Chapter 317

Luo Shu held a handful of pine nuts in his hand, lying sideways on the reclining chair. Seeing that it was almost noon and there was still no movement outside, he couldn't help but ask, "What are we eating for lunch today?"

"The guesthouse kitchen made stewed mutton today," Luo Rong, who was sitting at the table cracking pine nuts, turned his head and said. "There's also a new food from the tofu shop called tofu skin. I ordered some too; it should be delivered soon."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Hearing there was new food, Shu immediately perked up and urged, "Go to the kitchen and see, tell them to bring the food over quickly."

"Alright." Luo Rong stood up, grabbing a few handfuls of pine nuts on his way out. He cracked them as he ran toward the guesthouse kitchen.

Shu tossed away the pine nut shells in his hand, lay back on the soft animal hide, and patted his slightly bulging belly contentedly.

Luo Ren looked at the somewhat listless young city lord on the reclining chair and sighed. "We've been trapped in this guesthouse for over ten days. We can't go on like this."

Shu wiggled his feet. "What's the rush? Although Hei Yao won't let us go out, they haven't shorted us on food or drink. We've been busy all winter; we deserve a rest."

Luo Ren shook his head. "I'm just afraid they won't let us go easily."

Luo Shu had always loved traveling everywhere, and Luo Ren had followed him to many cities. But no city had ever made Luo Ren as worried as this one.

Although Qing chi City was a lower city, due to its unique geographical location and history, under the city lord's leadership, it had long become comparable to a middle city. Plus, they were backed by Qi City; no tribe or city would be foolish enough to cause trouble for Qing chi's young city lord.

However, the Hei Yao City (Black Glory City) before them was different. This was a city that dared to confront the upper city's Divine Temple head-on. Luo Ren was truly worried that Hei Yao might harm the young city lord.

Shu waved his hand dismissively. "Bao Bai and Lang Ze aren't people who can't tell right from wrong. We haven't done anything; they won't do anything to us."

If Hei Yao really wanted to cause trouble for them, they could have found any excuse to confiscate their supplies when they entered the city. By now, they would have starved to death, not been served such good food and drink.

Besides, they were already here and couldn't escape even if they wanted to. Rather than worrying about these things, it was better to enjoy themselves one day at a time.

Just as Luo Ren was about to speak again, footsteps suddenly sounded at the door. The person arriving was none other than the one they had just been discussing.

Luo Ren quickly stood up, forcing a smile as he called out, "Great Priest Bao Bai!"

"Bao Bai!" Shu jumped up from the reclining chair. "You're here!"

Qi Bai sat down at the table. "Has Young City Lord Shu been comfortable in the city these past few days?"

Shu laughed heartily and sat down opposite Qi Bai. "Very comfortable. Your Hei Yao's guesthouse is the most comfortable lodging I've stayed in among all cities."

While the two were talking, Hu Xiao, who had followed Qi Bai in, quickly cleared the table, making the scene somewhat suitable for serious discussion.

"I see the young city lord brought many supplies. Do you still plan to trade goods in Hei Yao on this trip?"

Shu immediately grasped the key point. Qi Bai didn't mention the matter of Divine Temple Cang, but since he was willing to do business with them, it meant Hei Yao's wariness toward them had mostly dissipated.

"Of course," Shu rubbed his hands together. "Our Qing chi City is an extremely trustworthy city. You definitely won't lose out trading with us."

Although it seemed Hei Yao and Divine Temple Cang had a feud, and the two tribes probably wouldn't reconcile easily in the future, what did that have to do with Qing chi, which was attached to Qi City? Only a fool would pass up the chance to earn supplies.

Qi Bai gave Shu an "I understand completely" look. "Whether we lose out or not is one thing, but the young city lord must have made quite a profit, right?"

Shu smiled without speaking.

Of course, Qi Bai didn't plan to investigate thoroughly. Hei Yao was the wholesaler; how much profit middlemen could make depended entirely on their own abilities. Qingchi had taken the initiative, so it was only right they earned a bit more.

He smiled and said, "We also greatly admire Qingchi and the young city lord's trustworthiness. Therefore, this time, I want to discuss an even bigger deal with the young city lord."

"What kind of deal?"

"Salt. Does the young city lord want salt?"

Salt! Shu couldn't help but take a deep breath. There was no place on the entire Beastman Continent that didn't need salt!

Shu's chubbier cheeks twitched. He subconsciously wanted to tell Luo Ren to guard outside, but then he thought again: this was Hei Yao's territory. Qi Bai must have made all necessary arrangements before coming. He relaxed and asked urgently, "What kind of salt?"

Qi Bai said, "Naturally, Hei Yao's refined salt."

The refined salt of Hei Yao Black Glory City, Shu had only seen it when buying cooked food. Snow-white, uniform salt grains without any strange smell. Even food simply roasted with Hei Yao salt tasted much better than food from other cities.

However, the trading street that sold all sorts of miscellaneous goods only lacked salt. This definitely didn't mean Hei Shan lacked salt. Quite the opposite; they had inquired and found that all of Hei Yao's tribespeople could regularly obtain salt through receiving wages. Shu could determine that Hei Yao must have a stable method of obtaining large quantities of salt.

But Shu quickly calmed down.

Last autumn, he had proposed exchanging salt with Hei Yao. At that time, Qi Bai had refused without hesitation. Now he suddenly brought it up; Shu felt things weren't that simple.

Shu swallowed. "What does the Great Priest want in exchange for salt?"

Qi Bai liked that Shu was such a straightforward business partner. "It's nothing too remarkable. The young city lord can exchange dried medicinal herbs."

Shu almost choked on his own saliva. Was he joking? Medicinal herbs weren't something you could just obtain casually.

On the Beastman Continent, which medicinal herbs weren't tightly controlled by the Divine Temples and tribal priests? Getting them to trade these herbs out wasn't easy at all.

"Hei Yao not only has salt but also the continent's one and only brown sugar," Qi Bai smiled, increasing his bargaining chip. "For every cartload of herbs traded, I'll give the young city lord an extra box of brown sugar."

"Both salt and brown sugar are lighter and more valuable compared to other goods. With them, the supplies you obtain on a single trip might double."

"Not to mention Hei Yao's brown sugar. Just taking out one piece makes it an extremely valuable gift. The rest, I don't need to say more, right?"

Qi Bai's refined salt plus brown sugar offensive was, in modern terms, absolutely gold bars plus antiques practically throwing money in Shu's face.

Regardless of the era, the gap between the rich and poor was enormous. Luxury goods always had a consumer base, and this small portion of people happened to control the vast majority of resources.

Although medicinal herbs were scarce, as long as they navigated the intricacies, nothing was beyond reach with enough money.

Sure enough, Shu clenched his fists. After a moment, he frowned and asked, "How much salt do you have?"

Qi Bai smiled. "That depends on how many medicinal herbs the young city lord can bring. We certainly won't disappoint the young city lord."

Exchanging salt for medicinal herbs was basically a no-cost business. Qi Bai planned to do it long-term.

Dried medicinal herbs, if stored properly, wouldn't spoil for years. Qi Bai wouldn't mind having as many as possible.

Once the hospital confirmed the efficacy of various herbs, they could also targetedly purchase some seeds and try planting them in the fields. Although many herbs required specific growing environments and Hei Yao's fields might not successfully grow them all, even if only a small portion succeeded, their security would increase another notch.

"I can find a way) regarding the herbs," Shu said, "but for every cartload of herbs, I want double the brown sugar. Additionally, I want to exchange for three more carts. This time, I want bone-wheel carts."

After bringing the carts back to Qing chi, both Shu and the Qing chi city lord had people try to learn how to make them. However, components like axles and wheels were exquisitely made they seemed unreal. Without taking them apart, it was impossible to understand. But if they tried to take them apart, Shu couldn't bear it, afraid they would break them.

As for the bone wheels made from bird bones, Shu had a bellyful of opinions.

Although Hei Yao's wooden cartwheels came with spares and new ones could be bought in the city, the cart shops here were quite cunning. They had made it clear from the start: without the old wheel, they wouldn't exchange for a new one, fundamentally preventing them from hoarding parts.

The bone wheels made from flying birds were harder than stone; you didn't have to worry about them breaking even after traveling long distances. Shu had long had his eye on Qi Bai and the others' bone-wheel carts and took this opportunity to bring it up.

"Agreed," Qi Bai nodded directly. "Then it's settled."

Qi Bai controlling the number of carts was temporary. Besides, he knew that once these things circulated, it would be impossible to prevent replication eventually. So, as long as they delayed until Hei Yao's weapon reserves reached the expected numbers, Qi Bai would gradually open up the number of carts for sale.

Both sides were very satisfied with this negotiation. Shu's group was also permitted to go to the trading street to select goods they needed to exchange.

After being pent up for so long, Shu couldn't stop once he went out. And he didn't just stroll by himself; he insisted on pulling Qi Bai along to shop with him. In the end, it took Lang Ze personally intervening to rescue Qi Bai.

Even sitting at the dining table, Lang Ze was still frowning. "Next time, have Hu Xiao make up some excuse for you to leave. Don't bother with him."

"After all, we locked them up for so long; it wouldn't be appropriate to show no courtesy at all." Qi Bai blinked at Lang Ze. Was he jealous? He pursed his lips, smiling, and asked, "How are things over at the cultivated land?"

With the new year's spring planting approaching, Lang Ze had been inspecting the environment around the cultivated land these past two days to prevent large prey from appearing.

Lang Ze said, "Everything is normal over at the cultivated land, but the Man-Eating River has undergone some changes."

Qi Bai, biting his chopsticks, asked, "What changes?"

Lang Ze shoveled a few mouthfuls of food vigorously. "Ma Ling and the others discovered there are far fewer man-eating fish in the Man-Eating River. I suspect they might be leaving Hei Shan again."

"The man-eating fish leaving the Man-Eating River," Qi Bai said. "Could it be that something is happening again over at Red Bird Island?"

This time, the man-eating fish had stayed in the Man-Eating River for almost three years. If the red birds really had returned, they could basically determine the red birds' breeding cycle.

Lang Ze nodded. "Very likely. I plan to have the newly adult beastmen go hunt on Red Bird Island as their coming-of-age trial."

The first red bird each young beastman hunted would become their trophy. The city would help them fashion the bird bones into their desired weapon style.

This trial was indeed very meaningful. Qi Bai asked with great interest, "Are you going over too?"

"As long as they haven't slacked off in training, hunting one red bird isn't difficult. Have Lang Ji lead a team of warriors to escort them," Lang Ze paused and looked at Qi Bai. "Do you want to go over and take a look?"

The last time the two went to Red Bird Island was several years ago. If Qi Bai wanted to go play, he could make time to take him.

Hmm, best if it was just the two of them.

Qi Bai proudly raised his chin. "What's so great about killing red birds? It's not like I haven't done it before. It's good for us both to stay in the city. We can just let the city and villages strengthen vigilance and be careful of lone red birds attacking."