Cui Jiuyang nodded and said gravely, "Early tomorrow morning, the two of us will go into the mountains to search for millennium blood lichen."
"Even if we can't find any that old right away, gathering more hundred-year specimens will help suppress your mother's illness for now and slow its progression."
"Rest assured, I'll be continuing north afterward. The farther north I go, the more old-growth forests there are, and the greater the chances of finding spiritual herbs and treasures. My chances of finding millennium blood lichen will increase too."
"As long as I find it, I'll find a way to send it to you, no matter what."
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Lei Xiaosan immediately moved to kowtow and thank him again.
Cui Jiuyang hurriedly pressed his shoulders and firmly helped him up. "There's no need for this, no need at all.
"Being filial to one's mother is the righteous way of heaven and earth, a fundamental human duty.
"With such filial devotion, young hero Lei, I ought to do everything I can to help!"
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, when the sky was barely light and the first pale gleam had only just appeared on the eastern horizon, Cui Jiuyang left his room, intending to breathe in the first wisp of morning spiritual energy in the courtyard.
But when he reached the courtyard, he found Lei Xiaosan already sitting upright on the stone stool at its center.
His back was straight as a pine, his eyes shone brightly, and there was not a trace of fatigue on his face. He was full of vigor.
He had actually spent the entire night sitting quietly in the courtyard, waiting for Cui Jiuyang, without returning to his room to rest.
Seeing Cui Jiuyang emerge, Lei Xiaosan hurriedly stood and saluted