Chapter Nine: The Rat Has Its Fur, But Man Lacks Grace.

“......” Lin Chen remained silent.

“Alright then! Let’s just pluck off his long beard,” Lin Chen said, pinching her rosy little cheek gently. “You stay at home. I’ll go to the market to buy some things. Don’t run around!”

“All right, go ahead!” Li Baoping smiled slightly.

Lin Chen quietly instructed Humei’er to stay behind and protect Li Baoping, then stepped out of the yard himself.

He planned to buy Li Baoping a new outfit; beyond that, of course, he was going to beg for alms—or rather, to accumulate merit.

As soon as he reached the street corner, he saw Old Huang dozing off, completely lacking the spirit of a beggar.

Lin Chen sat down beside him and immediately began to wail loudly.

“Ah, you scared me to death! You finally came back. I thought you’d died halfway!” Old Huang grumbled, picking his nose.

“Master Daoist, my divine skills are peerless; I wouldn’t die so easily,” Lin Chen replied with a smile.

“So? Did that young lady not give you any money? Or did she come begging too?” Old Huang sized him up, noticing Lin Chen was still wearing the same tattered clothes from when he left.

“This is called loyalty and duty—I can’t forget my roots! Old Huang, why don’t you come with me? Seriously, don’t bother with that broken-down temple anymore,” Lin Chen said earnestly.

“Not going to the temple? Have you found a better place to live?” Old Huang asked skeptically.

“Actually, I did find a nice place,” Lin Chen replied indifferently.

Just as the two of them chatted animatedly, someone kicked Lin Chen’s battered bowl, sending it flying.

The newcomer was none other than his junior brother, Qin Hao.

Pointing at Lin Chen’s nose, Qin Hao scolded, “You blind fool! The senior sisters have been searching everywhere for you, and here you are, begging on the streets. What nerve you have!”

Lin Chen was speechless. It was not as if he wanted to be found. Besides, he had already left the sect. How did this guy even have the face to come here and scold him?

“Oh, it’s Daoist Qin! My apologies, my apologies. But your senior sisters came looking for me—what is this useless fellow doing?” Lin Chen replied calmly.

“Come back to the sect with me quickly. Stop embarrassing yourself here,” Qin Hao said, lifting his chin arrogantly. “I’ll tell Master about this. Let’s see how you’ll hold your head up inside the sect afterward.”

“Are you crazy? I have no sect. Let’s go, don’t waste my time,” Lin Chen waved him off.

“You’re sullying the sect with your behavior, you know that? You just want to get attention from the sect! There’s no need to go this far,” Qin Hao continued, still looking down on him.

“I said, don’t waste my time. Get lost.” Lin Chen shoved him aside, retrieved his broken bowl, and placed it back on the ground.

“So just to get revenge, huh? But only you could stoop to such despicable tactics,” Qin Hao sneered, kicking the bowl away again.

Lin Chen finally couldn’t hold back. With a sharp slap, he struck Qin Hao across the face.

Qin Hao covered his cheek, disbelief and hatred flashing in his eyes. “You useless wretch! How dare you hit me?”

His face twisted with rage, teeth clenched tightly as he glared at Lin Chen, as if he wanted to swallow him whole.

Without a word, Lin Chen delivered another clean slap.

At that moment, a discordant voice reached their ears: “Useless! How dare you hit your junior brother!”

No need to look to know it was Su Xiangling. Before Lin Chen could respond—

Qin Hao’s attitude immediately did a complete turnaround, becoming meek and submissive. “Senior sister, please don’t blame Senior Brother Lin. It’s all my fault. I provoked him.”

Old Huang, caught off guard, almost burst out laughing but restrained himself, grimacing in front of these experts.

Hearing this, Su Xiangling looked genuinely distressed. “Poor junior brother, look at you—clearly beaten, yet you’re still worried about this useless one. What a pity!”

She reached out to rub Qin Hao’s face, as if afraid he had been seriously hurt.

“Senior sister! I’m fine. As long as Senior Brother Lin is happy,” Qin Hao said, putting on a pitiful expression as he looked at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen waved to Old Huang. “Let’s go, Old Huang. We didn’t check the almanac today. Didn’t expect to step in dog poop.”

Hearing her call him useless repeatedly made Lin Chen quite annoyed. He really didn’t want to stay here listening to their sarcastic remarks.

“Wait! You just want to return to the sect, right? Come on! Go back with me now and apologize to Master. Everything will be settled,” Su Xiangling said sternly.

Lin Chen and Old Huang vanished in an instant before the two could react.

As long as he wasn’t caught face-to-face, they couldn’t lock onto his aura.

As for confronting them physically? That would be overestimating himself. He wasn’t arrogant. Su Xiangling wasn’t like Qin Hao.

Qin Hao was just a child—a presence that could intimidate him.

But Su Xiangling was a genuine minor grandmaster, experienced in countless real battles. To fight her would be like moving a finger.

“Useless! I’m so angry! Let’s go back and tell Master about this. Let’s see how he lets you back in,” Su Xiangling stomped her feet in anger.

Hearing this, Qin Hao’s face turned dark. What would he do if Lin Chen couldn’t return? This fool was nothing but trouble. He shouldn’t have brought her along.

After a moment, he calmed his anger and whined, “Senior sister, Senior Brother Lin is just sulking. Let’s give him one more chance, okay?”

He tugged on Su Xiangling’s hand, fidgeting anxiously.

Seeing this motherly indulgence, Su Xiangling smiled affectionately. “Fine, we’ll listen to the little junior brother. You’re just too kind-hearted.”

When Lin Chen and Old Huang reappeared, they were already inside Lin Chen’s courtyard. Old Huang looked frightened and stammered, “They won’t come after us, will they?”

Lin Chen patted his chest reassuringly. “Don’t worry! They won’t find us.”

“Wait, didn’t you say the sect was wiped out? Then who were those people?” Old Huang asked suspiciously.

Lin Chen showed a hint of embarrassment and changed the subject. “I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.