The Lone Walker

"It's okay..." The bearded man turned around and said to Xu Xian.

Then he looked at the robber who was knocked to the ground by him and said, "Humph, you evil man, I spared your life out of kindness, but you still have evil intentions. Well, people like you are useless. Do you think I will kill you???"

The bearded man raised the big knife in his hand and wanted to kill the robber on the ground. Xu Xian's face suddenly changed when he heard it, and he stopped him, "Hey? Stop, stop, don't do it again?"

The bearded man's expression changed when he heard this and asked, "Why, he is a relative of yours?"

"Ah? No..." Xu Xian shook his head.

"Well, what's it got to do with you?" the bearded man said disdainfully with his hands behind his back.

"But this incident was caused by me. It hasn't rained in Luoshui Town for three years. He just wanted to drink a mouthful of water and save his life. Why did he have to fight over such a small matter? What if he hurt someone?"

Xu Xian chattered non-stop as if he was possessed by Tang Monk. However, these words made the bearded man look at him with a new respect. If an ordinary person encountered such a thing, he would definitely be grateful to him...

The bearded man had been in the martial arts world for a long time and had never seen anyone as kind-hearted as Xu Xian, so he felt a liking for him. The two of them then agreed to travel together.

……

Then the two of them went to the inn to rest. The bearded man watched Xu Xian take out the hard-as-stone dry food from his backpack and handed him his water bag...

Seeing that the bearded man had a cold face but a kind heart, Xu Xian accepted his kindness. After a moment, he handed the water bag to him and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I just drank your last sip of water..."

"Just drink it. Okay, enough talk. It's time to settle the accounts?" The bearded man suddenly spoke up.

Xu Xian was a little overwhelmed when he heard this and asked, "Settle the account?"

"Humph, saving your life is nine taels and five cents... and that sip of water just now is worth five cents of silver? Don't count it, it's exactly ten taels of silver?"

The bearded man became interested when he mentioned the silver and said with a smile.

Xu Xian was confused for a moment when he heard this, and was about to speak when he was interrupted by the bearded man.

"Okay, I understand. We are destined to meet today, and we are in this remote place. So... let's add 20% to 50%, 8 taels. Brother, I'll give you 8 taels of silver. How about that? I'm being generous..."

The bearded man interrupted Xu Xian and continued.

Xu Xian also understood at this time, but he was penniless and his face turned pale. After all, this bearded man was a chivalrous knight. If he angered him, his life would be in danger...

The bearded man also noticed that Xu Xian looked a little unnatural, and asked in confusion, "Why, you went out without any money, did you?"

"Haha, I'm sorry, I did have some, but unfortunately on the way here I met an old man who was sick and a girl who was about to give birth, and they..." Xu Xian said a little embarrassedly.

The bearded man flew into a rage upon hearing this, and grabbed Xu Xian by the collar, saying:

"What, you mean you gave all the money to those insignificant people?? You...what can I say about you?"

"Well, but, brother, believe me, I am not the kind of person who owes money to others and does not pay it back. You saved my life, and I am not the kind of person who is ungrateful. So, after I report to Baozhi Hall in Qiantang County and get the first month's salary, I will immediately return the eight taels of silver to you. What do you think?"

Xu Xian was getting a little anxious looking at the bearded man at this time, his heart tightened and he said with some fear.

"Are you serious? Well, we have an agreement beforehand, I have to include the interest?" The bearded man was not the kind of person who would make unreasonable demands, and he agreed to Xu Xian's proposal immediately.

"Of course it's true??"

"Haha, brother, that's fine. Let's set off right away. When we get to Baozhi Hall, I'll get the silver and we'll be even and go our separate ways?"

The bearded man was a little anxious at this time and immediately started to pack his things. At this time, the bell he was carrying fell to the ground.

Seeing this, Xu Xian quickly picked it up and said in surprise:

"Big Beard, your bell is a bit strange. It dropped to the ground but there was no sound. Could it be a dumbbell?"

"Nonsense, who said it's dumb? It's been with me for so many years, and my bell has inherited my temperament and character. It knows when to ring and when not to ring. Forget it, you won't understand even if I tell you. Let's get going as soon as possible."

The bearded man felt a little nostalgic when he mentioned the bell, his eyes full of memories, but looking at Xu Xian's dull expression, he spoke with some impatience.

"Wait, Big Beard, you saved my life, but I don't even know your name?" Xu Xian asked.

"Haha, when you're in the underworld, a name is just a code name. You owe me eight taels of silver, so just call me Ba Liang..." The bearded man said with a smile upon hearing this.

……

The two of them walked together, and halfway along the way, the bearded man suddenly spoke:

"Brother, I don't charge you interest for the money you owe me, but you have to accompany me to another place to get an important thing, and then we can go on the road together. What do you think?"

"Haha, Bearded Man, you are being too polite. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be alive today. Anyway, there's no rush for me to go to Baozhitang. I'll just listen to you?"

Xu Xian had encountered a lot of troubles along the way following the bearded man, otherwise given the bearded man's rich experience in the martial arts world, he would have been doomed to death, so he spoke very readily.

"Haha, good brother, let's go..." The bearded man said with a smile when he heard it.

At this moment, the bell on the bearded man's waist suddenly emitted a faint golden light, and the bell kept ringing. No matter how hard the bearded man tried to suppress it, it would not stop.

"Brother, wait, there might be a monster nearby. We two brothers might be in trouble today..." The bearded man had never seen the bell make such a noise before, so he was a little nervous.

……

At this time, a man in black was walking towards the two of them. Seeing this strange combination of the two, the man smiled and said:

"Excuse me, how do I get to the Banbuduo Inn? I've been walking along the way and asked around, but no one has ever seen this inn?"

"Hey! What a coincidence! My brother and I are also heading to the Banbuduo Inn. If you don't mind, let's go together. We can have someone to look after us on the way..."

The bearded man looked at the man who appeared in front of him and said with a smile. Then he looked around and found nothing unusual, so he felt relieved.

At this time, the bell of the bearded man gradually quieted down, which made the bearded man, who was suspicious of the man in black at first, let down his guard...

……