Chapter Twenty: End of Volume

"Not quite." Xiao Lin frowned slightly.

Shen Wuya asked, "What is not quite right?"

"Nine points, I suppose. Nine points are reasonable, but he was a bit too heavy-handed with me..." Xiao Lin muttered softly, "I have to deduct a point for that."

Hearing this, Shen Wuya nearly burst into laughter. Though he didn't, the look in his eyes became increasingly satisfied.

After speaking, Xiao Lin looked up to check Shen Wuya's reaction. The latter instantly wiped all expression from his eyes. A clever one, he thought, someone who knows how to read the room.

"Since that is the case, why did you steal?" Shen Wuya asked, knowing the answer full well.

As expected, judging by Xiao Lin's expression, he seemed somewhat speechless. He pursed his lips and said, "Immortal, I was nearly starving to death, so I had to take the risk. I was just gambling that the stall owner wouldn't catch me..."

"Thinking back now, I was so hungry that I lost my composure. If I had just asked for some scraps of food, perhaps the stall owner would have given them to me."

Shen Wuya smiled faintly. "Truly?"

"Truly."

Shen Wuya nodded. "Then go and try, and you shall know."

Xiao Lin waved his hands quickly. "Immortal, I cannot. That stall owner has already seen what I look like..."

Shen Wuya waved his sleeve, lightly brushing over Xiao Lin’s face, and his features changed instantly.

Xiao Lin gasped in surprise. "Changing one's appearance? Truly the methods of an immortal..."

"Go."

Xiao Lin nodded, but before leaving, he turned back and said, "Giving is an act of kindness, not a duty. Immortal, I cannot guarantee that I will definitely get anything." He was offering a reminder once more.

"Naturally."

Shen Wuya watched Xiao Lin’s thin, frail back, his eyes smiling once again. "Discerning right from wrong, a clear and open heart, keen to read others, yet still retaining that sense of youthful spirit... It seems this trip was well worth it."

Shen Wuya was satisfied with Xiao Lin, and the audience in the live stream was even more so.

"I thought they were going for some tear-jerker trope, but then the style shifted—this is actually quite fun."

"Aww, little Qilin is just too cute!"

"Hasn't Xiao Lin only been cultivating for three years? Seeing him three years ago, I realized that even after three years, he is still just a child. What a genius youth."

"No wonder he turns out so righteous in the future. I thought it was just the Sword Mountain's teachings, but it turns out he had this personality since he was a child."

"And his past memories were erased! I'm so curious, the production team better hurry up and work overtime!"

"Did you guys forget... Li Changhe is the protagonist of this anime?"

"Where is the protagonist? Isn't this an ensemble cast?"

"They gave the senior brother so much screen time during the sect competition, now that the junior brother gets a little, you all start complaining?"

"Li Changhe: I'm unconscious, please don't ping me."

[Popularity +1...]
[Popularity +1...]

"Um... boss." Xiao Lin arrived in front of the vendor.

"Go, go, go! Get lost!" The stall owner took one look and immediately waved his hand to shoo him away as if he were a pest, cursing, "One little beast just left, and now here comes another."

"Let me tell you, don't even think about stealing! Otherwise, I'll break your legs this time!" He spoke through gritted teeth, as if he hated the previous Xiao Lin to the bone.

For a normal person, seven out of ten parts of their courage would have been frightened away, and they would have turned and run.

But Xiao Lin, unhurried, said softly, "Boss, I am here to apologize on behalf of the person who stole your buns earlier."

"Apologize?" The stall owner was taken aback and finally took a real look at Xiao Lin. "You're a beggar, yet you're quite polite."

Though he said this, his face remained cold. "But it's not needed. My buns were ruined; what good is an apology? Get lost, don't hold up my business."

"Understood." Xiao Lin nodded on the surface, but ignored the dismissal. "My little brother was just so hungry that he acted out of desperation and stole your buns. But you showed mercy and only taught him a lesson, without breaking his limbs."

"I came here not just to apologize, but to thank you."

"Thank you, boss."

Hearing this, the stall owner was slightly dazed. He frowned and said, "I beat someone up, and instead of complaining, you're thanking me..."

Just as he was about to say something else, Xiao Lin continued, "However, although his limbs were spared, my little brother has indeed not eaten for days. I hope you might show kindness once more and grant us the buns he grabbed? I assume you wouldn't sell food that others have touched anyway."

The stall owner's expression softened slightly, then turned sour again. "Sell! Why wouldn't I sell? Even if I don't, I'd rather throw them to the dogs than give them to you!"

As he spoke, Xiao Lin sighed and turned to leave.

The stall owner hadn't expected Xiao Lin to stop pushing. He remained silent for a long time, then grumpily called out, "Hey, little beggar, come back!"

Xiao Lin turned around, his face lighting up with joy.

"Damn it," the stall owner cursed. "Fine, I'll play the saint just once. Will you eat this or not? If not, get lost!"

The stall owner took out some broken pieces of buns. Though they were in tatters, the dirty outer skin had been torn away, revealing the clean filling inside, still bearing the faint marks of hands having torn them.

Xiao Lin smiled. "I knew it. You said you'd throw them to the dogs, but you couldn't bear to waste the food."

"Nonsense. I've been so hungry before that I've gnawed on tree bark; I can't stand to waste anything..."

The stall owner handed the pieces to Xiao Lin and suddenly said, "If that little brother of yours is still alive, tell him not to be a petty thief in the future. Lay aside that bit of pride and just ask for a bite to eat. In this world... not everyone is as hard-hearted as I am."

Xiao Lin shook his head. "You are not hard-hearted, boss. You are an incredibly good person."

The stall owner said nothing and waved his hand dismissively.

Afterward, Xiao Lin ran toward Shen Wuya with the buns in his arms.

"Immortal, look! I told you the stall owner was a good person; I just hadn't asked the right way before!"

Holding the buns, Xiao Lin’s small face beamed with a bright, childlike smile.

Shen Wuya had watched the entire interaction between Xiao Lin and the vendor. Even knowing the boy was clever and sharp, he couldn't help but sigh. Not only was his character so noble, but he was also this wise?

Perhaps he really could...

Even though Xiao Lin already fit his requirements and conditions better than the three disciples he had already taken in, Shen Wuya still asked, "If you one day possessed my level of power, what would you do?"

Xiao Lin had already shoved a piece of bun into his mouth. Hearing this, he spoke quickly, his words muffled, "Like you, Immortal? ... *munch munch* ... Then I would make sure everyone in the world ... *munch munch* ... could have buns to eat!"

"Even the wicked?"

"The wicked?" Xiao Lin finally swallowed the bite. "You mean the kind of people who won't let others eat buns?"

"Yes."

Xiao Lin put on a fierce expression. "Then... I'll break their legs!"

"Hahahaha!"

Shen Wuya finally burst into loud laughter. "Then come with me. Not only will you have buns every day, but one day, you will also possess power such as mine."

Xiao Lin was overjoyed. "Thank you, Immortal—no, thank you, Master!"

Immediately, he smiled to himself in satisfaction.

"This episode... ends!"