At the break of dawn, a thin layer of mist blanketed the mass grave.
Everything around the hut felt damp, cold, and eerily quiet.
Liu Xiaoman rose silently and first circled the hut to inspect it carefully.
The small patches of plant ash she had scattered the night before—at the doorway and by the window—remained undisturbed, with no signs of footprints.
Only after confirming that the night had passed safely did she let out a quiet breath of relief. Then she smeared some soot from the bottom of the pot across her already sallow face, making it look even dirtier, and tousled her hair.
Once her disguise was complete, she slung on her half-empty basket. She tucked the smooth wooden token and the heavy two taels of silver close to her body. Feeling their cool, solid weight gave her a bit more confidence.
The twelve-kilometer road to Qingshi Town felt light beneath her feet, her steps purposeful and swift.
In front of Huichun Hall, it was as bustling as ever. The rich aroma of medicinal herbs drifted out from within, mingling with the cries of street vendors, full of lively human warmth.
Familiar with the place now, Liu Xiaoman bypassed the crowded front hall and headed straight to the back.
Shopkeeper Qian looked up from his accounts. The moment he saw the small figure, his face lit up with a warm smile, and even the beads of his abacus stopped moving.
“Ah, young lady—what a rare guest!” he greeted her familiarly. “Have you found more fine medicinal herbs?”
“Greetings, Shopkeeper Qian,” Liu Xiaoman replied calmly, giving a polite bow before sitting upright on the wooden chair he offered.
She began sincerely, “Thank you for your generosity last time. You helped my family through a desperate moment.”
Qian waved it off with a smile.
But Liu Xiaoman quickly shifted the topic. Meeting his gaze, she said clearly, “Shopkeeper, you have a keen eye. This time, I’ve come to discuss a long-term business with you.”
“Oh?” The warmth in Qian’s eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by a merchant’s sharp calculation.
He sat down again, fingers tapping lightly on the table. “A long-term business? Let’s hear it.”
Liu Xiaoman had already prepared her story.
“To be honest,” she said, half-truthfully, “before my father passed, he once received guidance from a wandering physician and left behind some incomplete prescriptions.”
“I only recently found them while sorting his belongings. They mention several herbs that can only be found deep in the mountains. Their medicinal properties are quite unique—especially effective for certain stubborn illnesses.”
She spoke with just the right mix of nostalgia and mystery.
Perfect, she thought. People in this era trust inherited formulas and chance encounters the most.
She had to make him believe she had a mysterious backing—only then could she explain her steady supply of rare goods and hook this big fish.
Qian’s interest was fully piqued. He leaned forward slightly.
Seeing this, Liu Xiaoman added another layer: “I can supply these herbs to you long-term. Some of them—I may even be able to cultivate using ancient methods.”
Then she carefully took out a small bundle wrapped tightly in coarse cloth and placed it on the table as if it were a priceless treasure.
Layer by layer, she unwrapped it, revealing a small portion of hemostatic vine—darker in color and thicker in root than before.
This was the upgraded version she had exchanged last night using her remaining 0.05 points—older, richer in potency.
A deeper, more complex earthy medicinal aroma instantly filled the air.
Qian’s nose twitched. His eyes lit up.
He practically snatched the herb, scratching a bit of its skin and sniffing closely. His expression shifted rapidly from surprise to delight.
“As expected of a seasoned herb merchant—he immediately recognized its superior quality.”
“Excellent! This is truly top-grade material!” Qian exclaimed, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. He looked at Liu Xiaoman eagerly. “Young lady, do you have more of this?”
Hooked.
Liu Xiaoman felt a surge of satisfaction but kept her expression composed. Instead, she sighed softly, showing a hint of difficulty.
Lowering her gaze, she said quietly, “Shopkeeper, you may not know… these herbs require very harsh conditions. They only grow deep in the mountains.”
“There… there are poisonous insects and wild beasts. I’m just a weak girl—it’s truly…”
She left the sentence unfinished, but the meaning was clear.
Qian, a seasoned businessman, understood immediately.
She was negotiating.
By highlighting both the rarity of the goods and the difficulty of obtaining them, she was asking for support—an investment.
His mind raced.
This girl, with her unusual formulas and access to high-quality herbs, was practically a walking treasure vault.
If he could secure a supply agreement, Huichun Hall’s reputation and profits would soar.
This small investment? Nothing at all.
“No problem!” Qian slapped the table decisively. “Rest assured, young lady! I’ll sign a supply contract with you and advance you two taels of silver as a deposit.”
“Additionally, I’ll prepare a set of custom herb-gathering tools—sharp sickles and sturdy ropes, all lightweight and practical!”
Exactly what Liu Xiaoman wanted.
A formal contract would give her a legitimate reason to enter the mountains frequently.
With the identity of a supplier to Huichun Hall, villagers would have little ground to question her—and the Liu family wouldn’t dare cause trouble.
With this advance, combined with her own savings, she would now have a total of four taels—enough capital to start building a new life.
Suppressing her excitement, she let just the right amount of gratitude show.
“Then… thank you, Shopkeeper, for your support.” She stood and bowed deeply.
Qian laughed heartily, immediately ordering paper and ink. He personally drafted a simple contract, and both parties marked it.
He then handed her a pouch of silver along with a brand-new set of tools. The sickle gleamed coldly under the light, and the rope was tightly woven and durable.
Just as she was about to thank him again, Qian seemed to remember something. He rummaged behind the counter and handed her a small cloth pouch.
“Oh, one more thing. The deeper mountains are dangerous. This is my specially made beast-repelling powder. Wild animals will avoid its scent—keep it with you for safety.”
Liu Xiaoman accepted the pouch. It felt slightly heavy, embroidered with a simple yin-yang pattern in red thread.
The moment her fingers touched it, the system’s cold voice sounded in her mind:
【Ding! Unknown mixture detected. Scanning… complete.Primary components: realgar, sulfur, wolfsbane herb…Secondary components: trace amounts of heartbreak grass, aconite…】
【Warning: Strongly repels wild animals. Mildly irritating to human skin. Inhalation or ingestion in large amounts may cause nerve paralysis and organ failure.】
Liu Xiaoman’s heart stirred.
She weighed the pouch slightly and glanced at Shopkeeper Qian, whose face showed genuine concern.
But inwardly, she thought:
These ingredients… are far too potent.
Realgar and sulfur for snakes and insects—reasonable.
Wolfsbane for beasts—still acceptable.
But heartbreak grass and aconite?
This wasn’t just a repellent—it was a deadly poison.
She hid her thoughts, tucked the pouch away, and thanked him again.
With new tools, a pouch containing four taels of silver, and that strangely composed powder, Liu Xiaoman stepped onto the road back to the village.
Her eyes lifted beyond the fields toward the distant mountains—lush, layered, and shrouded in mist under the sunlight.
No longer a forbidden, fearsome place.
But a vast treasure trove waiting to be claimed.
Tomorrow, she would bring her mother and brother—and truly begin their new life.