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"The youth of today would really find this hilarious, being scared stiff even when encountering something dark and eerie in the middle of the night."

"One thing's for sure, if a weasel begs for a blessing and gets splashed with urine in return, not killing it is already a lenient act."

"Replace me, and I'd curse that kid every day, wouldn't I?"

The more He Wenbin thought about it, the more panicked he became, his face contorted into a mournful expression. "I've been cursed for three months now. If my luck doesn't change, will I actually die?"

"Master, you have to save me."

Seeing how genuinely terrified He Wenbin was, Chu Yuening tried to comfort him.

"Death is certainly not on the cards. A weasel must cultivate for a hundred years before it can beg for a blessing. Should it cause harm to a human, its karma would be damaged, and it would be immediately struck by lightning."

"Any weasel that lives long enough to beg for a blessing hasn't done any evil deeds."

He Wenbin pondered for a moment and said, "Come to think of it, after the first encounter on that first night, I ran into it again during the second month at night."

"You bumped into it again?" Shanpo asked curiously. "Did it transform into its true form to scare you?"

"No," He Wenbin shook his head. He vaguely remembered that night when he passed by the lawn, and a child wearing a small cap blocked his way.

The little one held a roasted chicken in their tiny palm, with gleaming black eyes and a delicate voice echoing in the dark night.

"Big brother, I want to treat you to some roasted chicken?"

At the time, He Wenbin was quite surprised. The kid was quite resourceful, so he didn't refuse the offer.

The two of them—well, he thought they were both human at the time—found a spot on the lawn to sit and enjoy their meal. He Wenbin hadn't had dinner and was starving.

This time, the weasel not only brought the roasted chicken but also a bottle of humans' favorite liquor. As it hugged the chicken leg with its furry paws, it felt indignant.

After a hundred years of hard work, day and night, all for the sake of receiving a compliment. Yet, it was all ruined by that careless remark about being better off as feces.

The following month, in an attempt to successfully receive a compliment, the weasel brought along the roasted chicken and alcohol again. It had heard from its great-grandfather that this tactic had worked for him when he sought a compliment.

One is indebted to those who feed them and swayed by the generosity of others – this principle applies to both humans and animals since ancient times. The little yellow weasel was convinced that this tactic would work!

Upon hearing this, Shanpo scratched her scalp with the peach wood comb and asked, "So, what happened? Did it succeed?"

He Wenbin fell silent for a moment before answering, "The roasted chicken was too fragrant, and the liquor too strong. I... fell asleep."

Vaguely, he recalled the weasel slapping his face and repeatedly asking, "Do I look like a human? Do I look like one?"

Assuming it was seeking retribution, He Wenbin stuffed two hundred yuan into its paw, closed his eyes, and stretched out his legs until morning arrived.

"Master," He Wenbin asked with a bitter expression, "Why does it insist on finding me? Isn't one failure enough? Perhaps it could have succeeded with someone else."

Chu Yuening poured water into the teacup, speaking softly, "A weasel seeking a title isn't something anyone can grant. One must have a strong destiny to withstand such supernatural beings. Otherwise, those with weak destinies might be frightened to death the first day they encounter a weasel seeking a title. The weasel is already close to achieving enlightenment, just one step away from becoming a spirit. Harming someone would not be worth it."

"A weasel has three chances to seek a title. From the first attempt to the third, it must be the same person. It has already approached you twice, leaving one more chance."

"One more chance?" He Wenbin paused in his rubbing, holding the egg with a fearful expression. If he didn't know it was a weasel, things might have been different. But now that he knew, who wouldn't be afraid?

In the darkness, it appeared as if it were a genuine five or six-year-old child.

"Master, what about my misfortune? I'm afraid I won't survive until it comes asking for food – I might get hit by a car or drown in a reservoir first," He Wenbin said with genuine concern.

It wasn't unjustified for him to think this way; his current streak of bad luck was so severe that he could sustain serious injuries just by walking down the street.

"Karma is at play. You've already encountered the weasel twice. Even if it doesn't wish you harm, it's still a yin entity. Prolonged contact with such beings can affect one's fortune," Chu Yuening explained after taking a sip from her teacup.

"When it comes for you a third time and you fulfill its wish, the karma will be resolved, and your misfortune will cease," she continued.

Relieved to hear there was a solution, He Wenbin let out a sigh of relief. Cracking the egg along the edge of the table, he revealed a cheerful smile despite his bruised face. "Many thanks for clarifying things for me, Master."

As he paid the consultation fee, he held up the cracked egg before Chu Yuening, offering it to her. "Salty boiled eggs with fragrant tea – a match made in heaven. Care to try, Master?"

Chu Yuening glanced downward.

With half an eggshell still wrapped around the salty egg, He Wenbin's hand held a reminder of how the egg had rolled across his battered face. Despite understanding his intentions, Chu Yuening couldn't bring herself to eat it without any qualms.

Unable to suppress a light cough, she replied, "Le... let's not. You have it."

"Sifu is truly too kind. In that case, I'll be on my way." He Wenbin bit into an egg, the motion tugging at his wound. As he stood up, he chewed with a hiss and a gasp.

The neighbors watched him leave, not forgetting to give him well-intentioned reminders.

"Remember, don't mess things up again."

"Indeed, it's not easy for a weasel to cultivate for a hundred years, let alone become enchanted."

"Yes, be careful. If you don't appease the weasel, you might be in for a lifetime of bad luck."

He Wenbin left the dessert stall, turning back with a smile and waving. "Uncle, Auntie, I know. This time, I won't let anything go wrong."

As he spoke,

Suddenly, he took a few hurried steps backward, almost losing his balance but managing to steady himself just in time.

The neighbors watched anxiously. It was one thing knowing he was in for trouble, another seeing it happen before their eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

He Wenbin lifted his foot, and a pungent odor wafted upward. His expression cycled through a rainbow of disgust, making him both want to laugh and cry. "I stepped in dog poop. Thankfully, it's not a big deal."