The old man shook his head slightly, his eyes full of disappointment: "Alas, I have been searching for a long time, but I still can't find those most important herbs. This mountain is too big, and I am exhausted..."

Lin Zhiyue looked at the old man's depressed look and felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

She recalled that when she was searching for herbs in the mountains and forests, she often worried about not being able to find specific herbs. She felt the same anxiety and helplessness.

"Grandpa, don't worry. Maybe I can help you with the herbs you are looking for." Lin Zhiyue said softly, with sincerity in his eyes.

When the old man heard this, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes, and he hurriedly described: "There is a kind called 'Blood Ganoderma', the cap is dark red with a circle of golden edges, and there is another kind called 'Dragon Beard Vine', the stem is slender like dragon's beard, and the leaves are heart-shaped..." Lin Zhiyue listened carefully while quickly searching for related memories in his mind.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Zhiyue's eyes lit up: "Grandpa, I seem to have seen a plant similar to 'Dragon's Wisteria' not far ahead. You can rest here for a while. I'll go see if it's what you're looking for."

After that, she took off her backpack, took out some dry food and placed it next to the old man: "Eat something first to replenish your strength." The old man was so moved that his eyes turned red and his lips trembled, but he was speechless for a while and could only nod vigorously.

Lin Zhiyue stood up and stepped into the dense forest again.

With her keen observation skills and familiarity with the mountains and forests, she searched carefully along the route she remembered.

There were thorns everywhere in the forest, which often scratched her arms and left bloody marks, but she was unaware of it. The only thought in her mind was to find herbs to help the old grandfather.

Finally, beside a dark and humid valley, she found a clump of plants with slender stems and heart-shaped leaves. It was exactly the "dragon beard vine" that the old grandfather had mentioned.

Lin Zhiyue was filled with joy, carefully picked a few plants, and continued to look for the "blood ganoderma". She searched everywhere in the forest, not missing any possible corner.

As time passed, the sun gradually set and the light in the forest became dimmer.

Just when Lin Zhiyue was feeling a little anxious, she suddenly saw a hint of dark red on an old dead tree.

She hurried closer and saw the blood ganoderma with a dark red cap and golden edges growing quietly there.

Lin Zhiyue excitedly picked the blood ganoderma and quickly returned to where the old man was.

When the old man saw the herbs in Lin Zhiyue's hand, he was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes: "That's them, that's them! Little girl, you are really a great benefactor to our family!"

Lin Zhiyue smiled and handed the herbs to the old man: "Now it's good, you can take it back to treat the patient. Let's go down the mountain quickly, it will be dark soon, and it will be more dangerous in the mountains at night."

On the winding path down the mountain, Lin Zhiyue held the old man tightly, taking every step very carefully, for fear that the old man would fall if he lost his balance.

The mountain road was rugged, covered with gravel and potholes, and weeds grew wildly on both sides, brushing against their legs from time to time.

Lin Zhiyue's eyes were always focused on her feet, always paying attention to the road conditions. She exerted a little force with her arms to support the old man steadily, giving him solid support.

The two of them supported each other and moved forward slowly.

Time passed by unknowingly, the sun gradually set, and the sky was dyed with a gorgeous sunset.

When they finally walked out of the mountains and the outline of the village in the distance was faintly visible in the afterglow, the old man stopped and said to Lin Zhiyue: "Okay, girl, let's stop here. I can go back by myself. You are also tired all day, so go home and rest."

Lin Zhiyue shook his head slightly and said firmly: "It's okay, Grandpa, I'll take you back. You've just recovered a little, and you still have a long way to go. I'm worried about you being alone."

The old man hesitated for a moment, and an indescribable embarrassment flashed across his eyes. He slowly lowered his head and whispered in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "Girl, I... I actually live in that cowshed."

As he finished speaking, his voice became deeper and deeper, as if shrouded by an invisible pressure, and there seemed to be a hint of embarrassment in it.

You know, in this village, no one is willing to get close to those who live in the cowshed. Because of this, the old man couldn't help feeling uneasy, fearing that the kind and lovely Lin Zhiyue in front of him would despise him because of his shabby residence.

However, when Lin Zhiyue heard this, she was stunned for a moment at first, and a hint of surprise clearly flashed across her beautiful eyes.

But in just a moment, she quickly returned to normal, and her pretty face once again showed a warm smile like a blooming spring flower. She responded softly: "It's okay, grandpa! No matter where you live, I will personally escort you home safely. We have already successfully crossed this deep and secluded mountain, so why should we be afraid of walking such a short distance?" Her tone sounded light, bright and natural, without any disgust or hesitation.

After hearing Lin Zhiyue's words, the old man felt a warm feeling in his heart and his eyes turned slightly red. He no longer refused and nodded gently.

The two continued walking towards the village.

Along the way, the villagers saw Lin Zhiyue supporting the old grandfather and cast curious looks at him, but Lin Zhiyue didn't care at all and just focused on accompanying the old grandfather forward.

Finally, they arrived at the cowshed at the west end of the village.

The cowshed was very simple, built with a few pieces of wood and some tattered thatch, and was filled with a faint smell of livestock.

Lin Zhiyue helped the old grandfather into the cowshed. The light in the cowshed was dim and some simple daily necessities were placed there. A thin old man was lying on a shabby bed, probably another sick old man.

After Lin Zhiyue settled the old man down, he took out a pheasant that he had accidentally caught in the forest from his backpack, handed it to the old man, and said, "Grandpa, please keep this pheasant to nourish your body. I hope he can get better soon."

The old man looked at the pheasant in front of him, then looked at Lin Zhiyue, and couldn't hold back his tears any longer, and burst out: "Girl, you..."

Lin Zhiyue smiled and waved her hands: "Grandpa, don't say anything. This is what I should do. You should hurry up and boil the medicine. I'll go back first." After that, she turned and walked out of the cowshed. Her figure gradually disappeared in the afterglow of the setting sun, leaving the old grandfather in the cowshed, standing there for a long time, looking in the direction she left.