Chapter 8: Fire-hating technique

"Little brother, didn't burn you, right?"

"No, no..."

"Body, hair, and skin are received from parents. If we burn a few hairs, we are also ashamed."

"It's my own carelessness."

"Just stand further away, hehehe, let me inhale again."

The old man was full of smiles, seemingly extremely satisfied with the crowd's surprised reaction, and walked back to the fire basin, lowering his head to inhale deeply.

"Hiss..."

Immediately, the fierce fire was like smoke, entering his mouth and nose.

Lin Jue's eyes blurred, as if he saw these flames turning into a gas or mist emitting firelight when they reached his mouth, and after entering his mouth and nose, he could still see the luster through his flesh.

But this blur was only for a moment.

After a moment, everything was as usual.

Lin Jue couldn't help but raise his hand to rub his eyes, looked again, but saw nothing, only a proud old man spitting fire.

For a moment, he couldn't help but be confused and stunned.

Www? ttkдn? ￠〇

Not long after, both sides refused to give in, and actually agreed to compete, drawing a line in the middle of the field. The money on one side belonged to the old man, and the money on the other side belonged to the original trickster. Both sides used their skills, and the onlookers liked whoever they liked, so they threw money to one side, thus deciding the winner.

The trickster played the fishing trick.

The old man cut off his hand and presented it to the audience, then connected it back.

The trickster performed the silk-breaking trick.

The old man borrowed books and silk from the crowd, threw them all into the fire basin to burn, burned them to ashes, and after a while, took them out intact from other places.

For a moment, it was very exciting.

Some people liked purity, the old man performed better, so they threw money and other things to the old man's side; some felt that the middle-aged trickster was reasonable, and because he spoke very well, their impression of him was very good at the beginning, and now seeing him being bullied and wronged, they couldn't help but feel sympathy and injustice for him, so they threw more money and items to the middle-aged trickster's side.

There were also those who joined in the fun and threw to both sides, or were stingy with money and gave nothing.

It's just that Lin Jue gradually found something wrong—

When this group of tricksters performed magic tricks before, the few people behind beating drums and gongs and clapping cymbals was fine, but the two sides were clearly opposed, why were those few people also beating drums and gongs and setting off the atmosphere when the old man performed?

Could it be that the dispute between the two sides was so gentlemanly?

It continued until mid-afternoon, the tricksters were all exhausted, and onlookers began to go home one after another. These tricksters said that today's performance was over, and they closed the stall.

The old man laughed, seemingly winning the competition, bent down to pick up the money on his side, and waved his hand, generously giving the remaining items to the middle-aged trickster, and then walked away leisurely. The middle-aged trickster was angry and had to pretend to be graceful and salute to thank him. His face was still not good, but he still politely asked the onlookers to leave, saying that tomorrow's time and place would be good, and everyone could come again if they had time.

Lin Jue couldn't help but regret.

Didn't see more magic.

The surgery-breaking trick performed by the old man later was magical, and it was the one Lin Jue was relatively most sure of. It could mostly belong to the category of magic tricks, but he didn't have that strange feeling.

Only guessing, can't confirm the reason for the time being.

Also don't know if the ancient book has any reaction.

It was also until this time that he suddenly reacted, he had agreed with his cousin to meet on the street behind Luo Xian Temple.

That cousin's character was quite honest and upright, and he was only ten?

"Not good!"

Lin Jue hurriedly walked in that direction.

Walking through streets and alleys all the way.

Several times he wanted to stop and unload the basket, take out the ancient book from his bosom to look at it, but he stubbornly held back.

Until arriving at the designated position.

His cousin was indeed not here.

Lin Jue didn't know where he went, didn't dare to look for him casually, so he had to stand here and wait.

Fortunately, not long after, a black youth carrying a large basket walked over. From the shaking of the basket, it could be seen that it was empty.

Seeing Lin Jue, he hurriedly walked over.

"How long have you been here?"

"I... just arrived."

"Just arrived? Then did you go shopping? Did you see the magic tricks?" His cousin immediately opened his eyes wide.

"Saw it..."

Facing his clear eyes, Lin Jue felt a bit guilty.

"Whoosh..."

His cousin couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"It's good to go shopping. It's good to see it. There are too many people selling bamboo shoots today, many of them are little babies this high." His cousin gestured with his hand, about the same height as his chest, "Fortunately, I finally asked at the door of the nobles in the city according to what you said last time. When they saw the bamboo shoots were good, they all bought them."

"This?"

"Almost made you wait for me for a long time, fortunately you are smart."

"Hmm?"

"How did you know I couldn't sell them?"

"I..."

"Forget it if you don't say! Did you eat anything? The food is still with me. After eating, let's go shopping again, go to Luo Xian Temple to worship, and go back before dark. If it's late, I'm afraid people will disperse. Even if they don't disperse, I won't find a good position." His cousin took out two cakes from the basket and handed one to him first.

"Better go back before dark." Lin Jue thought of the ghosts he saw in the bamboo forest in the morning.

"It's in time, at worst run for a while."

"Hmm..."

Lin Jue had already taken the cake and started eating.

The cake is a thin pancake baked on a stove, thin and large or small. The one his aunt made was as big as a face, filled with dried plum vegetables or diced dried bamboo shoots, very dry, easy to carry, and is a dry food often carried by local merchants.

"Did you buy the medicine?"

"Bought it."

"How much cheaper?"

"Counting it up, it's two thousand cash less per month than last time."

"Let me see..."

The two chatted casually while walking.

It's just that Lin Jue was a bit absent-minded.

After eating, he worshipped at Luo Xian Temple and went around again. Unfortunately, he didn't see any extraordinary scenes. Even though he saw witches and sorcerers on the road, they didn't show any strange skills on the street. He saw a disabled Daoist fortune-telling under the bridge, but the two couldn't afford the fortune-telling money.

Until the sun slanted more and more, the two walked out.

When leaving the city, passing through a small alley, looking up inadvertently, Lin Jue was stunned.

The group of tricksters was in the alley ahead.

Looking carefully, not only was there the group of tricksters led by the middle-aged trickster, but there was also that old man, and even several onlookers who participated in the fuss, all gathered together, eating dry food.

That old man was still sitting on a wooden box, sitting the highest.

It looked like he was the leader.

Turning his head to see Lin Jue, seeing Lin Jue also looking at him, he was also surprised, smiled and put down the steamed bun in his hand, and said: "Little gentleman isn't here to ask me to pay for the hair, right?"

"Naturally not."

Lin Jue followed behind his cousin and walked towards them.

"Just passing by?"

"Just passing by."

"That's fate!"

"Indeed fate." Lin Jue nodded, looked at them left and right, thought for a while, and asked:

"Dare to ask old man, the one performed today, that, called fire-hating technique, is it magic?"

"Magic?" The old man was just about to bite the bun, but stopped, frowned, and said to him, "If you say it's not magic, it's really not an ordinary means. But if you say it's magic, if those high people with real cultivation and real skills hear it, I'm afraid they will laugh at us."

Meaning it is magic.

"Then..."

Lin Jue didn't know how to open his mouth for a while, organized his language, and asked: "Aren't those who know magic all cultivation high people? Why are you working hard to earn this bitter money here?"

"Hahahaha! What immortal high people? Just know some small tricks! Can't help us steal, can't help us rob, if we don't earn this bitter money, what else can we do?" The old man couldn't help but look up and laugh, "Not to mention we are just coming from the capital, going to Qiyuan Mountain Xuan Tian Temple to catch a Taoist meeting, and just happened to rest on the way, earning some travel money."

That middle-aged trickster nodded when he heard this: "Relying on skills to earn money, no matter how you earn it, it's not shameful. Cheating and kidnapping is shameful! Not to mention this is a proper trick passed down by the ancestors, it is meant to be performed for people to watch!"

"That makes sense." Lin Jue nodded, thoughtful, and then said, "Qiyuan Mountain Taoist meeting?"

"Yes..."

"Don't know what this is?"

"Your family lives here, don't you know Qiyuan Mountain? It is one of the famous Taoist mountains. The Great Offering this year is held at Qiyuan Mountain Xuan Tian Temple. We are all going to join the fun."

"Famous mountain..."

Lin Jue frowned and pondered.

"It's getting dark, two little gentlemen, don't think too much, go home quickly." The old man said with a smile.

"Dare to ask one more question, when is the Daoist meeting?"

"Little gentleman listens to too many stories. Even if you yearn for cultivation and immortals, don't put your mind here, go back." The old man had an expression of seeing too many young boys like them, waved his hand with a smile, but he was quite easy to talk to.

"Then thank you for your guidance."

Lin Jue followed the habits of people in this world, saluted them to show respect, and then left with his cousin.

But he couldn't help but look back while walking.

This group of tricksters was still sitting there, each gnawing on buns and drinking water, talking in low voices.

But don't know what tricks they will play tomorrow.

Or what drama they will stage.

Lin Jue just followed his cousin and quickened his pace.

Fortunately, he returned home before dark.

Lin Jue handed all the medicinal materials to his aunt for storage, and before eating, he returned to his room.

Took out the ancient book and hurriedly flipped it open.

The book really added a new chapter:

Fire-hating technique, also a trick. ===== CHAPTER 9 =====

Or perhaps what play would be staged next.

Lin Jue only followed his cousin and quickened his pace.

Narrowly managing to return home before dark.

Lin Jue handed all the medicinal herbs to his aunt for storage, and before he had even eaten, he returned to his room.

He took out the ancient book and hurriedly opened it.

The book had indeed added a new chapter:

Fire-Aversion Art, a theatrical trick.