Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

Bao Hei shuddered, the deer fur on his leather jacket swaying smoothly.

Liu Xingmo pointed to the fur shop on the hillside: "Come with me again, and I'll get you a proper outfit."

Bao Hei took a step forward and crawled quickly across the waist-deep snow, each step creating a wave of snow, as if he were cutting through a sea of ​​foam.

It can still generate heat during strenuous exercise, but it lacks heat preservation methods.

Liu Xingmo sat on the soft deerskin coat, the undulating brown fur tickling him.

This warmth greatly enhances the travel experience. Perhaps this winter, I should take Baohei out for a walk every now and then.

We arrived at the fur shop again.

The old cobbler was astonished when he saw Bao Hei: "Good heavens! Such a big turtle! No wonder it needs such a big coat."

Liu Xingmo jumped off the tortoise's back: "Master, please also provide four boots, plus a neck glove. Oh, and a tail glove as well."

"Easy!" The old cobbler picked up the measuring tape and measured the old turtle's size while clicking his tongue in amazement. "Oh my, such thick legs, like pillars, I can't even wrap my arms around them."

Liu Xingmo helped out, saying, "It's alright, it just recently transformed into a mythical beast, so its body is still a bit weak."

"This is weak? You young man, you're being too modest." The old cobbler looked at Bao Hei wrapped in deerskin, his wrinkles crinkling with laughter. "If you brought him in to carry persimmons in the fall, wouldn't he be able to carry a dozen or so?"

Liu Xingmo laughed, "A dozen or so? Master, you're underestimating us. There should be at least twenty!"

The old cobbler tapped his wooden clapper, and a large group of apprentices rushed over, surrounding the old turtle with curiosity.

Then they divided the work and prepared a complete set of clothes for Bao Hei.

Baohei couldn't stand the cold outside, and its paws and head were tucked into its shell. But it was very interested in its coat, and would occasionally shiver as it poked its head out to watch the leatherworkers cutting skins and shearing fur in the distance.

As dusk fell.

The leatherworkers worked hard to finish their work, sweat dripping from their faces and forming white frost on their clothes.

Finally, a complete set of clothes for the turtle was finished before dark.

With the help of a group of people, Baohei put on his winter clothes.

Tall cowhide boots coated with black oil covered the sturdy legs; a whole squirrel pelt with a pair of furry ears covered the head and neck; and an unidentified red pelt wrapped around the pointed, short tail.

This seemingly random color combination was chosen by Bao Hei himself.

Wearing a squirrel fur hat, its dark eyes stared at the large mirror brought over by the leatherworkers' apprentices, quite pleased with its new look.

It shook its four legs, loosening its stiff muscles; its neck twisted from side to side, making cracking sounds. Then, it ran wild, playing on the snow.

It wasn't about to move slowly. As soon as its front paws pressed a shallow hole in the snow, its hind paws followed up with a kick, sending snowflakes flying high and creating a small patch of silvery mist in front of it.

……

"That's great, to get such a big job in my lifetime." The old cobbler smiled with satisfaction as he watched. "My brother, who learned from my master, always brags to me about how he made a fancy coat for a big lizard. Now I have something to brag about too, hahaha!"

"Have you never done anything bigger?" Liu Xingmo asked.

"Hey, what are you saying! Big animals have their own skin and fur, why would I make clothes for them? Even bald pythons and crocodiles are contracted beasts that only the best of the best can control, they don't need any external help anymore."

"That's true."

It was getting dark, and Baohei was tired from playing, so Liu Xingmo mounted it and prepared to go home.

The old cobbler put down his work and saw him off, saying, "If anything doesn't fit in the future and needs alterations, just come to me. I won't charge you extra."

"Thank you!"

"Young man, next time you're out on the street, if someone asks where you got your clothes made, just mention it for them!"

"Absolutely! I'll answer any questions." Liu Xingmo said, a little embarrassed, "However, I plan to go to the mine this winter, so I'm afraid not many people will see me."

The old cobbler, who had been all smiles just moments before, instantly changed his expression: "Mining? What kind of clothes is that giant tortoise wearing in its burrow?"

"Of course, this is the one."

"What?" The old cobbler looked like he had a fly stuck in his throat. "You can't ruin good clothes like this! Young man, let me tell you, fur is afraid of chafing and moisture, and it will fade if it's exposed to the sun..."

Liu Xingmo shook off the nagging old cobbler and rode Bao Hei down the hillside at breakneck speed.

The splashing snowflakes, just as they touched the long fur of the deerskin coat, were mostly shaken off by the old turtle twisting its body.

This specially made garment tightly covered her entire body, and her soft, beautiful brown fur swayed with her movements like rolling waves of wheat in autumn.

Liu Xingmo lay down flat on his back, burying his body in the deer fur. Even the noisy winter wind seemed to disappear in an instant.

Ah—! That's wonderful.

Should I get myself a mink coat...?

Back home, Baohei refused to take off his clothes, ate a few dried fish, and then crawled into a pile of grass and started to sleep.

the next day.

Liu Xingmo dragged out both the boxcart and the flatbed cart.

We've moved; we're going to the mine today.

Valuable items, pots and pans, bedding and clothes, rations of cured meat, four contracted insects, and tons of firewood...

Liu Xingmo and Su Mali, one hanging from a pulley in a tree and the other catching the goods under the tree, worked all morning to fill two trucks.

The two cars were connected one after the other, and then the belt was fastened to Bao Hei's body.

Liu Xingmo directed them toward a tall, rocky mountain.

The first half of the journey was difficult, as we trudged through the snow. It became much easier once we reached the clean, paved stone path.

There were noticeably fewer pedestrians on the road. Everyone had worked hard all year and had finally gotten this long holiday.

Although getting through the winter is not easy, you can enjoy a few days of leisure at the dock.

The smoke from every household's chimney carried a rich aroma of meat—sausages smoked with pine branches. The subtle yet intense scent could be detected from a great distance.

Liu Xingmo couldn't help but sigh, "I still have to work this winter! I don't feel like things are getting better at all..."

Sumali remained calm as always: "That's how it is. Sometimes the higher you climb, the harder and more tiring life becomes."

Liu Xingmo thought of two geniuses with innate physiques.

Liu Yizhu and Tie Yuanying were both people who lived in a hurry. Their abilities far surpassed those of their peers, but their careless lifestyles were unbearable to look at.

Liu Xingmo also craves power, but he also values ​​quality of life.

Eat when you're hungry, drink when you're thirsty, and sleep when you're tired.

With your own brain, as long as you can seize the opportunity, you will never lose to a fool who only has talent.

We're not exactly flush with cash right now, but if we just work hard to get through this winter, things will be better next year.

My daughter-in-law makes second-tier potions, and with the income from treasure hunting, newspaper wages, and GG fees, I earn several hundred every day...

Liu Xingmo calmed himself down.

He looked up and saw the massive shadow of the mountain obscuring the sky.

We've arrived at Silver Money Mountain.