A Chance Encounter in the Mountains

Ning Chuan carefully put away the Century-Old Polygonatum, his heart filled with the joy of a fruitful harvest.

After resting briefly and eating some of the dry provisions he had brought to restore his strength, he got back on his feet and turned his gaze toward the next target area.

An old pine forest farther up the mountainside.

Poria grew parasitically on pine roots.

To find Poria old enough, he had to go where there were many pine trees and the trees themselves were old.

He climbed along the rugged mountain path. The higher he went, the taller the trees became, the quieter the forest grew, and the air filled with the rich, fragrant scent of pine resin.

Sunlight filtered through the dense pine needles, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow across the forest floor.

Ning Chuan slowed down, his sharp gaze sweeping over the roots of one ancient pine after another. He paid particular attention to spots where the ground bulged slightly or bore unusual traces of mycelium.

The Ten Thousand Herb Appraisal recorded that high-quality Poria was often buried deep underground, leaving few obvious signs on the surface. Finding it required abundant experience and a bit of luck.

He walked and stopped, occasionally using the small medicinal hoe he had brought to gently clear away pine needles and loose soil for a careful inspection.

Time slipped quietly by amid his focused search.

Before he knew it, he had already ventured deep into the heart of the pine forest.

Just as he bent down to inspect the roots of an old pine whose cracked bark resembled dragon scales, an extremely faint yet rhythmic set of footsteps sounded from not far behind him.

Someone!

Ning Chuan's heart tightened. He immediately straightened up in alertness, gripping his medicinal hoe as he turned toward the sound.

On the forest path, a black-haired youth in patched coarse cloth walked slowly toward him. He was lean, yet exceptionally upright.

Fine beads of sweat covered the youth's forehead, and his breathing was slightly hurried, as though he had just undergone intense exercise. Yet his gaze was calm, his steps steady, and his aura tightly contained.

Tang San!

He had clearly just finished his morning training and was on his way back to the village.

Tang San also spotted Ning Chuan. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, as though he had not expected to encounter someone from the same village in such deep mountain woods.

His gaze instinctively swept over the medicinal hoe in Ning Chuan's hand and the basket set aside nearby containing the Polygonatum. His brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Ning Chuan?" Tang San stopped and greeted him, his voice calm.

"Tang San?" Ning Chuan likewise let down his guard, revealing just the right amount of surprise and a touch of simple honesty. "You came up the mountain to train?"

"Mm." Tang San nodded, keeping his answer brief.

His gaze fell on Ning Chuan's basket again, seemingly more interested in what was inside. "You're... digging for medicinal herbs?"

There was a trace of probing in Tang San's tone.

Aside from old Village Chief Jack occasionally gathering some ordinary herbs, the villagers of Holy Soul Village rarely entered the mountains specifically for that purpose—especially not a half-grown child like Ning Chuan.

Ning Chuan's thoughts raced, but he put on an embarrassed smile and patted the basket. "Yeah. I went into town with my dad a couple of days ago and heard people say some old herbs in the mountains can fetch a bit of money. So I thought I'd try my luck and see if I could dig up some to help support the family."

He picked up the medicinal hoe and gave it a little wave. "Just digging around blindly. I don't even know if I'm doing it right."

As he spoke, Ning Chuan casually took out the Century-Old Polygonatum he had just dug up and held it before his eyes for a closer look. He muttered, "This thing... looks pretty old, but I don't know if it's the kind people were talking about..."

Sunlight streamed through the pine needles and fell upon the oddly shaped Polygonatum, its roots twisted and tangled, its color deep and dark.

Tang San's gaze was instantly drawn to it!

As a disciple of the Tang Sect, his past-life research into poisons and hidden weapons had been inseparable from a thorough knowledge of medicinal herbs. Although the medicinal properties of herbs on the Douluo Continent might not entirely match those of his former world, the forms of certain basic herbs and methods of judging their age were universal!

With a single glance, Tang San could tell that the Polygonatum in Ning Chuan's hand was anything but ordinary!

Its shape, its color, the density of its roots... it was clearly an ancient medicinal herb of considerable age! Its value was far beyond that of ordinary herbs!

A flash of barely perceptible surprise and... burning desire flickered in Tang San's eyes!

But he quickly forced that heat down and returned to calm.

He merely nodded faintly. "Judging by its form, it's quite old. It's a fine herb."

His tone was flat, as if he were simply making an offhand remark.

Ning Chuan took in Tang San's subtle reaction completely. He secretly laughed, but put on a delighted expression. "Really? That's great! Looks like there really are good things in these mountains!"

Then he warmly looked at Tang San and invited him, "Tang San, you have sharp eyes, and you definitely know more than I do. How about... we look together? I heard there's another herb called Poria that grows beneath pine roots and is worth a fair bit too. If we find it, I'll give you a share of the money from selling it!"

Ning Chuan pointed at the dense pine forest around them. "This place is so huge. I couldn't search all of it by myself even if I looked until dark."

Tang San was visibly stunned upon hearing that.

Search together? Split the money?

It would be a lie to say he was not tempted.

For Tang San, whose family was currently impoverished and had to rely on blacksmithing to save money, any means of earning money held tremendous appeal.

Moreover, gathering medicinal herbs had been his old profession in his past life. It was something he knew like the back of his hand.

If he could find some sufficiently aged medicinal herbs, it would undoubtedly greatly ease his family's financial strain and provide more materials for making hidden weapons in the future.

Tang San's gaze swept over the Century-Old Polygonatum again, then over this untouched old pine forest. His heart involuntarily sped up by several beats.

Yet just as he was about to nod in agreement.

His father Tang Hao's haggard yet imposing face suddenly flashed through his mind.

Tang Hao had explicitly warned him not to be distracted by other matters, but to focus on practicing the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer and lay a solid foundation for forging and future cultivation.

If his father found out that, instead of properly forging iron, he had run into the mountains to dig for herbs...

Tang San could practically see Tang Hao's cold gaze, filled with disappointment and displeasure.

More importantly, Tang San subconsciously did not want anyone to know that he was proficient in medicinal herbs.

This was one of his secret trump cards from another world.

At that thought, the temptation in Tang San's eyes swiftly faded, replaced by his usual calm detachment.

He shook his head and flatly refused Ning Chuan's invitation. "No. I have things to do. My dad told me to go back early and forge iron."

After saying that, he did not spare another glance for the Polygonatum or the surrounding pine forest. He gave Ning Chuan a slight nod, turned around, and quickly headed down the mountain along the path he had taken up.

His steps remained steady, yet they seemed a little faster than before.

Ning Chuan stood where he was, watching Tang San's rapidly retreating back—slightly thin but straight and upright. A meaningful curve slowly formed at the corner of his mouth.

He refused?

That was within expectations.

Tang Hao's restrictions, Tang San's own caution, and his secrets all ensured that he would not easily cooperate with someone else, especially a fellow village child he barely knew.

But... was he tempted?

Ning Chuan could say with certainty that Tang San had absolutely been tempted.

He had noticed that fleeting shift in Tang San's eyes.

As long as he was tempted, things would be easy.

The seed had already been planted.

With Tang San's character and abilities, once he realized the value of this mountain forest, he would never remain indifferent.

Perhaps before long, this future Sea God would return alone and secretly to this pine forest...

"Heh..." Ning Chuan chuckled softly, withdrew his gaze, and no longer paid attention to Tang San's departure.