Before they had even reached the Liu family home, Ma Fengying suddenly stopped in her tracks and casually flagged down Housekeeper Zhao.

Zhao Jie was puzzled and opened her mouth to ask what was going on, but Ma Fengying made a shushing gesture at her.

Zhao Jie immediately clamped her lips shut and followed Ma Fengying’s gaze to see, not far away at the street corner outside the Liu family home, two men dressed as Taoist priests—one old and one young.

The elder had silver-white hair and a full, vigorous spirit, as if he had just drained the life force of a child.

The younger one yawned incessantly, looking listless and weak, as though a female demon had just sucked all his yang energy dry.

The two were walking one behind the other, furtively glancing up toward the Liu family home every so often.

The younger man complained, “Old man, what on earth are you trying to do? Didn’t we agree you’d make some money and take me out for a big meal? We’ve already circled this block three times, and we still can’t get in! If we can’t get in, let’s just leave—go find another sucker instead. Why waste our time here?”

The elder slapped the younger on the head. “You rascal! Do you think you’re a hungry ghost reborn or something? All you ever talk about is eating, eating, eating. Can’t you think of something more sensible?”

“Pfft! More sensible? You’ve put on a Taoist robe, and you actually believe you have supernatural powers that can solve all the world’s problems? Old man, don’t forget who we really are—we’re not enlightened cultivators at all, not even proper ones. We’re just two con artists who stayed at the Jinshan Taoist Temple for a few days, pretending to be masters who attained enlightenment there to swindle food and drink wherever we go. People don’t know any better, so they call you ‘Master’—and you actually think you’re somebody!”

The younger man rubbed his head in protest, his lip curled up like a machine gun, spewing out words nonstop.

The elder’s temper flared, and he raised his hand again, ready to smack the younger on the head.

He grumbled, “You insolent brat! What nonsense are you talking? When have I ever cheated people out of food or money? When have I ever lied to anyone? You damn fool, just wait till I beat you to death!”

But the younger wasn’t about to take such an insult lying down.

He quickly lifted his chin, grabbed his head, and hopped away.

He wasn’t the type to swallow such a blow, either—he immediately shot back at the elder, “Even if you beat me to death, you’re still a fraud! You old fossil, I won’t say much about anything else. But let’s talk about that so-called ‘Ming Family Young Lady’ whom the Liu family consulted you about a few years ago—that she supposedly had the ‘star of death’ destiny. Dare you say you didn’t take money from the Liu family’s matriarch to slander that young lady? I’ve seen that girl—she’s beautiful and clean. How could she possibly be the ‘star of death’? It’s obviously because you took money from the old lady and deliberately smeared her reputation! You think I don’t know that?”

“You little punk, are you asking for trouble? Is it really okay to say things like that?”

The elder frowned and raised his big hand again, aiming it at the younger’s head.

But they were too far apart, and the younger, like a monkey, couldn’t possibly reach him. The elder could only clear his throat to break the awkward silence, cautiously glancing this way and that—as if he were a thief himself.

The younger, however, didn’t seem to care at all; he stood with his hands on his hips, pouting defiantly. “What’s wrong with saying that? Anyway, it wasn’t me who did anything shady! You old fossil, you’re the one who slandered that young lady for a little bit of money—watch out, you’ll reap what you sow!”

“You rascal, I told you not to talk, and you still do! Just you wait till I beat you to death, you heartless little scoundrel!”

The elder, enraged and humiliated, swung his hand and gave chase.

The younger immediately took off running.

End of Chapter 161: Counterattack 87