The First Teacher (II)

In a shabby alley, the old man in yellow clothes continued:

"People always have compassion in their hearts. I was hoping Little Three would show some mercy yesterday when I chose that day."

The woman in white whispered: "Actually, I had hoped Little Two could study well, but the world is too chaotic now. I'm really afraid that one day, he'll also get caught up in the Jianghu."

The old man in yellow nodded: "That's why orthodox martial arts are perfect for him. And despite Little Three's greed, he's not a bad kid at heart. I think so because the first time Little Three went on a mission with his master, his master gave him a small portion of the reward money."

The woman in white looked up at the old man in surprise: "He was only eight... and already went out killing with his master!?"

The old man smiled slightly: "I saw it with my own eyes. After Little Three and his master took the reward money from me for a mission, Little Three had just stepped out when he saw a pitiful beggar. He actually gave the beggar the first money he had ever earned."

The woman in white fell silent.

The old man asked: "Even if it's an eight-year-old killing, it's still evil. But with the money earned from evil, he went and gave alms. So what kind of person is this child? I don't know what you think, but to me, Little Three is not a bad person at heart."

The woman in white thought back to the 28-year-old youth and her own 8-year-old child...

The woman in white lamented: "If they weren't born in this world, how good would that be..."

The old man in yellow was surprised by her words, but he also sighed: "Yes."

Her smile was truly beautiful.

...

...

In the bookstore, the boss had been stabbed so they closed for two days.

In the backyard of the bookstore, Zhang San started the first lesson for Wang Xiaoer, his first disciple, with the eight hundred taels he had hidden away.

Zhang San had actually prepared a teaching plan before getting stabbed yesterday.

But after the stabbing, he changed his teaching approach at the last minute.

Looking at the ‘innocent’ child before him, Zhang San decided the first killer lesson in life should start by establishing the right values.

That's right, values!

Killers only need to know how to kill. They don't need values or worldviews.

But to Zhang San, this kind of thinking belonged to the backwards, old-fashioned underworld. As a modern underworld killer of the Steady Flow, he would firmly resist these old ideas and put it into action.

So never think that a killer doesn't need values. On the contrary, the right values can bring a killer a good mentality. Why?

Zhang San said killers do live by murder and arson after all. When doing this long-term without proper values for guidance, it's easy to go astray.

What? The killer's path is already crooked to begin with?

Zhang San said since they were already on the crooked path, they shouldn't make extra turns towards an even more crooked one.

Especially ideas like Wang Xiaoer's "killers are heroes"- that is absolutely not something a killer should possess.

As the saying goes, taking money to eliminate disasters, Zhang San started the great teaching task of correcting Wang Xiaoer's thinking.

So for today's first lesson, Zhang San told the 8-year-old Wang Xiaoer about that time when he was 8 and gave the money he earned for the first time to a beggar who looked very pitiful.

Wang Xiaoer's eyes widened as he listened and praised: "Wow Shifu, you're so great. You worked hard to kill the bad guys but still split the money with the beggar. If it were me, I probably couldn't do that. I'd want to take the money and deposit it in a money house to earn interest."

Upon hearing this, Zhang San was stunned for a moment.

Damn. Why didn't I think of that back then? This kid actually has such advanced thinking? His love for money is a match for me!

"Ahem." Zhang San coughed. No matter how much he admired the boy's financial knowledge, he was the master after all, and couldn't show it in front of his disciple, especially one who had just started learning yesterday.

Zhang San said, "But you know what your grandmaster, my master, said when he saw me do that? He called me an idiot!"

Wang Xiaoer tilted his head, unable to figure it out. "Why did Grandmaster say that?"

Zhang San said, "At that time your grandmaster didn't say anything else, just 'Little Three, you've been practicing your Qinggong for over half a year now. Follow that beggar and you'll understand.'"

Wang Xiaoer immediately asked: "So Shifu, did you really follow him?"

Zhang San said, "Of course. I felt so bad for the beggar but your grandmaster didn't even glance at him. Plus he said that, so I was annoyed and tailed that beggar for a whole day. And I did discover some suspicious things."

Resting his little head in his hands, Wang Xiaoer started listening intently to the story.

Zhang San went on, "After following that beggar for a day, I noticed some strange things. That beggar was very knowledgeable about what times were busiest on the streets, and what spots were most eye-catching. Because from morning to night, he changed locations several times, but each spot definitely had the traits of being crowded and eye-catching."

With a sigh, Zhang San continued, "What's more, when some other beggars saw him, they would automatically leave, as if afraid of something. Finally at night, I confirmed he was a professional beggar!"

Wang Xiaoer was shocked. "There are professional beggars?"

Zhang San nodded affirmatively at Wang Xiaoer. "That's not all. I tailed him all the way home and discovered the beggar had his own house on the outskirts of the county! When he got home, there were even two wives waiting for him at the door!"

Wang Xiaoer listened with eyes and mouth wide open.

Zhang San shed tears, surely grieving over the silver and his youthful ignorance back then.

But class had to go on.

Zhang San wiped his tears and said, "So you understand now, Xiao Er?"

Wang Xiaoer nodded profusely. "I understand."

"Tell me what you understood." As he spoke, Zhang San picked up the teapot.

Wang Xiaoer excitedly said, "I get it! Shifu, what you mean is beggars can do well and won't lack for wives! Shifu, should we switch trades!?"

Zhang San spat out his mouthful of tea right in Wang Xiaoer's face.

What followed was a fierce beating from Zhang San!

But from this beating, Zhang San finally discovered that Wang Xiaoer actually had some foundation in Qinggong.

Of course with his mastery of Tian Jie Qinggong, Zhang San was far beyond what the barely learned Wang Xiaoer could escape. Before even half a lap around the backyard, Zhang San caught him.

A strict master produces exceptional disciples.

You dare run when your master is beating you? Zhang San decided to give this brat a good thrashing.