Chapter 105 Chapter 110

  Huoxiao Ye said, "The theft of fire is my fabrication. Wait and see!" Huoxiao Ye looked around and ran to a corner of the cave, dragging a large unlit brazier into the center. Then he ran to the other side and dragged the lit brazier to the center as well. The two braziers were about four or five feet apart, forming a straight line with Suan Deng and the monk's position. The lit brazier was in front, while the unlit one was behind.

  Huo Xiao Ye took a few steps back, ran to Su Deng and Shang's side and said: "Monk, we're going to steal fire! You saw that, there are two fire basins here, not far apart. We'll stand here, but can't move forward. We need to steal the fire from one of the lit fire basins and use it to light up the other one. Let's make a rule: no using any objects on our bodies, such as flint, clothes, shoes, hats, etc. Just standing in place, we have to steal the fire from one basin and light up the other!"

  The monk of the bitter lamp looked at him for half a day and said strangely: "Little donor, standing here without moving, nor can you use things on your body, how is this possible?"

  "What? Can't do it? If you can't do it, then admit defeat and give me a token!"

  Ku Deng and the monk laughed: "Hehe, little donor is so cunning, thinking of using this trick that you can't even do yourself to make me admit defeat?"

  "Who says I can't do it! I'll just steal the fire and light another cauldron!"

  Kusen said: "Interesting! You wait, I'll try first!"

  Ku Deng and the monk pondered for half a day, still unable to understand, and couldn't help but take off the Buddhist beads from his chest. Huo Xiao shouted from the side: "I said not to use things on your body!"

  Ku Deng monk's face turned red, he hastily put down the Buddhist beads, his body paused for a moment, and then suddenly pushed several palms towards the brazier in mid-air. The sleeves fluttered, bringing the flames in the brazier to lean to one side. Ku Deng monk let out a loud cry, his body spinning like a spiral propeller, his sleeves dancing wildly, the wind whistling continuously, as he blew the flames into another unlit brazier.

  The little demon in his heart secretly exclaimed: "This monk is really formidable!"

  Unfortunately, the two braziers were more than four feet apart. Although the flames did reach up to the top of the brazier, in order to ignite the pine oil inside, the flame would have had to curve through the air.

  Ku Deng and the monk waved his large sleeves for half a day, but still couldn't light the fire basin. He slowly stopped, let out a long sigh: "Amitabha Buddha, I, a small monk, cannot do it."

  Huo Xiao laughed and said: "Monk, you can say that now, but can't you do it? Don't regret it later!"

  Ku Deng said: "Indeed it can't be done, little donor, please try! If you can light the fire basin, the monk will give you a plaque! Absolutely no nonsense!"

  "Alright then, I'll believe you!"

  Huoxiao Zhe walked to the edge of the cave, took down a flat stone from the stone house where food and clean water were stored, weighed it in his hand, then changed another one. He did this for seven or eight times before finally finding a suitable one, holding it in his hand, he walked back. Suan Deng and Shang stared at him tightly, without saying a word.

  Huoxiao Xie glanced at Kudeng and said, "This is definitely not something on me."

  Ku Deng nodded slightly, focusing his attention on Huo Xiao Xie's movements.

  Huǒ Xiǎo Xié took a deep breath, gripped the flat stone in his hand, stretched out his shoulders, and stared at the fire pit. With a flick of his arm, he shouted "Go!" The flat stone flew out of Huǒ Xiǎo Xié's hand, hitting the fire pit with a soft thud. To everyone's surprise, the stone was engulfed in flames as it jumped back out of the pit and soared towards another fire pit. The stone, still ablaze, drew a flashing line of fire in mid-air before striking the rim of the second pit with a loud clang, sending sparks flying everywhere as it fell into the pit.

  "Huo Xiao shouted loudly: 'I've got it!'"

  With a crackle, the fire pit ignited.

  Ku Deng and the monk chanted: "Amitabha!"

  Huǒ Xiǎo Xié's trick is actually a common game played by young people in the countryside called "dǎ shuǐ piào" (hitting water ripples). Don't underestimate this game, as it requires skill. Normally, players compete to see how many consecutive ripples they can create on the water surface. As one becomes more skilled, there are various ways to play, such as "yuè lóng mén" (jumping dragon gate) and "dǎ yuǎn" (hitting far). In "yuè lóng mén", the stone skips over an obstacle after hitting the water; in "dǎ yuǎn", players try to make the stone skip as far as possible on the second bounce. The young thieves of Fengtian have nothing better to do, so they often play this game by the ponds and ditches. Huǒ Xiǎo Xié is particularly skilled at it, with excellent technique and accuracy, making him almost unbeatable - it's one of his specialties. This game is purely a pastime for young people and has no practical use for stealing; what master thief would bother to practice hitting water ripples?

  Huǒ Xiǎo Jiā just relied on this "folk juggling" to win against Kǔ Dēng!

  Huǒ Xiǎo Yè saw the fire in the brazier ignite, his face flushed with excitement, and he shouted at Sù Dēng and the monk: "I've stolen the fire! I've lit the brazier! Monk, you lose!"

  Ku Deng and the monk nodded, saying silently: "Little donor! Your fire is pure and simple, it's not easy. The monk lost, heart and mouth." After that, he took out a number plate from his pocket and handed it to Huo Xiao Xie.

  Huoxiao Ye didn't hesitate, stretched out his hand to take it, but lowered his head to look and found that it was the second nameplate of Kudeng Heshang. Huoxiao Ye couldn't help asking: "Heshang, this is your nameplate..."

  Ku Deng said: "I lost to you, naturally I will lose my number plate. Little donor, the road ahead is treacherous, please be careful!"

  Ku Deng and the monk chanted a Buddha's name, turned around and walked into the intersection. Xiao Xie looked at Ku Deng and the monk, seemingly deep in thought, and hurriedly shouted: "Great Monk, please wait!"

  Huǒ Xiǎo Yé chased up to Kǔ Dēng Hé Shàng, holding a signboard, with an eerie smile on his face, saying: "Great Monk, you're a good person through and through, help me out with one thing."

  The monk Ku Deng said: "Young donor, please speak!"

  Huǒ Xiǎo Yè approached Kǔ Dēng Hé Shàng and whispered in his ear.