Searching for Clear Brightness Grass

It seemed the problem lay with the tiger's corpse. When a spirit creature died, the gases from its rotting body mixed with Spiritual Qi to form a rather complex miasma. Han Lin's symptoms could be resolved with just a very low-grade detoxification pill.

But refining a detoxification pill required Clear Brightness Grass. Although Shen Ge had gathered plenty of spirit herbs, he happened not to have any of it.

According to the alchemy texts he remembered, however, Clear Brightness Grass generally grew in mountain ravines and valleys shrouded in heavy fog. Miasma hung over those places all year round, making them forbidden ground for mortals.

"Your condition was caused by inhaling a special kind of miasma. We only need to dispel it."

"But I don't have that herb with me. I'll need to go find it."

"Are there any places around here that are foggy all year round?" Shen Ge looked up and asked.

Han Wu thought for a moment before answering, "Young man, there's an old forest about fifty li west of the village. It's shrouded in thick fog all year round, and neither birds nor beasts go there."

"Doctor, are you going there? You can't. It's too dangerous. Miasma hangs over that place all year round. Getting lost is the least of your worries if you go in there. People really do die," Han Lin said, shaking his head. Though he wanted to get better, he didn't want someone else taking risks for him, especially not by going somewhere so dangerous.

Han Yu hesitated briefly before speaking up as well. "Brother Shen, I really can't thank you enough, but my brother is right. You can't go somewhere so dangerous. He only has his own carelessness to blame for his condition. If we dragged you into this too, I... I..."

Shen Ge smiled and raised a hand to rub Han Yu's hair out of habit. "Enough with the 'I's. It's just a little miasma. It's nothing to me."

Shen Ge's sudden gesture made Han Yu's face turn bright red. She was already too shy to speak.

"All right, let's leave it at that for now. Wait five days for me. I'll be back in five days at most."

"Oh, and keep an eye on my medicinal herbs. They're my first step toward building something big and strong."

With that, Shen Ge strode out the door. As he passed his carrying basket, he rummaged through it and pulled out the lousy sword he had refined earlier.

The thing wasn't very good, but having a weapon was better than having none.

Han Wu glanced at the bashful Han Yu beside him, then hurried over and gave her a push. "What are you standing there for? Go get Doctor Shen some dry rations and water. Honestly, how can you be so foolish?"

"Oh? Oh!" Han Yu came to her senses and ran off at once. Before long, she had packed a bundle, put it in a carrying basket, and hurried after him.

"Brother Shen, wait! These are some dry rations and water. Take them for the road."

Shen Ge took the basket and glanced inside. Smiling, he said, "Fairy, how thoughtful of you, even preparing dry rations."

This was one of Shen Ge's bad habits: whenever he saw a fairly pretty woman, he couldn't help trying to flirt with her. In his previous life, though, he hadn't had much money, so most pretty women wouldn't give him the time of day. Even when he occasionally managed to win one over, the relationship never lasted long.

Han Yu lowered her head, her face red, and fidgeted with the hem of her clothes in her two little hands. "Don't misunderstand, Brother Shen," she explained softly. "I made these rations this morning. They were supposed to be my lunch."

"I didn't think too much of it. You're kindhearted, so of course I'm willing to help you. Otherwise, how could I do justice to the clothes I'm wearing?"

After reassuring her, Shen Ge smiled and said, "All right, I'll take these. You should head back."

Han Yu watched Shen Ge's retreating figure as he turned and walked away with an easy air. Her face was as red as a cooked prawn. She watched him closely for a while, and only when he disappeared from sight did she silently turn and go back home.

Han Wu glanced at his returning daughter, then ran to the door and looked outside. Only after making sure Shen Ge was nowhere in sight did he ask, "Did you bring him back because of your brother's illness?"

Han Yu nodded slightly. "That was part of it, I suppose. I saw Brother Shen carrying a basket full of medicinal herbs, so I thought he probably knew medicine. And all he wanted was a piece of clothing, so I thought I'd bring him back to take a look at my brother's illness."

"You, honestly." Han Wu shook his head. "You've really got some nerve. Luckily, Doctor Shen is a good man. If you'd brought a bad man home, I can't even imagine what might have happened."

"Don't worry, Dad. I know what I'm doing," Han Yu said softly.

Han Wu sighed. "Ah, sorry to trouble Doctor Shen with this trip. If he really cures your brother, that favor will be hard to repay."

As he spoke, Han Wu's gaze fell on his daughter. After studying her for a while, he suddenly asked, "Daughter, what do you think of Doctor Shen?"

Han Yu gave her father a puzzled look, unable to understand why he had suddenly asked. Still, she answered truthfully, "He's very nice. He speaks gently and kindly, and he doesn't put on airs at all. And I feel like he can stay calm and composed no matter what he faces."

"Then would you be willing to go with him?"

The flush that had just faded from Han Yu's face returned in an instant. "Dad, why are you asking that? Is Brother Shen an ordinary person? A poor girl like me wouldn't dare reach so far above her station. You mustn't say that again."

Han Wu shook his head and sighed. "True. Whether you look at his appearance or his bearing, Doctor Shen is no ordinary person. Country folk like us really can't hope to reach his station."

"All right, go make dinner. I'll go bring your mother back."

Outside the village, Shen Ge glanced at the sun overhead and nodded. "It's not too late yet. I'll cover ten li first."

"I really was born to toil. Oh well, favors are hard to repay, even if it was just a rather shabby piece of clothing."

Using his spiritual power, Shen Ge sped along and covered three li in no time. Beyond that, however, there was nothing but old forest and no path to follow, so he slowed considerably.

Even so, Shen Ge managed to cover more than ten li before evening fell. Once night came, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to find somewhere to rest. After all, he wasn't strong enough to roam the old forest at will, and the deep mountain woods were especially dangerous at night.

About a hundred li ahead, a red light and a golden light streaked across the night sky, briefly crossing paths from time to time.

"Su Liuyue, you can't escape! Be good and surrender!"

"Your Spirit Moon Sect destroyed my Devil Creek Sect. Today, I'll start by collecting a little interest from you."

Su Liuyue's expression was indifferent, as though she weren't the one being hunted down.

I didn't expect to run into a remnant of the Devil Creek Sect just after breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. It looks like I can't shake him off. I need to think of something.

After all, her opponent was at the Middle Golden Core Stage. Su Liuyue certainly couldn't beat him in a head-on fight, or she wouldn't have run.

The Hidden Mist Array can trap him for a few breaths. The Burst Talisman can only serve as a distraction. It all depends on whether this shield is powerful enough.

After mentally taking stock of her trump cards, Su Liuyue felt she had some chance of winning. That was, of course, provided she found a place to set up the array first. Otherwise, she would have no chance of winning, nor would she be able to escape.