Yunzhou is a beautiful place, with vast forests and endlessly flowing streams. Under the sunlight, the air is filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, creating a breathtaking scene.
Nestled among layers of lush green leaves is an antique bamboo hut, faintly visible. “Hidden deep in the mountains, unknown to the world, a home lies within the bamboo grove.” Such a description would not be an exaggeration.
Early in the morning, Qin Chaoyu pushed open the bamboo door of the hut. After a moment’s thought, she turned back and called out in the direction of her master’s room, “Master, I’m going to gather herbs.”
Faintly, she heard an elderly voice, accompanied by coughing, “Cough, cough… Go ahead! Be careful!”
Hearing the response, Qin Chaoyu closed the bamboo door and stepped into the forest in front of the hut.
Her master was ill—very seriously so. Worried, she wanted to search for any rare medicinal herbs that might help restore his health.
With one hand, she pushed aside branches blocking her view, while the other held a wooden stick to tap the grass on the ground, warding off any potential snakes. Clearly, she was quite skilled at this, effortlessly multitasking without any sign of clumsiness.
Qin Chaoyu was very familiar with this forest and knew it held no rare herbs. Without lingering, she quickened her pace. Today, she intended to venture deeper into the woods, where the damp and shaded environment was most conducive to the growth of precious herbs like ginseng and fleeceflower root.
Of course, such herbs were not easy to obtain. Even if one stumbled upon them, harvesting them required skill. These valuable plants were often guarded by snakes or other fierce creatures, making the act of gathering them akin to snatching food from a tiger’s mouth—fraught with danger.
But Qin Chaoyu was unafraid. She had been practicing martial arts since childhood, supplemented by special techniques, for seventeen years now. Her talent was extraordinary, and her progress had astonished even her master. Dealing with mere wild beasts was nothing to her.
The forest was vast, filled with weeds, wildflowers, and countless insects—enough to unsettle any ordinary girl. Yet Qin Chaoyu remained unfazed.
With the aid of her inner energy, she moved swiftly. After about half an hour, she reached the depths of the forest. The deeper she went, the more wild beasts she encountered. Even with her formidable martial skills, she dared not let her guard down here.
Moving lightly and cautiously, she occasionally parted the grass, carefully searching for herbs.
After a prolonged and focused search, even Qin Chaoyu, sustained by her inner energy, began to feel the strain.
She stopped, found a safe and hidden spot, set down the bamboo basket on her back, and plopped onto the ground for a rest. *Sigh*, three hours had passed, and all she had found were some pinellia and wolfberries—common medicinal herbs. As for the ginseng and fleeceflower root she sought, there was no trace.
Thirsty, she took out the gourd from her bamboo basket and took a sip of water. As she turned her head to look around, her gaze suddenly fixed on one spot.
It was a cluster of shrubs, inconspicuous amidst the wild grass. What caught her attention were a few leaves that stood out. With her trained eye from years of herb gathering, she immediately recognized their shape—narrowly ovate or heart-shaped, tapering at the tip, with a heart- or arrow-shaped base, smooth edges or slightly wavy, dark green on top and lighter underneath, both sides smooth and hairless. Based on these features, she concluded they were fleeceflower leaves.
Excitement surged through her as she quickly stood up to confirm. But after two steps, she halted. *No, I can’t rush in recklessly.* If it truly was fleeceflower root—especially an old one—there would surely be a guardian beast nearby. She couldn’t approach carelessly.
She scanned her surroundings for anything that could serve as a weapon, but all she saw were weeds and trees. The only usable items were the dry, brittle branches on the ground—utterly useless. Reluctantly, she picked up the iron tool she used for harvesting herbs. Its sharpened tip would have to suffice.
This time, Qin Chaoyu moved toward the shrub cluster—about two hundred meters away—with an even lighter step. Her gait was peculiar, carrying a rhythmic pattern that would be noticeable to any observer. This was a technique taught by her master, designed not only to increase speed but also to render her steps as silent as falling leaves. Its purpose was to allow safer harvesting of rare herbs.
Stopping a short distance from the shrubs, Qin Chaoyu tightened her grip on the tool, feeling an unusual tension. Her concern wasn’t the potential beast but the fear that the fleeceflower root might not be of significant age. For her master’s sake, she couldn’t afford to fail.
Steeling herself, she resolutely approached. Sure enough, she hadn’t been mistaken—it was indeed fleeceflower root. The only question was its age.
As she gently parted the leaves with her tool, *whoosh!* A lightning-fast shadow shot toward her face. In a split second, Qin Chaoyu twisted her body at an impossible angle, narrowly evading the attack. She had expected a guardian beast and had been on guard the entire time.
Turning, she looked at her assailant in surprise. She had assumed it would be a snake, but instead, it was a small red-furred squirrel. The creature seemed agitated, perhaps realizing from their brief exchange that Qin Chaoyu was no easy opponent. It chittered anxiously, its nostrils flaring visibly. The sight was undeniably cute, and for a fleeting moment, Qin Chaoyu hesitated. But only for a moment—she was determined to take the fleeceflower root.
The squirrel, sensing her resolve, launched another attack. While squirrels were generally seen as adorable and harmless, this one was different. Small as it was, its speed was astonishing, making it nearly impossible to defend against. In just a few strikes, it left claw marks on Qin Chaoyu’s clothes. Had her attire not been specially reinforced, the squirrel might have drawn blood. Of course, she was particularly careful to protect her face—after all, she was still at an age where vanity mattered.
Qin Chaoyu found herself in a dilemma. The squirrel was cunning, refusing to engage in prolonged combat. It would strike once, then retreat, frustrating her to no end. There was simply no way to catch it.
And so, the stalemate continued. Neither could gain the upper hand. But stamina was finite. Qin Chaoyu was panting heavily, and the squirrel, equally exhausted, perched on a tree opposite her, ceasing its attacks.
Seizing the opportunity, Qin Chaoyu attempted to communicate with the squirrel. She reasoned that if it was guarding the fleeceflower root, it must possess some intelligence. Perhaps it could understand her.
With her friendliest smile, she spoke softly, “Look, little squirrel, neither of us can defeat the other. If we keep this up, someone else might take advantage.” Seeing the squirrel pause, her heart leapt—*it’s working!* She continued, “I don’t mean to steal from you, but my master is ill, and I need this to help him. I won’t take much—just half. Is that alright?”
The squirrel tilted its head, as if pondering, then let out a series of chirps.
Though Qin Chaoyu couldn’t understand, she guessed it was agreement. *Perfect!*
Delighted, she said, “Great! I’ll start harvesting now. You stay on the opposite side.” This was to prevent the squirrel from changing its mind and attacking mid-harvest, which could damage the precious herb—a thought that pained her.
Without hesitation, the squirrel leaped gracefully to the spot she indicated.
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