Upon hearing the Chen Family's intention to hire people to repair the road into the mountains, Zhang Yuan felt very uneasy inside.
After dealing with the neighborhood aunt, the more he thought about it, the more something felt off.
So Zhang Yuan did not linger at his hometown and returned to Linhe County Town as quickly as possible.
He first went to the medicine shop to sell two freshly dug pieces of Rock Ginseng, earning nearly thirty silver taels.
Zhang Yuan did not plan to save all this silver to repay debts. He took out most of it to purchase the materials needed to cultivate the "Rock Foundation Skill" and the medicinal ingredients needed for his mother's health.
The cost for the herbal bath recipe accompanying the "Rock Foundation Skill" was high, but no matter how high, Zhang Yuan would not give up.
Because the effect of the herbal bath combined with the foundation skill was extremely good, and with his persistence in practicing every day, his Qi and Blood Value kept growing.
Even though the speed was slow, the quantity accumulated over time was definitely impressive!
Of course, the medicine for his mother couldn't be stopped either.
So these few silver taels were not enough; Zhang Yuan still needed to earn more!
The problem was, his plan encountered some setbacks.
Or rather, obstacles!
Returning home, after eating the dinner his mother had carefully prepared, Zhang Yuan locked himself in his room.
He took off his shirt and spread his fingers to grab the Treasure Map closely stuck to his chest.
With force, he tore it off!
Holding this Human Skin Treasure Map, Zhang Yuan examined it carefully under the oil lamp, comparing it with his memory.
He discovered that the treasure-seeking route shown on it actually required passing through the area where Brother Ya was located.
This was also the part of Qianfeng Mountain that Zhang Yuan was most familiar with!
Zhang Yuan once speculated.
The supernatural had its own territory.
This speculation arose from his several collaborations with Brother Ya, though it wasn't necessarily completely correct.
But Brother Ya obviously wouldn't stray far from its area of activity.
If his speculation was correct.
Then the Chen Family's ill-intentioned road construction into the mountain this time was very likely to conflict with Brother Ya!
And the Chen Family had invited the Linhe City God Statue!
A statue represented a deity, akin to the emperor's edict in power.
Five years ago, Zhang Yuan awakened and gradually recovered the memories of his past life.
He found many things in this world intriguing.
What fascinated Zhang Yuan most was undoubtedly the village's Ancestral Hall.
Because the Ancestral Hall could resist supernatural invasions.
This special function of the Ancestral Hall was not superstitious folklore, but a real, unexplainable power!
The villagers believed it was the ancestors who had passed and were worshipped by their descendants protecting everyone.
Zhang Yuan once asked Elder Master Chen about it.
To Zhang Yuan's question, Elder Master Chen just smiled and said nothing.
Implying "The wise say nothing about the weird or godly."
But Elder Master Chen did not entirely deny the function of the Ancestral Hall.
As for the City God Temple in Linhe County Town, it was even higher tier than the Ancestral Hall, capable of protecting an entire city.
Zhang Yuan worried that once the Chen Family invoked the City God Statue to deal with Brother Ya, the latter would suffer greatly!
After much deliberation, Zhang Yuan left home at dawn the next day and headed towards Qianfeng Mountain.
At that familiar babbling brook, he looked around and called out loudly, "Brother Ya!"
This time, Zhang Yuan called multiple times, and only then did Brother Ya finally appear, gracefully landing on a branch not far from him.
The odd being tilted its head, a trace of confusion in its eyes.
"Brother Ya, we might be in trouble!"
Zhang Yuan took a deep breath, then recounted to Brother Ya the exact situation of the Chen Family's plan to build a road into the mountains.
Logically speaking, Zhang Yuan was human, and the supernatural beings were the enemies of humans; he should stand with the humans.
But Zhang Yuan never considered betraying Brother Ya.
Without the help of Brother Ya, he wouldn't have achieved his current gains and accomplishments, long since crushed by the labor silver owed to Landlord Chen!
Human hearts are more deceitful than the supernatural.
Between the Chen Family and Brother Ya, Zhang Yuan unhesitantly sided with the latter.
Brother Ya remained silent after listening, seemingly lost in thought.
After a while, it suddenly spread its wings and flew away.
Leaving Zhang Yuan utterly puzzled—what did that mean?
But he soon got his answer.
Brother Ya flew back and forth, taking less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.
It dropped something in front of Zhang Yuan.
A golden hairpin!
Zhang Yuan couldn't describe his feelings in words.
Was this a token of gratitude from the supernatural?
He stooped to pick it up.
This hairpin felt heavy and substantial in hand, its design simple and rustic, imbued with a unique charm.
In the middle of the hairpin's flower, a blood-red gemstone was embedded.
Although Zhang Yuan wasn't very knowledgeable about gold and silver jewelry.
But gold itself was extremely valuable; one tael of gold could equal ten taels of silver.
He roughly estimated that this golden hairpin could be worth thirty to forty silver taels!
Of course, the specific value would still need to be appraised at a pawnshop.
Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, then solemnly put it into his chest, bowing, "Thank you, Brother Ya!"
Brother Ya flapped its wings, "Caw～"
Zhang Yuan suddenly realized.
Except for the first encounter when Brother Ya spoke a few words to him, it barely spoke thereafter.
Both parties relied on tacit cooperation.
Yet, this was quite satisfactory, better than having a chatty counterpart.
Thinking about it, it was rather eerie!
Afterward, Zhang Yuan didn't waste any time.
With Brother Ya's consent, he once again searched the surrounding area for a lifeform that could trigger the Divine Nest.
Extraordinary genetic bodies like ants and insects.
Because there was no fixed target, Zhang Yuan tried his luck like before, roaming through the dense forest, hoping to encounter good fortune.
This time, however, Zhang Yuan's luck wasn't as good as last time. He spent nearly two hours and encountered plenty of animals and insects, but the Divine Nest showed no reaction.
Until the black-feathered companion by his side vibrated to remind him, only then did Zhang Yuan reluctantly stop searching.
He left the mountain and returned to Chen Family Village.
Although he had conveyed the news to Brother Ya, Zhang Yuan still felt uneasy.
So he planned to keep an eye on the situation here every day, in case of any changes, he could notify Brother Ya in time.
As a result, Zhang Yuan observed many people busy on the barren land at the east end of the village.
They hauled wood and straw, heaped mounds of earth, cleared weeds, and leveled the foundation.
Clearly, they were constructing buildings!
Zhang Yuan discreetly found a nearby child watching the excitement to inquire, only to learn it was yet another trick of the Chen Family.
Solely relying on the young and strong men of Chen Family Village, building a road spanning twenty to thirty miles of mountain path was insufficient, so Landlord Chen was hiring more hands from the county town to help.
These houses were being built for the incoming laborers!
Zhang Yuan didn't expect the Chen Family to make such a big play, showcasing such an imposing manner in this remote village.
He felt there were many problems within, yet couldn't fathom them.
"Zhang Yuan?"
At that moment, an arrogant voice came from behind Zhang Yuan!