Chapter Eleven: The Sloppy Little Beggar

The tavern was suddenly filled with hushed whispers, the uproar from moments ago completely gone. Every now and then, people glanced toward the table where Feng Qingcheng and the others sat, their eyes brimming with undisguised fervor.

In this world, strength was revered above all else. Who did not worship the strong?

Feng Qingcheng sat upright beside the window. Sunlight illuminated his tall, graceful figure, making him seem carved from flawless jade, so handsome that he looked as though he had stepped out of a painting. His peerless appearance and aloof, aristocratic bearing had captivated countless young men and women who had come to take the entrance examination.

“How I wish I were that dish on his plate.”

The young women were practically entranced, forgetting that they themselves were eating.

“If I could look at him like this for the rest of my life, I, Dou Ruhua, could die without regret.”

At the table beside Niu Zhuangzhuang sat a plump girl whose heavy cheeks were so round that her nose and eyes were nearly impossible to distinguish. A large steamed bun was still stuffed in her mouth, forgotten there, while several drops of blood trickled from her nose. She looked absurdly comical.

Everyone cast her a scornful glance. Was that not a little too exaggerated?

Niu Zhuangzhuang looked at the plump girl with disdain and turned away in disgust.

“Feng Fox, if you visit taverns a few more times, someone is liable to die an unnatural death,” Qiao Chuya said, surveying the room with a mischievous grin on his babyish face. He stretched out his chopsticks to snatch food from the handsome Hua Qiandu, never missing the chance to tease Feng Qingcheng.

“Why?” Feng Qingcheng asked without changing expression.

“They’ll lose too much blood from their noses and drop dead,” Mei Ren replied solemnly, pointing toward the plump beauty even as he took the opportunity to steal the delicacies Qiao Chuya and Hua Qiandu were fighting over.

“You?” Hua Qiandu pointed at Mei Ren angrily, his face full of indignation.

“You?” Qiao Chuya flushed scarlet with fury, his chopsticks nearly poking Mei Ren in the nose.

With two fingers, Mei Ren pushed Qiao Chuya’s chopsticks aside and drawled, “If you two don’t eat faster, Feng Fox will finish everything.”

The two hurriedly turned back toward the dishes they had been fighting over. The last piece of meat had just been placed in Feng Qingcheng’s mouth. He chewed it elegantly a few times before saying disdainfully, “A little tough. Tasteless.”

“Are you a pig? How can you eat so much?” Hua Qiandu roared at Feng Qingcheng in exasperation.

Feng Qingcheng smiled faintly, like spring sunshine illuminating everyone’s eyes.

The plump beauty’s nose began bleeding even more profusely.

Who would believe that the lofty, otherworldly Five Immortals of Shu Mountain, revered by all beneath the heavens, behaved like children when they were among themselves? Young men of around twenty were in the finest season of life, their spirits soaring and their hearts ablaze.

Just then, the four of them saw through the window a frail little beggar stumble and race toward the tavern from afar. After lifting his head to make certain of the place, he charged straight inside.

“Little sir, this is a tavern. Could you beg somewhere else?” the burly doorman at the entrance said, blocking the ragged little beggar.

The beggar’s clothes were in tatters, and his shoes were riddled with holes, exposing his snow-white feet. He was thin and appeared to be about twelve or thirteen. His face and hands were smeared black with grime, making his features and complexion impossible to discern. Yet his eyes were extraordinarily lively, as dazzling as black gemstones and filled with a captivating brilliance that instinctively inspired goodwill.

Everyone in the tavern paused with their cups in hand and looked toward the entrance. Seeing only a filthy little beggar, they assumed he had come to ask for alms and soon lost interest.

The little beggar opened his mouth, revealing a row of pearly white teeth, but his voice was as delicate and sweet as a girl’s.

“If this isn’t a tavern, what would I come here to eat for? Is this where applicants report for the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect’s entrance examination? Hurry... hurry and let me in!”

The little beggar was remarkably nimble. With a casual sweep of his thin arm, he sent the burly man—who stood half a head taller than him—sprawling to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, the beggar darted inside. He looked around and spotted the large table by the window, where six people sat and two places remained empty. Judging by their clothing, they were disciples of the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect.

With another quick dash, he reached the table and sat down directly opposite Feng Qingcheng.

The little beggar cupped his hands politely. “Gentle sirs, would you mind if I shared your table?”

When he got a clear look at the four young men before him, his eyes lit up with amazement. His lively eyes blinked as if they could speak. He studied each of them in turn before finally returning his gaze to Feng Qingcheng.

That young man was simply too dazzling. His narrow, cold, sharp phoenix eyes were examining the little beggar.

A flicker of astonishment crossed the beggar’s eyes, accompanied by a trace of embarrassment. Then he flashed a broad, unabashed grin and sat down, though he kept glancing nervously toward the window, fear showing in his eyes.

Qiao Chuya brought over a plate of steamed buns and placed it before the beggar, then set several untouched dishes in front of him as well.

“If you don’t mind, little brother, help yourself.”

Hua Qiandu placed a dish of braised chicken before the beggar. His innocent, babyish face was filled with a harmless smile.

“Don’t be afraid, little brother. If anyone tries to bully you, we’ll protect you. Waiter, bring us a few more of the house specialties.”

“No need to order more. This is enough.”

The little beggar took a small ingot of silver from his clothes and carefully placed it before Feng Qingcheng. He asked pitifully, “This... this is my share.”

“You don’t need to pay. Someone else is treating us.” Qiao Chuya gave a sly grin, nodded toward Feng Qingcheng, and pushed the silver back into the beggar’s hands.

The little beggar looked toward Feng Qingcheng for confirmation. Feng Qingcheng nodded, so the beggar reluctantly tucked the silver away and asked, “May I ask whether this is where applicants report for the great entrance examination?”

Feng Qingcheng studied the little beggar carefully. “What? You intend to take the entrance examination as well?”

The little beggar smiled and nodded. He could not help looking fearfully toward the window again. Only after seeing nothing unusual outside did he smile gratefully, revealing two rows of snow-white teeth. His black-gem eyes narrowed into crescent moons. Though his face, neck, and hands were all coated in soot, his smile was indescribably lovely.

Hua Qiandu gave the little beggar a thumbs-up.

“Good. You have ambition. This is indeed the place where applicants report for the great entrance examination.”

The little beggar smiled gratefully and stopped being polite. He picked up a steamed bun with his chopsticks and began eating in great, eager bites. It was obvious that he was starving. He ate rather quickly, savoring every mouthful as though it were the most delicious food in the world.

The burly doorman came stumbling back. When he saw the little beggar eating with Feng Qingcheng and the others, he froze. He immediately bowed and scraped before the four men.

“Honored immortals, forgive me. I sincerely apologize.”

Then he turned toward the little beggar with a fierce expression and shouted, “Take a few buns and leave at once!”

Feng Qingcheng gave the man a cold glance. The doorman understood immediately, bowed deeply to the four men, and fled in a flash.

Everyone in the tavern stared toward them, curiosity and astonishment written plainly across their faces. Some were envious, some jealous, some disdainful, some sympathetic, and others so resentful that their teeth practically ached.

Most people were envious of the little beggar. Not everyone had the honor of sharing a meal with inner disciples of the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect.

Others felt indignant. What qualifications did a little beggar have to sit and eat with the immortal masters of Shu Mountain? It was practically a desecration.

The little beggar paid none of it any attention. She had been fleeing for two days and two nights without a proper meal or sleep. In less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, she had devoured every steamed bun on the plate before her.

When she looked up, she discovered several pairs of eyes fixed on her and gave an embarrassed smile.

As she reached for a bun from the plate across the table, her sleeve slid upward, revealing a slender arm as fair and smooth as a fresh lotus root.

Feng Qingcheng’s eyes sharpened as he looked at the little beggar.

“Your disguise is quite skillful, little brother.”

“Cough, cough, cough...”

The little beggar started in fright. Her chopsticks trembled, and the bun fell onto the table. She seemed to choke on it and began coughing violently.

“Hey, Feng Fox, couldn’t you wait until the child had finished eating?” Hua Qiandu rolled his eyes at Feng Qingcheng, then asked anxiously, “Little brother, are you all right?”

“I... cough, cough... I’m fine...” the little beggar replied awkwardly between coughs.

Qiao Chuya hurriedly handed her a cup of water and asked with great interest, “You really are disguised? It looks rather masterful.”

“I was being pursued by villains. I had no choice,” the little beggar said, still shaken, spreading her hands helplessly.

The four men exchanged glances, then all turned toward the tavern entrance.

The little beggar followed their gaze. Her expression changed drastically. She stood up nervously, then sat back down again, visibly distraught.

Feng Qingcheng glanced at her and signaled with his eyes for her to sit calmly. Only then did the little beggar lower herself back into her seat, trembling as she stared toward the entrance.

Far across the sky, a tiny white speck appeared above the tavern entrance. It grew larger and larger until it gradually came into view as a delicate sedan chair draped in gauze.

White curtains veiled the chair on every side. Four beautiful maids accompanied it on the left and four on the right, all dressed alike in white, wide-sleeved gauze robes and long strapless skirts.

The eight maids carried flower baskets, scattering beautiful petals as they flew. Their gauze skirts fluttered, their silk veils drifted lightly, and petals filled the sky. It was as though celestial maidens had descended to the mortal realm.

Someone in the tavern cried out, “It’s the young master of the Netherworld Immortal Sect!”

At once, everyone rushed out of the tavern, jostling and surging until the space before the entrance was packed tight.

“Isn’t that bastard from the Netherworld Immortal Sect? What kind of madness has brought him here today?” Qiao Chuya slammed his hand on the table and stood.

Hua Qiandu smiled with angelic innocence as he said to Feng Qingcheng, “Feng Fox, I heard long ago that this fellow wasn’t quite right in the head. Could he have come here to cause trouble?”

“Let us not be hasty. We will first see what he wants.” Feng Qingcheng frowned slightly. He glanced at the little beggar, who had curled into a pitiful ball, and asked, “Is he the one pursuing you?”

The little beggar nodded frantically.

Hua Qiandu scratched his head. “How did you offend him?”

The little beggar stammered, “He wanted me to become his... his... to join the Western Nether Immortal Sect. I refused. I... I came here to take the entrance examination for the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect...”

The four men studied the little beggar again. She was small and thin, still very young, and dressed in filthy rags. They truly could not understand how that lunatic had become entangled with her.

“Little brother, don’t worry. Since you’ve come to take the Shu Mountain Immortal Sect’s entrance examination, we’ll protect you.” Hua Qiandu patted his chest. “I’ve disliked that bastard for a long time. He picked the perfect day to show up!”

“Senior brothers, I should go out and explain everything. I can’t involve all of you.” The little beggar bit her lip and glanced at the silent Feng Qingcheng. As though she had finally summoned enormous courage, she rose to her feet.

Qiao Chuya stood as well. “Feng Fox, what do you say?”

Feng Qingcheng looked at the little beggar’s frightened face and said calmly, “Come. We’ll go out with you and see what this is about.”

Feng Qingcheng and the other three led the soot-covered, filthy little beggar to the entrance of the tavern. She stayed close behind them, peeking out cautiously with her small head, trembling like a frightened little animal.