Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

The canoe swayed gently through the streets, while sporadic raindrops fell from the sky, leaving ripples on the murky water.

The treehouses by the roadside were flooded, with the floodwaters reaching above the third-floor windows. Residents on the lower floors moved their furniture upstairs and squeezed in with their older neighbors.

Liu Xingmo stood at the bow of the boat, controlling the direction of the old turtle's movement.

Ahead lay a vast market, a massive complex of haphazardly stacked buildings, which extended to a makeshift dock.

Pinkish-white peaches, bright yellow apricots, and purplish-red mulberries are piled up in heaps.

The vendors, dressed in raincoats made of leaves, shouted loudly as they sold their wares.

Many people used to row boats from split bamboo tubes and gourds to the dock to shop.

There was also a large hedgehog, nestled inside a hollowed-out watermelon rind, letting a carp with a rope attached pull the boat.

Liu Xingmo greeted, "Chief Xu Weishan, going to the market?"

"Oh? Isn't this Xiao Mo?" The hedgehog's pointed head peeked out from the doorway of the watermelon boat. "I must say, this carp was a perfect match, just in time to be used."

"If you think it's not bad, then it's fine."

The carp that Liu Xingmo caught a few days ago was sold to this hedgehog.

Xu Weishan, the village head, works as a library security guard and possesses the strength of a perfect second-tier cultivator. He has a rare talent; he can transform into human form before reaching the third tier. Only one in dozens of people would produce such a talent, and those who simply cannot, even those with innate abilities, simply cannot.

Liu Xingmo suddenly remembered something: "By the way, village head, this year's floods seem particularly severe. Is the library alright?"

"Don't worry, there's a treasure called the Water-Repelling Pearl guarding those books. Even if the entire city is washed away, not a single book will be ruined." The hedgehog retracted its head, and after a moment, it offered a green leaf packet with its paw. "Here are some freshly roasted watermelon seeds."

Thank you!

Liu Xingmo accepted the green leaf package, and inside were golden-brown, peeled melon seeds, which smelled deliciously roasted.

The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle was falling.

The canoe circled the large market, found several liquor merchants, and purchased another batch of goods.

Add a little high-proof liquor to your homemade fermented fruit juice, sprinkle with honey and mint shreds, and you're ready to sell.

The people of Heilongzhai have a high acceptance of sweets, but on the other hand, they cannot drink bitter wine.

The black-shelled turtle, with its four claws paddling through the water, left the bustling market and swam into thousands of households.

Liu San Niang stood at the stern of the boat, rowing with a single oar. Her bright red dress caught the eye of passersby in the cold, desolate world.

Her skin was as white as snow, and a jade hairpin was tucked diagonally into her hair. When a gentle breeze blew, the beads hanging from the hairpin swayed along with a few strands of her black hair.

"Wine for sale!" she called out in a clear voice, "Apricot blossom wine, lychee wine, and honey wine infused with green plums in June!"

"Ice cream for sale!" she continued, "Icy, refreshing ice cream, money back guarantee if you don't like it! Soft drinks for sale too~ Sweet and sour soft drinks, money back guarantee if you don't like it!"

Liu Xingmo turned around and said, "Third Sister, that part about selling soda feels so out of place! Can we delete it?"

"Young master, you..." Liu San Niang stopped stroking and muttered to herself, "Is this the strange talk Mary was talking about?"

Just then, a clear female voice came from the roadside: "Shopkeeper! Give me a bad ice cream and a lousy soda!"

Liu San Niang turned her head and said in a soft, charming voice, "Oh dear, sir, you're a regular customer, don't tease me like that!"

Liu Xingmo turned his head and saw a familiar face: "Isn't this Huimin? Here for an interview?"

"President!" The young woman stood on the balcony, pointing at the woman in red, and said angrily, "Who is this woman? Why are you with her?"

"She is Liu San Niang, my neighbor. And what does 'who else is she' mean?" Liu Xingmo asked.

"Neighbors? Humph! A man and a woman running out like this, does your wife know?" Liu Huimin retorted, not to be outdone.

"What do you mean by 'a man and a woman alone'? We're doing legitimate business! Besides, Mary trusts me completely." After saying this, Liu Xingmo reached out, picked up a roasted melon seed, and chewed it. "Crunch, crunch..."

Liu Huimin glared at her boss's puffed-out cheeks, then turned to Liu Sanniang and shouted, "Manager! Where are my ice cream and soda?"

"Here you go, young lady." Liu San Niang used a long pole to lift the package onto the balcony.

Liu Huimin tore open the package, grabbed an ice cream, and stuffed it into her mouth, saying as she bit, "This stuff... boohoo... it doesn't taste good..." She then opened a soda and poured it into her mouth, "It's not good... it doesn't taste good at all... boohoo..."

After saying that, the girl turned and ran, disappearing into the connecting corridors of the high-rise building.

Liu San Niang turned around and looked at Liu Xingmo with a smile: "Young master, you really make this young lady like you~"

"I...sigh!" Liu Xingmo was speechless, silently cracking sunflower seeds.

The rain continued to fall, and the canoe continued to paddle.

More and more people are traveling through the streets and alleys on simple rafts made of planks and bamboo poles.

The various busy transactions made the place even more lively.

Liu Xingmo bought some cold dishes and placed them on the small table in the cabin. Liu Sanniang also lifted her skirt, sat down, and began to eat.

"Pitter-patter, pitter-patter..." Raindrops pattered on the rain shelter made of poplar leaves, and the small boat swayed gently on the water.

"Young master, what are you thinking about?" Liu San Niang asked, taking small bites of tofu mixed with scallions.

"I wasn't thinking about anything." Liu Xingmo picked up a piece of dried pickled fish, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

"I think you're thinking about a girl, aren't you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

"What, you didn't think of your own wife?" Liu San Niang said with a smile, then changed her tone, "Then I'll have to tell Mary when I get back that her dear husband didn't think of her at all when he left."

"No, no, no!" Liu Xingmo quickly begged for mercy, picked up another roasted sesame seed, put it in his mouth, and mumbled, "Third Sister, I just thought you were getting a little more serious, how come you've gone back to your old ways?"

"What do you think, my dear young master Liu?" Liu San Niang glanced sideways. "Thanks to you, I haven't even received payment for my first order today. By the way, should we tell Mary about this?"

"Please don't make things worse."

"Hehe, you're really fun to tease." Liu San Niang covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Why have you become so difficult to deal with? I give up." Liu Xingmo ate his food in silence, finishing off almost half of the plate.

He looked out from under the awning and said, "I wonder when this rain will stop. A lot of business will be ruined."

"Speaking of which, what's going on with your medicine? A bunch of out-of-towners have come and are trying to steal your business. I'm having a hard time selling it."

"It's alright, I've already planned it out. Once we've finished our chores on the first day at Black Dragon Stronghold, I'll come help me with the game. Third Sister, I'll just put your stall's name on the newspaper, and everyone will come looking for you."

"Oh, that's really reassuring. By the way, could you please mention that I have some ice cream and soda here?"

"That's natural."