Half a month later, Fang Yuan and the others arrived at the gloomy and silent Soul Wood Mountain, with its withered trees and eerie shadows. He sold off a little less than half his goods and bought a lot of specialty wood.
More than twenty days later, they arrived at Giant Rain Mountain.
On Giant Rain Mountain, there were potholes everywhere, pits punched out by raindrops.
Whenever it rained here, each raindrop was as big as a wine jar, with tremendous impact. Therefore, the Tong Family Stockade on Giant Rain Mountain was built within a mountain cavity. If it had been built in the open, it would have been smashed to pieces by the raindrops after a few rains.
In the Tong Family Stockade, the golden oil lamps Fang Yuan had purchased at Golden Mountain were very popular.
During their stay, it rained three times. Fang Yuan also collected a fair amount of blue oil raindrops. These raindrops were a widely used auxiliary material.
These enormous raindrops were both a disaster for the Tong Family Stockade, forcing them to live inside the mountain, and a heavenly treasure, their main trade commodity.
Leaving Giant Rain Mountain, the caravan arrived at Brick Mountain.
The stones on this mountain were very peculiar. Each one was shaped like a brick, just varying in size, coarseness, and fineness.
The Dafang Family had lived on Brick Mountain for a thousand years and was a large family.
Their residences were much better than those of the Tong Family, all built of brick and tile. Tall walls surrounded the stockade, with towers inside and fortresses outside.
Fang Yuan remembered that the Dafang Family had an elder with a bizarre hobby—he liked wood carving.
After contacting him, Fang Yuan sold him all the strangely shaped and grotesque soul wood he had acquired at Soul Wood Mountain.
Thus, along the way, under Fang Yuan's management, the Zhang family's goods increased and decreased. But each change yielded generous profits.
After several times, this naturally attracted others' attention.
Fang Yuan attributed everything to Shang Xinzi, and her business acumen gradually became known.
Time passed, and after passing four more stockades, the caravan gradually approached Howling Moon Mountain.
That evening, the caravan set up a temporary camp against a cliff.
"We've entered the Howling Moon Mountain area. The next stretch of the journey is through wild mountains infested with insects and beasts, with not even a village. From tonight, everyone must be on alert," advised the Jia family leader.
The vice leaders of the families in the tent nodded in agreement.
A glint of light flashed in Shang Xinzi's eyes.
This trade route was now at its most dangerous segment. After passing this, they would reach Blood and Tears Mountain, and then after a few more stockades, the Shang family city at Shangliang Mountain.
"Alright, now let's arrange the defense positions for this week," continued the Jia family leader.
Half an hour later, the discussion ended, and everyone filed out of the tent.
Zhang Zhu approached her: "Miss, dinner is ready. Shall we invite Heitu and Baiyun today as well?"
"Of course," Shang Xinzi nodded. "I want to learn some business insights from him during the meal."
In recent days, Fang Yuan had made more profits than losses, flipping goods back and forth and making five to six times the profit. This amazed the three insiders: Shang Xinzi, Zhang Zhu, and Xiaodie.
According to the agreement, Fang Yuan gave half of the earnings to Shang Xinzi. But in her heart, mere yuan stones couldn't compare to Fang Yuan's experience and insights in commerce.
She had no talent for cultivation, being only a mortal, and commerce was her proudest skill.
Yet in this proud domain, Fang Yuan's displayed prowess forced Shang Xinzi to admit that she was far from his equal!
Many of his seemingly absurd decisions turned out to be astoundingly effective in subsequent transactions.
Shang Xinzi wasn't someone to give up on herself. After understanding the gap between her and Fang Yuan, she invited him to dinner every day.
With a few pointers from Fang Yuan, she benefited immensely.
She was exceptionally gifted in commerce, absorbing like a sponge and growing rapidly.
The more she interacted with Fang Yuan, the more she admired him.
"Ah, Miss, you must be careful. These two clearly have a story; they're not ordinary people," Zhang Zhu sighed, worry in his eyes. He feared Shang Xinzi was getting too deeply involved.
"Don't worry, Uncle Zhang Zhu, I know my limits." Shang Xinzi was indeed clever and sensitive. She never discussed anything but business with Fang Yuan, and she never probed or beat around the bush.
She felt that Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing, though mysterious, were not dangerous.
Fang Yuan conducted business using legitimate means, never defaulted on debts, and split every profit fifty-fifty with Shang Xinzi. Such behavior, unconsciously, gave her more of a sense of security.
But tonight, when invited to dinner, Fang Yuan declined.
"I feel a bit tired today, so I won't go," he said, waving his hand to Xiaodie, who had come specially to invite him.
It wasn't that Fang Yuan accepted every invitation from Shang Xinzi. Out of three invitations, he would only attend one.
Xiaodie pouted, shot Fang Yuan a reproachful glance, muttered a few words, and had to leave.
Earlier, when Fang Yuan refused, Xiaodie had made a fuss several times, indignant on her mistress's behalf. But as Fang Yuan earned more and more, Xiaodie's attitude changed from indignation to accommodation and resignation.
In any world, at any level, capable people command respect.
Fang Yuan closed the tent. Bai Ningbing was already seated cross-legged on one of the beds.
In the dimness, her blue eyes glowed faintly.