“Sister Yunhan, I’ve washed and sorted all these herbs and poisonous plants. What should I do next?”
Meng Xiaoyu asked, holding a large woven basket filled with herbs and poisonous plants they had gathered that morning in Duanhun Valley.
“Alright, spread the herbs out in these baskets and let them dry in the sun,” Nangong Yunhan replied, putting down the herbs she was handling.
She walked over to Meng Xiaoyu, checked the herbs she had washed and sorted, and, seeing no mistakes, pointed to several empty baskets nearby.
“Okay!”
Meng Xiaoyu responded, placing the large basket on the ground.
She fetched the empty baskets and a stool, then sat down to carefully spread the herbs into the smaller baskets.
Watching Meng Xiaoyu diligently sort and spread the herbs, Nangong Yunhan felt a gentle warmth in her heart.
“If only you could stay by my side forever, gathering and making medicine with me, living a simple and happy life away from the world,” she thought.
Surprised by her own thoughts, she shook her head, dismissing the idea.
“Why am I thinking like this?
She already has someone she likes.
How could she ever want to live in seclusion with me?”
With a bitter smile, she pressed her hand to her aching heart, chiding herself, “Nangong Yunhan, how could you fall for someone so quickly, and someone you shouldn’t like at that?”
“Sister Yunhan, are you okay?
Are you feeling unwell?”
Meng Xiaoyu asked, noticing Nangong Yunhan’s pale face and furrowed brow after finishing with the herbs.
“Huh?
Oh, I’m fine,” Nangong Yunhan replied hastily, worried Meng Xiaoyu might ask more questions.
“What did you call me for?”
“Oh, I’ve finished with the herbs.
Where should I put them to dry?”
Meng Xiaoyu asked, pointing to the baskets filled with herbs.
“Just put them on that rack,” Nangong Yunhan said, her mood lifting slightly at Meng Xiaoyu’s innocent smile.
She pointed to a long wooden rack nearby.
“Got it,” Meng Xiaoyu said, carrying a basket to the rack and placing it there.
After a few trips, she had all the baskets arranged on the rack.
Feeling proud, she thought about how the herbs they gathered could save many lives, forgetting that two-thirds of them were poisonous.
“Sister Yunhan… huh? Where did she go?”
Meng Xiaoyu wondered, turning to find the space behind her empty.
“Uncle Yaonu, do you know where Sister Yunhan went?”
she asked a middle-aged man tending herbs nearby.
“Miss went to the pharmacy,” he replied flatly, not looking up from his work.
“Oh, thank you, Uncle Yaonu,” Meng Xiaoyu said, heading to the pharmacy.
“Sister Yunhan, what are you doing?”
she asked upon entering, seeing Nangong Yunhan bent over a shelf, searching for something.
“Looking for some medicine.
Sit down for a bit,” Nangong Yunhan replied without turning around.
“Okay,” Meng Xiaoyu said, sitting at a small table.
She noticed a round wooden box filled with small red fruits.
Taking one, she popped it into her mouth, savoring the sweet and sour taste.
“These are delicious,” she said, reaching for another.
“What are you eating that’s so delicious?”
Nangong Yunhan asked, turning to see Meng Xiaoyu enjoying the red fruits from the box.
“These fruits in the box,” Meng Xiaoyu replied, reaching for another.
But before she could eat it, Nangong Yunhan knocked it from her hand, grabbing her collar in a panic.
“Did you eat the red fruits from the box?”
she asked urgently.
Meng Xiaoyu nodded, confused by Nangong Yunhan’s reaction.
“How many did you eat?”
Nangong Yunhan asked, her face pale.
“Two,” Meng Xiaoyu stammered, wondering why Nangong Yunhan was so upset over a couple of fruits.
Then it hit her.
“Are these…
not fruits but poison?”
she asked, her voice trembling.
Nangong Yunhan’s face turned white, then she seemed to regain some composure.
Seeing Meng Xiaoyu’s fear, she wanted to reassure her, but before she could speak, Meng Xiaoyu’s face flushed with a strange redness.
“Damn, how could it work so fast?”
Nangong Yunhan cursed under her breath.
Meng Xiaoyu felt a burning sensation spreading from her abdomen, making her hot and uncomfortable.
“Sister Yunhan, I’m so hot… so uncomfortable,” she said, tugging at her clothes.
Nangong Yunhan snapped back to reality, quickly pulling out three silver needles to pierce Meng Xiaoyu’s Baihui point.
But just as the needles were about to touch, she stopped, a mysterious smile on her lips.
“Maybe this is fate. Maybe I can use this chance to keep you by my side,” she murmured, putting the needles away.
She gathered the dazed Meng Xiaoyu into her arms, carrying her to her bamboo house.
Kicking the door open, she instructed the herb-tending man, “No need to call us for dinner. Guard the courtyard and let no one disturb us, not even you.”
With that, she carried Meng Xiaoyu inside.
Though her instructions were unnecessary, as the secluded cliff was hard to reach and the man wouldn’t disturb her without orders, Nangong Yunhan still gave them, just in case.
