"Get up."
"I can't," Lin Yan said, glancing at Feng Qishi.
"You can't?"
Hearing Feng Qishi's cold repetition, Lin Yan's heart sank. "I can get up," he said, quickly standing.
Feng Qishi said, "Remember, Mu Anxiao is my friend. If you bully her, you're bullying me. Now, I order you to wash her feet."
"Eh?" Mu Anxiao was startled. Remembering her gender, she hastily refused, "No need, no need."
"Sure, of course, as long as you don't hit me, I'll do anything," Lin Yan said with a cheeky grin.
"No need," Mu Anxiao said again.
"Why not? He bullied you, shouldn't you bully him back?" Feng Qishi asked foolishly.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Lin Yan, who had been beaten into a pulp. Considering her gender, she said, "I don't need to, so I don't. Why are you asking so much?"
"Are you still afraid of him?"
Hearing Feng Qishi's question, and looking at the foolish expression on his face, Mu Anxiao deliberately deepened her voice, "I don't need to, so I don't. Just have him return my silver."
"This is an opportunity."
"Opportunity my foot, hurry up," Mu Anxiao said, acting deliberately arrogant.
Feng Qishi sighed and said coldly, "How much silver did you take from her? Return all of it, or else, you know what will happen."
"It's all spent."
"How did you spend it?" Feng Qishi asked.
Lin Yan said, "I... went to the gambling house."
"You..."
Feng Qishi had always detested people who squandered money in gambling houses. He never expected to find one right before his eyes. Clenching his fists, he said, "You lost it all?"
"Yes."
"Then, this dilapidated temple isn't yours anymore."
Lin Yan glanced at the dilapidated temple, "It is mine."
"Still yours?"
"Yes."
"Give it to me," Feng Qishi suddenly said.
Lin Yan's face stiffened. "This is the only place my father left me. If you take it, what will I do?"
"What you do is none of my business."
"But..."
"But what? I'm buying it with money. The money I give you, you can go to any gambling house you want. Anyway, from what I know about gambling houses, your end will either be crippled or you'll be thrown into the mountains to feed the wolves."
Lin Yan had heard these words before, but he had never believed them. Now that Feng Qishi said them so plainly, he was startled.
"How do you know?" he asked, half-skeptical.
"To be frank, I used to be the kind of... hunter who would throw people like you into the mountains to feed the wolves."
"Why a hunter?"
"Seeking excitement. I've actually seen wolves devouring humans. The scene was simply... breathtaking. The screams of the person echoed throughout the entire mountain. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Thinking about it now, I still feel... exhilarated."
Hearing Feng Qishi's ruthless explanation, Lin Yan began to tremble with fear.
"Are you telling the truth? Then why are you okay?"
"I stand on high ground."
"You..."
"Stop talking. I don't want to say more. Hurry up. I'll give you money, and you hand over the dilapidated temple."
"I don't want to do this deal with you."
"You have no choice."
"Why are you like this?" Lin Yan pouted aggrievedly.
Mu Anxiao had never seen Lin Yan cower before anyone since she arrived. Now, seeing his aggrieved expression, she felt a sense of satisfaction.
The next second, Feng Qishi shifted his gaze to Mu Anxiao's face. "What do you want?"
Mu Anxiao knew the condition of this dilapidated temple better than anyone. If Feng Qishi bought it, it would be an added麻烦. But if he didn't, she wouldn't feel vindicated.
At this moment, she truly didn't know what to do.
"Hurry up," Feng Qishi urged.
Mu Anxiao glanced at Lin Yan, who was deeply fearful, and said, "I don't want the dilapidated temple."
"Then you want money."
"Yes," Mu Anxiao nodded.
Feng Qishi responded with a "Good" and looked at Lin Yan again. "Mu Anxiao doesn't want the dilapidated temple, she wants money."
"Where would I get the money?"
"The gambling house. If you go, you might even win a few hundred taels of silver back," Feng Qishi said, patting Lin Yan's shoulder.
Lin Yan had never had much interest in gambling houses. Every time he went, he was filled with trepidation. Now, being urged by Feng Qishi, he developed an aversion to the place.
"I'm not going."
"Don't you like that place?"
"I don't want to die. Going there is courting death. Besides, after going a few times, I found that those noble young masters wouldn't even look at me."
That's right, Lin Yan went to that place simply to re-establish friendships with young masters. But after going so many times, they didn't even recognize him, which made him resentful. Every time, he would vent his anger on these beggars and Mu Anxiao.
"With your gambler's demeanor, you expect them to pay attention to you? Dream on," Feng Qishi said, scanning Lin Yan.
Lin Yan pouted and lowered his head.
Mu Anxiao yawned, walked up to Feng Qishi, and said, "I don't want you to wash my feet anymore. How about washing his feet now?" She pointed at Feng Qishi.
Lin Yan readily agreed, "Good."
Feng Qishi looked awkward. "I don't like others washing my feet."
"I don't like it either," Mu Anxiao said, turning to the other beggars. "Alright, everyone rest."
"Wait, who will we listen to from now on?" the first beggar asked.
Feng Qishi glanced at Lin Yan and said, "The old rules."
Upon hearing this, the first beggar looked disappointed.
Mu Anxiao, like the first beggar, thought Feng Qishi would take over the place. So, the moment she heard Feng Qishi say this, she wanted to ask for clarification.
"Why aren't you being the boss?" Mu Anxiao asked.
Feng Qishi said, "Since you're asking, then... you be the boss." He pointed at Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao was startled. "I can't."
"I think this is good," the first beggar said excitedly.
Then, the other beggars also agreed with Feng Qishi's decision.
Lin Yan, to avoid further beatings, also agreed.
Thus, from that night onwards, Mu Anxiao became the leader of the beggars. Lin Yan, having to repay his debts, also became a beggar.
Although the dilapidated temple was not bought by Feng Qishi, it had nominally become his.
To make the dilapidated temple feel more significant, Feng Qishi hired a famous painter in the city to paint a large portrait of himself, which he hung in the temple.
He also set a rule that any beggar who returned must pay homage to his portrait, including Mu Anxiao.
Two days later, they returned to the dilapidated temple. Feng Qishi looked at his handsome portrait with great satisfaction and said coldly, "Mu Anxiao, why are you standing there blankly? Pay homage."