The male supporting character was actually myself.

"No way, has the Cowherd been possessed by a mountain spirit?"

"No wonder that honest and kind child from before has become so arrogant and haughty!"

"This is really terrible. He won't listen to me, and now he's in big trouble!"

"Whose fault is that? There's only one old ox, can't it just graze somewhere? He insists that the ox is old and has a weak stomach, so it needs to eat the tenderest grass and drink the best water, and he takes it into the mountains every day. If he really cares, he should go to town and do odd jobs for a few days to earn some money, instead of making the old ox work so hard plowing the fields..."

…………

The hushed whispers of the crowd annoyed Mu Jiuxiu. His hand was being held tightly by the enthusiastic Li Erge, and he couldn't easily pull it back. So, he glared impatiently at the charlatan in front of him and sneered, "You have to stare at my palm for so long just to read my fortune? Are you even capable of that?"

Seeing the other person frown slightly and remain silent, Mu Jiuxiu, who thought he had read some palmistry explanations online, wanted to show off a bit, "See this? This is the fate line, this is the life line, and there are also the marriage line, wisdom line, success line, and love line. My palm looks pretty good, especially the fate line. You see, the beginning isn't very good, it's all scattered, but suddenly it becomes incredibly strong here..."

“Young man, your palm reading is indeed…” Master Chiling suppressed his shock, glanced up at the still-talking cowherd, and said, avoiding the main point, “Very special.”

Mu Jiuxiu thought to himself, how could it not be special?

I'm playing the role of the Cowherd, and the future Cowherd Star Lord will be among the immortals!

You can only get a glimpse of my palm now that you've met me. But once the plot develops to a certain point and my divine power is fully realized, you might get struck by lightning on the spot if you even glance at me and reveal some secret!

"Taoist Master, how is it? Can you tell what kind of spirit it is? Will it harm the village?" The village chief asked anxiously.

Master Chiling bent down and patted the package on the ground, saying loudly, "The Cowherd does indeed have a connection with the mountain spirits, but the most concentrated demonic energy is inside the package. Perhaps he just unintentionally took something from the spirit. I didn't sense any danger. You can open it and take a look."

Finally able to see what rare treasures were inside the package, Niu Da and his wife squeezed forward with all their might.

Mu Jiuxiu snorted coldly, thinking to himself that the package contained only some silk threads and food, how could it have anything to do with spirits or monsters?

"Wait a minute, how about we make a bet?" He was just about to open his mouth to prove his innocence when he suddenly thought that this was a good opportunity to slap the other person in the face in front of everyone, so that everyone would not be fooled by the smooth-talking liar.

"How does the young master want to gamble?" Master Chiling had already figured out the clue.

The honest and kind cowherd described by the village chief is long dead. The one standing in front of everyone using the cowherd's body is a wandering ghost that came from nowhere!

I only glanced at it briefly, but the ghosts and spirits were shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see clearly. I would need to perform a ritual to glimpse some of the secrets of heaven. Before I know whether the ghosts are good or evil, or what their purpose is, I dare not act rashly lest I bring harm to my neighbors.

"If there is nothing related to spirits in my package, it means you are a fraudster. Everyone will kick you out of Peach Blossom Village and you can no longer interfere in my affairs with the spirits in the mountains."

Mu Jiuxiu thought for a moment and then worried that he might just be talking nonsense and point to things like steamed buns and sesame cakes, saying that he was possessed by a spirit. So he added, "You should first figure out what is related to spirits. I have a lot of things here. If you just point to one thing to fool people, the villagers won't be able to tell."

Master Chiling calculated with his fingers and said in a deep voice, "You have fruits in your package that have been tainted with demonic energy, and items that are imbued with the spiritual energy of the mountains. They are very likely priceless wild ginseng, wild lingzhi, or other wood-related items."

Moreover, the demonic aura on you is similar. Since the demonic aura is so weak that it is difficult to calculate, it is probably related to the earth element.

If I lose, I will naturally turn away and no longer meddle in other people's business;

"If I win, please tell me everything you encountered in the mountains, so I can go in and slay the demons and protect the people who live in peace and prosperity."

"Tch! You swindlers won't learn your lesson until you're faced with the truth." Mu Jiuxiu scoffed as he opened the package. "Priceless wild ginseng and wild lingzhi? If these aren't in this package, will you at least compensate me with one?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the package he had tied himself was untied.

A wild Ganoderma lucidum of excellent quality suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes.

"Wow! It really is wild Ganoderma lucidum!"

"This must be worth a fortune! The Cowherd is going to make a fortune!"

"Such a large wild Ganoderma must only grow in the deepest, deepest mountains, right? My goodness, the Cowherd has gotten all the good things!"

Amidst the gasps of astonishment, Niu Da and his wife were so overwhelmed with excitement and regret that they nearly fainted.

He should have killed the cowherd in the mountains; such a huge wild Ganoderma lucidum would have been enough to live a life of luxury in the city! What a pity he hesitated and didn't act; even the wolves couldn't catch him and kill him...

"Holy crap? When did this thing appear in my package?" Mu Jiuxiu was stunned.

He was quite certain that no one had touched his package, and even the way it was tied was his own original method. How could such a large wild Ganoderma lucidum have appeared out of nowhere?

Absolutely impossible!

From last night until noon today, I neither found the old ox nor the Weaver Girl, nor did I encounter any spirits or monsters.

Even when chased by wolves, it never caught up with itself.

The old ox is the best to the cowherd, but it's never the one who's stingy with anything you ask for. It's also impossible for it to give you something. Who would be so idle as to give away a priceless wild lingzhi mushroom so casually?

Having ruled out all the impossibilities, Mu Jiuxiu wore an "I understand" expression and sneered, "I underestimated you. Your illusion is really good, just like the real thing!"

Master Chiling: ? ? ?

The villagers listened to their back-and-forth, making bets and talking about some kind of trickery. They didn't know who to believe, so they remained silent and waited to see what would happen.

"Did you conjure this wild Ganoderma lucidum with an illusion?" Mu Jiuxiu picked it up and weighed it in his hand. It had some weight to it and smelled fresh, like a large mushroom that had just been picked.

Recalling the magic in Journey to the West that could turn stone toads into delicious dishes, he smiled confidently and handed over the wild Ganoderma lucidum. "Unless you pay for it, I won't believe you're just using an illusion to fool people!"

Master Chiling: ...

I really don't know what strange things these wandering ghosts are up to. Could they be counterfeit goods trying to swindle people out of their money?

He frowned slightly, picked up the wild Ganoderma lucidum, examined it carefully, and smelled it. It was indeed a top-quality wild Ganoderma lucidum that had been naturally grown and absorbed the essence of the mountains. He could only come across it by chance when making pills or treating patients.

"Young man, how much are you willing to pay? I don't have much silver, but if the price is right..."

"The price is negotiable!" Mu Jiuxiu, smugly pleased with himself for turning the tables and fleecing the other party, thought for a moment and stretched out his hand, "Fifty taels of silver, cash on delivery, how about it?"

He thought to himself that the swindler had learned a few tricks and had probably cheated a lot of people out of their money.

Haha, you're helpless against an anti-fraud expert like me, aren't you?

You think you can transform? I'll embarrass you in front of everyone, and I'll sell you whatever you transform into, no matter how much silver it costs. That stupid Taoist priest will just have to suffer in silence!

Master Chiling pondered to himself that, in terms of value, this large and fine wild Ganoderma lucidum was indeed quite valuable on the market, and a wealthy family willing to spend money would probably be willing to pay a thousand taels of silver.

I had searched for medicinal herbs in the deep mountains on my own, but I had never encountered such high-quality wild Ganoderma lucidum. However, fifty taels of silver was too expensive for me, as I was short of money.

"I practice medicine, exorcise demons, and capture monsters, but it all depends on fate. Many times, I don't charge money and even have to pay extra for the herbs I collect. Fifty taels of silver... I really can't afford that." Master Chiling sighed and handed the wild Ganoderma back.

The other party's refusal only made Mu Jiuxiu feel that he had guessed correctly.

This is a trap!

Even an old ox can conjure cotton thread from kudzu hemp. The Taoist priest probably conjured up fake Ganoderma lucidum from a steamed bun in his bundle. Would he be willing to spend fifty taels of silver to buy a steamed bun?

Even thinking about it with my little finger, it's impossible!

However, this time you have to buy it whether you like it or not. The fake has met the real deal, and I'll show you what it means to try to steal a chicken but end up losing the rice instead.

"It's fate that we met. Daoist, name your price, I don't care, I'll sell it for whatever you offer!" He blocked the other person's outstretched hand and refused to take it at all.

"Well..." Master Chiling hesitated for a moment, feeling ashamed, but he didn't have much money and didn't want to be too greedy. He said, "I only have twenty taels of silver on me... I'm really too poor to afford it."

"Twenty taels, deal!" Mu Jiuxiu said smugly, stretching out his hand. "Give me the silver. We'll exchange money for goods in front of so many people. Daoist, you can't go back on your word!"

Hehe, now that I've got you on top of the stairs, you can't get down, can you?

Twenty taels of pure silver to buy a fake Ganoderma lucidum that I conjured up with some kind of illusion to fool people—I'm stuck in a bind, a complete idiot who can only swallow my pride and bear it. Just thinking about it is so damn satisfying!

Seeing that the other party was determined to sell, Master Chiling couldn't figure out the intricacies of the situation and simply attributed it to fate. He didn't say anything more, took out a cloth bag from his pocket, handed over twenty taels of silver, carefully put away the wild Ganoderma, and then asked, "I won the bet. Young man, please tell me everything you encountered in the mountains, so that I won't blindly go into the mountains."

Chapter Thirty: It's All About Money

Having made twenty taels of silver for free, Mu Jiuxiu happily stuffed it into his pocket and tied the bundle back up before slowly saying, "I told Grandpa Wang and the others yesterday that I encountered an injured... female demon while herding cattle in the mountains."

I took pity on her and took care of her for two days. She then offered herself to me, and we settled down in the mountains. We didn't bother anyone, and we certainly won't harm the villagers!

Of course, he couldn't tell the truth, so he had to repeat the lie again and emphasized, "My wife was injured by a hunter. As long as everyone stays out of the mountains and doesn't disturb our peace and quiet, we can all live our lives peacefully without interfering with each other."

It looked fake at first glance, but Master Chiling didn't intend to expose him in public.

Who knows what the wandering ghost possessing the Cowherd's body is up to?

Logically speaking, someone with ill intentions or ulterior motives would seek out wealthy families to infiltrate. Who would want the body of a cowherd who has never left the mountains if they had the ability to possess a human body?

Based on this reasoning, it is highly likely that the cowherd died in the deep mountains while herding cattle, and was then encountered by a wandering ghost who used him directly.

There was no sign of wandering ghosts devouring souls, so I shouldn't interfere with the cause and effect.

There is indeed a faint demonic aura in these deep mountains; I wonder if it has anything to do with him.

Moreover, after taking over a human body, the "cowherd" did not leave this place to go to the glamorous world, but instead plunged into the deep mountains again, as if he wanted to stay undisturbed in the deep mountains.

This is very strange.

Possessing a human body is merely to experience the feeling of being alive, yet one remains in a remote, uninhabited mountain forest. Why then use the body of the Cowherd? Wouldn't it be better to cultivate oneself and become a free and unfettered ghost or god?

Could there be some hidden secret in Peach Blossom Mountain?

And the sudden appearance of the wolf king at the edge of the forest in the summer seems to foreshadow unrest in Peach Blossom Mountain.

“Although you say so, it is true that the female demon set fire to the mountain.” Daoist Chiling pondered for a moment and shook his head, saying, “Since you don’t know what she is or what she cultivated into a demon, I must go into the mountain to find out.”

We must ensure that the other party truly poses no harm to the villagers; otherwise, if all is well now, their true evil nature will be revealed in a while, causing chaos and unrest among the people. Now that I am here, I must eliminate this threat before I can leave in peace.”

Oh my god, you Taoist priest, you're really asking for it, aren't you?

This person is unwilling to accept losing twenty taels of silver and wants to continue pretending to be a ghost to earn the money back!

“Go if you want, I’m not going to pay for it. Whoever invites you pays for it. Don’t come to me with money if you don’t have enough. I told you my wife won’t bother the neighbors, but I can’t help it if you don’t listen.”

Let me be upfront, lest the Taoist priest frame me and then force me to pay up. Anyway, with his limited Taoist skills that he can't even fool himself, he's no match for the old ox!

It is an existence that even the Weaver Girl in the heavens could not see through, so how could it be afraid of a Taoist priest who pretends to be a god?

After Mu Jiuxiu finished speaking, he carried the package and planned to stay at the old hunter's house until the wolf left, so he could go back into the mountains to find the old ox and the Weaver Girl. However, Niu Da and his wife were too anxious to wait any longer.

Especially since the cowherd and the Taoist priest had only opened the package for a fleeting moment when they made the bet, it was impossible to see what treasures were inside.

A wild Ganoderma lucidum that big and rare is priceless, even a fool would know. Yet the Cowherd clearly looked down on it and sold it for a mere twenty taels of silver. This shows that he had a thousand times more precious treasures in his bag than the wild Ganoderma lucidum!

If we don't stand up and fight for our interests now, when will we?

“Village Chief, while everyone’s here, I need to settle some accounts with my Erlang.” Niu Da stepped forward, grabbed the village chief, and raised his voice, “Daoist Master, you’ve come all this way, you should at least rest before going into the mountains. Why don’t you preside over this and settle all these years of entanglements?”

My wife and I have had enough of this. Over the years, our neighbors have constantly badmouthed us behind our backs. I'm not taking the blame for this anymore!

Niu Da's wife also stood up and raised her voice in support, "That's right, let's do a thorough check. All the uncles and aunts are here, listen carefully and calculate this, and give us a fair settlement!"

These past two days have been filled with demons, arson, and the wolf king. The village chief's head was throbbing from all the yelling and taunting. He said impatiently, "What else do you have to argue about? The family has already been divided up. Now that the Cowherd has married a wife and doesn't want to live with you anymore, what's the point of settling accounts?"

“My parents died early!” Niu Da sighed, wiping away non-existent tears, and choked out, “I’m much older than my brother. My parents passed away right after I got married. Niu Lang was only four years old at the time!”

The house was originally built for me to get married. My parents said that after I got married, I should just live my own life and have a baby so they could hold their grandchildren.

Building a house and helping a son get married is the responsibility of parents. At that time, Erlang was still young, and they planned to wait a few years before building a house and helping Niulang get married. They thought that once they were married, they could divide the land equally. However, they both died one after the other from dysentery.