Up the Mountain

"Tomorrow? The roads are muddy and hard to travel, and herbs aren't that easy to find. Wait until spring. Besides, how many years has it been since you last went up that mountain?"

Li Youde frowned.

"You've only been reading that book for a few days, and you already dare to go up the mountain to gather herbs?

You think reading a book gives you more experience than old herbalists?"

Without waiting for Li Xiao to answer, he continued.

"Dad, I've already read through most of the book. I know exactly what these herbs look like and understand the habits of all kinds of herbs. Let me give it a try."

Li Xiao hurriedly said.

Li Youde slowly shook his head. Sitting in his chair, he patted the stool beside him to signal Li Xiao to sit down, then said earnestly,

"Xiao, it isn't that Dad doesn't believe you. The situation in the mountains is terribly complicated. It's not as simple as you imagine.

Even if you can recognize herbs, some of them grow in dangerous places. One careless step, and you could be in danger.

It snowed just a few days ago. The mountain path is wet and slippery. What if you fall, or run into some wild beast?"

Li Xiao understood that Old Dad was worried about him, but he also wanted to contribute to the family as soon as possible.

Only by earning money quickly and nursing his body back to health could he focus on learning hunting and archery.

"Dad, I'll be careful. I'll bring the family's woodcutter, and if I encounter a wild beast, I can handle it somewhat.

Besides, I'll only search around the Foot of the Mountain. I won't go deep into the mountains.

I want to gather more herbs and sell them for money to improve the lives of you and Eldest Sister. I can also buy you more medicine for your injuries."

Hearing this, Li Youde felt both helpless and gratified.

Li Yu spoke up then as well.

"Dad, if Little Brother wants to go, let him give it a try."

"Fine, then. But don't go anywhere too dangerous. Herbs are not something you can force."

Li Youde said helplessly.

Li Xiao nodded.

Still worried, Li Youde pulled Li Xiao aside and continued talking to him about places the villagers often visited.

Li Xiao nodded and committed them to memory.

Early the next morning, Li Xiao was already up. His body had mostly recovered.

He picked up a hoe, slung a basket over his back, and placed a woodcutter inside it.

Li Youde had risen as well. After giving him a few more reminders, he stuffed two coarse grain pancakes into Li Xiao's arms and watched him head up the mountain.

The muddy road beneath his feet was mixed with lingering snow. Every step left a deep hollow, and Li Xiao's trouser legs were soon covered in mud.

Following Old Dad's route, he first headed toward the gentle eastern slope.

After walking for over two hours, he came upon a somewhat steep slope.

More than half the snow on the slope had melted, exposing withered yellow grass roots.

Beneath the large rocks on the slope, scattered bushes stood crookedly askew.

Li Xiao climbed the gentle slope, set down his basket, and crouched to inspect the area carefully.

Within one bush, several Bupleurum plants pushed through the dead fallen leaves, their roots bulging beneath the soil.

Carefully parting the Bushes, he used his hoe to loosen the surrounding earth.

Bupleurum roots were dense and fragile. With even a little too much force, they would easily snap.

He slowly cleared away the soil, revealing the yellowish-brown roots. With a gentle tug, he pulled out an intact Bupleurum plant.

"That's right. This is it."

Comparing it with the illustrations in his mind, he examined the vertical lines on the roots and the remnant stem at the top before placing it into his basket with satisfaction.

In only a short while, he had gathered seven or eight plants. Though they were not especially thick, they would still sell for some money. Even if he kept them for himself, they could help nourish his body.

As he headed toward the pine forest, the fallen leaves beneath his feet were thick enough to cover his ankles.

The forest was dim, and Li Xiao widened his eyes as he searched through the layer of decaying leaves.

Suddenly, he spotted a patch of dark green—it was an old Dandelion root!

Though its leaves had long since withered, the root buried beneath the earth was thick and long, its skin carrying a faint brownish hue.

He pried apart the frozen soil with his woodcutter and dug up more than ten roots in succession, their root hairs still stained with damp black earth.

Li Xiao was delighted. The entire Dandelion plant could be used as medicine. Once these old roots were dried, the apothecary would definitely buy them.

Gathering so many herbs must have something to do with the Special skill Herbal Mastery.

Its trait of making herbs easier to find had played a huge role. After all, finding herbs in the dead of winter was difficult enough, much less obtaining so many in a row.

Just as he was about to head for Rubble Slope, he suddenly heard a rustling sound not far away.

Li Xiao's heart tightened. Gripping his woodcutter, he slowly approached. Parting the branches, he saw a grayish-brown Wild Rabbit squatting beneath a tree root, gnawing on something.

Remembering his father's words, he did not dare disturb it.

Li Xiao held his breath and carefully took two steps back, afraid of startling the Wild Rabbit, though his eyes remained locked on it.

That beast was remarkably plump, its gray fur sleek and glossy. He had enjoyed Rabbit meat in his previous life, but he had never seen one this large.

By rough estimate, it weighed several pounds—enough for the family to eat for several meals.

To be honest, after drinking millet porridge for so long, he had nearly forgotten what meat tasted like. Even the pig offal he had eaten yesterday only had a faint meaty flavor.

But without seasonings, that pig offal had been terribly gamey and far from tasty. How could it compare to Rabbit meat?

He vaguely remembered Old Dad saying one day that Wild Rabbits were clever creatures.

If it spotted him, he most likely would not be able to catch up.

He had to circle around to its downwind side and Make a Move while it was unprepared.

Li Xiao crept around to the Wild Rabbit's downwind side, hiding among the Bushes as he edged forward bit by bit.

That beast was still lowering its head and gnawing away, completely unaware that danger was closing in.

A light sweat formed in Li Xiao's palms.

When he was only two steps away, Li Xiao set down his basket and flung it toward the Wild Rabbit. The basket carved a heavy arc through the air, carrying dead branches, leaves, and dirt as it descended straight over that gray shape.

Hearing the Sound of wind, the Wild Rabbit kicked off with its hind legs and tried to dart away, but it was already half a beat too slow. Half its body was trapped beneath the basket, while its rear half kicked wildly outside, scattering fallen leaves everywhere.

Li Xiao pressed down on the struggling creature through the basket and grabbed it in one swift motion.

Startled, the Wild Rabbit struggled frantically, all four legs kicking madly, but how could it compare to Li Xiao's strength?

Li Xiao pulled out a hemp rope from the basket and tied the Wild Rabbit up tightly before finally tossing it into the basket in relief.

Li Xiao had simply been lucky. Even many old hunters could not guarantee a catch every time.

Such a fat rabbit should sell for some money too, right?

Li Xiao thought to himself, but he did not plan to sell it.

In a couple of days, he would begin learning archery from Old Dad.

Practicing archery consumed a great deal of strength. If he only ate millet porridge, his nutrition would never keep up.

Besides, the millet at home was enough to last them for some time.

Patting the dirt off his hands, Li Xiao's steps quickened.

When he reached Rubble Slope, he did not forget his main task and focused on searching for Fang Feng and Gastrodia.

The Fang Feng growing in the cracks between the rocks was indeed flourishing. Following the rules, he harvested the lower half of the roots and buried the remaining half.

Just as he was digging with enthusiasm, he caught sight of a reddish-brown bud exposed in the rotten soil beneath a rock—it was Gastrodia!

Li Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly set down his hoe and used his hands to clear away the dirt bit by bit.

The Gastrodia tuber was as long as a palm. Its yellow-white skin was ringed with clear circular markings, and it was precisely Dong Ma.

He carefully dug out the Gastrodia whole, placing it into his basket as though holding a treasure. Then he searched the surrounding area closely and actually found three more smaller plants, all of which he carefully stored away.

After walking for so long, Li Xiao was growing hungry. He took out the dry pancakes from his arms and ate them.

The pancakes were hard and coarse, scratching his throat painfully as he chewed. Li Xiao slowly swallowed them with chunks of snow gathered from the mountain stream.

The snow water was icy cold as it slid down his throat, but it eased some of his thirst.

He rested beneath an old pine tree, looking at the Half full basket of herbs and the tightly bound Wild Rabbit. His heart felt immensely steady.

With grain at home, there was no panic in the heart.

After eating, he rested for a while. Looking up, he saw that the sun had begun to tilt westward.

Li Xiao hurriedly gathered dry deadwood. The mountain was some distance from the village, and with the slippery roads, if he delayed any longer, he would not even be able to see the way down the mountain. Danger would be hard to avoid.