Chapter 2

Lin Zheng quickly walked out, taking a fire starter with him. With Lin Zheng's current strength, he was completely incapable of destroying an object, so he could only rely on external tools for now.

Lin Zheng lowered his head, one hand holding the tattered clothes wrapped around the undergarments, and the other hand reaching for the door. Unexpectedly, he pulled at empty air. He had clearly closed the door, Lin Zheng muttered to himself, then raised his head and extended his hand again. Instantly, a warm current surged into his palm, and he felt a softness. Lin Zheng then saw a beautiful young woman standing at the door, her face flushed as if she had lost her composure from the sudden touch. Lin Zheng was also stunned by the unexpected event, subconsciously grabbing the hand that was still on the young woman's chest. Before he could retract his hand, a shrill scream echoed in his ear, and a small, white hand immediately struck his chest, sending him flying backward into the air. In mid-air, Lin Zheng's expression was conflicted, one hand still maintaining the gesture of grabbing something, while the other hand stretched out, trying to catch the bundle that had slipped from his arms due to inertia.

With a thud, Lin Zheng fell to the ground, feeling the pain spread through his body. His mind quickly recovered, and he saw the young woman still standing at the door. Without a word, he got up from the ground to hide the scattered undergarments. However, at that moment, a whistling sound was heard, followed by a delicate exclamation. The young woman was pushed into Lin Zheng's not-so-spacious room by a group of people, and the room instantly became darker.

Seven or eight people, both men and women, crowded into Lin Zheng's small room. The whistling sound outside continued, as if more people were rushing over. People outside kept trying to squeeze into the room, shouting:

"Did you catch the undergarment thief? Don't let him escape."

"Ouch, don't push, be careful with my waist."

"Isn't this the room of the spiritless one? Could he be the undergarment thief?"

The crowd was noisy, and more people kept surging into the room. Lin Zheng was forced into a corner, with no time to curse. He awkwardly picked up the undergarments from the ground and, with a sudden thought, said, "Everyone, if you're looking for the undergarment thief, I saw him. It was a very lecherous old man, as lecherous as they come. Fellow disciples, we must catch the thief. Look, this is the handprint left by the lecherous old man." Lin Zheng quickly raised the undergarments, showing the black handprint to everyone, and spread his hands to prove that he was framed.

Several dozen eyes focused on Lin Zheng. If looks could kill, he would have been pierced by a thousand arrows. The room was unusually quiet, with all the female disciples gritting their teeth and all the male disciples staring at Lin Zheng's hands. Lin Zheng didn't dare move, keeping his hands spread to display the undergarments.

"You, you, bastard..." A delicate voice echoed in the quiet room, and a woman quickly left the crowd. Lin Zheng followed the sound and saw it was the beautiful young woman he had accidentally molested. Even if she had the best temperament, she couldn't bear to have her intimate clothing displayed in front of so many people, even if it was stolen.

The few female disciples who had followed the beautiful young woman glared at Lin Zheng repeatedly, as if they wanted to tear a piece of flesh from him with their eyes. They then huffed and quickly chased after the woman who had fled.

Even if Lin Zheng were numb, he knew the undergarments probably belonged to the woman he had accidentally touched. However, if he remained silent, he would surely be torn apart by the angry crowd. He knew that displaying the stolen items in public would make the owner very embarrassed, but he had no choice. Not only did he not recognize the owner, but he also couldn't bear the blame for this major incident.

Thinking of this, Lin Zheng couldn't help but curse the old man. "You wait, old man, I won't let this go."

Seeing the main character leave and knowing the real culprit, the crowd gradually dispersed, but not before cursing and mocking Lin Zheng. Lin Zheng naturally ignored these noisy people, hoping this incident would pass. If so many people cursed him, he might wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. "Damn lecherous old man, you've offended a young woman twice in one day. I curse you to be impotent for life."

After the crowd dispersed, Lin Zheng sat on the ground, feeling the excitement of the day. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and noticed he was still holding the young woman's undergarments. He didn't know her name, and he might never have the chance to compensate her. Even if he could do something with his current abilities, he would be leaving the mountain after the sect's examination in a few days. Finding her again in the vast Yunhuang Continent would be like looking for a needle in the sea.

Should he keep the clothes? Just thinking about it, Lin Zheng slapped himself. What was he thinking? Not to mention the black handprint, which reminded him of the lecherous old man and the three years of suffering. Thinking of those three years, Lin Zheng felt a surge of anger.

He decided to dispose of the clothes. Lin Zheng wrapped the undergarments with the tattered clothes again, stood up, and walked out the door. The courtyard was already empty, but it was in a mess. Lin Zheng smiled bitterly and continued walking to the back mountain.

"Lin Zheng, Brother Lin, Young Master Lin." Three different voices called out, and Lin Zheng saw a fat man with a sly look on his face greeting him. Lin Zheng stopped, wondering what the fat man wanted. Was he here to avenge the young woman?

The fat man moved with steps that didn't match his size and quickly reached Lin Zheng. He panted for a moment, then patted his round belly and said, "Young Master Lin, let me introduce myself. My name is Pang Tong."

"Fat bucket?" Lin Zheng found the name amusing and looked at the fat man's body, which indeed matched the name. The fat man's father was quite creative, and Lin Zheng couldn't help but smile.

Seeing Lin Zheng's expression, the fat man knew what he was thinking and explained with a bitter smile. Lin Zheng found it interesting and asked, "What, Brother Pang, do you need something from me?"

The fat man rubbed his hands awkwardly and said, "Young Master Lin, I heard you accidentally obtained a piece of clothing from Senior Sister Li Ruoshui. I wonder if you can part with it?"

So the young woman was named Li Ruoshui. Lin Zheng remembered this, but he was surprised by the fat man's request. Was the fat man a loyal follower of Li Ruoshui? Influenced by the old man, Lin Zheng sometimes thought too much and gave the fat man a lecherous smile. The fat man, seeing Lin Zheng's lecherous expression, also squinted and laughed along, making the scene even more lecherous.

"If Young Master Lin can part with it, I am willing to give you ten medium-grade spirit stones. How about that?"

Lin Zheng was taken aback. He didn't expect the fat man to be so generous. Ten medium-grade spirit stones could help him break through? Before Lin Zheng could respond, the crowd around him became noisy, and a sea of heads appeared on the wall of his courtyard.

"Brother Lin, don't listen to the fat man. I'll give you twenty."

"I'll give you thirty."

"Everyone be quiet. I'll give you fifty."

The courtyard became chaotic, and Lin Zheng watched, muttering to himself. The disciples who had treated him like an enemy a moment ago were now treating him like an ancestor. This was probably the only time in three years. Unfortunately, the change in their attitude was solely due to a piece of intimate clothing.

Suddenly, Lin Zheng's eyelids twitched, and he shouted to the noisy crowd, "Everyone, please calm down. I will not do such a thing. Please disperse."

"Lin, are you planning to keep the clothes secretly? If you want to raise the price, just name it." Someone in the crowd shouted, and the crowd became even more agitated, with curses and bids flying. Even the fat man next to Lin Zheng quickly retreated several dozen feet from the storm's center.

Lin Zheng looked around calmly, opened the tattered clothes, and lit the corner of the undergarments with the fire starter. He watched as the clothes turned to ashes and said, "Although my cultivation is low, I am a man of integrity. I will not do such a thing." Then he turned and walked back into the room, ignoring the crowd's gazes.

The crowd instantly quieted down, with some mocking, some disdainful, and some admiring. The hundred people had a hundred different reactions. As time passed, the crowd slowly dispersed. Lin Zheng, back in his room, no longer heard any noise or felt any presence. He lay down on the bed, took a deep breath, and felt Li Ruoshui's presence. That was why he had burned the clothes. It wasn't that he had done it on purpose, but even without her presence, he would not have sold the clothes. This was a favor to Li Ruoshui, as he had offended her twice in one day.

Just as Lin Zheng was about to close his eyes and rest, he heard a clear, shy, and grateful voice: "Thank you."

Lin Zheng sat up abruptly, focusing his hearing. Recognizing the familiar voice, he smiled bitterly. He didn't expect Li Ruoshui to be a sixth-rank expert, and at her age of around fourteen or fifteen, reaching the sixth rank was rare in the large sect. It seemed that Li Ruoshui had held back significantly when she struck him. Thinking of this, Lin Zheng's respect for her grew. He had accidentally molested her, and she had only pushed him away. With her sixth-rank strength, a slight force could have seriously injured him. Moreover, he had embarrassed her in front of everyone, and she had only scolded him, not attacking. In the end, she had thanked him for something he should have done.

Thinking of this, Lin Zheng clenched his fist and vowed that no matter his future situation, if Li Ruoshui needed anything, he would do his best to fulfill her wishes, even if it meant going to the ends of the earth.

Human relationships are so mysterious. No one knows how a simple action or a gentle word can have a profound impact in the future. Was it a past life's connection or a present life's bond? Even the ancient sages couldn't explain it.

Lin Zheng deeply remembered the shy and kind girl, closed his eyes, and slowly regulated his breathing, falling into a deep sleep.