32. Going into the mountains to collect medicinal herbs and hunt wild game

◎Going up the mountain to pick mushrooms◎

The shop has been quiet these past few days, and the four of us have been relaxed on Cuiliang Mountain. Occasionally, we visit Lou Su at Biyuefang, and in our spare time, we go up the mountain to pick herbs and mushrooms to sell in town.

Liu Jiang said that Lou Su's poison was strange and difficult to cure, but it would take some time, which reassured them, and the group felt much more at ease.

After the rain, the mountain path became muddy and difficult to walk on. The four of them changed into a set of old clothes that could withstand dirt, carried bamboo baskets up the mountain, and searched for fresh mushrooms or wild vegetables along the way, while also collecting some herbs for the town's clinic.

"Boss, how do we find the Smilax glabra and Five-finger Peach that the old man wants? I see some fruits on the mountain that look pretty much the same."

As she spoke, Qingxi picked a bright red wild fruit and was about to put it in her mouth when Yan Yunzhao turned around and noticed that she had already eaten the bottom half.

"Qingxi, spit it out quickly!"

Yan Yunzhao and Jing Mingshu rushed over to pat her back. After a while, Qingxi looked up and smiled sheepishly, "I've already eaten it. I don't feel uncomfortable anywhere, so it shouldn't be poisonous..."

Halfway through her sentence, Qingxi suddenly collapsed to the ground, the bright red half of the fruit in her hand spinning on the floor.

"The wild fruits on this mountain should not be eaten casually. Cuiliang Mountain is deep and damp, and you never know what kind of poisonous fungi or insects might be found there..."

Yan Yunzhao leaned close to Qingxi, pinching her philtrum and channeling spiritual energy into her, all the while giving her instructions incessantly.

Just when they were at their wits' end, a steady, contented snore drifted over. The three of them looked down and saw that Qingxi had a rosy complexion and was fast asleep.

"Could this fruit have a hypnotic effect? ​​It doesn't smell poisonous," Shuyu said, picking up the fruit and examining it for a moment.

"Perhaps..." Yan Yunzhao looked at Qingxi and smiled helplessly.

Jingming took the initiative to shoulder the task of carrying Qingxi, while Yan Yunzhao led the way with Renxue.

In the past, mushroom picking was limited to the foot of the mountain, but today, accompanied by the Three Herb Spirits, the group ventured into the depths of Cui Liang Mountain. The further they went in, the better the quality of the mushrooms became, and they also encountered some rarer items.

The area was overgrown with shrubs and huge trees that blocked out the sun. Their roots were intertwined and some thick roots were pulled out of the soil and exposed on the ground, making the journey bumpy and difficult.

Mushrooms with a strikingly different color may suddenly sprout on tree trunks and in the grass, quietly waiting to be discovered.

Some wild mushrooms are highly poisonous, so Yan Yunzhao used to have to boil and stew them for a long time before cooking them. This time, she was more careful when picking mushrooms.

"Highly poisonous mushrooms have a slightly bitter taste, so be careful not to pick the wrong ones."

Grass spirits have a natural sense of plants and trees, and their sense of smell is more acute; they can tell whether something is poisonous or not just by smelling it.

But Qingxi is probably an exception.

Yan Yunzhao glanced at Qingxi, who was fast asleep on Jingming's back, and couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

Qingxi was the youngest among them, and probably because her cultivation level was still low, she naturally couldn't tell the difference.

This exciting treasure hunt was a real treat, and the bamboo baskets were soon filled with all sorts of mushrooms.

I picked a lot of mushrooms that I'd never seen before, so I can sell them for a good price when I get down the mountain.

The group walked along the increasingly steep and narrow mountain path, and when they were almost at the top of the mountain, even the air became thinner.

"Five-finger peach is not hard to find. The fruit is round and small, with fine hairs on the skin and leaves shaped like five fingers. Smilax glabra often grows attached to other plants, so it is harder to find."

Jingming and Shuyu nodded and began searching around.

In the past, only skilled herbalists could go up the mountain to collect herbs. Warriors were unfamiliar with herbs and acted rashly, fearing they might damage the roots. Ordinary people who went up the mountain rarely came down and were not good at collecting herbs. Therefore, herbs were scarce in Lixi Town and their prices were extremely high.

"Over here!"

Shuyu's excited shouts came from not far away. Yan Yunzhao and Jingming rushed over to see what was happening. There was a large area of ​​five-finger peach trees in front of them, and the scene was so spectacular that it was comparable to a fruit orchard.

"I remember the pharmacist saying that these two medicinal herbs are extremely rare. How come there are so many of them on Cuiliang Mountain?" Yan Yunzhao was somewhat surprised.

"Perhaps it's because the mountains are high and the roads are long, and ordinary people would encounter wild beasts if they reached the mountainside. Besides, the mountain road is so steep that it would be difficult to get here."

Jingming placed the sleeping Qingxi by the tree, and he and Shuyu picked up their baskets and plunged into the peach grove. The group used small shovels to dig and dig at the roots. It had just rained, and the soil was slippery, so the hems of their clothes were covered in mud.

They dug up a lot of the roots of the five-finger peach and also found the Smilax glabra. When they returned home today with a full load, Qingxi finally woke up.

Jingming chuckled and playfully scolded, "Qingxi is such a lazybones; she only wakes up after she's finished working."

"Next time, Qingxi will definitely be punished by digging up three whole baskets of potatoes."

By the time they descended the mountain, it was already dusk. The latter half of the mountain path had stone steps, which weren't difficult to walk with baskets on their backs. After descending Cuiliang Mountain, the group headed straight to the town's pharmacy to deliver the herbs, earning a full string of cash.

"The doctor was stunned for a long time when he saw two or three baskets full of herbs."

"Yes, that's enough for them to use for a whole year."

The group chatted and joked as they packed up their stall in the alley. As usual, the mushrooms were being sold at the stall, and the wild mushrooms, being rare, were snapped up as quickly as ever. Yan Yunzhao reminded them, "Remember to cook them for at least half an hour before eating."

Many of them were regular customers, and they nodded in agreement, then hurriedly left with their bamboo baskets, as if they were emitting poisonous fumes.

“These villagers are really strange. On the one hand, they are afraid that we are demons, but on the other hand, they dare to buy our mushrooms.”

Jingming was outspoken, and Yan Yunzhao wasn't annoyed. He only reminded him, "Be careful that others don't overhear. Ultimately, it's just that the villagers also think the rumors are absurd, but they want to get rid of bad luck."

With the moon hanging high in the sky and the mushrooms almost sold out, the four of them went to the Dragon King Temple before heading home, only to unexpectedly encounter a person they didn't expect.

"Miss Luo? What are you doing here?"

Seeing the children smiling brightly as they each held a string of candied hawthorns, Yan Yunzhao understood.

Miss Luo felt a little awkward when she ran into an acquaintance: "I had some unsold candied hawthorns in the shop, and I was afraid they would spoil if left unattended, so I brought them here."

"I see. Thank you for your kindness, Miss Luo."

While saying this, Yan Yunzhao knew perfectly well in his heart: Guiyuefang had never sold candied hawthorns. It was probably just that Miss Luo was being kind but didn't want to admit it.

Recalling the past, there was a mysterious person who would always secretly deliver various snacks. Yan Yunzhao originally thought that the magistrate had ordered them to be made, but now she didn't think so. Why would the magistrate secretly deliver them? Presumably, the mysterious person who did good deeds without leaving her name was Miss Luo.

"Sister Luo, will you come again tomorrow?"

The children tugged at her sleeve, seemingly very affectionately. Anyone with eyes could tell that Miss Luo must have come quite often.

She glanced up at Yan Yunzhao quickly, only to see him looking calm and gentle. Reassured, she knelt down and asked the children gently, "Is there anything else you'd like to eat?"

I want candied hawthorns tomorrow too!

"Of course. Don't you like snacks?"

"I like it, but Sister Yan often makes us delicious snacks."

Upon hearing this, Miss Luo glanced at Yan Yunzhao with some surprise.

After hesitating for a while, she pulled Yan Yunzhao to stand in the corner, lowered her eyes and sighed, saying, "Miss Yan, I have neglected you in the past. I thought you wouldn't care about the children of the Dragon King Temple, but now it seems that they are doing much better than before."

Yan Yunzhao smiled and said, "There's no need to be so polite. I've long regarded these children of the Dragon King Temple as my own brothers and sisters. Hearing Miss Luo say this, could it be that Miss Luo was also involved when Guiyue Tower provided assistance to the Dragon King Temple in the past?"

"It's a long story," Miss Luo said with a hint of sadness. "When I was young, my family was poor, and my younger brother, who was my only family, was lost. He's about ten years old now. When I see these orphans at the Dragon King Temple, I can't help but think of him, so I thought I should help him as much as possible to accumulate some good fortune for him so he can return home soon."

“Master Bai was originally unwilling to help the Dragon King Temple. It was only through my mediation and the county magistrate’s intervention that we were able to obtain a small amount of money from Guiyue Tower. I was truly powerless to help, so as you can see, the children can only eat some plain porridge and steamed buns.”

Thinking of this, Miss Luo felt very guilty.

“It is already very kind of Miss Luo to have such a heart. If it weren’t for your and the magistrate’s kindness, these children would be homeless and destitute, far from being as secure as they are now.”

Miss Luo nodded: "These children will be in trouble with Miss Yan in the future, and I will do my best to raise some money."

“That’s excellent. Miss Luo, do you have any of my personal belongings? Or do you remember any distinguishing features? I’ll keep an eye out for them for you. Now that the Great Qi is at peace, I suppose I’ve been taken in by some kind-hearted person.”

Upon hearing this, Miss Luo was stunned for a moment, then gratefully grasped Yan Yunzhao's hand: "Miss Yan, I really don't know how to thank you."

"Here, take this. I still have a small cinnabar birthmark on my right wrist bone."

She took out a pouch embroidered with a small tiger from her sleeve and handed it to Yan Yunzhao. The stitches were fine and lifelike, and it was a common protective and blessing item in Daqi, no different from a golden lock.

Yan Yunzhao took the purse and smiled with relief: "It is my good fortune to help Miss Luo find her family. Could Miss Luo please come and pick up this purse in a few days? I will draw a picture of her so it will be easier for me."

"Of course, of course," Miss Luo nodded hastily in agreement.

However, drawing a picture was just an excuse; Yan Yunzhao actually carried the purse to search for traces of Miss Luo's family using some magic.

Having not used this divination technique for a long time, Yan Yunzhao was somewhat rusty. She fiddled with the purse for a while, only to find that her magical power was insufficient. So she opened the wooden box again, took out the Azure Dragon Jade Pendant, and prayed for a little magical power.

The jade pendant lay still, unresponsive. Just as Yan Yunzhao was about to use it to perform a set of calisthenics to forcibly "wake it up," the jade pendant released a bit of its magical power and injected it into Yan Yunzhao's brow.

"Thank you, Brother Qinglong! Please continue to rest well."

Then they quickly closed the wooden box.

Yan Yunzhao placed the purse on the table, closed his eyes, concentrated, and felt the aura emanating from the purse surrounding him, searching for clues based on this aura.

The aura wasn't very close; it faintly reached Yan Yunzhao's nose. Although it was weak, he could still sense the faint aura.

The source is in the north, precisely where Cuijiazhuang is located.