Chapter 330 - 323: The Marvelous, Uncanny, and Ultimate Pocket Trick

A tiny pocket swallowed a whole person. This bizarre scene instantly made the audience’s hair stand on end.

Below the stage, the villagers cried out in alarm.

"The man... where’s the man?"

"Where did he go?"

"Did the pocket really swallow him? This... this... isn’t this murder?"

"How is that possible? Isn’t this just an act?"

"But if it’s not murder, then where did he go...?"

Before the crowd’s murmurs died down, Brother Yun on stage was already holding up his shriveled leather pouch, showing it off to everyone.

He held the pouch open, facing the crowd. The villagers could see clearly that its inside was pitch-black and empty. There was clearly nothing in it.

Just as before, Brother Yun turned the leather pouch upside down, its opening facing the floor, and gave it a good smack. And just like before, nothing came out.

After this repeated demonstration, he picked up the leather pouch and began to walk in circles on the stage, performing various dance-like, ritualistic movements.

His steps were strange and mysterious, moving with a special rhythm. Every gesture held an ancient, esoteric allure. Down below, the ceaselessly murmuring villagers fell silent without realizing it. They all stared, necks craned and mouths agape, completely entranced.

Brother Yun danced for another moment while the rest of the Dechun Troupe’s performers either played fiddles, blew on reed pipes, or struck bronze bells, creating waves of mystical melodies.

WHUMMM—

WHUMMM—

WHUMMM!

Amidst the mystical music, Brother Yun, who had been dancing all over the stage, suddenly stopped. He stood in the center of the stage, rose onto his toes, and held his leather pouch high before turning it upside down. He then let out a sharp cry, "Ha! Come out!"

"WOAH—!"

The crowd below gasped.

From the empty, shriveled leather pouch, a human figure tumbled out.

The figure landed like a rigid pole and rolled. Upon closer inspection, this pole-like figure had only one leg and one arm. Compared to before, when he had all his limbs, he was now disabled!

But that wasn’t all.

The one-armed man quickly pulled an arm out of the upside-down pouch. With a SNAP, he used his left hand to reattach his right arm.

A moment later, he pulled a right leg out of the pouch and attached it to the stump at his right hip.

In just a few moments, he went from being disabled to having all four limbs intact.

With all his limbs restored, the figure did a sudden backflip and landed squarely before the crowd once more.

It was none other than the painted performer who had been swallowed by the leather pouch earlier.

The entire audience fell silent. The villagers below were so stunned they almost forgot to breathe.

It was only when the tall, painted performer walked over to Brother Yun, stood beside him, and they both bowed to the crowd below that the villagers erupted in astonished shouts.

"AHHHH!"

The rising and falling screams were almost loud enough to overturn the stage, interspersed with shouts of, "Bravo! That was amazing!"

"Incredible! What a show!"

"What kind of trick is that? That was so cool!"

"Dechun Troupe! Dechun Troupe! Incredible! Incredible!"

"AHHHH—"

Amidst the various screams, a high-pitched cry would occasionally ring out: "HONK HONK HONK! HAWNK HAWNK HAWNK!"

It was the Big White Goose, honking with delight. It was also enjoying the show immensely.

’This goose had never experienced anything so interesting in its life. I was just a domestic goose; how could I have ever imagined that one day, I would not only follow my master out into the vast world, but also witness so many wondrous and amusing things in the Mortal World?’

"HONK HONK HONK! GAH GAH GAH!"

The Big White Goose stretched its neck and flew straight into the air, enjoying a perfect view.

Even in its extreme joy, it didn’t forget to look back at Song Ciwan every so often. As long as it saw Song Ciwan standing behind it with a slight smile, it felt at ease.

So it dove back into the crowd of children, running and shouting along with them.

Sometimes it would even lift a child into the air, using the wind from its flapping wings to carry the child up and down.

The Big White Goose’s Magical Power was limited, so of course, it couldn’t make a child fully levitate using its Wind Manipulation.

But even this brief, gentle lift before being set back on the ground made the child chosen by the Big White Goose shriek with delight.

"Wow! Goose, White Goose Immortal, you’re the best, hahaha!"

"White Goose Immortal, me too! Let me try!"

"I want to fly too! I’m flying, hee hee hee!"

The joyful cries of the children, the amazed gasps of the adults, and the fantastical transformations of the tricks on stage all blended together, echoing through the small village nestled between mountains and rivers. It seemed as if even the clouds in the sky paused for a moment, held in place by the wave of heat rising from the Mortal World.

Sunlight spilled down, gracing the world.

Under such a bright sky, although Brother Yun’s magic trick seemed incredibly eerie, it also had an indescribable comedic feel.

The excitement washed away the fear. Seeing that Brother Yun and the painted performer seemed ready to leave the stage after their bow, some of the more boisterous villagers couldn’t help but shout, "Don’t go! One more time!"

"Don’t go! One more time!"

"One more time! One more time!"

...

The villagers all began to clamor in unison, their calls for an encore coming one after another.

This lively atmosphere also greatly pleased the Gu Family, who were hosting the banquet. As hosts, the more joyous the occasion, the better.

When Ancient Major Sect saw how skilled the troupe he had hired was, he felt it brought him great honor.

His father, Old Gu, was also incredibly pleased. Amidst the sounds of people’s compliments, he urged Ancient Major Sect, "Eldest, go talk to the troupe master. Have them perform the pouch act one more time."

Ancient Major Sect agreed and walked over to speak with the troupe master, who was waiting by the side of the stage.

After hearing him out, the troupe master gestured to Brother Yun, who was standing in the center of the stage.

Brother Yun nodded to show he understood. He held up his leather pouch and announced to the villagers below, "Friends, another performance exactly the same wouldn’t be very interesting. How about we try a fresh new twist?"

The villagers were very supportive. Someone shouted up from the crowd in response, "Alright! What’s the new twist?"

Brother Yun said, "Are there any brave souls out there willing to come on stage and perform this pouch trick with me, to try out the fun of my humble pouch?"

"Woah!" The crowd below was instantly in an uproar.

’Go on stage and try the pouch ourselves?’

’That’s a whole different story! The pouch looks eerie and strange. It’s one thing to watch the spectacle from below, but to go up there and be part of the act... that would be... that would be...’

’...absolutely terrifying!’

A sense of fear crept into the crowd. However, a few boys in their early teens had shining eyes and looked eager to try.

One of the youths shouted, "I’ll do it! I—MMMPH!"

His older sister had clamped a hand over his mouth. The boy tried to struggle but received a flick on the forehead. "Feeling restless, are we? So full of yourself, why don’t you just fly up to the sky? You want to try everything, do you? Why don’t you go try the exam at the Child Examination Institute and come back a Scholar to bring honor to our ancestors!"

"Ow... Sis, Sis! I was wrong, let me go..."

The youth was subdued. Just as it seemed no one would answer Brother Yun’s proposal and the stage was about to fall into an awkward silence, Little Yao Family, who had been waiting at the edge of the stage, finally seized her chance and walked out.

She stomped up the side steps right onto the stage, lifted her head, and said in a clear, crisp voice, "I’ll do it! I’ll give it a try with you!"

"It’s Mr. Gu’s wife!" The crowd was in an uproar once again.

The Gu family was shocked. Little Yao Family’s husband, Mr. Gu, paled and roared, "Yao Ermei, what do you think you’re doing, woman?"

But some villagers started to cheer them on. "The Gu family is so bold! Great! Let’s see it! Let’s see it!"