Bai You'an desperately wanted to rest, but he truly couldn't sleep. Rather than have idle thoughts while asleep, it was better to stay busy and help a few more people.
He shook his head, refusing, "If I get tired, I'll go myself."
Xiang Yunling didn't try to persuade him.
He merely glanced at the books and papers on the table before busying himself.
The sun climbed higher and higher.
Everything in the courtyard was in perfect order, showing no signs of chaos due to the absence of a few people.
When Song Qingchao opened her eyes, she was still a little dazed. She placed a hand on her forehead, and the fatigue of her body instantly hit her.
It felt like knives were in her veins; every movement brought soreness.
She didn't get up immediately. Instead, she first explored the space to see what new treasures Xi Yunge had sent her.
Upon seeing several large carts of Artemisia annua in the corner of the space, even Song Qingchao, who had seen much, sat up in shock.
Had A Zhu stumbled into a hornets' nest of Artemisia?
She scratched her hair. Her fingers passed through it without obstruction, and she was stunned again.
Bai You'an had even helped her comb it?
Dazed, she got out of bed and looked out the window. Seeing the sun hanging high in the sky, she instantly sobered up.
She had slept for so long!
She quickly washed up, then rushed out the door.
As she burst into the pharmacy, Bai You'an, Xiang Yunling, and Xiang Duoruo all stopped what they were doing to look at her.
Song Qingchao's toes curled in embarrassment.
She cleared her throat. "The Lin family hasn't sent much medicine. I heard there are herbs on the back mountain, so I wanted to go collect them."
Bai You'an frowned, about to speak, when Xiang Yunling interjected, "The back mountain is dangerous. You, as a woman, cannot go."
After he finished, Bai You'an nodded in agreement. "Besides, you don't know herbs. If there really are any, I should go."
Song Qingchao frantically waved her hands. "No! You are a doctor. What would happen if so many patients lost you?"
She pointed at herself. "Me going is the best choice. Don't worry, I'm skilled in martial arts, and there's no one on the street now. I just won't go deep into the mountains."
Xiang Yunling still shook his head in disapproval.
Bai You'an, however, surprisingly agreed. "But you must take people with you, not go alone."
"Why?"
Song Qingchao retorted directly.
But seeing Bai You'an's unyielding expression, she took a step back. "Alright, I'll bring the guards."
"Two." Bai You'an's tone was uncompromising.
Xiang Yunling still disapproved. "It's too dangerous."
But Bai You'an didn't listen to him. "She can do it."
Song Qingchao met Bai You'an's confident gaze. She had already thought of another plan, so she nodded. "Fine, two. But you all will have to work harder here."
Xiang Duoruo immediately rushed out, holding medicine. "It's alright, Miss Song. I, Duoruo, can handle twice the work. Don't worry about it here, just take the guards with you."
Song Qingchao really wanted to punch him, but she couldn't.
As long as she could achieve her goal, she could endure it.
"Our little Duoruo is so capable."
She raised her hand to pat his head, but Xiang Duoruo dodged her.
Xiang Duoruo gave her a strange look. "Miss Song, shouldn't you be going quickly? The sun is already high, and it will be sunset soon. Although there's no curfew anymore, you should still come back before dark."
Song Qingchao nodded. She was just using this as an excuse to retrieve items from her space, not to genuinely search for herbs.
Not to mention the unfamiliar terrain, even if she was familiar with it, how many medicinal herbs could she find in half a day?
She waved her hand, then returned to the courtyard where the patients were staying. After reassigning tasks, she selected Zhou Liu and Zhou Ri,
A total of three people driving three carriages to the back mountain.
As Song Qingchao sat in the carriage, her mind was constantly working.
The reason she hadn't used the Lin family as an excuse was that the Artemisia annua in her space had been picked not long ago.
If the Lin family sent such fresh herbs, it would arouse suspicion.
Going to the back mountain to collect them was an excellent reason.
Upon arriving at the back mountain, Song Qingchao first had Zhou Liu tie up the carriages and then told Zhou Ri to search in the opposite direction.
She herself found a secluded spot.
Although this area of the back mountain was hidden, there might still be people around.
She finally found a cave, with waist-high weeds growing in front of it.
Even these weeds grew vigorously.
The corners of her mouth turned up, and she took out two Tang swords from her space.
With a slight twist of her wrist and the strength from her calves, she moved as lightly as a swallow. She controlled the dual blades to mercilessly clear the weeds in front of the cave.
Only when the area in front of the cave became a bare patch did Song Qingchao stop the flying blades.
She sheathed her swords and then twisted her wrists.
She hadn't practiced martial arts in a while; it was rather tiring.
She quickly scanned the surroundings, then collected the broken weeds into her space. Afterward, she took out fresh Artemisia annua from her space and threw it on the ground haphazardly.
Just as she was about to go out and call Zhou Liu and Zhou Ri,
The sound of rolling stones suddenly came from behind her.
She turned her head and directly took out a fine needle from her space, flicking it towards the sound.
"Stop!"
Song Qingchao frowned and turned around. She saw a thin, small girl peeking out from behind a stone wall.
She was wearing a veil, obscuring her features.
But her almond-shaped eyes were quite lively, blinking like a deer's.
"Esteemed swordswoman, I saw nothing." She quickly waved her hands, stammering an explanation.
Song Qingchao glanced at her disdainfully, her palm closing around the Tang sword that carried the scent of grass.
"Swordswoman, don't be rash!"
The young girl quickly covered her mouth and nose and retreated. "I have the plague. Don't come near me; it's contagious."
"Then why aren't you at the temple? What are you doing here?" Song Qingchao asked coldly.
The girl's eyes were too clear. She wasn't the type to kill someone unless absolutely necessary, but if the girl had seen what she had just done, it would be troublesome.
"Swordswoman, please put down your sword first." The girl giggled, looking very cheeky. "You probably don't believe me when I say I saw nothing, and I saw you wielding those two swords very skillfully. Killing me would be too easy."
She cleared her throat. "But you haven't made a move yet, so I believe you must be a kind-hearted person."
Song Qingchao scoffed. "How do you know there are no souls beneath my blades?"
The girl immediately began to flatter her. "I can tell just by looking at your face!"
She wanted to step forward but stopped herself, remembering her illness. She could only worry inwardly. "Swordswoman, I want to live, so you definitely won't believe me when I say I saw nothing."
"Oh? So, you mean you did see something?" Song Qingchao coldly advanced with her sword. "Speak, what did you see?"
The girl swallowed. Her gaze drifted to the sword at her neck. "If I tell you, swordswoman, will you let me go?"