Because it had rained, the ancient path through the mountains was rather muddy. Wherever the herb gatherer went, he naturally left behind a trail of footprints.
His steps suddenly halted as he listened intently.
A faint flute melody seemed to drift over from afar, hazy and indistinct.
A flute?
The herb gatherer froze for a moment, unable to understand why there would be flute music in these mountains. Perhaps it was someone who lived here, playing in their spare time.
He did not think too much about it and continued onward.
Puddles could occasionally be seen along the road. The herb gatherer tried his best to walk on the grass at the sides or on scattered stones, which took less effort.
The flute music gradually became clearer.
The thin mist in the forest slowly dispersed. The herb gatherer never stopped walking, but when he passed a bend in the road, he saw a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life.
The white-skirted girl's hem fluttered gracefully, her long black hair swaying in the wind. She was neither bewitching nor coquettish; her pure, exquisite face seemed not of this mortal world. Holding a Bamboo Flute to her lips, she played a beautiful, soothing melody.
Amid the crowd, one radiant glance swept through all; the colors of the human world turned to dust.
The herb gatherer stood stunned. Even Xiaorong could not compare to such beauty. She seemed like a fairy from the heavens descending into the mortal realm. He did not know how to describe her—only that she was peerless beauty in this world.
The girl was startled as well, seemingly not expecting to encounter a traveler on this mountain path.
With a faint smile, the pleasant sound of the flute rose once more.
The herb gatherer's