CG Chapter 176: Eccentric Old Beggar
Aretius' gaze shifted from the seated man on his left to the old beggar who was approaching him as if they were long-lost friends. He didn't let his guard down, even in front of a defenseless living fossil. After all, if you stripped this painted skin of his, wouldn't he, too, appear like but a mere skin-bag of bones on the outside?
"Come! Come! Why don't you let this old man tell you about his divinations? Let me tell you, if I claim to be first at divinations, even the Fate-peddler and Sky-staring fools from the Star Gazing Sect wouldn't dare to be first!" The old beggar shouted, not appearing to know the limits of the sky or the depth of the earth.
He looked like he'd have insulted the Three Supremes themselves if someone hadn't shut him up right then.
Hearing these sudden words, the man who had been enjoying his buns a moment ago started coughing violently. He tried to catch his breath.
The beggar could have been said to be audacious when he tried to sell him his techniques, claiming they could help one reach the peak of the Jianghu in a single step. Nevertheless, this could have been attributed to his being a senile, decrepit elder. But now, he even dared to insult one of the most influential sects in the world.
The guest, fearing what the beggar might say next, hastily left a few copper coins to pay for his meal before running away while he still could.
Glancing at his back, the old beggar mumbled under his breath, "Tsk-Tsk! Young people nowadays truly don't know how to appreciate the favors bestowed upon them."
That didn't last for long, however, as he shifted his focus back to the fresh meat in front of him.
"What do you say, younger brother? Do you dare listen to what I have to say?" When he said the final word, Aretius sensed the aura of the old ghost shifting for less than a breath before returning to his nonchalant demeanor.
Still, Aretius' appearance didn't change through all of that. He was now more interested in this old ghost. Though the beggar's movements might have appeared to be those of an old drunk, Aretius sensed some kind of natural harmony to them. Furthermore, it must be said that he, too, was familiar with divination techniques.
Looking back at it the first time he had witnessed such a miraculous divination technique dates back to his first reincarnation, after he had received the inheritance of the 'Lord of Reincarnation'; and in a mortal world out of all places.
His father, at the time, was able to divine the fall of the entire village. Shaking off the thought, Aretius wore a warm, familiar smile as he looked at this old beggar.
Aretius sat at one of the many empty tables, gesturing for the old beggar to sit in front of him.
On the other side, the old beggar's facial expression changed as if his effort had finally paid off and someone had understood his true value after a long, harsh winter.
Once the old beggar made himself comfortable, and before he could utter another word, Aretius questioned him.
"You must know that most who claim to have glimpsed the heavenly secrets fall into two groups. The first were nothing more than swindlers who lived by selling rumors as divine mysteries. The second group consisted of those who had sworn their loyalty to the Heavenly Dao, becoming nothing more than straw dogs to a stronger will. Most fall into the first batch. As for the second, I don't think they are much better. So, which one are you?"
Since the old beggar was acting so daringly in front of him, Aretius didn't mind playing along. He wanted to see whose gall was bigger.
Of course, this wasn't a true test of bravery, as Aretius wouldn't let himself be swayed by any such games. Instead, he wanted this old beggar to show off what he was truly capable of.
If he had the capability, then Aretius wouldn't mind adding him to his board. If not, he wouldn't lose much by playing such games. After all, he had played this game far too many times.
Naturally, there was still the risk of angering a beast that was too big for him. To most, angering such old monsters would sound like the end of the world, but to Aretius, it was but a greater step he needed to cross. If things truly fell apart, he still had a couple of cards up his sleeve to make his escape and remove a layer or two of flesh from his enemies before changing his appearance once more.
But none of that mattered at this time, although the old ghost in front of him didn't appear to be ordinary. Aretius sensed something, but it was too early to be certain.
The old beggar's expression fell for a moment after hearing the words of Aretius. His back straightened, becoming as straight as that of a dragon's spine. His eyes became clear from their muddy state. They were full of murderous intent, as if once upon a time he had been a killing asura, slaughtering thousands with the flip of his palm.
To this, Aretius didn't even look affected. He smiled before asking, "What? If you wreck this place, how am I supposed to pay for your wine? Or are you not interested in that any longer?"
A moment of silence passed, and in the next, the echoes of loud laughter shook the whole inn.
Meanwhile, the inn's staff remained hidden in the back kitchen, not wanting to hear any of what was going on. When this old beggar first arrived, the staff had wanted to drive him off. However, after being smacked a couple of times, they didn't dare to say anything. After all, they knew that in the Jianghu, old eccentric monsters might appear like beggars yet be more powerful than a hundred-soldier platoon. Not to mention, the old beggar didn't seem to disturb the business much, since he only started talking after people had already ordered.
"Good! Good! Good! A Newborn calf is not afraid of tigers. This one wouldn't dare refuse a free meal that was delivered to his door. Come, and let's eat," he said the first half in a happy tone before adding in a serious tone.
"Since you dare to listen, I will talk."