Chapter 74: The Diversity of Beings

Song You walked slowly, observing carefully.

He could feel the varied reactions of these demons and spirits toward him, the unexpected visitor. Some were indifferent, some cautious, some curious, some hostile, and even some fearful.

Thus, he kept silent and continued to observe.

These demons and ghosts used human copper coins, but they used coins from all dynasties; coins from any era were accepted. He didn’t see any silver coins being used.

The prices of goods were quite different from those in the towns below the mountain.

Cooking pots, pans, and various ironware were sold at high prices and were very popular. Clothing and fabric were also noticeably more expensive than in the towns below, while meat prices were slightly lower. Some mountain delicacies, which seemed rare and exotic to the people from the towns below, appeared quite ordinary here and were both plentiful and cheap.

There were also some rare items not commonly seen elsewhere, with varying prices. Surprisingly, there were even books for sale. In addition to works by famous authors and Daoist and Buddhist scriptures, there were also collections of strange tales written by humans.

An idea began to form in Song You’s mind…

If a merchant came here and engaged in trade, it would surely be very profitable. It could even be likened to a small Silk Road.

“…” Song You silently chuckled to himself and approached the first stall.

It was a stall selling whole hams. When sliced open, the hams were already very attractive in color, and they appeared even more tempting and red under the candlelight. This could be due to either exceptional skills of the butcher or high-quality meat.

The stall owner was a tall man with the head of a leopard.

“Greetings, sir.” Song You approached the stall, lowered his head to look at the goods, and asked politely, “How much is the ham? Do you accept coins from the Great Yan Dynasty?”

“

Chop

!” The knife used for slicing the meat was stuck into the chopping board.

The leopard-headed stall owner fixed his round eyes on Song You. His pupils looked like tiny dots. After sniffing a few times, he stared at him for a while before speaking, “Are you a human?”

“Indeed.”

“How did you get in here?”

“I am traveling the world, and I was passing through this mountain. Before sleeping, I saw lights in this mountain here and followed the light and the path, which led me in.”

“You should leave.”

“Of course, I intend to leave.” Song You smiled and bowed again, “But since I’m already here, it would be a pity not to take a look around and explore before I leave.”

“Hurry up and leave!”

“I see the ham you’re selling is of excellent quality. Tonight, I coincidentally picked some mushrooms from the mountains to make soup. While I was drinking the soup, I was thinking it would be perfect with some good ham or an old hen...” Song You shook his head and smiled. “Then, I met you by coincidence. It seems that fate has brought us together.”

“I’m not selling to humans.”

“Why?”

“This is not a place for humans.”

“There are plenty of demons and ghosts in the towns below,” Song You paused, “It’s actually quite rare to encounter a stall owner like yourself here, so it’s even more precious.”

“Do you really want to buy ham?”

“I’m just asking.”

“A hundred wen per tael!”

“…”

Unknowingly, a circle of mountain demons and spirits had gathered around, watching the interaction as if it were a spectacle.

Song You continued to look closely at the ham. “Is this wild boar meat?”

“Do you think wild boar meat is that common? It's a boar raised by me.” The stall owner glared at him coldly.

“It’s well-raised.”

“How many taels do you want?”

“I’m just puzzled...” Song You shook his head, looked up, and met the gaze of the stall owner with a leopard head. “Why do you sell to others for a hundred wen per catty, but to me, it’s a hundred wen per tael?”

The stall owner stared at him intently, even moving a bit closer. But seeing no hint of fear on Song You’s face, he seemed at a loss. Finally, he said, “If you don’t want to buy, go buy from elsewhere! Perhaps the stalls of those dead ghosts will sell to you!”

“Why? Just because I’m human?”

“So what if it is?”

Song You was even more puzzled. In this place, there were all kinds of demons, ghosts, and spirits. Even those that were natural enemies before they became ghosts and demons all managed to live in harmony. Why then was he being ostracized?

“I haven’t looked down upon you because you’re a demon, so why do you give me an attitude because I’m human?”

“Don’t you know? Humans are not welcome here.”

“Why?”

“Why ask so many questions?!” The stall owner was getting irritated, “Don’t humans also reject demons and ghosts?”

“Do I look like someone who rejects demons?”

“...” At this question, the stall owner was momentarily stunned.

The stall owner once again sized up the Daoist priest from top to bottom. Seeing that he was calm and composed in this world of demons and spirits, and that he appeared quite natural without any sign of fear or disgust, his gaze shifted to the Daoist priest's feet.

There, a calico cat was standing on its hind legs like a human, leaning against the Daoist priest’s leg, its head raised and peeking at the stall owner. One of its paws was also tugging at the Daoist priest’s trouser leg.

The stall owner pondered for a while before snorting coldly, “Humans are cunning and deceitful, cruel and ruthless. Look at all the mountain spirits and demons behind you. Except for a few wild ghosts, how many of them actually like humans?”

“You’re mistaken.” Song You disagreed with him.

“In human tales, demons, ghosts, monsters and spirits are often depicted as malevolent and harmful, often being involved in harming and killing people. But 'most' does not mean 'all,' and those harmful beings do not represent all demons, ghosts, spirits and monsters. Just as I came here without prejudice against you, why should you hold prejudice against me?”

“You...”

“Please calm down,” Song You quickly advised, “Now that you’ve become a demon, it’s important to be more patient. Being too irritable is not beneficial for your cultivation.”

“Must you buy my ham?”

“It's not that I must buy it, but I find it appealing and am considering buying it, so I came over to ask,” Song You replied amiably. “Initially, whether I buy or not does not matter. However, your attitude toward me is puzzling, so I felt the need to discuss it with you. If I’ve caused any offense… Yeah, if I’ve caused any offense, please bear with me.”

“You...”

Before the stall owner could finish, the crowd of onlookers beside suddenly parted to make way for two figures, who squeezed over.

Both Song You and the stall owner looked over.

The two figures were human-shaped. One was completely human-shaped but extremely burly. His clothes looked strained, as if they could hardly contain his size. The other was similarly large but even taller, with the head of a water buffalo and curved horns.

It was worth noting that both were wearing the same type of clothing, resembling official uniforms, though different in color and style from those of the Great Yan officials.

Perhaps it was a uniform from some past dynasty. This town even had “officials?” Song You was somewhat surprised.

Most human towns below the mountain had no officials, being self-organized by the common people. Although there were officials patrolling during temple fairs, they were mainly due to the urban setting.

However, considering that this place was full of demons, spirits, demons and monsters of various kinds with their own unique situations different from humans, Song You understood.

The two figures quickly made their way out of the crowd.

When officials handled matters, they must do so authoritatively. The two demons arrived with a fierce demeanor but, upon seeing Song You in his Daoist robe and his calico cat, hesitated slightly. They realized that this intruder was not an ordinary human, unlike those who usually ventured in. Their expressions softened somewhat, though they still maintained a commanding presence.

“Where are you from? Where are you going? Why are you here? Speak quickly!”

“I am Song You, a mountain dweller from Yizhou in Lingquan County. I’m a wanderer traveling the world. I happened upon this market while passing through the mountain and followed the lights behind the mountains here. I apologize if I have been impolite.”

“You are a Daoist cultivator?”

“Yes.”

“Which Daoist temple?”

“Hidden Dragon Temple of Yin Yang Mountain.”

“...”

Upon hearing this, the crowd didn’t react much, nor did the buffalo-headed “official.” However, the burly one’s expression hardened.

The buffalo-headed official asked, “What are you doing here, causing a commotion?”

“It was not my intention,” Song You said with a bow, “I only wanted to buy some ham. Perhaps seeing a living human is a rare sight here, which is why everyone gathered around.”

“Ah, I see.” The buffalo-headed official nodded. “This is a marketplace run by mountain demons, spirits, and monsters. It is held once every season. It’s already uncommon for a human to come here safely. Since you did not intend to intrude, we usually won’t hold you accountable. As you are a Daoist cultivator, you should leave on your own.”

“Since I’ve entered this place, it must be fate. I find this place quite intriguing and would like to explore further. May I trouble you for some assistance?”

“Hm?” The buffalo-headed official’s eyes widened.

At that moment, he felt a tap on his shoulder from his colleague beside, who then stepped forward alone. Though puzzled, the buffalo-headed official kept his mouth shut.

“Since you are a Daoist cultivator, you should understand that you should understand the principle that all beings are different. This place is not suitable for humans. It would be better if you followed me; I can lead you out.”

"Why is this place not suitable for humans?" Song You asked, puzzled. "Please, explain."

"Though this place is in the mortal realm, it is a gathering spot for demons and ghosts. Aside from us, many fierce and mindless evil creatures lurk outside. It's difficult for ordinary people to find or reach this place. Moreover, staying here too long can cause one to lose their sanity and be unable to leave."

The officer, who was as sturdy as a bear, paused before continuing, "Naturally, with your great power, you aren't afraid of these things. But we are just crude and wild demons and spirits from the mountains. Why would someone like you want to linger here with us?"

"You are mistaken. All beings are creatures of heaven and earth; what difference is there between humans and demons?" Song You paused. "From what I see, everyone here engages in trade harmoniously, treating each other with respect. The two of you are also kind-hearted, reasoning with others rather than resorting to force. Where does this talk of being crude and wild come from?"

“...” The official was silent for a moment before ceasing to persuade him. He merely cupped his hands and bowed to Song You. “Please do as you wish. However, the market only opens at night, and you must leave before dawn, or you might have trouble finding your way back. Even with your high cultivation, it might still be quite troublesome for you.”

After saying this, he looked around and added after a moment of pondering, "It is a rare occasion that we get to meet this human. The immortal master has not shown any disrespect, so we should all treat him with courtesy. Let's not be too crude."

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me… Sigh! Everyone, disperse! Disperse! Don’t block the way like this. Hurry up, it’s almost midnight!” As he spoke, he let out a roar, a sound like that of a bear.

The onlookers were dispersed with a wave of his hand. How he acted was just like the officials in the towns below.

Song You cupped his hands then bowed to him and to the surrounding demons and spirits before turning back to the leopard-headed stall owner. “Can you sell to me now?”

The stall owner squinted his eyes and swiftly pulled out a knife from the stall, his motion as quick as lightning.

“

Swish

!”

A thin slice of ham, almost translucent, was placed on the knife blade and handed to Song You.

“Try it!”

“Thank you.” Song You carefully picked it up.

The stall owner’s knife skills were impressive, cutting the ham so thin that it had a paper-like texture.

High-quality ham tasted great even raw. Song You didn’t know how good this ham was, but he found the taste just right. It tasted lightly salted when placed in the mouth, savory but not greasy, with a tender and chewy texture that became more flavorful the more it was chewed. He already found it a delicacy, but after swallowing, the rich aroma surged back and left him wanting more.

How could a demon have such culinary skills?

“Eight wen per tael, one hundred and twenty wen per catty. If you buy a whole piece, I can offer a discount.” The leopard-headed stall owner, noticing Song You’s enjoyment, squinted his eyes with some pride.

“Earlier it was one hundred wen per catty. Why is it more expensive for me?”

“The other customer already negotiated the price beforehand.”

“Then please sell it to me for one hundred wen per catty!”

“How much do you want?”

“About two catties, sliced thinly.”

“Alright!”

The stall owner’s small knife was exceptionally sharp and expertly used. He sliced through the ham with swift, clean cuts, each stroke producing a thin, paper-like slice that gently landed on the table. The soft hissing sound of the blade, as precise as his technique, was a pleasure to both watch and hear.

Song You glanced at the table, which wasn’t very clean. Perhaps they didn’t mind that.