The autumn wind was bleak, and the air carried a hint of chill. Guâs Manor gradually became quieter, as the villagers started wearing thicker clothing. Those with tighter finances minimized going out unless for necessary labor.
One reason was to ward off the cold, and the other was to reduce consumption and save on expenses.
But all this had little to do with the main household.
Sitting at the top of the food chain in Guâs Manor, the members of the main household, while not extravagant in their living, had no need to worry about survival.
The Main Courtyard.
Around a furnace boiling tea, three middle-aged men of varying dispositions were seated in a pavilion.
If anyone saw them, they would exclaim in shockâGuâs Manorâs three top experts had gathered together!
One was dressed like a scholar, one was bald-headed, and the third had a much simpler appearance, looking more like an old farmer than a martial artist.
The burly bald man, Gu Jingang, grabbed his teacup and drained it in one gulp. The exquisite, delicate teacup looked even tinier in his broad and calloused palm.
Gu Jingang smacked his lips twice.
"This tea is awful, so bitter. Changming, you really enjoy imitating those pretentious city folks. Instead of wasting money on this, why not buy some meat to enjoy?"
Gu Changming, unbothered, gently sipped his tea, his eyes slightly squinting as if savoring the subtle layers within. After a long moment, he shook his head and chuckled:
"It has only been a few days, but Jingang, youâve even learned the term âpretentiousness.â Not bad indeed. This kind of tea must be savored slowly to be appreciated. Drinking it impatiently, like you do, means missing the deeper essence entirely."
Gu Jingang immediately snorted.
The farmer-like Gu Dajiang burst into hearty laughter.
"Among the three of us, itâs naturally Changming who has the steadiest temperament. Still, I donât care for these nuances. You didnât call us over just to drink tea, did you?"
He had a dark complexion and a kindly smile.
Gu Jingangâs eyes lit up as he quickly asked:
"Is it about the Blood Strengthening Pill? Has it been arranged?"
Gu Changming rubbed his temples helplessly, the loud voice of Gu Jingang giving him a headache.
"Thatâs correct. The reason I called you here this time is precisely because of that matter. A few days ago, I finally managed to enlist the help of Master Ge Qing from Canghe County. When the time comes, weâll bring the demon wolf blood and other materials over to him, and heâll refine the Blood Strengthening Pill for us."
"Itâs truly difficult to get Master Ge involvedâit has taken months," Gu Dajiang remarked with a sigh.
"Indeed, thereâs no other choice. Martial artistsâ cultivation relies heavily on the assistance of pills, which elevates the status of pill masters. Doctor Ge is revered even in the city and is one of the few capable of refining Blood Strengthening Pills. Requesting his services requires considerable effort."
Gu Jingang couldnât help but lament:
"If only we had our own pill master."
Gu Changming laughed despite himself.
"If we had a resident pill master, Guâs Manorâs strength could easily double in a few short years. Such talent is precious to all factions, and without knowledge transfer or dedicated training, any aspiration for that is mere wishful thinking."
Gu Jingang did not argue, instead suggesting:
"The demon wolf blood is incredibly valuable. Why donât I personally deliver it? That way, we can be more reassured."
Gu Changming shook his head and said:
"Not a good idea. The Black Sand Gang has become increasingly aggressive, keeping close watch on us. Bandits in the nearby mountains and forests are also daring, and thereâs even the possibility of rogue troops fleeing from Yun Province. If you head to the city alone, it may raise suspicion. I plan to send Dajiang instead; his steadier temperament is more suitable."
"Moreover, Dajiang will be escorting our villageâs procurement team to the city in a few days. Concealing the alchemy materials within the group will make them less conspicuous and less likely to arouse suspicion."
Gu Dajiang nodded slowly.
"Very well. Openly, Iâll be procuring supplies, while covertly visiting Master Ge to refine the pills. It should only take a few days."
Gu Jingang hesitated and asked:
"Wonât this be risky? What if we encounter an attack...?"
Gu Dajiangâs strength ranked lowest among the three, which made him uneasy.
Gu Changming replied:
"Stick to protocol. As long as the Blood Strengthening Pill remains concealed, the likelihood of an attack is low. On the return journey, we will coordinate halfway to rendezvous, ensuring the pillâs safety."
"Alright!"
...
Time passed.
The day for Guâs Manorâs procurement team to enter the city grew nearer.
Gu Sheng was busy sorting through his hunting spoils. He hadnât checked until now, and it was quite surprisingâhis collection of pelts alone formed an enormous bundle.
Excluding the silver foxâs pelt, just these other pelts were worth five or six taels of silver.
Additionally, there were some deer antlers, deer bones, and other rarer medicinal herbs. Hunters occasionally came across such herbs while hunting in the mountains, gathering them as an extra source of income, functioning like part-time herbalists. Gu Erniu had taught Gu Sheng how to identify some herbs.
Gu Shengâs harvest far exceeded what an average hunter achieved in a year.
This was understandable.
Gu Shengâs archery skills had reached a perfect realm, and his hunting success rate was incomparable to that of ordinary hunters.
Moreover, Gu Sheng lived alone and didnât have large expenditures. At times, he wouldnât rush to sell pelts at lower prices to villagers for quick cash, which allowed him to accumulate significantly.
Not needing to support a family, Gu Shengâs rate of saving money was more than ten times faster than others.
"After this trip to the city, my accumulated silver coins will definitely exceed thirty taels!"
Gu Shengâs eyes gleamed with joy.
To people at the bottom of society, this was an unimaginable fortuneâhis father had struggled his entire life, only saving half a tael.
Yet Gu Sheng had accumulated sixty to seventy times that amount in such a short time!
Of course.
Many reasons contributed to this exaggerated difference.
Gu Sheng had been sickly as a childâoften plagued by headaches and physical frailtyâwhich had consumed much of his familyâs silver coins. Additionally, his fatherâs funeral had incurred further expenses, leaving the familyâs savings dangerously thin.
Most of Gu Shengâs gains came from the silver fox and high-quality hunting bows and knivesâopportunities that were rare and serendipitous.
Nonetheless, Gu Shengâs ability to amass wealth at such speed was astounding. If others knew, theyâd likely send matchmakers from villages ten miles around flocking to his door the next day.
"Heading to the city tomorrow, today Iâll conserve my energy!"
After packing for his city trip, Gu Sheng drifted into a deep slumber.
The next day.
At dawnâs first light, Gu Sheng carried his bundled pelts and walked out of the manor. The silver fox pelt and two hunting bows were packed meticulously in the center, tightly secured and imperceptible to outsiders.
Outside the manor.
A dozen people were already waiting there.
Most were skilled villagers rather than tenant farmers. Some were heading to the city to sell goods for winter money, others to visit relatives, and still others for a chance to broaden their horizons.
Gu Sheng spotted Gu Erniu.
Gu Erniuâs leg had largely recovered, though running fast still caused a faint ache. He would need more medication for a while yet.
He carried a sizable bundle of pelts, which also contained two bows.
Seeing Gu Shengâs haul, Gu Erniu clicked his tongue twice and whispered in awe:
"Asheng, impressive! Your harvest in less than half a year has outdone my entire yearâs yield!"
Last time, during their battle with Li Yan, he had witnessed Gu Shengâs archery. He knew Gu Shengâs skills had reached an unattainable level.
Now, looking at the pelts, he realized Gu Sheng had likely surpassed him much earlier than heâd imagined.
He couldnât help but marvel inwardlyâGu Sheng was no ordinary talent.
This composed and reserved demeanor was not something just anyone could learn.
As they chatted, several other hunters approached, also heading to the city to sell pelts.
When they saw the wealth of pelts behind Gu Sheng, they were momentarily stunned.
In hunting circles, oneâs harvest was often synonymous with oneâs skill and strength. Each hunter unconsciously reassessed Gu Shengâs standing, adding a layer of respect to their tone during subsequent conversations.
The group waited.
Before long.
The manorâs procurement convoy arrived slowlyâa procession of donkey carts and flat carts came into view, accompanied by drivers and porters. The scale of this winter procurement was significant.