Cheng Xinzhan handed over the orchid. He did not know what kind it was, but it had been packaged separately when Red Unfinished Ridge sent it over.
The woman took it and examined it closely, murmuring to herself,
"The leaves are tongue-shaped, lush and emerald green, the roots fine and the stem short, and both flowers and leaves are fragrant. This is a lady's slipper orchid! One of the finest orchids, and it's even been put into dormancy by a touch, so its chances of surviving are extremely high."
Holding the orchid, the woman asked, "Fellow Daoist, would you be willing to part with this lady's slipper orchid? We can discuss the price."
Cheng Xinzhan knew little about it, so he asked, "It was a gift from a friend. What is it used for?"
The woman gave only a brief reply. "For viewing."
He was rather surprised. "Just for viewing?"
Not wanting Cheng Xinzhan to think she was deliberately belittling it to buy it cheaply, the woman explained:
"Its main use really is ornamental. Lady's slipper orchids have very little medicinal value. I couldn't deceive you about that, fellow Daoist; you need only ask someone else to find out. Even before blooming, this orchid already has an exceptionally graceful form. Once it blooms, its flowers have an unusual pouch-like shape,
"with delicate colors, an extremely long flowering period, and a faint, lingering fragrance that draws bees and butterflies. It's a treasure among orchids. However, it only grows on perilous mountain cliffs deep in the Miao Borderlands and is extremely difficult to obtain."
Cheng Xinzhan nodded and said, "What price would you be willing to offer, fellow Daoist?"
The woman pondered for a moment, then answered honestly, "Lady's slipper orchids are exceptionally rare. To orchid lovers like us, they're worth their