Insect-Dung Spirit Stones

Hall Master Du sipped her tea, slipped her chicken-claw-like fingers into her sleeve, and gave them a gentle shake.

A dozen or so tiny stones, glittering like gold dust, fell onto the tabletop and immediately drew Fang Shu's attention.

"There were indeed traces of Gold-Seeking Insects in that Cao fellow's mine. These are the droppings produced by Gold-Seeking Insects—golden like sand, smelling of rust. Taken as medicine, they can cure swollen lungs and throat ailments."

The old woman spoke unhurriedly, and the anticipation in Fang Shu's eyes deepened.

But after pausing, she suddenly changed tack and sneered:

"However, this old woman is not so easily fooled. The moment I saw these things, I knew that someone had acquired these Gold-Seeking Insect droppings from who knew where, then deliberately scattered them through the mine to set up a smokescreen and swindle those with poor eyesight.

Those people only knew that these were Gold-Seeking Insect droppings, but they did not know that when Gold-Seeking Insects defecate, their droppings cling to rock walls in formations like mineral veins. They do not fall onto stones like rat droppings."

Fang Shu listened, his expression changing slightly. He let out a breath and asked, "Master, do you mean that the Cao fellow truly meant to deceive this disciple into entering the mine, where he could do something improper? There was no treasure medicine coming into being?"

Upon hearing this, Hall Master Du pondered for a moment before saying, "There definitely was no treasure medicine. But whether he harbored improper intentions... perhaps he did, perhaps he did not. It may simply have been his underlings showing off on purpose in hopes of earning credit.

After all, while Gold-Seeking Insects are rare and precious, their droppings are occasionally passed off as gold dust in the market. With a