“If you dare to play tricks on us, be careful that I’ll break your bones!”
The Village Chief glared at me, his eyes filled with a fierce intensity as if he wanted to swallow me whole.
I stood at the village entrance, shivering in the biting wind and snow, but I had to keep a smile on my face.
“Village Chief, don’t worry. I, Tian Qi, am serious this time. I can definitely handle that wolf pack.”
The Village Chief snorted and turned to leave, throwing back a parting remark:
“Little Daoist Priest, can someone your age really do it? Sigh…”
I watched his retreating figure, cursing him inwardly while maintaining my cheerful demeanor. What could I do? After all, I was a Wandering Taoist. I had come here with the intention of scamming a bit of silver and leaving. But who would have thought that this wolf pack was no joke?
The Village Chief left, but the villagers remained gathered around me, their eyes filled with skepticism.
I cleared my throat and shouted:
“Dear villagers, while I, Tian Qi, may not be a great figure,
I am a proper Taoist priest and I will definitely help you drive away the wolves!”
Someone in the crowd muttered softly:
“What kind of Taoist is he? Just another one here to swindle us.”
I pretended not to hear and continued:
“I need some herbs, as well as iron chains and wooden sticks— the more, the better.
Once I take care of those wolves, you won’t have to worry anymore.”
The villagers exchanged glances until finally, it was the Village Chief’s son, Zhang Erben, who stepped forward:
"Tian Qi, if you can't drive away the wolf pack this time, don't blame us for being rude."
I laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, if I, Tian Qi, can't get it done this time, you can break my legs."
After saying that, I took a few villagers to gather materials.
On the way, I kept pondering about the wolf pack.
I heard that this group of wolves was quite formidable; even hunters couldn't handle them.
I felt a bit anxious inside, but I had to maintain a calm facade.
By the time we brought the materials back, it was already dark.
I found a spot to crush the herbs and grind them into powder.
I instructed them to take it and sprinkle it in a circle around the stumps.
I pretended to be serious and said,
"This powder is a family secret; the wolf pack will run away as soon as they smell it."
The villagers were somewhat skeptical, but they still followed my instructions.
I knew very well that this powder would at most scare off the little Wolf Cubs; against the Wolf King, it would probably be useless.
But there was no choice; the show had to go on.
Looking at the villagers, I thought to myself:
Although this was mainly for the money, I still needed to do something real; otherwise, my reputation as a Taoist would be completely ruined.
I had just finished scattering the medicinal powder when the Village Chief appeared out of nowhere, his eyes filled with suspicion.
“Tian Qi, does this powder really work?”
I chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.
“Village Chief, you can rest assured!
Look at my character; would I ever deceive you?”
Returning to my dwelling, I lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
As I pondered, I suddenly recalled something my master had said in my childhood:
“Tian Qi, you are clever and quick-witted. If you apply yourself to the right path, you will surely achieve great things.
But if you stray into the wrong ways...
sigh, you will eventually stumble.”
Yet for all these years, I had relied on deceit for a living, long forgetting my master’s words.
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