Simple Folkways, Honest Dealing

Wu Haishan cautiously retreated and turned to ask Ah Guang, "Is that really the rule?"

"Yes, the village rules are paramount."

Xu Yuan sneered. If the village rules weren't so strict, would they have been allowed in? He would have slammed the door shut and blocked them outside long ago.

Wu Haishan shot Xu Yuan a hateful glance and gritted his teeth, "Fine, we'll follow the rules."

The old man nodded with satisfaction, hunched his back, puffed on his pipe, and walked with his hands behind his back, "Follow me. Anyone in the village with a spare room can let you stay for the night, but you have to pay.

How much you pay is up to you to negotiate with the homeowner."

Wu Haishan and the others exchanged glances and followed Xu Yuan closely.

Wherever Xu Yuan stayed, they would stay. At the very least, they'd be next door. They couldn't let this little brat slip away tomorrow.

Xu Yuan pulled out a box of Matches and handed it to the old man, "Uncle, please take me to Jiao Erbo's place."

Most villagers used Flint and Steel, which was far less convenient than Matches.

Xu Yuan had bought a batch of items from Granny Ying, and Matches were among them.

The old woman had trouble getting around, so she liked to buy things in bulk to make fewer trips out.

She also had a bad memory and would often buy more before she'd even finished the previous purchase, so she accumulated more and more.

But if others wanted them, Granny Ying wouldn't sell; she'd just hoard them.

The old man's face immediately broke into a smile, "You're a sensible young man. Follow me."

The first two groups Xu Yuan brought into the mountains were genuine merchants.

Chatting with them along the way, Xu Yuan learned that Jiao Erbo's family was the best place to stay in Wangxiang Village.

His household didn't have too many complications.

Jiao Erbo only had one son, who was already in his twenties.

Jiao Erbo's wife had died, and his son hadn't married. As long as no women were brought into his house, there wouldn't be any danger.

The village was roughly circular, with a giant old camphor tree in the center. For some reason, it had died. Its bark had been stripped bare, leaving it standing there, naked and ghastly white.

In the darkness, the dead tree looked like a monstrous evil spirit, baring its fangs and claws.

The old man led them around the dead camphor tree for a short distance and then pointed with his pipe, "It's over there."

Jiao Erbo's house had only two dilapidated thatched huts, dark inside, unable to light an oil lamp.

"Thank you, Uncle."

The old man waved his hand, puffed on his pipe, and left.

Xu Yuan stepped forward and knocked, calling out, "Jiao Erbo."

A voice answered from inside, "Who is it?"

"I was introduced by Zhang Sanlang a few days ago. I'm here to collect goods and need to stay for a night. I'll pay."

Footsteps approached the door, and then it opened. A man in his forties sized Xu Yuan up, "Fifteen Big Money for one night."

Xu Yuan took out the money first, "I know the rules. Money first."

Jiao Erbo took the money and left the door open for Xu Yuan to enter himself. He turned back to his bed, rolled his clothes into a bundle, "You stay here. I'll squeeze into my son's room."

Jiao Erbo had neighbors on both sides. Wu Haishan signaled, and the others each knocked on a door, asking for prices and preparing to settle in.

The family on the left opened their door. It was a mother and daughter. The mother, who opened the door, had a triangular face, with her eyes set high. She was thin and long, looking like a praying mantis.

"Fifty taels."

"What?!" The Martial Cultivator thought he'd misheard.

The mother reached out to close the door, but the Martial Cultivator quickly stopped her. "The neighbors charged fifteen Big Money, and you're asking for fifty taels of Silver?"

"This is our price," the mother said stubbornly.

The Martial Cultivator suppressed his anger. "This is unreasonable. How about this, I'll give you one hundred coins, much more than your neighbor."

The mother's eyes darted around as she sized up the Martial Cultivator. "Are you really willing to bargain?"

If I don't bargain, I'm an idiot! the Martial Cultivator thought.

"Alright then, one hundred coins it is. Come in." The mother suddenly became enthusiastic.

The Martial Cultivator muttered to himself, Poor mountains and bad waters breed difficult people. They thought I was a fat sheep.

The other two stayed with the neighbors on the right. One had a broken arm, and they lived together to look after each other.

This family was a couple raising six children. The four oldest were six years old, and the two youngest were four.

One set of quadruplets and one set of twins.

Both parents had round faces and round eyes, with only their mouths being pointed, making them look like a pair of owls.

The couple asked for "Two Pigs," and the two men haggled down to one hundred and fifty coins.

After settling his subordinates, Wu Haishan took Ah Guang to the back of Jiao Erbo's house, where another family lived.

Wu Haishan couldn't help but whisper to Ah Guang, "Are all the people in this village asking for such exorbitant prices?"

Ah Guang replied righteously, "Wangxiang Village has simple and honest folk, honest with young and old alike! The villagers won't arbitrarily set prices."

Wu Haishan was about to mock him when he suddenly felt something was off. He whipped his head around and saw a dark figure perched on the branches of a giant dead camphor tree. In the darkness, two eyes glowed yellow, its body covered in feathers, staring directly at him.

Wu Haishan stumbled, nearly tripping himself.

But upon looking again, he saw that the tree actually held a tall old man, wearing a cloak adorned with various feathers and a pair of glasses with yellow crystal lenses.

Wu Haishan quietly asked again, "Is this a Mountain Runner from Wangxiang Village?"

"Yes," Ah Guang replied.

The Old Mountain Runner stared fixedly at Wu Haishan from the tree branch, and he no longer dared to speak ill of the village.

When they reached the doorstep of the house, the owner asked for thirty taels of silver upfront. Wu Haishan didn't even dare to haggle – the Old Mountain Runner's gaze behind him felt like two knives pressed against his back. Wu Haishan quickly handed over the silver.

Once inside the house, that feeling finally disappeared, and Wu Haishan breathed a sigh of relief.

After resting for a while and relaxing, Wu Haishan felt the burn from the scalded blister on his arm intensifying. He took out a Small Silver Knife, intending to pop it and treat it.

Before he could act, Wu Haishan's heart suddenly stirred, and he asked Ah Guang, "Can I pop it?"

Ah Guang replied, "No, Zhang San's Dad's blister contains Consumption Sickness. If you pop it, his lung disease will infect you, and you'll die within a month."

Although Wu Haishan believed his Pill Cultivator skills could heal, he decided not to take the risk after thinking it over.

"Then how should I treat it?"

"Prepare some gifts and go apologize to Zhang San's Dad. He will take the Consumption Sickness away."

Wu Haishan asked again, "Where does Zhang San's Dad live?"

"I don't know." Ah Guang truly didn't know. He was just delivering wine; he only knew the Old Mountain Runner and wasn't familiar with others in the village.

In Ghost Witch Mountain, this was the only advantage Xu Yuan had over Ah Guang!

Xu Yuan interacted with more merchants and was thus more familiar with the village.

Wu Haishan couldn't help but curse, "Why didn't you warn me when he was here... Ah, forget it." Wu Haishan took a few deep breaths and couldn't help but say:

"This mountain is truly eerie!"