Vol. 2 - Chapter 36 - Xiong Shan

Da Ming’s hand went to his waist—only to grasp at empty air.

Outside the inn.

A burly man, like a towering bear, reached out one thick arm and grabbed a child from a group of beggars.

The child struggled for a moment, but the man yanked a coin pouch from his hand.

Xiong Shan casually tossed the pouch onto Da Ming’s table.

Da Ming glanced down—it was indeed his own money pouch.

Xiong Shan set the child down without a word.

The rest of the kids scattered like startled birds.

Da Ming stared blankly at the pouch on the table, a wry smile spreading across his face.

Xiong Shan let out a booming laugh and sat down beside him.

“You’re really green, huh? Most of the beggar brats on the street are little thieves.”

“You let them get that close and didn’t even guard yourself.”

His tone was familiar, like they were old friends.

Da Ming picked up the pouch and gave an awkward smile.

He’d been rushing the past few days and had kept his distance from beggars.

Today, letting his guard down, he saw that gang of kids and was reminded of himself—so he gave them a little food.

And got robbed for it.

He instinctively patted his chest. Thankfully, most of his money was still tucked safely inside his clothes.

The pouch only held a few bits of silver and some coppers.

Rule Five: Never flaunt your wealth.

That was one of his father’s teachings.

Da Ming picked up a steamed bun with his left hand, glanced at Xiong Shan, and gave him a bashful, heartfelt “Thank you.”

“I’ll treat you to this meal.”

Even though Father had warned him not to make friends with strangers lightly…

Still, the man had helped him. It was only right to return the favor.

Upon hearing that—

Xiong Shan looked down at the table, and exclaimed, “You're not drinking?”

“Just buns and braised meat? That won’t do.”

He waved toward the counter, “Waiter! Bring wine!”

The inn’s waiter hurried over.

Xiong Shan ordered several meat dishes in one go—and two jars of yellow wine.

Da Ming frowned as he listened.

Xiong Shan finished ordering and reached into his robe.

Smack!

He slapped a silver ingot down on the table.

Looking at Da Ming with a cheerful smile, he said, “You look young—probably not that old.”

“I’m twenty-eight already, older than you. This meal’s on me!”

His voice was bold and full of spirit.

Seeing that the man had paid after all that, Da Ming quickly shook his head. “No!”

“No need!”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve got enough food here.”

Xiong Shan saw Da Ming’s honest, down-to-earth face and couldn’t help but chuckle.

He took a closer look at the young man.

Da Ming had a strong build, muscles rippling beneath his clothes. The veins on his arms, hands, and neck stood out.

Sitting on the bench, he looked like a crouching tiger—quiet but fierce.

Xiong Shan couldn’t help but feel a certain fondness for him.

“If I could recruit someone like this as a personal guard… that’d be ideal,” he thought to himself.

His gaze toward Da Ming grew even more amiable.

Da Ming stared at the bun in his hand, and his mind drifted back to Chen Ye’s instructions when he left home:

Rule Two: Don’t make friends with strangers.

He looked hesitant, thinking about moving to another table with his food.

But… Xiong Shan had just helped him. Would that be rude?

Da Ming was torn. He didn’t know what to do.

“Fate brought us together. I’m Xiong Shan. What’s your name, brother?” Xiong Shan picked up one of Da Ming’s buns and took a big bite.

Da Ming saw that and felt too embarrassed to move tables now.

He looked at Xiong Shan and figured the guy didn’t seem like a bad person.

They were just chatting. It wasn’t like he was making a real friend. That shouldn’t count as breaking Dad’s rules… right?

Thinking this, Da Ming let out a simple laugh and said, “My name’s Chen Da Ming.”

Xiong Shan chewed his bun and nodded. “Da Ming… Da Ming, that’s a great name!”

“Bright and upright!”

Hearing the compliment, a faint blush rose to Da Ming’s plain face.

He scratched his head in embarrassment.

His father had named him hoping he’d grow up to be smart—not that he’d thought that deeply about it.

At that moment, the waiter returned with the dishes—filling the table with meat.

Xiong Shan picked up his chopsticks and dug in, but saw Da Ming sticking to just his own braised meat and not touching the new dishes.

Xiong Shan frowned and gestured with his chopsticks.

“Eat up! We’re all men here, don’t be so stingy!”

Saying that, he dropped a big hunk of lamb into Da Ming’s bowl.

Da Ming sat like he was on pins and needles, unsure if he should eat it or not.

Xiong Shan chewed his lamb, glanced over, and suddenly laughed. “Let me guess—before you left home, your elders warned you—”

“Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t make friends with them either?”

Da Ming’s eyes widened.

Seeing that, Xiong Shan burst into laughter.

“When I first left home, my old man said the same thing.”

He scooped up another bite of food and chewed as he spoke.

“I used to tread so carefully, didn’t dare speak to anyone. But later I realized, people are all the same.”

“Chat a bit, hit it off, maybe even become friends—it’s no big deal.”

Da Ming chuckled simply but continued silently gnawing his bun, still not touching the lamb Xiong Shan had given him.

Xiong Shan didn’t press him—if anything, he respected him more.

To be out in the world and still obey his elders like this—

That’s a sign of good character.

Xiong Shan grew even fonder of him.

The two sat at the same table—Xiong Shan tearing through meat and wine like a warrior, Da Ming nursing his plate of braised meat, a pile of steamed buns, and two pots of tea, slowly eating away.

Soon, the meal came to an end.

Xiong Shan stood and stretched. “Ahhh, that hit the spot!”

Gulp, gulp, gulp…

Da Ming finished a full pot of tea in one go.

He let out a breath, belly full, a simple smile on his face.

For him, a full meal was happiness enough.

“Waiter, five rooms!”

Suddenly, a group of martial types burst into the inn. They wore rain capes and bamboo hats, with blades at their waists.

The waiter quickly replied, “Right away!”

“This way upstairs, sirs.”

The waiter led them up the stairs.

Da Ming gave Xiong Shan a small smile and headed outside to fetch his own rain cape and hat, ready to check in as well.

After settling the others upstairs, the waiter came back down.

Xiong Shan called out, “Waiter, get me a room too!”

The waiter hesitated, looking a little troubled.

Hunching his shoulders, he said, “Sir, I’m afraid those guests just now took the last of the rooms.”

Xiong Shan paused.

He glanced outside. The rain hadn’t let up—in fact, it looked like it was getting heavier.

The waiter cast a cautious glance at Da Ming. “Sir, aren’t you with this gentleman?”

Xiong Shan laughed and waved it off. “No worries. Hey, waiter—how far to the next inn?”

The waiter pointed and said, “The nearest one’s the Taifeng Inn, three streets over. About a quarter of an hour on foot.”

A quarter of an hour?

Xiong Shan frowned slightly.

In this kind of downpour, walking for that long… who knew if there’d even be a room available?

He mulled it over, a little helpless.

Turning to Da Ming, he cupped his fists and said with a smile, “Brother, I’ll take my leave then.”

“Next time, don’t let those beggar brats get so close—or they’ll clean you out.”

With a hearty laugh, he donned his bamboo hat and turned to go.

Da Ming watched his retreating figure, hesitation in his heart.

The man really did seem like a good guy.

He helped him out. Now, heading out in such rain—he might fall sick…

“…Brother Xiong…” Da Ming’s lips moved, calling out softly.