C20 The Ginseng in the Snake's Nest

"Was I just speaking human language?"

Gold, though not particularly fond of humans, was aware that humans lived the most carefree lives. Previously, Gold couldn't even mingle with humans, not only because of its mongoose appearance but also because it couldn't speak human language—though it could understand it.

But how did it suddenly start speaking human language?

Ma Tianming had reached the Snake Demon's body, picked it up, and examined it for a while, confirming that the Snake Demon was indeed dead.

"You really bit the snake to death with one bite. It was fierce, quick, and accurate!"

"I am a mongoose, a mongoose, a Golden Fur Mongoose! Not a cat."

Gold was earnestly trying to set the record straight.

"Alright!" Ma Tianming felt a bit of fear towards this cute Golden Fur Mongoose that once seemed part human, part demon. But now, as it petulantly argued that it was a mongoose and not a cat, it seemed somewhat endearing, and Ma Tianming's fear diminished slightly: after all, he had once held it in his hands.

"You said you finally killed it. Have you been wanting to kill it for a while?"

Gold nodded and spoke with difficulty, "It's my natural enemy. I've always wanted to kill it but never could. So, I vowed to kill it."

Ma Tianming was taken aback. This mongoose was a fierce creature! Could it suddenly turn on me too?

However, Ma Tianming noticed that Gold's attention was fully on the snake and the small snake hole behind it, just big enough for a child to crawl through.

What could be inside the Snake Demon's lair?

As Ma Tianming pondered, Gold had already scurried into the hole. There was no need to worry about a Flat-head Wind snake emerging.

Indeed, there was no cause for concern, as the Flat-head Wind species fed exclusively on snakes, including other Flat-head Winds, so there was no threat of other snakes in the vicinity.

After a short while, Gold emerged from the hole with something in its mouth.

"What's this?"

Gold dropped the object on the ground, and upon closer inspection, Ma Tianming was thrilled to discover it appeared to be ginseng!

How could there be ginseng in a snake cave?

Gold was equally intrigued. Weren't snakes carnivorous? Why would they stash such items in their den?

Gold found these items peculiar, yet it did not recognize them as valuable nourishment.

Gold darted back into the cave and emerged with several more ginseng roots.

"It's unbelievable that a snake's den could contain such an abundance of ginseng... These are potent tonics, suitable for medicinal use or even infusing into liquor," Ma Tianming mused, his curiosity piqued. He picked up a ginseng and gave it a tentative lick. The Snake Demon seemed to understand the value of hoarding ginseng, which clearly didn't grow naturally in the cave.

If the snake had transformed into a demon with the knowledge of medicinal herbs, why only collect ginseng?

A thought struck Ma Tianming. Ginseng was known as a powerful tonic, and he recalled hearing it referred to as the essence of life. Perhaps the snake had turned into a demon after consuming ginseng, which explained its penchant for collecting the roots.

"Gugu..." Gold's calls snapped Ma Tianming out of his reverie, and he instantly became alert, like an eager puppy awaiting affection.

"I need to inspect the rest of this cave," Ma Tianming declared, running his hand along the cavern wall.

Peering into the darkness of the cave, he could see nothing. To get closer, he'd first have to pass the pit filled with wine.

The Snake Demon had chosen to situate its lair in front of a veritable lake of liquor!

Indeed, this was the lair of a bona fide, liquor-loving Snake Demon!

Ma Tianming reached into the wine pit, nearly emptied by the Snake Demon's indulgence. "Wine Prince, you're tempted by the scent of wine," he said to himself, his cravings stirred.

Tasting the wine residue on his hand, he detected not only the familiar heady aroma but also a subtle hint of ginseng.

Was this wine infused with ginseng?

It made sense why the Snake Demon was so fond of this particular brew. It had even abandoned its battle with the Golden Fur Mongoose to confront Ma Tianming when he neared the wine.

Could there be ginseng in the wine pit as well?

Curiosity getting the better of him, Ma Tianming rummaged through the pit and, sure enough, discovered one or two ginseng roots.

"With all this ginseng, I could make a fortune whether I use it for brewing or sell it outright. I wonder how many pills it could yield," he pondered.

Ma Tianming was both delighted and astonished to find that a Snake Demon seemed to know how to brew wine using ginseng.

But something wasn't right!

It appeared as though the Snake Demon knew how to infuse wine with ginseng, yet upon closer inspection of the wine pit, Ma Tianming realized this was no expertly crafted ginseng wine. It was merely the result of a fortunate fermentation—true wine-making knowledge would not result in such rudimentary equipment and a brew that barely carried a hint of alcohol.

With this revelation, a lightbulb went off in Ma Tianming's head. Could it be?

Without hesitation, Ma Tianming began to dig in front of the Snake Demon's cave. In no time, he cleared away the leftover wine and uneaten wild fruits, scraping aside a layer of mud. To his amazement, he uncovered a ginseng root growing beneath the pit.

Ma Tianming's hunch had been correct: a ginseng had indeed been growing in this low-lying area, accumulating wild fruits and decaying leaves. Combined with water, it had naturally fermented into what resembled wine.

Well, it could hardly be called wine!

The real reason for this accidental brew was the ginseng itself, which the passing Snake Demon had stumbled upon. The "wine" here, influenced by the ginseng's properties, was clearly out of the ordinary.

The Snake Demon must have developed a taste for this unique concoction, eventually deciding to make its home here.

Perhaps it was the nourishing ginseng that turned the creature into a demon, or maybe the Snake Demon planted the ginseng with the intention of enjoying ginseng wine.

With these thoughts, Ma Tianming felt waves of fortune wash over him. It was a stroke of luck that the Snake Demon wasn't too formidable, or that it was unaware of the ginseng's full benefits, leaving the roots uneaten.

Now, all the ginseng belonged to Ma Tianming and Gold.

Ma Tianming carefully excavated the ginseng and rinsed it with water from a nearby depression. Astonishingly, the root had fully taken on a human shape.

It was on the verge of becoming sentient!

Could this be the mythical millennium ginseng, an item of immeasurable value?

With this find, hardship would no longer plague him. This ginseng promised a future filled with prosperity.

After thoroughly cleaning the ginseng, Ma Tianming made his way back to the entrance of the snake demon's lair, where he noticed Gold gnawing on something.

"What are you munching on?" Upon closer inspection, Ma Tianming realized that Gold had some roots in its mouth—ginseng roots, to be precise.

Gold was feasting on the ginseng.

Unaware of what ginseng was, yet having discovered it within the confines of the snake demon's cave, Gold became curious, especially given the human's evident concern for the plant.