Chapter 4: The Ferryman

  After a whole busy afternoon, Xu Hua and Zhou Ying finally helped Dog Remain Grandfather repair the hole in the roof and tidy up the house.

  Under Grandpa Dog's heartfelt thanks, the two left Grandpa Dog's dimly lit hut, hand in hand, and stepped out of the Northern District's commoner alley.

  On the road, Xu Hua and Zhou Ying were still chatting casually as usual. As they chatted, Xu Hua suddenly looked at Zhou Ying seriously and said, "Xiao Ying, do you think our current approach is really great benevolence and great kindness?"

  Zhou Ying suddenly stretched out her white and tender small hand to touch Xu Hua's forehead, muttering to herself: "No fever."

  "I'm fine." Xu Hua's face stiffened slightly and he pushed away Zhou Ying's small hand.

  "You're not sick, how come you started talking nonsense? Didn't you say so before? All people suffer, and we should help others with our own experiences. Are we not helping these people by doing this?" Zhou Ying was somewhat puzzled.

  "That's because I suddenly felt that if we continue like this, we can do good deeds, but it will only be limited to Qing Shan Town. We should have a bigger goal, Luo City, or even the entire Dan Country. What do you think?" Xu Hua explained.

  Zhou Ying looked at Xu Hua with some surprise, and suddenly her eyes sparkled as she said: "Hua brother, so loving! But can we make it to Luo City? Can we handle the workload?"

  "If it's just the two of us taking action, we'll certainly be too busy to cope." Xu Hua shook his head, "But if there are other people working with us, then it's possible."

  "It's a good idea, but will others listen to you?" Zhou Ying said uncertainly.

  "Little girl, isn't there still warriors in this world? Great martial power is enough to make some people submit."

  Zhou Ying's little maid stared at him with wide eyes and said, "Hua brother, you don't like martial arts, do you? And isn't this unfair to others?"

  Xu Hua gently pinched Zhou Ying's small nose and said, "Little Ying, what if choosing to be unfair to a small number of people while being fair to more people? As for martial arts, as long as I want to cultivate it, I believe I can quickly become a strong practitioner."

  "It's not that easy to become a strong person, and if you're not the Martial King, you won't have any say in Luocheng either. As for what you said about sacrificing the small me to complete the big me, it sounds pretty good." Zhou Ying said with a puffed up face, ignoring Xu Hua's movements.

  "Haha, as long as you don't object, Xiaoying, that's all that matters. As for Wu Wang, just watch and see, I will definitely become the Wu Wang! And it won't take long at all! By then, we can put our own ideas into practice." Xu Hua was somewhat excited, he cared about Zhou Ying's thoughts.

  "Brother Hua, you'll definitely be fine, Xiaoying believes in you." Zhou Ying's face was blooming with a brilliant smile that made people want to take a bite.

  Although Xu Hua did not express all the thoughts in his mind, he was already very satisfied that Xiaoying could agree with him on this matter. As for some other thoughts in his heart, they were really too shocking and unconventional, so it's better to keep them hidden for now and slowly reveal them one by one later, to see Xiaoying's reaction.

  All living beings are suffering, I wish to ferry all living beings, accumulate endless merits and virtues, offer them to the universe, and repay the kindness that nurtures me.

  All living beings are suffering, I wish to travel all over the world, accumulate countless merits, bring happiness to billions of people, and give love to my fellow human beings.

  The bitter sea is boundless, and the multitude of living beings are difficult to cross. Only by becoming the master of the ultimate martial way can one roam freely in the world and accomplish what others cannot.

  "Hey, young master, please spare me a white steamed bun! I haven't eaten for two days. Half of one would be fine too!" About five or six zhang in front of Xu Hua and Zhou Ying, a disheveled-haired youth with a blackened face and shining black eyes looked at them with hope.

  "Poor thing, let's buy him a few mantou!" Zhou Ying's heart softened instantly, while Xu Hua looked at the young man in front of her and suddenly had an idea.

  "Come with me, and I'll treat you to a good meal later." Xuhua led Zhouying and the little beggar towards the Dayi Wine House in the center of the town.

  "Thank you, young master... thank you, miss..." The youth was overjoyed.

  "You're from outside the town, aren't you!" As he walked, Xu Hua looked at the dirty little beggar beside him and, not minding the dirt, grabbed one of his shaky hands and said.

  "Yes, I came all the way from Yinnai Town next door. I just arrived in Qing Shan Town and haven't eaten anything for two whole days." The young beggar said, licking his dry lips.

  Xu Hua felt a strange sensation the moment he grabbed him: this young man's body was extremely weak, with very little vital energy inside, and needed to be replenished.

  This mysterious feeling comes from his cultivation of the "Devouring Life Technique", which not only allows him to absorb the life force of all living things, but also gives him a very accurate sense of the life force within living beings.

  After walking for several hundred feet, the three of them finally arrived at the largest tavern in town - Dà Yì Wine House.

  "Hey, Brother Tiger! Haven't seen you around lately, where have you been? You look like you're glowing with prosperity, did you strike it rich or something? If you've got good fortune coming your way, don't forget to share some with your brother!"

  "Don't worry, we've been brothers for many years, how could I possibly forget you?"

  "Waiter, bring another jar of niang'er hong..."

  "Little Two..."

  Just as he walked out the door, Xu Hua heard all sorts of noises coming from inside. On the way, Xu Hua finally learned that this little beggar's name was Luo Cheng, 15 years old, one year older than Xu Hua, but looked a bit younger. He had lost his parents since childhood and relied on begging with his grandfather to make a living. Two months ago, his grandfather died, leaving him alone. After dealing with his grandfather's aftermath, he didn't want to stay in the painful place of Yantai anymore, so he came to Qing Shan Town, which is next to Yantai.

  "Hey, isn't this Xu Dasan? He's brought a little beggar here to eat again!"

  Xu Hua and the other two had just entered the Dayi Wine House when someone with sharp eyes greeted him, but what they were thinking in their hearts was unknown to others, and Xu Hua didn't have the mind to understand either.

  "Hey, little beggar! What's going on between Mr. Xu and Miss Zhou? Why are you all dirty..."

  "You're going to Beiqu Pingminju again? That place isn't very good, you know. With your status as Xu Sanlang, why do you need to go there and suffer? Honestly..."

  "There are more and more people suffering in this world, can you still help them all, Third Master?"

  “……”

  Listening to this slightly piercing sound, Xu Hua didn't get annoyed, but smiled faintly. Zhou Ying, the little girl, got a bit angry, while the little beggar was completely at a loss.

  "Everyone, enjoy your meal and drinks, I have something to attend to so I won't chat with you all anymore. Waiter, the Tian character room."

  "Come on, Mr. Xu, the Tianzi Fangyaguan is just ahead." The second servant was quite pleasant-looking and led Xu Hua and the others towards the Tianzi Fangyaguan.

  "This Xusanshao is really something, there are too many poor people in the world, can he help them all? I'm afraid his Xu family will be ruined by him."

  "How can such a prodigal son not be driven out by the Xu family?!"

  A young man who looked like he was in his early twenties said with some jealousy.

  "Hmm..."

  His companions immediately pulled him back and said, "Don't talk nonsense, he is the third young master of the Xu family after all. In Qing Shan Town, who dares to provoke the Xu family? Although the third young master of the Xu family is kind and likes to do good deeds, the Xu family...

  The young man wiped the sweat for himself and thanked his companion in a hurry: "Thank you, brother. I forgot that this is Qing Shan Town. Except for Xu San Shao, others in the Xu family are not easy to mess with. What if one day Xu San Shao wakes up..."

  Daiyi Wine House, elegant room Tianzi Room.

  Xu Hua, Zhou Ying and Luo Cheng sat facing each other.

  "You are Xu Dasanren." Luo Cheng suddenly stood up and said excitedly.

  Zhou Ying's small mouth was raised high, and the triumphant color on her face was very strong. Xu Hua smiled faintly and gestured for Luo Cheng to sit down, saying: "Didn't you all hear it already?"

  "I really didn't expect it, I actually met Mr. Xu, the great benefactor. As early as in Yentai Town, I had heard of your name many times. All the beggars said that if they could meet you, it would be a great blessing from heaven. I didn't think that I, Xiaochengzi, would have this day too."

  Luocheng's washed hands still looked a bit dirty, but compared to before, they were much better. At this time, his thin and bony hands kept trembling, and even his chest was jumping up and down without any strength, the red blood on his face had covered up his originally dark skin.

  "Pfft......"

  Looking at Luo Cheng like this, Zhou Ying couldn't help but laugh out loud, and Xu Hua's smile on her face became even more intense. She slightly opened her mouth and said: "I didn't expect my reputation to have spread to Yentai Town already..."

  "The dishes are coming," Xu Hua was about to say something else, when the waiter pushed open the door and shouted in a clear voice.

  "Mr. Xú, Miss Zhōu, here are Osmanthus duck, sweet and sour carp, beef soup... the other dishes will be ready soon."

  The waiter finished reciting the dish names and was about to leave.

  "Little two."

  Xiao Er turned around and looked at Xu Hua, saying: "Young Master Xu, are there any other instructions?"

  "Bring me a few bowls of plain porridge, this brother of mine has a weak body and can't eat too much, first give him some nourishment." Xu Hua pointed at Luo Cheng.

  Luò Chéng was moved to tears, and Xiǎo èr was also stunned for a moment, before reacting with a "good".

  "Luò Chéng, what are your plans from now on?" Xu Hua said after the waiter turned around and left, closing the door behind him.

  "Really?" Luo Cheng was somewhat bewildered. He had been begging for a living since he was young, and on top of that, his poor nutrition as a child made him very frail, making it impossible for him to do any kind of work. For the time being, he couldn't think of anything else he could do besides being a beggar.

  However, he was also in the prime of his youth and had dreams. He wanted to become a powerful martial artist, so that he could have endless delicious food, never go hungry again, and live in a big house...

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