened: An Cuihua's father was a gambling addict who gambled away his family and fortune. When he saw that his daughter had grown up, he planned to sell her to the Li family to raise gambling funds. However, An Cuihua refused to comply and ran away to Jiangnan City overnight to hide from the Li family. But she had neither money nor relatives, so where could she hide in Jiangnan City? She could only hide around a few large temples and beg for a living. After a few days, she was found by the Li family.

Such incidents seem quite common, as many debtors, driven to desperation, flee to Jiangnan City, praying for protection from its gods and Buddhas. However, as the saying goes, "the devil is always one step ahead of the saint," just as the Li family was able to send strong women to "imprison" An Cuihua. Jiangnan City is not a lawless place; creditors, given enough manpower, can deal with debtors just as easily.

The servants, seemingly afraid of interference from busybodies, kept insisting that they were acting legally and in the right, even if it came to court. Therefore, the onlookers were just watching the spectacle; no one thought they were wrong. However, some hooligans were offering mischievous ideas: "Hey, left! Run out from the left!" "Are you stupid? Gouge their eyes and you'll have a chance!" "Hurry up and take a dump right there! Last time someone escaped with their hand full of shit!"

However, the strong women seemed very experienced. No matter what An Cuihua did, they neither dodged nor blocked, completely suppressing their physical reactions and keeping their bodies perfectly still, like a moving prison pushing An Cuihua along. An Cuihua screamed hysterically like a madwoman, but how could her body, which hadn't eaten for days, possibly withstand the impact of the burly women? Instead, she was exhausted from the impact and lay on the ground like a lump of garbage, yet she was still being kicked along by the strong women.

"I don't want to, I don't want to go..." An Cuihua cried her heart out, shouting to the people outside, "Save me! I'm very capable! I can raise pigs and weave cloth! Save me! I'll repay your kindness and debts! Save me!"

Those who cried out for help to An Cuihua shook their heads and avoided her. Some showed pity, but others didn't want to get involved. An Cuihua was almost in despair. She reached out from between the strong women, trying to grab a passerby's foot: "Auntie, save me! I don't want to go... Young master..." "Master, save me!"

"Ugh."

The young monk, dressed in coarse linen, let out a helpless sigh and walked towards the strong women. The servants immediately noticed him and shouted, "Wait, Master, we are—"

Snapped!
The "Rat Monk" grabbed the strong women and hurled them around like punching bags. Although he was only level 1, he had 6 points of innate Qi and Blood, making ordinary people almost like toys in front of him. Even if the strong women fought back, he could perfectly dodge and counterattack. In no time, all six strong women were thrown out, and he also leveled up in the process.

"You have mastered the Basic Boxing Technique, and your current level is 1."

"Your HP increases by 0.5"

"Your spirit level has increased by 0.5."

"Your dexterity increases by 1."

"You reached level 2!"

An Cuihua quickly scrambled to her feet and hid behind him, wiping her dirty little face. Her voice was hoarse and trembling with tears as she said, "Thank you, thank you, Master..."

"Where does your master practice? What is his Dharma name?" Seeing the 'Rat Monk's' skill, the servant knew the matter was beyond repair: "My master is Li Chongxin of the Li family. Would it be possible to establish a karmic connection?"

"You don't recognize me?" asked the 'Rat Monk'.

"I know the abbots of all the major Buddhist monasteries in the city, but I'm quite unfamiliar with you, Master." The servant glanced at the 'Rat Monk's' tattered clothes. "However, with your skills, Master, why don't I introduce you to the master? Perhaps you can find a way to make a living."

"That's good, you can get lost now." 'Rat Monk' waved his hand.

"Oh? But Master, if you don't leave your Dharma name, how are we supposed to find you?"

"That's exactly what I want—you won't be able to find me. Anyway, with me here, you won't be able to catch her today."

The servant finally understood that this big monk was just a busybody and a meddlesome troublemaker. He glanced at An Cuihua and said with a forced smile, "Fine, we'll come again tomorrow. I want to see how long you can protect this wretched girl, Master."

"You, you, stay here and keep watch. Report back home immediately if anything happens."

Although they left, two servants openly stayed behind to keep an eye on An Cuihua.

Clearly, as soon as the "Rat Monk" leaves, or An Cuihua leaves Jiangnan City, they will immediately report to the Li family and send people to capture him. An Cuihua also realized this; her body trembled, and she tightly gripped the "Rat Monk's" sleeve with her right hand, as if grasping at a lifeline.

Finding there was no excitement to watch, the crowd dispersed. 'Rat Monk' pulled An Cuihua to the roadside, and the two servants immediately followed, not getting close, but watching them from a distance.

Do you have any relatives you can stay with? Or anywhere you can go? Have you worked at any shop before?

No matter the question, An Cuihua shook her head, crying. She rubbed her eyes and sobbed, "I... I only have my father as family..."

You made a mistake.

The "Rat Monk" turned around and, without anyone noticing, a middle-aged man with a blank expression was standing behind him.

(End of this chapter)