Chapter 39 The Lying Old Man
"..."
If you're sick, just come. Why are you beeping at me?
Iwakatsu had a deadpan expression. He wasn't sleepy anymore, but he felt even hungrier. He got up, put on his clothes, and slowly walked down the stairs.
He heard a loud commotion below when he was halfway there.
"Damn it, that thief, why did he have to lie to others?"
"That's really despicable! Thank goodness he was caught!"
"He actually killed Uncle Chengbei! Ah!"
Several people began to grumble indignantly, drinking and venting their extreme dissatisfaction. Yan Sheng came down, rubbing his temples; he felt this matter was rather interesting.
"Hello, I'd like to ask... what happened?"
Yan Sheng, dressed in samurai attire, possessed a gentle demeanor and a distinctive air about him, resembling a well-traveled young master. The four people drinking at the table were stunned by his presence.
"Ah, hello, hello."
The middle-aged man was the first to react. He hurriedly stood up and greeted Yan Sheng. Unlike the other three young men, he could tell from Yan Sheng's appearance that he was no ordinary person.
Yan Sheng nodded, stepped forward, politely nodded to the four people, and then asked in a very gentle manner.
"I just heard you... talking about thieves?"
A young man looked at Yan Sheng and stammered. He had never seen anyone like Yan Sheng before, with his handsome appearance and extraordinary demeanor.
"Yes, yes, sir."
"Sir, you have no idea that the despicable liar has deceived our kind adults, even though everyone has tolerated him for a long time."
Another young man stepped forward and said that he had been holding back his anger for a long time and really wanted to get it off his chest.
Listening to the other person's story, Yan Sheng understood the cause and course of events. He was an elderly man who, after arriving in this town, was taken in by a kind adult because of his pitiful background and his blindness.
That man was a kind-hearted person who took in many suffering people, and was therefore protected by everyone in the town. Later, the old man, who was clearly blind, began to steal frequently.
His theft was common knowledge, but because the homeowner hadn't said anything, no one bothered to pursue the matter. Until yesterday, an elderly man from Chengbei, who had been receiving long-term financial assistance, couldn't stand it anymore and confronted him in the middle of the night.
He questioned why the old man was so ungrateful, and mentioned that he had already reported him.
"Why did you steal? The adults treat us so well and take such good care of us."
In the woodshed, Cheng Bei, dressed simply, roared at the old man in front of him, who was hunched over and had a large bump on his head.
The old man shrank back timidly, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes, looking utterly pitiful. He cried out in disbelief, "I didn't, I know I didn't... It was these hands, all of it was these hands that did it... I did nothing wrong."
"Stop lying! Although the magistrate has been pretending not to know about this because that prime minister is magnanimous, I am disgusted by your despicable and shameless behavior! I'm going to report you."
Chengbei looked at the old man and tried to pry open the hand that was holding him, but was surprised to find that the old man was very strong and he couldn't pry it open no matter what he did.
As Chengbei grew increasingly terrified, the old man suddenly pulled him back, pinned him to the ground, pulled out a knife from behind, and plunged it into his abdomen.
"Why, why! I've already said I didn't do it! Why don't you believe me!"
He roared, stabbing again and again with the knife in his hand until the person beneath him stopped breathing. And all of this was witnessed by a passing maid.
The maid secretly called for help, and just as the old man was about to escape, a group of people with torches caught him. The old man was captured and taken to the magistrate.
Under the blazing midday sun, the old man lay shivering on the scorching stone ground. Feng Xing looked at him, devoid of any sympathy, and asked calmly.
Why did you kill him?
"I didn't kill him...it really wasn't me...I'm just a blind man, I couldn't possibly do such a thing..." the old man desperately tried to explain.
“I noticed you before and specifically checked your information. I found that you had committed heinous acts of theft and murder in other towns.”
“This…how is this possible…” he stammered.
“You could see it perfectly well. When I brought you here, no one warned me or said a word, yet you were facing me perfectly. You say you didn't? Fine, I want to ask you, Yanase Tamura, is that you?”
He asked impatiently, while the old man, who had been using a pseudonym for a long time, had long forgotten what his real name was; he only felt that the name was particularly familiar.
Subconsciously, due to the other person's intimidating presence and his own nervousness, he blurted out, "Yes! That's my name..."
Feng Xing stared sharply at him, a mocking smile playing on his lips, and looked at the old man:
"Then who is Kawashiro Hirano?"
The disdainful looks from those around him stung the old man, while the whispers nearby made him realize that he was called Kawashiro Hirano here.
"Why, why... why bully the weak? It's not me... it's all these hands, these hands taking matters into their own hands, I can't control it at all..."
He was devastated, unable to accept it, and determined not to hear any more of his lies, so he gave an order.
"The magistrate had his hands cut off on the spot. He likes to lie and make excuses so much, so let's just take care of it for him."
The young man smiled sarcastically. Chengbei was an elder he had a good relationship with, but who knew how much pain and sorrow he felt when he heard about Chengbei's death?
"Yes! He's a complete liar. He changed his name and committed all sorts of crimes in so many towns. What's worse, he had wives and children many times, but when his wife confronted him with his boastful and dishonest behavior, he would fly into a rage and abuse or kill her and his children."
"Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs! He's absolutely despicable."
A few words later, the group became indignant again, expressing both their feelings of indignation and disgust.
Yan Sheng listened for a long time, until the midday sun began to set and people came and went in the hall.
"Sir, thank you for listening. We are just a few rough men and don't speak very politely. We are truly sorry." As the four men prepared to leave, the middle-aged man bowed deeply to Yan Sheng.
"No, thank you... I just happened to want to know more."
Iwakatsu handed them the pastries he had just asked the shop assistant to buy, and insisted that they accept them despite their refusal.
"Thank you for your generosity. If you wish to know more, sir, please come to the execution tomorrow. He is a kind man and will be happy to help you."
"OK."
Yan Sheng watched the departing figures of the group, lost in thought. He hadn't expected to learn about two Upper Moons in just one day.
Half-day dog? Looks like the arrival of that scoundrel boss today is part of the original storyline. Looks like my mission progress can advance a little further.
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