Forest Herb Gathering 1

Dusk had settled in, and the orange-red afterglow of the setting sun gently spilled over the Liu Family's small courtyard, draping the entire yard in a warm halo.

The Blue Silver Grass swayed gently in the breeze, producing a faint Rustling Sound.

Just then, a deep bark suddenly came from the courtyard, shattering the peace.

Liu Feng instinctively turned toward the gate. A Flash in the Eyes revealed his excitement, and he smiled as he said, "Bring Gulu along too! He's already two years old—it's time for him to see some blood. Maybe he'll even be a great help in the forest."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qing pondered for a moment. Gulu's usual agile and clever appearance surfaced in his mind, and he finally Nodded in Agreement. "That works. Gulu is a rare and excellent hunting dog. Bringing him along will give us another layer of protection when we enter the mountains."

Liu Bai sat nearby, gently stroking his beard with a mild smile on his face. He said in agreement, "Then it's settled. Tomorrow morning, we'll call Uncle Li, Er Hu, and Liu San, and head into the mountains together. There's strength in numbers, and it'll be safer too."

Liu Qing nodded in approval and added, "Uncle Li knows the forest like the back of his hand. With him around, we can avoid plenty of detours. Er Hu and Liu San are both quite capable too. They can lend a hand along the way."

Afterward, the three of them sat together and enthusiastically discussed the details of tomorrow's trip into the mountains.

From the tools they needed to bring and sufficient Dry Rations to all the dangers they might encounter, every aspect was considered thoroughly.

Liu Feng listened especially carefully, curiosity glimmering in his eyes. From time to time, he chimed in with questions of his own, both nervous and excited.

After dinner, Liu Feng did not immediately begin cultivating as usual. Instead, he ran lightly into the courtyard, Squat Down, and gently stroked Gulu's head. "Gulu, we're going to the forest together tomorrow. You'd better perform well!"

Gulu seemed to understand his master's words. He excitedly wagged his Tail, letting out low whimpers from his throat, his lively eyes brimming with eagerness.

Liu Feng Stood Up and looked up at the twinkling stars in the Night Sky.

His heart was filled with anticipation for tomorrow. Every cell in his body seemed to be cheering for the journey ahead.

At the Same Time, Liu Bai put on a thick outer robe and turned to Liu Qing. "I'm going to speak with Old Li about tomorrow. You prepare the Medicinal Materials and tools we need to bring."

Liu Qing nodded. "All right, Dad. Be careful on the way."

With steady steps, Liu Bai left the courtyard and headed toward Uncle Li's home at the eastern end of the village.

The night breeze brushed softly past him, carrying a hint of chill, yet it did not slow his stride in the slightest.

He had already begun Carefully Checking through tomorrow's route in his mind, as well as the Soul Beasts they might encounter.

In the courtyard, Liu Feng stood quietly beside the patch of Blue Silver Grass. He took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state.

He could clearly sense the faint Soul Power fluctuation emitted by the Blue Silver Grass. That power was gentle and warm, as though it were silently blessing his adventure tomorrow.

The Blue Silver Grass's Soul Power fluctuation seems gentler at night... Liu Feng mused inwardly.

He tried to synchronize his own soul power with the Blue Silver Grass's fluctuations. Gradually, his breathing became deep and steady. The soul power Inside the Body flowed slowly through his Meridians like a trickling stream, nourishing every cell and making it more active.

As the night deepened, the Liu Family's courtyard remained busy and full of life.

Everyone was making their final preparations for tomorrow's journey into the forest. Their excitement for the unknown was like the stars glittering in the Night Sky, illuminating the entire courtyard.

Tomorrow, they would Step Into the depths of the forest together and face unknown challenges.

And all of this was an important step on Liu Feng's path to becoming a Soul Master.

At the Same Time, Grandpa Liu Bai arrived at Old Li's home to discuss tomorrow's hunting trip into the mountains with Uncle Li.

Uncle Li was the village's most experienced Hunter. Having roamed these mountains and forests for many years, he knew the forest's terrain and the habits of ordinary Soul Beasts like the back of his hand. With him along, the safety of this trip would increase greatly.

"Old Li, are you free tomorrow?" Liu Bai raised a hand and knocked on Uncle Li's door, his voice loud and hearty.

"Uncle Liu? What brings you here so late?" Uncle Li opened the door. The moment he saw Liu Bai, a warm smile immediately appeared on his face.

"We're planning to head into the mountains tomorrow to gather some Medicinal Materials and see if we can hunt a Soul Beast while we're at it. We'd like you to come with us, so we can look out for each other." Liu Bai stated his purpose directly.

Uncle Li Nodded in Agreement Without Hesitation. "Sure. I haven't had much to do lately anyway. Shall we meet at the village entrance tomorrow morning?"

"Good, it's settled then. Oh, and don't forget to bring Hu Zi and Liu San too. At their age, it's about time they got some experience." Liu Bai patted Uncle Li on the shoulder, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Sure. It's time those young lads saw some blood," Uncle Li replied with a smile.

On the Other Side, Liu Qing returned Inside the Room and began methodically organizing the tools and Medicinal Materials he would bring tomorrow.

He took out the herb-gathering shovel, Sickle, and Medicine Basket one by one, Carefully Checked them over, and made sure they were sharp and undamaged.

He also carefully prepared some emergency wound medicine and Dry Rations, arranging every item neatly.

Afterward, Liu Qing went into the courtyard and continued working.

He sorted the Medicinal Materials picked from the fields that day one by one. Some needed to be dried, while others needed to be ground into powder.

His movements were skilled and meticulous. Clearly, he had long since become thoroughly familiar with processing these Medicinal Materials.

After a while, Liu Bai returned from Uncle Li's home. Seeing Liu Feng cultivating with full concentration, he nodded slightly, then went over to his son and helped process The Remaining Medicinal Materials.

Before they knew it, the moon had quietly climbed above the treetops. Bright Moonlight spilled into the courtyard like a layer of Silver Gauze, making the entire yard exceptionally bright.

After Liu Qing finished everything, he quietly walked over to Liu Feng and said softly, "Xiao Feng, it's time to rest. We have to get up early tomorrow."

Liu Feng slowly opened his eyes, still carrying a trace of post-meditation clarity in his gaze, and nodded. "All right, Father."

He Stood Up and looked once more at the Blue Silver Grass in the courtyard, his heart full of anticipation.

Under the moonlight, the leaves of the Blue Silver Grass shimmered with a faint glow.

In the darkness of night, Liu Feng returned to his room and lay on the bed, his mind continuously replaying everything that had happened that day.

He knew that tomorrow's journey into the forest would be an important milestone on his path as a Soul Master.

With such Thoughts in his mind, he gradually drifted into sleep, a faint smile still lingering at the Corner of the Mouth.

In the courtyard, Liu Qing looked up at the moon in the sky and murmured softly, "I hope everything goes smoothly—that we can gather some well-aged medicinal materials, and..."

Moonlight spilled across the courtyard, and the Blue Silver Grass swayed gently in the night breeze, as though silently praying for tomorrow's adventure.

Early in the morning, when the sky had only just begun to brighten and the First Ray of Sunlight had yet to fully pierce the clouds, Liu Feng was already up.

He quickly packed his gear, carefully checking every item one by one: the tools for gathering herbs, dry rations and a water flask, as well as his bow and arrow and a short spear, making sure nothing had been left behind.

Grandpa had specifically told him to bring the short spear. He had warned Liu Feng that he was not expected to risk his life if danger arose; the bow and arrow were for shooting from a distance, while the short spear could be thrown at short to medium range and might prove crucial in a critical moment.

Gulu seemed to sense his master's excitement as well. Wagging his tail, he ran happily back and forth through the courtyard, letting out a few low barks from time to time, as though urging his master to set off quickly.

Liu Qing and Liu Bai were ready as well.

Liu Qing carried a large Medicine Basket on his back, filled with herb-gathering tools and some emergency medicine. The heavy basket did not affect his stride in the slightest.

He held a long spear in his hand. Its shaft was slender and straight, its tip incomparably sharp, glinting with a cold light in the morning light.

Liu Bai brought along his Hunting Knife and bow and arrow. He gripped the knife's handle tightly, while the bowstring was drawn taut, clearly prepared for any danger they might encounter.

"Let's go. Don't keep Uncle Li and the others waiting too long." Liu Bai waved, signaling Liu Feng and Liu Qing to follow.

The three of them headed toward the village entrance with Gulu.

Along the way, the early morning breeze brushed lightly over them, bringing a hint of coolness that left them feeling refreshed.

From afar, they saw that Uncle Li, Er Hu, and Liu San were already waiting there.

Uncle Li had a Hard Bow and quiver slung over his back, with several homemade Bamboo Arrows tucked inside. Their arrowheads had been sharpened to an extreme edge. His gaze was alert and keen, as though he could see through every danger lurking in the forest.

Er Hu and Liu San each carried a satchel on their backs and held Wooden Spears in their hands. Excited smiles filled their faces; clearly, they were brimming with confidence about this trip into the forest.

Three sturdy Hunting Dogs followed beside Uncle Li. Their eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and their bodies were agile and powerful. They were clearly all seasoned hunters.

The moment Gulu saw the Hunting Dogs beside Uncle Li, he excitedly sprinted over and happily circled around them. All four dogs looked rather alike, so they were probably Gulu's brothers and sisters.

"Morning, Uncle Li!" Liu Feng strode forward with a smile, his voice full of youthful vigor as he greeted him.

Uncle Li nodded, a kindly smile appearing on his face. "Xiao Feng, make sure you perform well today! The forest isn't like the village—danger is everywhere, so be careful."

Liu Feng patted his chest and said confidently, "Don't worry. I definitely won't hold everyone back!"

Er Hu and Liu San came over as well. Er Hu patted Liu Feng on the shoulder and said with a grin, "Xiao Feng, let's compete today and see who can hunt the biggest animal!"

Liu Feng replied with a smile, "Sure! The loser buys the meal!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere became lighthearted and cheerful.

Liu Bai glanced at the sky. The sun was gradually rising, and it was getting late, so he said, "It's getting late. Let's set off."

With the four Hunting Dogs, the group set off grandly toward the forest.

The early morning forest was shrouded in a layer of thin mist, like a mysterious painting.

Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves and fell upon the ground, forming Dappled Light and Shadow like patches of golden scales.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of soil, grass, and trees—the purest fragrance of nature. From time to time, they could hear birdsong drifting from afar, clear and pleasant, as though playing a beautiful melody for their journey.