Rustle, rustle!

Copper coins scattered like raindrops.

In the blink of an eye, they were scooped up along with the snow by eager hands.

The surrounding townsfolk, red-eyed with greed, even began to quarrel and scuffle. Seeing the eunuchs continuing to scatter coins, some hurried home to call for help.

Four hands are surely better than two for grabbing.

This "Joyful God Money" of course does not count as currency.

The fall of the previous Great Xing dynasty was certainly due to the upper echelons' decadence and lack of progress, but rampant currency issuance was also a major factor.

At that time, local aristocrats and officials minted copper coins in private, sharing the benefits, with even the Emperor turning a blind eye, resulting in skyrocketing prices and the people in dire straits.

"A myriad coins for a single cake" was inscribed in history books.

Therefore, when Great Xuan was established, it reclaimed the right to mint coins. Anyone secretly minting coins would face extermination of nine generations, and any informer would be granted immunity; even a Vassal King would be sentenced to death if caught.

So, this "Joyful God Money" was indeed special.

Though it couldn't be used in transactions, it was finely crafted from refined copper; suitable for festival gifts, evils expulsion, personal protection, or even as collectible items.

And if nothing else, selling it for copper fetched a tidy sum.

Moreover, there was a custom in Shu, where on the first day of the New Year, children receive "hanging money" from elders, copper coins strung on a Red Rope to ward off evil.

This "Joyful God Money" came at just the right time.

In the lively crowd, there were naturally beggars.

Several beggars with frostbitten faces seized quite a few from the crowd, and seeing no one paying them any mind, snuck into a dark alley.

Passing through several streets and alleys, a dilapidated estate suddenly appeared before them, surrounded by desolation, behind the crumbling walls, a bonfire blazed, a pot of thick rice porridge boiling over it.

Beggars of all sizes trembled nearby, eyes gleaming with hunger as they swallowed their saliva.

At a glance, it was evident this was the West Traveling Beggar Gang of Chengdu Prefecture.

Sitting on the steps was an old beggar clad in layer upon layer of ragged clothes, his greasy, shiny cotton jacket looking like armor.

His head was full of tangled white hair, covering a gaunt face.

It was Lu Sanshui, the head of the beggars in Chengdu.

"Master Shui."

Several beggars presented the copper coins as if offering a treasure, grinning with snot running, "You had us keep an eye on King Shu's retinue, and indeed it was fruitful. Look, they started scattering money, so let's call more of the lads to grab some!"

The beggar leader ignored them, extending a withered, blackened finger to pick up a coin and examined it closely.

This "Joyful God Money" had a round exterior with a square center, cast hollow with a relief of the Joyful God riding a crane, inscribed with the script "Heavenly Official's Blessing" in regular script.

Held up to the sunlight, it glimmered faintly with gold.

"Goodness gracious!"

"Did King Shu's coins have gold added to them?"

The surrounding beggars shouted in astonishment.

In an instant, all the beggars' eyes turned red, and they forgot their hunger, everyone eager to dash out and seize more.

"What's with all the rushing!"

The old beggar's low shout brought everyone to a halt.

Lu Sanshui had controlled the Chengdu West Traveling Beggar Gang for years, being lenient in small matters and strict in significant ones, balancing kind rewards and ominous threats such that no one dared defy him.

"Master Shui, is there something wrong with these?"

An elderly beggar bent over with cupped hands asked.

"I can't tell."

The old beggar turned the coin back and forth, simultaneously making a mantra, bringing it to his nose to sniff carefully, frowning as he said, "The crafting of this money is far more exquisite than ordinary, definitely made by a skilled craftsman, painstakingly and time-consumingly crafted."

"Though I can't discern it, I do know one thing…"

"Aristocratic families would never be so generous!"

"Spread the word, not a single one of those coins is to be picked up!"

"Also, take these coins to Qingfeng Building's Fat Wu…"

"Yes, Master Shui."

Upon the old beggar's command, a burly Evil Beggar promptly wrapped all the coins in a rag and hurried out.

On the first day of the New Year, the traveling citizens were again gathering around King Shu, thus the streets and alleys were quite empty.

This wild-haired Evil Beggar, clutching the rag bundle, wove his way to the old street in the city's east, and looked up to see Qingfeng Building's signboard.

According to Divine State's customs, businesses only open after the fifth of the lunar month, so the doors were shut tight, firecracker scraps strewn all over the ground.

Knock, knock, knock!

This Evil Beggar knocked on the door, muttered a few words into the door crack, then slipped the things inside.

The attendant inside handed it to the fat shopkeeper, who then ran to a nearby alley to hand it to a simple-looking man…

Round and round it went, finally arriving at Yu Wang Temple.

This was the way of survival for Master Wu Xiang.

If any line were to be investigated, there would always be a chance to sever it.

The atmosphere in Yu Wang Temple's main hall was exceedingly tense.

Some people had already been sent out to lay ambushes on the road to Wuhou Temple, not to kill, but merely to cause disturbance.

The remaining experts were discussing how to attack the Commandery Prince's mansion.

"Is this the 'Joyful God Money'?"

Master Wu Xiang had received the news, but was just seeing the actual coins for the first time.

He was extremely cautious, having the coins piled on the table, twirling a chopstick to pick one up gently for thorough inspection.

Others crowded around, each performing spells to investigate.

"Forgive my dull eyes, I can't discern anything."

"There doesn't seem to be any trickery."

"Ridiculous, look at the intricacy of this coin, even the coins from the Taishan cache are no better. If there were no problem, why waste such effort?"

Li Yan also made a mantra, examining closely.

Similarly, he detected no strange scent.

As they spoke, there indeed appeared to be no problem.

Yet not all coins have the opportunity to become Magic Artifacts; once crafted, they must be consecrated for years in the incense-rich Taoist Temple, Cave Heaven-Blessed Land, of famous mountains and great rivers, to achieve communication with spirits.

And these coins, at a glance, looked very new…

Clatter, clatter!

At that moment, he heard a strange noise.

Li Yan frowned, looking around. The others' faces showed no unusual expressions, clearly they hadn't heard the sound.

With a thoughtful expression, he leaned closer to listen carefully.

Indeed, the sound originated from that pile of coins, hollow and icy, like someone flicking their tongue, or like bones twisting…

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