Chapter 47

Recently, the hottest topic in Dongshan Township was not that Wang Lazi's ugly daughter had married, nor that Xu Daxiong had returned from his travels, but rather a topic about a demonic snake.

This demonic snake was unearthed while digging a sweet well. According to the vivid descriptions of the eyewitnesses at the time: the demonic snake was ten zhang long, its head as big as a bucket, with a horn on its forehead, and its whole body glowing with a golden light, a clear sign that it was about to transform into a dragon. After being startled by the villagers, it ate three people and then flew away with the wind.

This was still the initial version. Later, the demonic snake had grown to a hundred zhang in size, not being startled by people but emerging on its own, eating nearly a hundred people. At the time, there were several thunderclaps in the sky, and the Thunder God tried to kill the demonic snake, but unfortunately, the demonic snake had boundless magical powers and only suffered minor injuries. After flying away, it hid in Fushan Mountain. Now, as long as you are close to Fushan Mountain, you can hear the demonic snake's continuous hissing. Wang Pozi even saw thick demonic clouds deep in Fushan Mountain and confidently stated that the demonic snake was about to transform into a true dragon.

Of course, these versions could only deceive outsiders who came to Dongshan Township to collect herbs. Many people who had personally experienced the demonic snake incident knew the truth, such as Li Tingzhang. However, there was no need to tell the outsiders, because due to the demonic snake incident, the number of outsiders coming to Dongshan Township had increased by fifty percent. Many hunters' families had sold their game for good prices. Although Li Tingzhang did not know the phrase "popularity brings benefits," he could feel it very clearly.

Xu Daxiong naturally heard the most authentic version, so when Xu Daxiong boasted that he would enter Fushan Mountain to kill the demonic snake, Li Tingzhang did not oppose it at all. The more this matter was hyped, the better. Indeed, even the county magistrate had summoned Li Tingzhang to the county office to inquire about the demonic snake and gave him much encouragement. After this incident, Li Tingzhang might even advance further.

Just as Li Tingzhang was feeling pleased, Xishan Township brought even more shocking news. It was also about the demonic snake, but not about the snake eating people. Instead, the demonic snake wanted to learn how to trade like humans. When Li Tingzhang heard this news, he was drinking wine, and the wine glass fell to the ground in shock.

This news was spread by Bian Fuzi. After returning, Bian Fuzi did not even rest and immediately called Cui Shi Alang and others to ask about the matter. Cui Shi Alang was initially reluctant to speak, but after hearing that Master Bian had also met the officials, she told him about their encounter with Lin Bei in the mountains and their several transactions. Bian Fuzi asked for more details and then formulated a plan.

Bian Fuzi first gathered the local gentry and the village head, and Cui Shi Alang and her group were also present. Then, in the meeting, Bian Fuzi announced that he was preparing to recruit students, regardless of whether they were commoners or merchants' children. As long as they came, he would teach them.

This was a bombshell. Before these people could recover from the shock, Bian Fuzi casually mentioned the matter of Lin Bei and had Cui Shi Alang recount it. The gentry were immediately in an uproar, completely stunned.

A demonic snake, actually wanting to learn how to trade like humans and exchange items with people, was a tremendous oddity. If this had been said by a common villager, these people would have only laughed, but this was Bian Fuzi.

In those days, the status of scholars was very high. Among the four classes—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—scholars were ranked first. Scholars had many privileges, such as not having to bow to officials and being able to enter the county office to confront the county magistrate. Bian Fuzi was a well-known scholar in the entire Hepu Prefecture and had connections with many scholars, so his words were very influential.

After informing the gentry, Bian Fuzi gathered the villagers and told them the same story, and Cui Shi Alang recounted it again. Then, he closed his doors to visitors.

Bian Fuzi was quite smart. Matters of ghosts and gods were believed if one chose to believe, and not if one did not. He knew that after he told this story, Xishan Township would be ignited by the topic, and countless people would come to his door. Bian Fuzi was too lazy to explain to each person, so he simply closed his doors to visitors. He also needed to prepare for his lectures.

Xishan Township indeed shook as Bian Fuzi had expected. The news had spread throughout the county and then to the surrounding counties. This was a matter of a demonic creature.

The ancients were very superstitious about ghosts and gods. Many ghost and god stories were vividly spread, but no one had ever seen them. Now, they were vividly appearing before people, and the shock was unimaginable. Whether it was street loafers or gossipy women, everyone was spreading the news. In less than a day, even the deaf knew that there was a demonic snake in Fushan Mountain.

Bian Fuzi closed his doors to visitors, but Cui Shi Alang and her group suffered. Countless people ran to their homes to ask questions, and the village head even came. Finally, the county magistrate summoned them to the hall and questioned them in detail. After being constantly harassed, the eight hunters all lost weight.

For matters like this, there is a pattern: when first heard, people do not easily believe it and need to keep asking. Then they believe half of it, and finally, they need to see the real thing to fully believe it. At this point, the most forward-thinking people often take the lead.

In the Zhen family's business in Hepu City.

Hepu Prefecture has five counties: Hepu, Xuwen, Gaoliang, Linyun, and Zhuyi. Among them, Hepu County is as famous as Hepu Prefecture and is the most prosperous. Dongshan and Xishan Townships are under the jurisdiction of Hepu County, and it is only a day's journey from Hepu County.

The Zhen family's business is located in Hepu County. At this moment, in the back hall of the business, several people were discussing the matter of the demonic snake.

Zhen Ding was a collateral relative of the Zhen family. As the wealthiest grain merchant family during the Three Kingdoms period, the Zhen family had business operations in many regions. Zhen Ding was the general manager of the business in the Nanyue region. The Zhen family's management philosophy was quite advanced, and every three years, the managers and shopkeepers of the major businesses needed to rotate. Zhen Ding's term was almost over, and he had received news that the person to replace him was already on the way.

As a collateral relative, returning to the family would almost certainly mean being idle. Zhen Ding was naturally no exception. Recently, Zhen Ding had been very anxious. To ensure a better life for himself, he had thought of many ways, but none were secure, as the final decision still depended on Zhen Rong, the current head of the Zhen family.

When the news of the demonic snake reached Zhen Ding's ears, he felt it was a chance given by heaven. Zhen Ding had long heard that Zhen Rong's most beloved younger sister, who was recently born and named Zhen Mi, was his cousin. This cousin was said to be very intelligent, and a fortune-teller named Liu Liang had predicted that she was of incomparable nobility. Zhen Rong was very pleased and often delighted her with rare items from various regions. Nanyue had no shortage of rare items, and where were the most rare items? Naturally, in the mountains.

So, regardless of whether he believed it or not, Zhen Ding had to take a chance. If he could find some rare items that others had never heard of and make this cousin happy, then his future life would be more comfortable.

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