Chapter 400: Smash Away

Chapter 400: Chapter 400: Smash Away

At first, Ji Huan thought the old Daoist was trying to pull some new trick, but after hearing what he had to say, she started to believe him.

When she had first examined Guan Shan’s wounds, she’d noticed that the severed tendons had already been crudely treated. If they hadn’t been, his condition would have been far worse when she found him, and it would have been impossible for him to recover as well as he had.

"Was it him?" Ji Huan asked softly, tugging on Guan Shan’s sleeve.

Guan Shan frowned.

He had tried to recall the time before he arrived in Dafeng Village, but his memories of that period were a chaotic, hazy blur. He couldn’t remember anything clearly.

The old Daoist clutched his chest, feigning utter heartbreak.

"I worked myself to the bone dragging you out of the river and to the Land God Temple! For that entire month, even though I didn’t look after you much, every day after swind— ahem, after I finished work, I’d stop by to bring you some food. You don’t remember any of it? And what about the mute poison you were forced to drink? If it wasn’t for this humble monk’s special concoction, you’d be a mute right now!"

Ji Huan’s head snapped toward Guan Shan.

’That happened, too? He was forced to drink a mute poison?’

Guan Shan’s face grew grim, as if he recalled the incident.

That was all the confirmation Ji Huan needed.

’No wonder... The first time Guan Shan spoke, his voice was so hoarse and raspy. It sounded so strange.’

’It still was, a little, but she had grown used to it and didn’t notice anymore.’

’Back then, she had assumed it was just because he hadn’t spoken in a long time. To think he was the victim of such a vicious attack.’

Ji Huan clenched her fists, a fire igniting in her heart.

His face ruined, the tendons in his limbs severed... and that wasn’t enough for them. They even forced a mute poison down his throat! What kind of grudge could justify such vicious, cruel methods?

"And you!" The old Daoist turned his attention to Ji Huan.

"It’s true I accidentally got you into trouble, but I made up for it! Why else do you think Young Master Bai’s grave suddenly exploded?

That was my doing!

When I heard from the Bai Mansion servants that you were still alive, I snuck into the woodshed. I was afraid you’d stop breathing again, so I fed you a medicinal pill.

I also secretly drilled several holes in the coffin lid. Otherwise, you would have suffocated in there!

And now you want to hand me over to the authorities! Tell me, haven’t I been wronged?!"

Ji Huan’s brow furrowed. "Are you a monk or a Daoist? You keep getting your titles mixed up."

The old Daoist, who had been passionately proclaiming his innocence, froze. He chuckled sheepishly. "Got them mixed up, got them mixed up... To be honest, whether you’re a Buddhist or a Taoist, there’s not much difference. We’re all one big family, one big family..."

"So you’re a pragmatist. You just pick whichever faith is more convenient for your cons, is that it?"

The old Daoist’s eyes widened, and he held up two fingers. "I swear, if I’ve told a single lie this time, may I never be able to fool another soul for the rest of my life!"

’What kind of ridiculous oath was that?’

Still, to be fair, Ji Huan was inclined to believe the old Daoist.

The night Young Master Bai was buried had been clear, yet a massive thunderclap had struck out of nowhere. It couldn’t have been more bizarre.

Unfortunately, she had been trapped in the coffin at the time and had no idea what was happening outside, only hearing a cacophony of screams and sobs...

Historically, the invention of gunpowder was closely linked to Taoist alchemy. If this old Daoist was responsible, it would certainly explain things.

The old Daoist was a sly one. Seeing that Ji Huan was no longer scowling at him, he resumed his act of sorrowful indignation.

"Ever since I came down from the mountain, I have lived by the principle of performing one good deed a day..."

Ji Huan cut him off with a scoff. "You perform one good deed a day because you commit countless evil ones and are afraid of being struck by lightning!"

The old Daoist sputtered. "Regardless, I did save the both of you! I’m not looking for a reward, but you can’t just bully me like this!"

"First, a correction. If you hadn’t convinced Housekeeper Bai, it never would have been my turn for the burial sacrifice. So you weren’t saving me, you were atoning for your sin. I hope you understand that. As for you saving Guan Shan..."

Ji Huan glanced at Guan Shan. Their eyes met for a moment, and she said reluctantly, "Fine. We’ll give you credit for that one. You can go now."

The old Daoist’s whiskers bristled. "Is that it? That’s so half-hearted!"

"What else do you want? Search your conscience. Haven’t you done enough shady things in your life? What’s wrong with doing a good deed to build up some good karma? Besides, he doesn’t even remember you, so who knows if you’re telling the truth? We just can’t be bothered to argue with you."

The old Daoist was fuming.

As if that wasn’t enough to twist the knife, Ji Huan added, "And what about you trying to swindle our employee just now? How should we settle that score?"

’Okay, that’s scary. Time to go, time to go.’

"Fine, I admit defeat! Can’t I?!"

The old Daoist grabbed his "Fortune Telling and Disaster Averting" banner and trudged dejectedly out of the shop.

Ji Huan shouted after him, "If I ever catch you spouting nonsense about people’s fates again, I’ll find someone to shave your head and make you a real monk!"

The old Daoist faltered for a second, then took off like a shot, practically flying out of sight.

Ji Huan told Xu Laifu and Zhou to watch the shop, then went into the backyard with Guan Shan.

"I know he might have saved you, but he’s a strange character, and we don’t know anything about him, so..." ’That’s why I came up with all those nitpicky excuses to send him away.’

Guan Shan grunted in agreement. "It’s your decision."

Ji Huan hesitated for a moment, but she had to ask the question on her mind. The suspense was killing her.

"Who would do that to you, and why? Do you have an enemy you can’t live under the same sky with?"

For a fleeting moment, a tempest seemed to rage in Guan Shan’s eyes. But just as quickly, he lowered his gaze, his voice perfectly calm.

"I’m going to check on Dabao."

After Guan Shan left, Ji Huan tilted her head back and sighed, feeling helpless.

But then, another thought occurred to her.

’The old Daoist claimed he was the one who brought Guan Shan to Dafeng Village. Why there, of all places? It couldn’t have been a random choice, could it?’

’Too bad he’s already gone. Otherwise, I could have pressed him for answers.’

’Oh well. I should focus on my own business for now.’

Just as she was about to find Xu Laifu to discuss a new strategy, she heard a burst of gloating laughter from the front of the shop.

"Let’s see what kind of junk you’re selling that you don’t have a single customer!"

Di Rong swaggered through the door, swinging a horsewhip. He was followed by his usual young attendant and several other followers.

He strode over to a shelf, picked up a packet of seasoning, and after a cursory glance, sneered and tossed it on the floor.

Zhou glanced at him, walked over, bent down to pick it up, and placed it back on the shelf.

Di Rong shoved him aside impatiently and swept the entire row of products off the shelf.

Zhou simply bent down and continued to pick them up.

"You—!" Xu Laifu started to step forward, but several of the followers blocked his path.

Di Rong scoffed and swaggered over to the sauces and vinegars.

He randomly grabbed a clay bottle from the shelf, uncorked it, and took a whiff. His face immediately contorted in disgust.

"What the hell is this stuff?!"

His hand went limp, and the clay bottle fell to the floor, shattering with a loud CRASH. The sharp scent of vinegar filled the air.

Xu Laifu couldn’t believe it. Even after they stopped setting up their stall at the Horse Market, they still ran into this menace!

"With junk like this, no wonder you can’t sell anything! And here I was, taking time out of my busy schedule to come smash up your shop."

Pinching his nose, Di Rong walked back to the seasoning shelf, his face a mask of utter disgust.

"Turns out I don’t even need to lift a finger! Am I right, boys?"

A horse-faced young man beside him chimed in obsequiously, "Of course, Young Master Di! From the looks of it, you won’t have to waste your energy. They’ll go out of business all on their own."

His other cronies chimed in with agreement, each laughing more heartily than the last.

Seeing their hard work repeatedly trampled and the shop so thoroughly humiliated, Xu Laifu couldn’t take it anymore.

Just as he was about to confront him, Ji Huan pushed aside the curtain and walked toward Di Rong.

"Young Master Di, time to pay your bill. That will be one mace and twenty cents."

Di Rong flinched and took an instinctive step back when he saw Ji Huan.

He immediately realized how pathetic that looked. Besides, he had followers with him this time; he wasn’t afraid of this crazy woman.

He puffed out his chest and jutted out his chin. "When did I say I was buying anything?"

Ji Huan pointed to a wooden sign hanging on the wall. It clearly read: "Malicious Vandalism: Pay Triple."

"One bottle of vinegar costs forty cents. Triple that is one mace and twenty cents. Our shop is honest with all its customers; we won’t overcharge you by a single copper coin. As for the seasoning packets, since they didn’t spill, we won’t charge you for those."

Di Rong scoffed. "You want my money? We’ll see if you’re still standing to collect it. Believe it or not, I could smash this whole pathetic shop to pieces."

Unflustered, Ji Huan grabbed the account book from the counter. She pulled the furious Xu Laifu and the stoic Zhou back to the doorway to make room, and then made a welcoming gesture.

"Go on. Smash away."