The Unpersuadable

Ji Yuan, a blind beggar, was never the focus of these people's concern. Once they had explained their purpose, they each busied themselves inside the temple.

"Bang"

"Bang"

Two huge burlap sacks were set down in a corner. Ji Yuan had long known what was inside, because the occasional squeals of pigs and bleats of sheep came from within.

"Beggar, is this firewood yours? We can use some, right? Consider it bought from you at market price."

The man carrying the Tassel Sword called out from nearby. Ji Yuan, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to his senses and hurriedly waved, indicating that they could use it as they pleased.

Yan Fei had only asked in passing, though. He did not take out any money for the firewood, and Ji Yuan was not foolish enough to ask for payment.

No one else had any interest in paying further attention to the beggar in the temple. Those clearing the area kept clearing it, those lighting fires kept lighting them, and then each found a place to sit and rest.

Even though he had almost concluded that this group was courting death, Ji Yuan did not immediately stand up and point out how foolish their actions were.

They did not seem like bad people, but compared to Zhang Shilin, they were far from warmhearted. What if he annoyed them and they refused to take him down the mountain?

He needed to observe a little longer—or rather, listen more closely.

What if they really were highly capable? What if they truly could subdue Lord Lu?

Ji Yuan calmed himself and carefully listened to every sound the nine of them made. The metallic clinks of weapons being set on the ground told him they had brought quite a few implements, and their long, steady breathing suggested that they truly were trained martial artists.

Were these Martial Arts Masters like those from his past life, or like those in television dramas, able to scale walls and leap over eaves? Could they deal with a tiger that had become a spirit? Had they brought talismans or something similar?

Ji Yuan was both worried and curious about what this group intended to do.

The fire was burning again, though those gathered around it had changed. Some had even taken off their outer robes and hung them from wooden poles nearby to dry over the flames. Neither men nor women showed much coyness.

The sky had not yet fully darkened. Ji Yuan guessed that their plan might be to lure out the fierce tiger with bait, yet they did not seem ready to act immediately.

"I heard from the people of Shuixian Town that the tiger disaster has been going on for quite a while. By now, it has eaten quite a few people."

The woman named Luo sat beside the fire, poking at the glowing coals with a branch. Hugging her knees, she asked quietly.

Yan Fei carefully wiped the blade of his longsword with a cloth as he answered.

"That's right. Of course, I think not everyone who vanished in the mountains was eaten by the Great Beast. The forests are steep and dangerous. What's laughable is that there are even rumors in Shuixian Town that evil spirits are at work."

Hearing Yan Fei mention this, a man with a Ghost Head Saber at his feet could not help but cut in.

"Exactly. When Yan Fei and I asked about the tiger on Niu Kui Mountain, the people of Shuixian Town kept their mouths shut. It was only an old man in a tea house who cautiously said there might be monsters in the mountains. Hahahaha! If monsters really existed in this world, would keeping quiet stop them from coming for you?"

"Utter nonsense. Aren't mountain guests still coming and going through these hills?"

A man carrying no weapon at all tossed another piece of firewood onto the flames and said with a laugh.

"All right, all right. Since we took down the notice, we'll settle this matter for them. If there truly are evil spirits, all the better. I, Lu Chengfeng, would like to see one for myself!"

"Hahaha, well said!"

The people beside him laughed and chimed in. Young and high-spirited, armed with martial arts, they had come out together precisely to show their lofty ambitions and carve out a name for themselves in the martial world!

The more enthusiastically they talked, the less hope Ji Yuan had for them. It seemed they had no idea there really was a monster on this mountain.

Ji Yuan felt that he ought to at least try to stop them. Otherwise, if they failed to kill the monster, he might be dragged into it when it vented its anger.

The nine young martial artists seemed to have forgotten about the beggar, so Ji Yuan could only draw their attention himself.

"Cough, cough, cough... Might you gentlemen be the strong men who have come here to slay a tiger?"

After coughing a few times, Ji Yuan asked tentatively.

At Ji Yuan's question, they all turned to look at him.

"That's right. We took down the county office's notice and came here specifically to rid the people of this evil."

"Oh~~~~"

Ji Yuan drew out the sound meaningfully. He tried his best not to make it sound provocative, while still stirring their curiosity.

Sure enough, the beggar's reaction made Yan Fei and the others frown.

"Beggar, do you have something to say?"

Yan Fei asked instinctively, and Ji Yuan followed his lead.

"Nothing in particular. I greatly admire you prospective Tiger Slaying Heroes. However, one should plan before going into battle, and the same holds true for ridding the people of evil. Have you heroes made any plans?"

Ji Yuan tried to make himself sound as profound as possible. So long as he appeared utterly unlike the beggar his appearance suggested, he could catch their attention.

Sure enough, the beggar had cast off his former manner. His words rang with reason and conviction, and most importantly, his voice was deep, weighty, and full of vigor. All at once, he gave them the impression that he was no simple man!

Elders often taught that one should never underestimate anyone while traveling. Yan Fei glanced at his companions, stood up, and walked a few steps closer to the beggar. He scrutinized Ji Yuan once more before answering with a frown.

"I heard that the man-eating tiger only appears late at night. We plan to use live pigs and sheep as bait in the mountains, lure the fierce tiger out after dark, then attack it together."

Ji Yuan was stunned.

"That's all? You have no other plans or methods?"

So these people had not even considered traps such as digging pits or setting nets.

"We have all practiced martial arts since childhood and possess no ordinary skill. However fierce the tiger may be, it is still only a beast. With blades and swords in hand, if we attack together, could we possibly let it escape?"

That settled it. This group had not merely come here to offer themselves up—they were also incredibly naïve!

Ji Yuan felt rather pessimistic. It seemed he would have to put on an imposing act.

After brewing his thoughts for a moment, he finally laughed aloud.

"Ha ha ha ha... Ha ha ha ha..."

Clap clap clap clap clap...

Ji Yuan laughed softly as he applauded.

"Good, good, good! Fine strong men indeed. But I have one small doubt. What if what is in these mountains is not an ordinary fierce tiger, but a monster that has become a spirit? Would you all be confident then?"

"A monster?"

"Could that be true...?"

"People in Shuixian Town said the same thing!"

Several heroes narrowed their eyes and looked at one another, then turned back toward the beggar.

"Beggar, don't play mysterious tricks!"

Ji Yuan loosened up somewhat now. His smile unchanged, he looked at them. Those gray-blue eyes made the nine of them fall silent without realizing it.

"I know my words carry little weight, and speaking up rashly to dissuade you may only make you resent me. But I have watched you for some time. You truly possess chivalrous hearts and are people capable of doing far more for all under heaven. You should not throw away your lives here, so I could not help but speak."

When persuading others, a little flattery went a long way. It was a principle Ji Yuan had figured out long ago.

Sure enough, the nine of them secretly felt pleased by those words, though they kept it from showing on their faces.

"Beggar... ah, sir, we appreciate your kind intentions. But since we took down the notice, we must naturally do our utmost. I believe the matter of monsters is mostly hearsay growing wilder with every retelling. If anything truly happens to us, we cannot blame anyone else!"

Yan Fei spoke with righteous conviction, and the people beside him nodded repeatedly. Ji Yuan's praise had scratched exactly where they itched. Yan Fei's words were more or less the unanimous stance of the group—they had come out to win a name for themselves, after all!

Having said that, Yan Fei cupped his hands toward Ji Yuan once more.

"Thank you, sir, for your kind warning!"

Then he returned to the fire and closed his eyes to rest.

Fine then. Seeing how even more fired up the group seemed, Ji Yuan simply stopped trying to persuade them. Otherwise, he might be disliked here, while also easily causing a misunderstanding with Lord Lu—making him unwelcome on both sides.

As for joining them to slay the tiger, that was absolutely impossible. Ji Yuan could only hope that the nonsense he had fed Lord Lu the previous night had some effect.

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