Zhang Sheng Heads into the Mountains to Earn Money

People in this era truly didn't have many forms of entertainment, but this was also the best of times.

With so little pollution, natural resources were far more abundant than in later generations, and Zhang Sheng and the others lived right beside a mountain range.

With a little ingenuity, there were all sorts of things to be gained.

Before long, Zhang Sheng and Huzi arrived at the place where they had caught fish last time.

After setting out their tools, all that remained was to wait.

"Huzi, once we've prepared the fish, take some over to your father and mother. You ate almost all the fish we made last time.

Uncle Dashan and Auntie only had a little each."

"Mm! I know, Brother Zhang Sheng!"

Huzi was embarrassed by Zhang Sheng's words. He had never eaten anything so delicious before,

so he hadn't been able to stop eating until he was stuffed, displaying a child's gluttony to the fullest.

The days passed one by one, quiet but full of childish fun.

But Zhang Sheng hadn't been sitting idle. He knew he still had nothing to his name,

so he needed to find a way to earn some money. The weather would soon turn cold, and he needed to buy some things.

Money was indispensable if he wanted to live comfortably in the future.

But how to acquire a large sum of money was another question worth pondering.

At this point, some might ask: couldn't he make salt and paper? Those were immensely profitable.

To that, Zhang Sheng could only say, "Heh." Leaving aside whether you knew how to make them, if you had neither power nor influence,

and came up with those things, had you decided you'd lived long enough?

During the Sui dynasty, most resources were controlled by aristocratic clans, and not even the emperor's authority could sway them, much less a mere commoner.

As soon as anything threatened their position, they would pounce like mad and tear you to pieces.

So making salt and paper was somewhat impractical. Making a little for his own use would be fine,

but even that would have to be done in secret, without anyone finding out. Everyone ought to understand that possessing a jade treasure was a crime in itself.

Thus, Zhang Sheng could only look for things that already existed and wouldn't arouse suspicion to earn money.

One day, when Uncle Dashan was resting, Zhang Sheng went to find him and told him what he had in mind:

"Uncle Dashan! I want to go into the mountains and get some game. What are things like up there?"

"Eldest Zhang boy! Why would you want to go hunting? Has Uncle Dashan not taken good care of you?"

Seeing that Uncle Dashan looked somewhat anxious, Zhang Sheng hurried to explain:

"No, Uncle Dashan! I just want to hunt some game and exchange it for money,

not what you're thinking. You and Auntie have taken very good care of me. I'm much sturdier now."

"If you want money, you only have to tell Uncle Dashan. Why go into the mountains?

It's too dangerous for a child like you to go in there. There are countless wolves and wild beasts in those mountains.

One mistake, and you might never come back. I can't agree to this."

Uncle Dashan's stern words left Zhang Sheng scratching his head. He had thought it was just a small matter and hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Uncle Dashan.

It wasn't really Zhang Sheng's fault. After all, in other people's eyes, he was still a child under eight,

but he saw himself as an adult and hadn't adjusted his mindset yet.

Perhaps he was anxious. After all, money was indispensable to Zhang Sheng's upcoming plans.

He couldn't wait until he was an adult to think about it, or it would disrupt his arrangements.

Besides, these weren't peaceful times. War might break out in a few years, and then he would be even more hesitant to act.

"Uncle Dashan! I'm very strong. As long as I'm careful and don't go deep into the mountains, I should be fine."

"You're just a child. How strong could you-"

"Hah!"

Zhang Sheng didn't wait for Uncle Dashan to finish. Instead, he showed him through action what strength meant.

"Th-this... how did you do that?"

"Bang!"

Zhang Sheng dropped a five-hundred-jin rock onto the ground and looked at Uncle Dashan with an easy, proud expression.

"What do you think, Uncle Dashan? I shouldn't be any weaker than an adult, right?"

"Not weaker? You're far more than that! That's the divine strength of a heavenly god!"

Uncle Dashan was overcome with excitement at the sight of Zhang Sheng. The rock on the ground had to weigh at least four or five hundred jin,

yet Zhang Sheng had lifted it with ease. This was the Hegemon King reborn; how could Uncle Dashan's heart not surge?

"Uncle Dashan! You can rest easy now, right?"

"Still no!"

"Why?"

"Eldest Zhang boy! There aren't just wild beasts in the mountains. There are poisonous insects too, and those are the frightening things.

You may be stronger than ordinary people now, but you can't guard against things hidden in the dark.

Besides, with your current strength, once you're a little older, you could go anywhere and accomplish great things.

You could even become a general. Why risk losing so much for a little money?"

Uncle Dashan earnestly tried to persuade Zhang Sheng to change his mind, but Zhang Sheng knew what the future would be like, so he had to pick up the pace.

"Uncle Dashan! I'll just look around the outskirts of the mountain. I definitely won't go deeper in. There won't be much danger. I haven't lived long enough yet!"

For a while, neither of them could persuade the other, but in the end, Uncle Dashan compromised.

They did, however, lay down some ground rules: if there was danger, Zhang Sheng couldn't go any farther in.

After giving Zhang Sheng his consent, Uncle Dashan took him to the path into the mountain. The villagers had made this path themselves.

When they had spare time, they would go into the mountain to get some game and improve their meals, or sell it at the market in exchange for daily necessities.

"Uncle Dashan! Does this mountain have a name?"

"Yes! It's called Bear Mountain!"

"Bear Mountain?"

"That's right! Bears are often seen roaming the mountain, so everyone calls it Bear Mountain.

Once you go in, be very careful. If you see a bear, run right away, understand?"

"Mm! I'll be careful!"

When they reached the entrance, Uncle Dashan was still somewhat worried.

"Why don't you stay out? It really is..."

"Uncle Dashan! I have a reason I must go in. I'll be all right."

"Alas!"

Uncle Dashan knew that no matter how much he tried to dissuade him, it would be no use. He could only pray that Zhang Sheng returned safely.

After a brief farewell to Uncle Dashan, Zhang Sheng entered the mountain without looking back.

Perhaps to an ordinary person like Uncle Dashan, a primeval forest like this was a man-eating monster,

but to Zhang Sheng, who had adventured in a Soul Beast forest, it was somewhat child's play.

If he hadn't been afraid that his sudden disappearance would cause trouble for Uncle Dashan and the others, Zhang Sheng would have gone in alone to investigate long ago.

"An undeveloped forest really is different. There are exotic flowers and rare plants everywhere. If this were in a later age, it might attract a whole bunch of experts and professors."

Zhang Sheng strolled leisurely through the forest, his body and mind utterly delighted. Even his Martial Soul was much more active than usual.

So Zhang Sheng wasn't afraid of being discovered. People rarely set foot in the forest anyway, so he summoned his Martial Soul directly, and soon a small blue blade of grass appeared in his hand.

Looking at the Blue Silver Grass before him, Zhang Sheng felt an indescribable sense of security, as though he feared no danger as long as it was with him.