Chapter 9: Encountering a Monster

Chapter 9: Encountering a Monster

The thick fog limited their vision to only three or four zhang ahead, so the donkey cart moved at a snail's pace.

After traveling slowly for over ten li, the fog showed no signs of dissipating, and they couldn't even estimate how much time had passed.

"Hey, can I get a ride?" A crisp, lively girl's voice suddenly rang out from behind them, likely belonging to a child around ten years old.

"Whoa!" Zhao Datou, a straightforward man, immediately halted the donkey cart and turned back with a smile. "Why are you out in this heavy fog, little girl?"

Meng Yuan and Tie Niu, sitting on the cart, looked back and saw a brown shadow darting out of the fog and quickly jumping onto the cart.

It wasn't a little girl at all, but a yellow weasel!

The weasel had a slender body, short limbs, lively eyes, a brown back, and a light-colored belly.

Surprisingly, it wore a small bundle around its neck, as if preparing for a long journey.

As soon as it jumped onto the cart, it stood upright, supporting itself with its hind legs, and shook off the dew on its body, splashing some onto Meng Yuan's face.

Meng Yuan dared not make a sound, and Zhao Datou and Tie Niu were also stunned. Even the donkey, sensing the presence behind it, trembled.

They had always known that this world was filled with monsters and demons, but this was the first time they had encountered one in person.

"It snowed a couple of days ago, and now this monster fog! Clearly, there's an incompetent ruler, which gives rise to these evil creatures!" The yellow weasel's voice was crisp, and it spoke with authority, "But don't call me a great immortal; just call me Granny, that's fine! I've eaten more chickens than the three of you have eaten salt!"

The yellow weasel spoke incoherently, but it seemed like it truly wanted a ride. Meng Yuan and Zhao Datou exchanged glances and decided to set off first and observe the weasel's behavior.

The yellow weasel paid no more attention to Meng Yuan and the others. It looked around, then took down the small bundle without untying it. Instead, it reached into the bag with its claws and pulled out an egg.

The egg was likely from a wild chicken.

The yellow weasel cracked the eggshell and carefully peeled it with its claws, revealing a cooked egg. It ate the egg in small bites, humming with satisfaction when it reached the yolk.

Clearly, the yellow weasel hadn't tasted many good things.

"I'm not sharing with you. It's not much anyway." The yellow weasel, noticing Meng Yuan and Tie Niu staring with wide eyes, turned away and mumbled something unintelligible.

Soon, the yellow weasel finished the egg and took out a small bronze mirror and a wooden comb from its bundle, using the mirror to fix its fur, looking quite pleased with itself.

Meng Yuan remained vigilant, thinking that this yellow weasel was quite the busybody.

Before long, the yellow weasel finished grooming and sat down, casually asking, "Have you two gotten married yet?"

Tie Niu shook his head in confusion, and Meng Yuan did the same.

"Get married early and don't waste your youth!" The yellow weasel said with an air of seniority.

Meng Yuan and Tie Niu didn't know how to respond.

"The smell of cow manure on you two is quite pleasant," the yellow weasel commented, tilting its head to look at Meng Yuan. "But why do you have a bloody scent?"

"I'm a castrator," Meng Yuan replied.

"A castrator?" The little yellow weasel tilted its head in thought, then exclaimed with delight, "You cut off testicles? I've seen everything!"

It struck a pose with its front paws on its waist, looking exceptionally proud.

Seeing the weasel's desire for praise, Meng Yuan couldn't help but compliment, "Granny, you're so wise and well-informed."

"Your words are quite pleasing," the yellow weasel said, clearly susceptible to flattery. It hopped with joy and said, "Say it again; I haven't memorized it yet."

Meng Yuan had no choice but to repeat it three more times.

The yellow weasel quietly recited the words to itself, seeming to want to use them to flatter others.

After memorizing them, it nodded with satisfaction and said, "Show me your hand, little castrator."

This is a payment, right? Or is it a gratuity?

Meng Yuan took a deep breath, his right hand behind him in defense, and stretched out his left hand, placing it on the carriage board.

The weasel approached, then turned around, raising its tail and sticking out its buttocks, rubbing against Meng Yuan's tiger mouth.

It was slightly warm, and there was no foul odor either. But Meng Yuan knew that the weasel was marking its territory.

"Granny, with your wide network, if there's any castration work in the future, I'll find you, and you must give me a discount!" The weasel was very serious.

Meng Yuan never imagined that one day, he would let a weasel introduce him to business. Moreover, judging by its attitude, he had also become one of the weasel's "network."

"Of course." Meng Yuan had no choice but to agree. Then, seeing that the weasel seemed a bit slow-witted, he probed, "Granny, how wide is your network?"

"Hehe, it's very wide! What are you going to the city for?"

The weasel chuckled, changing the topic. Its skill was too shallow, and it became timid as soon as it started lying.

"To visit relatives." Meng Yuan, feeling a bit scared, made up an excuse and asked back, "And where are you going, Granny?"

"I'm going to wish my wet nurse a long life!" The weasel was delighted and proudly said, "My wet nurse said she'd introduce me to a good marriage. In my father-in-law's house, there are chickens and eggs galore!"

So that's why you had me marry early, and you're going for a matchmaking! Meng Yuan thought, and the weasel, curious, asked, "What's the trendy hairstyle in the city these days?"

You can't learn the trendy hairstyle anyway! Meng Yuan looked at the weasel's small head and honestly replied, "I really don't know."

"Country bumpkin!" The weasel jeered.

After traveling another seven or eight miles, the weasel called for a stop. It climbed onto the donkey's back, stood up with its two legs supporting it, looked around, and sniffed with its nose, as if recognizing the direction.

"We're not going the same way anymore." The weasel sighed, looked at the three of them, rubbed its two legs together, then reached its claws into the bundle and rummaged for a good while, looking very reluctant. Finally, it took out a tiny bit of silver, "Granny didn't ride your carriage for free! This is my personal savings!"

It reluctantly gave the silver to Zhao Datou, looking very stingy. Then, looking at Meng Yuan, it said, "Little Castrator, when the time comes, Granny will find work for you, and you must give me my share of the money!"

How much money can a castrator make? And you want a share? Meng Yuan's expression was very serious as he said, "This is professional ethics. Granny, as the introducer, naturally gets a share."

The weasel was satisfied. It jumped off the carriage, carrying its small bundle, and disappeared into the mist in one go.

"Giddyup!" As soon as the monster was sent away, even without Zhao Datou's urging, the donkey swiftly galloped forward.

The three of them dared not talk either, just driving forward. In their haste, they took a wrong turn, and it wasn't until after noon, when the mist had dispersed, that they finally arrived at the gates of Songhe Prefecture.

There was a lot of people coming and going under the city gate, and the three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Datou held Meng Yuan and Tie Niu's hands, carefully instructing, "Today's matter must not be spoken of outside. Yellow Weasels hold the longest grudges. If we ruin their business, don't even think about living a peaceful life from now on."

As he spoke, he grabbed a handful of donkey dung from the ground and vigorously rubbed Meng Yuan's tiger mouth. Then, he grabbed some wet soil and rubbed it as well, fearing that he'd leave behind the weasel's foul odor.

After finishing these tasks, Zhao Datou took out the carriage fare the weasel had given, which was about one qian. He spent it all at a stall outside the city, buying buns stuffed with fatty meat, and the three of them had a hearty meal.

"Today, we're lucky to meet an honest one, who even pays for the ride." Zhao Datou was serious as he instructed, "But don't think that monsters are all good. This Yellow Weasel only understands human relations because it's close to humans. Some monsters want to eat people, and they're very fierce! And some specialize in seducing men, so you must be careful!"

Pointing at Meng Yuan's tiger mouth, he said solemnly, "Little Meng, if you feel there's an extra person in your bed at midnight, and they're sticking to you, wanting to sleep with you, then it's a Great Immortal coming to suck your vital energy. You must hold on!"

Meng Yuan touched his forehead, thinking to himself that if that day really came, how could he possibly hold on?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end