Pan Long descended the mountain and headed south toward Zeng Family Manor.
Now and then, he passed a traveler or two. They were merchants on their way to the Wealth God Temple to worship and pray, hoping the God of Wealth would grant them good luck and bring wealth rolling in over the coming year.
As the last good harbor in northern Great Xia, Zeng Family Manor was home to many merchants. On May eighteenth, the Wealth God Festival, they were certain to come and worship.
They thought nothing strange of a bearded young man in fitted fighting clothes descending the mountain with a long saber on his back.
Merchants were not the only ones who worshipped the God of Wealth. Heroes of the Martial World, especially Greenwood outlaws, were among its most devoted worshippers.
Greenwood outlaws did business too. Setting aside those who made their living through "trade without capital," smuggling and dealing in contraband were major trades among them.
Selling illicit salt, distilling liquor without a license, mining without permission... Such ventures carried great risks and great profits. Nearly everyone who could keep one running steadily belonged to a major Greenwood faction.
Those people enjoyed comforts others had to risk their lives for, without robbing anyone or licking blood from a blade's edge. The lifelong dream of most Greenwood outlaws was to become such a local power, a Champion of their corner of the Greenwood.
That was why faith in the God of Wealth was widespread throughout the Greenwood.
Three Gods of Wealth often appeared in Lord Wenchao's stories. One rode a black tiger and swung an iron staff. He cared nothing for right or wrong, good or bad, and bestowed wealth only on those he liked. He was called the "Martial Wealth God." Another had a contrary