Chapter 10: Giant Rat!
"Yes, of course, you are qualified! Please take a seat, Young Master Li!"
Jin Yuanwai's face broke into a warm smile.
For him, the stronger the martial artist for "exterminating rats," the better.
Just now, Li Mu's saber had cut through the bamboo hat, but Zhao Yi was completely unharmed. This precise control, even if Jin Yuanwai wasn't a martial artist, he could tell that this strike was extraordinary.
"Great Hero Zhao, please also take a seat. We can discuss the 'rat extermination' together."
Jin Yuanwai didn't forget to comfort Zhao Yi.
But Zhao Yi felt deeply ashamed and embarrassed. He cupped his hands to Jin Yuanwai and said, "My strength is insufficient, so I won't make a fool of myself here. I'll take my leave!"
With that, Zhao Yi resolutely turned and departed.
"Great Hero Zhao, why such haste?"
Jin Yuanwai wanted to keep Zhao Yi.
Unfortunately, people value their reputation. Zhao Yi had indeed made a name for himself in the pugilistic world.
Now, with Li Mu's saber cutting through his bamboo hat, and him not even drawing his own saber, it would truly be a laughingstock if he shamelessly stayed.
Zhao Yi left, but the number of martial artists for "exterminating rats" was still considerable, totaling five, including Ji Qing.
Jin Yuanwai's gaze swept over the five of them, then he spoke, "Thank you, five great heroes, for helping my Dahuai Village exterminate the rats. Once successful, one thousand taels of silver will be presented. At that time, each of the five great heroes will receive two hundred taels of silver."
Ji Qing didn't have much demand for the reward money.
He was more interested in the "big rat."
"Jin Yuanwai, I've heard some rumors that the rat plague in Dahuai Village was actually caused by a large rat. That large rat is huge and might even be a rat spirit. Is this true?"
Ji Qing asked directly.
Jin Yuanwai had no intention of concealing anything and nodded, saying, "Actually, some hunters went to exterminate the rats before, but they suffered heavy casualties. Some hunters escaped and, according to their descriptions, this rat plague was indeed caused by a large rat. They call it the 'Rat King.' This Rat King can even command large groups of rats and is very difficult to kill."
Ji Qing pondered.
According to Jin Yuanwai's words, this large rat indeed had the potential to be a demon.
"Even if this big rat has truly become a spirit, the five of us can still kill him! Jin Yuanwai, where is that big rat? Please take us there quickly. The sooner we solve the rat plague, the sooner we can get the reward money."
One of the martial artists said carelessly.
"Don't rush, great heroes, please eat first! After you've eaten your fill, I'll find a hunter to lead the way, and then I'll naturally take you great heroes into the mountains to exterminate the rats."
Jin Yuanwai was very considerate in his hospitality to Ji Qing and the others and immediately arranged a sumptuous lunch.
Everyone got up and sat at the dining table.
Ji Qing carefully placed down his back basket.
Everyone was also very curious, wondering what was inside Li Mu's back basket that he was so cautious with it.
Ji Qing gently patted the back basket.
Immediately, a small head peeked out from the back basket.
"Brother, it smells so good."
Ji Yao looked at the lavish dishes on the table, swallowing her saliva.
Jin Yuanwai was a little surprised and asked, "Young Master Li, who is this?"
"My younger sister, Li Yao."
Ji Qing also gave his younger sister a pseudonym.
Ji Yao crawled out of the back basket. The dining table chairs were a bit low, and Ji Yao couldn't reach while sitting.
Jin Yuanwai saw this and said with a smile, "Young Master Li, my Jin Suo'er is about the same age as your younger sister. Why don't you let them eat together? Then, when you young masters go to exterminate the rats this afternoon, they can play together. What do you think, Young Master Li?"
Ji Qing hesitated a little.
It would certainly be inconvenient for him to take Ji Yao to exterminate rats.
"Brother, go ahead, I'll wait for you here."
Ji Yao was also very sensible and knew she couldn't hold Ji Qing back.
Upon hearing this, Jin Yuanwai immediately shouted loudly outside, "Jin Suo'er."
As soon as his voice fell, a girl with delicate features, a bit of baby fat, and looking like a carved jade figurine, ran in quickly.
"Father, why did you call Jin Suo'er?"
"Jin Suo'er, this is younger sister Li Yao. You take younger sister Li Yao to eat, and you two can play together this afternoon."
"Okay, Father."
Jin Suo'er, with her big eyes, immediately took Ji Yao's hand and ran out.
At the dining table, Ji Qing and the other four martial artists had almost no conversation.
Jin Yuanwai, however, was very smooth, constantly enlivening the atmosphere.
After finishing his meal, Ji Qing went to find Ji Yao.
He saw Ji Yao and Jin Suo'er squatting on the ground playing a game of picking up stones.
Jin Suo'er was plump all over, adorned with gold and silver jewelry on her neck and hands, looking very endearing.
Ji Yao also let out laughter from time to time, and both of them were having a great time.
Ji Qing felt a little dazed. How long had it been since Ji Yao last smiled?
It seemed that after leaving Liang City, this was the first time he had seen Ji Yao so happy.
He could roam the pugilistic world, wander the ends of the earth, but Ji Yao could not. The pugilistic world was not Ji Yao's destination.
This further strengthened Ji Qing's determination to settle Ji Yao in An Yang City.
An hour later, Jin Yuanwai called for a hunter.
"Hunter Da Niu, you have been to the Rat King's cave before. You will lead the five great heroes."
"Jin Yuanwai, we agreed, I will only take them to the Rat King's cave. I will not go inside!"
Hunter Da Niu was "bought" by Jin Yuanwai with a large sum of money.
Otherwise, Hunter Da Niu would not have been willing to lead the way.
"Alright, whatever you say."
Jin Yuanwai was also very generous, directly giving Hunter Da Niu fifty taels of silver.
Hunter Da Niu gritted his teeth and said, "Five great heroes, these are insect-repelling herbs. Carrying them will ward off poisonous insects in the mountains."
Ji Qing and the other four also put the herbs on their bodies as instructed.
"Jin Yuanwai, please look after Yao'er for me."
"Young Master Li, rest assured, I will have someone look after your younger sister."
Ji Qing nodded.
So, the group of five followed Hunter Da Niu into the mountains.
The mountain had miasma, poisonous insects, and thorns. Fortunately, with the pre-prepared herbs and the familiar hunter Hunter Da Niu leading the way, everyone only took an hour to reach the bottom of a slope.
In the middle of the slope, a deep, dark cave could be seen.
Hunter Da Niu looked at the cave, a hint of fear in his eyes: "Great heroes, those rats are hiding in the cave. But there are many rat holes in the cave. During the day, the rats are all sleeping and basically won't be active. Even if you go into the cave, you won't find many rats."
"Only at night will the rats come out to forage, and at that time, the 'Rat King' will also appear in the cave. As long as the 'Rat King' is killed, the rat plague will naturally disappear."
Great Hero Wang of the Mighty Gate frowned: "We have to wait until night?"
There were still two or three hours until nightfall.
"Forget it, going in now would only alert the enemy. If the Rat King hides, no one might be able to find him. We'll wait until night to act!"
So, everyone found a place nearby and rested.
The four sect martial artists gathered together.
Ji Qing, on the other hand, sat alone under a tree, adjusting his breathing.
The two sides were clearly separated, not disturbing each other.
Although they were all martial artists of the pugilistic world, Ji Qing and the other four were clearly not of the same ilk.
As for cooperation?
There was no need for it at all; they would just use their own methods when exterminating the rats.
Time flew by, and soon it was night.
The mountain wind blew, bringing a hint of coolness.
Everyone stared intently at the cave.
The five of them were all martial artists of the pugilistic world with profound internal energy, sharp ears, and keen eyesight, able to clearly hear a series of "squeak, squeak, squeak" sounds coming from the cave.
Clearly, the rats in the cave had already begun to move.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, the demon record in Ji Qing's mind vibrated violently.
This meant that the demon record had sensed the aura of a "demon."
Clearly, there was a demon nearby!
At the same time, dense swarms of rats emerged from the cave.
The rats came out in groups, actually forming one line after another, without even their formations scattering.
Like a disciplined army!
Everyone held their breath, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Soon, a "giant rat" as big as a calf also emerged from the cave, surrounded by many rats as if it were the moon among stars.
This was the Rat King!
Not only was he as large as a small calf, but his entire body was completely bald, without a single strand of fur, and his skin was blood-red, making him look incredibly ugly.
The Rat King leaped, jumping directly onto a huge rock outside the cave, then tilted his head and sucked towards the full moon in the sky.
A bright moonlight was sucked into the Rat King's mouth.
Seeing this, everyone's hearts sank.
This Rat King had truly become a spirit!
Was he absorbing the essence of the moon?