The Legend of the Medical Concubine

Chapter 322 The Herb-Gathering Journey Begins

The morning sun was rising, and the golden light was like fine yarn pouring down through the gaps between the leaves, weaving patches of dreamy light on the ground. Lin Ruoxue and her apprentice Xiaoxuan set foot on the herb-collecting trail that meandered through the mountains.

Lin Ruoxue was wearing a simple light blue dress, with a white ribbon dancing in the wind, like flowing clouds. Her long hair fell on her shoulders, and a few strands of hair fluttered playfully in the breeze. Her clear eyes revealed determination and confidence, as if there were no difficulties or obstacles in the world that could stop her from moving forward. Xiaoxuan was wearing a lively light green dress, with two cute buns like lively little deer horns. Her bright eyes were full of curiosity and excitement, and she was full of anticipation for this herb-picking trip.

"Master, where are we going to collect herbs today?" Xiaoxuan followed Lin Ruoxue, jumping and skipping like a happy little bird, her voice as clear as a bell.

Lin Ruoxue turned slightly, looked at Xiaoxuan, a gentle smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she said softly: "We are going to the depths of the mountain, where there are many precious herbs that can save lives. However, Xiaoxuan, that place is a bit dangerous, so you must stay close to your master." There was a hint of seriousness in her eyes, but her heart was full of care and worry for Xiaoxuan.

Xiaoxuan nodded vigorously, with determination in her eyes, and said, "Master, I will be obedient. I really want to learn more medical skills and help many people like you." She clenched her little fists, her heart full of longing.

The master and the apprentice walked slowly along the path. The wild flowers on the roadside were blooming with colorful petals, red like fire, pink like clouds, and white like snow. Butterflies were dancing among the flowers, their wings flashing colorful light under the sunlight. Birds were singing happily on the branches, and their songs were melodious and seemed to be playing a beautiful movement for their journey.

"Master, look, that flower is so beautiful!" Xiaoxuan suddenly stopped, opened her eyes wide, pointed at a gorgeous purple flower on the side of the road, and said excitedly.

Lin Ruoxue looked in the direction of Xiaoxuan's finger, a hint of tenderness flashed in her eyes, and said, "That is aster flower, it has the effect of moistening the lungs and relieving cough. But Xiaoxuan, we can't pick it now, we have to complete a more important task first." She touched Xiaoxuan's head and explained patiently.

A trace of disappointment flashed across Xiaoxuan's eyes, but she quickly regained her spirits and said, "Okay, Master. Then when can we pick these beautiful flowers?" There was still anticipation in her eyes.

Lin Ruoxue bent down slightly, looked into Xiaoxuan's eyes, and said with a smile: "After we finish today's task, we will pick some more when we come back. But we can't pick too much, we have to leave some for nature so that they can continue to bloom beautifully."

They continued to move forward, the sun shining through the leaves onto them, creating patches of light and shadow. Xiaoxuan sometimes chased a butterfly, sometimes squatted down to observe a small flower, and Lin Ruoxue looked at her gently, with a smile on her face. However, as the mountain road became steeper and steeper, the surrounding environment became more and more precipitous. Xiaoxuan's pace gradually slowed down, and her breathing became a little rapid.

Lin Ruoxue noticed Xiaoxuan's fatigue. She stopped, turned around and looked at Xiaoxuan with concern in her eyes. She said softly, "Xiaoxuan, take a rest if you are tired. But we can't rest for too long, because we still have a long way to go."

Xiaoxuan nodded, beads of sweat hanging on her forehead. She walked to a rock and sat down, picked up the kettle and drank a sip of water. Lin Ruoxue stood aside, vigilantly observing the surrounding environment. Her ears pricked up slightly, catching the subtle sounds in the mountains and forests. The breeze blew gently, bringing a burst of fragrance from the grass and trees. She took a deep breath, feeling the beauty of nature, but she didn't dare to relax at all.

"Master, it's so beautiful here!" Xiaoxuan looked at the surrounding scenery with a twinkle in her eyes. The trees on the mountain were lush and green, and the mountains in the distance were rolling, like a magnificent painting under the sunshine.

Lin Ruoxue smiled and replied, "Yes, it's beautiful here. But Xiaoxuan, we can't be fooled by the beautiful scenery here. There are many unknown dangers hidden in this forest, and we must always be vigilant." There was a hint of caution in her eyes, and her mind was constantly thinking about the possible dangers and countermeasures.

Xiaoxuan nodded as if she understood, and said, "I understand, Master. We must be careful of those wild beasts and bad guys." She stood up, walked to Lin Ruoxue, and grabbed the corner of her clothes tightly.

After they rested for a while, they continued to move forward along the mountain road. The sun was getting hotter and hotter, and the mountain road was rugged and difficult to walk on, but the master and apprentice supported each other and walked firmly towards the depths of the mountain step by step. Lin Ruoxue told Xiaoxuan some knowledge of herbs and survival skills in the mountains from time to time. Xiaoxuan listened with great interest and occasionally asked some questions, which Lin Ruoxue patiently answered one by one.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally arrived at a valley. A thin layer of mist filled the valley, and the wisps of mist flowed slowly like a veil, as if it were a fairyland on earth. The trees were looming in the mist, and the occasional crisp bird calls added a bit of mystery.

"Master, this place is so mysterious!" Xiaoxuan whispered, her eyes full of curiosity and a hint of fear. She leaned close to Lin Ruoxue, and her steps unconsciously slowed down.

Lin Ruoxue said softly, "There may be herbs we need here. But Xiaoxuan, we have to be careful, because the fog here is very thick and it is easy to get lost." She took out a red rope from the cloth bag at her waist, tied one end around her wrist, and handed the other end to Xiaoxuan, "Hold this rope and don't let go."

Xiaoxuan took the red rope and held it tightly in her hand. The master and the apprentice walked into the valley carefully. The fog became thicker and thicker, and everything around them became blurry. Xiaoxuan could only see Lin Ruoxue's blurry back, and she couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Lin Ruoxue, relying on her years of experience and keen intuition, walked forward slowly. She carefully observed the surrounding environment and paid attention to the characteristics of each plant.

Suddenly, a hare ran past their feet, and Xiaoxuan screamed in fright. Lin Ruoxue quickly turned around, protected Xiaoxuan behind her, and comforted her softly: "Don't be afraid, Xiaoxuan, it's just a hare." Her voice was steady and gentle, which gradually calmed Xiaoxuan down.

They continued to grope forward in the valley, and every step was full of unknowns. Lin Ruoxue's heartbeat slightly quickened. She knew that in this foggy valley, danger could come at any time. But her eyes remained firm, and she had only one belief in her heart - to find the precious herbs.

After walking for a while, Lin Ruoxue finally found some familiar herbs. Her eyes lit up, and she was filled with joy. She whispered, "Xiaoxuan, we found it! These herbs can cure many diseases."

Xiaoxuan followed Lin Ruoxue's gaze and saw the herbs. A happy smile appeared on her face. "Great, Master! Let's pick them quickly."

Lin Ruoxue and Xiaoxuan squatted down and carefully picked the herbs. Their movements were gentle and skillful, fearing that they would damage these precious herbs. The valley was filled with a faint herbal fragrance, mixed with the freshness of the mist, making people feel relaxed and happy. The sunlight penetrated the mist and sprinkled on them, forming a hazy halo.

Xiaoxuan hummed a little tune happily, her hands kept busy. "Master, these herbs are so beautiful, we can definitely cure many people's diseases."

Lin Ruoxue smiled and nodded, her eyes full of relief. "Yes, Xiaoxuan. Our efforts will not be in vain."