Chapter 7: The Trickster There were too many people and it was impossible to squeeze through, so Lin Jue simply stood on the steps at the curb next to him, tiptoed and looked up. It really is a magic trick. I saw the crowd surrounding an open space of two meters square. There was a wooden table on the open space. A man in cloth clothes was sitting at the table. There were three bowls in front of him and a few peach pits, which he was changing in the bowls. But he was playing the trick of the three immortals returning to the cave. There are often cheers and guesses from the onlookers all around, as if they are competing with the magician. Lin Jue frowned. He had seen this kind of trick before. It was mostly based on techniques and thinking guidance. The more sophisticated the technique, the higher the level, and at the same time, the more he understood the audience's thoughts. After taking a closer look, he frowned even more. If the open space is wide enough, with only one person at a table, and people surrounding him from all sides, and this man can still perform this trick smoothly, then in this world of monsters and magic, Lin Jue would also retain some possibility that "this man might really have something strange about him." However, the wooden table was placed with its back to the wall on the street. There were not many people behind the magician, and there were several companions standing behind him, which blocked the relatively easy-to-see flaws.
Lin Jue looked in these directions again. It is indeed easier to see through from the side and behind. Although there are not many people standing there, judging from their expressions, it seems that some people have indeed noticed something. But maybe they didn't see it very clearly, or maybe they thought it was good enough that the other party had this skill, and there was no need to destroy someone's job for no reason, so no one came out to expose it. Many viewers were excited by the show. It is rare to see such a lively occasion and such a strange performance. Lin Jue said nothing and continued to stand and watch. After a while, a middle-aged man with a beard covered it with a colorful towel and conjured up a copper basin. He covered it with the colorful towel again and conjured up water from the empty copper basin, and then conjured up a koi fish. The onlookers cheered continuously. Many people's eyes were wide open, gleaming with brilliance. After the colorful scarf turned into fish, it was time to take out the items from the empty box. In addition to taking fruits, vegetables, kittens and dogs, they could also take things from the audience. Someone even wanted to take the red bellyband from a street widow's house, and they were able to take it. Lin Jue was half-believing and half-doubting, frowning. Be hopeful and be patient. Gradually, as the time grew later and the sun rose higher, the flow of people on the street reached its peak. In the open space ahead, the magician's apprentice knelt on the ground picking up money, and the older magician walked around and said: "Thank you for your support. It's enough to pay for our trip here. The previous performances showed both real and extraordinary skills as well as hard-trained techniques. I would like to thank you for your support and those who saw through it but didn't say anything. I thank you all." As he said this, he clasped his fists and bowed. The crowd was enjoying the show and hearing him speak so nicely, so naturally they cheered and urged him to do something more interesting. "I didn't have breakfast, so I was hungry and wanted to take a break to eat something and drink some water. Since you want to see something interesting, we naturally can't spoil your fun."
After saying that, he waved to the side. Then a young man of about thirteen or fourteen came running over. In this cold spring season, he was only wearing a pair of trousers, with his upper body naked. He was so thin that your ribs were visible. "Dear audience! Those who have money can support us with money, and those who don't can support us with their presence. I hope this show can make everyone's life more prosperous. The little kid has not performed many times yet, so please don't embarrass him!" It was still the older magician who spoke with his hands clasped. There are some tricks in my body. The young man said nothing. As soon as he ran out, he ran around the open space twice, facing the audience with his mouth wide open, as if he wanted to show his mouth to everyone. There's nothing in it. Then he took out a black meatball, mixed it with maltose, put it into his mouth, chewed it, and suddenly his eyes widened, raised his head and spit into the air. "boom……" A large tent of fire burst into the air. The onlookers were startled, and then this lively scene immediately attracted a lot of exclamations and applause. Lin Jue was also very surprised. I don't know what that black pill is, but even if it is a burning drug, I don't see anything that can ignite the fire. After thinking about it, Lin Jue hurried down the stairs and moved forward. "Don't squeeze, don't squeeze..." "What are you squeezing for?" "Who is squeezing me?" "You kid..." "Excuse me, excuse me." More and more pedestrians were attracted by the fire and screams, and Lin Jue had to use his hands to protect the backpack and medicinal materials, so he spent a lot of effort to squeeze into the middle. "boom!!" Another burst of flames exploded in the sky. The audience around was still excited. What does it mean to be in full swing? That's it. But the performance has come to an end. "call……" The young man seemed very tired and panted. He stopped to look at the middle-aged man, then looked at the audience around him. Without saying a word, he bowed his head and saluted.
Suddenly there was a burst of clanging sounds. Many people threw money, fruits and vegetables into the middle, and some people put eggs on the ground and rolled them forward. These days everything is considered a reward. However, at this moment, an inappropriate voice sounded beside him: "After watching for so long, I finally saw a real trick. But this simple fire-repelling trick is a bit too much to be performed at the temple fair, isn't it?" The voice sounded old and contained a hint of contempt. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old man in plain clothes. "This audience is..." The middle-aged magician couldn't help but bow tentatively and said. "We are in the same industry." The old man said with a smile. The middle-aged magician's expression immediately darkened when he heard this. The rest of the spectators were stunned for a moment, and then many of them looked excited to watch the show. The atmosphere was already lively, and this made it even more exciting. "Although there is a saying that people in the same industry are enemies, we came here after reporting to the local county magistrate, paying the money, and asking for directions. We did not offend anyone, nor did we steal anyone's business." The middle-aged magician thought for a while, and then said cautiously to the old man, "Old senior, this is..." "You didn't do anything wrong. I just arrived here a step later than you. When I reported to the government, the officials said that a charlatan had already reported it, paid enough money, and occupied a good position. I happened to have nothing to do today, so I came here for a walk, and I happened to meet you." The old man simply walked out, smiling, "I wanted to come here to broaden my horizons and see what skills other colleagues have, but I didn't expect to see any amazing skills." The tone was quite helpless, and it seemed as if there was no malice at all. He even sighed after saying this: "This guy, as he gets older, he talks a lot. He can't hold back what's on his mind, so he just speaks out." The middle-aged magician's face was uncertain. He looked around at the spectators and had to withdraw his hand. He said, "You said we are not good enough. It seems that the old senior has something to teach us!" "I can't say I'm giving you any advice. The only thing you performed that really impressed me was the last part of your fire-repelling technique. But this kid has only mastered the basics." As soon as he finished speaking, the young man who had just performed looked around, lowered his head and played with his hands, at a loss. "What the old man said is true..." The middle-aged magician had originally lowered his posture in front of the crowd, being extremely polite and pitiful, just like an artist who is easy to talk to. But now he couldn't help but frown: "But my child is still young. What does a little kid know? Senior, please don't embarrass him. I have also practiced the fire-repelling technique for many years, so I asked you to help me take a look and see how hot it is." Upon hearing this, the onlookers immediately started to make a fuss. Lin Jue also had many more interests. The middle-aged magician also opened the pottery jar, took out a black ball, added maltose to it, and put it in his mouth to chew, while someone behind him was beating gongs, drums and cymbals. "Boom!" A drum and cymbals sounded, and the middle-aged magician just looked up and suddenly spit out along with the sound. "boom!"
However, it was not a flame that exploded and scattered in the sky, but a straight column of fire that shot straight into the sky, at least two or three feet long. This pillar of fire was very conspicuous. If one stood on higher ground, one could see it from several streets away. If it was at night, one could see the fire from the entire county. Whether you are here to see the tricks or just to watch the fun, you can see that there must be some skill involved. The middle-aged magician did not stop and continued to vomit several times. With the magic team playing harmonies with music and beating drums, the atmosphere was extremely good and the mood of the audience around was raised to a higher level. It was obvious that his skills were indeed deeper than that young man's. Not only could he condense flames and spit out fire into pillars, but he could also spit out a pill not just once, but three to five times in a row. Then the middle-aged man ate another one, and circled around the open space, spitting out the fire pillars on the heads of all the audience, so that people could feel the scorching temperature. He even found some wood, put it in the brazier, and ignited it with the fire, to show that the fire he spit out was not a trick, but real. "Not bad……" The old man clapped his hands and said, "Your fire-disgusting technique is quite advanced." "May I ask what advice you have, senior?" The middle-aged magician was quite pleased with himself for a moment. "I can't say I'm giving you any advice. I can't say I'm giving you any advice. But maybe you readers haven't heard of it. I wonder if my colleagues have heard of it. There are two levels of fire-repelling techniques, upper and lower." The old man said with a smile, "The lower level of fire-repelling techniques requires fire pills, fire oil, etc. to be put into the mouth to perform, but the upper level of fire-repelling techniques don't require that." The middle-aged magician was suddenly startled. The onlookers also paused for a moment, then burst into laughter and began to talk and shout. "What's so great? Show me how it goes!" "Compare!" "Don't be so talkative, old man!" "You old man are so rude. If you want to set up a stall to make money, why don't you go to the south of the city? I've been working hard here all morning, it's not easy!" The old man tried to refuse at first, but he finally came out amid the constant jeers and shouts from the crowd. He was not in a hurry and did not take the fire balls. He just walked to the brazier filled with firewood and flames that was lit by the middle-aged magician earlier, smiled at everyone, and suddenly leaned over to take a breath. "Suck……" Suddenly the flame rolled up, from thick to thin, as if it had a spirit, and rolled upwards into his mouth. The onlookers couldn't help but quiet down. Looking at the old man again, there was nothing unusual. He also opened his mouth to show that there was nothing in it. But suddenly he spoke up: "boom……" Another pillar of fire shot up into the sky. This stunned the onlookers.
Lin Jue also opened his eyes wide. Although this pillar of fire was not as long as the middle-aged magician's and was more scattered, he did not eat anything. Coupled with the trick of absorbing fire into his stomach and spitting it out, the visual impact was much greater. For a moment, it seemed like a divine act. "I cannot refuse your kindness, so I have to come up and show my ugliness. But please step aside, I am old and not as strong as this strong man and young man. If the fire I spit out spreads and burns your hair and face, I will not be responsible." "boom……" The old man was like the middle-aged magician just now, walking around the open space in circles, spewing pillars of fire over everyone's heads, letting everyone feel the scorching heat, even burning people's hair to prove that the flames were real. The sound of gongs and drums added to the horror of the crowd. "boom……" A flame flew over Lin Jue's head. Lin Jue was one of the few people who did not retreat. Even when the flames passed by, he only protected the opening of the backpack in front of him and did not protect his head. This old man was just as he said, his strength was not as good as that of the young man, and the flames were more scattered. Lin Jue immediately felt the power of the hot and surging flames. At the same time, there was a strange feeling in my heart. Lin Jue suddenly remembered—— I had the same feeling when I was in the Wang Family Ancestral Hall in Hengcun and the smoke from the monster hit me. I just don’t know if it’s what I thought. Lin Jue was stunned and raised his hand to touch his head. Some hairs are slightly curled. (End of this chapter)