Lin Tiannan hadn't expected the other party to have accomplices. After his vision returned, he had nowhere to vent his anger.
Upon seeing this, the crowd below the stage immediately scattered like birds and beasts.
Lin Yi, along with Zhao Ling'er who had transformed back into a girl, followed the flow of people and soon arrived near the Xuanmiao Temple.
This is the liveliest place in Suzhou, firstly because of the abundance of temples, including the Sanqing Hall, Dongyue Temple, Xingxiu Hall, Amitabha Pavilion, Guandi Temple, and so on. Where there are temples, there are bound to be many people.
Secondly, there are many snack stalls nearby, with the aroma of various snacks filling the air. Stalls selling red bean porridge, tofu pudding, fermented rice cakes, and more are lined up everywhere.
Thirdly, there are many variety shows. In front of each temple, there is a small market where itinerant performers make a living by performing magic tricks, selling pear syrup and plasters, and performing monkey swallowing and sword swallowing. It's a dazzling array of entertainment that you can enjoy all day without getting bored.
The two went to a teahouse and sat for a while. They overheard some people at the next table talking: "I heard that last month, a snake demon was robbing a village in the west. It not only stole a lot of valuables, but also kidnapped Old Zhang's granddaughter."
Another person said, "His granddaughter is only sixteen years old, and poor old Zhang is seventy. The two of them have always depended on each other. Now old Zhang's life is going to be very difficult..."
The group continued their discussion and eventually mentioned Lin Tiannan. One of them said, "The neighbors all rushed to Lin Family Fortress and begged Lord Lin to come forward. Lord Lin was a righteous man, so he did not hesitate to lead a dozen strong men to exorcise the demon and save the people. As a result, they did not see the demon, but lost seven or eight lives."
Another person lamented, "How can human strength defeat demons? I think even Lord Lin is doomed."
At this moment, another person said, "However, it's better not to save him!"
"Oh? Why?"
"I've heard that snake demon is lewd by nature. If... the girl falls into its hands, even if she's rescued, she'll never be able to be a human again!"
Some of the people shook their heads and sighed, while others nodded in agreement.
Lin Yi listened quietly. In this world, monsters eat people, and so do social norms. Such is the way of the world, and people's lives are full of hardship.
Back when we were on Earth, some people always said things like rampant materialism, moral decay, and that people laughed at poverty but not prostitution. But in the end, whether it's poverty or prostitution, it's all about the lowest rungs of society, the most powerless people.
Does the saying "laugh at prostitution but not at poverty" mean that material wealth and high moral character are signs of a person's virtue?
Lin Yi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and many thoughts flashed through his mind. He was not a savior, and there was no savior in the world. Gods, Buddhas, and emperors could not be relied upon.
All talk of saving all sentient beings and having compassion is a complete lie.
Humans stand tall and upright, and can only rely on themselves.
"Sir, sir..."
Hearing shouts, Lin Yi came to his senses. A waiter stood beside him, smiling broadly, and said, "Our shop is closing soon. Please find somewhere else to stay."
Lin Yi glanced at the sky; night had fallen, and lights were illuminating both sides of the street.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought and forgot the time," Lin Yi apologized, then left the teahouse with Zhao Ling'er. They hadn't gone far when they suddenly heard a "cooing" sound.
"Are you hungry?" Lin Yi asked, turning his head.
Zhao Ling'er nodded. She was indeed hungry after a long day.
"Here you go." Lin Yi handed a jade bottle to Zhao Ling'er and said, "This is the Bigu Pill. It works after just one pill. Try it quickly."
Zhao Ling'er opened the jade bottle, and a delicate fragrance wafted out. She poured out a pill; in the dim light, only its general shape could be seen—round, and it slid gently in her palm.
"Sister, can I have one?" A dirty little boy ran out from the shadows, his eyes fixed on the fasting pill in Zhao Ling'er's hand.
Zhao Ling'er turned her gaze to Lin Yi beside her, her eyes filled with hope.
Lin Yi nodded.
Zhao Ling'er smiled sweetly, her beauty like a hundred flowers in full bloom, breathtakingly beautiful. She held out her hand and said softly to the child, "Here you go, eat up."
The child picked up the fasting pill with his dark, dirty hands and said, "Thank you, sister, thank you, brother, you are all good people."
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Chapter 152 Black-hearted Goods
After taking the fasting pill, the little beggar's face suddenly changed, and he bent over to vomit. He gagged a few times, but nothing came out.
After a while, the little beggar finally spat out a worm, which fell to the ground and was still wriggling.
Zhao Ling'er stepped forward, cast a small spell to freeze the insect, then picked it up and examined it closely in the light, whispering, "It really is a demon-eating insect."
The little beggar stared in disbelief, then excitedly asked, "Sister, are you a fairy?"
Zhao Ling'er shook her head and asked, "What's your name? Have you been unable to get enough to eat these past few days?"
The little beggar said with a grin, "My name is Little Bean. Fairy sister, how do you know about me?"
Zhao Ling'er affectionately patted Xiao Douzi's head and said with a smile, "Because your sister is a fairy."
After sending Xiaodouzi away, Zhao Ling'er looked at the demon-eating insect in her hand, sighed softly, and said, "When I was on the island, my grandmother once told me that everything in the world has its counterpart, and that wherever demon-eating insects appear, there must be a powerful demon! I never imagined that a demon would appear in Suzhou City..."
As she spoke, she thought of her current appearance, and her voice lowered.
Although Zhao Ling'er already knows that she inherited the bloodline of the Holy Goddess Nuwa, she has not yet overcome her psychological barrier.
The night was cool and still. Occasionally, a horse-drawn carriage would pass by on the wide stone ground, the sound of hooves and bells echoing faintly in the night. The distant, indistinct sounds of flutes and drums added to the tranquility, and an atmosphere of peace and harmony filled the entire city.
In wartime, there would be a curfew in the city. Now, the city gates are closed at night, but there are no restrictions on pedestrians in the city. As a result, many vendors still set up stalls on the streets, many shops are still open, and there are still quite a few people coming and going on the streets.
Lin Yi and Zhao Ling'er walked quietly through Suzhou City. The interplay of light and shadow caused their shadows to change length and shape.
After walking for a while, Zhao Ling'er opened her mouth, about to speak, when she heard Lin Yi say, "Wait here for a while, I'll be right back."
Before he finished speaking, he had already vanished.