The Wisdom of a Nobody

"This is truly great news."

Seeing that Old Man Yu seemed unconvinced, Li Tiezhu grew anxious and quickly continued his explanation.

"I was at home when I suddenly heard some kind of animal cry outside. I took a peek and saw a huge beast, easily weighing four to five hundred pounds. And it was badly injured.

If we kill it and cook it before the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster arrives, then dry it, we'll have enough food for the winter. It's much better than eating those hard rice cakes. Plus, eating beast meat will replenish our vitality, maybe even add a couple of years to our lifespan."

Tiezhu said, gesturing excitedly.

"Did you fight it?"

Old Man Yu looked him up and down and asked.

"How could I? Even though the beast is injured, judging by its size, I estimate it's no weaker than someone at Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment. I definitely can't do it alone, so I wanted to find you, and then call over that guy from the Zhang family. The three of us can kill it together."

Li Tiezhu explained his plan.

The "guy from the Zhang family" he mentioned was one of the two cultivators at Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment remaining in the settlement.

The other one, naturally, was Old Man Yu, standing before him.

After listening to Tiezhu's explanation, Old Man Yu's face did not show any joy; instead, it became serious.

"Tiezhu, since you didn't fight it, how do you know it's comparable to Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment?

What if it's equivalent to Perfection of Fetal Movement?

Even if it's injured now, if we surround and hunt it, and it fights back desperately, can you guarantee you won't get hurt?

Don't you know what being injured means when the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster arrives?

Not only will it be harder for you to survive, but you'll also be more easily detected by the insects because you're injured and your life force will be constantly draining.

Do you have any spirit medicine that can heal you completely within a day?"

Old Man Yu fired off questions one after another, making Tiezhu blush and involuntarily lower his head.

If he could guarantee he wouldn't get hurt, he would have killed the beast himself long ago. Besides, did he possess spirit medicine that could heal any injury within a day?

If he had such a thing, why would he still be with his mother?

The reason he was so excited was that he thought the beast meat might have some effect on his mother.

"Since you don't know how strong that beast is, and you don't have spirit medicine to heal yourself in a day, don't get any ideas. Staying home is the safest option right now."

Seeing his dejected look, Old Man Yu couldn't help but say earnestly.

Beasts, though seemingly only one word different from Yao Beasts, did not mean they weren't strong.

The difference between beasts and Yao Beasts was like the difference between ordinary people and cultivators.

Some powerful beasts were not only comparable to humans at Perfection of Fetal Movement, but due to their sheer size, they were even stronger.

Although he didn't know why a powerful, injured beast would appear near Tiezhu's home at this time, he would not take the risk no matter what.

Even if it were just a beast at Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment, or even minor accomplishment, if it posed a risk of injury to him, he wouldn't do it.

Others might think he was timid, but he believed this was the prudent approach.

Moreover, he had matters a thousand, even ten thousand times more important than hunting beasts.

After Old Man Yu finished speaking, he saw Tiezhu standing there, head lowered, his expression showing internal struggle. He knew Tiezhu hadn't given up on this tempting idea.

Perhaps Tiezhu had seen the injured beast and felt it was too weak to resist, combined with the presence of two cultivators at Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment in the settlement, which had led him to have such reckless thoughts.

Even though his words earlier were reasonable, once someone gets fixated on an idea, it's not easy to let go.

Therefore, Old Man Yu had to emphasize his tone:

"Tiezhu, think about your mother at home, then think about your wife in the Blessed Land, and your pair of children. If you get injured, do you think you can survive?

What would happen to your wife and children then?

How could a widow and orphans survive in the settlement?"

These words directly jolted Tiezhu, bringing him back to his senses.

"Uncle Yu, I was wrong."

Having regained his clarity, Tiezhu looked at Old Man Yu with shame and said from the bottom of his heart, "If you hadn't woken me up this time, I would have made a grave mistake. You're right, no matter how many benefits that beast offers, it can't compare to my own family. Uncle Yu, thank you."

After speaking, Tiezhu was about to kneel. His resolute attitude surprised even Old Man Yu, who quickly stopped him.

"What are you doing?"

Old Man Yu said sternly.

"Uncle Yu, I don't mean anything else. You not only saved me by waking me up, but you also saved my entire family. Isn't it only right that I kneel and kowtow to you?" Tiezhu said sincerely.

But the truth of the matter was probably known only to himself.

Although he often appeared simple-minded, even reckless, he actually had a sensitive, or perhaps cunning, side.

When he encountered Old Man Yu at the quarry and knew the old man wouldn't go to the Blessed Land, he immediately found an excuse to give him a spear.

Because he knew very well that at the critical moment, Old Man Yu, with his Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment, would be more useful than him and could save his life.

Later, using the opportunity of delivering the spear, he entrusted his wife and two children to Yu Dashan, hoping the latter would look after them on the journey and even after they reached the Blessed Land.

For this, he had specially crafted a spear that could be called a masterpiece and gifted it to Yu Dashan.

On the morning they were to leave for the Blessed Land, he had steamed spirit rice early and had his wife take it along to give to Yu Dashan to eat on the way.

These actions were all interconnected. If anyone called Tie Zhu a fool, they themselves were probably the real fools.

And his kneeling now also had its purpose. If he himself didn't survive but Old Man Yu did, then this kneeling would be equivalent to entrusting his children to his care.

Old Man Yu, out of respect for his kneeling, would, to the best of his ability, look after his wife and two children.

Who says small people lack wisdom?

It's just that the wisdom of small people is often called petty cleverness.

"Alright, we don't need all this between us. You should quietly go home now. Remember not to provoke that injured beast, and seal up the entrance with stones.

If you absolutely have to, hide in the cellar first.

Perhaps before the Black Annihilation Wind Disaster arrives, that beast will flee on its own."

Old Man Yu said.

"I know..."

Tie Zhu nodded repeatedly, but before he could finish speaking, a huge roar suddenly came from above.

"RUMBLE!"

In an instant, the thick dark clouds overhead seemed to be split open by bolts of lightning, and the coldness between heaven and earth suddenly intensified.

Both Old Man Yu and Tie Zhu's expressions changed drastically.

"This is bad!"

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