I smiled, “You will know when the time comes! Now, I’ll send you away to do something. As long as you can do exactly what I say, I’m sure all the folks here will be saved in less than two days.”

Niu Dazhuang nodded. “Okay, I will do whatever you tell me.”

I told him, “After you go back, you will tell the folks that I have fished up the kneecap and the clay jar. I’ve solved it all. You will tell them not to worry anymore. Just do that. I’ll take care of everything else.”

Niu Dazhuang didn’t believe it.

I shrugged. “Do as I say. I’m sure there’ll be no problem.”

Eventually, Niu Dazhuang agreed. However, before he left, he threatened me. “If you’re deceiving me, I’ll dismember you, cutting you into eight pieces and feeding you to the hungry wolves in the mountain.”

After we returned to the village, Niu Dazhuang started to act as I had instructed him, while I went to see the old shaman.

The old shaman’s house was ruined, however, it...