Chapter 963: Chapter 963: The Pitiful

The shabby old man opened the wine pot, took a swig of wine, and said calmly, “No need! I have long seen through fame and fortune, and no longer wish to be entangled by these worldly things. In the days ahead, I just want to live freely and unrestrained.”

Pei Donglai was taken aback, shook his head, and said, “Wine Demon, regardless of your reasons, what I said will always stand. Don’t be too quick to refuse, consider it carefully! If you come around, you’re welcome to join my Pei Family anytime.”

After saying this solemnly, he turned towards the gate and quickly left the place.

It wasn’t until Pei Donglai’s figure disappeared that Ye Xuan withdrew his gaze, fell silent for a moment, and walked slowly towards the shabby old man.

Raising his head to glance at Ye Xuan, the shabby old man’s face was calm, and he spoke lightly, “Boy, I can sense a heavy aura of death on you, at such a young age, your hands are stained with countless blood; I’m afraid your background is not simple, right? If you want, you can take this old drunkard’s life today.”

After a pause, he chuckled freely, “Haha, I spent my whole life fighting with others, only to end up in a pitch-black dungeon, living a drunken and dreamy life, wasting time! Until old age, I didn’t even understand what I was pursuing, isn’t that laughable? Rather than living worse than a dog, I might as well report to King Yan early, escaping the entanglements of worldly troubles. If you want to kill me, do it painlessly, don’t let me suffer even in death!”

Ye Xuan stared fixedly at him and asked, “Do you really want to die that much?”

“This old drunkard sees no meaning in living, it’s better to be relieved!”

After saying that, the shabby old man closed his eyes decisively, his face expressionless, having already looked past life and death.

Seeing this scene, Ye Xuan remained silent. Moments later, he squatted down beside the shabby old man, then grabbed the man’s wrist, extending three fingers.

This made the shabby old man, who had just closed his eyes, reopen them, and a flash of surprise appeared in his gaze at Ye Xuan!

Ignoring him, after assessing the situation, Ye Xuan lifted the upper half of the shabby old man, moved behind him, grabbed his shoulder with one hand, and struck his back fiercely with the other hand.

The shabby old man’s eyes showed a hint of relief, ready to close his eyes and wait for death.

But soon, his eyes were filled with astonishment because what he felt on his back wasn’t a tearing energy, but a gentle energy like water!

He was completely shocked!

This boy…is actually healing me!?

How can this be? Isn’t he supposed to kill me? Why would he heal me!

Yet…

The scene before him left him no choice but to believe it! He could clearly feel the gentle energy entering his body’s meridians through his back, quickly healing his previous injuries.

This healing process only lasted for a minute and a half, and Ye Xuan stopped, while the shabby old man’s internal injuries were basically healed!

With a complex expression, the shabby old man stared blankly at Ye Xuan and finally quivered his lips, saying, “You… why did you do this?”

He thought he would meet his end at Ye Xuan’s hands, yet the other party healed his injuries, leaving the shabby old man full of confusion and incomprehension.

“No reason, I just think you’re pretty pathetic!”

After a moment’s silence, Ye Xuan looked at him and said blandly.

Ye Xuan could see that the old man before him was a tragic figure!

From his demeanor or from his heart, the shabby old man had undoubtedly experienced an extraordinary life to give birth to feelings different from ordinary people! And such unique feelings are nothing more than great sorrow and joy, ups and downs, leading to great enlightenment!

Although it’s unclear what he went through, being able to face death calmly, having no more attachment to the world, indisputably speaks of silent sorrow beyond despair.

This is a person filled with tragedy, a life ravaged by disaster!

Even in his old age, lacking the courage to live on — is that not pitiable?

The shabby old man gazed deeply at Ye Xuan, and said calmly, “A pitiable person must have something hateful about them! Perhaps my current pitiful state is of my own making. Don’t you want to ask about my past?”

“Sorry, I’m not interested in your affairs, I just find you pathetic unilaterally! As a three-good youth of the new era and a former excellent Young Pioneer, respecting the old and cherishing the young is my duty.” Ye Xuan shrugged.

The shabby old man: “…”

After a moment of speechlessness, he gazed upwards at the sky in silence, his demeanor slightly desolate!

After a while, he shook his head with a slight sigh, “You’re right, I am quite pitiable…”

Seemingly to alleviate the pain, he untied the wine gourd from his waist, pulled off the cap, and gulped down strong liquor!

“Drinking to drown sorrow only makes it grow! Drinking too much of this cheap liquor is bad for your health. If you don’t want to die early, you should quit drinking.”

Ye Xuan frowned and said, “Don’t look at me, I’m not looking out for you, I just don’t want you to get into trouble after I let you go, then I’ll be blamed for it, how unjust would that be?”

“This old drunkard has been drinking all his life, addicted to alcohol long ago. Boy, asking me to quit is worse than killing me!” the shabby old man said faintly.

Then, looking at Ye Xuan curiously, “Boy, you’re really just letting me go?”

“Although I don’t understand what you’ve been through, you probably have your reasons for working for the Pei Family. Besides, facing a lonely old man like you, I can’t bring myself to do it! So I’ll let you go, you can leave!” Ye Xuan said.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll come back to trouble you?”

“Do you think I’d be afraid?”

Ye Xuan countered.

“First of all, you can’t beat me! Secondly, you don’t have the motivation to trouble me! Of course, if you come to trouble me for no reason, or harm those around me, I’ll send you straight to Hell!”

The shabby old man paused, put down the wine gourd in his hand, and with deep-set eyes, looked at Ye Xuan and laughed heartily, “Boy, you’re quite interesting, you fit this old drunkard’s taste!”

“Though I don’t care much about this life, no matter what, since you spared me, this old drunkard has to thank you for the favor! I’ll remember this debt.”

He sprang up from the ground, reattached the wine gourd to his waist, looked up at Ye Xuan, and laughed:

“By the way, kid, what’s your name?”

“My name is Ye Xuan, Ye as in leaf, Xuan as in Xuan Yuan!” Ye Xuan said.

“Ye Xuan? Not bad, named after Emperor Xuan Yuan’s Xuan, with imperial grandeur, what a good name!”

The shabby old man nodded, showing an expression of appreciation, “You have extraordinary potential, and at such a young age, you possess such strength, far surpassing what I was back then! Don’t waste your martial arts talent.”

“Haha, thanks for the compliment, old sir.” Ye Xuan replied with a smile.