Mortal Mirror

Li Ergou wanted to overcome his inner demons, but unfortunately, this wasn't something that could be achieved with willpower alone. Perhaps he also needed the right timing, location, and circumstances.

If the direction is wrong, the more effort you put in, the more you'll be working against yourself.

After a night, he inexplicably looked several years older. Not only was he listless, but he also felt a sense of depression stuck in his chest, making his heart feel uncomfortable.

After a few more days, his condition worsened. He couldn't even eat, and always felt nauseous. He felt that if this continued, he would die before he even sensed any Yuan Qi.

What frustrated him was that Old Silkworm Head had also taken leave these past few days, so he couldn't even ask him for advice.

After enduring it for several days, he finally got the chance to go out and buy medicine. As soon as he rushed out of the martial arts hall, he headed straight for Wu Divine's stall.

From afar, he saw that there were quite a few people lined up at Wu Divine's stall. He was amazed. This Wu Divine was amazing. In just a few days, he had become a big shot in this Heavenly Dog Town.

It seemed that Wu Divine had some skills, but this person was too cunning. In his heart, he suspected that this guy was a martial arts cultivator who was even more deeply hidden than Old Silkworm Head.

Why? His unintentional actions were the best proof. Although he disguised himself well, he couldn't escape my, Ergouzi's, discerning eyes.

Seeing this scene, his heart stirred. This Wu Divine wouldn't do anything without benefits. He should buy some pork first, so it would be easier to ask for help.

But when he arrived at the pork stall, the good meat with fatty layers was sold out. There was only some lean meat and ribs. Many people felt that this wasn't suitable because it lacked oil, so they didn't like to buy it. Usually, it would be sold last.

He felt a little depressed, but there was no other way. Fortunately, this stuff was much cheaper than the fatty meat. He reluctantly weighed three pounds. Normal fatty meat was 50 Wen per pound, but this was only 35 Wen, which was barely acceptable.

He tied it up with a piece of straw rope and walked away with it.

Buying just meat probably wouldn't open Wu Divine's iron mouth. To escape from the landlord's family, he was going all out. He gritted his teeth and went to the place where fish were sold.

There were three fishmongers here. The fish were all fresh that day. There were five or six kinds of fish, including carp, crucian carp, and blackfish.

He looked around and chose a large black carp. This fish had a black back and a red tail, and its eyes were bright. It looked very likable. A fish actually cost 130 Wen. Although it wasn't cheap, he felt it was worth it.

Just as he was about to get up and leave, he heard someone say, "Old Wine Head, why are you back so late today? Did you catch a big fish?"

Li Ergou turned around and saw a hunched back, a bulbous nose, a pair of protruding ears, and messy hair that looked like it had been haphazardly tied together. This person was holding a fish basket in his left hand, carrying a fishing net on his shoulder, and tightly clutching something in his right hand, as if afraid of dropping it. He looked like he was struggling, so the fishing net must not be light.

It could be seen that the old man's eyes were blurred, and when he spoke, a large mouthful of alcohol fumes spewed out. Li Ergou could smell it from afar. He didn't know how much he had drunk. No wonder everyone called him Old Wine Head. It turned out he was a drunken fool.

At this moment, he heard Old Wine Head say, "Hey, don't mention it. I've been busy all morning. I set off before dawn, but today is just strange. Usually, one net can catch a few small fish, but today, there wasn't even a fish hair.

If I hadn't caught a small goldfish before leaving, I would have gone hungry today."

"Small goldfish? What small goldfish? Let me see. My grandson has been muttering about buying a golden fish to eat these past few days," a passing old man said curiously.

Old Wine Head smiled bitterly and said, "It's too small, not worth it. I'll just take it home and stew it myself to eat, just right for drinking. At least I won't go hungry today."

When Li Ergou heard the words golden fish, which he had never seen before, he couldn't help but be curious. He walked to Old Wine Head's side and said, "I've never seen a golden fish before. How about letting me feast my eyes on it?"

Old Wine Head was a nice person. Seeing Li Ergou's curiosity, he said, "It's nothing much. It's just that the fish scales are golden, which is rare. It all tastes the same when stewed."

As he spoke, he put the fish basket on the ground, opened the lid, and let him see for himself.

Li Ergou lowered his head to look. Huh, he didn't expect that although this fish was only the size of a palm, it was particularly beautiful. Its scales were golden all over, especially the scales on its back, which shimmered as if they were made of pure gold.

The fish was jumping and hopping, trying to escape the fish basket, but when it saw Li Ergou, it suddenly stopped and lay at the bottom of the fish basket. He didn't know if it was tired or what.

Looking at those extremely bright eyes, he felt that there was a pleading look in the fish's eyes.

He was startled and thought he was seeing things. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the fish's eyes again. He realized that he wasn't seeing things. Although he didn't know why he had this idea.

But he could understand that there was clearly a pleading look in its eyes.

It was as if the fish was saying, "Please, save me."

For some reason, Li Ergou's heart stirred, as if something had been touched. Perhaps it was seeing the fish trapped, like himself now. They were both in shackles, just different ones.

He gently picked up the little fish and couldn't help but whisper, "If you really want me to save you, nod your head, okay?"

Unexpectedly, the fish seemed to understand his words and actually nodded gently.

Li Ergou had heard the old people in the village say that all things have spirits. For example, when a cow knows it's going to be killed, it will kneel down and shed tears, which is reluctance to leave its master.

It was very rare for this fish to be so humane, but since he had encountered it, Li Ergou would naturally not ignore it.

He then said to Old Wine Head, "I really like this fish. How about selling it to me, okay?"

Old Wine Head was slightly surprised, but said, "You young people just like rare and strange things. Actually, this fish isn't fat and is small. It's the same taste if you buy it back to eat. It would be okay to just give you such a small fish, but I, Old Wine Head, am still counting on this fish to drink with and fill my belly. If you really like it, just give me whatever you think it's worth."

He said 'whatever you think it's worth' instead of 'give', which is a common saying among fishermen. For example, if they catch something special and everyone doesn't know its value, if someone likes it, they can only give whatever they think it's worth.

Usually, in this situation, the buyer will give more generously, and the fishermen are happy for such people to buy from them.

In fact, all fish are the same in the eyes of fishermen, but they are just for people to eat. But some people always feel novel. Fishermen are not stupid. Since you want it, at least don't let me, the old man, go hungry.

Li Ergou didn't expect Old Wine Head to be so easy to talk to, so he thought to himself that even if the small fish wasn't worth much, it would still sell for a few copper coins. Giving too little wouldn't be right. He wasn't short of money, so giving more wouldn't be a big deal.