Chapter 226 My two benefactors, see you in the next life!

“That year, my brother was only four years old,” the chicken-stealing boy said, looking at his sleeping friend beside him. “After our father and mother died, only our grandmother and he were left to depend on each other.”

“A few months ago, our area was flooded. To save trouble, the county government opened the floodgates and released the floodwaters, which caused his small village to be submerged. Out of the village of about a hundred people, he was the only one who survived…”

At this point, the chicken-stealing boy paused for a moment, wiped his eyes, and then added, "Most of the beggars you two encountered on the street were children from other nearby villages who had lost their families in the disaster. Of course, the floods have not been brought under control, and the ordinary people in the city are not much better off."

"What's the background of the one-eyed couple?" Xiao Qidi asked.

The chicken-stealing boy sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. "He's not much of a figure. He used to be a hunter outside the city, but later he opened a roast chicken shop in the city, ingratiated himself with the officials, and raised some henchmen. Gradually, he became a local tyrant. Countless people have been bullied by these two. One day, I will rid the people of this scourge."

Xiao Qidi said calmly, "It's already been eliminated."

"Huh? Besides?" The chicken-thief was stunned. "Who eliminated it?"

"I."

"you?"

"Don't believe me?"

"How can I believe that? You're an outsider with no grudges against anyone. You're not going to tell me you're a chivalrous hero, are you?"

Xiao Qidi glanced at him sideways, "Speaking of which, it's all thanks to you."

"Me?" The chicken-stealing boy was completely baffled.

Ning Jinli then recounted the whole story.

The chicken-thief was stunned for a long time after hearing this, then grabbed Xiao Qidi's hand and looked at it, "You killed the one-eyed man with one punch? You... you're born with superhuman strength!"

Xiao Qidi shook his arm dismissively, "Don't touch me."

The boy who stole the chicken took two steps back, bowed deeply to Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi, and solemnly said:

"Today, you two have not only avenged my friend's great wrongs but also saved his life. I am deeply grateful and will never forget your kindness. From now on, my life belongs to you two."

Xiao Qidi stared at the boy, his eyes deep and meaningful.

This kid is quite interesting.

Ning Jinli asked, "The revenge was purely accidental, so it can't be considered that we helped. As for treating your friend's illness, that's only natural. We can't just stand by and watch someone die. You don't need to do that. Besides, if anyone has to express gratitude, it shouldn't be you who does it."

The boy who stole the chicken slowly raised his head. "He is my best friend. We grew up together. He even calls me 'Big Brother.' I should take on the responsibility of being the eldest brother."

Xiao Qidi's lips curled up slightly, "You're quite loyal."

The chicken-stealing boy was somewhat puzzled, "Isn't loyalty just human nature?"

A hint of appreciation appeared in Xiao Qidi's eyes.

At that moment, a commotion could be faintly heard outside the dilapidated temple.

The sound of footsteps mingled with the sound of horses' hooves, and even the torrential rain and thunder couldn't completely drown it out.

It's clear that quite a few people have come from outside.

The chicken-stealing boy immediately said, "It must be the officials coming to arrest you!"

"So fast?" Xiao Qidi was somewhat surprised.

The chicken-stealing boy explained, "This county town is extremely small. If all the hundred or so constables were mobilized, they could quickly search every corner of the town. Plus, there's nowhere to hide outside the town, and with this kind of awful weather, of course they could find the dilapidated temple quickly. But don't worry, I can guarantee your safety."

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli immediately became interested.

This kid has no power, no influence, and no money. How can he protect them?

Is he just bragging, or does he really have some kind of brilliant, unexpected solution?

Soon, the dilapidated door of the temple was kicked to pieces from the outside.

A dozen or so constables filed in.

Constable Sun then walked in and immediately spotted Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli.

Outside the temple gate, there were about a hundred constables surrounding the dilapidated temple.

Ignoring the chicken-stealing boy, Constable Sun fixed his gaze on Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli, and sneered, "You dare to commit murder on my territory? You think you can escape? Kneel down immediately and surrender!"

He witnessed Xiao Qidi kill the one-eyed man with just one punch.

Such impressive skills should not be underestimated.

That's why he brought more constables with him.

Before Xiao Qidi could say anything, the chicken-stealing boy stepped forward with a grin and tried to get closer to him, "Officer Sun, how have you been?"

Officer Sun glanced at them and asked, "What, do you know these two thugs?"

"Yes, of course I know them!" The chicken-stealing boy made no attempt to deny the relationship, but instead readily admitted, "Although we've only just met, these two are already my great benefactors. I beg Officer Sun to give me some face and let them go."

These words were so funny that not only Constable Sun, but also Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli found them quite amusing.

How much influence does he have?

Sure enough, Constable Sun laughed so hard he bent over, and the other constables present were overjoyed, looking at the chicken-stealing boy as if he were a fool.

Officer Sun laughed and scolded, "Hey, do you think that just because I've caught you a few times for petty theft and fighting, we're some kind of close friend? That I'll give you face? Who do you think you are!"

After he finished cursing, he waved his hand and ordered the constable, "Take this kid back, lock him in jail, and call his father to ransom him."

"No, no," the chicken-stealing boy said hastily, "I have no money left."

Officer Sun sneered, "Heh, if you don't have money, you still have an ox, right? Stop talking nonsense and don't delay my investigation."

The chicken-stealing boy slapped his thigh and said, "How about this, you arrest me?"

Officer Sun was dumbfounded. "You little brat, can't you understand human language? I was already going to arrest you!"

"No, no, no," the chicken-thief approached with a grin, bowing politely, "What I mean is, you arrested me as the murderer of One-Eyed Dragon."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli were stunned, unable to understand what he was going to do.

Constable Sun was also puzzled. He raised his hand and slapped the chicken-stealing boy's face. "Are you out of your mind? Why would I arrest you instead of these two real culprits? Besides, this is a murder case! Two lives lost!"

"What happens after we catch them?" the chicken-stealing boy asked.

Officer Sun said calmly, "A life for a life, of course it's beheading, what else is there to do?"

The chicken-stealing boy laughed and said, "Then what difference does it make if you chop me up? Anyway, you just want the case to have a result so you can report back, and I'm willing to plead guilty, isn't that easier? Besides..."

The boy who stole the chicken whispered a few words in Constable Sun's ear.

Officer Sun's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and then he smiled, patting the boy on the shoulder, "You kid... alright, it's settled then. I'll wait for you at the door, don't try anything funny."

"How could I dare to play any tricks? Otherwise, how would my parents live in the future?" the chicken-stealing boy said with a forced smile.

Sun, the head constable, nodded in satisfaction and led his constables out of the temple.

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli looked on incredulously.

What's going on here?

"What did you say to that person?" Ning Jinli asked him hurriedly.

The chicken-stealing boy chuckled, "Within three days, you two secretly give Constable Sun fifty taels of silver, then I'll take the blame, get my head chopped off, and close the case. You two will be fine; they'll pretend they never saw you."

"What?!!"

Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi's pupils both trembled.

The chicken-stealing boy then said:

"Don't worry, you two. These officials don't want to work hard. They always do things in the easiest way possible. Anyway, the one-eyed man and his wife are dead. They have no other relatives. As long as there is a murderer, the yamen can close the case. It doesn't really matter to them who the murderer is. As for me, I not only save them trouble, but I can also let them earn fifty taels. No one has any reason to refuse."

"As for the fifty taels of silver... I told Constable Sun that judging from your clothes and demeanor, you must come from a moderately wealthy family and could easily afford it, and he naturally agreed."

"Of course, you two don't need to pay for this..."

At this point, the chicken-thief ignored the two men's shocked and speechless expressions, glanced furtively at the temple entrance to make sure the constables weren't eavesdropping, and then lowered his voice to continue:

“I’m not very capable, but I’m lucky with gambling. Not long ago, I went to a gambling den in a nearby county and won a hundred taels of silver. I was planning to take out a portion of it to buy a small house for my friend in the city so that he would have a place to live, and I would find a way to give the rest to my parents.”

“I will tell you where the hundred taels are hidden. After you retrieve them, give fifty taels to Constable Zhao. Of the remaining fifty taels, give ten taels to my friend. That will be enough for him for many years. As for the last forty taels… please give them to my parents. But whatever you do, don’t say that I won them gambling. Otherwise, my parents will never accept them.”

"Okay, let's just keep it a secret from my parents that it's my money. You guys think of other ways, as long as it gets into their hands."

After explaining all this, the boy took off his shoes and pulled out a thin bamboo strip from inside, saying that he had written down the location where the silver was hidden on it, which was like a small map.

"My two benefactors, may we meet again in the next life!"

The boy knelt down and kowtowed deeply. Then, with a fearless and serene smile, he stood up and strode out of the temple gate, willingly accepting to be tied up by the constables.

"Take them away!" Officer Sun ordered.

The constables tied the boy to the horse and began to return to the city.

Before leaving, Constable Sun returned to the dilapidated temple and warned Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli with a cold smile, "Three days, just three days. If I don't see the silver, not only will he lose his head, but I will also arrest you two without hesitation. But as long as I get the silver, I will keep my promise. After all, I only care about money, not lives."

Having said that, he strode away.

"What a talent..." Xiao Qidi was still a little dazed as he looked at the dilapidated temple gate and sighed.

Ning Jinli said, "This guy is truly loyal. He even risked his life to repay a friend's kindness. He's absolutely devoted to loyalty and righteousness. Don't make fun of him."

Xiao Qidi smiled and shook his head, "No, I'm praising him. It's amazing that he came up with such a bizarre idea."

Ning Jinli added, "But you have to admit, under these circumstances, it was indeed a very clever method, and only someone as sentimental and selfless as him could come up with it."

“Hmm…that’s right.” Xiao Qidi pondered, “At only fifteen years old, he has such courage and intelligence, which really impresses me. This person is worthy of great use.”

Ning Jinli reminded him, "His seriously ill friend is also quite nice. He is also very loyal and affectionate. Because he didn't want to be a burden to him, he hid his injuries from him."

Xiao Qidi nodded, "I just don't know if they'll be willing to come with us to Da Xuan. It would be a waste for these two to stay in Ze Guo, especially in a place like this."

Ning Jinli blinked her big eyes, "We'll find out when the time comes."

That night, Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi spent the night in the dilapidated temple.

The rain stopped early the next morning.

The skinny boy, as thin as a bamboo pole, vaguely smelled an enticing aroma and gradually woke up.

When I opened my eyes, I felt comfortable all over. The pain was gone, and my whole body was warm.

"Am I... already dead...?"

He rubbed his eyes blankly and sat up.

Only then did I realize that I was covered with a thick, clean quilt, and there was a mattress under my bottom.

Such warm bedding is extremely rare; it is only found in the homes of officials and the wealthy.

The quilts used by ordinary people were made of hemp cloth and linen, and filled with straw, reed catkins and willow fluff. Those who could afford it could also stuff them with wool and dog hair.

He lived for more than ten years and only saw servants drying clothes on a few occasions when he went to work odd jobs at the homes of local rich people. He had secretly seen them doing so.

I still vividly remember that soft and warm touch.

But what he was touching now felt much better than that. He couldn't even recognize what kind of fabric it was; it was something he had never seen before.

This further convinced him that he was already dead.

The soul must have arrived in the celestial realm, otherwise how could it be completely free of pain and be covered with such a fine blanket?

Strangely, the surrounding scenery still seemed to be the same dilapidated temple...

"You're awake? How are you feeling?" Ning Jinli approached with a bowl in her hand and asked softly.

The bamboo-skinned boy was startled, "Fairy sister!"

Ning Jinli chuckled, "Hahaha, don't you recognize me? I was right there when you were talking to your older brother yesterday."

The bamboo-pole boy tried hard to recall, and seemed to have a vague impression, but his mind was already hazy at that time. He guessed that he had seen this fairy before he died.

"This is chicken soup I cooked for you. I added some healing and nourishing herbs to it. Drink it while it's hot." Ning Jinli handed him a bowl containing chicken and herbal soup.

His eyes widened. "It smells so good! So that's what I was smelling earlier!"

The boy took the bowl and instinctively reached for the meat and soup, but then he came to his senses and hurriedly asked, "Fairy sister, it's said that the dead can bless the living. Can I bless my older brother so that he will be free from illness and disaster and live a peaceful life? By the way, my parents and grandmother... have they also gone to the celestial realm? Will I be able to see them?"

Ning Jinli was both amused and exasperated. "You can't protect others, and you won't be able to see your family either."

"Huh?" The boy lowered his eyes, his face full of disappointment.

Ning Jinli continued, "Because you're still alive!"

The boy was stunned. "I...I'm not dead? How could this be..."

Ning Jinli lifted a corner of the blanket to show him the injured area on his leg, which had been properly bandaged.

The boy tried to move, and the familiar pain instantly returned, but this pain was much less than before.

"Fairy sister, where's my older brother? I want to eat with him." The boy craned his neck to look around.

Ning Jinli said, "He had to go, so he asked me to take care of you first. It's okay, he'll be able to eat later too. Tell your sister, what's your name?"

The boy sniffed. "My name is Fang Hui."

"Fang Hui?" Ning Jinli was startled when she heard the name of this famous founding general in Chinese history. "Your name is Fang Hui?!"

The boy asked blankly, "Yeah, what's wrong, Fairy Sister? Is there something wrong with my name?"

Ning Jinli hurriedly asked, "Is the name of that kid you called 'Big Brother' Li He?!"