Chapter 51: Departure

In a large mansion located in Anle Ward, on the east side of Qingshan County.

Inside the living room, former County Vice-Magistrate Li Qing was leisurely sipping tea.

"Uncle, according to the guards' statistics, the evil supernatural incidents in the city are gradually decreasing, and they now only occur in the West District," a dark-complexioned, robust man said, sitting across from him next to a small tea table.

"The effect of the altar is spreading outward from Qingfeng Temple, and it won't be long before it completely covers Qingshan County."

"It's a pity that despite my repeated investigations in various ways, I still haven't figured out what method Feng Ren used," the dark-faced robust man said with a look of regret.

"That old Daoist Feng Ren still has some genuine skills," Li Qing said, putting down his teacup.

"It's just that Chengyi is a stubborn fool. He refuses to make easy money. He comes to make trouble over the slightest discrepancy in the laborers' rations. Hateful!" Li Wenlin said angrily.

"In this day and age, who can manage to fill their stomach? What's wrong with moldy white wheat? Just boil it until it's cooked. Is it really forbidden to mix in a little grass seed and tree bark? It's not like it's inedible?!"

"Wenlin, you are the shining star of our Li family, the commander of the city guards, and the family hasn't shorted you on silver. Why bother trying to squeeze food out of the mouths of those mud-legged peasants?"

"External possessions are trivial; securing Qingshan County is far more important," Li Qing said leisurely.

As long as Qingshan County remained secure, there would be plenty of ways to make money.

"Uncle, but we must have a backup plan. We can't let Qingfeng Temple hold us by the throat," Li Wenlin said, his eyes rolling.

Li Qing nodded thoughtfully, "Indeed, we cannot walk with a limp leg."

Seeing that Li Qing was tempted, Li Wenlin eagerly introduced, "Uncle, I found someone, and he might..."

"It's not another money-swindling fraud like that Daoist Qianshan, is it?" Li Qing glanced sideways at his nephew.

The worst part was that the fraudster hadn't even finished scamming before running away halfway through!

He had already planned out the use of his share, only for Daoist Qianshan to vanish into thin air, leaving him with nothing.

"Uncle, this time it's not some bullshit high-ranking master; it's a magical artifact," Li Wenlin leaned in and whispered excitedly.

"Which fool would sell a magical artifact?" Li Qing immediately disbelieved.

Li Wenlin chuckled, "Magical artifacts are treasures, but the price is something ordinary people cannot afford!"

"I heard that thing requires blood sacrifice from living humans."

"Others wouldn't dare use it."

"But our prison is hardly short of death-row inmates."

Li Qing narrowed his eyes and shook his head, "It's better not to touch such wicked magical artifacts."

"Uncle..."

"Enough! Do not speak of this matter again!"

……

The verdant Lesser East Mountain seemed draped in a light white veil.

The towering trees were entirely swallowed by the mist, leaving only their crowns exposed, resembling scattered spots of green upon a white silk. This added a mysterious and ethereal beauty to the entire Lesser East Mountain.

Faint mist permeated the mountain forest, and Chen Mu broke through the white fog, walking quietly through it.

Amidst the thin mist, the scorching sun also became gentle, resembling a lamp emitting soft light.

The wooden house at the edge of the settlement. Having been away for only seven or eight days, it looked as though it had been abandoned for months.

The doors and windows hung crookedly on their frames. A faint, musty odor permeated the room.

"Brother Yang, you've finally come!" Old man Liu cautiously scurried out from beneath the window inside the room. He kept peering left and right, terrified of being discovered.

"The Black Dogs have been getting more and more vicious lately," old man Liu complained.

"Brother Yang, you have to give me a good price," old man Liu said, pointing to several sacks piled up inside the room.

"These goods almost cost me my life."

Having not seen him for a few days, Chen Mu noticed that the man indeed looked in poor health.

He seemed even thinner, and his complexion was somewhat sickly and pale.

Without a word, Chen Mu squatted down and quietly inspected all the medicines.

He would not let down his guard on even a single inspection just because they had traded multiple times and were now familiar.

He had stumbled over Jie Jia once and had no intention of doing so a second time.

……

After a while, he pulled a handful of round, leaf-like medicinal herbs from a bag.

Holding his hand up before old man Liu's eyes, he picked out four leaves separately from the dozens and placed them at the front of his palm.

With calm eyes, he apathetically stared at the pale-faced old man Liu.

"These daring, unruly scoundrels! How dare they pass off inferior goods as quality ones!" Old man Liu flew into a rage!

Chen Mu said nothing, just staring fixedly at old man Liu without a word.

Not until old man Liu wore an awkward and flustered expression did Chen Mu withdraw his gaze.

"Brother Yang, please show mercy and spare me," old man Liu cupped his hands and pleaded.

With an expressionless face, Chen Mu withdrew his hand.

He opened the money pouch he had prepared beforehand, pulled out a small piece of silver amidst the man's greedy gaze, and then tossed the pouch to him.

"Three days from now, the final batch." Ignoring old man Liu's desire to explain, Chen Mu grabbed several sacks with one hand and plunged into the increasingly thick white fog.

……

The back-mountain cliff.

Chen Mu sorted, dried, ground, and mixed the medicinal herbs.

He had already made a large batch of Bigu Pills, and all kinds of preserved fruits, preserved meats, and dried vegetables were fully prepared.

All the way to Nanyang Prefecture, even if three Chen Mus ate together, they wouldn't be able to finish it all.

He continued to have old man Liu procure herbs to stockpile food preservative powder, fast-acting wound-healing powder, Sanyang Liujun Pills, and a series of essential household and travel medicines such as a modified soul-confusing smoke.

The journey to Nanyang Prefecture was fraught with uncertainty.

More preparation meant more composure.

Beside him, the little Daoist boy Chengming was holding a large bowl, popping tender fish balls into his mouth one by one.

He blinked his eyes from time to time, curiously watching Chen Mu make various medicinal powders.

"Big Brother Chen, what are you making?"

"Medicine."

"Can it be eaten?" The little Daoist boy's eyes lit up.

"Yes."

"Give me a bowl!" The little Daoist boy hurriedly stuffed the last fish ball into his mouth and thrust the empty bowl in front of Chen Mu.

Chen Mu: "..."

……

After lunch, the little Daoist boy usurped Chen Mu's rocking chair.

He lay back happily, holding a wooden teacup in his hands, sipping the sweet and sour hawthorn juice a mouthful at a time.

"Delicious. What a pity I won't get to drink this anymore." Chengming looked desolate, downing half a cup of hawthorn juice in one gulp.

"Refill!"

Chen Mu's face instantly darkened.

This just goes to show, being too good at cooking is truly not a good thing.

Jie Jia was already enough of a headache, and now there was an extra little glutton.

"Big Brother Chen, will you always stay here?" Chengming asked happily, hugging the refilled wooden cup.

"No."

Still thinking about freeloading off me? In your dreams!

"I don't want to go to Nanyang!" Chengming wailed in frustration.

"You're going to Nanyang Prefecture?" Chen Mu snapped out of his thoughts.

"Master said Qingshan County is not safe and told me to go stay there for a few days," Chengming was still immersed in the sorrow of losing his delicacies.

Chen Mu's eyes involuntarily narrowed.

The biggest unrest in Qingshan County came from malevolent ghosts.

Doesn't Feng Ren have means to deal with malevolent ghosts?

Even he himself lacks confidence?

Chen Mu couldn't help thinking of the cost issue Jie Jia had mentioned previously.

"No, staying here is truly no longer an option!"

……

Three days later, the settlement.

The hustle and bustle of half a month ago was entirely gone.

Throughout the day, it was dead silent, and not even a ghost could be seen.

It was rumored that anyone with intact limbs had been forcibly press-ganged into building the altar.

Inside the increasingly dilapidated wooden house.

Chen Mu carefully tallied the final batch of medicinal herbs.

Ensuring the quality was top-notch, he cheerfully paid the remaining balance.

Old man Liu looked pale, sporting a pair of dark circles, but he was happily counting silver coins. The more he counted, the more excited he became.

Meeting old man Liu's bloodshot eyes, Chen Mu couldn't help asking, "Are you alright?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I've been matching wits with the Black Dogs all day, didn't sleep well," old man Liu waved his hand dismissively.

"Is Brother Yang preparing to leave?" Old man Liu sighed, "The settlement is a place of right and wrong after all."

Then he cautiously probed, "Does Brother Yang plan to settle down inside Qingshan County? Or find a home in the countryside?"

Just in case they could continue cooperating in the future, this was a major financial backer.

"Nanyang Prefecture," Chen Mu did not conceal it.

"That's a big city," old man Liu said with regret.

"When I was young, I wanted to go, but I didn't have the ability. Now I'm old, and even less able to toss and turn. Buying a small courtyard in Qingshan County to spend my twilight years isn't bad either," old man Liu said with satisfaction as he put away his money pouch.

With Chen Mu's bulk purchases, he had made quite a profit.

Combined with the savings he had deposited in the Datong Bank for most of his life, it was enough for him to retire comfortably in Qingshan County.

Taking a concubine and adopting a child to provide for his old age—his life would end up just like that.

Old man Liu thought about it with blissful anticipation.

Disregarding old man Liu, who was daydreaming about the future, Chen Mu turned around and quietly slipped into the mist-shrouded mountain forest.

……

The 639th year of the Daliang Dynasty, December 21st.

South of Qingshan County City.

As per their agreement, Chen Mu arrived early in the morning at the bank of the White Wave River outside the southern gate.

Yet when he arrived, the surroundings were completely devoid of people.

A heavy fog shrouded all directions.

Beyond five meters, human figures were entirely invisible.

Had he not spent every day pacing around the White Wave River, he would have long since lost his bearings in the white fog.

He waited and waited, but no one came.

Meanwhile, the surrounding fog rolled, and all creation was dead silent.

Unbidden, a chill crept into Chen Mu's heart.

At that moment, a rumbling sound vaguely drifted from out of the fog. The ground was trembling slightly.

It felt as though some terrifying beast was slowly walking toward him from afar.

Chen Mu's heart instantly tightened.