Chapter 20: Why Help Me

"Ugh!"

Under Shen Xuan's single strike, Manager Wu felt a tightness in his chest and could not help but spit out a mouthful of clotted blood, his body involuntarily flying backward.

With a thud, Manager Wu hit the ground, feeling as though every bone in his body were about to snap. He struggled to push himself up from the ground, his eyes fixed on Shen Xuan, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Who... who exactly are you?"

"I told you, you don't need to know." Shen Xuan lowered his stance and looked at Manager Wu with cold eyes.

"Don't come any closer! I am a manager for the Qinghe Gambling House! If you dare to touch me, our proprietor will never let you off!" Seeing Shen Xuan walking toward him, Manager Wu could not stop himself from retreating, his voice trembling with threats.

"Here are six hundred taels in banknotes. From this day forward, he owes your Qinghe Gambling House nothing!" Ignoring the manager's bluster, Shen Xuan raised his hand and tossed the banknotes, his voice calm.

"You!" Manager Wu looked at the money on the ground and then at the composed Shen Xuan, unable to fathom what this meant.

"If I ever find you bothering this young man again, do not blame me for coming to your doorstep to settle the score!" Shen Xuan’s voice rang out again, leaving Manager Wu feeling deeply stifled. Yet, comparing the gap in their strength, the manager could only inwardly lament his bad luck for crossing such a formidable character.

"Many thanks to you, young master, for your mercy." Manager Wu picked up the banknotes and bowed to Shen Xuan.

"Get lost!" Shen Xuan turned around, refusing to spare another glance at the manager and his men.

Watching Shen Xuan's back, a cold glint flashed in Manager Wu's eyes, but he dared not utter any harsh words. He turned to the thugs who had followed him and said icily, "Let’s go!"

Seeing them leave, Lin Gui finally snapped out of his shock. He looked at Shen Xuan, his expression dazed as he asked in a confused tone, "Why... why did you help me?"

"Why? Perhaps because you are a bit like me," Shen Xuan replied casually after a moment’s thought.

***

Why he had helped Lin Gui was a question Shen Xuan himself did not fully understand. Perhaps it was pity for Lin Gui's plight, or perhaps it was a simple appreciation for the man himself; there were many reasons. But none of that mattered now. To Shen Xuan, since the deed was done, what was the point of overthinking it? If he wanted to help, he helped.

"Like you?" Lin Gui’s tone was hesitant. He did not believe Shen Xuan's words. They were clearly people from two different worlds; how could they be alike? "Regardless, you saved my life and paid off my debts. Although I don't feel I'm worth that much, I am certainly not an ungrateful person."

As he spoke, Lin Gui quickly scrambled to his feet and approached Shen Xuan. With a thud, he dropped to his knees without hesitation, lowered his head, and said earnestly, "I am not eloquent and don't know how to say flowery words, but from this day on, my life belongs to you, young master. Whether it is climbing a mountain of blades or plunging into a sea of fire, as long as you give the command, I, Lin Gui, will never frown."

In Lin Gui's mind, since Shen Xuan helped him this much, there could be no other reason than a kind heart, as there was nothing left on him worth taking.

Watching the honest youth and hearing those sincere words, Shen Xuan felt a slight touch of emotion. He quickly pulled Lin Gui up, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "There is no need for such grand gestures. A man has dignity; we kneel only to heaven, earth, and parents. I don't have so many rules here. Climbing mountains of blades and seas of fire is far too dramatic. Since you are willing to follow me, I will naturally not treat you poorly."

"Thank you, young master!" Lin Gui's voice was choked with emotion. No one had ever treated him this well in his entire life.

"Enough. It is getting late. I should be going. Here are ten taels in silver notes; go buy a decent coffin for your father and bury him as soon as possible," Shen Xuan said, checking the sky and pulling a few bills from his robes.

"Young master, this is too much! It is just a coffin, it doesn't need this much money. I cannot take it," Lin Gui said, waving his hands in a panic.

"If I tell you to take it, take it. Do you intend to carry the coffin yourself after you buy it? Don't you need to hire pallbearers? Don't you need money for paper offerings and fruit? Take it, and let your father depart with some dignity," Shen Xuan said, placing the notes directly into Lin Gui's hands with a sincere tone.

"This... thank you, young master! Thank you!" Looking at the notes in his hands, Lin Gui could no longer hold back his tears. He prepared to kneel again to kowtow, but before he could move, Shen Xuan lifted him up.

"I said, I don't care for such empty formalities. Once you have buried your father, come find me at the Tongfu Inn on Suzaku Avenue," Shen Xuan said, his voice turning slightly stern.

"Understood, young master. As soon as I am done with my father's affairs, I will come to find you immediately." Lin Gui felt as though the hand holding him was as immovable as a mountain; he finally gave up the idea of kneeling.

***

He listened carefully to every word Shen Xuan said, firmly etching the name "Tongfu Inn" into his heart.

"I am leaving now." With that, Shen Xuan turned and walked away. He wasn't worried that Lin Gui would run off. Having lived two lifetimes, Shen Xuan was extremely confident in his judgment: this youth, Lin Gui, was a man of his word.

"Safe travels, young master!" Watching Shen Xuan's tall, upright silhouette against the sunset, Lin Gui bowed respectfully once more.

Only when Shen Xuan's figure had completely disappeared at the end of the street did Lin Gui straighten up, collect his emotions, and return home.

***

At the Qin Prime Minister's residence, in the private courtyard where Qin Shaotian resided, he lay slumped on a rocking chair, holding a copy of "The Great Learning," though his attention was clearly not on the book.

"Young Master, are you satisfied with this pressure?" a shapely maid behind him asked in a sweet, coquettish voice.

"Mm, not bad! Your touch is becoming more and more skilled, little beauty." A wicked smile curled at the corners of Qin Shaotian's mouth. He set the book on the stone table beside him, grabbed the small hand on his shoulder, and teased her with his words.

"Oh! Young Master, you are wicked!" The maid playfully tapped his back, acting with an air of incomparable seduction.

"Hehe, that is nothing. I have even wickeder things in store!" A burning heat filled Qin Shaotian's eyes, and it seemed a scene of debauchery was about to unfold in the small courtyard.

"Young Master! I have an urgent matter to report!" Suddenly, a shout came from the entrance of the courtyard.

Qin Shaotian’s movements froze, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes; after all, anyone would be displeased at having their mood ruined. "You go on ahead first." He was still rational enough to know that the person outside was his trusted subordinate. Knowing that this person wouldn't disturb him unless it were something major, he dismissed the maid.

"Yes."

After the maid left, Qin Shaotian allowed the person waiting outside to enter.