Song You walked slowly, looking closely.
He could sense that the Yao, spirits, and monsters held mixed feelings toward this stranger who had wandered in uninvited—some were unfamiliar with him, some wary, some curious, some resistant, and some even afraid.
So he said nothing, choosing to observe first.
These Yao, spirits, and monsters used human copper coins, though coins from any dynasty were accepted.
He did not see anyone using silver.
The prices of goods were very different from those in the towns below the mountain.
Pots, bowls, ladles, and all kinds of ironware sold for high prices, yet sold well. Clothes and cloth were also clearly more expensive than at the markets below the mountain. Meat, however, was slightly cheaper. On the other hand, mountain delicacies that people below the mountain—especially city dwellers—found rare and curious seemed perfectly ordinary to them, abundant and cheap here.
There were also some things rarely seen outside, priced high or low.
There were even books for sale.
Besides works by famous authors, Daoist Scriptures, and Buddhist books, there were even collections of supernatural tales written by ordinary people.
A thought arose in Song You's heart—
If a merchant came here to trade goods back and forth, he would surely make a fortune. This might become a little Silk Road.
"..."
Song You chuckled inwardly and walked toward the first stall.
It was a stall selling ham.
Whole pork hams lay there. Once sliced open, their color was already beautiful; under the candlelight, they gleamed an enticing red. Either the curing technique was superb, or the meat itself was excellent.
The stall owner was a tall man with the head of a leopard.
"Greetings, stall owner."
Song You stepped up to the stall and lowered his head to inspect the goods. Maintaining his courtesy,