"I don’t need anyone to serve ; you may go out. Make sure no one cos to disturb us," Boss Li instructed the Shop Assistant only after all the dishes were served.
The Shop Assistant quickly nodded and bowed, "Rest assured, Boss Li, I’ll stand guard at the door and absolutely prevent anyone from disturbing your conversation."
Having said this with utmost respect, the Shop Assistant left the room and only after he was far away, he spitefully muttered, "A bunch of damned bastards, plotting who knows what and acting all high and mighty."
But in consideration of the silver, he dutifully stood by the corridor, not allowing other guests to disturb these wealthy n.
After sending the Shop Assistant away, Boss Li stretched his neck to look outside, then carefully closed the door. He looked around at the crowd with a solemn expression and said, "I’m grateful you could all make it here today; it’s all about giving face to Mr. Li. Let toast to everyone."
The others laughed in response, "Not at all, not at all. Being summoned by you, Boss Li, is our great fortune, truly a great fortune."
After drinking the toast, the atmosphere relaxed, and Boss Li let out a sigh before saying, "To think that we are all respected figures in this city. While our lives may not be of luxury, we have no worries for food and drink. But with the arrival of those two, they clearly intend to cut off our livelihoods!"
The crowd nodded knowingly, well aware that those two uninvited guests ntioned by Boss Li were the subjects at hand. A corpulent man suddenly said with fury, "Those two have no respect for the rules. They may have earned a good reputation, but sadly, we might end up reduced to drinking the northwest wind!"
"Bang!" soone slamd their hand on the table and continued, "All the herbs I’ve been dealing with are now stuck in my hands. I’ve debts piled up outside; if I can’t turn a profit soon, I might as well flee."
Everyone knew he had stockpiled a significant quantity of herbs which, with the arrival of the couple, was now stuck unsold.
"Isn’t that the truth! We stocked up on dical supplies intended to aid the city’s folk through the flood, only for Cheng Yaojin to show up out of nowhere, leaving us with no way out!"
They all vented their grievances. By this point, it was clear that the real purpose of this dinner was to discuss how to deal with the unwelco pair.
"Less complaining. Let’s think of a way to drive these two plague gods out; otherwise, we’ll really be left to drink the northwest wind," said Boss Li, halting the complaints.
"How about we do it the sa way we did before, finding so thugs to make trouble in their shop? They’ll be unable to stand it and leave within three days," a sly-looking fellow suggested.
It was known that this thod had always worked wonders whenever soone ca to the city to compete with them for business. After all, with those ruffians coming to make trouble every few days, no shop could continue operating.
However, Boss Li gently shook his head and said, "We’ve tried that, but it didn’t work. Those two have gained too much prestige in town. The last ti I sent people to make trouble, the locals beat them so badly they’re still bedridden, and I ended up losing quite a bit on dical expenses."
Only then did everyone realize that the couple had beco extrely prestigious in town, and if they took any overt action, the angry citizens might just beat them to death.
"Why don’t we get so officials to inspect their place? If they show up every so often, that should drive them nuts."
"Forget it. The Magistrate is relying on those two to quell the people’s anger. He certainly won’t allow anything to happen to them," soone coldly jeered.
"Such shortsightedness in you all. At first, when the Magistrate sought our help insisting we hoard the dicinal supplies, and now the Magistrate doesn’t even spare us a good glance."
Silence fell upon the group. They realized that their previously foolproof thods were now futile against these two, who seed like a tortoise in its shell, seemingly impenetrable.
"Actually, I have a plan, but it is a bit, well, not very palatable," soone suddenly said in a low voice.
Everyone turned their attention to him, and Boss Li also said, "Speak your mind. Let’s put our heads together and co up with a plan. Otherwise, if this drags on, we’ll have no choice but to slink away from here."
That person hesitantly said, "We could poison their dicinal herbs. That way, those patients will stop believing in them. Without the protection of the people, they’ll be easy to take care of."
"This..."
Everyone had to admit that this was indeed a good thod, ruining the foundation of those two people, but the sche was too sinister, and because of face, no one dared to voice their agreent.
For a mont, the atmosphere beca sowhat silent.
Boss Li was also pacing back and forth in the room, his deeply furrowed brows revealing his inner turmoil.
"Is there such a poison that isn’t very strong, the kind that won’t kill people?" His piercing gaze fixed on the few seated at the table, who were undoubtedly the well-known physicians of the city.
The physicians showed a troubled expression on their faces and only after a long while said, "There are indeed such poisons, but it’s all about the dosage. If it’s too much, it could still kill soone."
"Well, that settles it then, we just won’t use too much. Just a few drops should do the trick. Afterwards, I’ll find so people to make a commotion and ensure that the reputation of that couple is thoroughly tarnished."
Upon hearing these words, everyone’s eyes brightened with understanding.
What they really needed was just an excuse. Even if a few people were actually poisoned to death, who would feel guilty? They simply did not wish to appear so ruthless in front of others.
After all, in this world, no one wanted to deal with cruel people; you never know when they might turn on you.
Now that they had an excuse, they expressed their willingness to proceed with the plan, as long as they made sure not to poison anyone to death.
"Since that’s the case, let’s settle on this plan. This ti, we must completely drive that couple out!" Boss Li said viciously.
anwhile, the couple busy at the dicine shop had no idea that a plot was closing in on them.
At the sa ti, a monk dressed in a monk’s robe slowly entered the small city.
He wore a robe that had turned sowhat white, held a dark alms bowl in his hand, stood tall and straight, with bright eyes, and bore a compassionate look as he walked slowly through the world.
It was Monk Faming, who had had dealings with Lin Fang. He had been through much hard travel and countless mountains and rivers before he arrived here.
Seeing the floodwaters overrun, he found that a Flood Dragon was causing trouble. He used his powerful thods, prepared to subdue the monster, but did not expect the creature to have such tricks up its sleeve, managing to escape from him.
Following the trail, he finally arrived here.
Looking at the towering city walls, Faming sighed softly. The air of desire in the city was thick, effectively covering the demon Qi of the monster. If he did not confront the Flood Dragon face to face, he feared he might not be able to find its trace.
As Faming slowly entered the city, what caught his eye were the disaster victims lying on both sides of the road.
This Flood Dragon caused flooding in an attempt to transform into a True Dragon but did not consider the suffering it brought to the people along its path. At the thought, an anonymous rage rose in Faming’s heart, damning the monster for its actions.
"Amitabha Buddha!" Faming chanted softly.
Murmuring the Buddhist sutra for transcending souls, a faint Buddha’s Light erged around him, and the surrounding people felt a warmth. Upon seeing Faming, clothed in Buddha’s Light and a face full of compassion, they couldn’t help asking, "Are you a Bodhisattva descended to the world to transcend our souls?"
By this ti, with the spread of Buddhist Law throughout the Three Realms thanks to Journey to the West, even such a remote place had heard tales of Buddhist Bodhisattvas and Buddha, hence their words.
Hearing this, Faming brought his hands together and said, "Amitabha Buddha, this monk is rely a Cultivator of Buddhism and cannot bear the na of Bodhisattva. It’s by the law of karma that I’ve co to this place, let transcend these lost souls."
Upon hearing his words, everyone’s faces showed a happy expression as they shouted, "The master is compassionate!"
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