Nan Zhi had not expected that upon returning to Dingyuan, the welcoming crowd would not only fail to diminish, but grow even larger.
The common folk of Dingyuan had caught wind of the news early on and lined the streets to greet her. Some held out pancakes, others offered water ladles, eagerly urging Nan Zhi to take a bite or have a sip.
Among the crowd were people Nan Zhi recognized, as well as unfamiliar faces she had never met or spoken to before.
There was Qi-ge'er who sold fruit, Lady He who ran the sauce meat shop, Wang Dalang—the idle fellow who usually loitered around running errands for others, Auntie Zhao who sold fried pastries in the east of the city, the Old Scholar in the north of the city who earned a living writing letters for people...
And even Qiao Niangzi, the tofu seller.
Standing on both sides of the street, they lined the thoroughfare to welcome and escort her, their faces brimming with sheer joy and excitement.
Children gathered in groups, skipping and running alongside the wagon, singing and cheering amidst an atmosphere as bustling and lively as the New Year.
Deep in their bones, common folk naturally harbored a deep reverence for chivalry.
Whenever someone rid the people of a scourge, whether it affected them personally or not, they would praise the hero with all sincerity and rejoice from the bottom of their hearts.
After all, the tiger trouble in Wen County had not been a matter of just a day or two.
How could the people of Dingyuan County not know that a man-eating tiger prowled Wenshan?
A trade route passed right by Wenshan, and over the past ten-odd years, every caravan traveling along that road had gone out of its way to avoid it.
Many highly sought-after goods arriving from Jingxinan Circuit and Yongxingjun Circuit saw their prices multiply several times over the moment they cleared Wenshan.
Dingyuan County bordered Wen County; while many knew there was a tiger in the mountains, it had only been hearsay to them, so they had never felt much real dread.
After all, the tiger had only entrenched itself deep in the mountains and never entered the city.
Now, seeing the hill-sized tiger with their own eyes and hearing that Nan Zhi had slain it single-handedly, they all gasped in awe and heaped praise upon her, drawing sharp breaths of astonishment.
What a massive, white-browed tiger!
Rumor had it that it could even speak human words and mimic voices.
A beast like this could surely be called a “demon tiger.”
Yet such a demon tiger had been slain by Eldest Sister Nan.
She was truly capable!
The throng of people jostled and crowded forward, each scrambling to get closer, terrified of being left behind.
Over on the other side, Zhang Long had notified the Dingyuan County Yamen well in advance. As they approached the outside of the Nan residence, the county magistrate, wealthy households, and local gentry came out to meet them. Sedans packed the reasonably wide Lingbai Alley so tightly that not a drop of water could trickle through.
The county magistrate of Dingyuan was surnamed Li. Around forty or fifty years old, he sported a trim goatee, with a slender build and dignified features that carried the distinct poise of a scholar.
Beside Magistrate Li stood the local wealthy gentry in orderly rows, each draped in fine silks with lustrous jade hanging from their waists, and a few even had face powder applied.
Even Young Master Wang, who had just married the previous day, stood deferentially with his hands by his side next to a kindly-looking elder whose eyes gleamed with sharp intellect.
The elder wore a four-panel robe decorated in gold-powdered eight-treasure patterns, a jade crown atop his head, and a crane cloak draped over his shoulders. Even the corners of his robes were embroidered with intricate gold thread.
—This had to be Master Wang of the Wang Family Distillery.
Dressed in splendid silks, the Wang father and son stood out prominently in the crowd, exuding such overwhelming wealth that they completely overshadowed the county magistrate's presence.
Nan Zhi quietly cast a few more glances their way.
Was selling liquor really that lucrative these days?
Even their clothes were stitched with gold thread?
“What a magnificent, striped, white-browed demon tiger! For it to grow to such immense size, it must have harmed countless innocent folk over the past decade or more.
“This vile beast! Crowning itself king of the mountain and devouring travelers, it entrenched itself in Wenshan for over ten years, claiming many lives.
“When this old man heard of this, my heart ached with grief, so I dispatched Zhang Long and the other runners up the mountain to hunt the tiger. Who would have thought the beast was so cunning that it bewitched the runners into chang ghosts, scheming to make them slaughter one another?
“Fortunately, Little Mistress Nan, you came to their rescue in time, or the consequences would have been unthinkable.
“Now that this beast has died by Little Mistress Nan’s hand, justice has indeed prevailed, and retribution was swift and sure!”
Magistrate Li had first led his entourage to inspect the fierce tiger closely, clicking his tongue in marvel repeatedly before turning to bow deeply to Nan Zhi, his voice choking with emotion:
“On behalf of the folk of both Wen and Dingyuan counties, this old man extends our deepest gratitude to Little Mistress Nan! Your noble righteousness in using yourself to lure the tiger and rescuing our county yamen’s runners warrants this bow!”
This old man spoke with such stirring emotion and tears in his eyes that anyone unaware would have truly believed him to be an upright official who cared deeply for the common folk.
—Zhang Long going up the mountain to hunt the tiger had been Registrar Hu’s private initiative, yet with a few casual words, Magistrate Li had claimed the credit for himself.
Bureaucracy was a treacherous field, so Nan Zhi did not foolishly expose him. Instead, she made a courteous gesture of support and replied:
“Magistrate, revered gentry, this beast cultivated by devouring living beings and manipulated Greater Ghosts as tiger-changs to deceive ordinary people. It deserved death from the start.
“Even if it were not me today, any other practitioner of the Dao would have stepped forward to slay it. There is no need for such formalities.”
“Lady Zhi is truly sensible and noble-minded, possessing both chivalrous courage and a Bodhisattva’s benevolence.
“Once the people from the Demon Suppression Division arrive, this official will certainly report your great merit so they know our Dingyuan County has produced a capable practitioner of the Dao.”
Magistrate Li cupped his hands toward the north and added:
“Only in this way can we prove worthy of the Emperor’s trust and the high hopes of the people.”
“Indeed, indeed! The magistrate speaks truly. Lady Zhi is exceptionally righteous!”
“Now that the demon tiger is eliminated, the magistrate of Wen County must be overjoyed!”
“I wager even the folk from the Demon Suppression Division have never seen a tiger this massive!”
The gentry echoed their agreement one after another, then instructed their stewards to present monetary gifts and presents.
Silks and fine wines, mountain ginseng and Polygonatum, jade, calligraphy and paintings, the four treasures of the study—each family offered something distinct.
—This was what the various households had agreed upon among themselves after the news reached Dingyuan.
Although the tiger slain belonged to Wen County, it brought endless benefits to those who had long resided in Dingyuan County as well.
Moreover, a demon tiger that over a dozen sturdy yamen runners could not subdue had died at the hands of the young maiden before them. What more proof was needed?
Those with real ability were welcomed wherever they went.
Spending a few dozen liang of silver to make a familiar impression on the Nan family—why wouldn't they do it?
Furthermore, in these turbulent times fraught with spirits and ghosts, no one could be sure when they might run into such supernatural trouble themselves.
These gifts were certainly not given for nothing.
If any among them ran into calamity in the future and came to ask Eldest Sister Nan for help, they did not expect her to go all out on account of today's gift, but only hoped she would not stand idly by.
—A few dozen liang of silver and some presents in exchange for the chance to befriend a Dao cultivator—even a fool knew how to make that bargain.
Nan Zhi was clearly no fool; she had thought of this layer as well.
Yet she had no intention of refusing. On the contrary, she wished these gentry would seek her out the moment they ran into demons and monsters.
Those were living, breathing sources of quest EXP!
Thus, Nan Zhi accepted them with pleasure.
What? You ask what she would do if these people asked her to do wicked, unprincipled things in the future?
Nan Zhi’s stance was simple: even modern contracts could be breached due to misunderstandings or disagreements, let alone implicit tacit understandings in ancient times with zero legal constraints.
She had merely accepted some gifts, not signed an indenture of servitude.
If push came to shove, returning the items would settle it.
As for what others gossiped, what did that have to do with her?
Nan Zhi had only ever held a single goal: to achieve immortality.
No one could stand in her way.
...
The gentry truly spared no expense.
Silver was the least extraordinary among them.
There were three sets of premium four treasures of the study: brushes made of yellow wolf-hair, ink of fine Shezhou ink, paper of Qingxin bamboo paper, and inkstones of white porcelain.
Over a dozen bolts of the most fashionable genuine silk satin, each embroidered with lifelike birds, flowers, fish, and insects so vivid they seemed ready to leap to life at any moment.
Wild mountain ginseng as thick as a brush handle, leaves still attached at the crown, with every rootlet tied with red thread and secured firmly inside brocade boxes.
There was also a piece of Polygonatum that had almost grown into human shape, of extraordinary quality and meticulously preserved—one look revealed it to be a treasure that only a seasoned herb gatherer could ever harvest.
The Wang family was especially generous.
One hundred liang of silver, plus a full ten jugs of top-grade Immortal Brew.
Although outsiders exaggerated by saying top-grade Immortal Brew could not be traded for a thousand gold, anyone hoping to drink it still needed both immense wealth and influence to buy a single drop.
The Zhou family of the jewelry shop gifted three complete sets of headdresses and accessories according to the count of the women in the Nan household.
One set, titled Golden Osmanthus Spreading Fragrance, featured designs and styling tailored to Chen Jingui's taste.
Another set, Magpie Bearing Pearls, held an auspicious meaning and was crafted with exquisite delicacy, most likely meant for Nan Ye.
There was also a simple set of pink pearl jewelry, elegant in hue without excessive ornament.
The hairpin design was understated, the earrings uncomplicated; though the pearls were small, they were remarkably uniform in size, forming an array of soft pink that was instantly charming.
—Clearly, the gift-givers had taken great pains to inquire into the preferences of the Nan family women.
Their sources of information were astoundingly well-connected.
They had even uncovered minor details like Nan Zhi buying pearls from a shop in Wen County before ascending the mountain.
While Nan Zhi was the one receiving the gifts, it was the Nan couple who tossed and turned, unable to eat or sleep in peace.
Though Nan Dazhuang looked fierce and intimidating, he was an honest man to a fault; in the past, when bullied by local ruffians, he had only dared curse behind their backs.
Now, seeing the house suddenly flooded with such lavish items, he felt as if he had swallowed a mouthful of piping-hot tofu—burning too badly to swallow, yet too precious to spit out.
Having navigated the marketplace for many years and dealt with countless people, Chen Jingui naturally understood the intentions of the gift-givers.
Yet seeing Nan Zhi eating and drinking as casually as ever, completely unbothered, she felt reassured instead and turned to comfort Nan Dazhuang:
“Eldest Sister has a plan of her own. Stop worrying yourself sick over nothing.”
Nan Zhi also comforted him, saying these items were merely ordinary worldly goods, and there would be even more in the future.
Only then did Nan Dazhuang put away his guilty, thief-like unease and head over to the side room to apply medicine to Nan Yi, who was recuperating from his injuries.
Yes, applying medicine.
Though Nan Yi had suffered no physical injury that day, after returning home and regaining consciousness, he had been pinned to the pig-slaughtering bench by Nan Dazhuang and Chen Jingui and subjected to a proper mixed-doubles beating.
His backside had literally bloomed.
The kind that required medicinal ointment.
Rate on N.U.
