Cultivating in Different Professions

Chapter 176: Chapter 127: Searching for Medicine

Feng Zhengqian said coldly, ”Do you know how to harvest Spiritual Medicine?

Do you know how to avoid damaging their medicinal properties?

Do you really think you just casually pull some weeds?”

”Forget it. There’s no point in bickering with two grunts like you!”

Feng Zhengqian waved his hand dismissively. ”When I get back to my sect, I’ll definitely report how your Wuling City Taiping Bureau feigns compliance!

Now, we have no time to waste. You, lead the way. We’ll find the Rainbow Grass first.”

He casually pointed at Luo Anning.

Luo Anning glanced at Su Mu, who gave a slight nod.

She said no more and started walking ahead.

”Envoy Feng, if you please.”

Su Mu said to Feng Zhengqian, then followed Luo Anning into the mountain forest.

Feng Zhengqian snorted coldly. With a wave of his hand, he and his men, including Hu Guangshao, followed.

...

Although Su Mu had been to the outskirts of Daxing Mountain before, he had always stuck to the existing mountain paths. This time, in search of Spiritual Medicine, they were truly delving deep into the forest.

The dense branches and leaves obscured their vision, making it impossible to see anything clearly even a short distance away. They could only faintly hear the occasional roars of beasts from the depths of the forest.

”The demonic beasts on the outskirts have been mostly cleared out by the Bureau. The ones left are just ordinary animals.”

Luo Anning said in a low voice to Su Mu as they walked, ”But sometimes, demonic creatures from the deeper mountains wander out, so we still can’t let our guard down.”

”Any place where foul qi gathers is extremely prone to spawning demonic and fiendish creatures.”

Luo Anning knew Su Mu had no experience training in the mountains, so she took every opportunity to pass on her own knowledge.

”On the outskirts of Daxing Mountain, there’s a common type of fiend called a Corpse Demon. They are formed when buried corpses are corrupted by Demonic Qi, and they love to devour fresh blood.”

Luo Anning whispered, ”Corpse Demons vary in strength. If we run into one, we must be extremely careful.”

Su Mu nodded slightly, feeling his repository of knowledge had grown once more.

As they were speaking, a thick, putrid stench suddenly assaulted them, carried into their nostrils by the mountain wind. It was unbearably foul.

Feng Zhengqian pinched his nose, a look of disgust on his face.

”Envoy Feng, ahead is one of the places I mentioned.”

Luo Anning pointed to a deep ravine that had suddenly appeared before them and turned back to Feng Zhengqian. ”There’s a swamp at the bottom of the ravine where foul Demonic Qi converges. In the past, some herb-gathering mountain folk unfortunately fell in and eventually turned into Corpse Demons.

I once came here with my senior brothers to slay the Corpse Demons, which is how I know about this place.”

Feng Zhengqian nodded, then pointed a casual finger at Su Mu. ”You. Go down and see if there’s any Rainbow Grass.”

Su Mu didn’t argue. He walked to the edge of the cliff.

”Be careful!”

Luo Anning whispered.

Su Mu nodded and leaped down.

’It’d be great if there’s a Corpse Demon down there to bite that Su bastard to death!’

Hu Guangshao cursed inwardly as he watched Su Mu leap down.

”Senior Brother Feng, please sit and rest for a bit.”

Hu Guangshao took a folding stool from his back, set it up on the ground, and said to Feng Zhengqian, ”Just let them do the menial tasks. Only a specialized job like harvesting Spiritual Medicine requires your personal touch, Senior Brother.”

As he spoke, he handed over a waterskin.

”Mm.”

Feng Zhengqian nodded slightly, clearly enjoying Hu Guangshao’s attentive service.

About an hour later, Su Mu climbed back up the cliff.

”No Rainbow Grass.”

he said, shaking his head.

Feng Zhengqian didn’t say anything. If Rainbow Grass were that easy to find, the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect wouldn’t have needed to send him specifically.

”On to the next location.”

he said, getting up.

Hu Guangshao quickly folded the stool again and slung it onto his back.

”Senior Brother, I’ll clear the path for you!”

He swung the blade in his hand, chopping down the branches blocking their way.

...

For the next several days, the group continuously traveled through the mountain forest.

They searched for Spiritual Medicine during the day and camped in the forest at night.

The weakest among them was at the Third Stage of Body Tempering, so they could endure sleeping in the wild.

To Su Mu’s surprise, although Feng Zhengqian complained nonstop, he actually managed to keep up.

’To become a True Disciple of the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect, this Feng Zhengqian couldn’t be a complete idiot after all.’

On the seventh day, they successfully found a stalk of Rainbow Grass.

In his excitement, Feng Zhengqian rejected Su Mu’s suggestion to return to a supply point to rest and insisted on continuing.

Several consecutive days without danger had made Feng Zhengqian forget the perils of the Daxing Mountain Range.

After all, for Martial Artists who had achieved Body Tempering, as long as they had food and water, the hardship of trekking through the mountain forests was completely bearable.

After a few more days of this, they successfully found the second Spiritual Medicine, the Blood-crying Branch.

”You’ve done well. After this is all over, I definitely won’t treat you unfairly.”

Feng Zhengqian was ecstatic. If he could gather all the Spiritual Medicine and return, he would certainly receive a great reward from the sect.

”Let’s just push on a little longer, everyone. After we find the Profound Pearl Grass, we’ll head back to the supply point and rest.”

Feng Zhengqian was dangling a carrot in front of them.

The recent success had filled him with motivation. His earlier complaints were gone, and even his gaze toward Su Mu and Luo Anning had become much friendlier.

”You two have worked hard as well. When we get back, I will request commendations for you from the Taiping Bureau.”

Feng Zhengqian said to Su Mu and Luo Anning.

”It’s just part of our duty.”

Su Mu said nonchalantly.

”Senior Brother Feng, this is what they’re supposed to do. You don’t need to be so polite to them.”

Hu Guangshao spoke up like the sycophant he was. ”Senior Brother, I know where to find the Profound Pearl Grass!”

”Oh? You know where? Speak up! If we can find the Profound Pearl Grass, I’ll make sure you get major credit for this!”

Feng Zhengqian said, overjoyed.

”Senior Brother, just leave it to me.”

Hu Guangshao shot a provocative glance at Su Mu, a hint of viciousness flashing deep in his eyes.

Hu Guangshao took the lead. Su Mu and Luo Anning had no objections; they were happy for the chance to take it easy and followed slowly behind the group.

As they continued on, Luo Anning couldn’t help but frown slightly.

”What is it? Is something wrong?”

Su Mu slowed his pace to walk beside Luo Anning and asked in a low voice.

”Nothing’s wrong.”

Luo Anning shook her head and said, ”But this path leads deeper into the Daxing Mountain Range. We’re going a bit too far in.”

The fact that they hadn’t encountered any demons or fiends for several days had made everyone feel that the dangers of the Daxing Mountain Range were exaggerated.

But Luo Anning knew they had just been lucky; it wasn’t that the Daxing Mountain Range was devoid of danger.

Especially once you went deeper, you could encounter unexpected dangers at any moment.

Su Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Hu Guangshao clearing the path ahead with his long blade. He said in a low voice, ”Let’s go a bit further. If we still haven’t arrived, then remind Feng Zhengqian.”

Luo Anning nodded. She looked around and thought that perhaps she was just overthinking things.

They were still on the outskirts, just a little deeper than she had gone before. It was far from the true depths of the Daxing Mountain Range.

The sky gradually darkened.

Hu Guangshao suddenly stopped and pointed to a pitch-black cave entrance ahead. ”Senior Brother Feng, this is it!”

”Here?”

Feng Zhengqian observed his surroundings with some caution.

”Yes, this is the place, Senior Brother. Back when I was a Taiping Bureau White Clothes, I was training in the mountains and happened to rest in this cave once.

It was only when you mentioned the Profound Pearl Grass just now, Senior Brother, that I realized I saw some plants deep inside this cave that look exactly like the Profound Pearl Grass you described.”

Hu Guangshao explained.

Only then did Feng Zhengqian nod. ”Junior Brother, you really are lucky. The Profound Pearl Grass is one of the most important goals of my trip. By finding it, you’ve performed a great service.

Leave the matter of the Hundred Herbs Blood Exchange Method to me. I guarantee you’ll get what you want.”

he said, patting Hu Guangshao’s shoulder.

”Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Hu Guangshao said, overjoyed. He bowed his head, feigning elation, so no one noticed the flash of humiliation, resentment, and deep killing intent in the depths of his eyes.

”Senior Brother, there’s no danger in this cave. I’ll lead the way. Come with me to harvest the Profound Pearl Grass.”

Hu Guangshao walked forward, blade in hand.

The others all followed.

Su Mu and Luo Anning, however, fell to the rear. Just as they were about to enter the cave, a bloodcurdling scream suddenly echoed from within.