"Chen Ku, I haven't seen you join me and my grandpa on our mountain trips in several days. What have you been up to?" After leaving Zhao Bocai's house, he ran into Li Jiyang.
"Well, the autumn taxes are due soon, so I haven't dared to rest. I've been in the mountains for several consecutive days, so..." Chen Ku said, half-truthfully.
"Autumn taxes, huh..." Li Jiyang sighed somewhat sympathetically and said, "Why don't I talk to grandpa and see if we can lend you some money?"
"No need, no need—I'll join you guys on another trip to the mountain today." Chen Ku noted that it was still early, and since the black market only opened at night, he couldn't afford to waste the daytime.
Before long, armed with a medicine basket and a sickle, he arrived at the village entrance and saw Head Li approaching.
Head Li didn't pry too much but simply came forward and clapped him on the shoulder, saying, "Let me know if you need any help."
Chen Ku hummed in acknowledgment.
He was fortunate to meet kind people.
By the time they entered the mountain, it was already noon.
With the various abilities of the Skinny Dog Transformation, Chen Ku quickly had a basket full of harvests.
"Is this... He Shou Wu? It's at least twenty years old, almost as much as the ginseng last time. Both could sell for Four or Five Taels of silver!"
This trip into the mountains had yielded big rewards again.
Suddenly, Chen Ku's Dog Nose picked up a sweet, cloying scent in the air—one he had never smelled before—but the scent alone made him feel invigorated.
Could it be a Treasure Herb?
His heart began to pound excitedly.
He immediately followed the scent, navigating through the forests.
Unknowingly, he found himself by the river.
This is... Crocodile Bay.
Chen Ku realized he had left behind the Zheng family's forests and arrived at a bend in one of the tributaries of Snake Fish River.
The name Crocodile Bay comes from the numerous crocodiles lurking in its waters. Even the most skilled fishermen would not come here to fish.
At Crocodile Bay, the river spanned over a hundred meters wide. It was the dry season, so the water was two or three meters shallower than usual, exposing a small earthen mound in the middle of the river—more pleasantly referred to as Heart of the River Island.
Chen Ku's nostrils flared, and a glimmer appeared in his eyes.
The scent seems to be coming from that exposed River Heart Island during the dry season. What could it be?
The mere scent was enough to invigorate his Dog Nose.
Even a fool would know it was a herb more precious than seven taels of Old Mountain Ginseng.
However, as Chen Ku stood on the small cliff by the mountain, staring at the unremarkable water surface, a cold sweat broke out on his brow.
Old folks had said there were at least thirty crocodiles beneath the waters of Crocodile Bay.
And with his nose and eyes, he could detect that underneath the river surface were at least forty or fifty crocodiles, seemingly guarding that Heart of the River Island—further confirming that something valuable was there.
This...
Chen Ku gazed longingly.
I finally smelled a scent that seems like a Treasure Herb, but I can't get across.
With my current strength, even if I activate the Skinny Dog Transformation and unleash five hundred jin of Power, facing at least dozens of crocodiles below... This is too dangerous.
Moreover, it was almost night.
I can't provoke this group of crocodiles right now. Since I know there might be a Treasure Herb on Heart of the River Island, I'll mark this location and figure out a way later. This unknown Treasure Herb must be mine!
Chen Ku committed the location to memory.
On his way back through the mountains, he thought of the Soul Lost Grass.
Perhaps the Soul Lost Grass could be used to make some kind of drug to incapacitate those crocodiles. But to affect so many, the amount from one Soul Lost Grass wouldn't be enough... unless I can gather Mandala Flower. Both are raw materials for making stupefying drugs. Together, they could produce a Knockout Drug powerful enough to incapacitate an elephant!
As an Herbalist, he was familiar with the properties of most Herbal Medicines.
But I've never seen or smelled Mandala Flower... Unless I can find a way to buy it...
The black market!
The two words flashed in Chen Ku's mind.
After returning to the village with the Li family, Chen Ku had a quick meal and then waited for nightfall.
The existence of black markets spans all eras and worlds. They are a shadow economy hidden from the light of day, primarily for evading taxes and privately trading illicit items.
According to Zhao Bocai, thirty Li away from Snake Fish Town, in a huge cave called Nameless Gully, there lay such a concealed black market.
Every third, sixth, and ninth day of the lunar month, all sorts of people would go there to conduct private transactions.
After midnight tonight would be the ninth day of the seventh lunar month. There was roughly one more month until the start of autumn, at which time the autumn taxes would be due.
「Nighttime.」
Chen Ku made no announcements, nor did he tell his family. He simply put the precious Herbal Medicines, worth over ten taels, into his basket, covered his face with a piece of torn cloth, put on a Conical Hat, and set off toward Nameless Gully.
Given his current physical condition, climbing and walking through the mountains didn't make him feel the slightest bit tired.
When the moon was high and dark clouds hung in the sky, he finally arrived near Nameless Gully.
But he hadn't reached the cave yet.
Suddenly, the calls of a few owls echoed from the surrounding mountain path.
Chen Ku stopped. Knowing this was a secret signal, he gently coughed three times, just as Zhao Bocai had taught him. Then, with a cupped-hand salute to his surroundings, he said,
"Friends, it's tough being out and about; this must be the Jianghu. I carry no weapons, nor am I an agent of the government. Please raise your lantern a little higher and let me in. I've come to your esteemed place to earn a bit for my meals."
After a moment of silence from the darkness, a voice finally spoke, "Throw a stake."
This meant they were asking for money—Chen Ku was to pay the entrance fee.
Chen Ku took out two hundred wen from his belt and placed it on the road. This was the admission fee; Zhao Bocai had mentioned there would be an additional five hundred wen stall fee later.
If you didn't set up a stall, you only paid the entrance fee.
If you set up a stall, you also had to pay the stall fee upon leaving.
In and out, seven hundred wen.
Therefore, the black market wasn't for just anyone.
But the good thing was that beyond those seven hundred wen, there were no further costs.
Chen Ku threw the money on the roadside.
He then saw a lantern light up on the dark mountain path.
He knew then that someone at the black market was directing him.
After he walked towards it, the lantern went out. Then, another lantern lit up not far ahead. This continued for about ten more minutes, after which he finally arrived at a huge cave.
Inside, figures moved about, all wearing Conical Hats and with their faces covered, like a group of ghosts.
The massive cave, about two or three hundred square meters in size, was spacious, allowing everyone to make a quick exit if needed.
Most crucially, only four dim torches flickered on the cave walls, deliberately making it hard for anyone to see each other's faces clearly.
Chen Ku saw many empty spaces where people were setting up stalls. He casually picked a spot and took out all the Herbal Medicines from his basket.
Not even ten minutes had passed before someone came over.
"Twenty-year He Shou Wu and twenty-year ginseng... all good Herbal Medicines. How much are you selling them for?" a person with a raspy voice, wearing a Conical Hat, squatted in front of Chen Ku's stall, sniffing the scent of the Herbal Medicines.
Chen Ku had already decided on his prices. "The He Shou Wu for 5 taels, the ginseng for 5.5 taels."
"Ten Taels of silver. I'll take both," the other replied decisively.
Chen Ku was slightly taken aback.
He then took a deep breath.
"Deal."
THUD.
A money bag was thrown directly in front of him.
Chen Ku counted the silver in the bag, watching as the other party took away his two most precious Herbal Medicines, feeling somewhat bewildered.
They're sold, just like that?
Then, another person came by and bought all his remaining Herbal Medicines for 2 taels of silver.
Chen Ku tucked away the reassuring silver.
He let out a long sigh of relief.
This is the black market. Truly thrilling.
Having sold everything, Chen Ku decided to stroll around the black market.
With no burdens, exploring was much easier. On his stroll, Chen Ku discovered that this small cave seemed to sell virtually anything.
There were stalls selling illegal salt, fur, Herbal Medicines, and even manufactured drugs.
And, as Zhao Bocai had mentioned, some were even trafficking children.
Finally, he found a stall that piqued his interest.
Selling Martial Arts?
Chen Ku squatted down, eyeing the dozen or so books laid out on the ground. Are Martial Arts Manuals really sold just like this?
He asked instinctively,
"Are these Fist Techniques guaranteed to be genuine?"