Chapter 173: The Meeting of Two Transmigrators |
Rhine led the pear vendor and the onlookers down the street, taking several turns, and sure enough, they spotted the Taoist.
The ragged Taoist was lying by a wall, fanning himself lazily with a broken fan while munching on a big, juicy pear, looking utterly content.
“What a good pear. Didn’t want to give it to me before, huh? Well,l now I’ve got all of them! Hahahahaha!”
He took another big bite, then looked up—only to see a whole crowd coming his way. He jumped in shock.
He’d slipped away pretty far... how did this group manage to find him?
Leading the group was none other than the pear vendor.
"Good fellow, it was you who created an illusion and stole my pears!"
When the vendor saw the Taoist priest, he became furious and rushed toward him.
"Today, you must provide me with an explanation!" the Taoist exclaimed.
The vendor felt unsteady, and as his feet slipped, he lost his balance and fell forward, nearly landing face-down on the ground.
"Ahhh!"
Just as his face was about to hit the ground, an invisible gust of wind lifted the vendor and helped him regain his balance.
Rhine approached the vendor from behind and addressed the Taoist priest.
"You used magic to steal someone's pears. I witnessed this injustice, and I want you to provide him with an explanation today."
Since arriving in this land, Rhine has adapted to the local customs and speaks with great eloquence.
"The breeze just now felt quite unusual. Could it be that this child possesses some magic? That could be somewhat troublesome..."
The Taoist priest was astonished to discover that the child possessed certain skills.
"But I'm not afraid. There are many talented individuals in this world."
"How can a young boy, who hasn't even grown all his hair, turn the world upside down?"
The Taoist was fearless. He leaned against the wall, fanning himself, and said to Rhine in a leisurely manner:
"What? Do you still believe you are serving justice? On the contrary, I am punishing a miser and seeking justice for all.
The Taoist spoke in a menacing tone:
"Child, I see that you are well-dressed in exquisite clothing. I assume you come from a wealthy family. Let me advise you: why risk standing up for a commoner? If you find yourself in trouble, the consequences could be severe!"
Rhine refuted the theory proposed by the Taoist priest.
"If others offer you pears, it is a kind gesture; if they do not offer you pears, it is also their responsibility. This does not justify stealing from others."
The Taoist snorted, raised his fan, and pointed at the individuals behind Rhine.
"It is often said that justice resides in the hearts of the people. Consequently, the side with more supporters is deemed just."
"Don't forget, at the beginning, everyone encouraged that miser to give me pears. When I treated everyone to pears, they were all very happy!"
The Taoist stood up and addressed the crowd:
"I will share the miser's pears with everyone, allowing all to quench their thirst during the hot summer. Isn't that a wonderful thing? Don't you all agree?"
Many people felt sympathy for the pear vendor and chose to remain silent.
Among the spectators who gathered to enjoy the spectacle, there were several individuals skilled in various activities, and they intentionally offered their cheers.
"Indeed, thank you for sharing the pears with us. Otherwise, I, a less fortunate individual, would never have had the opportunity to taste such delicious pears in my life."
"That's correct. The pear seller has visited the city numerous times, and he has consistently been quite stingy. Although he has a cart full of pears, the last time I asked him for one, he did not respond kindly."
"Who advised him to be a miser? If I can allow him to experience a loss once, it will serve as a valuable lesson for him to remember."
The pear vendor had a bad temper and was competing with other vendors for business, which made him unpopular on weekdays. Some neighbors noticed that he was suffering losses, and they took the opportunity to enjoy the pears for themselves. Consequently, they secretly felt pleased and supported the Taoists who had stolen the pears.
When the pear vendor heard the people around him joining in the merriment, he grew even angrier and pointed at everyone.
"When you ate the pears, you were unaware, and that was acceptable."
"Now that you know it was he who stole my pears, you still support the Taoist and mock me in return. This is truly too much!"
Rhine looked around and saw that many people were taking advantage of the situation. Some were preoccupied with their problems, while others were driven by greed for small gains. Their faces showed disdain, representing a wide range of characters.
He recalled the many evil acts he had seen in his past life, including the incident that exemplified the bullying of the minority by the majority. A group of people, relying on their numbers, completely overwhelmed one person, leaving him to sigh in despair.
Rhine quickly devised a plan.
He cupped his hands and spoke to the Taoist:
"It is said that justice resides in the hearts of the people."
"Since many people support your position, it appears that the pear vendor is mistaken in this matter.
"You have harmed one individual while benefiting the public. This is not a bad deed; rather, it is a significant act of righteousness!
Aurora was taken aback to hear Rhine say this.
Teacher, how could you accept the Taoist's twisted logic?
However, this thought was fleeting. Based on Aurora's understanding of Rhine, she guessed that the teacher must have other intentions!
However, this thought was fleeting. Based on Aurora's understanding of Rhine, she suspected that the teacher must have other intentions.
The pear vendor noticed that Rhine, who had been assisting him, suddenly turned against him, seized the child, and shouted.
"Don't you say you would stand up for me?"
Rhine feigned a scolding tone, saying, "Look, more people are supporting the Taoist priest than you. Justice resides in the hearts of the people. Where there are more supporters, there is justice."
"They ate my pears and took advantage of me, which is why they behaved this way. The vendor initially argued with conviction but then changed his mind and expressed regret.
"Oh, it's because I typically have poor relationships with people. Today, since I'm in trouble, everyone is taking advantage of me."
The Taoist priest recognized that the matter was settled and was preparing to leave when he noticed Rhine speaking to everyone.
"Everyone, please differentiate between right and wrong. I have prepared several gifts to express my gratitude to you."
Most of the spectators who gathered to enjoy the event were either curious onlookers or individuals who had just eaten pears. Noticing that the silver-haired child was well-dressed and clearly from a wealthy family, it was evident that the gifts he presented must be substantial, prompting everyone to praise him.
Only the pear vendor squatted to the side, feeling dejected.
Rhine waved his hand, and a cloud of mist erupted, revealing a stack of yellow talismans that materialized in his palm.
Seeing that this child truly possessed magical powers, everyone applauded and praised him!
"This is a talisman designed to ward off evil spirits and cure ailments. If a family member is unwell, burn the talisman to create ash water and allow the patient to drink it. They will be cured within a day."
"These talismans were crafted by a Taoist who dedicated significant effort, harnessed all his magical abilities, followed multiple intricate processes, and invested several years in their creation."
"We have met by chance, I will give it to you for free!"
After saying that, Rhine tossed the talisman into the air and threw it to the crowd that was watching with excitement.
When they realized that the young man truly possessed magical skills, they understood that his claims were genuine. The talisman must be authentic. Even if they did not intend to use it themselves, they could sell it to wealthy individuals. Consequently, they stepped forward and eagerly competed for the scattered talismans.
"Thank you for the gift, Young Lord!"
"Young Lord, I will accept the treasure without hesitation!"
Everyone cheered, but the Taoist priest's eyes widened in shock at the sight before him.
He swiftly reached into the cloth bag in his pocket.
Sure enough, the bag was empty.
His cherished talisman has vanished!
The Taoist priest was not a genuine Taoist priest. He had stumbled upon this opportunity by chance and learned some magical skills from a master in the mountains. This time, he pretended to be a Taoist priest and descended from the mountain to the city with the intention of selling a talisman that had taken him many years to create, hoping to profit from wealthy individuals. As he walked along the road, he noticed a vendor selling pears, and feeling parched, he approached the vendor to ask for some pears.
Who would have thought that before the treasure could be utilized, it was stolen by a child using some unknown method?
"Stop! Stop! Don't try to steal it."
"Those talismans belong to me!
The Taoist priest waved his hands frantically to disperse the crowd.
Seeing the distress of the Taoist priest, the crowd recognized that the talismans were indeed genuine, and they immediately fought even more fiercely.
A few individuals quickly retreated and ceased fighting. However, more people grabbed the talismans, swiftly stuffed them into their pockets, and turned to flee.
Even if the Taoist priest possessed certain skills, what difference would it make?
Everyone is fighting; how can you still bother me alone?
"My belongings!"
The Taoist priest stepped forward in an attempt to pursue him, but he noticed the crowd dispersing in all directions, making it impossible to follow.
Although he possessed some magical abilities, they were ultimately mere tricks unworthy of the stage. How could he possibly compare to the great magical power of Rhine, capable of moving mountains and turning rivers and seas upside down? Confronted with this reality, he could only sigh in resignation.
"Oh, my treasures! All gone!"
The Taoist priest was furious; he grabbed Rhine by the collar and lifted the child off the ground.
"Brat, how dare you steal my belongings!"
"Do you know how many years and how many complex processes I must undergo to imbue these talismans with the power of magic?"
Rhine smiled and said,
"Look, you seemed so happy when people were stealing your belongings."
"You stated that justice resides in the hearts of the people and that you are righteous when you show generosity to others. Why can't you extend the same generosity now, when people are fighting for what belongs to you?"
The pear vendor observed the Taoist priest experiencing misfortune and laughed, feeling a great sense of satisfaction.
The Taoist was so angry that he recognized he was in the wrong and could not argue. Consumed by fury, he disregarded the consequences and pinched Rhine's neck directly.
"Kid, I will strangle you to death!"
The Taoist priest exerted all his strength to strangle Rhine to death. However, it felt as though he were grasping a piece of raw iron. Not only was he unable to tighten his grip, but his hands also ached from the effort.
The Taoist priest examined it closely.
He pinched what turned out to be a cold stone statue, while Rhine had managed to escape at some point, standing to the side and looking at him with a smile.
The fraudulent Taoist priest turned around and lunged at Rhine once more, but he did not anticipate that the silver-haired child would sigh softly and expand his form.
In the blink of an eye, Rhine transformed into a magnificent golden dragon, summoning gusts of wind, flames soaring into the sky, and thunder rumbling in the daylight.
People in the distance witnessed this scene and pointed to the sky in amazement, proclaiming that a god had descended to the world.
"Master, please spare me!"
The fraudulent Taoist priest collapsed to the ground in terror, tears streaming down his face. He realized that he had offended either a master or a deity.
"Please spare me. I won't dare to do it again!" The Taoist knelt and pleaded for mercy.
"Go away," Rhine's magnificent and resonant voice echoed through the air.
"Thank you, Master. I'll leave immediately." Taoist priest, filled with fear, quickly stood up to depart.
"Wait!" Rhine's voice called out to him once more.
"Master, do you have any other advice?" The Taoist priest turned around in alarm.
"You just stole a cart of pears. It's not worth much money at most. You shouldn't use the entire body talisman to offset it." Rhine's magnificent voice resonated once more, "Check your cloth bag and pocket."
The Taoist priest touched the talismans and discovered that the ones everyone had just picked up had reappeared. After counting them, he found that only three were missing.
"What a remarkable skill!"
"What a skill!"
The Taoist priest was amazed and knelt to thank him: "Thank you for your kindness."
After saying that, he left as fast as he could to run for his life.
Seeing the fake Taoist priest running away, Rhine turned into a human form and looked at the surprised pear vendor.
"Young master has such a skill, he is powerful. Could it be that he is a god who has descended to earth?" The pear vendor was shocked.
Seeing the vendor's surprise, Rhine just smiled.
Now, with his extraordinary ability, he could already change everything in the world at will with the Transfiguration Spell that he had mastered in the past. If he wanted, let alone create this little gust of wind and light, even making the purple air come from the east for 800 miles and making all the flowers in the world bloom, it would only take a thought.
Rhine took out three yellow talismans and handed them to the pear vendor:
"I have confiscated the three talismans from the Taoist priest as compensation for his stealing the cart of pears."
"I have just told you about the ability of this talisman to ward off evil spirits and cure diseases. If you sell them, you can make up for the loss of your cart of pears, and even have several times the surplus."
The pear vendor nodded and bowed and thanked him hurriedly:
"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir. I didn't expect that a small business like me would meet a person like you."
The vendor thanked Rhine again and again, turned around, and left, disappearing around the corner.
"Teacher, you made such a big noise just now, will it attract other people in this royal city? "Aurora said with a little concern.
Rhine had just created a sky full of golden light, and there were witnesses within a radius of at least several miles!
"Don't worry," Rhine said calmly.
At this time, people from all over the city who had just seen the golden dragon rising into the sky and the flames soaring into the sky were stunned at the same time, and then they forgot what they had just seen and went back to what they were doing.
Only the fake Taoist priest and the pear vendor retained a complete memory. What they saw today will definitely be unforgettable for a lifetime.
"However, one person must have been attracted."
Rhine showed a smug smile and waited for the visitor.
Drip, Drip.
The sky was overcast, and raindrops fell, covering the world with a hazy veil.
"Do you think the scene just now is familiar, Rhine? "
A crisp and gentle female voice sounded behind the Rhine.
In the hazy drizzle, a black-haired girl walked slowly.
She half-squinted her eyes, with a sly smile on her face, and her waist-length hair hung down like a waterfall, swaying gently. The raindrops dissipated consciously when approaching her, and not a drop fell on her.
Ye Ruge.
The founder of the Witch Society!
"Of course, I am familiar with it. The story that just happened comes from"
"Planting Pears" is a story from Pu Songling's collection. When I read this story, I felt that the pear vendor was a little pitiful."
At this point, Rhine smiled again:
"I didn't expect that today I could personally participate in it and rewrite the existing ending."
After speaking, Rhine looked at Ye Ruge: "Is this the story you experienced in the East?"
"Yes." Ye Ruge nodded.
"Many years ago, I traveled to this continent and found that what happened here were all strange stories that I was familiar with in my previous life."