Clouds were gathering in the west, and the dim Fu Shui County gradually darkened amid the hustle and bustle. One after another, strange people who came in response to the notice entered the Chen Mansion, and were soon warmly invited in by the old servant in charge.
The gravel path through the flower garden leads to a two-story wooden building at the end. Big lanterns begin to light up and rise above the roof. More than a dozen pretty maids in long skirts carry dishes in a long line and walk through the warm red lights. The hall in front is noisy and people's shouts, laughter and curses become clear, and from time to time there are greetings like "Nice to meet you!" and "I've heard a lot about you!"
There were seven tables in the main hall, with six to seven people sitting at each table. The atmosphere was lively as people drank and chatted. A man with a shaved head, wearing a dirty yellow cassock and rolled up his sleeves, would play finger-guessing games with the people next to him while drinking, or sit silently in the back, glancing around.
On the second floor, two pairs of eyes watched this scene quietly.
"Dad, so many people came with just a notice. I'm afraid the monster won't dare to come."
The young man holding the wine glass looked at the crowd of people in strange costumes below, holding the fence tightly with his other hand, with excitement on his face, "Dad, among these people, how many do you think are very capable?"
Mr. Chen was also watching the scene below, then he turned his head to look at his son.
"There are some unskilled people who are just filling the numbers. My father has lived in Fushui County for so many years, and there are always some familiar faces among these people... If they are unable to subdue the monster, it is good for them to die for you. With so many people, our family can still afford to support them."
As he said this, he waved to his son.
"Follow me and greet these people."
Walking down the wooden steps from the second floor, many people were toasting and eating meat. When they saw Mr. Chen and his son coming out, they stood up quickly. Some of them were drunk and staggered where they stood. Some sober people walked forward and raised their hands, saying, "Mr. Chen is so generous and treated us with good wine and good meat. We are very grateful."
"Mr. Wang, you are too polite. I am also well-known for your reputation in Qiaoluo Street." Chen Yuanwai returned the greeting with a smile, and bowed to the strange people around him: "My family has suddenly encountered a disaster. It is all thanks to the great help of you masters. If there is not enough wine, water and meat, just tell the steward to bring it up."
The crowd cheered loudly.
"Mr. is so heroic!"
"Such a kind-hearted person should be given all possible assistance—"
"Mr. Chen, just have a good sleep tonight."
…
Mr. Chen was grinning from ear to ear, and took his son to socialize a few times. The old man named Wang Banxia accompanied two tables. He was a little drunk and talked about slaying demons and eliminating monsters in high spirits, as if he was really a cultivator in the mountains. He gestured with chopsticks a few times, winning applause from the whole room.
At this time, the seats in the hall had been messed up. Wang Banxia staggered around for a long time but couldn't find his previous seat, so he just sat down at a random table. With his drunken eyes, he looked across at eight tall and strong men holding whole chickens, ducks, and pork elbows... He took big bites and chewed them, then swallowed them down with a burp.
“What a strong man…” Wang Banxia said with a smile, and turned around. This time he found another figure beside him. He was covered in a gray cloak, and only his chin could be seen. He was picking up food and eating slowly.
"This brother..."
As soon as he said this, his smile suddenly froze. The hand he stretched out to pat the other person hung in mid-air and began to tremble slightly. Then, he slowly turned around, stood up with trembling legs, and walked out one step at a time.
"There's a demon... Damn it... There really is a demon..."
He pulled the person passing by, pointed tremblingly to the table of the man in the cloak, and stammered something.
"There is a monster..."
"What a bullshit monster! It has hands and feet and is eating vegetables. It's not eating people. Where did this monster come from? Go away!" The man waved his hand impatiently and went to the next table with a bowl of wine to play finger-guessing games.
Wang Banxia looked for other people, but they were all driven away. He turned around to look at the strange man at the table, swallowed, turned around and walked out.
"… It's better to run away. Saving your life is the most important thing."
In the hall, Lu Pan took a piece of mutton and put it into his mouth. With a flushed face, he said to the young man under the shadow of the cloak: "Liangsheng, eat more. You don't usually have the chance to eat the food of a rich family."
He tilted his head and raised his chin to the other seven people: "How about it? Come in, it will be more enjoyable than eating dry food and steamed buns!"
Lu Qing and the other seven people sitting around the table wiped their greasy mouths and laughed. This meal was indeed very satisfying for them. On weekdays, they mostly had plain tea and light meals. Occasionally, they would catch prey in the mountains and exchange it for money and rice. They only had a little offal to eat.
Among the crowd, only Lu Liangsheng ate in a more polite manner, but he also ate a lot of meat and rice. He raised his face slightly and smiled, "Then Uncle Pan, eat more. I've almost had enough."
The piece of cooked meat held by the chopsticks in his hand was shaken gently, and a long scarlet tongue popped out from under the slightly gap in the cloak and rolled up the piece of meat without leaving a trace.
After a moment, a voice that only the young man could hear was saying, "Liangsheng, take another piece. The master wants the braised fat meat."
Until the Toad Taoist took the piece of braised pork into his mouth, slowly ground it, and lay on his apprentice's thigh with great enjoyment, savoring it while saying, "This place is filled with gloomy air, there must be evil spirits, which will appear at midnight. We'd better leave quickly, your level of Taoism is not good enough."
"Yes... it's a pity about the five hundred taels." Lu Liangsheng would naturally listen to his master. He had not noticed it from the outside before, but after entering the courtyard, he could vaguely feel that the evil and sinister aura in the side yard not far from the wooden building had begun to spread to the entire Chen Mansion.
As they were talking quietly, someone came over from the aisle with heavy footsteps. Looking sideways, they saw a fat butcher with his chest exposed and the butcher knife stuck on his waist. He was holding a jar of wine in one hand and a large bowl in the other.
He walked to Lu Liangsheng and glanced at the eight people.
"Why isn't anyone drinking at your table?"
Lu Pan and others were not to be outdone. They raised their wine bowls and shouted, "Who said no one wants to drink?" Then they raised their heads and drank it all in one gulp, showing the bottom of the bowl to the butcher.
"happy!"
The butcher laughed loudly. As a rough and unruly man, he liked this bold and direct way of doing things. He immediately poured himself a bowl of wine, put the jar of wine on the ground, and walked around the table to Lu Pan.
"Good man, come here and I'll give you a bowl!"
On the way over, he bumped into Lu Liangsheng with a bang. That guy was fat, and the boy swayed all over on the stool. Toad, who was lying comfortably on his legs, was still saying, "These people are just here to eat and drink for free, none of them..." His body suddenly tilted, and he grabbed the bed sheet with his hands and feet dancing.
The moment the cloth touched, it slid directly over his webbed feet. The Toad stared at him, "Who washed this? It's so slippery!" Instantly, with a thud, it fell into the jar, splashing a few water stains.
There was a series of gurgling bubbles.
“Master!”
Lu Liangsheng was also startled. He reached into the jar, took out the toad from the wine, and put it on his legs. Taoist Zixing was lying on his stomach, his limbs were limp, and wine was still coming out of his mouth.
With half-closed eyes, he raised his head, looked at Lu Liangsheng, and raised his flippers tremblingly.
"This wine is watered down... quack!"
His head tilted and he collapsed.