Chapter 145: Old Man Li's Past

Deep in the night, the room remained brightly lit.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes tightly closed, his breathing steady and long. A faint, golden glow shimmered subtly across his skin. After an indeterminate amount of time, Qin Feng suddenly opened his eyes, two sharp gleams of light flashing within them.

"Hoo!"

He exhaled a long, turbid breath, his face filled with excitement. "The Nine-Turn Golden Body Technique is truly formidable. After only a few hours of cultivation, I can already feel a significant increase in both my strength and defensive capabilities."

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body and brimming with newfound confidence. A night of cultivation left him feeling refreshed, as if he possessed an inexhaustible well of energy. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he savored the flow of strength.

"This Nine-Turn Golden Body Technique really has some substance to it."

His stomach let out a low rumble, reminding him that it was time to eat. Qin Feng decided to wander over to the nearby Old Street, where he had heard the local hole-in-the-wall eateries served exceptional food.

The Old Street was bustling with people, the constant calls of vendors filling the air with the vibrant, gritty atmosphere of daily life. Just as Qin Feng was searching for the most enticing aroma, he suddenly heard a commotion.

"You brat, hand over the money! Don't make us get rough!"

"That's right! Don't you know who runs this street? Be smart and get lost!"

A few punks with dyed, multi-colored hair were surrounding a frail young girl, spouting foul language. The girl couldn't have been more than ten years old, her hair tied in two braids, her delicate face filled with terror as she clutched a few crumpled banknotes tightly in her hand.

Qin Feng despised bullying, and to his surprise, the girl was none other than the granddaughter of the old man who had given him the iron shard yesterday. The money in her hand was the very same he had given them.

He strode over and shouted coldly, "In broad daylight, what do you think you're doing?!"

The thugs, seeing someone meddling, were immediately displeased. One of them, a youth with yellow hair, looked Qin Feng up and down and curled his lip in disdain.

"Where did this meddler come from? If you don't want trouble, get lost and don't get in our way!"

The other thugs closed in, posturing for a fight. Qin Feng watched them coldly, a flicker of contempt in his eyes. Did these small-time thugs really think they could challenge him?

"I won't say it a third time. Get lost!"

Qin Feng’s tone was icy, carrying an unquestionable weight of authority. The punks were startled by his presence for a moment, but quickly regained their bravado and charged at him.

"You're asking for it!"

A cold light flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes, and his figure moved like a ghost.

"Ah!"

"Ouch!"

With a few cries of pain, the thugs were knocked to the ground by Qin Feng before they even realized what had happened. Qin Feng exercised restraint; he only incapacitated them without using excessive force. After all, they were just petty thugs, and teaching them a lesson was enough; it wasn't worth his time to truly deal with them.

Li Xiaoxiao watched the scene, dumbfounded, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Wow! Big Brother, you're amazing!" she exclaimed, running over to Qin Feng.

Qin Feng smiled, ruffled Li Xiaoxiao's hair, and asked, "What are you doing here? Where is your grandfather?"

Li Xiaoxiao remembered her purpose and quickly said, "I came to buy him some supplements." She opened her hand, revealing the crumpled banknotes.

"You’re using this money just to buy supplements for your grandfather?" Qin Feng asked.

Li Xiaoxiao nodded. "Grandpa said this money was from you, Big Brother, and told me to spend it carefully. But Grandpa is sick, and I want to buy him the best medicine!"

Looking at her earnest expression, Qin Feng felt a wave of emotion. What a filial child.

"Come on, take me to see your grandfather."

Qin Feng picked up the supplements from the ground and followed Li Xiaoxiao. The little girl skipped ahead like a happy fawn, the fear and worry from moments ago completely forgotten.

Upon arriving at the hospital, the smell of disinfectant filled the air, and the hallways were crowded with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. Li Xiaoxiao led Qin Feng to a ward and gently pushed the door open. Inside, an elderly man with white hair lay on the bed, his complexion sallow and his frame frail.

"Grandpa, look who’s here!" Li Xiaoxiao said, her voice bright.

The old man slowly opened his eyes, and seeing Qin Feng, a look of joyful surprise crossed his face. "Young man, it’s you! Please, sit, sit."

Qin Feng nodded with a smile and placed the supplements on the bedside table. "How are you feeling, sir?"

"Oh, it's just an old ailment; it's nothing," the old man waved his hand, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Young man, I really owe you this time."

"Silly child, how could this be your fault?" The old man affectionately patted Li Xiaoxiao’s head and turned to Qin Feng. "Young man, you really are a kind soul. Xiaoxiao, she..."

The old man wanted to say more, but Qin Feng interrupted, "Sir, please don't be so formal. It was just a small favor." He didn't want the old man to know about the iron shard, lest he feel burdened by it.

"Grandpa, Big Brother even taught those bad guys a lesson for me!" Li Xiaoxiao interjected, her voice full of awe.

"Oh? Is that so?" The old man’s cloudy eyes flashed with a hint of sharpness as he looked Qin Feng up and down, secretly surprised. The young man looked refined and scholarly; he hadn't expected him to be so capable.

"Don't worry about those punks," Qin Feng said indifferently, as if he had done something entirely trivial.

"Young man, you are far too modest," the old man praised. "There aren't many young people like you left these days!"

Qin Feng smiled but remained silent. He looked at the grandfather and granddaughter who depended on each other for survival, his heart filled with mixed emotions. That iron shard might have been a stroke of unexpected luck for him, but for this pair, it could be a chance to change their destiny. He had originally intended to just give them some money and leave, but now, he had changed his mind.

"Yes, when I was younger, I traveled all over the country and saw many remarkable things, but unfortunately, later on..." The old man sighed, leaving the rest unsaid.

"Sir, if I offered you a job at my jade shop, would you be interested? It would only be light work, like helping customers appraise stones. I would provide room and board, and I would also arrange for Xiaoxiao to attend the best school."