Chapter Ten: The Princess of the County

After searching for quite some time in the village chief's house, Ji Xun finally discovered a hidden cellar.

He opened the cellar door, lit his portable fire striker, and crawled inside.

The cellar was surprisingly spacious, filled with all sorts of vegetables piled high like small mountains.

Beneath the vegetables lay a wooden box, two feet long.

Ji Xun opened the box, and the first thing to catch his eye was the gleam of silver.

Seven pieces of demon silver, each weighing one tael—amounting to seven thousand demon coins. A strong farmhand would earn only thirty demon coins a month.

Under the silver were some demon coins, a book, a special Hundred Beasts Grass, and a strange iron tool.

The book was titled "Records of Strange Tales Along the Stream," seemingly a collection of cultivation knowledge.

[Hundred Beasts Grass: Xuan-grade, lower tier; cultivated with the blood of a hundred beasts. Consumption strengthens sinews and bones, but also affects the mind.]

[Insect-Catching Spirit Pattern Pliers (Damaged): Xuan-grade, lower tier; a mystic tool specialized for catching Hundred Beasts insects, unsuitable for combat.]

Ji Xun took the box and left the cellar directly.

...

"It's terrible, it's terrible—our village chief is missing!"

"What are you talking about? Don't spread rumors. Today is the day the steward comes to collect grain; the village chief can't afford to have anything happen!"

"Any other day would be fine for Qu the Skinner to disappear, but not today!"

A group of farmhands called for the village chief across the hills, their voices full of genuine concern.

Even the bed under Widow Wang's house had been overturned, but he was nowhere to be found.

As noon approached, the laborers wiped their sweat and gathered to discuss.

"The steward will be here soon. What should we do? No one knows the procedures!"

"Exactly; if we offend the steward and he blames us, what are we supposed to do?"

Normally, Lin Changshan would step forward to say a few words at this time, but yesterday's events had left the man dispirited.

Ji Xun stepped out, "Is there anyone here who has dealt with the steward before?"

"Seems not. Qu the Skinner... Qu, the village chief, has been doing it himself for over ten years. Every time the grain is delivered, it's always him."

"Wait, didn't Changshan's father deal with the steward once?"

Lin Changshan wore a helpless expression, "My father is over seventy, can't get out of bed without a cane—unless someone can find a mystic medicine."

Everyone fell silent. Where could they get mystic medicine?

Ji Xun coughed lightly, "Uncle Lin, what about this? Da Huang found it on the mountain."

He opened his palm, revealing several plant roots, crimson as blood.

Lin Changshan stared in disbelief, "Is this Blood Ginseng? That's far too precious..."

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"Uncle Lin, don't say too much. Delivering the grain is what's important now," Ji Xun comforted.

"That's right, Da Li is correct!"

"Let's hurry, then."

...

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the old Master Lin drank water infused with Blood Ginseng roots.

Soon, his complexion grew much more rosy.

"I haven't felt this comfortable in years. Help me up."

Lin Changshan and Ji Xun assisted the old man.

Though the Blood Ginseng worked swiftly, Master Lin had been ill for years; now he could only walk with support.

Before long, the three stood at the village granary, waiting for the steward to arrive.

"This isn't right. Normally, he should have come by now. Why is he still..."

While Master Lin was murmuring, the sound of hooves came from ahead.

The steward, dressed in fine robes, wore a gloomy expression atop his horse; his emerald eyes were lifeless.

"Steward, sir, here is this month's Hundred Beasts Grass—ten stalks per bundle, all properly prepared."

"As for the extra ten percent, consider it our goodwill."

At this, the steward's face changed dramatically, his whole body trembling.

The three were puzzled, sensing the steward suffered from some hidden ailment.

Suddenly, a small jade-green snake slithered out from the steward's neck.

"You—you mentioned ten percent just now?" the jade snake asked.

Master Lin responded deftly, "It was my mistake; it should be twenty percent."

The jade snake flicked its tongue, then turned to the steward, "Is this how you have been pocketing extra grain?"

Cold sweat trickled down the steward's forehead, his body quaking. "County Lord, everyone collects grain this way; it's not just my greed."

The jade snake shook its head in a human-like manner, "I haven't said anything. After all, which petty official doesn't have a bit of greed? Even I... well."

"But I checked the county's ledgers from previous years; every spring the expense for purchasing slaves is enormous. The problem is, you've taken too much, undermining the county's foundation."

"Yes, yes, your lesson is quite right," the steward finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Here's the deal: among the nearby villages, about a hundred households—this month, just hand over eighty percent of the original quota. Consider it a subsidy for you all."

"From now on, as long as I govern Qingyang County, no official will ever be too greedy," the jade snake continued.

Ji Xun and the others were stunned. This was highly unusual—the county lord himself had come to collect grain.

Master Lin bowed slightly, "On behalf of the villagers, I thank you, great lord."

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In the Snake Kingdom, kneeling is not customary; bowing suffices before officials.

And as Master Lin uttered "great lord of clear skies," the jade snake slightly raised its head, seemingly pleased.

The steward then packed up the Hundred Beasts Grass into a pouch no larger than a palm, as if performing magic.

Man and snake departed together.

The three left behind also breathed a sigh of relief.

Ji Xun was especially surprised—the steward hadn't even asked about Qu the Skinner.

It seemed the village chief's life was not worth much after all.

Yet all three felt puzzled; the snake demon county lord seemed to have an even graver hidden illness.

...

The steward, drenched in cold sweat, escorted the snake demon county lord to the next location.

"An official must maintain a good reputation and cherish his own standing," the jade snake said, shaking its head.

The steward was bewildered—what feathers could a snake have?

"Your post as steward is comfortable enough, but our Snake Kingdom has been weak for too long. It's because of officials like you, greedy to excess. Reform is imperative."

"County Lord, you are absolutely right," the steward replied respectfully.

"Neither scholarly nor martial; if not for your trace of Green Leaf bloodline, I wouldn't bother supporting you."

The steward blinked his green eyes awkwardly.

"It is my stupidity, but to possess even a sliver of Green Leaf bloodline in human form is a blessing beyond measure."

The jade snake sighed and shook its head, "Do you think the human bloodline is inferior? Long ago, the Human Emperor opened the Heaven-Human Realm, inscribed the Human Path above the Heavenly Path, completely severed from the demon clans, and established an independent race."

"Prior to this, only the Dragon Ancestor had inscribed half a Dragon Path, and was already above all demons. When the Human Emperor established his path, the myriad demons were shocked and sought to emulate him, establishing their own race paths. Yet none succeeded, as far as I know."

The steward was dumbfounded; he had never heard such tales, nor could he fully understand them. It was as if a prince told a beggar, 'You are the true emperor.'

"And I, Ye Qingzhu, wish to emulate the sages of the human race, and reform my Snake Kingdom."

"Even if I am expelled from my clan, even if the nobles of Snake Kingdom reject me, even if I am alone—so be it."

"Since childhood I have studied the classics of humanity, aspiring to become the first Snake Sage of my kingdom. Will you follow me?"

The steward grew more confused, unable to grasp many of the words, and simply nodded, "Yes, yes, yes, I will, I will."

Ye Qingzhu shook his head again, knowing he was once more playing the lute to a cow. Finding a like-minded demon was truly difficult.

"Child, you are beyond teaching. From now on, do not collect grain; return to the county and watch over the granary."

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