"Is it that unusual?"
Lu Fei looked at Liu Fugui's bulging belly and thought that this guy would probably have to use the slimming treasure again soon.
Huzi, upon hearing there was something strange to see, immediately opened his eyes wide with curiosity.
"What reincarnated toad spirit? Old Liu, explain yourself!"
"It's just a person who looks extremely like a toad, and he wants to come here to use the slimming treasure..." Liu Fugui said while picking his teeth with a toothpick.
"Wait, what is this slimming treasure again?"
"Of course, it's the new treasure Brother Lu has acquired. Let me tell you, this thing is amazing. Just stick it on someone's body, and they can lose weight wherever they want..."
Liu Fugui spoke with great pride.
Huzi smacked his wrist in regret, feeling that he had missed out on a lot during his absence.
"Brother Xiao Lu, if you're not busy tomorrow, you really should come and take a look. I'm so scared that this person might actually be a monster in disguise."
"Sure, I'll go and see just how strange it is tomorrow."
Liu Fugui's words had piqued Lu Fei's curiosity, and he thought about settling another payment the next day to bring over for Jing Jian.
Lu Fei was always very generous with his friends.
Shouldn't one give something back to those who have worked hard for them?
The night passed.
Lu Fei and Hu Zi arrived early at Liu Fugui's Línglóng Pavilion.
For the convenience of customers using the Slimming Treasure, Liu Fugui had set up a small room in the back of his shop.
The room was simply furnished with a recliner and a table, and the water bottles in the corner were filled with the Golden Yang Water contributed by the small black dog.
"Old Liu, why do you have eye masks here?" Hu Zi asked curiously.
"After all, the Slimming Treasure looks unusual; if any guests get scared, they can cover their eyes."
Liu Fugui explained a few words, and the sound of the welcome chime rang from the shop's entrance.
"Here, here!"
Liu Fugui winked at the two of them, then eagerly went to greet the guests.
"Mr. Lai, you're right on time! The room is already prepared for you. Please, come in."
"Mm." A deep male voice replied.
Lu Fei and Hu Zi both stretched their necks to look towards the door.
Holy smokes!
Hu Zi almost gasped out loud.
Seeing this guest in person, they finally understood the weight behind Liu Fugui's comment about a toad spirit reincarnated.
The man was around forty years old.
Short and stout!
He looked no taller than 1.6 meters, but his weight must have been no less than 200 pounds.
And he had an apple-shaped body—round in the middle with short limbs, looking like a frog dressed in human clothes walking upright.
Not only did his physique resemble that of a frog, but even his facial features shared some similarities.
His head was slightly pointed with sparse hair parted to the sides.
His face was wide, with a large mouth, a flat nose, and protruding eyes.
Even Lu Fei was almost as astounded as Tiger when he saw him.
Although it wasn't very polite to stare, this peculiar appearance was just too eye-catching to ignore.
When the man noticed their gazes, he slowly turned his head to look at them, and the two of them hurriedly turned away, pretending to be busy.
"Them?" The man seemed somewhat displeased.
"Mr. Lai, this is Manager Lu, the true owner of Slimdown Treasure. Don't worry, they are here to help."
Liu Fugui briefly introduced them and led the man into a small partitioned room.
"Mr. Lai, please sit down. Would you like some water first?"
The man panted after just a few steps, then plunked himself down in the recliner, which let out a squeak and a slight shudder.
"No, let's get started right away."
"Do you want to wear an eye mask then?"
"No need. I want to see what this Slimdown Treasure really is and if it's as magical as they claim!"
"Alright, just a moment, please."
Liu Fugui put on gloves and brought out a sealed bottle containing leeches.
"This is the Slimming Treasure. When it's first applied, there might be some discomfort. Please bear with it for just five seconds."
"Stop talking and get started," the man urged impatiently.
"Alright!"
Liu Fugui added a bit of water to the bottle, and after the chestnut-shaped leech came to life, he poured it onto the man's large, white, frog-like belly.
The leech immediately latched onto the man's skin and began sucking frenzily.
The man's eyes widened in shock.
The large belly visibly shrank by a size.
"Five seconds, time's up."
Liu Fugui, timing with a stopwatch, sprinkled Golden Sun Water on the leech as soon as the time was up.
The poor leech trembled as it detached from the man's belly, spitting out a large clump of bloody fat, and then shriveled back into a small chestnut.
"Enough!"
Liu Fugui deftly picked up the leech with tweezers and placed it back into the sealed bottle.
"Mr. Lai, how about that? The effect is immediate, isn't it!" After tidying up the floor, he looked at the man with a smile.
"It actually, really, did get smaller!"
The man held his belly in disbelief, looking at the red marks on his snow-white abdomen. He showed no sign of worry; instead, he was so excited that he was almost in tears.
"Great!"
"I suffered so much and endured so much pain without losing weight... now, I've actually lost weight..."
But before he could enjoy his happiness for more than a few seconds, a gurgling sound came from his snow-white belly, and then it began to swell like an inflating balloon, expanding visibly.
It became round and plump again!
This bizarre scene left everyone present stunned.
"How could this be?"
The man was stunned for two seconds before he suddenly got angry, pointing at Liu Fugui with his short hand forcefully.
"Is there something wrong with that weight loss treasure? You bunch of frauds!"
Liu Fugui hurriedly explained, "Mr. Lai, don't panic first! Our weight loss treasure is absolutely fine; you saw the results just now with your own eyes."
"Then why is my belly growing again? You must have done something, frauds! Frauds!" The man's voice trembled, and he was particularly agitated.
Liu Fugui had no idea what was going on. No one could gain weight that fast, and the weight loss treasure had never failed before. He looked to Lu Fei for help.
"Mr. Lai, I understand how you feel, but please calm down first," said Lu Fei, giving Hu Zi a look. Hu Zi immediately went to pour a glass of water and handed it to the man.
"The problem isn't with the weight loss treasure, but with your body," he said, squinting and examining the man's belly.
"You still want to shirk responsibility..."
The man became even angrier, trying to hit the glass of water, but his short arms missed it. His belly rose and fell with his rapid breathing, and strangely, there were a few more odd croaking sounds coming from it.
"What's that sound?"
Liu Fugui was frightened and took two steps back.
Could it be that this guest is really a toad spirit reincarnated?
The first croak wasn't heard very clearly, as everyone's attention was drawn to the rapidly swelling belly.
These few croaks, however, were heard by all clearly.
It sounded just like a frog.
"Has he got frogs in his stomach?" Hu Zi shouted in shock.
The man himself was also stunned, and then he slumped, hugging his belly in great distress, almost on the verge of tears.
"Looks like I'm really beyond help..."
Lu Fei shook his head: "Mr. Lai, can you now tell us the truth about your belly?"