Chapter 263 Gathering Herbs in the Mountains

At this point, no one dared to say anything more.

Next, Teacher Zhang had everyone's cell phones confiscated, and then distributed walkie-talkies and sirens to everyone.

The group marched in a grand procession toward the entrance to Mount Ling.

There is a general store at the entrance of Lingshan. The school has given ten minutes for students to go to the general store to buy some tools needed for ginseng digging in the mountains.

After all the students are ready.

Teacher Zhang gathered everyone together and instructed them: "Students, as a TCM doctor, understanding the growth habits and pharmacology of each medicinal herb is a basic professional quality. I hope you will all work hard and not let the hospital down. I will stay here and wait for you. The assessment will end at 6 o'clock. Students who do not come out by the time will have their scores invalidated."

"Okay, teacher!"

At a command, more than fifty people, carrying satchels, began to climb the mountain in twos and threes.

The mountain road was rugged, and most of the students were from wealthy families who had been pampered since childhood. They had never experienced such hardship before. After walking only a short distance, their feet were covered in mud, and their arms were covered in mosquito bites.

Among these people, Wen Xiaoxiao was the worst off. She wore a new pair of shoes today because she wanted to look pretty, but the shoes didn't fit properly and blistered her heels after walking for a short while.

Fortunately, Li Jing stayed with her the whole time, supporting her from the front and back, and helped her put on two band-aids so that she could barely continue walking.

Even so, her strength was gradually being depleted.

Her carefully combed hair was now a mess, plastered to her face, and her makeup was smudged by sweat, leaving it looking completely unrecognizable.

"I can't take it anymore, I need to rest, I'm exhausted." When they reached a flat area, Wen Xiaoxiao plopped down on the ground.

She was surrounded by three or four people, all of whom were her close friends. These people weren't much better off; upon hearing it was a break, they all found places to fan themselves and wipe their sweat.

After a moment, Wen Xiaoxiao calmed down a bit and asked the people around her, "Did anyone see Kong Wange on your way up here?"

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads.

Li Jing fanned her and said, "Xiaoxiao, we're all too busy taking care of ourselves to worry about others. Besides, your cousin is humiliating you like this, why are you bothering with her?"

Another girl chimed in, "That's right, not to mention her, I haven't seen Sister Xiaohe either, I don't know where she ran off to."

Wen Xiaoxiao's thoughts sank slightly, and she remained silent.

She didn't care where Zhao Xiaohe went, but Kong Wange's inexplicable disappearance always made her feel uneasy.

It seems that she needs to come up with a plan as soon as possible in order to win this test.

...

Kong Wange grew up in the mountains and was very familiar with the terrain. For her, climbing mountains was just like walking on flat ground.

However, from the moment she entered the mountains, while everyone else was rushing forward to find wild ginseng, she didn't hurry to move forward. Instead, she followed behind at a leisurely pace, and gradually she was left further and further behind by the others.

As she walked, she observed the situation of Ling Mountain. As she looked around, she couldn't help but sigh, "The Imperial Academy really knows how to choose a location."

Lingshan has fertile soil and water, and a pleasant temperature and humidity, making it very suitable for the growth of medicinal herbs. This is not a mountain at all; it is clearly the natural medicinal herb base of Yudao Academy.

She even saw several thriving Bletilla striata plants. Wild Bletilla striata is very rare. If she weren't currently taking an exam, she almost couldn't resist picking a few plants.

Seeing that there was no one around, she began to think about the next direction of her climb.

She was quite familiar with the habits of wild ginseng—

They have relatively strict requirements for their growing environment, preferring a mild and cool climate, and generally growing in fertile, loose, well-drained soil that does not retain water.

It is especially easy to find around humus soil.

Based on her own judgment, she turned into a valley.

Knowledge changes destiny.

Sure enough, after walking for just over two hours, she had four wild ginseng roots in her basket.

Two of them were found in a dense forest, standing side by side, and both were three years old.

The other tree is in a shady spot on a hillside, and it's about eight or nine years old.

There was another tree that was a bit older; Kong Wange roughly estimated it to be at least twelve or thirteen years old.

The total score is 11 points.

It's only noon, so this result is not bad.

She felt a little better and walked to a big tree, intending to rest and have something to eat.

After finishing her bento, she sat there bored and began to admire the scenery of Ling Mountain.

This sacred mountain is not only suitable for the growth of medicinal herbs, but also nurtures many wild animals.

She saw countless rabbits and squirrels on her way here, and occasionally she would pick some pine cones to tease the squirrels.

She had just picked up two pine cones when she suddenly heard a gasp from outside the woods.

The little squirrel not far away was startled and scurried away.

She frowned, and the next second she heard a woman's voice on the verge of crying—"Help! Is anyone there? Help!"

She tossed the pine cone aside and walked toward the source of the sound.

Along the way, she imagined all sorts of possibilities.

He slipped and fell into a mud pit.

He was hit on the back of the head by a falling rock.

Two lecherous wolves were lying in ambush deep in the mountains.

Such things were commonplace, but she never expected that once she emerged from the woods, the first thing she would see was a girl hanging on the edge of a cliff!

Without saying a word, she hurried over.

She couldn't see clearly from a distance, but now that she was closer, she realized who the girl was—

Wen Xiaoxiao's best friend, Zhao Xiaohe.

Kong Wange remembered her because among Wen Xiaoxiao's girlfriends that morning, she was the most boisterous and had often joined Wen Xiaoxiao in scolding her.

Zhao Xiaohe was clinging tightly to the branches of an old tree growing at an angle on the edge of the cliff, barely able to hold on any longer.

When she saw someone coming, she was so happy she almost cried.

Upon seeing that it was Kong Wange, her heart sank again, and she stammered, "W-how is it you?!"

Kong Wange stepped forward, looking down at him and said, "Do you think you're choosing your own concubines? Do you need to designate someone to save your life?"

Zhao Xiaohe was a little embarrassed, perhaps she was really scared to death. At this moment, listening to Kong Wange's sarcastic remarks, she could only say in a kind tone, "Then... then Sister Kong, can you help me get up there?"

Kong Wange rolled her eyes: "Who are you calling 'sister'? We're not necessarily older than each other."

Zhao Xiaohe immediately changed her tune: "Sister Kong... I really can't hold on much longer."

Kong Wange curled her lips and said, "Wait."

After saying that, she picked up Zhao Xiaohe's bag that had fallen to the ground and started rummaging through it.

Zhao Xiaohe's eyes widened: "What are you doing?"

Kong Wange stared wide-eyed and said matter-of-factly, "Find the alarm to save you. You don't expect me to pull you up, do you? I'd better be able to pull you up myself."

Zhao Xiaohe understood what she meant and immediately said anxiously, "Kong... sister, stop teasing me. By the time the medical team arrives, I'll be smashed to pieces. Good sister, please think of another way."