Chapter 10: Giant Rat!
“Yes, of course you have the qualifications! Young Hero Li, please take a seat!”
Steward Jin’s face revealed an enthusiastic smile.
To him, martial artists for “Rat Extermination” were naturally better the stronger they were.
Just now, “Li Mu” saber slashed the conical hat, but Zhao Yi was unscathed. This precise control, even if Steward Jin was not a martial artist, he could tell that this saber slash was extraordinary.
“Great Hero Zhao, please take a seat too. Let’s discuss the ‘Rat Extermination’ together.”
Steward Jin also did not forget to comfort Zhao Yi.
But Zhao Yi felt deeply ashamed and indignant. He cupped his hands toward Steward Jin and said, “My strength is insufficient, so I won’t embarrass myself here any longer. Farewell!”
With that, Zhao Yi resolutely turned and left.
“Why go this far, Great Hero Zhao?”
Steward Jin wanted to retain Zhao Yi.
Unfortunately, people value face and trees value bark. Zhao Yi had indeed built some reputation in the Jianghu.
Now his conical hat was saber slashed by “Li Mu,” and he hadn’t even drawn his saber. If he shamelessly stayed, that would truly be laughable.
Zhao Yi left, but the number of martial artists for “Rat Extermination” was still considerable. Including Ji Qing, there were five in total.
Steward Jin’s gaze swept over the five people, then he spoke: “I thank the five great heroes for helping Da Huai Village with Rat Extermination. Once successful, one thousand taels of silver will be presented. At that time, each of the five great heroes can receive two hundred taels of silver.”
Ji Qing actually had little demand for the bounty.
What he valued more was the “big rat.”
“Steward Jin, I’ve heard some rumors that the rat infestation in Da Huai Village is actually caused by a big rat. That big rat is very large, possibly a rat spirit. Is this true?”
Ji Qing asked directly.
Steward Jin had no intention of concealing it. He nodded and said, “Actually, some hunters went earlier for Rat Extermination but suffered heavy casualties. Some hunters escaped back. According to their descriptions, this rat infestation is indeed caused by a big rat, which they call the ‘Rat King.’ This Rat King can even command large groups of rats, making it hard to kill.”
Ji Qing was pensive.
According to Steward Jin, this big rat might indeed be a demon.
“Even if this big rat has truly become a spirit, the five of us can still slaughter it! Steward Jin, where is that big rat? Hurry and take us there. The sooner we resolve the rat infestation, the sooner we get the bounty.”
One of the martial artists said indifferently.
“Great heroes, no need to rush. Have a meal first! After eating and drinking our fill, I’ll find a hunter to guide us. Then I’ll naturally take the great heroes to the mountain for Rat Extermination.”
Steward Jin treated Ji Qing and the others quite thoughtfully, immediately arranging a table of sumptuous lunch food.
Everyone got up and sat at the dining table.
Ji Qing carefully set down the woven basket.
Everyone was also very puzzled, not knowing what exactly was in “Li Mu’s” woven basket that required such caution.
Ji Qing gently patted the woven basket.
Immediately, a small head poked out from the woven basket.
“Brother, it smells so good.”
Ji Yao gazed at the sumptuous food on the table, swallowing her saliva.
Steward Jin was somewhat surprised and asked, “Young Hero Li, who is this?”
“My sister, Li Yao.”
Ji Qing had also given his sister an alias.
Ji Yao crawled out of the woven basket. The stool at the dining table was a bit low, and Ji Yao couldn’t reach even when sitting.
Seeing this, Steward Jin smiled and said, “Young Hero Li, my Suo’er is about the same age as your sister. Why not let them dine together? In the afternoon, when you young heroes go for Rat Extermination, they can play together. What do you think, Young Hero Li?”
Ji Qing hesitated somewhat.
Taking Ji Yao for Rat Extermination would definitely be inconvenient.
“Brother, go with peace of mind. I’ll wait here for you to return.”
Ji Yao was also sensible, knowing not to hold Ji Qing back.
Hearing this, Steward Jin immediately shouted loudly outside: “Suo’er.”
As soon as the words fell, a delicately carved little girl with some baby fat came running in quickly.
“Daddy, what do you want Suo’er for?”
“Suo’er, this is little sister Li Yao. Take her to eat. In the afternoon, you two can play together.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
Suo’er opened her big eyes and immediately pulled Ji Yao and ran out.
At the dining table, Ji Qing had basically no conversation with the other four martial artists.
Steward Jin, on the other hand, was affable, constantly livening up the atmosphere.
After eating, Ji Qing went to find Ji Yao.
He saw Ji Yao squatting on the ground with Suo’er playing the pebble grabbing game.
Suo’er was chubby all over, with some gold and silver jewelry around her neck and on her hands, looking very endearing.
Ji Yao also let out laughter from time to time; both were playing happily.
Ji Qing was somewhat dazed. How long had it been since Ji Yao laughed?
It seemed that since leaving Liang City, this was the first time he saw Ji Yao so happy.
He could wander the Jianghu and roam the world, but Ji Yao could not. The Jianghu was not Ji Yao’s home.
This further strengthened Ji Qing’s determination to send Ji Yao to An Yang City to settle down.
An hour later, Steward Jin called a hunter.
“Da Niu, you’ve been to the cave where the Rat King is. Guide the five great heroes there.”
“Steward Jin, we agreed: I’ll only take them to the cave where the Rat King is. I won’t go in!”
Da Niu had been brought here by Steward Jin with “heavy gold.”
Otherwise, Da Niu wouldn’t be willing to guide.
“Fine, as you wish.”
Steward Jin was also generous, directly giving Da Niu fifty taels of silver.
Da Niu gritted his teeth and said, “Great heroes, this is insect-repelling herb. Carry it to ward off the poisonous insects in the mountain.”
Ji Qing and the other four also carried the herbs as instructed.
“Steward Jin, please look after Yao’er.”
“Young Hero Li, rest assured. I’ll have someone watch your sister.”
Ji Qing nodded.
Thus, the group of five followed the hunter Da Niu into the mountain.
The mountain had miasma, poisonous insects, and brambles. Fortunately, there were pre-prepared herbs and the hunter Da Niu who knew the terrain to guide them. The group arrived at the bottom of a slope in just one hour.
In the middle of the slope, a deep, pitch-black cave was visible.
Da Niu looked at the cave, a trace of fear still in his eyes: “Great heroes, that group of rats is hiding in the cave. But there are many rat holes in the cave. During the day, the rats are sleeping and basically don’t move. Even if you enter the cave, you won’t find many rats.”
“Only at night do the rats come out to forage. Then the ‘Rat King’ will appear in the cave. As long as you kill the ‘Rat King,’ the rat infestation will naturally be gone.”
Great Hero Wang of Mighty Gate frowned: “We still have to wait until night?”
There were still two or three hours until night.
“Forget it. Going in now would only alert them without catching them. If the Rat King hides, no one will find it. Let’s wait until night to act!”
Thus, everyone found a spot nearby to rest.
The four sect martial artists gathered together.
Ji Qing sat alone under a tree, regulating his breathing.
The two sides were clearly divided, not disturbing each other.
Although all were Jianghu martial artists, Ji Qing and the other four were obviously not from the same group.
As for cooperation?
There was no need at all; each would use their own methods during Rat Extermination.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was night.
The mountain wind blew, bringing a slight chill.
Everyone stared intently at the cave.
The five were all Jianghu martial artists with deep internal energy, sharp hearing and sight. They could clearly hear “squeak squeak squeak” sounds coming from the cave.
Clearly, the rats in the cave had begun to stir.
“Hm?”
Suddenly, the Demon Record in Ji Qing’s mind vibrated violently.
This meant the Demon Record had sensed a “demon’s” aura.
Clearly, there was a demon nearby!
At the same time, dense swarms of rats poured out of the cave.
The rats were in groups, surprisingly lined up in teams without scattering.
Like a disciplined army!
Everyone held their breath, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Soon, a giant rat the size of a calf also emerged from the cave, escorted in the center by the numerous rats like stars around the moon.
This was the Rat King!
Not only was its body huge like a calf, but it was bald all over without a single hair, with blood-red skin, looking extremely ugly.
The Rat King leaped up, directly landing on a large boulder outside the cave. Then it tilted its head toward the full moon in the sky and inhaled.
A beam of bright moonlight was sucked into the Rat King’s mouth.
Seeing this, everyone’s hearts sank.
This Rat King had truly become a spirit!
It was absorbing Moon Essence?
