Chapter 84: You Were Wrong
He really couldn’t find one.
The veneration of Buddhism in Jiangnan City was indeed fervent. There was a temple every three streets and a Buddhist pagoda forest every five, with incense burning in abundance and devotees everywhere. Compassionate statues filled the view, and pious chanting filled the ears. Among the four hundred and eighty temples in Jiangnan, towers and pavilions locked in fragrance from Jinling.
But Yan Qing couldn’t find a place where he could offer incense.
Even the first temple he encountered could be considered somewhat decent. The minimum charge in the following temples started at five Spirit Jade. There wasn’t even a cheap incense stick for one Spirit Jade.
At first, Yan Qing was a bit annoyed and wanted to curse out these money-grubbing monks, but later he didn’t even bother. Seeing only expensive incense, he simply turned around and left.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford the pricey incense, but rather that temples reeking of money had no right to receive his worship.
To be honest, given Yan Qing’s current efficiency of earning one thousand Spirit Jade every half an hour, the time he had already wasted far exceeded the price of a single incense stick. But that’s just how Yan Qing was—ruthless and efficient when playing games, without an ounce of compassion. Yet, if he believed it worthwhile, he could spend dozens or even hundreds of times more effort just to achieve a seemingly trivial result.
For example, in The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1, there was a rumor that collecting 99 puppet insects could save Lin Yue Ru—he tried it. In Red Dead Redemption 2, just to have Arthur wear the Eastern Legend outfit, he used a bug to complete all the challenges. In Black Myth: Wukong, upon seeing the Fourth Sister captured, he was ready to wage a full battle with Wind Spirit Moon Shadow.
The old man and woman who did a good deed daily had helped him along the way only in hopes that he might offer prayers for their daughter-in-law. Even without any reward, Yan Qing was willing to fulfill their request wholeheartedly.
He wanted to find a truly compassionate temple, even if he had to earn an incense stick through labor—he would never spend money in a scammy temple. He couldn’t really explain the difference between ‘incense earned through labor’ and ‘incense bought with money.’ He didn’t even truly believe in divine protection, yet stubbornly felt that only the former could repay the old couple’s kindness.
Of course, Yan Qing could afford this leisurely attitude because he had nothing urgent to do.
After entering Jiangnan City, the ‘Rat Monk’ had already achieved his current goal. They would discuss their action plan tonight around midnight, and only then could Yan Qing decide where to send the ‘Rat Monk’ to investigate.
He continued walking down the main road, visiting one temple after another, getting driven away repeatedly. As the sun began to dip westward, Yan Qing remained patient. He bought street snacks as he walked, to the point where he wouldn’t need dinner later. Along the way, he admired the beauties of Jiangnan—perhaps because it was a main city, the streets were filled with young women holding parasols, brimming with youth, laughter, and joy. Whenever they saw the ‘Rat Monk’, they would press their palms together and greet him with a smile.
Such fine weather should be spent strolling the streets, admiring beauties, enjoying freshly made street snacks, and feeling the cool breeze from the riverside—not holed up indoors like a little rat, peering into others’ lives through a screen.
Yan Qing began reflecting again. After reflecting, he continued eating his dumplings. That’s all his self-reflection amounted to—he wouldn’t go out even if it were safe.
Unknowingly, the ‘Rat Monk’ had reached the inner ring of Jiangnan City, where one could see the palace walls from afar. Just as Yan Qing planned to head towards the temples in the eastern district, he noticed a crowd in front of a nearby temple. It seemed like a commotion.
"Let go of me! Let go! I won’t go, I won’t!"
"Aiya, young lady, making such a fuss will only hurt yourself. When you bring shame to the Li Family, who knows what punishment awaits you."
"Stop talking nonsense with this brat. You belong to the Li Family alive or dead, and yet you dare try to run?"
A few robust women surrounded a young girl. Her hair was disheveled with a wooden hairpin stuck in it. Her slender waist was wrapped in a patched, filthy grey garment. On her wrist was a grey Household Band—clearly from a poor background. Yet, despite her unkempt appearance and plain attire, her natural beauty was undeniable.
The robust women, armed with clubs, didn’t strike her. They surrounded her with a makeshift cage, pushing her along. No matter how An Cuihua struggled, she couldn’t break their encirclement—like a rabbit caught in a trap.
Outside the group of women were several servants shouting, "Everyone, this is An Cuihua’s deed of sale. Our master bought her from her father for thirty Spirit Jade, stamped by the government—it’s not coercion! Please, clear the way, clear the way!"
Many onlookers gathered, murmuring and gossiping. After eavesdropping for a while, Yan Qing got the gist of the situation: An Cuihua’s father was a gambling addict who lost everything. Seeing his daughter grown, he sold her to the Li Family for gambling funds. But An Cuihua refused and fled to Jiangnan City overnight. With no money or relatives, where could she hide in Jiangnan? She survived by begging near major temples and was quickly found by the Li Family.
Such incidents seemed common. Many debtors, having no way out, fled to Jiangnan City to seek divine protection. But as the saying goes: where there’s virtue, there’s vice. Just like the Li Family could send robust women to ‘confine’ An Cuihua, Jiangnan wasn’t outside the law. Creditors with enough manpower could still subdue debtors.
The servants, afraid of interference, kept reiterating their legality. Even in court, they had the upper hand. So the crowd just watched. No one thought they were wrong. A few ruffians even offered shady advice: "Hey, go left, escape from the left!" "You idiot, poke their eyes and you might get out!" "Just poop right here—last time someone got away with a handful of shit!"
But the robust women seemed very experienced. No matter what An Cuihua did, they neither flinched nor dodged. They suppressed all bodily reactions and moved like a mobile prison, pushing An Cuihua forward. She screamed hysterically like a madwoman, but after days without food, how could she overpower those thick-armed women? She only ended up weakly slumped on the ground like a pile of trash, yet was still kicked forward by their feet.
"I don’t want to go… I don’t want to…" An Cuihua sobbed uncontrollably, crying to the crowd, "Please help me, I can work—I can raise pigs, weave cloth—please help me! I will repay you, I will!"
Those whom An Cuihua cried out to for help all shook their heads and turned away. Though some showed a trace of sympathy on their faces, none wished to invite trouble. An Cuihua was on the verge of despair. She reached out through the gaps between the robust women, trying to grab the foot of a passerby. "Kind madam, help me, I don’t want to go... kind sir..."
"Master, please help me!"
"Sigh."
The young monk dressed in Coarse Linen Robe let out a helpless sigh and walked toward the robust women. The servants immediately noticed him and shouted, "Hold on, Master, we are—"
Pa!
The ‘Rat Monk’ grabbed a robust woman with one hand and flung her out like a sandbag. Though he was only Level 1, with 6 points of Vital Energy and Blood by default, ordinary people were no more than toys before him. Even if the robust women tried to fight back, he could effortlessly dodge and counter. In no time, all six robust women were thrown out, and he even leveled up in the process.
"You’ve comprehended Basic Fist Technique, current level: 1"
"Your Vital Energy and Blood increased by 0.5"
"Your Spirit increased by 0.5"
"Your Dexterity increased by 1"
"You have reached Level 2!"
An Cuihua quickly got up and hid behind him, wiping her dirty little face. Her voice was hoarse and choked with sobs. "Thank you, thank you, Master..."
"May I ask where Master has cultivated? What is your Dharma name?" Upon seeing the ‘Rat Monk’s’ skills, the servant knew this matter could no longer be resolved peacefully. "My master is Li Chongxin of the Li Family. Might we form a karmic bond?"
"You don’t know who I am?" the ‘Rat Monk’ asked.
"I am familiar with all the abbots and heads of the major Buddhist temples in the city. Master, I must admit you are a stranger to me." The servant glanced at the ‘Rat Monk’s’ tattered clothing. "However, with such skills, if you allow me to introduce you to my master, perhaps you might find a good position."
"Good. Now get lost." The ‘Rat Monk’ waved his hand.
"Ah? But Master, if you don’t leave a Dharma name, how can we find you?"
"That’s the point—I don’t want you to find me. So long as I’m here, you’re not taking her today."
The servant fully understood now. This big monk before him was just a meddlesome scoundrel. He glanced at An Cuihua and sneered without mirth. "Very well, we’ll return tomorrow. I’d like to see how long Master can protect this wretch."
"You, and you, stay behind and keep watch. Report to the family immediately if anything happens."
Though the group departed, two servants stayed behind blatantly to keep an eye on An Cuihua.
Clearly, the moment the ‘Rat Monk’ left or An Cuihua tried to leave Jiangnan City, they would immediately report back to the Li Family to capture her. An Cuihua realized this too. Her body trembled, and her right hand clung tightly to the ‘Rat Monk’s’ sleeve, as if holding onto a lifeline.
With no more spectacle to watch, the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed. The ‘Rat Monk’ led An Cuihua to the roadside, and the two servants followed, keeping their distance while watching closely.
"Do you have any relatives you can turn to? Or any place you can go? Any shops you’ve worked at before?"
To every question, An Cuihua shook her head while crying. She rubbed her eyes and sobbed, "I... I only have my father..."
"You were wrong."
The ‘Rat Monk’ turned his head. At some point, a middle-aged man with a blank expression had appeared behind him.