Dense forests surrounded a quiet path that wound and twisted through the trees. Flowers and grasses swayed along either side, giving off a faint fragrance.
"Master, where are we going? Didn't you say you'd teach me medicine?"
Hua Dou gently patted Peng Yi on the head. "Before you can learn medicine, you must learn to recognize herbs. Without herbs, even if you know what's wrong with someone, you still won't be able to treat them."
Peng Yi scratched his head. "I thought that as long as you had pills, they could cure any illness."
Hua Dou glanced at the simple, half-grown boy and burst out laughing. "Those would be miraculous elixirs. Look, the plant with little yellow flowers on top is purslane. It's one of the most common medicinal herbs. It's cold in nature and sour in taste, and it can clear heat, detoxify, promote urination, dispel dampness, disperse blood stasis, reduce swelling, and kill parasites and bacteria. It can also be eaten."
Peng Yi carefully took note of every plant they encountered. Some could cure illnesses, while others could harm people.
Just then, a carriage appeared on the silent path, escorted by three or four guards.
One of the middle-aged men took a close look at Hua Dou and smiled. "I'm Lu Xing. I didn't expect fate would bring us together again, old sir." Then he glanced at the basket on Hua Dou's back and asked curiously, "Are you a physician?"
Hua Dou recognized him as the man who had scolded Zhang San with the dark face at the market. Back then, he'd shown a reasonable degree of courtesy.
Lu Xing smiled faintly, patted his horse on the back with his left hand, and made it whinny. The horse slowly walked toward Hua Dou. Lu Xing then dismounted and