Haiyu County in North Sea Commandery was as bustling and prosperous as ever, and its great wharf now held even more ships than in previous years.
There were especially many more sightseeing boats, and some of the larger ships even had ties to the imperial court.
Dragon Painting Temple had been famous throughout Great Qiu. After changing its name to Dragon-Transforming Temple last autumn, its reputation had spread all the faster.
Though information could not travel as conveniently as it had in Yi Shuyuan's previous life, tales of marvels and the supernatural satisfied the common people's simple desire for entertainment and spiritual wonder. Such stories had never been slow to spread.
Half a year had passed. By now, thanks to merchants traveling within the country, tourists, and scholars, word had spread that the dragon painted across the mountain at Dragon-Transforming Temple had truly come alive and become a true dragon.
Alongside it spread the tale of a remarkable case in which a wronged soul had come to collect its debt. Of course, there were other, special reasons behind that as well.
Haiyu County's harbor was much livelier than before. For one thing, warmer weather after the start of spring had brought an increase in fishing; for another, people were naturally curious about the supernatural legends.
Many sightseeing boats capable of handling sea conditions had become a regular presence in the harbor, taking people out into coastal waters to look around, or even to visit the spot where the dragon scale had been recovered.
The merchants who regularly loaded and unloaded goods at Haiyu County's wharf were shrewd, too. Rather than sail out with cargo, they might as well carry sightseers for a while. With passengers, they only needed to leave during the day and return at night, making a short