Chapter 46

That night, Bian Fuzi didn’t sleep at all. After talking with Lin Bei, he sat stiffly by the fire, looking quite melancholic. Lin Bei felt that the news he had shared had a significant impact on him.

That night was peaceful, with no visit from the she-wolf. The little snake hatched three more, drank the egg liquid, and then went to sleep, still showing great affection for Lin Bei, who was quite satisfied.

Then it was morning, and today was another sunny day.

Bian Fuzi was woken up by Jiulang. When Jiulang woke up and saw Bian Fuzi sitting there dumbly, he thought something had happened. When Bian Fuzi looked up, Jiulang was immediately frightened by his appearance—his face was pale, his eyes bloodshot, and his beard had grown quickly due to lack of sleep, making him look extremely exhausted.

"Master, are you okay? Did your old injury flare up again? Master, Master."

Lin Bei poked his head out from the roof, but before he could speak, Bian Fuzi waved his hand and said wearily, "I’m fine, just a bit troubled."

Lin Bei nodded.

"Master, can this really not be changed?" Bian Fuzi couldn’t help but ask again, "I’m still worried."

Lin Bei shook his head; the wheels of history were not so easily altered.

"Is there any war in Nanyue?"

Lin Bei thought for a moment, climbed down, and wrote, "It should be minimal, as it is far from the Central Plains. Ambitious people will mainly focus on pacification, but be cautious of internal strife."

Bian Fuzi nodded heavily.

Today, they were all going back to Xishan Village. Jiulang and Houtu tidied up Lin Bei’s territory again, pulling weeds, watering the grapevines, and cleaning the house. Lin Bei, of course, caught food for them, but there were no wild rabbits in the morning, only three wild chickens, which Lin Bei didn’t eat.

While eating, Jiulang and Houtu were still enjoying it, but Bian Fuzi seemed to have lost his appetite. Lin Bei didn’t interfere; it was up to him to figure it out.

After the meal, Lin Bei wrote, "The forest is dangerous, I’ll escort you out."

"Thank you, Master." Bian Fuzi bowed.

As they walked out of the forest, Bian Fuzi suddenly said, "Master, if you tell the villagers about your presence, they will surely seek verification. How do you plan to handle it?"

The matter of the fallen kingdom aside, the current issue was also important. Bian Fuzi understood that if the people of Xishan Village knew that a monster was willing to trade with them on equal terms, they would definitely come to verify it. Bian Fuzi wanted to know how Lin Bei planned to handle it.

Lin Bei wrote, "Like Jiulang and Houtu, those who are willing to trade with me can bring what I need and come directly to me. However, I need to make it clear that I won’t be fooled. For example, if someone brings a clump of mud to trade for ginseng or a bear, I won’t pay attention to them."

"Master’s words are wise, but your residence is quite far, and the forest is dangerous with wild beasts. I’m afraid..."

"You have a point, but I think initially, not many will believe it. If someone does believe, let Cui’s Alang lead them into the mountains. This way, with more people, the danger will be less. When more people believe in me, I’ll think of other ways."

Lin Bei was also considering his own safety. There were honest people, but there were also bad people. As Cui’s Alang mentioned, Xu Daxiong and others wanted to take Lin Bei’s head. Lin Bei needed to eliminate this potential danger. When the time was right, the little snakes Lin Bei had hatched would form a significant force, and with increased strength, the deterrent effect would be much stronger, making some people less likely to act rashly.

"Oh, right, if someone needs something from Fushan but I don’t recognize it, they will need to get it themselves. However, I will provide them with protection, escorting them into the mountains to ensure their safety."

"Master is truly benevolent." Bian Fuzi suddenly stopped and bowed deeply to Lin Bei, saying sincerely, "I misunderstood you yesterday, I am truly ashamed."

Lin Bei wagged his tail, "I haven’t finished. If someone enters the mountains without permission and encounters danger, don’t come to me. Although I am a monster, I can’t take care of so many people. You should understand this."

Lin Bei was setting a concept for these people: Fushan was now his territory. With his protection, they would be safe, but without it, any casualties were their own responsibility. This concept would not form overnight but would take a long time. Lin Bei hoped that during his lifetime, the entire forest would be in a healthy state, avoiding large-scale hunting that could lead to the extinction of many animals. As for how effective it would be, Lin Bei could only do his best.

"Master’s words are wise." Bian Fuzi nodded, finding Lin Bei’s reasoning unassailable.

They soon reached the edge of Fushan, and Lin Bei stopped, "This is Xishan Village. I won’t escort you further."

After a pause, Lin Bei added, "Master, if any disaster or war occurs in the village, bring the villagers to me. I can at least ensure your safety."

"Your student will remember your words." Bian Fuzi bowed deeply again.

Lin Bei nodded and turned back into the forest.

After Lin Bei left, Bian Fuzi looked at Jiulang and Houtu and said solemnly, "Houtu, go home today and tell your family that I, Bian Ji, will start a school at Jiulang’s house in five days. Everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of background."

Houtu was a bit confused but nodded, not fully understanding the implications.

Bian Fuzi straightened his robe and walked briskly toward the village. The announcement he was about to make would surely cause a stir in Xishan Village, and he might need to plan it carefully.

As for Lin Bei, he originally intended to return to Longtan directly, but after passing by the small river, he remembered he hadn’t explored its downstream yet. This was a good opportunity to check it out, so he changed direction.