Chapter 196: The One Who Ruined Maikang Village
The situation isn't all that complex.
Just as the old woman said, everything started with that pair of traveling merchants and their apprentice.
Before that, the villagers held gratitude and reverence for the hot spring.
They had long known about the healing properties of the spring, but the reason behind it remained elusive.
The pool contained ordinary hot spring water; however, when transported elsewhere, it lost its therapeutic capabilities.
The necessity of no one observing for it to be effective added to the mystery.
So, the villagers resorted to the most primitive explanationthey considered it a blessing from the godsunable to conceive of any other possibility.
Days passed by in this simple manner.
Until one day, two dwarves driving a pig cart arrived at Maikang Village.
One old, one youngthey introduced themselves as traveling merchants.
It was nearing the end of the Ice Age, close to the Chaos Era, precisely during a blizzard.
They sought shelter from the blizzard here.
This village was remote, seldom visited by outsiders, let alone traveling merchants with a variety of goodsthough the village wasn't wealthy, they could perhaps exchange items for something useful.
Thus, the villagers warmly welcomed the dwarven travelers.
At the village head's house, they prepared a lavish feast to welcome them.
Maikang Village was nestled in a fertile mountain area, abundant with hunters, so meat was never in short supply.
The two dwarves relished the meal.
During the feast, a villager casually mentioned the legend of the hot spring inn.
It was initially just idle chatter.
Unexpectedly, this conversation inadvertently unraveled the long-standing mystery of the hot spring that had puzzled the villagers for so long.
The dwarves, somehow, figured out the reason behind the healing properties of the hot spring water.
The crux was not the hot spring water or any divine blessing.
It was a flower spirit.
This flower spirit would quietly appear when unobserved and heal injuries and illnesses.
The dwarves returned to the village and revealed this truth.
The entire village was shocked.
After all, for generations, they had lived there and never seen a flower spirit in the mountains.
They hadn't even discovered any extraordinary flowers or plants on the mountain.
However, the dwarves claimed that there must be rare flowers near the hot spring, inciting the villagers to search the area. If found, the dwarves were willing to pay a high price for them.
Driven by self-interest, the villagers nearly emptied the village, even mobilizing children, combing the surroundings of the hot spring inn in a thorough search.
Yet, they found nothing.
The dwarves didn't linger in the village for too long. Before leaving, one of them remarked, "The commercial value of that hot spring inn is remarkably high. If managed well, it could attract a large number of people, enriching your entire village."
Initially, the villagers didn't grasp his meaning.
While the hot spring inn could cure ailments, strictly speaking, it wasn't an extraordinarily potent effect.
Many potions could achieve the samethis world had the widest variety of healing potions.
Not to mention various spells and plenty of folk remedies for ailments.
Outsiders injured themselves; surely, they wouldn't travel all this way just for treatment!
Setting aside the cost-benefit issue, what if their condition worsened on the journey?
The elderly dwarf presumably sought to repay the villagers' hospitality and patiently guided them:
"The focus isn't solely on the healing ability itself.
It's on the fact that the 'flower spirit appears to provide healing.'
Firstly, flower spirits are rarely seen, stirring curiosity in many people.
Moreover, there's one rulethe flower spirit only appears when unobservedwhich adds an odd tension, making the whole thing more mysteriously compelling.
Finally, the hot spring inn itself, deep in the mountains, is also a selling point.
Rare flower spirit + hot spring inn + peculiar rule."
"These three aspects combined, the appeal is already significant."
"As long as it's promoted, more and more people will definitely come for sightseeing."
"And the dwarf has also promised to help promote during the journey."
"Who knows, by the time I return here next, McKang Village might have turned into a prosperous town."
The last words left by the dwarf sparked contemplation among the villagers.
It has to be said, the dwarf's proposal is quite attractive.
Though most villagers didn't fully comprehend the business theories, they chose to believe this professional merchant.
The villagers gathered to discuss and decided to rebuild the hot spring inn.
That hot spring inn, it's uncertain when it appeared there, probably several generations ago.
Now, it's become ruins, only the hot spring remains as before.
Previously, they were unaware and thought it was a gift from the gods, so they didn't dare to meddle with it.
But now, with the dwarf's words, they have a clear goal: to refurbish the hot spring inn and welcome travelers from outside.
The villagers were enthusiastic. Apart from the elderly and very young children, almost the entire village pitched in, working together.
A group, led by the village chief, was responsible for preparing construction materials and food.
Another group, led by the village's best hunters, worked on the construction.
A section, led by the knowledgeable elder, was in charge of strategic planning.
They didn't fear hardships, seizing every opportunity to work outside in the chaotic and harsh environment.
In just a few days after the Wind Rises Moon began, they managed to construct the entire inn.
Although still rudimentary, it already provided basic accommodation.
Further improvements could be made in the future.
However, after achieving their goal, disagreements arose among the villagers.
The point of contention was who would manage it.
That is, who would be the boss of this hot spring inn.
The village chief, the hunters, and the elder all believed their contributions warranted being the sole candidate.
"Without the materials we prepared, could the hot spring inn have appeared out of thin air?" said the village chief.
"Without our construction efforts, your materials would just rot away," the hunters retorted.
"Without my design planning, could you build anything worthwhile?" argued the elder.
The three sides wouldn't yield, each refusing to give up the opportunity to become the boss.
After a long and fruitless argument, they came up with a solution.
They'd let the Flower Spirits decide the boss.
After all, the core of this hot spring inn was that particular Flower Spirit.
Yet, this Flower Spirit never showed itself to people.
No matter how they pleaded, they couldn't catch a glimpse of the Flower Spirit.
To swiftly end the dispute, the villagers collectively went up the mountain to search for the Flower Spirit's whereabouts.
Each faction hoped to be the first to find it, leaving a good impression.
So, they tirelessly searched day and night in the mountains.
The previously harmonious and peaceful mountain village life was thoroughly disrupted.
After hearing the whole story, Hua Mi was also speechless.
It can only be said that this is human nature, whether on Earth or in this world, it's just the same.
When united, people can achieve great unity, but they can also fight fiercely for their interests.
Regardless, the hot spring inn is a must-visit.
He came precisely for the rare flowers.
Moreover, the recovery hopes of this witch solely depend on that Flower Spirit.
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