Cyan Bat Lesser Yaoguais
Location
Encountered on the critical path during Chapter 3.
Description
In the past, there was a butcher named Wang in Changuang Village. Orphaned at a young age, his mother couldn’t support him, so she sent him to apprentice with a butcher at the foot of the mountain, where he honed his skills.
One day, a wealthy family in town was celebrating a birthday and invited Wang to slaughter pigs and sheep. Pleased with his work, the host rewarded him with a leg of pork. Wang decided to bring the pork leg back to his mother and set off for the village that night. Halfway there, he saw a man by the roadside, holding a hunting spear and wearing an old cloth shirt. The man called out, “Brother, I’m a hunter from the village, trapping rabbits down this slope. I’m afraid of ghosts at night; may I walk with you?”
Wang nodded in agreement, and they continued on their way. After a while, the hunter started a conversation, “Brother, have you heard? There have been reports of yaoguais on this mountain path recently.” Wang laughed, “What’s there to fear about yaoguais? I have a butcher’s knife at my waist and a pork leg on my shoulder. If I encounter a yaoguai, I’ll swing the pork leg at it and chop it with my knife.” The hunter forced a smile.
After walking a bit further, the hunter said, “Brother, you must be very skilled if you’re not afraid of yaoguais.” Wang laughed again, “I’ve been slaughtering animals since I was a child. One strike can hit the vital spot, and one chop can break bones and tendons.” The hunter, annoyed, said, “How can you compare yaoguais to animals?” Wang replied seriously, “There are no yaoguais in this world. Those who uphold justice are heroes; those who bully the innocent are simply foul beasts.” The hunter, unsure how to respond, walked on in silence.
As the village came into view, the hunter hesitated and said, “Since you’re not afraid, why not turn around and look at me?” Wang had already suspected the hunter was a yaoguai. He swung the pork leg, knocking the hunter to the ground, and raised his knife to strike. The yaoguai, losing its composure, quickly spread its wings and flew into the air, spitting, “Today I met a tough one, bad luck, bad luck!” With that, it fled immediately.
Ah, they say the soft persimmons are easier to squeeze, hence it’s better to be strong. Stand firm, and even yaoguais will fear you a bit.
Poetry
Iron-forked spear in hand,
Clothed in simple garb, humble did he stand.
Deep woods, a world of white,
A perfect hunting land in sight.
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