Chapter 465: The People Thank the Immortal Master
At Jiagu Alley in the east of the city...
As soon as night fell, the ragged figure of a beggar emerged, moving about in the darkness. It wasn't just the strange places he appeared in—his behavior alone was enough to make him seem nothing like a normal person.
His entire body reeked of sour stench, as though he had been lurking among beggars for an unknown length of time. He staggered as he walked, dragging his feet along the ground—one foot clad in a tattered shoe, the other completely bare—moving like a wandering ghost.
Whenever someone passed by, he would twist his head abruptly to stare at them. If the person seemed to be suffering from stomach pain, he would try to sell them ointment. If they appeared normal, he would simply fix them with an unblinking gaze, his eyes sharp like an eagle’s, fierce like a wolf’s.
If no one was around, he would wander outside the homes of those who had used his ointment, sniffing the air like a dog.
In recent days, no one dared to go out at night in this neighborhood. Parents warned their children to return home early, cautioning them to steer clear of the strange beggar. Even gamblers and drunkards refrained from venturing out after dark.
Though there were no rumors of him actually harming anyone, his bizarre behavior alone was enough to terrify people.
Today, word spread that the Li family was organizing an effort to drive away the ghostly figure. They had gathered several brave fighters from the jianghu and even obtained a special “spiritual water” from a mysterious expert. The water was indeed effective—no matter how severe the stomach pain, even if it felt like one's insides were being twisted by knives, just a single sip of the water would bring immediate relief.
Upon hearing that the plan to exorcise the ghostly figure had come from an expert, those who had suffered from stomach pain gritted their teeth and rallied in support.
Even those who had been deceived into using the beggar’s ointment drank the spiritual water. Having lived in constant fear and unease for days, the moment someone took the lead, their terror now transformed into rage. Unlike those who had only suffered from stomach pain, these individuals were even more desperate to break free from the sinister influence. Their hatred burned fiercer.
Furthermore, many neighbors who had neither used the ointment nor suffered from stomach pain had also had enough of living in fear. Armed with wooden poles, kitchen knives, and hatchets, they joined in to bolster the effort.