In the great world of martial arts, you use the Tao of Talisman to rule the ages

Chapter 9 An unexpected gain
  The mountains and fields are cold and lonely.

Chen Lin was alone, sweeping the snowy slopes under the gray clouds.

Ever since I caught the flying-toothed deer on my back, I haven't seen the big one again.

There aren’t even many prey left…

A large number of spiritual power threads connected to the talisman suddenly disappeared.

Only thirty or forty threads were left.

It was all the reason why the gongs and drums on the opposite hilltop made such a big noise.

The sound of the gong is extremely penetrating.

All animals that could run were scared away.

The missing person and energy-finding talisman on the chest began to flicker, and the blood-red talisman gradually faded away. It looked like he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

Chen Lin seized the last opportunity to recombine the prey connected by each thread.

Suddenly, a looming spiritual power thread caught his attention.

This bundle of silk threads is composed of several small threads, which are all about the thickness of an index finger. They point to the same place. They appear very weak, as if they are about to die...

"Can you still pick up a dead chicken?"

Chen Lin came to the location where the silk thread was connected, only to find that in front of him was a dead old tree that had fallen for an unknown period of time. It was about the thickness of a waist, and there was no trace of any living thing at all.

"But the spell will not go wrong. Since there is a reaction here, there must be a living creature that can breathe!"

Judging from the thickness of the silk thread, the thing obviously has a certain size and cannot be a poisonous insect or the like.

It has a certain body shape and can hide under old trees...

"What could it be?"

Chen Lin moved the rotten wood away.

A fist-sized hole was revealed underneath!
  "Fuck! Snake nest!"

"There are hibernating snakes down there!"

He subconsciously took a step back, but when he saw the snow-covered ground around him, he immediately remembered:
  "Snake hibernation can be shallow or deep. When snakes enter a deep sleep state, they will not wake up..."

At this time, even if you dig them out, they will just freeze to death instead of waking up and biting people.

"And this season is when snakes are in deep sleep!"

Chen Lin's eyes lit up.

"The flying-toothed deer in the backpack should be kept to replenish its body and practice its magic power."

"And snakes don't have a few taels of meat in total, and ordinary snake meat doesn't have much benefit. It can just be sold to make some pocket money!"

"I just don't know how much it can be sold for."

This answer cannot be obtained from memory.

Because snakes generally do not appear in hunters' harvests, even if they are hunted normally, they are just an extra and rarely valuable.

Chen Lin used a hatchet as a hoe and dug hard at the entrance of the cave. Blocks of frozen soil fell off, and a tangled yellow object appeared underneath.

"It's a group of hibernating yellow snakes. It's a common snake species in Xiaojinshan. It's non-venomous."

"As expected, he has already fallen into a deep sleep. He won't be affected even if he is hit by a clod of earth..."

Soon, the cave opened wide.

A total of ten yellow snakes were rolled up into a ball, like a yellow ball huddled in the originally warm nest.

Their bodies were still soft at first, but after a few minutes of drying, a few wisps of cold wind blew by, and they were quickly frozen and hardened, no longer alive.

It seems to have really turned into a ball.

Use a hatchet to pick them into the basket, and then use a bamboo cover to cover the exit to prevent the corpses from being stolen.

Chen Lin whistled leisurely and was in a good mood.

“No surprises, no effort required.”

"Although there was a small hiccup, the harvest is still full. Go home!"

There must be a lot of snake nests in Xiaojin Mountain, but it is a pity that the effectiveness of the person-finding charm has disappeared, otherwise we could still find a few more.

"But it will be the same if we come another day."

Pat the full bamboo basket behind you.

A smile appeared on Chen Lin's lips and he walked quickly down the mountain.

……

……

Back in the small village, there was still silence.

Don't rush to return the basket next door.

Chen Lin first hid the big stuffed deer in the house, and then walked to the county town carrying a basket of yellow snakes.

His steps are not slow.

It only takes less than half an hour to cover ten miles of snow. Before noon, the northern gate of Kanazawa County appeared in his eyes.

This time there was no call from the guard from the tower.

He quickly walked into the city, and then headed for the "mountain city" in his memory.

Kanze County is surrounded by mountains and rivers. "Jin" refers to Xiaojin Mountain in the north, and "Ze" refers to the west and south. There is Lumengze, known as the Eight Hundred Miles of Smoke, which receives melted iceberg water but does not freeze all year round.

Swimming deeper, it is said that the water temperature will rise, and it is suspected that the ground fire is overflowing...

Just because of the distinct geographical location.

There is a mountain market in Kanazawa North City that specializes in purchasing all kinds of mountain products, and most of the visitors are Orion mountain people.

Xicheng is a ferry and wharf that can transport the precious mountains received at any time. There are usually boatmen from other places and many wealthy households gather there.

Nancheng is a fishing market, filled with fishermen struggling on the swamp.

Dongcheng specializes in all kinds of craftsmanship, from hunting bows to fishing nets.

In addition, there is an inner city, which is the essence of the entire Kanazawa County...

In spring and summer, Kanazawa County is still quite prosperous.

It’s not like the harsh winter now.

Those who were rich enough "escaped the winter" by boat and went further south, waiting for the thaw in spring before returning. Those who were not rich enough hid at home to eat and store grain, burn charcoal fires, and study the origin of life.

Those who have no money must try their best to survive.

There wasn't even a single person wandering around on the ordinary street.

……

Enter Beichengshan City.

Chen Lin finally saw a living person.

This place is quite different from other places.

Quite a lively scene.

There is no snow on the long bluestone street, and mountain goods are displayed in front of each store, mainly furs and other items that are in high demand in winter.

Several guys are adjusting the prices:
  "Today's new price! A sable skin with holes costs 10 taels, and a piece without holes costs 18 taels... A white jade squirrel with holes costs 50 taels, while a sable skin without holes costs 100 taels..."

"Collecting winter mountain ginseng, the price starts at thirty taels of silver, and the price will be reduced after the new year, so sell it quickly!"

"The Li family's blacksmith shop in Dongcheng is collecting pine oil wood and Qinggang charcoal!"

In the market, there are hunters carrying prey, mountain people carrying baskets, and even villagers who come to buy meat and various mountain products.

This one's face is shiny, and that one's face is dishy.

The world is diverse and diverse.

Orion mountain people from all over Xiaojin Mountain gathered here to exchange their recent hard-earned harvest for money and take it back to support their family's livelihood.

The fisherman who lost his parents stood in the market confused with a few days of fishing money, hoping to buy a pound of cheap mountain meat to get rid of the bone-breaking cold.

Chen Lin took a deep breath. What he breathed in here was no longer the cold smell of feces and urine, but the bitter taste of the world.

To him, the taste was bitter at first and then sweet.

But for some people, the taste is bitter in the mouth, and then becomes more bitter. It remains bitter until it is buried in the ground.

"Brother, are you still thinking about buying some meat? Why don't you consider my snake meat? I'll sell it to you cheaply!"

Chen Lin suddenly opened the backpack behind him.

The confused fisherman next to him jumped away in fright, pointing at him with a shocked face and being speechless for a long time.

"Ugh!"

"It's a pity that fishermen are afraid of snakes..."

Chen Lin shook his head and walked away.

He came to a shop that specializes in mountain meat.

There were several hunters inside carrying things, but there was only one owner who was busy working. He talked to one person and then another, making him confused.

Everyone is waiting, the atmosphere in the store is harmonious, and no one is impatient.

The reason why I came here is because the owner Chen Yongxiang and his father, a gambler, are old acquaintances.

In the past, I also called him Uncle Xiang, so I would not lower the price randomly and could give him justice.

Chen Lin didn't say anything in a hurry, and for a moment he seemed invisible. Even the experienced hunter next to him didn't realize that someone was approaching.

There is a statue of a mountain god in the shop, three pillars of incense and a plate of dried meat on the incense table. Many animal skins are hung from the ceiling, including wolves, badgers, and even a piece of yellow-striped tiger skin.

He looked over and saw a few snake sloughs in the corner, and knew that selling the snakes in the basket would not be a problem.

"The guest has been waiting for a long time!" Chen Yongxiang suddenly noticed that another person had entered the shop and hurriedly greeted him. He raised his eyes and couldn't help but exclaimed:

"Alin?!"

(End of this chapter)