Entering the City

The autumn wind was bleak, and the air gradually carried a hint of chill. Gu Family Village had also grown somewhat desolate. The villagers' clothes became thicker by the day, and apart from necessary labor, some poorer households could only try to avoid going out as much as possible.

First, it was to keep warm. Second, it was to reduce consumption and save expenses.

However, none of this had much to do with the main family.

At the top of Gu Family Village's food chain, the main family's members might not have lived extravagantly, but at the very least, they did not need to worry about survival.

The main family compound.

Three middle-aged men of distinctly different temperaments sat in a pavilion, brewing tea around a stove.

If anyone had seen them, they would surely have cried out in surprise. The three greatest experts of Gu Family Village had actually gathered in one place!

One was dressed like a scholar, one was bald, and the last looked far more plain. Rather than a martial arts expert, he resembled an old farmer hoeing fields.

The bald, burly Gu Jingang gripped his teacup and drained it in one gulp. The delicate little cup looked even more miniature between his broad, callused palms.

Gu Jingang smacked his lips twice.

"This tea tastes awful. It's bitter as hell. Changming, you always like copying those pretentious city folk. With this money, you might as well buy a few chunks of meat."

Gu Changming did not take offense. He gently sipped his light tea, his eyes narrowing slightly as though savoring its changing flavors. Only after a long while did he shake his head and smile.

"After not seeing you for a few days, Vajra, you've even learned to say 'pretentious.' Not bad. Tea must be savored slowly to reveal its flavor. If you chug it impatiently like that, naturally you won't grasp its true essence."

Gu Jingang immediately grunted.

Beside them, Gu Dajiang, dressed like an old farmer, burst into laughter.

"Of the three of us, your state of mind is naturally the steadiest, Changming. But I do not care for such things either. You did not call the two of us here just to drink tea, did you?"

His face was dark, but his smile was warm and friendly.

Gu Jingang's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked,

"Has the matter of the Blood Strengthening Pill been settled?"

Gu Changming helplessly rubbed his brow, his head aching from Gu Jingang's booming voice.

"That's right. I called you here precisely for this matter. A few days ago, I finally managed to invite Alchemist Ge Qing of Canghe County to act. When the time comes, we will bring the demon wolf blood and the other materials to him and have him refine the Blood Strengthening Pills."

"It was truly difficult to invite Alchemist Ge to act. It has taken several months already," Gu Dajiang could not help remarking.

"Yes, there is no helping it. Martial artists cannot cultivate without the aid of pills, so alchemists naturally hold high status. Physician Ge is revered even in the city. He is one of the few alchemists capable of refining Blood Strengthening Pills, and asking him to refine pills requires no small amount of effort."

Gu Jingang could not help sighing.

"If only we had an alchemist ourselves."

Gu Changming laughed.

"If an alchemist were stationed here, the strength of Gu Family Village could more than double within a few years. Such talents are treasures to every faction. Without a legacy to cultivate one, it is nothing but wishful thinking."

Gu Jingang did not argue. Instead, he said,

"This demon wolf blood is extremely valuable. How about I personally deliver it? That would be safer."

Gu Changming shook his head.

"That would not be appropriate. The Black Sand Gang has become increasingly overbearing and is keeping a close watch on us. There are also some ruthless bandits in the surrounding mountains and forests. There may even be remnants of the army fleeing from Yunzhou. If you head to the city alone, it may instead arouse suspicion. I intend to have Dajiang go. His temperament is steadier."

"Besides, Dajiang will be escorting the village's purchasing team into the city in a few days. Secretly carrying the alchemy materials along with them will be less conspicuous and will not draw suspicion."

Gu Dajiang slowly nodded.

"That will work. On the surface, I will purchase supplies. In secret, I will seek out Alchemist Ge to refine the medicine. It should only take a few days."

Gu Jingang hesitated.

"Will that be risky? What if you encounter an attack..."

Gu Dajiang was the weakest among the three, and Gu Jingang could not help worrying.

Gu Changming said,

"We will proceed according to the rules. As long as the Blood Strengthening Pills are not exposed, the chance of encountering an attack is very low. When he returns, we will meet him halfway. Once we have the Blood Strengthening Pills, there will be nothing to worry about!"

"Good!"

Time passed.

The day Gu Family Village's purchasing team would enter the city drew closer and closer.

Gu Sheng sorted through the gains he had made since becoming a hunter. He had not realized it until he looked, but the piled-up furs alone formed an enormous bundle.

Excluding the Silver Fox pelt, these furs alone were worth five or six taels of silver.

There were also deer antlers, deer bones, and other relatively precious medicinal materials. When hunters entered the mountains, they would occasionally gather valuable herbs to exchange for money. They could be considered part-time herb gatherers. Gu Erniu had taught Gu Sheng how to identify some herbs.

Gu Sheng's harvest far exceeded what an ordinary hunter could earn in an entire year.

That was only natural.

Gu Sheng's archery had reached the perfected realm. His hunting success rate was far beyond that of ordinary hunters.

Moreover, Gu Sheng lived alone and did not have particularly great expenses. Sometimes, he was not in a hurry to sell his furs cheaply within the village, so what he had accumulated was quite substantial.

Without a family to support, after meeting his own needs, Gu Sheng saved money at a rate more than ten times faster than others.

"After this trip into the city, the money I've accumulated will definitely exceed thirty taels!"

Gu Sheng's eyes were full of delight.

To commoners at the bottom of society, this was an unimaginable fortune. Gu Sheng's father had worked hard for most of his life and had only managed to save half a tael of silver.

Yet in such a short time, Gu Sheng had saved sixty or seventy times as much as his father!

Of course.

There were many reasons for such an enormous disparity.

Gu Sheng had never been particularly healthy as a child. He often suffered from headaches and had a weak constitution, which had cost a considerable amount of silver. In addition, his father's funeral had also required some expense, leaving little in savings.

As for Gu Sheng's gains, more than half had come from the Silver Fox and those hunting bows and short blades. Such opportunities were rare and could not be sought.

Even so, Gu Sheng accumulated wealth at an astonishing pace. If others learned of it, the matchmakers from every village within ten miles would probably trample down his doorstep the next day.

"Tomorrow, I enter the city. Today, I'll rest and prepare myself!"

Gu Sheng packed his belongings for the next day and soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

Before dawn had fully broken, Gu Sheng carried his bundled furs toward the edge of the village. The Silver Fox pelt and the two hunting bows were tied in the very middle, wrapped tightly enough that no one could make them out.

Outside the village.

More than a dozen people were already waiting there.

There were basically no tenant farmers among them. Most were villagers with some skill or trade. Some wanted to sell goods in the city for money to get through the winter, some wanted to visit relatives, and others simply wished to see the city and broaden their horizons.

Gu Sheng spotted Gu Erniu.

Gu Erniu's leg had mostly recovered. It only gave him a faint ache when he ran at full speed, and he still needed to take medicine for some time.

He also carried a large bundle of furs on his back, with two bows inside.

When Gu Erniu saw Gu Sheng's haul, he clicked his tongue twice and quietly exclaimed,

"Sheng, impressive. What you've gained in less than half a year is more than I earn in a whole year!"

When they had killed Li Yan last time, he had already witnessed Gu Sheng's archery and knew that Gu Sheng's skill had reached a level he could never hope to attain.

Now, seeing all these furs, he immediately realized that Gu Sheng had likely surpassed him in archery much earlier than he had imagined.

He was even more amazed. Gu Sheng was no ordinary man.

That low-key, steady temperament was not something ordinary people could imitate.

As the two spoke, several more hunters arrived. They too were heading into the city to sell furs.

When they saw the furs behind Gu Sheng, they were all startled.

To some extent, a hunter's harvest represented his strength. Inwardly, each of them raised their estimation of Gu Sheng, and their words unconsciously carried a little more respect.

The group waited.

Soon.

The village's purchasing convoy slowly approached. Donkey carts and flatbed carts came into view one after another, along with drivers and porters. With winter approaching, the scale of the purchasing trip was considerable.