Chapter 108: The Restless Spirit Lingers

Two days later, Jiang Chen was still busy setting up his breakfast stall.

Egg tarts, fish balls, and snail rice noodles—these three exquisite delicacies had already become renowned throughout Jinyang City.

That very morning, just as Jiang Chen was about to hang up his signboard, he noticed a filthy old man lying on the stone steps outside his shop.

Jiang Chen bent down to check on him and asked, “Sir, why are you sleeping here? The ground is cold; don’t catch a chill.”

The old man muttered indistinctly in response, his words barely audible. Then he turned over and fell asleep again.

Wu Yue walked over and said, “I think this gentleman is homeless. Let’s bring him inside; he’ll catch a cold out here.”

“Good idea. I was thinking the same.”

Jiang Chen helped the old man up, and together with Wu Yue, they brought the shabby vagrant inside.

There was a charcoal fire burning in the room, and Wu Yue fetched a basin of hot water to gently wipe the old man’s face. Unexpectedly, the old man suddenly opened his eyes.

His appearance was rather peculiar, and Wu Yue was momentarily startled, but with Jiang Chen present, she didn't feel afraid.

“Sir, we saw you shivering outside, hungry and cold, so we brought you in to warm up. Don’t be afraid; we mean no harm.”

The old man’s confused eyes gradually brightened. Deep-set and sunken, they gleamed with a clarity and sharpness that was striking.

Jiang Chen felt a shock in his heart. There were details about this man that didn’t add up. For a homeless beggar, his eyes shone with an unusual light.

Wouldn’t someone in his position have lost hope for life, their gaze filled with despair and confusion?

Yet this old man, aside from being disheveled, didn’t exude an aura of desolation or fading twilight. With these thoughts swirling, Jiang Chen grew increasingly convinced that this was no ordinary man.

At the very least, the old man’s past, his life experiences, must have been extraordinary.

“I... I’m hungry,” the old man said simply.

Jiang Chen nearly lost his temper. They had been worried about whether the old man’s body was harmed by the cold—after all, it was the dead of winter, and he had lain on the ground all night. Even a strong young man might not have lasted.

Wu Yue immediately responded, “I’ll get you a bowl of snail rice noodles. A sip of hot soup will warm you up.”

“Wh-what noodles?” the old man asked.

Jiang Chen explained, “It’s a type of noodle dish. Although it smells a bit sour and pungent, I promise you’ll love it once you taste it.”

With that, the old man began eating the snail rice noodles under their care. At first, he seemed a little reluctant when Wu Yue brought it over, but after two or three bites, he devoured it ravenously.

Afterward, the two left the old man inside the room and went back to busy themselves with the stall.

That day, the stall was packed with people streaming in nonstop. It had become quite the hotspot—some who couldn’t get a place in line still came forward just to see what the fuss was about.

“Limited daily supply, first come, first served.”

This was the slogan Jiang Chen had written for the stall, and it proved highly effective. People were practically obsessed with tasting these three delicacies.

Nowhere else in the capital could one find such treats.

In fact, Jiang Chen could boldly claim that throughout the entire Great Qian realm—and perhaps the entire world—these three flavors could not be found anywhere else.

Watching the dwindling number of egg tarts in the steamer, Jiang Chen thought about how sales today were even faster than before. At this rate, all the prepared food would soon be sold out.

That would free him up earlier to attend to other matters.

Just then, from the bustling crowd, Jiang Chen suddenly caught sight of an exceptionally sharp gaze.

This piercing look cut through several people and fixed itself directly on Jiang Chen’s face. Clearly, the person was no friend.

“Yue’er, you and Miss Duanmu finish up here. I need to go out for a bit.”

Jiang Chen instructed briskly and hurried out.

Duanmu Qing leaned in and said, “Something feels off.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“I can’t say for sure, but I think it’s best to inform Yu Yang.”

Duanmu Qing’s keen intuition sensed something unusual behind Jiang Chen’s hurried departure. She was on alert, promptly turning back into the courtyard to call Han Yuyang out.

“Just now, I sensed a murderous aura in the crowd, then Jiang Chen left in a rush. I think we should follow him and see if he’s in danger. If he is, we can help.”

Han Yuyang nodded and quickly climbed over the wall to follow from the backyard.

Coincidentally, the old man who had come out of the room witnessed this. He paused for a moment but said nothing, only awkwardly asking Duanmu Qing for a few more egg tarts.

“This is truly a fine delicacy. At my age, this is the first time I’ve tasted something so delicious.”

Though Duanmu Qing wasn’t accustomed to strangers in the courtyard, seeing that he was just a homeless old beggar, she was more than willing to lend a helping hand.

Jiang Chen’s pace quickened as he weaved through the crowded streets. Behind him, several stealthy figures trailed from the stall all the way here, clearly unwilling to let the matter rest.

If he wasn’t mistaken, the person who had set off his alarm was none other than Zhao Sili—the relentless pursuer from Longjiang.

That dogged rogue had tracked him all the way from Longjiang to the capital, truly a tenacious adversary.

Jiang Chen knew there was a relatively deserted area north of the city, seldom frequented by people, and deliberately headed in that direction.

He wanted to lure his pursuers away, unwilling to cause a scene in front of the stall or bring harm to Wu Yue.

Opening a stall in Jinyang City served two purposes: it masked their true identities and established a foothold in this expensive capital. With a steady income, they would have nothing to worry about.

If Zhao Sili’s treachery disrupted the business, Jiang Chen was certain he would tear that scoundrel to pieces in fury.

Turning a corner, Jiang Chen stopped in an abandoned lot filled with dilapidated houses.

Behind him, the sound of a dozen footsteps approached rapidly. Leading the group was the relentless Zhao Sili, who had pursued Jiang Chen relentlessly since Shanguan Town.

“I say, Lord Zhao, you really are like a shadow that never leaves. I’ve told you, I’m just an innocent commoner. Why do you keep picking on me?”

Zhao Sili sneered, “Don’t pretend anymore. This time, you won’t escape.”