Folklore simulation, starting with the mortician

It should be around noon, and the bright, round sun is hanging in the sky, shining directly on the ground.

In front of the temple, Li Feng heard a loud voice shouting to the sky from afar. When he went out to greet them, he saw the local gentry who had come earlier kowtowing and crawling on his knees toward the temple.

Behind him followed four strong men carrying a sedan chair, on which sat a thin-faced blind man lying down. He appeared to be breathing heavily, barely moving at all, despite the bumpy ride.

"Sir! I offended you with my impulsive hand. I'll kowtow this time to apologize!"

He shouted all the way here, and the gentry's voice became hoarse, with bloodstains on his forehead, his face covered in sweat, and his clothes soaked through.

Li Feng was about to step forward to greet him, but Mr. Lin stopped him, only sneering, "Didn't you see he still hasn't swallowed his pride? Just treat him like a suicidal customer who's lost face, and he's still sitting in his sedan chair, waiting. Don't pay him any attention!"

Hearing Mr. Lin's words, Li Feng nodded. He didn't think much of it. According to the rules of this business, Mr. Lin knew better than he did, and there was a reason why things should be done.

If you're going to show your hand, then show it. If you lose and still can't lower your head, what kind of behavior is that?

Is it enough to just find someone to take the mouth for you?

Mr. Lin instructed Yu Ya to close the temple door, saying that it would be opened again after the people outside had finished removing their red armor.

Li Feng didn't understand the meaning behind the red armor removal, but he heard Mr. Lin explain that it was a rule in the business world that if you were truly loyal, you had to see blood to show respect. If you ruined your reputation, that was called "removing the armor," which was equivalent to losing your prestige.

About three hours later, Li Feng was practicing the Water Mill Stance in the courtyard. This was an external martial art, used to improve one's physique. Li Feng had learned it from the river guards of Suolong Village, and it was called the Wave Chasing Stance.

Then they heard Yu Yatou call out, and two bloody ears were handed in from outside.

Mr. Lin hurriedly got up from the recliner in the yard and beckoned Li Feng to walk outside.

When the door was pushed open, a pale-faced boy was seen kowtowing hard to the ground, while the local gentry had already fainted and was left to the side like a stray dog, ignored by everyone.

Li Feng frowned and looked over, only to see that the pale-faced boy's two ears had been cut off, dripping with blood. He looked at Li Feng with tears in his eyes, kowtowing and apologizing, "Master, please have mercy! My master was blinded by greed. It's all this damned Feng family brat's fault. It has nothing to do with us. We've come here specifically to beg for forgiveness from you, Master."

"My lord, look closely. My master is barely breathing and has no strength to kowtow and apologize to you. As his apprentice, I dare to take his place by cutting off his two ears, which are used for guarding the house. Consider it a way of paying my respects. Please give me your decision, my lord. If it doesn't work out, I'll just die here and have nothing more to say."

Hearing the pale-faced boy's words, Li Feng remained silent, only looking at Mr. Lin beside him. Mr. Lin stood there, stunned for a long time.

Mr. Lin also noticed Li Feng's gaze and thought to himself, "This is too ruthless. Who would push someone to their death like that? This guy is just not following the rules."

"You handled this matter unfairly. Our head chef was just following the rules. What you did is your own fault, but we'll accept this excuse."

After saying that, he looked at Li Feng, who nodded. He himself was not familiar with the rules of this sect, but he thought that Mr. Lin's move was too insidious, how could it have made the master breathe more and breathe less?

"Don't move yet. Although this matter is settled, rules are rules and must be followed. If you lost by showing your skills, then you have to reveal your secrets and give us a special invitation before we can invite our master chef."

After Mr. Lin finished speaking, he glanced at Li Feng and, seeing that Li Feng did not respond, he shouted again, "Get up and get out of here!"

Upon hearing Mr. Lin's words, the pale-faced boy felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He immediately ordered the four strong men to carry his half-dead master back. He bowed to Mr. Lin and Li Feng, then kowtowed and explained his background in detail.

Hearing the words of the pale-faced boy, Li Feng was quite surprised. This was actually an expert who understood the local dialect, known as the Listening Demon.

According to Mr. Lin, this is a profession with a "ground" element, specializing in dealing with immortals and spirits.

They had been traveling around before, and when they arrived here, they heard about this matter. So they went to find out what was going on and discovered that it was the work of a spirit, a fox spirit that had occupied the territory.

Unfortunately, this fox spirit had accumulated years of cultivation and had a temple to support it, so it could be considered a spirit with status.

Ordinary people are no match for such a formidable character.

Therefore, they could only ask various masters to help them complete this transaction, which could be considered as doing good deeds in secret.

Li Feng shook his head inwardly. He could only believe half of what the pale-faced boy said; there were many deceptive twists and turns in his words.

Just from the fact that they flashed their lights, it was clear that the other party had ill intentions and was definitely not petitioning for the people, let alone using the name of that Master Feng.

Mr. Lin sneered to himself. He didn't expose the pale-faced boy, but just glanced at him and nodded, saying, "In that case, let's settle this. Take that Master Feng away too, so he doesn't linger in front of our door and cause gossip."

The pale-faced boy nodded hurriedly, and then found two or three more people to carry away the unconscious Master Feng.

After the group had gone far away, Li Feng glanced at Mr. Lin and said, "Sir, you went a bit too far with your actions, but it was certainly satisfying, haha."

Mr. Lin smiled insincerely and chimed in, "Where did you come from? It's all thanks to your excellent skills, kid."

"But what's the logic behind asking for something on your back?"

Li Feng then asked another question.

"Of course, we'll have their master carry us there. But that's just polite talk. Their master is in such a state, do you really expect him to carry us there? He'd be in real trouble."

Li Feng nodded. He was just about to bring this up. If someone were to carry him to his death, it wouldn't be a matter of pride.

Then Mr. Lin added, "Of course, don't listen to Jiang Liu'er's nonsense. Who knows if what he said is true or false? If he can do such despicable things, what rules can he follow? Tonight I have to go to the county to find a master to help me out. I'm afraid I'll have to put on a big show."