Section 39: Toad Caravan

May is the transition between spring and summer.

The air is filled with the fragrance of flowers, and the mountains are lush and green. The sunlight begins to reveal its warm, passionate side.

Under the clear blue sky, white clouds drift like wisps of cotton.

On Qing Mao Mountain, the green bamboo forest stands tall and straight as spears, pointing towards the heavens. Wild grass grows everywhere, dotted with nameless wildflowers. When the breeze blows, the grass sways, and the rich scent of pollen and grass washes over you.

On the mountainside, there are numerous terraced fields. Layer upon layer, tier upon tier, tender green wheat seedlings have been planted, appearing like a sea of emerald green from afar.

Many farmers are busy in the terraced fields. Some are clearing ditches and channels to divert water, while others roll up their pant legs and stand in the fields planting seedlings.

These people are naturally all commoners of foreign surnames; the Gu Yue clan members do not engage in such menial labor.

Jingle, jingle…

The sound of camel bells faintly drifts on the spring breeze.

The farmers straighten up and turn their heads towards the foot of the mountain.

A caravan, like a colorful long worm, slowly emerges from the mountain path.

"It's the caravan!"

"That's right, it's already May, the caravan should be here."

The adults understand. The playful children abandon their water games and mud, hopping and skipping towards the caravan.

Southern Border has its Ten Thousand Mountains, and Qing Mao Mountain is just one of them. Each mountain is home to a mountain stronghold, where people maintain their communities through blood ties.

Between the mountains lie deep forests, perilous rocks, and sheer cliffs. The environment is complex, inhabited by numerous ferocious beasts and strange, eerie Gu worms.

It is impossible for mortals to pass through. For an individual to overcome these difficult obstacles, they would need at least the cultivation of a Rank 3 Gu Master.

Therefore, the economy is depressed, and trade is difficult. The primary form of trade is through caravans.

Only by forming large-scale caravans, with groups of Gu Masters capable of mutual assistance, can they overcome the difficulties and dangers along the way, traveling from one mountain to another.

The arrival of the caravan is like a bowl of boiling water suddenly poured into the calm and peaceful Qing Mao Mountain.

"The caravan usually comes in April, but this year it's May. Still, it's here at last." The innkeeper breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this news. The inn's business is extremely slow in other months. They rely on the caravan's arrival to bring in the income that sustains them for the year.

At the same time, he still has some Green Bamboo Wine in stock that he can sell to the caravan.

Not only the inn, but the wine shop's business will also boom.

The caravan gradually enters Gu Yue village, led by a Treasure Qi Brass Toad. This toad is 2.5 meters tall, entirely orange, with a broad, thick back covered in warts and bumps, resembling the large brass rivets on an ancient city gate.

On the back of the Treasure Qi Brass Toad, a large pile of goods is secured with thick hemp ropes. At first glance, it looks like a treasure toad carrying a huge bundle.

A middle-aged man with a round, pockmarked face and a bulging belly sits cross-legged on top of the toad. His eyes are narrowed into slits as he smiles, cupping his fists to greet the surrounding Gu Yue villagers.

This man is Jia Fu, a Rank 4 Gu Master, and the leader of this caravan.

The treasure toad hops forward, and Jia Fu sits steadily on its head. When it hops, his height is level with a second-story window. Even when it lands, he is higher than the first floor of the bamboo buildings.

The once spacious street suddenly seems a bit narrow. The Treasure Qi Brass Toad, like a strange beast, intrudes among the dense bamboo buildings.

After the treasure toad comes a large fat worm. Its eyes are like stained-glass windows, vibrant and colorful. It is fifteen meters long, similar in shape to a silkworm, but its surface is covered in a thick layer of black glazed armor. Piles of goods are also stacked on the armor, tied with ropes in circles. Between the goods sit Gu Masters, both old and young.

There are also mortals, all strong martial artists, following the Black Skin Fat Beetle slowly on the ground.

After the fat beetle are Colorful Feathered Camel Chickens, fluffy Mountain Big Spiders, Winged Snakes with two wings, and so on. But these are few; most are toads.

These toads resemble the Treasure Qi Brass Toad, but are smaller, about the size of cattle or horses. They carry goods and people, their bellies bulging, hopping along.

The caravan winds its way into the village.

Along the way, children watch with wide eyes, cheering and exclaiming in wonder.

Windows on the second floor open one after another, and the mountain folk observe from up close. Some eyes flash with apprehension, while others wave in warm welcome.

"Brother Jia, you're a bit late this year. You've had a hard journey." Gu Yue Bo, as the clan leader, personally welcomed the leader of the caravan.

Jia Fu's status as a Rank 4 Gu Master meant that having a Rank 3 clan elder receive him would be a sign of disrespect and neglect.

Jia Fu cupped his fists, sighing, "This year's journey wasn't smooth. We encountered a group of Ghost Blood Bats on the way and lost many good men. Then, at Sheer Cliff Mountain, we ran into mountain fog and couldn't dare to proceed. That's why we were delayed. I apologize for making you wait, Brother Gu Yue."

His words were very polite.

Gu Yue village needs the caravan to trade every year, and the caravan also needs good relations for prosperity.

"Heh heh, it's good that you've arrived. Please, the clan has prepared wine and food to welcome you." Gu Yue Bo extended an invitation.

"You are too kind, Clan Leader, too kind." Jia Fu acted as if he were overwhelmed by the honor.

The caravan arrived in Qing Mao Mountain territory in the morning and set up camp in Gu Yue village by noon. By evening, a vast area of temporary shops had formed around the village. Tall tents of various colors – red, blue, yellow, and green – were erected, with countless small stalls squeezed in between them.

Night fell, but the area was brightly lit.

Streams of people poured in from the village. There were mortals and Gu Masters alike. Children hopped with excitement, and the adults' faces showed joy as if celebrating a festival.

Fang Yuan, following the crowd, walked in alone.

The crowd was bustling, with people gathered around stalls or entering and exiting tent openings.

Calls of vendors rose and fell around him.

"Come, come, take a look! Top-grade Blue Sea Cloud Tea Bricks! Drinking a cup of this tea is like being an immortal! Even if you don't drink it, feeding it to tea Gu is a great bargain. Only five primeval stones per brick!"

"Brute Force Celestial Ox Gu, when a Gu Master activates it, they can gain the strength of one ox. Don't miss out, don't miss out!"

"Heart-Knowing Grass, top-grade Heart-Knowing Grass. Everyone, take a look at this quality, it's as fresh as if it was just picked. Two primeval stones per jin, what a cheap price..."

Fang Yuan heard this and his steps paused slightly. He followed the sound and looked over.

He saw a camel chicken pulling a two-wheeled cart. The cart was piled with a bunch of light green grass. Each blade of grass was about a meter long, very slender, and on average only the width of a fingernail. Some grass tips even had red heart-shaped buds.

Heart-Knowing Grass was one of the auxiliary foods for Gu worms. Its value lay in its ability to be paired with certain foods to feed Gu worms.

For example, when Fang Yuan fed the Moonlight Gu, it needed two petals per meal. If he mixed in some Heart-Knowing Grass, the Moonlight Gu would be full after eating just one petal of the Moon Orchid flower.

One jin of Heart-Knowing Grass was only two primeval stones, while ten petals of Moon Orchid flower cost one primeval stone. A quick calculation would show that feeding Gu worms with Heart-Knowing Grass mixed in was more cost-effective.

"Half a month ago, I killed Gao Wan. Because I used the Moonlight Gu in the academy, I was fined thirty primeval stones. However, the Mo family later compensated me thirty, so it wasn't a loss. These past few days, I've robbed twice, totaling one hundred and eighteen primeval stones. But recently, I've been continuously consuming and refining mid-tier true essence to nourish the walls of my aperture, consuming three primeval stones daily. Adding the cost of feeding the Gu worms, my own living expenses, and the continuous purchase of Green Bamboo Wine, I currently have ninety-eight primeval stones left."

Ever since Fang Yuan killed someone, his fierce and cold image had deeply impressed the students. For a time, no one dared to challenge him, making his robberies much easier. Each time, only a very small number of people dared to resist him.

Fang Yuan calculated in his mind, then shifted his gaze and continued walking towards the depths of this temporary market area.

A crowd had gathered around the Heart-Knowing Grass stall. They were all Gu Masters or students, holding primeval stones and scrambling to buy.

It wasn't that Fang Yuan didn't have the money to buy this Heart-Knowing Grass, but he didn't have the time.

"If I remember correctly, that Warty Earth Toad is in that shop. In my previous life, a Gu Master gambled and won it on the very first night, making a huge profit. I must hurry, I can't lose the bigger picture for a small gain."