The young man who barged in was completely naked, with only a leaf apron covering his crotch. His muscular upper body was bare, and his face was as handsome as jade.
Despite his awkward situation, the boy remained calm and composed, showing no sign of embarrassment.
"This kid's got something..."
The burly man thought to himself with admiration.
He took a set of clothes from his bag and threw it over.
"Young man, if you don't mind, put on my clothes!"
A set of clothes landed precisely next to Xiao Ning, kicking up clouds of dust.
"Hey buddy, thanks!"
Xiao Ning took the clothes, thanked the burly man, and put them on as if no one else was there.
The burly man glanced at him with surprise, but then became interested in the young man.
Upon closer inspection, he was astonished to discover that Xiao Ning had a full forehead, an incomparably noble appearance, an aura of spiritual energy emanating from his body, and excellent physical constitution, making him a top talent for cultivation.
He stood up and asked, "Young man, what's your name? Where are you from? How did you end up in such a state?"
If the other party were an ordinary person, he wouldn't bother with them. Giving them a set of clothes was already more than enough; he wouldn't say another word.
Xiao Ning straightened his clothes and casually replied, "My name is Xiao Ning. I am from Jiangyou. I have traveled the world for many years. However, I am ashamed to say that my luggage was stolen by bandits, and even my clothes were stripped off."
Having traversed several worlds, Xiao Ning can lie without even flinching, casually fabricating an origin story.
Even with all his cultivation reduced to zero, he was not afraid in the slightest when facing this fierce-looking giant.
"Ha ha!"
The burly man laughed heartily and said, "Good lad, in this world, it's really not easy for you to have survived until now! A weak scholar who can't even kill a chicken actually dares to travel the world alone. I, Yan Chixia, have to admit I admire you!"
Xiao Ning appears refined and cultured, yet he lacks any cultivation. Combined with his own experiences, he easily evokes the image of a traveling scholar!
"Oh? My friend, are you the ruthless judge Yan Chixia, who was once famous throughout the twenty-six provinces of Northeast China and Guangxi?"
Xiao Ning feigned surprise and asked.
Yan Chixia is a major supporting character in the "A Chinese Ghost Story" film series. He has a rugged appearance, resembling Zhong Kui, and possesses a certain Dionysian temperament. He is highly skilled in magic and swordsmanship.
This person has a free-spirited personality, retains a childlike heart, regards demons as lifelong enemies, and even occasionally clashes with them.
In his early years, he was a ruthless judge who was famous throughout the twenty-six provinces of Northeast China and Guangxi. He hated corrupt officials the most because of the corruption of the government and the power of treacherous ministers.
Therefore, he later withdrew from the martial arts world and lived in seclusion in the mountains.
At this moment, upon seeing this bearded man who bore a striking resemblance to the famous Hong Kong actor Wu Ma, Xiao Ning knew that this was a world whose main plot followed the movie version.
"Huh? You know me?"
Yan Chixia's eyes widened suddenly, his gaze towards Xiao Ning filled with disbelief.
"Judge Yan is a man who hates evil as if it were his enemy, like a clear sky in the world. His name is famous throughout the land. I have heard of him for a long time and admire him greatly. It is truly an honor to meet you today!"
Xiao Ning cupped his hands in a respectful bow, offering a half-hearted but respectful greeting.
In this world, demons and monsters roam freely. Before one's cultivation is restored, one's life is not guaranteed, so finding a powerful ally is crucial.
Is there anyone in the world easier or more powerful to cling to than Yan Chixia?
there is none left.
Of course, saying "clinging to someone's coattails" is a bit of an exaggeration; it's more like making friends, since having more friends means having more options.
"Haha, just a little bit of empty fame, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning at all!"
Yan Chixia stroked his beard, his face showing considerable excitement, but he waved his hands repeatedly.
Then, he changed the subject and said, "Kid, I like you, so here's a piece of advice: there's a ghost in this dilapidated temple. You'd better leave quickly, or I won't be able to protect you when the female ghost comes!"
"A female ghost?"
Xiao Ning feigned surprise, as if he had been startled.
"Brother Yan, the Master said, 'I do not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits.' Where do ghosts and monsters come from in this world? You mustn't speak nonsense!"
His voice trembled; he was clearly terrified, yet he still tried his best to defend himself, perfectly portraying the role of a weak scholar.
"Kid, I'm telling you this, it's up to you whether you listen or not!"
Yan Chixia said no more. If others didn't believe him, he had no reason to force them to. He just secretly resolved to be careful at night, lest the female ghost kill the boy.
"I appreciate Brother Yan's kindness. I will stay in this dilapidated temple for the night and leave first thing tomorrow morning. I will not disturb Brother Yan's peaceful cultivation!"
Xiao Ning seemed unmoved, gave a perfunctory reply, and then changed the subject away from ghosts and monsters.
The implication was simply that Yan Chixia didn't want anyone to disturb his cultivation, so he deliberately used the pretext of ghosts to drive them away.
"Staying for one night is fine, but leave as soon as it gets light!"
Yan Chixia understood the meaning behind his words, smiled wryly and didn't take it to heart. He nodded slightly in agreement, though he had his own plans in mind.
"Hey kid, are you hungry? Go get something to eat!"
After saying that, he took out two naan breads from his bundle and handed them over.