Two days later, the caravan bound for Stone Desert City loaded its last few crates outside the Xiao Clan's gates.
The caravan leader Xiao Ding had chosen came from Mo Tie and knew the roads along the desert's edge well. Besides delivering goods, they would purchase several heat-loving, drought-resistant medicinal herbs. Their stops along the way had already been marked on the map.
Xiao Yan stood beside a cart, listening to his eldest brother explain where the old shops were, when soft footsteps sounded behind him.
Qing Lin approached with a small bundle on her back. It held changes of clothes, the Medicine Record, and her copy of the Azure Spirit Soul-Nourishing Manual.
Xiao Yi Xian tucked two medicine bottles into the outside of her bundle.
"For the journey. One has a white label, the other a green one. Don't mix them up."
"I can tell them apart."
Qing Lin nodded, then couldn't help glancing back into the courtyard.
"The Herb Garden..."
"You have me here. I've kept your little wooden markers too. When you come back, you can keep writing on them."
Smiling, Xiao Yi Xian tightened the ties on her bundle.
The newly transplanted seedlings had yet to recover, and the Medicine Hall needed herbs identified every day, so she would not accompany them this time. Xiao Lan would stay home as well.
Hai Bodong had settled in the shade early, casually reading a letter he had just received.
Passing him, Xiao Yan smiled. "Elder Hai, no need to trouble you with escorting us this time."
"With your master here, would you ever lack an escort?"
Hai Bodong put the letter away and lifted his chin.
"I'll be here to watch over the family. Go without worry."
Xun'er stood by the gate. Only when Xiao Yan approached did