Qingshan County, inside a large residence in Anle Square, East of the City.
In the living room, the former county magistrate Li Qing leisurely sipped tea.
“Uncle, the City Guard Warriors report that the number of evil spirit incidents within the city is gradually decreasing, and they only occur in the West City District,” a burly man with dark skin said, sitting across the small tea table from him.
“The effect of the sacrificial altar is spreading from Qingfeng Observatory to the west. It won’t be long before it completely covers Qingshan County.”
“It’s a pity. Despite my efforts in having people search extensively, we still haven’t uncovered what means Feng Ren used,” the dark-faced man said with regret.
“That old Daoist Feng Ren does have some skills,” Li Qing put down his teacup and said.
“It’s just a pity that Cheng Yi is so stubborn. He won’t take money that’s being handed to him. If there’s anything slightly wrong with the workers’ food, he comes to trouble us. Despicable!” Li Wenlin said angrily.
“Who can get a full meal these days? What’s wrong with hairy wheat? Just cook it, and isn’t it fine then? Mixing in some grass seeds and tree bark is an issue, is it? It’s not like it can’t be eaten!”
“Wenlin, you are our Li Family’s auspicious unicorn, the Commander-in-chief of the City Guard Soldiers, and it’s not like your share of silver is small at home. Why bother grudging for food from those peasants?”
“Possessions outside the body are nothing. Keeping Qingshan County safe is paramount,” Li Qing said deliberately.
As long as Qingshan County is kept safe, there will be plenty of ways to make money.
“Uncle, but we must have contingency plans, we can’t let Qingfeng Observatory hold us by the throat,” Li Wenlin said, his eyes circling with thought.
Li Qing nodded thoughtfully: “Indeed, we can’t afford to walk with a limp.”
Seeing Li Qing interested, Li Wenlin excitedly introduced, “Uncle, I’ve found someone, he might…”
“It’s not another swindler like that Qian Shan Daoist, is it?” Li Qing, casting a skeptical glance at his nephew.
The key is that swindle wasn’t even complete; they fled in the middle of it!
His share was already earmarked for use, turning all the effort into a wasted endeavor since Qian Shan vanished.
“Uncle, this time it’s not some worthless expert. It’s a magic artifact,” Li Wenlin whispered excitedly as he leaned closer.
“What fool would sell a magic artifact?” Li Qing immediately disbelieved.
Lin Wenlin chuckled and said, “Magic artifacts are treasures, but the price… not everyone can afford it!”
“I’ve heard that artifact requires a live human sacrifice.”
“Others dare not use it.”
“But we have no shortage of death row inmates in our prisons.”
Li Qing narrowed his eyes and shook his head: “It’s better not to touch such sinister magic artifacts.”
“Uncle…”
“Enough! We cannot speak of this matter again!”
…
The small Dongshan Mountain seemed to be draped in a sheer white veil.
Tall trees, engulfed by the mist, only revealed their tops, like sprinkles of green on white gauze, adding an ethereal beauty to the mountain.
The light fog spread through the forest, and Chen Mu pushed through the mist, moving silently.
Even the blazing sun became gentle in the thin mist, like a daylight lamp emitting a soft glow.
In the wooden house on the edge of the settlement. Only seven or eight days away, it looked as if it had been abandoned for several months.
The doors and windows hung crookedly on their frames. A faint musty odor spread throughout the room.
“Brother Yang, you finally came!” Old man Liu carefully ran out from beneath the window inside. He constantly looked around, afraid of being noticed.
“Black-Doggie has been getting fiercer lately,” Liu complained.
“Brother Yang, you’ve got to give me a good price,” Liu urged, pointing to several burlap sacks piled up inside the room.
“These goods almost cost me my life.”
Having not seen him for several days, Chen Mu found that the other’s complexion indeed looked worse.
He appeared thinner, and his complexion was somewhat pale and weak.
Chen Mu, without a word, squat down and began to quietly inspect all the medicinal materials.
He wouldn’t forego any part of the inspection simply because of their multiple transactions and familiarity.
Having stumbled once with Jie Jia, he didn’t want to stumble a second time.
After a while, he pulled out a handful of round, leaf-shaped medicinal materials from the bag.
He held them in front of Old Liu’s eyes, and from the dozen or so leaves, he picked out four and placed them at the front of his palm.
His gaze calm, he looked at Liu indifferently, whose complexion was turning pale.
“These bold peasants dare to pass off inferior products as good ones!” Old Liu exploded in anger!
Chen Mu remained silent, just staring at Liu without a word.
Only when Liu looked embarrassed and anxious did Chen Mu withdraw his gaze.
“Brother Yang, please show some generosity,” Liu cupped his hands and begged.
Chen Mu expressionlessly withdrew his hand.
He opened the money bag he had prepared in advance, took out a piece of silver, and finally tossed the bag to him amid Liu’s pained gaze.
“The last batch, in three days.” Not waiting for Liu to explain, Chen Mu grabbed several burlap sacks and plunged into the increasingly dense fog.
…
On the cliff behind the mountain.
Chen Mu separated, dried, ground, and mixed the medicinal herbs.
He had already prepared a large number of Fasting Pills, various fruit jerkies, meat jerkies, dried vegetables, and all were ready.
On the way to Nanyang Prefecture, even if there were three of Chen Mu, they couldn’t finish eating everything.
He continued to have Liu purchase medicinal materials to stock up on Preserving Powder, fast-acting golden sore medicine, Three Yang Six Lords Pills, improved Mesmerizing Divine Smoke, and a series of other home traveling essentials.
The journey to Nanyang Prefecture was fraught with uncertainty.
The more prepared he was, the more at ease he would be.
Next to him, Little Taoist Cheng Ming hugged a big bowl, popping pale tender fish balls into his mouth one by one.
His eyes blinked curiously, watching Chen Mu make various medicinal powders.
“Brother Chen, what are you doing?”
“Medicine.”
“Can it be eaten?” The little Taoist boy’s eyes lit up.
“Yes.”
“Give me a bowl!” The little Taoist boy hurriedly stuffed the last fish ball into his mouth and handed the empty bowl to Chen Mu.
Chen Mu: “…”
…
After lunch, the little Taoist boy had taken over Chen Mu’s rocking chair.
He lay back in delight, holding a wooden tea cup in his hands, and sipped the sweet and sour hawthorn juice sip by sip.
“It’s delicious. It’s a pity I won’t be able to drink this in the future.” Cheng Ming said with a sad face as he gulped down half a cup of the hawthorn juice.
“Refill!”
Chen Mu’s face turned dark immediately.
That’s why having great culinary skills isn’t always a good thing.
Dealing with one Jie Jia was annoying enough, and now there was a little glutton to contend with.
“Brother Chen, will you stay here forever?” Cheng Ming asked joyfully, holding his refilled wooden cup.
“No.”
Think you can mooch off me forever? Dream on!
“I don’t want to go to Nanyang!” Cheng Ming shouted in frustration.
“You’re going to Nanyang Prefecture?” Chen Mu came to his senses.
“Master said that Qingshan County is not peaceful, and told me to stay there for a few days.” Cheng Ming was still immersed in the annoyance of losing the delicious food.
Chen Mu’s eyes narrowed unconsciously.
The biggest unrest in Qingshan County came from ghosts.
Didn’t Feng Ren have a way to deal with the ghosts?
Even he wasn’t confident about it?
Chen Mu couldn’t help but think of the problem of cost that Jie Jia had mentioned previously.
“No, this place really isn’t suitable to stay in any longer!”
…
Three days later, the gathering area.
It was long past the bustle it had half a month ago.
The entire daytime was silent, and not even a ghost could be seen.
It was said that anyone who could walk had been forcibly taken to repair the altar.
Within the increasingly dilapidated wooden house,
Chen Mu carefully checked the last bit of medicinal materials.
He made sure they were of good quality before happily paying the final payment.
Liu old man, pale-faced and with dark circles under his eyes, counted the silver pieces with glee, growing more excited with each piece counted.
Facing Liu old man’s bloodshot eyes, Chen Mu couldn’t help but speak, “Are you alright?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just been outwitting that black dog all the time, not sleeping well,” Liu old man waved his hand and said.
“Is Brother Yang preparing to leave?” Liu old man sighed, “The gathering area is a place of trouble after all.”
Then he cautiously inquired, “Is Brother Yang planning to settle down in Qingshan County or live in the countryside?”
In case they could continue to collaborate in the future, he was a big client.
“Nanyang Prefecture,” Chen Mu didn’t hide the fact.
“That’s a big city,” Liu old man said regretfully.
“Old man had wanted to go there when I was young, but unfortunately, I didn’t have the capability. Now that I’m old, I can’t be bothered anymore. Buying a small courtyard in Qingshan County to enjoy my twilight years wouldn’t be bad,” Liu old man said contentedly, pocketing the money bag.
Chen Mu’s bulk purchase had made him a good profit.
Plus, with the money he had saved in Da Tong bank for most of his life, he had enough to retire comfortably in Qingshan County.
He could marry a concubine, adopt a child to look after him in his old age, and that would be his life.
Liu old man indulged in these pleasant thoughts.
Not paying any more attention to Liu old man’s future dreams, Chen Mu turned around and slipped silently into the foggy forest.
…
Da Liang year 639, December 21.
South of Qingshan County Town.
As agreed, Chen Mu arrived early at the riverside of Bailang River to the south of the city.
But when he got there, there was no one in sight all around.
A thick fog shrouded everything.
People couldn’t be seen beyond five meters.
If he weren’t used to circling Bailang River every day, he could have easily lost direction in the mist.
He waited and waited, but no one arrived.
Surrounding him, the fog rolled, and all was silence.
A chill rose inexplicably in Chen Mu’s heart.
Then, a rumbling sound drifted from within the fog, faintly audible. The ground even trembled slightly.
It was as if a terrifying giant beast was slowly approaching from afar.
Chen Mu’s heart suddenly tightened.