After seeing Ali.
For the past few days, the anxiety and unease felt as if they were gently brushed away by a warm breeze.
Gentle and touching, the previous fear had now turned into full anticipation.
I took a small stool from the house and sat in front of it, basking in the sun with Xiao Cai.
My face, full of exhaustion, was alight with anticipation.
Doctor Luo emerged from the house, holding a small wooden box.
He opened the box, revealing a small red pill inside.
He took out the pill and offered it to me.
"Take it. You've lost too much blood.
This pill will help you regenerate blood and restore your energy quickly."
I looked at him with disbelief.
Seeing my hesitation, Doctor Luo's expression turned stern, and he said,
"If you don't want it, then fine."
"I'll take it, I'll take it!"
I quickly came to my senses, grabbed the pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.
However, in my haste, I choked, and clutching my throat, I mumbled,
"Water, water."
"I'll get it for you."
Xiao Cai quickly got up to fetch some water. The bookshop.
Doctor Luo looked at my half-dead appearance and couldn't help but laugh.
He quickly suppressed his laughter when he saw me looking at him.
Seeing him smile, I realized.
Doctor Luo wasn't always so cold; he could smile at others too.
But his resolute expression earlier still sent a shiver down my spine.
However, it felt like a test.
"Water, here's water!"
Xiao Cai, holding a bowl of water, ran towards me.
I took the bowl and drank it down, finally managing to swallow the pill.
Wiping my mouth, I said gratefully,
"Thank you, Xiao Cai. Your water came just in time."
Xiao Cai chuckled and looked at me, saying,
"You're just like I used to be, always gobbling down food.
And then ending up choking."
I smiled sheepishly, feeling that I was now even worse than a child.
Doctor Luo instructed,
"You should rest well tonight. Tomorrow, there are some important things you need to do yourself."
I became curious, wondering what important matters awaited me.
Could there be another test from him?
"What important matters?" I asked.
Doctor Luo didn't rush to answer, only saying,
"You'll know tomorrow."
He made it sound easy,
but accomplishing what he asked would be anything but easy.
Doctor Luo saw my worries at a glance and comforted me,
"Don't worry, it's not a difficult task."
If it wasn't a difficult task, then it should be an achievable one.
Therefore, there was no need to worry excessively.
With renewed confidence, I replied,
"Alright, I'll rest well today."
"Mm."
He nodded slightly and walked back into the house on his own.
Xiao Cai sat back on the original stool, gazing into the distance with a faraway look.
I followed his gaze.
In the seemingly distant horizon, a dark mass seemed to be moving closer.
Xiao Cai pointed curiously at the dark clouds and asked,
"What is that?"
"Those are storm clouds. It looks like it's going to rain."
"The storm clouds today are darker than usual.
The storm clouds I've seen before were all hazy gray."
"Indeed. Perhaps heaven is in a good mood today, just like us.
It wants to have a good cry."
"Perhaps."
With that, within a short while, a torrential downpour would arrive.
As expected, soon after, we heard the sound of raindrops hitting the trees.
The pattering sound.
Xiao Cai and I remained seated in front of the house, listening to the prelude to the mountain rain that filled the air.
Doctor Luo looked at the approaching dark clouds outside.
Then he glanced at the two people still sitting in the courtyard, anticipating something.
He frowned and shouted outside,
"Why aren't you coming in yet? Do you want to get soaked? There's no hot bath tonight."
Hearing his shout, Xiao Cai and I hastily grabbed our stools and ran back into the house.
As soon as we entered, we heard the pattering sound from outside.
The heavy rain, like falling black stones, descended with the dim sky in a clamor.
"It's raining so hard today!"
Xiao Cai remarked, looking at the rain outside.
I echoed his sentiment,
"Yes, it's such heavy rain."
Doctor Luo looked at Xiao Cai and me with displeasure.
Yet, a strange thought flickered in his mind.
"If she were to stay here a bit longer.
I might gain another disciple."
The thought amused him.
After the heavy rain, dusk had fallen.
At this time, a cluster of fiery red hues appeared on the horizon, which was the sunset glow.
I gazed at the sky, at that crimson sunset glow.
It reminded me of the beautiful scenery I had seen in the human world.
In the small village after the heavy rain, a fiery red sunset glow would appear on the horizon.
Back then, my teacher told me that in our village, surrounded by mountains, we wouldn't see the sunset glow.
Sunset glow only appeared in vast plains.
Yet, I was truly seeing it, like a fiery crimson, truly beautiful.
Seeing me staring intently at the crimson glow on the horizon, Xiao Cai was very curious.
Thinking that I must have many stories to tell him, he asked,
"Does that fiery red color hold your memories?"
I nodded affirmatively.
He became curious again and asked,
"What kind of memories are they? Are they interesting?"
I turned back, squatted down, hugged him, and began to tell my story.
"I used to live in a mountain surrounded by mountains, where it often rained heavily.
After the rain, there would be colorful rainbows.
But I had never seen the sunset glow that others spoke of.
Until one day, after a heavy downpour.
On the mountain opposite, a crimson sunset glow miraculously appeared.
The splendor of the sunset glow dyed the entire sky of the mountain red.
And it showed me what a true sunset glow was."
As Xiao Cai listened to my story, he unconsciously looked up at the sunset glow on the horizon.
A sweet smile appeared on his face, and he said softly,
"I often see the sunset glow. My master says it's a message from people who have gone to the horizon,
letting those who miss them know that they are doing well."
Xiao Cai's story truly surprised me. I never knew the sunset glow had such a purpose.
Doctor Luo cleared his throat a little awkwardly and explained,
"Xiao Cai really knows everything.
However, my master doesn't know the complete story of the sunset glow."
Xiao Cai turned back, his sweet smiling face unchanged.
With childish innocence, he revealed a story unique to his master.
"It's already remarkable that Master knows this much.
I guess Master's master is also in that sunset glow, and he must be doing well too."
Hearing this innocent remark, Doctor Luo's eyes suddenly welled up.
In a daze, he recalled his master, who had left this world a thousand years ago.
Perhaps, just as Xiao Cai said, he was in that sunset glow.
On that crimson shore, living his own life.
Thinking of this, he uncharacteristically stood up.
He slowly walked over to us, and like us, looked at the sunset glow on the horizon.
At this moment, if someone were to peek from behind,
they would see three figures silhouetted in the twilight standing at the small doorway.
One was Doctor Luo, one was Xiao Cai, and the other was Muye.
At night, a gentle breeze blew.
The night after the rain was particularly cool.
I returned to the room and lay on Xiao Cai's bed, my mind filled with thoughts.
Recalling Master Zhang's words in my mind.
"When Ali is better, bring him to find me in Nanhai City."
Ali was gentle and considerate, and most people here were pure and kind.
It would be a good choice to stay.
However, if I stayed, it would only cause more trouble for Ali.
It would be better to go back. At least, he would live more easily.
Having figured this out, I made up my mind.
I would go back. I could eat roast chicken when I went back.
"Hahaha," I laughed involuntarily.
Thinking of fried chicken, barbecue, milk tea, braised pork, roasted lamb legs.
As I thought about these things, I drifted off to sleep, half-asleep.
In a daze, I mumbled, "Braised pig trotters, spicy noodles, delicious..."
The next morning, Xiao Cai had already prepared breakfast and brought it to the living room.
He unhesitatingly ran into my room to wake me up.
"Get up, it's time to eat, get up!"
He patted the quilt with his small hand.
I was woken up by him and opened my eyes in a daze.
In a haze, I heard him say, "Roast chicken, roast chicken."
I immediately perked up and said excitedly, "Is there roast chicken today!"
Xiao Cai looked at me confusedly and said, "What roast chicken?"
"You just said there's roast chicken today."
"I said it's time to get up and eat."
I squinted suspiciously.
"Impossible, I clearly heard roast chicken. Are you trying to trick me?"
"There really isn't any. You misheard."
Still somewhat disbelieving, I hurriedly got up and went to the living room.
Seeing the table filled with one vegetarian dish after another.
Boiled cabbage, stir-fried chili vegetables, stewed tofu with cabbage.
My initially excited heart sank the moment I saw all this.
Xiao Cai slowly walked behind me and said helplessly,
"I told you you misheard, but you still didn't believe me."
I smiled sheepishly,
"It seems I really did mishear."
Doctor Luo also walked in at this moment, holding a bowl of blood-red soup he had brewed himself.
It looked quite frightening.
I asked curiously, "What is this?"
"This is called Red Longevity Soup. Drinking it can extend your life and keep you healthy."
"It's that powerful? I want to try it."
"Go ahead."
I picked up a bowl, scooped a spoonful, and tasted it.
Instantly, I felt my mouth and head filled with sourness.
My entire face contorted.
"Judging by your expression, it doesn't seem very delicious," Doctor Luo teased.
I waved my hand and said,
"This soup is too delicious for me to get used to. You guys drink it."
"Hahaha, you'll get used to it after drinking it a few more times."
Xiao Cai, holding a bowl and picking up dishes, chimed in with his master,
"I was like this the first time I drank it too. You get used to it after a few more times."
"Indeed, it's all about getting used to it." I agreed helplessly.
After the meal, Doctor Luo pointed to the basket placed outside the house and said,
"Your friend's poisoning is too severe. My herbs are not enough to save him.
He needs some other herbs, so you'll have to go and collect them yourself."
"Alright, Doctor Luo. Tell me what herbs are missing."
He told me seriously,
"There are two herbs in total. One is called Ye Gui, and the other is Bai Mu Cao."
"Ye Gui, Bai Mu Cao.
Alright, I've noted them down. I'll go collect them now."
Saying this, I walked out of the house and into the yard.
I picked up the basket placed in the courtyard.
Xiao Cai found it amusing and eagerly said,
"I'll go too."
"Xiao Cai, you can't go. You still need to stay home and cook."
Xiao Cai lowered his head in disappointment, looking wronged.
I comforted him, "It's okay, Xiao Cai. I'll take you next time."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
Xiao Cai sighed slightly and reluctantly came back to clear the bowls.
Doctor Luo instructed me,
"Collecting these two herbs won't be easy.
Ye Gui only blooms at night, and its stamen is like blue starlight.
And it only grows on cliffs.
As for Bai Mu Cao, it can only be seen when the midday sun is at its strongest.
Its stem and leaves swell like a lantern.
Bai Mu Cao also grows on cliffs.
You need to collect them within three days."
"Alright, I've noted it down."
I was full of confidence that I would collect them.
"I want to go too, I want to go too!"
Xiao Cai, finding it interesting, seemed to have forgotten what I had just told him.
He clamored that he wanted to go with me.
Doctor Luo quickly coaxed him,
"Xiao Cai, be good and stay home with Master. She'll be back soon."
Xiao Cai wasn't buying it and threw a tantrum, shouting,
"I want to go, I really want to go!"
I guessed he had forgotten what I told him earlier, so I coaxed him,
"Let's go together next time. The mountain is too dangerous.
Besides, Xiao Cai promised to stay home."
He looked at me, and seeing my warm smile, he finally relented,
"Alright, then come back quickly. I'll wait for you."
"Okay, I'll be back as soon as possible."
With that, I slung the basket over my shoulder, waved goodbye, and quickly ran towards the back mountain.
Arriving at the back mountain, there was only a narrow path leading to the summit.
On both sides, only a few stunted shrubs offered protection.
I carefully walked up. The sun was blazing overhead.
The wind whistled from below, shaking me from side to side.
I took a deep breath to steady myself and looked around cautiously.
I searched back and forth on the mountaintop but found nothing at all.
Let alone anything white and fluffy, I didn't even see a bird.
The mountaintop, constantly battered by the wind, was bald like a middle-aged uncle.
Brightly exposed were stones larger than a person.
At this moment, a strong gust of wind blew me to the ground, almost blowing me over the edge.
I could only cautiously hide behind a large rock.
Peeking out, I crawled to the edge of the cliff and looked down.
I saw that the sheer mountainside was covered with dense grass.
Further down was a bottomless abyss.
If I accidentally stepped on it, my life would be over instantly.
After searching for a long time, I still saw no sign of anything.
As the sky gradually darkened, I was helpless.
I could only sit aside and sigh, hoping to find the Ye Gui at night.
Unknowingly, I leaned against a rock and fell asleep.
Suddenly, a stinging sensation struck me. I opened my eyes.
I saw that the white cloth on my left side had been blown open by the wind.
The healing wound began to ache slightly again.
In a flurry, I re-tied the white cloth and then realized it was already night.
Looking up, a bright moon cast its glow, filling the mountaintop.
It was perfect for seeing the path.
Doctor Luo said that herb could only be seen at night.
Now was the perfect time to search.
I got up and carefully descended the mountain path, carefully examining the mountainside.
At this moment, as I descended halfway down the mountain, I suddenly saw a faint blue light dancing in the wind on the cliff face halfway up the mountain. That must be Ye Gui.