The steward ultimately spent nine hundred taels to purchase a residence and arranged for people to repair it according to Lin Hao’s instructions.

On A’Xing’s end, things weren’t smooth at first.

The young beggars who could survive wandering the streets all had their wits about them. When a well-dressed beautiful youth suddenly appeared saying he would provide them lodging and food, their first reaction was that he had ill intentions—perhaps planning to lure them to some terrible place.

On the contrary, the elderly beggars who were frail and clearly couldn’t hold on much longer followed A’Xing without much hesitation.

They were old bones about to be buried—even boiling them into soup wouldn’t yield a few drops of oil. What was there to fear?

For the twenty or thirty old beggars A’Xing brought back, Lin Hao quickly made arrangements.

The newly purchased residence was still being repaired. Tasks like sweeping and tending fires could be handled by most of the old beggars, while those with almost no mobility were assigned physicians for treatment and recuperation.

These people were advanced in years and couldn’t learn to read or acquire skills like young beggars. In the future, their main work would be managing the residence and looking after young beggars.

What pleasantly surprised Lin Hao was that one of the bedridden old beggars had actually been a private school teacher. As long as his illness was cured, there would be no need to hire another teacher.

Seeing that Lin Hao wasn’t acting on a whim, A’Xing gritted his teeth and changed back into beggar’s clothing.

Lin Hao asked in surprise, “A’Xing, where did you find those clothes?”

A’Xing’s expression was somewhat embarrassed as he said in a muffled voice, “I’ll first go find companions I knew before. Once they move in and believe it, I’ll have them go find others.”

“That’s a good idea.” Lin Hao gave A’Xing an approving look.

A’Xing pressed his lips together and asked with concern, “Do you really have the money to support so many people?”

Lin Hao smiled and pushed him. “Go on quickly. Don’t worry about money. I still have lots of gold and silver jewelry. If worst comes to worst, selling any piece could be exchanged for quite a bit of money—”

A’Xing instinctively said, “Are you stup—”

The rest of his words were swallowed back under the young lady’s clear, water-like gaze.

He could have his current circumstances because of her foolishness.

From the depths of his being, A’Xing refused to wear such clothing again. It would make him recall the despair of living under the bridge, watching his sick brother while feeling powerless.

But with such a fool, if he didn’t properly complete what she wanted to accomplish, wouldn’t she be even more at a disadvantage?

“I’m going.” A’Xing said awkwardly and ran out.

Lin Hao watched the youth’s fleeing back and curved the corners of her lips.

Heaven had given her the chance to be reborn. Her goals couldn’t be limited to revenge alone—doing good deeds within her ability was how to be worthy of this good fortune.

A’Xing, having changed back into beggar’s clothing, indeed gained the beggars’ trust. When the residence repairs were complete, over a hundred young beggars had moved in.

Lin Hao didn’t deliberately hide these activities from her family. When Steward Liu heard about it, he came over once and selected a dozen or so with aptitude for martial arts to bring back to the General’s Mansion.

The General’s Mansion’s guards had to be trained from childhood anyway, either selected from household servants’ children or purchased as young children through brokers. This way, not only did some beggars gain a livelihood, but money was also saved—truly killing two birds with one stone.

Time quickly entered the twelfth month. The north wind was bitter and snow fell heavily, so cold that going outside felt like torture.

The people of the Ruyi Troupe finally reached the most leisurely time of the year. Except for performing at wealthy households, they huddled in their rented compound warming themselves by fires. Of course, their day-to-day practice couldn’t stop—one day without practice meant getting rusty, which meant losing their livelihood.

Among them, the one who practiced most diligently was Xiao Feng.

In two more days, the Ruyi Troupe would go to the Marquis of Wuning’s mansion to provide entertainment at the Marchioness of Wuning’s birthday banquet. The troupe members were jubilant, knowing they could have a prosperous New Year.

The troupe master walked over with his hands behind his back, scolding several people gathered around the brazier for warmth. “All you know is how to slack off. Don’t you know we’re going to the marquis’s mansion soon? With so many noble people watching, if you perform poorly, you won’t even have food to eat afterward and will only be able to beg on the streets!”

The several people, being reprimanded, didn’t dare respond.

“Where’s Xiao Feng?” The troupe master scanned the area and asked.

“Xiao Feng went to the back to practice ribbon dancing,” someone replied.

The troupe master grew even angrier. “Look at Xiao Feng, practicing from morning till night, then look at yourselves—no ambition!”

After the troupe master left, someone muttered, “Xiao Feng is only practicing constantly because he switched to ribbon dancing.”

For entertaining at the Marquis of Wuning’s mansion, not only would everyone present be nobles, but supposedly even the Crown Prince would attend. Naturally, wielding large blades wouldn’t do, and Xiao Feng’s greatest skill was blade dancing. As it happened, the person skilled in ribbon dancing had fallen ill. Though the Ruyi Troupe members each had their specialties, they all practiced every skill for coordination purposes, so the troupe master arranged for Xiao Feng to substitute.

Though the troupe master praised Xiao Feng’s diligence before the others, actually he was most worried about Xiao Feng. After all, it wasn’t his greatest strength, and at such an important occasion, any mishap would be troublesome.

He strolled leisurely to the open ground behind the compound.

Red silk was flung in various arcs, dancing and flying around the clean and delicate youth. Even without highly difficult movements, it was pleasing to watch.

The troupe master nodded with satisfaction.

When he had first seen Xiao Feng dancing with blades on the street, he had immediately taken a liking to this child.

The Ruyi Troupe often performed at prominent households—good looks were much more appealing.

Xiao Feng finished a complete set of movements. The troupe master beckoned. “Xiao Feng, take a rest.”

On such a cold day, sweat beaded on Xiao Feng’s nose as he breathed slightly heavily. When he smiled, his clean, even white teeth showed. “Troupe Master, you were looking for me?”

“Why not practice in the courtyard? Out here with no shelter, it’s terribly cold.”

Xiao Feng wiped his sweat. “I actually feel a bit warm when practicing. If I practice in the courtyard for too long, I’ll disturb others’ rest.”

The troupe master was very gratified. “You’re such a child who puts people at ease. Don’t practice too long. Rest when you should rest.”

“Understood, Troupe Master. I’ll practice a bit more then go back.”

The troupe master nodded and walked away slowly.

Xiao Feng stared at the troupe master’s back for quite a while without moving.

The sky became murky as snowflakes drifted down profusely, landing on his hair and clothing.

Xiao Feng touched his cool nose tip, and the ribbon in his hand flew out.

He practiced with focus, not noticing a gray-robed person wearing a bamboo hat gradually approaching.

The green silk ribbon wrapped around something sharp as it flew out, and that end was caught by the gray-robed person, straightening the arc.

Xiao Feng asked warily, “Who are you?”

The gray-robed person released the ribbon and walked before Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng stared at him intently, but because of the bamboo hat’s obstruction couldn’t see the other person’s face clearly.

“What do you want?” Xiao Feng tried to keep his voice calm.

The gray-robed person extended his hand. In his palm lay a small throwing knife.

So that sharp object was a throwing knife Xiao Feng had flung out concealed by the green silk.

Xiao Feng’s complexion changed drastically.

Fear surging like a tide made him want to turn and flee, to get far away from this gray-robed person, but his remaining rationality told him that escaping would be useless.

“What do you want? Who exactly are you?”

The gray-robed person remained silent.

The snow grew heavier, falling rustling between the two of them. The frozen atmosphere seemed to turn to ice.

Xiao Feng’s fingertips trembled violently, the white vapor he exhaled so thick it wouldn’t disperse.

Finally, the gray-robed person spoke.

“Who I am isn’t important. What’s important is that this throwing knife probably can’t kill anyone.”