Chapter 32: The Old Man Who’s Been Taking Free Meals for Decades

Lin Dong grew angry. Was it really that easy to bully someone who just wanted to do business honestly?
Just after dealing with one group of free-eaters, another one showed up.
Kuang Dazhi was still understandable—after all, it was business competition. But what about this old man?
Losing some money didn’t bother Lin Dong. But look at the mess they left behind—there would be no customers coming for hours. He couldn’t afford to lose such experience!
Taking a deep breath, Lin Dong said firmly, “Zhugan, how much did he eat and owe?”
Shou Zhugan glared at the old man and replied, “All the dishes were top-quality. The wine was thirty-year-old thyme, ten pounds worth—totaling ten taels of silver plus 326 coins.”
“Didn’t you tell him the price of the thyme?” Lin Dong frowned.
“I did. He said he’d pay whatever it was, guaranteeing not to shortchange by a single coin,” Shou Zhugan snapped.
“Go and bring Miss Yunlan here. Tell her someone’s taking free meals and I need her help,” Lin Dong said in a low voice.
“Mm!” Shou Zhugan nodded firmly and rushed off to the back hall.
If they were truly starving, at their age, they might as well eat freely—though they might even end up losing a few taels of silver in the process.
But this meal alone cost ten taels of silver!
Lin Dong stared coldly at the old man’s calm face. If they were truly desperate, they wouldn’t eat so much.
Were they acting recklessly because of their strength? If it were his predecessor, even without ten pounds of thyme, a meal costing over 300 coins alone would have left him in pain for half a month.
Taking another deep breath, Lin Dong glanced at Wang Liuzhi and the others, who were helping each other up, and said calmly, “All of you, go see a doctor to treat your wounds.”
“Boss…” Wang Liuzhi hesitated, glancing at the old man.
“Do as I say,” Lin Dong ordered firmly.
Wang Liuzhi gritted his teeth. Since the boss said so, the old man was clearly not someone to mess with. His group couldn’t even defeat a few guards, and they were injured too. Staying would only cause trouble.
“Let’s go!”
Wang Liuzhi staggered toward the door first. Once everyone followed, he stopped, took out a silver ingot, and handed it to Liu Hao, saying in a low voice, “Take everyone to see a doctor. I’ll rest for a while and catch up with you soon.”
Liu Hao didn’t doubt him and nodded, signaling everyone to follow.
Picking up a stone and stuffing it in his pocket, Wang Liuzhi sat down in a corner. As he tore off his shirt to bandage his wounds, he kept an ear out for any noises inside.

In the lobby, the old man shook the empty wine flask and looked up at Lin Dong. “I didn’t expect that even a small inn would have people who value loyalty over their lives. You’re quite a good innkeeper too—when it comes to fighting to the death, you still remember to send away your injured staff.”

Lin Dong didn’t understand the first part, but scoffed at the second. “Fight to the death with you? You overestimate yourself.”

“Actually, I’m serious. I don’t have any money,” the old man said, narrowing his eyes as he nodded toward Kuang Dazhi and the others. “Just like them, you can beat me however you want.”

“You’ll still have to pay after the fight, and exactly the same amount,” Lin Dong said calmly.

“Then there’s nothing I can do,” the old man said, shaking the empty flask in his hand. “How about finding a bigger gourd to fill with a flask of thyme aged thirty years?”

Lin Dong replied coldly, “We’ll talk after I get beaten! Don’t be like that Kuang Dazhi—thinking you can just lift your hand to hit someone just because you’ve practiced some martial arts.”

The old man smiled indifferently. “Are you trying to teach me that there are always those better than us? I’ve lived a long life and eaten free meals all my life—how could I not understand that? But… whether it’s Xilan County or Qiufeng Mansion, with this old body on the verge of death, I’m still confident I can avoid fighting back no matter who it is.”

His tone was bold enough to stir Lin Dong’s interest. “What about your weapon?” he asked.

“Silly boy, in my eyes, swords and fists are the same,” the old man said confidently.

“Is that so?” Lin Dong sneered.

“Of course!” the old man replied without hesitation.

“Are you sure?”

A gentle voice as melodious as celestial music sounded behind Lin Dong.

“Help has finally arrived! Let me say it again—whole Qiufeng Mansion…” The old man smiled carefreely, his cloudy gaze lifting slightly toward behind Lin Dong. The words stuck in his throat instantly.

Seeing the old man’s frozen expression, both the thin man and Lin Dong thought the same thing—Damn, he’s actually an old pervert!

“I didn’t expect that not only would a small inn have staff who value loyalty over their lives and wine that even an old man desires, but there’s also a young girl who makes me feel threatened. It seems I’ll lose today.”

Yun Lan’s arm trembled slightly. On the counter about ten meters away, the ancient yellow inkstone suddenly cracked, yet the three writing brushes inside remained intact.

“Can I get my money now?” Yun Lan asked softly.

The old man said seriously, “Such precise sword energy—even I couldn’t achieve that. Who is Yun Cangqiong to you?”

“My father!” Yun Lan replied calmly.

The old man suddenly grinned and said, “I haven’t touched silver in thirty or fifty years. Young Yun, considering my friendship with your father despite the age gap, how about letting me off?”
Yun Lan frowned slightly before relaxing. Given her father’s character, it was indeed possible for him to become friends with this old man despite the age difference.
After thinking for a moment, Yun Lan turned to Lin Dong. “Shopkeeper Lin, I can pay back the money for him. If it’s not enough, I hope we can settle it as a debt.”
Lin Dong was completely confused, not understanding how these two knew each other’s identities just by meeting. He was stunned upon hearing this. Though reluctant, he couldn’t refuse Yun Lan’s request and could only force a smile. “Since you two know each other, what’s there to talk about money?”
“Thank you! I’ll pay you back later. I’ll go now if it’s alright.”
Yun Lan gave a gentle thank you and walked away gracefully, leaving no trace of dust behind.
“Hey, young Yun! I was actually looking for your father throughout the Great Han Kingdom!” the old man called out as he stood up.
Yun Lan stopped. “My father has disappeared without a trace. I haven’t heard from him in half a year.”
The old man slapped his thigh and suddenly looked up at Yun Lan with intense eyes. “You must also be a pill master, right?”
Yun Lan shook her head. “I’m somewhat familiar with spirit arrays.”
The old man grinned bitterly. “Why learn spirit arrays instead of becoming a pill master? This ruins the old man’s hopes!”
Yun Lan was speechless.
“Sigh!” The old man let out a heavy sigh. “It seems the old man is truly doomed.”
“Did you suffer internal injuries?” Yun Lan asked.
“I was attacked by an old enemy and been suspended in midair for three years. Since I can’t find your father, I guess I’ll have to stay suspended for another year or so.” The old man spoke helplessly. “Otherwise, why would I need to rely on connections to repay debts? In the entire Great Han Kingdom, the number of people who can demand money from me is countable, and whether I can get it back is another matter.”
Lin Dong’s mind stirred. He understood what the old man meant—this man was a peak-level powerhouse!
A peak-level powerhouse, with divine pills and techniques… Lin Dong’s gaze toward the old man turned more fervent, his desire to restore justice for all the honest people who had been taken advantage of by this old scoundrel resurging.
The old man’s gaze remained on Yun Lan when he suddenly said, “Young man, why are you looking at me that way?”
“Elder, would you like some more wine?” Lin Dong asked with a smile.
“Of course! In this life, the old man would abandon his wife and children and ignore his injuries just for wine. Why not drink it?” The old man nodded eagerly.
Lin Dong snapped his fingers. “Bamboo pole, bring thirty years’ worth of thyme—whatever amount you have!”

As he aged, he became more cunning. Having spent most of his life in the world of games and intrigues, his shrewdness could rival that of the old fox Xiao Tianchi. Yet when it came to true love, even he could be foolish. With a thud, watching the figure of the thin man fade into the distance, the old man swallowed hard, unaware that a conspiracy was slowly closing in on him.