Chapter Eleven: Village Ruse

"Brat, where are you coming from? For the past two days, the whole village has been looking for you!" roared the village head, his frustration evident.

Li Wei sighed inwardly. "Oh, here we go again," he thought, his mind already spinning as he contemplated what story to concoct this time.

With a nonchalant expression, he faced the village head. "Alright, alright. Let me explain," Li Wei began, feigning innocence.

The village head's stern expression softened slightly, curiosity overriding his anger. "Well, go on then," he prompted.

Li Wei cleared his throat and assumed a contemplative pose, as if piecing together his tale. "Henhenhen," he began dramatically, drawing the village head's attention. "When I went to the river yesterday, I saw one plant that looked like it was shining. It had two fruits. Out of curiosity, I ate the two fruits, and suddenly, I started feeling this intense pain. I fell unconscious," he continued, his expression a mix of concern and drama.

The village head's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Go on," he urged, clearly intrigued by Li Wei's account.

"When I woke up," Li Wei continued, "I found my body covered with this black stuff that I don't recognize. It had an awful smell." He paused, allowing the image to sink in. "Anyways, I entered into the river to wash up, and I found out that my skin and bones had changed. It was like some kind of transformation."

The village head stared at Li Wei, his eyes wide with a mixture of amazement and disbelief. "A transformation?" he repeated, his tone a mix of awe and skepticism.

Li Wei nodded solemnly, his act of innocence perfected. "Yes, that's right. It was like something out of a legend."

The village head scratched his head, clearly taken aback by Li Wei's story. "Well, I've heard tales of mysterious plants and their magical properties. Perhaps you stumbled upon one of them."

Li Wei shrugged, playing his role to the fullest. "Who knows? It was quite the adventure."

The village head's expression softened, and he patted Li Wei's shoulder. "You've had quite an experience, my boy. Just be careful next time."

Li Wei nodded, concealing a smirk. "Of course, village head. I'll be more careful."

As the village head walked away, Li Wei couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Another successful ruse had been spun.