The Melon-eating Swordsman In The Ancient Dragon World Chapter 548: Xiao Eleven, the Gallant Thief - Novel Cool

Chapter 548: Xiao Eleven, the Gallant Thief

Chapter 548: Xiao Eleven, the Gallant Thief

"A fool?" Shen Bijun didn't understand and asked, "Why?"

Just the day before, Lian Chengbi had spent the day sightseeing in Yangzhou with Shen Bijun. Now, their carriage had left Yangzhou and was traveling on the road to Huai'an. With not much scenery along the way, Lian Chengbi had sent a servant to buy some snacks for their journey.

Hearing Shen Bijun's question, Lian Chengbi didn't mind chatting with her about Xiao Eleven, clearing up the discrepancies in the original story caused by certain contrasting elements.

"It's true that he's a lone robber who covets wealth and takes lives. But to say that he's a scourge, committing all manner of evil, is a bit much." Lian Chengbi picked up a peanut and popped it into his mouth.

"In a sense, he could be considered a gallant thief," Lian Chengbi said. "As far as I know, all his robbery targets are either local tyrants who oppress the people or hidden bandits of great infamy. They're not good people."

"Moreover, he doesn't keep the spoils of his robberies for himself. Instead, he distributes them to the oppressed common folk, offering aid to those in need." Lian Chengbi nodded.

"Then he truly is a gallant thief!" Shen Bijun exclaimed, but then she frowned, confused. "But if that's the case, why do you call him a fool, my husband?"

"Because he never reveals himself!" Lian Chengbi raised an eyebrow. "He does good deeds without claiming credit, so no one knows what he's done. Even the commoners who benefit from his actions don't know where the money comes from."

Lian Chengbi continued in a leisurely tone, "Since that's the case, he's naturally seen as a lone robber who only seeks wealth and takes lives."

Shen Bijun's mouth hung slightly agape, surprised by the truth.

However, having spent a lot of time with Lian Chengbi, Shen Bijun had learned to think critically. She argued, "But he can't reveal himself. If he does, those commoners who received the money might face retaliation afterward."

Lian Chengbi shook his head. "There are many solutions to that. First, no one knows exactly which commoners received the money. Second, if anyone dares to harm those commoners, he can strike back, making an example of them. Third, he could quietly distribute part of the money and then publicly give away the rest, ensuring that those who receive it are unaware of its source."

"His martial arts skills are genuine. If he can do the first, why not the fifteenth? If he only considers the present and not the future, I don't know if he's lazy or just foolish."

"By acting in such a way, he seems to be considering the well-being of the commoners, but he's actually putting himself in a precarious situation. With a tarnished reputation, those ignorant commoners won't recognize his good deeds."

"He's indeed a good person, doing good deeds, but he doesn't have a good reputation because of the way he does things. So, don't you think he's a bit lacking in the brains department?" Lian Chengbi asked.

Shen Bijun was taken aback, unconsciously following Lian Chengbi's train of thought. Indeed, it made perfect sense.

But then she thought of something else. "That's not entirely true, either. I heard that the Li family in Daming Mansion had been benevolent for generations, but Xiao Eleven still robbed them and wiped out their entire clan."

"Wasn't the Li family good, then?" Shen Bijun asked.

Lian Chengbi continued, "The key witness was the Li family's housekeeper, who hanged himself a month later."

Shen Bijun exclaimed in shock, immediately realizing, "They were framed?"

"Indeed," Lian Chengbi said. "Xiao Eleven is a lone robber with no friends, and his reputation is already tarnished. Framing him is both safe and reassuring. Who better to pin it on than him?"

Shen Bijun paused, feeling a moment of pity. "Then he's truly pitiable..."

"Pitiable, yes, but also foolish," Lian Chengbi agreed.

"If he had thoroughly probed the first scandal and uprooted those who wanted to frame him, it would have served as a warning to others. Then, anyone else attempting to slander him would have thought twice, considering if it was worth risking their lives," Lian Chengbi explained.

This was the difference between Xiao Eleven and Chu Liuxiang. Both were solitary robbers, but while Chu Liuxiang ensured that the true culprits behind every case pinned on him were brought to justice, Xiao Eleven did not. As a result, Chu Liuxiang's reputation was far better.

"But he didn't," Lian Chengbi said with a hint of indifference. "Whether it was due to indifference, laziness, or apathy, he took no action to salvage his reputation.

One led to two, and two led to three. Many unsolved cases were attributed to Xiao Eleven, and from then on, he was branded as a ruthless and unscrupulous lone robber."

Shen Bijun fell silent, her heart filled with a mix of emotions. She sighed softly and said, "If he's a good person, he shouldn't be wronged like this."

Shen Bijun was kind-hearted. Even though she agreed with Lian Chengbi's assessment, she wouldn't ridicule Xiao Eleven because of it.

"Character determines destiny, and choices determine consequences," Lian Chengbi shook his head and said. "His martial arts skills are more than sufficient. If he wanted to, he could have handled these matters differently. The way he turned out is indeed a result of his own choices."

"Maybe he thinks he's being carefree and unconstrained, looking down on the hypocrisy of the world and not wanting to associate with ordinary people," Lian Chengbi spread his hands and laughed. "Since he doesn't feel sorry for himself, we have no right to pity him."

Xiao Eleven's favorite melancholy tune was one that lamented the wolf's loneliness and its refusal to conform.

Shen Bijun was left speechless. Then, she heard Lian Chengbi conclude, "Everyone has their own karma. Xiao Eleven can still find happiness in his infamy, feeling content every day. I actually admire him for that."

Shen Bijun couldn't help but laugh, "He's already so miserable, and here you are, laughing at him, husband?"

Lian Chengbi pointed at her, "Look, you're laughing too."

Shen Bijun felt both annoyed and amused, "It's because my husband is teasing me."

Shen Bijun poured a cup of wine for Lian Chengbi and said with a smile, "After marrying you, I realized how complex this martial arts world is. We can't judge people and matters solely by their appearance."

"This world of martial arts may seem intricate, but handling it is not difficult," Lian Chengbi took a sip of wine and said. "When interacting with people, speak only three-tenths of what's on your mind, and never reveal your entire heart. Our ancestors have already summed up the ways of social interaction for us."

Shen Bijun sighed, "I understand."

"Why are you sighing? What do you understand?" Lian Chengbi asked.

Shen Bijun shot him a coquettish glance and said softly, "Husband, what you're saying is that I'm foolish and that I should be more careful in the future."

"It's alright. It's understandable," Lian Chengbi smiled.

"How is it understandable?" Shen Bijun asked.

Lian Chengbi reached out and caressed a soft part of her body, "Because your brain is mostly here, so it's understandable."

Shen Bijun's face turned crimson with a mix of shyness and anger, "Husband~~~"

(End of Chapter)

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