Ye Fan Grows Medicinal Herbs

Wuling City

"Report! Deputy General Wu, an urgent order from General Yan!" A messenger came rushing over, a command flag in hand.

"What does it say?"

"General Yan orders our army to regroup and await the great general's arrival!"

"General Yan is coming to the front? I understand. Our army has been delayed here far too long and has failed to take Wuling City all this time. I, Wu Pojun, have let General Yan down!"

"Pass the order! Have the army assume a defensive formation and await General Yan!"

As the order was passed down, the vanguard army stationed not far from Wuling City's gates withdrew in an orderly fashion. The rear ranks became the front, and the troops marched back into the forest in step, kicking up clouds of dust. Only wooden barricades, iron-spiked barriers, and military tents of all sizes remained behind.

"Report! Word from the city gate guards: the Wu Kingdom's troops have withdrawn into the forest." A messenger raced to the city lord's residence.

"The Wu Kingdom's troops have withdrawn?" Commander Cao looked puzzled.

"They shouldn't be withdrawing now, should they? Could they be trying to lure our army out?" Commander Cao said, as though talking to himself.

"Is Commander Wan at the front?" Commander Cao asked the messenger.

"Commander Wan has been patrolling the front this whole time."

Receiving an affirmative answer, Commander Cao wasted no time and headed for the city gate at the front.

"Grand Commander, the Wu Kingdom's troops have all withdrawn into the forest, leaving only scouts behind. I don't know what they intend," Commander Wan said as soon as Commander Cao mounted the city wall, pointing at several unruly Wu Kingdom scouts.

Commander Cao did not answer immediately. Bracing one hand against the wall and shielding his eyes from the sun with the other, he looked toward the forest.

The Wu Kingdom's army had not gone far. Its soldiers stood in orderly ranks with spears in hand. They showed no sign of having suffered a defeat and were still brimming with killing intent.

"Haha, this is no withdrawal. The Wu Kingdom's veteran general, Yan Fengxiao, is clearly about to arrive! Look, Commander Zha. Though the Wu soldiers have fallen back, their discipline remains strict, and their steps were unhurried. There are also far more scouts than usual. Clearly, an important figure is coming to the front."

"Yan Fengxiao is coming? Looks like that old bastard is getting anxious." After hearing the grand commander's analysis, Commander Wan saw the light.

"Commander Wan, General Yan is about to arrive, and a great battle is imminent. You and I must be on our guard. By now, Qixia City should be ready as well. If we delay a few more days, the moment Chen Haoran is drawn away will be the day we crush Yan's army."

"As you command."

Night fell.

Ye Fan returned to his room as soon as he finished dinner. He carefully shut the door and slipped into his Inner World.

He left the entrance to the world open so he could hear any sounds in the room at all times and respond accordingly.

Inside the Inner World, Ye Fan took the three medicinal herbs and planted them within the area covered by the Tree of Life. He channeled water from the Spring of Life to irrigate them, then waited to one side and watched for changes.

As soon as the water from the Spring of Life reached them, the herbs were revitalized. Their drooping branches and leaves unfurled at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning a lush, vivid green. Ye Fan felt as though he could see life pulsing and rejoicing. "It works!" Ye Fan was overjoyed.

The Spring of Life was the first spring to emerge when the world was created, and it contained an endless breath of life. It could bring the dead back to life and put flesh on bare bones, yet Ye Fan was using it to cultivate medicinal herbs. He really was squandering a heavenly treasure.

In just a few moments, the three herbs changed noticeably. They grew taller, their stems became thicker, and rosy light surrounded them. These herbs were probably the only ones of their kind in the world.

Ye Fan hurriedly crouched down to divide the herbs. The Numbing Thorn Grass and Qian Ginseng could be divided, but the Mountain Bodhi would have to wait until it bore fruit. That was no problem, though. Ye Fan waved his hand lightly, unleashing the power of the Water Spirit Art. An invisible ripple enveloped the Mountain Bodhi, and the tree swayed gently. Its leaf veins unfurled once more, tender shoots sprouted continuously, and its trunk grew thicker. Bodhi blossoms quietly opened, and before long, green fruits hung all over the branches. The power of the Water Spirit Art had yet to dissipate, and the bodhi fruits slowly grew larger, turning red and plumper.

The bodhi fruits finally ripened when the power of the Water Spirit Art dissipated. Looking at the red fruits covering the branches, Ye Fan was in excellent spirits. It was actually that simple?

Once his excitement had passed, Ye Fan wasted no time gathering some of the fruits and planting them anew.

He repeated the process several times, dividing the plants and roots, gathering the fruits, and then planting them. The three small medicinal herbs had now become an herb garden much larger than the one Ke'er had cultivated.

The fragrance of medicinal herbs filled the air, and lush greenery met his eyes everywhere he looked. Ye Fan's first attempt at growing medicinal herbs with the Water Spirit Art had yielded a brimming harvest.

He listened for sounds outside the room. His parents should be fast asleep by now.

Now that he had grown the herbs, all that remained was to sell them in the city.

Ye Fan had long since thought of a way to sell them. With the Inner World, a round trip to Sunset City would be quick. As long as he wasn't gone too long, his family probably wouldn't notice.

After briefly stretching his limbs, Ye Fan went back to repeating the work he had just done.

Early the next morning, Ye Fan had just finished breakfast. He exchanged a few words with Xiao Ke'er, who had come to greet him, then found an excuse and hurried away. His parents paid no mind to his frantic departure. It was only natural for a child his age to enjoy playing. There was nothing to do at home anyway, so they let him go.

It looks like Brother Fan has something to do today? I'll ask him when he gets back!

Ye Fan walked all the way to the river. No one would be fetching water or washing clothes this early in the morning, so it was safe enough. He looked around, and his keen spiritual sense detected no one nearby, so he slipped into his Inner World.

Inside the Inner World, medicinal herbs grew in abundance, their fragrance filling the air. As far as the eye could see, there were herbs he had planted the night before. They covered a vast area, larger even than the new village. His efforts that night had not gone to waste. With such a large expanse of medicinal herbs, how could he still fear being unable to improve life in the village?

Once he had the right direction, the Inner World carried Ye Fan away like a streak of light.

Qixia City

"Commander Yuan, sound the war drums and advance the army. We take Qixia City today."

"As you command!"

"Army, advance! Take Qixia City! Once the city is ours, the entire army will be rewarded!"

"Glory to the general!"

"Glory to the general!"

"Glory to the general!"

Guo Youshan rode at the head of 200,000 troops, the mighty army marching toward the gates of Qixia City.

Inside Qixia City

"The two commanders mean to join forces with Commander Zha and surround and destroy Guo Youshan?" The vanguard sent by Commander Zha had already delivered the letter to Grand Commander Lu Guangtai.

"Commander Lu, Commander Zha will arrive at Qixia City tonight to stand against the Wu Kingdom's soldiers. Once Yan Fengxiao is drawn into sending reinforcements, our army will drive straight in, capture Cloud Mountain Fortress, and deal the Wu Kingdom a crushing defeat," said Xiao Feng, who had delivered the letter.

"Since the two commanders already have a battle plan, I will naturally cooperate with all my strength. According to our scouts, Guo Youshan has crossed Eastward-Looking Mountain and is heading toward us. He may even attack the city today. If Commander Zha can arrive in time, surrounding and destroying Guo Youshan is certainly possible!"

"Pass the order: keep a constant watch on Guo Youshan's movements and report to me promptly. The army is to remain on the defensive. No one is to leave the city to engage the enemy."

"As you command!" Deputy General Yuan Shiji cupped his fists in salute.

Meanwhile, Yan Fengxiao and his entourage had arrived at the front outside Wuling City. The commanding general had arrived, and the great battle would begin anew!