Chapter 397 - A White-haired Beggar (2/2)

After parting with Li Zimeng, he drove to the river to chill out.

The night had veiled the sky, muting the gay colors of daylight in its darkness, but the twinkling stars and a full moon made fair compensation, illuminating the cityscape with its subdued light and adding charm to the scene by the river-side.

Xiao Luo took in the sights and the fresh air as he ambled along the river walk. The reflection of lit-up buildings on the river’s rippling surface gave the impression that there was another world beneath.

Then, Xiao Luo caught a waft of a terrible putrid scent, resembling decomposing garbage, emanating from close by.

Xiao Luo grimaced at the stench, and when he turned around, he saw an old man approaching him. He was wearing a pair of slippers and dressed in rags, with his shoulders and calves unclothed. He had a full head of disheveled white hair; even his brows and long beard were all white. But his eyes looked alert—very bright and piercing.

The stench evidently emanated from this man, as he looked terribly filthy. Xiao Luo glanced at his feet, and they looked as if he had danced barefooted on a bed of charcoal. They appeared so dirty that were he to put them in a pot of clear water to wash, it would undoubtedly turn brackish.

The old man walked toward Xiao Luo nonchalantly, then gave him a smile and said, “Little brother, may I sit next to you?”

“Err… no!”

Xiao Luo reacted without any hesitation as the stench was simply overbearing, and he could hardly breathe.

But the old man ignored Xiao Luo and proceeded to sit down beside him, and even flatulated loudly as he was about to sit.

Xiao Luo was annoyed and really felt like telling him off, thinking to himself this old man deserved a good walloping.

As the old man settled on the bench, he sighed in relief, as if he had just passed motion after suffering from severe constipation. His body even quivered a little, giving the impression that he had derived great pleasure and satisfaction from that fart!

He reached out to Xiao Luo with his hand and said, “Hmm, nice to meet you, little brother. My name is Hong Ji, people just call me Brother Hong!”

“Oh, please…!”

Xiao Luo was getting agitated. It was already bad enough that a beggar he never met before suddenly approached him out of the blue and even broke wind most disgustingly; he was even now introducing himself as if that was the norm. Xiao Luo had a good mind to knock some sense into him.

“You, young people, shouldn’t be so hot-tempered, I’m just making friends with you…”

“Old man, before I really get annoyed, just take the money and get out of here, as far as possible!” Xiao Luo took out a hundred dollar note and handed it to him angrily.

The white-haired beggar was stunned for a moment, then smiled, and responded, “Look at you, you’re so young but have not learned anything good; all you do is insult a man with money. Hah, even though I am a beggar, I have my professional code of conduct too, and I don’t take handouts,” he said. His words sounded righteous, but it didn’t stop him from taking the money. He then held it up against light from the lamp post and checked it for authenticity. With a stern look on his face, he returned the money to Xiao Luo and said, “Give me another note, little brother, this doesn’t feel right, and I suspect that it is forged.”

Xiao Luo was so infuriated that he actually started laughing out of sheer frustration. “I think you’re asking for it!”

As Xiao Luo spoke, he reached out to grab the old man by his collar, intending to teach him a lesson.

Unexpectedly, the white-haired beggar was quick to react, leaning back before Xiao Luo’s hand could reach and easily evading his attempted grab. Effortlessly, he moved in a balanced and controlled manner and kept out of Xiao Luo’s range.

Hmm, so, he’s a martial artist, it seems…

Xiao Luo focused his eyes on the man, convinced that this man had come looking for trouble, and decided he would not hold back. Xiao Luo instantly pushed his right hand to the ground, and his body swirled into action, bringing his left leg swing across at the old man’s chest with fearsome power.

…