Rong Zhi did not leave, she stayed by the side watching the heat.
Although Gu Xinlan appeared somewhat eccentric on a daily basis, she was quite reliable when it came to serious matters. She seemed to be skilled in domestic chores. When the heat was just right, before Rong Zhi could say anything, Gu Xinlan had already moved the pot aside and waved to Rong Zhi.
"Mmm, it's ready," Rong Zhi nodded in satisfaction.
"Let's go deliver it to Uncle Yu."
Gu Xinlan picked up the medicinal pot, and together with Rong Zhi, they left the house.
When they arrived at Yu Cheng's home, Yu Cheng was in the backyard feeding Xiao Hei.
These days, Xiao Hei had been well-fed at Yu Cheng's, its fur shiny. It nuzzled against Yu Cheng while eating grass, showing how well Yu Cheng took care of it.
"Uncle Yu, feeding the horse?"
Rong Zhi greeted him. Yu Cheng turned around with a smile, "Yes, this horse is quite intelligent and can understand human speech. Truly a good horse."
After speaking, he noticed Gu Xinlan, "Isn't this Miss Gu? Why are you here too?"
Gu Xinlan lowered her head and said nothing. Rong Zhi explained, "Xinlan helped me boil medicine." As she spoke, she took the medicinal pot from Gu Xinlan. "Uncle Yu, this is the medicine I brewed for you according to your symptoms. Drink it and see. If it works, I'll bring you more."
"This... can cure my illness?" Yu Cheng's voice trembled slightly as he took the medicinal pot.
"Girl, thank you so much!"
His eyes crinkled into a smile, and although he looked rather plain, his joy was palpable.
After returning home with Gu Xinlan, Rong Zhi found Chen Xing in the courtyard, talking to Xia Yunting about something. He didn't avoid them when they entered.
Rong Zhi only heard Chen Xing mention something about a nearby Ling Shui County, and missed the rest.
Xia Yunting said, "Since that's the case, you go and investigate immediately." Chen Xing cupped his fists and left. As he left, he glanced at Rong Zhi and merely nodded in greeting.
"Xinlan, go change your clothes. We're going up the mountain to collect herbs later."
Gu Xinlan nodded and went to her room to change.
Only then did Rong Zhi ask Xia Yunting, "What is Chen Xing back for?"
"I sent him to investigate the conscription matters in Yunshui Village from a few years ago. Perhaps those men didn't go to the front lines."
"You mean, they might still be found, including Uncle Yu's son?"
"We'll have to wait for Chen Xing's investigation to conclude."
"That would be wonderful. Everyone has been holding a grudge against you because of this matter. If they can be found, you can also have your name cleared."
"To have your name cleared, Chen Xing alone is not enough. We still need you."
What Xia Yunting was referring to was Rong Zhi helping the villagers detoxify. For those with status, simply having evidence was not enough to gain the trust of the common people. They needed to do tangible things. Reputation was fleeting; practical benefits were what mattered.
Rong Zhi immediately understood his meaning.
"This is my specialty. Rest assured!"
As they were speaking, Gu Xinlan emerged from her room, having changed into a long-sleeved shirt and trousers. The trouser legs were tied with cloth strips to prevent encountering snakes on the mountain.
"Let's go, let's collect herbs."
Each of them, carrying a basket, followed the small path up the mountain.
Although Gu Xinlan didn't recognize many herbs, she had lived in the mountains for a long time. As soon as Rong Zhi told her, she could remember. Although she misidentified a couple of times, with Rong Zhi correcting her, her speed surpassed Rong Zhi's. Before long, her basket was nearly full.
Sweat beaded on her forehead, but she showed no signs of fatigue. Instead, she appeared very happy, as if she were truly at ease here.
Rong Zhi sighed inwardly. The people who had lived in the village had eventually found the village to be the most unfamiliar place.
She slowed her pace, chatting with Gu Xinlan as she collected herbs.
"Xinlan, are you happy collecting herbs on the mountain?"
Gu Xinlan was placing an herb into her basket when she heard Rong Zhi. She nodded, making an indistinct sound.
"Happy."
Indeed, in the village, although Wu Daniang had protected her well, there were always people coming and going, and she inevitably endured some strange glances. It was better to be free and unrestrained in these mountains.
"It's just a pity about your voice..." Rong Zhi reached out and touched her face, "If only it could be healed."
Gu Xinlan's eyes dimmed, a hint of melancholy appearing in them. It was clear that this matter weighed heavily on her.
Rong Zhi smiled and pointed to a pale yellow flower not far away, "That's Seven-Leaf Orchid. Boiled into a decoction, it can treat your throat. Go and pick some."
She patted Gu Xinlan's shoulder. Gu Xinlan's eyes lit up. She quickly moved to the flower, carefully picked it, and studied it intently for a long time, as if trying to remember its appearance, before placing it in her basket. Then she looked around, searching for more of the same herb.
"Don't rush, I'll tell you."
Afterward, Rong Zhi deliberately took Gu Xinlan on a long detour, showing her which herbs could treat her throat. Gu Xinlan eagerly collected them.
Before they knew it, both baskets were full, and the time had reached dusk.
As Rong Zhi was about to lead Gu Xinlan home, she suddenly heard a few beastly roars from not far away, sharp and low, filled with anger.
Both of them simultaneously looked in the direction of the sound.
"This sound seems to be a wild beast that is injured."
Rong Zhi murmured. However, the source of the sound was quite far away. Considering Gu Xinlan, Rong Zhi didn't intend to meddle.
"Let's go home."
Just as she was about to leave, Gu Xinlan grabbed her sleeve.
Gu Xinlan glanced in that direction, looking anxious. She spoke, forming two unclear words with exaggerated lip movements.
"Liu, Hong."
"Liu Hong?" Rong Zhi repeated. Gu Xinlan nodded.
"Are you saying Liu Hong is hunting?"
Gu Xinlan nodded again.
Rong Zhi paused, then took off the basket from her back. She looked around and saw a very tall poplar tree nearby. She raised her hand and tossed the basket into the branches.
"Xinlan, you go hide up there for a while. I'll go take a look and come back."
"Mhm." Gu Xinlan agreed vigorously and then, using both hands and feet, climbed the tree like a monkey. She hugged Rong Zhi's full basket, as if guarding some treasure.
Rong Zhi didn't delay. Using her Qinggong, she flew swiftly in the direction of the sound.
Soon, two figures, a person and a beast, appeared before her. It was a fully grown tiger with mottled fur, its head large, its eyes wide open, and two long fangs exposed. It let out a threatening growl from its mouth.
Liu Hong stood opposite it, supporting himself with his arm. One of his legs was stretched out straight, and there was a bloody hole in his calf, still bleeding.
Looking at the fierce tiger, Liu Hong's heart was filled with regret. He shouldn't have overestimated himself. He should have prepared more before coming. However, such a large prey was rare and hard to come by. He had seen it two days ago and knew that if he missed this opportunity, there wouldn't be another. Thus, he had followed without thinking. It seemed he was going to die here.
The tiger opened its mouth and let out a roar, leaping forward. Liu Hong closed his eyes in resignation.
Suddenly, the world spun, and the tiger's roar moved far away. When he opened his eyes again, the ground was several feet below him. The tiger looked up at this place, pacing back and forth, seemingly furious at missing its prey.
Liu Hong breathed a sigh of relief.
He had saved his life.
Turning around, he was surprised, "Miss Lin, why are you here?"
Rong Zhi also felt a lingering fear, "It's fortunate Xinlan asked me to take a look. Otherwise, you would have become tiger's prey."
"Xinlan sent you? Did she also come up the mountain?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong nervously searched around, fearing that Gu Xinlan might be discovered by the tiger below.
"Don't worry, I made sure she hid before I came here. She came up the mountain with me to collect herbs. She heard the commotion here and guessed it was you, so she asked me to come and check."
Liu Hong's expression became complicated upon hearing this.
"Hold onto me tightly, I'll take you away from here."
With such a large tiger, even if the two of them joined forces, it would be difficult to subdue it, especially since Liu Hong was injured.
Unexpectedly, Liu Hong immediately refused.
"No, Miss Lin, I must capture this tiger and take it back."
"Why?" Rong Zhi asked, surprised.
Was money more important than life?
"Although your leg injury is not severe, it can become infected if not treated promptly."
"I know," Liu Hong nodded, his tone becoming firmer.
"I am a hunter. Injuries are inevitable when hunting. Moreover, I desperately need it now."
"Are you short of money?"
Liu Hong nodded.
"There are plenty of prey. Let's save your life first. This creature is not something an ordinary person can handle."
"I know. Thank you, Miss Lin. Do you have any Jin Chuang medicine on you?"
Rong Zhi searched her body and found a small medicine bottle, which she handed to him.
"Thank you. With this, I can hold on for another night. In one night, I should be able to bring it down."
Seeing his determination, he was set on confronting this tiger.
"Since that's the case, be careful yourself." Rong Zhi saw that he was unwilling to elaborate, so she didn't ask further. After giving him a few words of caution, she left.
As soon as she left, Liu Hong became the sole target. The tiger occasionally pawed at the tree trunk with its paws the size of a casserole, attempting to climb up. Liu Hong sprinkled the Jin Chuang medicine on his leg and began to rest with his eyes closed.
"I'll deal with you after I've rested."
Rong Zhi returned to the place where she had parted with Gu Xinlan and immediately saw her lying on the trunk, staring in that direction. Seeing only Rong Zhi returning, she even poked her head out to look into the distance.
"Don't look anymore, he doesn't want to come back."
Rong Zhi recounted the situation to her.
Gu Xinlan came down with the two baskets, still looking worried.
Rong Zhi comforted her, "Looking at him, he seems confident. Let's not worry about him. Let's hurry home."
Although Gu Xinlan agreed, she kept looking back as they walked, clearly not at ease.
"Are you worried about him?" Rong Zhi asked.
Seeing Gu Xinlan remain silent, Rong Zhi asked again, "If he were to marry you, would you be willing?"
The other party still did not speak, only fidgeting with her clothes and showing a conflicted expression.
"Do you still like Lu Yuanxiu?"
Her response was silence.
"If you already have an answer in your heart, no matter which one you choose, you must try. Even if it doesn't work out, there will be another. It's better than wasting time in hesitation."
Rong Zhi did not mind her silence and continued, "You don't need to worry about what the village will say. Just follow what your heart tells you. This life is so short, and if you miss an opportunity, it's gone forever."
This statement was not only advising Gu Xinlan but also a lament for herself. In her previous life, she had spent all her time practicing medicine, only to find herself without a companion in the end.
From a distance, Rong Zhi saw Xia Yunting standing at the entrance, seemingly waiting for her.
Rong Zhi silently added to her thoughts: In this life, she asked for nothing else. As long as she could return to Yaowang Valley and have a handsome young husband like Xia Yunting, she would be content.