Chapter 466: The World I Protect Shouldn't Be Like This

"Old Zhang, have you noticed? You've made great progress," Lin Fan said.

Lin Fan smiled. "Yes, before, when we walked on the streets, you were very nervous. You always felt uncomfortable with people looking at you, and you needed me to hold your hand. But now, look how well you're doing."

"I didn't even realize it. Now that you mention it, I realize I really have improved." Old Zhang grinned, looking very happy. He loved hearing Lin Fan praise him.

Meanwhile, the evil rooster was preoccupied with future plans.

He still hadn't forgotten his desire to become an Evil Hero.

A mere Racial Hero was too small a goal, unworthy of his status. Only Evil Hero was a fitting title. But where were all the other evil beings now? Forget everything else, at least let him know where they were.

On the road...

A mother and daughter knelt on the ground with a piece of paper in front of them, words written on it.

"Please give my child a chance; she wants to study."

The little girl looked about seven or eight years old, the age to be in first grade if she were in school.

Lin Fan stopped as he passed by.

He crouched down and looked at the words written on the paper.

"You want to study?" Lin Fan asked.

He thought of Little Bao, hoping Little Bao could focus on his studies instead of playing all the time. Fortunately, Little Bao was obedient. Although he sometimes caused worry, he was generally a good child.

"Yes, I want my child to study," the woman said.

"Do you have a QR code? I can give you some money. Children should study hard so they can face society with confidence in the future," Lin Fan said.

"I don't have a phone," the woman replied.

This presented a slight problem for Lin Fan.

"Old Zhang, do you have any cash?" Lin Fan asked.

"I don't have any money," Old Zhang replied.

If Lin Fan had fully recovered, he wouldn't have asked Old Zhang for money. This indicated his illness hadn't completely subsided.

"Please wait for me," Lin Fan said.

He then walked towards a nearby shop.

The shop was a small, ordinary one. The owner, a middle-aged man, was engrossed in reading a newspaper.

"Hello, is anyone here?" Lin Fan asked, standing at the entrance.

The owner lowered his newspaper, puzzled. I'm sitting right here reading the newspaper. You ask if anyone's here? Am I not a person? Am I a ghost? This line of questioning made the owner's scalp tingle.

"Yes, I'm here," the owner replied.

A smile spread across the owner's face. The customer is always right, especially in a small business where profits are made bit by bit. Cultivating repeat customers was key, and good service was essential.

"Do you have any money?" Lin Fan asked.

The owner was taken aback and glanced outside. In broad daylight? Is this a robbery? He looked closely at Lin Fan, then at Old Zhang. An old man and a young man, accompanied by two strange creatures. This didn't seem like a robbery setup. Wait a minute, they look familiar. The owner lowered his head and flipped through the newspaper.

Sure enough, on a prominent page was a picture of Lin Fan.

"You're Lin Fan!" the owner exclaimed excitedly.

"You know me?" Lin Fan asked, surprised. He thought the owner was quite remarkable to know his name. He racked his brain, but he couldn't recall ever meeting the owner before. How could he possibly know him?

"Of course I know you! Oh my, I can't believe I'm seeing you in person! You're my idol! My son loves you; he says you're amazing and handsome. I can't believe I've met you."

"No way, I need an autograph! I need a photo…"

The owner vaulted over the counter with the agility of a hurdler and excitedly fussed over Lin Fan.

Click!

Several photos were taken.

The owner was already planning to develop the photos and hang them on the wall, proudly proclaiming to everyone that the great Lin Fan himself had praised his instant noodles. Who wouldn't want to buy them then?

After a while…

"Lin Shen, is there anything I can help you with?" the owner asked.

"My name is Lin Fan, not Lin Shen," Lin Fan said.

"I know, Lin Shen," the owner nodded, acting like a true fan meeting his idol. Whatever you said was right.

Lin Fan explained his situation.

Upon hearing the story, the owner was filled with admiration for Lin Fan. He hadn't expected Lin Shen to be so compassionate. It was truly unexpected. Considering Lin Shen's formidable strength and high status, he was often put on a pedestal. It was commendable that he didn't have the arrogant attitude of someone who looked down on everyone.

However, he felt it necessary to warn Lin Shen about something.

He didn't want Lin Shen to be deceived.

"Lin Shen, let me tell you, don't be fooled. I think they're scammers," the owner cautioned. "I've seen them here for many days. They might be from somewhere else, moving from place to place to run their scam."

Lin Fan smiled. "I trust my eyes and my feelings. They aren't like that."

He then touched his chest.

"I can feel the sincerity and longing in their hearts. They aren't lying."

The owner scratched his head. It sounded profound, something he couldn't quite grasp. Perhaps there was a reason why some people became powerful. It could be seen even in casual conversations.

"Lin Shen, how much money do you need to exchange?" the owner asked.

Lin Fan thought for a moment. "If she needs to go to school, from first grade all the way to university, how much would that cost?"

"Lin Shen, if you calculate it that way, it would be a lot. At least several hundred thousand. But wait, elementary and middle school are free; it's compulsory education. The textbooks are also free. It shouldn't cost anything. If she really wants to go to school, she can go directly to the school."

"That's why I say, they're likely scammers."

"Just give me several hundred thousand then," Lin Fan said.

Thud!

The owner stared blankly, as if he had seen a ghost. My god, my entire life savings aren't even several hundred thousand. You're asking me to exchange several hundred thousand. Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?

But he wanted to interact more with Lin Shen.

"Lin Shen, how about this? I'll close the shop now and take you and them directly to the school. I'll show you; the school will definitely accept her. There's no way they won't. Maybe we can even expose their true colors."

He had to protect the money in Lin Shen's pocket. Lin Shen protected their homes and their country; he worked so hard. Even if they couldn't repay him, they couldn't stand idly by and watch him get scammed. They had to take action.

"Alright, thank you, boss," Lin Fan said gratefully.

He felt the owner was a good person, someone with a kind heart.

"Oh, Lin Shen, you're too polite!" the owner hurriedly replied.

Sometime later…

At a school…

At the security gate…

"Why are you here again? Didn't I make it clear? Your daughter isn't eligible to study here. Students here must have a house in the neighborhood. Go away, quickly."

The security guard urged them, quite exasperated. He didn't want to deal with this. The previous times, seeing the mother and daughter's pitiful state, he had let them in to see the principal. The principal, already annoyed, had publicly reprimanded him and docked his pay. Now he was apprehensive. Everyone was just trying to make a living. If I were the principal, seeing how pitiful they are, I wouldn't say a word and just arrange everything for them.

"Hey, that's not right. Forget everything else, why can't she attend elementary school?" the owner said.

"You ask me, who do I ask? I'm just a worker. I let them in the previous times, but the principal gave me trouble. If I were the principal, I wouldn't say a word and just arrange everything properly for them," the security guard replied.

"I understand, I'm not making things difficult for you. Do you know who this is?" the owner asked, gesturing towards Lin Fan.

The security guard looked at Lin Fan, finding him increasingly familiar. "He looks familiar."

"See, I told you you're not observant. This is Lin Fan, the Guardian of the Dragon Kingdom. He personally brought someone here to enroll. Are you going to stop them? Quickly call your principal. I guarantee he'll receive them obediently."

Upon hearing this, the security guard was stunned. Despite his lack of formal education, he kept up with the news.

He quickly took out his phone and called the principal.

Ring ring!

"Hello! Who is this?"

"Principal, it's the security guard. That mother and daughter are here again, and…"

"What did I tell you? Do you still want this job? Does our school accept just anyone? Do they have a house in the neighborhood? If they're poor, they shouldn't study, taking up resources. Get rid of them! If I see them again, you're fired!"

The call ended abruptly.

The security guard was dumbfounded. My god, principal, you're being too unreasonable. Could you at least let me finish? The person who brought them is a big shot! You're making me lose my mind.

Lin Fan turned to the mother and daughter, wanting to reassure them not to worry.

"Let's not study here. Let's not study here," the woman said, pulling her daughter's hand to leave. She knew that even if they got in, her daughter would likely be bullied. It was better to forget it.

Lin Fan saw the light fade from the little girl's eyes, and his heart ached. He looked at the school buildings, each one new and beautiful.

'Knowledge changes destiny, learning changes life.'

The words were displayed on the school wall.

Lin Fan muttered to himself, "The world I protect shouldn't be like this."

He had a protective heart. Although he was a psychiatric patient, it didn't mean he was foolish. He knew what he was doing and what he wanted to see.

He wanted to see light in the eyes of every person he protected.

Light of hope, belief, and kindness.

Like the shop owner.

He might be selfish and enjoy gossiping, but his heart was filled with kindness. And the security guard too. He was willing to let them in, but the principal gave him trouble. It was all understandable.

Ying was the follower assigned to Lin Fan by the one-eyed man.

If Lin Fan left the city, Ying, despite his strength, wouldn't be able to keep up.

But within the city, Ying would occasionally appear near Lin Fan, pretending to be a passerby. At this moment, Ying again pretended to pass by them. Hearing Lin Fan's words, he was startled, cold sweat dripping down his back. There was no danger, no threat.

But that single sentence made his face pale.