He wandered dejectedly down the deserted long street. He still preferred the quiet of the mountain, where there was only the sound of wind and water flowing through the channels.
At the alley entrance by the General Store, Red Clothes floated silently with her arms folded. The wind gently lifted her scarlet skirts, making them sway like burning flames. Her face still wore its customary sneer.
"I heard Scholar Jin went down the mountain to fight. Looking like that, don't tell me you got hurt? If you really did, I'll have to give you a good mocking."
Her words had barbs, but her eyes swept over the Black Flood Dragon, inspecting his scales and all four claws, carefully checking him from head to tail for wounds.
Jin Si automatically ignored her snide tone, pretending not to hear as he considered more pressing matters.
The time was drawing near. Putting off the matter of hibernation any longer was no solution.
Since he had spent a month or so without figuring anything out, he might as well ask Red Clothes. Though a young lady raised in the inner chambers would have read only a limited amount, she was literate, after all. Perhaps she could offer an idea.
He picked out the crucial question.
"I want to take all the medicinal herbs away in one trip, without letting their scent escape. How should I carry them?"
At his words, Red Clothes dropped her sneer and narrowed her eyes in serious thought. A whirlwind swept up dead leaves and sent them circling beside the alley entrance. Her scarlet hem swayed gently, and she stopped needling the Black Flood Dragon.
After a brief moment of consideration, she quickly came up with an idea.
"What's so difficult about that? Find a few big bags and sling