Zhang Yuan stayed in Linhe County Town for three days.
During these three days, Zhang Yuan mainly accompanied his mother to adapt to the city's environment and familiarize herself with the surroundings of Fish Alley.
Additionally, Zhang Yuan also bought her a batch of materials for making cloth shoes.
Mother Zhang is not someone who can sit idle.
On the second day after moving to their new home, she told Zhang Yuan she wanted to find some work to help with household expenses.
She wanted to continue making straw shoes.
This made Zhang Yuan find it both amusing and frustrating.
But he completely understood his mother's mindset.
However, making straw shoes here was clearly inappropriate, knowing that the woven straw shoes Mother Zhang made in the village were sold at the market outside the county for a meager profit.
While people in the city all wore cloth shoes and leather boots.
Making cloth shoes was the most appropriate.
Having bought a house, settled in, and resumed familiar work, Mother Zhang finally felt truly at ease.
And Zhang Yuan once again headed to Qianfeng Mountain.
He had no choice; he had spent all his savings and even incurred a hefty debt.
If he didn't repay the broker's loan soon, interest and principal combined would exceed the house's value, and the broker would take back the newly purchased house.
Zhang Yuan also needed more Source Material to accelerate the growth of his Host.
Moreover, the Divine Nest had an empty chamber; finding a third Host would undoubtedly greatly enhance his strength.
So lying flat was simply not an option!
Entering the deep mountain, Zhang Yuan skillfully met up with the Raven Trick and arrived in front of the cliff where he had hunted wild goats.
The Raven Trick's selection was, as always, reliable.
Zhang Yuan immediately saw the herd of wild goats climbing on the cliff face.
Without wasting words, he once again executed his Stone Throwing Divine Skill, using five stones to knock down two large wild goats in one go!
After dragging down his spoils, Zhang Yuan habitually eviscerated them to offer to the Raven Trick.
Immediately afterward, Zhang Yuan returned to the cliff face and began a thorough search.
This massive cliff was vast, with towering terrain full of jagged rocks and complex formations.
Having already found a high-year Rock Ginseng, it was very likely to find a second, a third...
Then what's a few dozen silver coins borrowed as a loan?
As making money was the big plan, Zhang Yuan searched meticulously, not missing a single crevice suitable for Rock Ginseng growth.
It's said that hard work pays off for those who are diligent.
After half an hour of searching on the steep cliff, he discovered a Rock Ginseng about twenty years old!
Moreover, there wasn't a Black-horned Viper guarding this Rock Ginseng, likely out foraging or scared away.
At least twenty silver coins in hand!
Zhang Yuan was quite pleased, his motivation growing stronger.
"Caw caw!"
However, as he extracted another Rock Ginseng over ten years old, the Raven Trick below suddenly called out twice.
The sound carried a warning tone.
Zhang Yuan was startled and quickly returned to the base of the cliff.
The Raven Trick said nothing, only flicked a black feather to him with a wing.
Zhang Yuan immediately understood.
The Raven Trick was warning him not to overdo it, not to fish dry the lake!
Zhang Yuan bowed to the Raven Trick: "Thank you, Brother Ya."
Then he tied up the wild goats and carried them along with the black feather back out of the mountain.
After the black feather disappeared, Zhang Yuan immediately made an offering of the two eviscerated wild goats on the spot.
He received 1.7 points of Source Material.
Without any hesitation, he put all the Source Material into the second chamber, feeding the Jade Mantis!
Patting the two Rock Ginsengs hidden in his coat, Zhang Yuan looked at the sky.
There was still plenty of time.
After a brief thought, he headed in the direction of Chen Family Village.
He didn't plan to give up the house in the village just yet.
Even if not living there regularly, using it as a base for hunting in the mountains was quite suitable.
The town was very far from Qianfeng Mountain.
He set off before dawn, embarking on his journey as the city gates opened, and arrived at the Raven Trick's place after nearly two hours of traveling into the mountain.
In contrast, Chen Family Village was much closer.
This way, if he returned late, he wouldn't have to take the risk of rushing back to the county town.
Moreover, the city gates closed at night, not allowing entry or exit.
As for his mother's safety, Zhang Yuan wasn't worried.
The county town had decent security, and he left Da Hu there to guard the house and accompany her; any petty thief wouldn't stand a chance against the Mountain Guard Dog!
Three days apart, everything was as usual at the old home.
It was only when a neighboring aunt saw Zhang Yuan that she was surprised and asked, "Yuanwa'Er, you're back?"
Zhang Yuan smiled: "Yes, I am."
The aunt glanced at the quiet and empty Zhang Family home and asked, "Where's your mother then?"
Zhang Yuan replied gloomily: "My mother's health isn't good, and traveling made her sick, so she had to stay with relatives temporarily to recuperate before coming back."
"I see," said the aunt sympathetically. "But why aren't you staying there with her?"
"I have to earn money!"
Zhang Yuan said with a wry smile, "I can't rely on relatives forever; I'm planning to hunt more so I can earn some silver coins for my mom's medical treatment."
"Oh dear!"
The aunt slapped her thigh and said, "Yuanwa'Er, you didn't know, did you?"
"Master Chen announced a while ago that he's recruiting young strongmen in the village to build a road, offering money and grains. The pay is pretty good!"
Zhang Yuan was surprised: "Build a road? What road?"
"The road into the mountains!"
The neighbor aunt pointed to Qianfeng Mountain and said excitedly, "They're planning to build a mountain road of twenty or thirty miles. Anyone willing to join gets a pound of white rice and fifty copper coins each day, plus two meals, morning and evening!"
Her eyes sparkled: "Master Chen also said that those who perform well won't have to do corvee next year!"
Zhang Yuan felt something was off: "Building a road into the mountains? Aren't they afraid of the strangeness in the mountains?"
Except for a few bold Medicine Gatherers and Hunters, it was rare for anyone to venture deep into Qianfeng Mountain.
Everyone knew there was something strange in the mountains; encountering it, one's life or death would be uncertain.
For centuries, many Chen Family Village villagers entered the mountain never to be seen alive or dead.
If Zhang Yuan hadn't been driven to desperation, he wouldn't have risked hunting in the mountains.
That he survived and even met the Raven Trick was purely a stroke of luck!
Even village kids knew the mountains were a forbidden zone; how could the villagers be lured by Master Chen?
The compensation might be good, but one needed to be alive to enjoy it!
The aunt laughed: "Master Chen said he's already invited the Linhe City God's Statue; by then, it will ward off any strange occurrences, ensuring great safety!"
Linhe City God Statue!
Zhang Yuan could hardly believe his ears.
What on earth was this Master Chen capable of to get the City God Statue to guard a mountain?
If he had such abilities, why move from the county town to Chen Family Village?
What was the purpose behind building the mountain road?
The more Zhang Yuan thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
He suddenly remembered the Treasure Map tucked to his chest—could it be related to the treasure in Qianfeng Mountain?
The neighbor aunt added: "Yuanwa'Er, if you want to join, hurry and sign up at the Chen Family. Once spots are filled, it won't be easy to get in!"
Zhang Yuan steadied himself and smiled: "I understand, thank you, aunt."
Regardless of whether this Master Chen aimed for the mountain treasure, he certainly had ambitious plans.
His previous intuition was spot on!