Chapter 13
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Qi Wuhuo gazed at the mountain, contemplating for a moment before deciding to go up the mountain for a walk. After snowfall, the snow in the mountains didn’t melt as quickly as in the city and traces would linger longer. Therefore, if the mountain is not closed after a snowfall in winter, there is often a lot to gain.
Not to mention plump winter rabbits, but if he could find winter bamboo shoots.
Tonight’s meal would be a feast.
Winter bamboo shoots stewed with cured meat, along with a few freshly made steamed buns.
Thinking it over, tomorrow’s visit to the Li family required bringing some gifts. Winter bamboo shoots would be perfect.
The young man considered this, tucked a dagger into his waistband, tossed his sword into his basket, covered it with a piece of blue cloth, and then carried the basket on his back. After notifying the old man, he set off toward the mountain.
After attuning to his Primordial Qi, his steps became lighter and more agile. Guiding the energy with his Spirit, it circulated throughout his body. It felt like the wind was blowing beneath his feet, his qi and blood flowing in harmony, and he did not feel tired. Before long, he followed the familiar path up the mountain.
The mountain was wrapped in silver, blanketed in white snow. The cold wind blew, but he felt no chill, only a refreshing coolness. Qi Wuhuo slowed his steps, recalling the words casually spoken by the doctor who had saved his life all those years ago.
In the winter mountains, you can search for the roots of kudzu vines and grind them into powder, which becomes kudzu flour. It can stave off hunger, and its taste is quite good. You can also search for wild yams, and there’s the diamond vines. The fruit of the diamond vine ripens in winter, bright red and very conspicuous, also known as “Red Lantern Fruit”. Its roots can be used to make soup.
If you sell it to an apothecary, they will take it, and so will a tavern.
It can be used medicinally or brewed into wine.
Living by the mountain, one relies on the mountain; living by the water, one relies on the water. This mountain is like a treasure trove — throughout the year, you can always find something edible within it. You’ll never die of hunger.
Qi Wuhuo, after experiencing the illusory millet dream, gained a great opportunity, and his Primordial Spirit was abundant. This was reflected outwardly as his observational skills improved significantly. Compared to before, it became much easier for him to find various mountain goods.
Before long, his basket was already half full.
Most of it was winter bamboo shoots and diamond vine berries.
As for the kudzu roots, if he could find one, each would weigh at least a dozen pounds. However, it seemed that the spots Qi Wuhuo had marked during autumn were now empty. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who had discovered those kudzu roots.
Qi Wuhuo didn’t mind much and continued searching.
Suddenly, beneath a rocky ledge, Qi Wuhuo discovered a type of plant with leaves resembling those of a lily. Although the leaves were withered, the shape was still discernible. His eyes brightened, and he quickly walked over to examine it carefully: “This is… tiger ginger!”
“How lucky!”
A smile of delight appeared on Qi Wuhuo’s face.
Despite the seventy years of wandering in the dream and the profound realization of his pursuit of immortality, what lingered from that dream were mostly insights and faint, dreamlike impressions.
After all, he was still just a fourteen-year-old boy. He drew his dagger and began carefully digging around the lily-like plant. The roots he uncovered resembled bamboo shoots but also looked a bit like ginger.
Qi Wuhuo’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
Tiger ginger, also known as “chicken claw ginseng” or by its more elegant apothecary name, Huangjing, was among the most valuable medicinal herbs in these mountains.
[TL_Note: Huangjing = King Solomon’s seal]
Some even called it “immortal’s leftover grain”.
That’s why, in recent years, many people have come to the mountains searching for Huangjing, making it increasingly rare.
He hadn’t expected to find some here.
Carefully collecting it, Qi Wuhuo thought about selling it for a good price. Then, pausing, he recalled that this tiger ginger could also be eaten, so he hesitated.
His family now had three strings of coins. Maybe he could afford to keep some of it?
Yes, he decided, leaving one-third of it for Teacher Su seemed like a good idea.
Then I’ll sell some, and the rest I’ll share with the old sir.
Although it’s a bad habit to spend recklessly just because there’s a little money at home, this is something I dug up myself. A little indulgence should be fine, right?
Qi Wuhuo carefully wrapped the huangjing in coarse cloth and placed it at the very top of his bamboo basket. Only after doing this did he straighten up, surveying his surroundings, hoping to find more huangjing.
A breeze swept through.
With a thought in the heart, the Spirit follows, and that is already a form of law.
When a law resonates with heaven and earth, it becomes a divine power.
Primordial Qi surged, and his Primordial Spirit expanded outward.
In an instant, it swept across the surrounding area, and unexpectedly, he discovered another huangjing. However, Qi Wuhuo did not harvest it. Only after locating a third plant did he finally dig up a portion. These huangjing were creations of the mountain, and Qi Wuhuo was unwilling to take them all, leaving behind 70% of the root.
Even so, he was more than satisfied.
These huangjings would cost about one or two taels of silver if you were to buy them.
Qi Wuhuo continued to wander and gather, with his Primordial Spirit spread out, and using his Primordial Qi as support. No huangjing on this mountain could escape the embryonic form of this searching divine power.
As he continued, suddenly, Qi Wuhuo felt his Primordial Spirit collide with something, and at the base of a cliff, he discovered an exceptionally thick lily leaf. Even in the depths of winter, it exuded a vibrant green glow.
Qi Wuhuo, knowledgeable in medicine, knew that when buying and selling medicinal huangjing, the price depended on its age. Examining the veins on the leaves, he was in disbelief: “Could this be… a huangjing that’s nearly a thousand years old?”
“Huangjing can grow this big?”
He instinctively drew his dagger.
Such a large huangjing can probably be exchanged for a fortune of ten thousand taels of silver.
But at that moment, the huangjing with leaves as thick as a palm suddenly began to tremble. The leaves curled together like hands, rolling on the ground and transforming into a little person. The figure wore twin buns and was clad only in a tiny bellyband, kowtowing and bowing repeatedly while babbling in a high-pitched voice.
Though he couldn’t understand the words, the fear and pleading in the little figure’s Primordial Spirit were crystal clear.
Qi Wuhuo asked: “Are you asking me not to pick you?”
The little person nodded fervently, kneeling again.
Qi Wuhuo looked at the huangjing and thought to himself, those huangjing that are only a year old are one thing, but a plant like this usually rots after a few years. For it to grow for a thousand years, it must have endured countless hardships and loneliness.
A gentleman cherishes wealth, but it must be obtained justly.
Why ruin someone’s millennium of waiting for a handful of silver?
He set down the dagger and smiled: “Alright, I won’t take you.”
“However, why are you hiding here, so exposed? Aren’t you afraid of being discovered?”
The little figure wore a woeful expression.
Around them, there was actually a natural illusion array formed by the fragrance of the herbs in the surroundings.
Only those who have cultivated their Primordial Spirit and possess magical powers can enter here, yet this person came in without any power?
Seeing the little figure resting its chin in its hands, looking confused and defeated, Qi Wuhuo couldn’t help but smile. He gently poked the figure’s cheek with a finger and said: “Next time, you should hide better so no one finds you again.”
The little figure nodded repeatedly.
Just as Qi Wuhuo was about to rise, a loud voice suddenly echoed from the cliff: “Thief! Thief!”
“A thief, me?”
Qi Wuhuo instinctively looked up.
But he couldn’t see anyone calling out. His posture seemed to only further provoke the shouter, making the voice even louder, allowing him to finally pinpoint the source.
On the cliff, a deer glared at him and bellowed:
“Of course it’s you! You, you, human!”
“Why are you stealing the huangjing we painstakingly planted!”
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Orluros’s Vault of Secrets: Hello everyone, I’ll be taking a short vacation after this week, so as an early gift I shall post double the chapters I usually do all week 🙂 I wish you all a Merry Holiday and a Happy New Year.
I’ll see you all next year 🙂
If you liked the chapter feel free to donate 🙂 and if you find any errors in the translation please mention them in the comments here or in discord
