Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

The stone house was pitch black, lit only by an oil lamp. The hall was somewhat cluttered, with a metalworking table on the inside and a living room on the outside.

Liu Xingmo sat in a chair, legs crossed, calm and composed. He brought out a tea set and brewed a pot of fine tea.

"Alright, I'll tell you." Liu Sanniang, who had been filled with doubt and suspicion, suddenly deflated, her shoulders slumping. "Based on Manager Ma's network of connections, I investigated one by one and actually found a hidden spy. I used some tricks to force out the information he knew, and then went out to scout, and surprisingly found a hideout. Then, I started thinking about whether I could catch them all..."

"When did this happen?" Liu Xingmo took a sip of tea.

"Four days ago... I wanted to act quickly before they realized what was happening."

"Just you alone? Leaving aside the patrol and city defense teams, there are a few experts in Falling Flower Lane. Could you invite them to help?"

Liu San Niang remained silent and did not answer.

"Human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant, alas!" Liu Xingmo sighed deeply. "Third Sister, the thugs and ruffians in our village are ultimately just low-class scoundrels. You're using the same methods you use against them to deal with spies from other countries. You truly... truly don't know your place!"

"What are you talking about, brat? I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice!" Liu Sanniang yelled, then realized she'd oversimplified things, and weakly asked, "Tell me, what should we do?"

"Call in the main force! In this kind of situation, it's best to strike swiftly and decisively, wiping them out before they can react."

"Pah! I thought you were up to something, but this is all you've got?" Liu San Niang said dismissively, grabbing a teacup from the table and gulping it down.

"You can't say that. There are ways to find people. The patrol team might take your information and give you a small mission, but they might not remember your contribution." Liu Xingmo paused here, then added, "But there's another group of people who are even more eager than you to redeem themselves. If you help them, you'll be doing them a huge favor."

"You mean... the library?" Liu San Niang realized.

"That's exactly right. If we have concrete intelligence that we can catch those thieves, the library will certainly be willing to pay the highest price. Don't you agree?"

"What you say makes sense. Let me think about it."

Liu San Niang held a cup of tea and drank it for most of the day before finally making up her mind.

"That's settled then! I'd like to reopen a restaurant in Midtown, is that alright?"

"Our manager Xu Yinxing will definitely agree to this small matter. However, it would be best to wait two or three years until the storm has completely subsided."

"Then I'll have to trouble you!"

"No problem, no problem."

Liu Xingmo waved his hand magnanimously.

The most important thing right now is to reclaim the "Serpent's Record". Given our current limited strength, we must proceed cautiously for now.

Liu San Niang got up to leave.

Liu Xingmo called out to her again, "Don't go! We probably have other things to talk about, right?"

Liu San Niang stiffened, then changed her expression and said in a sweet voice, "Oh dear, is there anything else?"

"Yellow, gold, water!" Liu Xingmo said, enunciating each word clearly.

"Oh dear, it's a misunderstanding! I only wanted to look at your manuscripts, but I ended up with a wine recipe." Liu San Niang's voice trembled with tears as she spoke. "I know I've wronged you, but I'm just a lonely woman with nothing but myself... So, you should..."

"Don't play dumb. Do you think I'm that easy to fool?" Liu Xingmo closed his eyes and focused, unmoved. "From now on, you sell the wine, and I'll take the money. I don't want much; let's split it fifty-fifty."

"Fifty-fifty? You don't contribute any money or effort, and you want half the money just for a single recipe?" Liu San Niang suddenly stood up, wanting to say something, but then deflated, "Fine, let's leave it at that."

She pushed open the door and left dejectedly, the flickering light casting a long shadow of the woman.

Liu Xingmo also put on his coat and left home.

I went directly to the Midtown Library and reported the situation to the librarian.

The entire library system was mobilized instantly, gathering about ten instructors and dozens of second-tier experts.

The operation began that very night.

Liu Xingmo spent the night at the library, handling work for the librarian who was not there.

The next morning, the giant macaque, covered in snow and ice, pushed open the library door. He placed a small book from his palm on the table.

Upon looking at it, Liu Xingmo saw that it was indeed "The Record of Snakes and Pythons".

"Director, how did the trip go?"

"As expected, there was a trap. They also wanted to use poison and secret techniques to capture a few people to work with them from the inside. Fortunately, the manager was in charge, so there weren't any major problems."

"Can we confirm the enemy's identity now?"

"They were sent by the Yin Kingdom."

"Oh, the worst-case scenario."

"What are you worried about, you little brat? Our village has survived for thousands of years, why would we be afraid of a bunch of petty thieves?"

"Alright, alright, please have a seat."

Liu Xingmo gave the huge cushion behind the reception table to the giant macaque.

He left excitedly, clutching the ancient book.

To make the contents of the ancient book appear, one needs the bodily fluids of a serpentine beast. These are not hard to find; I've already found out, so I can just go and buy them directly.

As soon as Liu Xingmo returned home, he began the work of deciphering the ancient books.

First, make a copy of the original "Snake and Python Records". Then, use a potion to reveal the hidden content and obtain a copy of "Snake Bone Skill".

At a glance, one can understand that this secret technique for circulating blood and qi is compatible with the external martial arts of the "Xuanwu Hard and Soft Transformation".

Now, all the unique inheritances of the Xuanwu Mountain God have been collected, enough to last up to the third rank.

The problem is that it will take time to fully decipher the obscure and difficult-to-understand ancient sayings.

In addition to the "Blast Furnace Classic" and the improvements to the blast furnace blueprints, he would be spending the entire winter immersed in documents.

As time passed, the snow outside the mine grew thicker and thicker, burying everything between heaven and earth.

The New Year is almost here.

On this day, Liu Xingmo drove his Baohei steed, pulling a cartload of heavy ore, out of the dark mine.

The air was heavy with the damp, sulfurous smell of moisture. Streetlights, illuminating the mountainside, gleamed in the darkness.

The rope suspension bridge and wooden walkway between the stone houses were crowded with people. They were all staring intently at a large, protruding stone slab where a stage had been set up.

As the year drew to a close, the opera troupe arrived at this forgotten, dark cave.

Liu Xingmo, perched on Bao Hei's back, heard rapid breathing.

Immediately afterwards, the miners who had gone down into the mine together hurriedly threw their pickaxes onto the truck and then ran away in a rush.

Liu Xingmo couldn't help but chuckle.

In an era lacking entertainment, vivid and engaging performances hold immense appeal for people.

He didn't even know where his wife was. She was such a homebody, but at this moment she would act like a lady dressed up for a banquet, quietly enjoying the joys and sorrows on the stage.