The sun rose from the horizon, providing warmth and comfort to the streets of Klown City. People began to wake up and start their usual routines. Some began setting up their stalls so they could sell as soon as possible.
Big Chub arrived at his spot and began putting all the bread on the table that he had baked before the sun even rose. As a hardworking and friendly vendor on this street, many people greeted him, to which he responded with a simple smile and hello.
"Hello, Big Chub. How was your night?"
"Haha, as usual, still heavy!"
After he finished setting up his stall, he sat down on his chair and began the most boring part of his job: waiting for customers to arrive. Big Chub yawned, his double chin wobbling from the size of his mouth.
As tears appeared at the corners of his eyes, he noticed someone walking in his direction. Oh? As soon as I set up my stall? Good! He put on the best smile he could muster when the young man appeared in front of him. "Good morning, what would you like?"
The young man was wearing a black and white uniform with a serpent insignia on his chest. Seeing this, Big Chub concluded that the young man was from the Great Serpent Cultivation School. But isn't it too early for them to be out? Although there was doubt in his heart, he continued to smile. However, the next moment, his smile became stiff.
The young man threw a gold coin towards him, which fell to the ground. As the sound of the coin rolling echoed, the young man asked, "A young boy, probably around 7 to 8 years old, with black hair and blue eyes, wearing a dirty brown robe. Have you seen him?"
Big Chub was quiet for a moment before he bowed his head in apology. "Well, sir, I don't think I have seen such a kid in this area. My apologies."
Although he said these words with calm, his heart was actually palpitating and his eyes were shaking. His mind automatically thought about the beggar, but he didn't want to jump to conclusions right away.
When he looked up, he saw the young man observing him with cold eyes. Sh*t! Did he find out I'm lying?! He suddenly remembered that the young man was from that serpent school, so he's probably a cultivator.
A frown appeared on Arke's face. He looked down at the fatso and said, "Pick it up."
"Eh?" Big Chub appeared confused. "P-pick up what?"
"The gold coin. Pick it up," Arke explained, his eyes turning cold and his voice condescending.
Big Chub felt indignant, but he still showed a smile and went to pick up the coin.
"Yeah, that's it. You are more fitting when on your knees, you pig," an annoying voice sounded from behind the vendor. When he turned around, Big Chub saw the table filled with bread that he had made with his own hands flying towards him. With a crashing sound, wood and bread were thrown into the air, followed by a grunting sound.
"That gold is enough to cover the cost," Arke said before he walked away.
The commotion caused the other people and vendors to look in the direction of the crash. Only when the young man put down his leg and walked away did some of them run to Big Chub's stall.
Big Chub emerged from the pile of wood and bread, coughing heavily.
"Are you okay?" one of the vendors in the street asked worriedly.
"I'm… I'm okay," Big Chub waved his hand. "Don't mind me, guys, haha, just a small altercation."
"Those damn Cultivators! They only know how to bully the weak!" someone said aloud. However, a hand quickly covered his mouth.
"Shh! Don't say something like that! What if they can hear us?"
This caused them to talk quietly while sharing their experiences of being bullied by Cultivators.
Big Chub sighed and glanced at the gold coin in his hand. It isn't it you, right? He couldn't help but think about the beggar. That young man's description almost resembled the beggar who always bought bread from him. But the beggar wore a dark grey robe, not brown, and his eyes were black, not blue… Suddenly, he recalled the first time he saw that kid, and his eyes widened.
Don't tell me he's really a kid from a wealthy family?! Big Chub started imagining things as speculations kept appearing in his mind. In the end, he thought of the most likely reason.
That kid is from a wealthy family and his butler has come to find him! But that young man doesn't seem to be a good person, while that kid is very nice. What if that young man is evil and is chasing after the beggar?! This thought caused his breathing to become heavy and his eyes to widen.
The more Big Chub thought about it, the more it made sense.
"Big Chub? Big Chub? Are you okay? Why are you so pale and blank?" someone asked out of concern.
"He probably hit his head!"
"Kid, I'll save you!" Big Chub suddenly shouted and started running in the direction where the young man had gone.
"Wait, don't tell me?!" The other vendors couldn't help but be surprised. "Is he going to fight that young man?!"
"Go Big Chub! You can do it!" After someone shouted, the others followed suit.
"We believe in you! Go beat that guy's *ss!"
"Big Chub! I will forever remember you!"
"We will light an incense for you!"
The scene was so touching that even the passersby who didn't know what was happening also began to cheer.
However, in the next moment, everyone's faces became stiff as Big Chub had only run two or three meters away from them when he put both hands on his knees, buckets of sweat falling from his body. Even his pants had fallen quite a bit, showcasing the deep trench that he'd been hiding.
The onlookers stifled their laughter and tried to avoid their gazes.
Big Chub tried to stand up again, but after just taking a couple more steps, he fell to his knees. "I can't… go on anymore!"