I carefully ascended to the mountaintop, only to find I was still far from the desired location.
I then descended halfway down the mountain, looking helplessly at the lack of any solution.
If I waited until dawn to collect it, it would likely be gone without a trace.
Thus, after much thought, I had no choice but to climb up with my bare hands.
This sheer cliff face was not difficult to ascend.
Although somewhat smooth, there were still a few scattered shrubs growing from its surface.
By gripping the shrubs and stepping on the rocky protrusions, I could collect the Nightfall Bloom.
With this plan in mind, I crept forward, using the rock ledges to climb.
Clinging to the shrubs, I managed to reach the Nightfall Bloom without incident.
This Nightfall Bloom was as the physician Luo described; its leaves were blue-white, and its stamens spread outwards.
From a distance, it resembled blue starlight.
With surprise and joy, I plucked it and placed it in my basket.
Just as I was about to descend, a strange, powerful wind suddenly gusted up from the base of the cliff.
I tightly gripped the shrubs protruding from the rock crevices.
I pressed myself close to the stone wall, fearing I would be blown off the cliff.
However, my hollow basket was tossed about by the wind.
The Nightfall Bloom, which I had so painstakingly collected, was suddenly swept away by the wind.
I turned my head and saw the Nightfall Bloom dancing in the wind.
Panic seized me, and I reached out blindly to grab it.
Before long, the strong wind quietly receded.
The Nightfall Bloom, as if losing its buoyancy, began to fall straight down.
Without a second thought, I released my grip, leaped down, and caught it.
Instantly, I felt as heavy as lead, plummeting directly towards the bottom of the cliff.
In my mind, the image of Ali lying on that ice bed suddenly surfaced.
At that moment, a resolute voice echoed within me.
"I cannot die yet; Ali is still waiting for me."
In that instant, I felt as though I had found the will to live.
I bit down on the Nightfall Bloom and quickly discarded my basket.
Then, I took off my outer garment, fashioned it into a makeshift parachute, and held onto each side with my hands, drifting downwards.
This tactic proved effective, and I landed steadily on a protruding rock.
Looking around, I noticed a crooked-neck tree to my left.
There were some bushes around the crooked-neck tree; I should be able to climb up from there.
I put on my clothes and my gaze fell upon the white cloth on my arm.
By tying stones to these white cloths, I could fashion a grappling hook.
If I could swing the white cloth onto that crooked-neck tree, I could then pull myself across.
With this plan, I carefully untied the white cloth that was wrapped around my wound.
I tied a stone to one end, swung my arm back, and prepared myself.
Seizing the moment, I swung it towards the crooked-neck tree.
Once, twice, still a failure.
I sighed, then with a renewed surge of strength, I finally managed to throw it over, where it became lodged in the tree trunk.
I tugged on it; it felt secure.
So, I tied it to myself, climbed onto the cliff, and carefully moved across.
Suddenly, the strong wind, as if playing a prank, attacked again.
This time it was more violent, blowing directly from the base of the cliff towards the summit.
Fortunately, I held on tight and stood firm.
After the strong wind passed, everything was safe.
I laughed triumphantly.
"Good thing I'm so clever."
Just as I finished speaking, a loose stone fell from above.
Catching me completely off guard, it struck me squarely on the head.
My head felt dizzy and heavy from the impact.
Before I could react, another stone fell, hitting the top of my head.
This one hit with considerable force; I could hear the "thud!"
Wincing in pain, I looked up and vaguely saw something snake-like falling.
I screamed out in alarm, "Ah!"
I suddenly lost my grip, my foot slipped, and I immediately fell.
Fortunately, I had prepared beforehand, and the white cloth around my waist caught me in time.
I dangled in mid-air, neither up nor down.
I looked up at the white cloth, and another idea formed in my mind.
This time, I could use the white cloth to climb up.
So, I grabbed the white cloth with both hands and clamped the end between my legs.
Using my hands and feet in unison, I strained to move upwards.
However, to my surprise, this white cloth was not as sturdy as it seemed.
Before I could reach the top, I heard the sound of the cloth tearing.
I looked up and quickly grabbed the torn upper end with my hands.
Then, I continued to climb upwards with all my might.
However, what was even more infuriating was how unstable these rocks were.
With a "crack!"
The stone popped out from its crevice and struck me directly on the head.
"Ah!" I cried out in pain and began to fall again.
Gazing at the crooked-neck tree that had offered such hope.
I flailed my hands and feet wildly, trying to salvage something.
But I was neither an immortal nor a demon.
I was just an ordinary person with no powers.
I looked up at the cliff face and sighed.
As the wind whistled past my ears, I plummeted down the mountain.
Thinking there was no way to save Ali, I closed my eyes and said with deep remorse.
"Ali, I'm sorry."
Suddenly, a long sword, shimmering with moonlight, flew up from the bottom of the cliff.
It landed beneath me, and a delicate hand reached from below my waist, suddenly pulling me into an embrace.
I numbly opened my eyes and saw the person before me wearing a dark green bamboo hat.
Their entire head was covered by black gauze, and in the moonlight, I could see their green robes.
In a daze, I watched them leap swiftly up the sheer cliff face, then soar to the mountaintop.
Only then did they gently place me on the ground.
I felt as though I had seen this person somewhere before, my mind racing to recall.
Suddenly, I remembered seeing him on the road to Dongyue Town.
I also remembered the name of that person under the moonlight.
"Yue Jiucang!"
Hearing me utter his name, he did not seem surprised.
This was because, prior to this, his moniker as the Moon Shadow Knight Yue had already echoed throughout the land.
It was not strange that the person before me recognized him.
He slowly took the herbs from his waist and handed them to me, saying.
"This is yours, isn't it?"
This was the Nightfall Bloom I had dropped in the wind, and he had picked it up.
I numbly accepted the herbs, his voice still echoing in my mind.
Gentle as jade, like a spring breeze.
I also caught the sweet, soft fragrance wafting on the wind.
A strange flutter of the heart surged within me.
Seeing my stillness, he assumed I was stunned by fear and comforted me.
"My lady, why are you collecting herbs so late? It is far too dangerous.
My lady, please return quickly, lest your family worry."
With that, he turned to leave, but I quickly grabbed his hand.
In that instant, I felt a tingling sensation, like an electric current, spread through my body.
"What is it?"
He turned back and grasped my hand again.
My face instantly flushed crimson.
I felt a lightning bolt of love and happiness intertwining in my mind, and I swayed backward.
He quickly reached out and caught me, asking with concern.
"My lady, what is wrong?"
Although I could not see his face clearly.
I could still feel.
His handsomeness beneath the veil.
Suddenly excited.
I hadn't expected to meet such a handsome man while collecting herbs. I dazedly grabbed his hand.
Stammering, I said.
"Young master, I, I, well.
It's just, can you help me with something?"
He listened, utterly bewildered, finding me rather endearing.
He agreed, "Yes, I can help you."
"Thank you, thank you."
I was too overwhelmed to speak.
After calming down, I finally explained the reason for my herb collection.
"Thank you, but could you help me collect another herb?
A friend of mine has been poisoned and needs these two herbs for an antidote."
"What herb?" he asked.
"That herb is called White Wood Grass."
"White Wood Grass? I've never heard of these two herbs being used as an antidote.
However, I have heard they can be used to treat sword wounds.
I recall, aren't these the two herbs I need?"
"What!" I exclaimed in surprise.
I immediately guessed that the old rogue Luo had tricked me, but then I calmed down.
"Can you help me collect this herb?
That divine physician said it grows on this cliff face.
But it can only be seen at midnight.
It's almost dawn now, so we'll have to wait until tomorrow.
Are you in a hurry, young master? If you are, please go ahead."
"Alright, I have nothing else to do.
I'll accompany you until tomorrow night. May I know the lady's name?" he asked.
"I, my name is Liu Muye, thank you."
"The divine physician you mentioned is likely Physician Luo, isn't he?" he suddenly asked.
"Yes," I replied, having no intention of hiding it.
He glimpsed the wound on my arm.
He carefully picked it up and pointed to the wound, asking.
"He told you to do this too, didn't he?"
I explained.
"Not entirely. To save someone, one must make sacrifices.
Perhaps this is also his principle for saving lives."
He then tore off a corner of his green robe and bandaged my wound.
As he bandaged it, he said with concern.
"Although his temperament is eccentric, he is not a bad person after all.
How could he be so harsh with a lady this time?"
"It's alright. As long as he can save my friend, this wound is nothing."
"You must have bled a lot."
"Yes, but thankfully I managed to get through it."
"You've been through a lot. It's strange, why do you smell so fragrant, my lady?"
He caught a strange scent on the wind but couldn't quite place it.
I blushed and shyly replied, "No, no, how could that be."
He smiled slightly, but then suspicion arose.
"Perhaps it's my imagination, but I feel you are rather peculiar.
You don't have the celestial aura of an immortal, nor the demonic scent of a demon.
Could it be that you are the great demon of legend?"
This suspicion seemed to come from the same source as Ali's.
Seeing his suspicion, I quickly explained.
"No, no, you've misunderstood."
"Then what are you?"
"I am human."
Seeing his persistent questioning, I could only tell the truth.
"Human?"
He suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
His face, hidden by the bamboo hat, revealed an expression of disbelief.
I nodded silently.
"I have heard of humans. Legend has it that humans live in the distant Human Realm.
And that eating a piece of human flesh grants immortality."
I don't know who read Master Wu's 'Journey to the West' and spread such nonsense in the world.
It seems I have another person to explain things to.
I explained with resignation.
"Human flesh has no special properties.
What you speak of, immortality, is merely a fabrication from books, not the truth."
"Is that so? But you truly smell very fragrant, my lady."
He remained unconvinced and sniffed again.
Seeing him mention my fragrance again, I curiously sniffed myself.
I found no particular scent on me, nor any strong fragrance.
I looked at him with doubt and suspicion, "Young master must be mistaken; I don't smell anything."
He sniffed again in the wind, confirming.
"It is a fragrance, indeed."
Seeing his persistence, I felt embarrassed to say anything more.
My face flushed slightly, and I shyly said.
"Perhaps it's the flowers blooming somewhere on this mountain."
"That must be it. The wind is quite strong tonight."
"Yes."
He and I sat side-by-side on the mountaintop, waiting for the sunrise.
After a long wait, the first rays of the rising sun finally appeared.
"It's dawn," he murmured, watching the slowly emerging sun on the horizon.
I also looked towards the horizon, wondering if the great hero Yue would sneak away.
Before I could ponder this, my stomach rumbled.
He reached into his embrace and pulled out a steamed bun, offering it to me.
"You must be hungry, have this to tide you over."
I took the bun and curiously leaned forward.
I noticed that even in the sunlight, I still couldn't see through the dark green bamboo hat.
I couldn't get a clear look at his face.
He then took out another steamed bun from his embrace and began to eat.
I was also hungry, so I ate along with him.
After eating the steamed buns, we both idly waited for nightfall.
After a long wait, it was only when the midday sun was at its peak.
He turned and saw the drops of sweat, like raindrops, sliding down my face.
He stood up and pointed to a shaded area behind him.
"It's too hot. Let's wait over there."
I nodded slightly, slowly rose, and walked over with him.
Then, like on the rocks before, we sat side-by-side.
He took out a silk handkerchief from his embrace and handed it to me.
"Here, wipe yourself. My lady has been sweating for a long time."
I took the handkerchief and thanked him.
"Thank you, young master."
After wiping my sweat, I shyly asked him.
"Do you still need this silk handkerchief, young master?"
He shook his head and said, "No need to return it. It's for my lady."
Hearing him refer to me as "my lady" repeatedly felt a bit awkward.
I said to him, "Young master, please just call me Muye, and I'll call you Brother Yue."
He thought for a moment and agreed, "Alright. 'Young master' and 'my lady' do sound a bit strange."
"Yes, calling you Brother Yue sounds much better."
"Alright, then I'll call you Muye."
"Brother Yue."
"Muye."
"Hahaha."
We called each other's names and found it rather amusing, bursting into laughter together.
Then came another long wait, until sunset, when hope finally ignited in my heart.
"The sun is about to set," I exclaimed excitedly.
"Yes, wait a little longer, and we'll be able to collect the White Wood Grass."
Feeling bored from waiting, I asked about his sword.
"Brother Yue, does your sword have a name?"
He touched the sword and replied.
"Yes, its name is Moon Shadow Sword."
"Moon Shadow Sword? Does it mean the shadow of the moon?"
"My master gave the Moon Shadow Sword its name. It was originally his personal sword.
Later, my master traveled the world and passed the sword down to me, and I have carried it ever since."
"Wow, so this sword must be very powerful."
"Yes, it can unleash its true power only under the moonlight.
This is likely why my master named it the Moon Shadow Sword."
"I see. Brother Yue, did you come up the mountain this time to seek medicine as well?"
He replied sheepishly, "Yes. I have a friend who was accidentally injured by my sword during a sparring match, so I came here to ask Physician Luo for some medicine to treat sword wounds."
"Alas, it's quite difficult to ask him for anything. I wonder if he'll be willing to give you some."
"Don't worry about that. I have my ways."
Seeing his confident demeanor, I guessed he might resort to kowtowing or bloodletting, and the thought alone was terrifying, wondering what the outcome would be.