However, since itâs called a secret path, naturally not many people would know about it, so why are there so many people coming here?
The road ahead grew narrower and narrower, making it impossible for the carriage to pass. Like last time, Han Yan and the others hid the carriage in the woods by the roadside and continued on foot.
They hadnât gone far when they encountered a few young swordsmen resting by the roadside. Judging by their travel-worn appearance, they must be heading to the Longyan Mountain Range.
Han Yan and the others didnât pay much attention and were about to pass by when one of the young swordsmen spotted Zhang Chihua among their group and exclaimed with delight, "Brother Zhang!"
"Cai Hezhou, what are you doing here?" Zhang Chihua finally recognized the man and was a bit surprised.
"We are just about to go to the Fang Family Marketplace; is Brother Zhang heading there too?" Cai Hezhou said familiarly.
"What Fang Family Marketplace?" Zhang Chihua looked at Cai Hezhou with confusion. It had been some years since he last visited those ancient ruins, so he wasnât aware of the Fang Family Marketplace.
"Oh right, the Fang Family Marketplace has only recently gained fame, so Brother Zhang may not know about it," Cai Hezhou paused briefly, with a hint of boasting as he said, "The Fang Family was originally a small family outside the city of the Sword Guard Mansion. A few years ago, they were cornered by the Rong Family and had no choice but to leave home and seek another livelihood.
The Fang Family originally rose to prominence from Fang Village along this trade route. When our Anyun Country severed ties with the Shangyue Country and the trade route was just beginning to be abandoned, the ancestors of the Fang Family bought that village and some of the surrounding barren hills.
After being driven out of the Sword Guard Mansion by the Rong Family, the Fang Family returned to Fang Village to settle down and established the Fang Family Marketplace under their name."
"Wasnât the Fang Familyâs ancestor out of his mind? Obviously, the trade route had been abandoned, so why buy some barren hills?" Mu Zexian said dismissively.
"Heh, young brother, you donât understand. The Fang Familyâs ancestor could bring the family from a small Fang Village to the Sword Guard Mansion and accumulate such a large fortune, so how could he not have some foresight? Itâs just unfortunate that the descendants of the Fang Family lacked such vision. I heard that just recently, they sold off all those hills," Cai Hezhou said mysteriously.
"What? Someone even crazier than the Fang Familyâs ancestor, buying when the trade route had only just become defunct and there might still be some business. But buying it now, are they burning too much money?" Mu Zexian didnât pay attention to what he said and was even more surprised to hear that someone acquired large tracts of neglected hills from the Fang Family.
Beside him, Han Yan and Huayue exchanged perplexed looks.
"Whatâs the matter? Did I say something wrong?" Mu Zexian scratched his head in confusion, glancing at Huayue and the others.
"No, nothing." Han Yan wanted to tell Mu Zexian that she was the so-called brainless person he was talking about, but with outsiders present, she couldnât be bothered to explain further.
"Young brother, you probably didnât catch my meaning. What I meant was, the Fang Family ancestorâs foresight was beyond the reach of ordinary people, and the person who took over those hills and fields from the Fang Family also made a fortune." Cai Hezhou was also somewhat frustrated by Mu Zexianâs half-understood listening habits and wiped his forehead as he spoke.
"What do you mean?" Mu Zexian finally caught on and asked, puzzled.
"Just a few days ago, someone discovered a lot of rare and exotic plants near the barren hills around Fang Village, all of astonishingly high grade. Rumor has it that someone even found rare medicinal herbs only recorded in ancient books. Tell me, how much would those previously overlooked barren hills be worth now?" Knowing that Mu Zexian was slow to catch on and only listened to half of what was said, Cai Hezhou didnât beat around the bush and stated it directly.
Han Yan was greatly shocked. When she bought those barren hills, she just wanted to lend a hand to the Fang Family and keep the secret of the Sword Heart Soul Cleansing Pond, never expecting such an event to occur.
Calculating the distance, the barren hills around Fang Village were not far from Flying Peak, and that meant not far from the ancient ruins Zhang Chihua mentioned as well.
Could it be that the Purple Heart Ganlu Grass discovered below Flying Peak and all these inexplicably emerging exotic plants, even rare medicinal herbs only recorded in ancient texts, were related to possible changes in those ancient ruins!
What kind of change would lead to such an outcome?
Originally, Han Yan wasnât too worried, but after hearing Cai Hezhouâs words, a sense of unease suddenly arose in her heart.
"Then the person who bought those barren hills is making a big profit, right?" Mu Zexian, not thinking much, exclaimed enviously, his mouth agape.
"Indeed, how could someone have such a keen eye, to even spot such a profitable opportunity?" Cai Hezhou also looked envious.
The looks Huayue and the others gave Han Yan subtly changed again. When Han Yan bought those barren hills, she spent very little money, so they didnât think much of it, assuming it was just a whim. Little did they expect that what was initially worth nothing would become a Treasure Bowl in no time.
No wonder even the Star Divination Master of the Capital would humble himself to seek her out. This brilliance of foresight was truly astonishing, leaving people amazed and in awe.
If Huayue and the others had previously doubted Han Yanâs Star Divination Techniques after much contemplation, at this moment, they believed in them without a shred of skepticism.
In their eyes, the image of Big Playboy Mu became even more mysterious, commanding respect. Following such a master filled them with a genuine sense of pride.
Noticing the hint of fervent admiration in their eyes, Han Yan broke out in a sweat internally. Heaven as her witness, she was truly not a God-man.
Coincidence, itâs really just a coincidence.
"Having good vision is true, but to say itâs a fortune, that may not be the case." Just as Mu Ze Wu and Cai Hezhou were full of envy, and Huayue and the others were filled with respect and pride, a young man beside Cai Hezhou spoke out.
"May I ask what big brother means by this?" Mu Zexian asked, puzzled.
Perhaps embarrassed by his earlier slow reactions and half-understood listening, Little Playboy Mu dropped any airs of a noble and seemed easygoing enough to get along with, which could be counted as one of the playboyâs virtues; regularly mingling with all sorts, willing to humble himself to conduct affairs with agility and tact.
"I heard some people have already set their eyes on those properties, and they have significant backing. It probably wonât be long before the Fang Family Marketplace and the surrounding mountains and forests change hands," the young man replied.
"Yes, Iâve heard about this too. Weâre heading to Fang Village this time to purchase some suitable herbs from Fang Familyâs Marketplace.
Itâs said that as soon as the Fang Family got the news, they sent people to seal off those mountain forests, and outsiders were not allowed in, so trying to find bargains is impossible. However, Fang Familyâs Marketplace consistently has a good reputation; the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures they sell are not only of high quality but also cheaper than in the Capital.
Once the ownership changes, such good opportunities will probably never come again," Cai Hezhou added.