"After trapping the group of snow frogs on the peak of the snowy mountain, there were no more incidents of snow frogs harming people."
"Soon, it was New Year's Eve."
"Last New Year's Eve, the village of Yu was quite lively."
"This year is no exception."
"However, this year the weather is extremely cold. Everyone celebrated only on New Year's Eve and the first day of the new year. After that, they all stayed at home to avoid the severe cold until the heavy snow melted, and the land gradually warmed up."
"After a night of spring breeze, the ground became damp."
"The river outside the village gradually thawed, and the ice chips crackled, floating away with the flowing water towards the distance."
"Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; this cold winter was finally over this year."
After a few more days, all the ice and snow melted, new shoots emerged, and the land began to recover with vitality.
"The villagers of Yu, along with the slaves from the slave camp, picked up their hoes and came to the east bank of the river, starting a busy new year."
"Yuyong and Yuwu separately led a group of people to two salt fields."
"The manpower in the village suddenly dispersed, and the once lively village became quiet."
"The batch of outsiders who delivered money to Bei has left, and the others who signed work contracts are temporarily staying in the trading market. Should we relocate them to the west bank?" Yufeng asked Yusuo, holding a book containing the list of outsiders who signed work contracts.
Yusuo: "Move them to the west wilderness, expand the area next to the batch of buildings erected earlier, and let them stay temporarily."
The batch of buildings erected earlier was for the previous group of people who worked for the village.
Now, with a new group arriving, an extension was needed.
For the skilled craftsmen of the village, this was a trivial matter.
Yufeng quickly arranged it.
"How are the people from the original Hongshan Village arranged?"
"Let Hexiang arrange their tasks."
Hexiang is now the head of cultivation in Yucun, and he arranges most of the farm work. He does it well, and Yusuo is satisfied with him.
Yufeng nodded. After reporting these matters, he said, "Yuyan came to me and said he wants to go to the salt lake salt field for experience. What do you think..."
The village chief has a total of two sons. The elder son, Yuhong, is one of the deputy leaders of the warrior camp. He got married early and has a son and a daughter. The son is five years old, and the little daughter was born last summer.
Yuhong's character is even more stable than his father's. He handles things systematically, and Jian Yunchuan has been intentionally nurturing him. Over the past few years, he has been doing well. If all goes well, the leadership of the warrior camp will likely be handed over to Yuhong in the future.
The younger son, Yuyan, got married the year before last. Last autumn, his wife gave birth to a chubby boy. He is already a father and seems no longer content with just being a squad leader. He wants to achieve something more.
Village chief Yukun and Hongshan Shi are both honest people, and their sons are not far behind. However, as the youngest in the family, Yuyan's character is a bit more unrestrained than Yuhong's, lacking some stability. It's good for him to gain some experience.
Yusuo said, "If he wants to go, let him. Tell him that if he wants to achieve something, he needs to show real skills. The salt field won't favor him just because he's the village chief's son."
Yufeng nodded and asked, "Do we need to restart the trading market?"
Yusuo shook his head, "Not for now. The situation was bad last winter, and it's unlikely that the surrounding villages have the mood to set up stalls for trade. Let's wait for a while. Before that, go to the barbarian forest and deliver the cotton seeds they requested last year."
Yufeng replied, "Understood."
As Yufeng left, he met Jian Yunchuan at the door. After a brief greeting, he hurriedly left, clearly having something to attend to.
Jian Yunchuan commented, "Yufeng is quite busy with his responsibilities."
Apart from the matters in the management hall, he also has to handle the slave camp and various tedious tasks. He's busy every day and can be considered the busiest person in the village.
Yusuo said, "He enjoys it, so let him do it. Besides, he's doing a good job."
Yufeng indeed has a great passion for this work, and as a thoughtful and intelligent person, he wouldn't allow himself to be idle. Having a lot to do every day is what he needs.
There's no harm in it, and he handles things quite steadily. There's even a shadow of a capable secretary around Yusuo. Yusuo is quite satisfied with this.
Jian Yunchuan, as someone with a simple and open-minded disposition, can't quite understand Yufeng's workaholic mindset.
"Father, don't just idle around. Prepare the harness for the Yuangu Department. The merchant caravan will go to the Yuangu Department in a few days. You and Luyan take the warriors above the fifth level of Qi refining with you," Yusuo said.
Jian Yunchuan was surprised, "Take them all away?"
Yusuo nodded, "Yes, behind the Yuangu Department's barrier is the Monster Beast Forest. Take them to gain some experience. I'll also send the Little Xuan Bird with you. If you encounter high-level monster beasts that you can't handle, let the Little Xuan Bird deal with them. I've prepared magical instruments, elixirs, and talismans for you."
Jian Yunchuan is now a foundation-building cultivator, and he has the strength to contend with fourth-level monster beasts. As long as he doesn't encounter monster beasts beyond the fourth level, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Let them bring the Little Xuan Bird as a precaution.
Yu Su: "There are three types of talismans: one is the Evil-Repelling Talisman, one is the Fire Talisman, and one is the Sound Transmission Talisman."
The Fire Talisman was drawn by Luyan, a yellow-grade talisman. It can be used to block against fourth-level monster beasts. Each person has five of them, not more, as Luyan, being a novice, depleted his spiritual power quickly while drawing these. They are meant for Jian Yunchuan's group as a life-saving measure.
The Sound Transmission Talisman was drawn by Yu Su. In case of danger, it can be used to transmit messages back to Yucun. Yu Su knew that he would immediately go to rescue upon receiving the message. This was also because of the incident with the corrupted monster beast last time, which left Yu Su with lingering fears. After learning to draw talismans, the second type he learned was the Sound Transmission Talisman.
Originally, he wanted to draw the Instant Teleportation Talisman, but perhaps due to his relatively low cultivation level, he couldn't refine such advanced talismans. After several unsuccessful attempts, he had to temporarily give up.
Jian Yunchuan knew that Yu Su had been hiding in the study drawing talismans for some time. Not knowing that he had created something so useful, he curiously examined the Sound Transmission Talisman.
"Is this thing really useful?"
"I've tested it, and it works."
Jian Yunchuan happily collected all the talismans that Yu Su handed over, showing no intention of being polite with his son. "Alright, I'll take them all."
Yu Su reminded, "There's no storage magical tool, so I've sewn a waterproof animal skin bag for each of you. Make sure to pack these pills and talismans; don't lose them."
Jian Yunchuan nodded, "I'll remind them."
After instructing Jian Yunchuan, in addition to Yu Feng, Yuyong, and Yuwu having separate tasks, Yu Su remained in the village while others with cultivation levels above the fifth stage of Qi refining set off with Jian Yunchuan.
During winter, two cultivators at the fifth stage of Qi refining joined the village.
Now, a total of twelve people were setting off with Jian Yunchuan.
Others who hadn't fully opened their spiritual senses looked at them with envy. They also wanted to go on the expedition but couldn't due to insufficient cultivation.
Although Luyan was going with them, before their departure, Yu Su gave them tokens from the Yuangu Department, just in case. Having tokens would facilitate their actions.
Luyan: "If there's anything happening in the village, send me a message, and I'll come back immediately."
Originally, he didn't want to go this time, but since it was Jian Yunchuan's first time entering the Monster Beast Forest, and there were concerns about potential accidents, it was safer for him to accompany them.
Yu Su nodded, "Alright."
Luyan looked at Yu Su, feeling unwilling to leave him in his heart.
He has made up his mind. This time, during the expedition, once Jian Yunchuan and the others adapt to the rhythm of the Monster Beast Forest, he will come back in advance. He doesn't want to be separated from Yu Su for too long.
Luyan: "We're setting off."
Yu Su nodded, "Be careful."
Luyan nodded, took a deep breath, and rode to the front.
After bidding farewell to his two sons, Jian Yunchuan also set off with the group.
Because they had to escort the merchant caravan, everyone was traveling on horseback.
This was Jian Yunchuan and the others' first time experiencing the Monster Beast Forest. Although Yu Su had made a decision early on, he still felt somewhat worried.
Chi Nan: "No need to worry. They all have experience fighting monster beasts, plus they have magical instruments, elixirs, and talismans. They'll come back safely."
In Chi Nan's view, Yu Su had done too much, preparing everything for them like an old mother. If they couldn't come back safely from the Monster Beast Forest even with all these preparations, it might be better to quit cultivating immortality.
On the Savage Continent, cultivators were exceptionally tough. Most of the time, they didn't even have magical instruments, elixirs, or talismans, relying solely on their own strength.
People like the cultivators from Yu Village were the exception.
Chi Nan looked at him with the lingering worry in his eyes and said, "Why don't you just go with them?"
Yu Su withdrew his gaze, "No, they've all left, and I can't leave the village."
Chi Nan: "..."
Did you really consider going with them?
Chi Nan sighed, "You need to change your mindset. You can't spoil them too much."
Yu Su didn't understand, "Is it spoiling them if I do this?"
During the peak period of the Art of Techniques Continent, disciples from various sects were fully armed. Yu Su, in his current state, was quite shabby because he didn't even have a storage magical tool.
Chi Nan looked at him in amazement, "Are you thinking of equipping each of them with a storage magical tool?"
Yu Su said, "At least a storage bag or something, it's convenient for carrying materials."
Chi Nan: "..."
Yu Su couldn't help but ask, "Is there something wrong?"
Chi Nan sighed, "You need to change this mentality. You can't pamper them too much."
Yu Su didn't understand, "Am I pampering them?"
In the flourishing period of the Savage Continent, which cultivator didn't equip themselves from head to toe? Yu Su, in his current state, was already quite shabby, lacking even a storage magical tool.
Chi Nan stared at him in disbelief, "Are you still thinking of providing each of them with a storage magical tool?"
Yu Su said, "At least a storage bag or something, it's convenient for carrying materials."
Chi Nan: "..."
Yu Su couldn't help but ask, "Is there something wrong?"
Chi Nan: "Is there something wrong? This is fundamentally wrong. Look at the entire Savage Continent. Which cultivator, with magical instruments, elixirs, and talismans, still needs to be equipped with a storage bag? Even the Spirit Clan doesn't have someone as protective as you."
Yu Su scratched his head, quite puzzled. Wasn't this just basic equipment?
He hadn't realized that his thinking was a bit different from the norms of cultivators in this era.