[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-7":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317287,4532,"Chapter 7: The Trickster","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-7",7,"\u003Cp>Too many people, he couldn’t push through, so Lin Jue simply stepped onto the roadside step and stood on tiptoe to look ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was indeed a magic act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A two-zhang square space had been cleared by the crowd, with a wooden table placed in the center; seated before it was a man in plain cloth, three bowls before him, several peach pits being moved between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the old trick of the Three Immortals Returning to Their Caves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around them, spectators cheered and guessed aloud, as if dueling wits with the performer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen such tricks before—mostly relying on sleight of hand and psychological misdirection; the more refined the technique, the better the performer understood the audience’s expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon closer inspection, he frowned again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the space were wide open, with only one man and one table, surrounded fully on all sides, then this man might truly possess some unusual ability—given this world of demons and sorcery, Lin Jue would allow a sliver of doubt. But the table was placed against the wall facing away from the street; few stood behind or to the sides, and several companions stood directly behind him, blocking all the most vulnerable angles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue glanced again along those directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sides and rear were indeed easier to see through; though few stood there, their expressions suggested some had spotted the trick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But perhaps they didn’t see clearly enough, or perhaps they thought the performer’s skill was impressive enough, and had no reason to ruin his livelihood—so no one exposed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many spectators were thoroughly excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary life offered few such lively moments, few such strange performances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue said nothing, standing to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, a bearded middle-aged man covered a cloth over a copper basin, then revealed it filled with water; he covered it again, and from the empty basin produced a brocade carp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd erupted in cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many opened their eyes wide, gleaming with fascination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the cloth-turned-fish, came the empty-box trick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides fruits and vegetables, kittens and puppies, he even pulled out items carried by the spectators themselves. Someone shouted for him to produce the red undergarment of a widow on the street—and he produced it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue was half-skeptical, his brow tightly furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held hope, and patience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, time grew late, the sun climbed higher, and the street’s foot traffic reached its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the open ground before him, the performer’s apprentice knelt to collect coins, while the older performer walked among the crowd and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, esteemed spectators, for your patronage. We’ve traveled far, and this has covered our expenses. Our performance blends true marvels with years of practiced skill. We thank you for your enthusiastic support—and also those who saw through the trick yet chose silence. Your kindness is deeply appreciated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed with clasped fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd, still enthralled, delighted by his words, erupted again, urging him for more dazzling acts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We hadn’t eaten breakfast and were hungry, planning to rest and eat something, drink some water—but since you wish to see more, we cannot spoil your enjoyment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gestured to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A boy of thirteen or fourteen ran forward, dressed only in trousers, his upper body bare, ribs visible beneath his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ladies and gentlemen! Those with coins, toss them; those without, lend your cheers. May this act bring you some joy in your daily lives. The boy has performed few times—don’t make him blush!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, the older performer bowed respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a gift for words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy said nothing. He had just run out, circled the open ground twice, then faced the crowd, mouth wide open—as if to show them its emptiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he pulled out a black pellet, mixed it with malt sugar, chewed it, suddenly widened his eyes, tilted his head back, and spat upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large burst of flame exploded in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd jumped back, then erupted in screams and applause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue was also taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what the black pellet was, but even if it were flammable, he saw no ignition source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking quickly, Lin Jue hurried down the steps and pushed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t push! Don’t push!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s pushing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s shoving me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You brat—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me, excuse me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More passersby were drawn by the fire and shouts; Lin Jue had to guard his basket and herbs, forcing him to struggle hard before reaching the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another burst of flame exploded in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd remained wildly excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was “heated and bustling”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the performance was nearing its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy seemed exhausted, panting, stopping to look at the middle-aged man, then at the crowd, silent, quickly bowing his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, a clatter of coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many tossed coins into the center; others threw fruit and vegetables; some even rolled eggs forward along the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this age, everything counted as a tip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet at that moment, an untimely voice rang out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After watching so long, I’ve finally seen one act worthy of real skill—but this crude Fire-Repelling Art, performed at a temple fair, is hardly more than deception.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was old, laced with disdain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd turned to see an old man in plain cloth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This spectator is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged performer cautiously bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A fellow practitioner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged performer’s expression darkened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other spectators paused, then many wore eager, expectant looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere, already lively, rose another notch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though the saying goes, ‘Fellow practitioners are rivals,’ we came here, registered with the county magistrate, paid our fees, asked for directions, offended no one, and took no one’s business.” The middle-aged man paused, then carefully addressed the elder, “What is your meaning, sir?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve done nothing wrong. I merely arrived here a step late. When I registered with the magistrate, they told me another performer had already filed, paid, and taken the best spot. Since I had no business today, I came to stroll—and happened upon you.” The old man stepped forward, smiling, “I came hoping to learn from other practitioners, but I see no real skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone carried a hint of regret, as if truly without malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even sighed after speaking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When one grows old, one speaks too much. What’s inside the heart cannot be held back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged performer’s face flickered between anger and restraint. He scanned the crowd, then retracted his bow and said, “If you say we lack skill, then you must have something to teach us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teach? No. The only act of yours worth noticing was that last Fire-Repelling Art—but the boy’s mastery is barely at the beginner level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, the boy glanced around, lowered his head, fidgeting with his hands, lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The elder speaks truly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged performer, who had earlier lowered himself before the crowd, humble and pleading, now let his face harden:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My son is young—what does a child know? Don’t humiliate him. I’ve trained this Fire-Repelling Art for years—let me ask you to judge its mastery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd erupted in cheers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue’s interest deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged performer opened the same clay jar, took out a black pellet, mixed it with malt sugar, chewed it, while behind him, others beat drums and clanged cymbals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dong Cha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the drum and cymbal clashed, the performer tilted his head back and spat with the rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a scattered burst, but a straight column of flame, shooting upward, at least two or three zhang tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flame was unmistakable—if one stood on higher ground, it could be seen from several streets away; at night, the entire county would see its glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether watching for skill or spectacle, all could tell: this was real mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The performer didn’t stop—he spat again, and again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the team’s music swelling the atmosphere, the crowd’s excitement climbed higher still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, his skill far surpassed the boy’s: he could condense flame into a column, spit it multiple times from a single pellet, and repeat the act three or five times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then swallowed another pellet, circled the open ground, spitting the flame column over every spectator’s head, letting them feel its heat. He even brought wood, placed it in a brazier, and ignited it with his breath—proving his flame was no illusion, but real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent, excellent…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man clapped repeatedly. “Your Fire-Repelling Art has real depth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask, sir, what advice do you offer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged performer was now quite proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Advice? No, no. But perhaps you haven’t heard, or your fellow practitioners haven’t? Fire-Repelling Art has two tiers.” The old man smiled. “The lower tier requires pellets or oil to be ingested. The higher tier requires nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged performer froze in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The onlookers paused for a moment, then erupted into murmurs and shouts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s so great? Show us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Race him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old man, stop bluffing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You old fellow is being unreasonable—go set up your stall in Chengnan if you want to make money. This man’s been working hard all morning; it’s not easy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first the old man refused, but under the persistent cheers and taunts of the crowd, he finally stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved calmly, taking no fireball, only walking to the brazier where the middle-aged performer had ignited a pile of wood and flame, smiling at the crowd, then suddenly bent down and inhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Inhale…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the flames curled into a spiral, thickening then thinning, as if alive, rising and sliding into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The onlookers fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man showed no sign of distress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his mouth to demonstrate—nothing inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly he exhaled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another column of fire shot skyward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The onlookers were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this fire column was shorter and more scattered than the middle-aged performer’s, the old man had consumed nothing, and the act of drawing fire into his belly then spitting it out carried far greater visual impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed almost like divine art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your kindness is hard to refuse; I cannot decline further, so I must come forward and make a fool of myself. But please step back a bit—I am old, my strength less than this strong man or the young ones. If my scattered flames scorch your hair or skin, I take no responsibility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the middle-aged performer before him, the old man circled the open space, spewing fire columns over the crowd’s heads, letting them feel the searing heat—even scorching their hair—to prove the flames were real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clanging of gongs and drums added to the crowd’s shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flame shot past Lin Jue’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue was one of the very few who did not step back; even as the flame passed, he only shielded the mouth of his basket in front, not his head—the old man truly lacked the strength of the young, and the flames were more scattered, yet Lin Jue immediately felt the fierce, surging power of the heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a strange feeling stirred within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue suddenly remembered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When that demon had breathed smoke at him in the Wang family ancestral hall in Heng Village, he had felt this same sensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he did not know if his guess was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dazed, Lin Jue raised a hand to touch his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few strands of hair were slightly curled.\u003C\u002Fp>",1896,"2026-06-20T14:45:35.226Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9a00f4df94829b1207d705337f5e723bdedc5c1aeb61e5006a6da6279ea5b181","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-8","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-6",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]