“It’s fine!”
Yan Qingshan shook his head and smiled at the young girl.
His injuries had naturally healed long ago, but he kept them wrapped to maintain the appearance of recovery, fearing that others might grow suspicious.
After all, his previous injuries were quite severe.
If he fully recovered overnight, wouldn’t it clearly signal to others that he possessed a secret?
While Yan Qingshan and Xiao Yixian were speaking, the staff of the Thousand Medicinal House finished arranging the recruitment of mercenaries.
The reason these mercenaries were so enthusiastic was not only because herb-collecting was safer than hunting Magical Beasts and offered decent rewards, but also for another reason.
The Thousand Medicinal House was the largest pharmacy in Qingshan Town.
As long as they could build a connection here, they might be able to call in a favor at a critical moment.
…
In the silent forest, a large group of men walked quietly.
Alert gazes constantly swept over the dark areas within the surrounding trees, their hands tightly gripping the weapons at their waists, ready to handle any sudden emergency.
As veteran mercenaries who had survived the Magic Beast Mountain Range for years, even though many were collaborating for the first time, they maintained a basic level of tacit understanding.
When their gazes met, they could identify signals representing danger or safety from each other’s eyes.
“Where have we reached?”
Yan Qingshan sat on a simple carriage, looking down at a map.
As the head of the herb-collecting team and a “patient,” his treatment was naturally the best.
“It seems to be here.
We are taking this route, right?”
Xiao Yixian was right beside the carriage.
Hearing Yan Qingshan’s words, she walked over to cross-reference the map and pointed at one of the many red lines.
Comparing it with the route in his memory, Yan Qingshan could roughly determine their position, but he simply needed to confirm it with someone else.
“There are quite a few cliffs on this route!”
Yan Qingshan looked at the markings on the map and spoke naturally.
His gaze scanned left and right, deepening his impression of the surroundings, especially the steep cliffs and precipices near the path.
“It seems so.
Mountain paths with many cliffs are harder to traverse, and there won’t be many meadows or valleys where large amounts of herbs grow.
However, wasn’t this route chosen by Brother Qingshan?”
Xiao Yixian looked around, somewhat confused as to why Yan Qingshan would say such things.
“Is that so?
Perhaps I was just confused.
Xiao Yixian, how do you feel about coming out this time?”
Yan Qingshan gave a hollow laugh and did not continue the previous topic.
Xiao Yixian lowered her head, looking a bit embarrassed.
“It’s alright.
I have to thank Brother Qingshan; otherwise, I really would have been in a fluster!”
“It’s nothing.
Isn’t it only right to help each other?
Xian’er!”
Yan Qingshan quirked an eyebrow and quietly switched to a more intimate form of address.
Without waiting for Xiao Yixian’s response, he turned his attention back to the map, marking various locations on the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range near Qingshan Town.
There was no need to rush with a little beauty like Xiao Yixian, who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
Since the “meat” was right beside him, wouldn’t taking it slow be more interesting?
Yan Qingshan chuckled inwardly and focused elsewhere.
Looking at the scattered cliff markings on the map, he felt a slight bitterness in his heart.
‘I really was too naive.’
This small map only covered the outskirts of the mountain range near Qingshan Town.
Just the large mountain peaks marked numbered no less than a hundred, and there were many more small and large hills not on the map.
The Magic Beast Mountain Range had countless peaks and a vast territory.
On the outskirts near Qingshan Town alone, there were eight different entry routes, and these routes had many forks leading in all directions.
Every herb-collecting trip not only required visiting previously discovered medicinal grounds but also carried the responsibility of scouting new routes.
The valley where Yan Qingshan and the others had discovered a large amount of Yellow Lotus Essence last time was a newly found location.
He just hadn’t expected there to be so many wild wolves, including a small pack of over ten 1st Rank Magical Beasts—Azure Wood Wolves.
Although they eventually wiped out the wolves, the team suffered heavy losses.
Among these numerous routes, broken cliffs and precipices were standard features, varying in size.
If he had to search them one by one, who knew how long it would take to find anything?
Yan Qingshan’s head ached.
Reality was indeed different from a novel.
In a novel, finding a lucky chance only took two or three chapters.
Even though he knew there was a chance for a fortuitous encounter in the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, he likely wouldn’t see results for several months.
However, he had to do it.
This was his closest opportunity to obtain a high-level Qi Method or Dou Technique.
…
In the Magic Beast Mountain Range, a team of nearly a hundred people was slowly advancing.
At the center of the heavy guard was the Thousand Medicinal House’s herb-collecting team.
Surrounded by the group like stars around the moon, Yan Qingshan methodically arranged everyone’s tasks.
Beside him, the white-robed girl, Xiao Yixian, straightened her body slightly and listened intently, making notes.
She occasionally stole a glance at his side profile, but when he turned his head, she would quickly look away, using the back of her hand to gently wipe the sweat from her forehead.
She panted softly, looking quite hot.
Yan Qingshan noticed her small movements and found them very interesting.
Because of Dawn’s analytical help, he had arranged the herb-collecting team skillfully and logically over the past few days.
Not only did the staff of the Thousand Medicinal House admire him, but even the mercenaries spoke to him with a respectful tone.
The young girl beside him, the original leader of the team, had been even more impressed by him over these days, almost regarding him as an idol.
As the girl turned away with a shy, blushing face and a soft expression, it inspired a sense of pity and love in others.
She avoided his gaze slightly yet observed him secretly.
Wasn’t this the classic reaction of a girl seeing her idol?
Yan Qingshan patted the wooden board of the carriage he was sitting on, cross-legged, wanting Xiao Yixian to sit and rest for a bit.
“Xian’er, come sit for a while.”
Xiao Yixian shook her head and said, “No need, Brother Qingshan.
I can still manage.”
The sun was high in the sky, hanging brilliantly.
Under the scorching sunlight, the traveling crowd soon felt their tongues growing dry and parched.
A bald mercenary, drenched in sweat, came to the side of the carriage.
“Qingshan, the weather is too hot.
There is another medicinal ground ahead.
Although it was just harvested less than three months ago, should we take a break?”
This bald mercenary was named Mang Ba, the leader of a mercenary squad in Qingshan Town.
His 5-Star Dou Zhe cultivation was considered quite good.
Due to some connections, he was part of the mercenary guard for almost every Thousand Medicinal House collection trip.
Last time, it was he who had carefully protected the still-breathing Yan Qingshan and rushed back to the Thousand Medicinal House, making him his savior.
“Uncle Mang Ba, then tell everyone to speed up a bit.
We’ll rest in the forest ahead!”
Yan Qingshan glanced at the constantly sweating Xiao Yixian, handed her a flask of fresh water, and nodded toward Mang Ba.
The hot sun was indeed uncomfortable.
The mercenaries wore heavy armor and were much hotter than the herb-collecting team; they were more prone to sweating and dehydration, which heavily affected their combat effectiveness.
“Aye!
Right away!”
Mang Ba replied and turned to notify the many mercenaries.
Everyone was greatly heartened to hear they could rest in the forest and quickened their pace to continue forward.
The Magic Beast Mountain Range was full of dangers.
Along the way, the team had already encountered three waves of Magical Beasts and several other attacks from groups of wild animals.
However, with the protection of many mercenaries, they fared well.
There weren’t many injured, and the injuries weren’t severe; they were fine after a bit of bandaging.
As the many mercenaries approached the forest, they naturally made quite a bit of noise, but this was intentional.
In the Magic Beast Mountain Range, the safest paths were actually these small roads stepped out over time by mercenaries; the weeds were sparse and short, making it nearly impossible for danger to hide.
While the woods on both sides of the mountain path were thick and shaded, they were certainly home to wild animals and even Magical Beasts.
Every entry into the woods required caution.
Just like now, a squad of strong mercenaries entered the woods with significant noise, intentionally “beating the grass to scare the snakes,” and they soon encountered an attack.
“Everyone, be careful!
It’s Crimson Ice Snakes.
Three on the left, five in the middle, two on the right, and four more following behind…”
Yan Qingshan spoke loudly, warning the mercenaries.
Dawn had activated its alarm and detection functions the moment they moved.
Because of his powerful perception and comparative analysis, he easily identified the species and movement trajectories of the attacking Magical Beasts, precisely calling out the data within his field of vision.
Several illusory crimson shadows arrived with a whistle, diving down from the treetops in the forest.
The Crimson Ice Snake is a 1st Rank Ice-attribute Magical Beast, quite common in the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
They excel at using ice spikes for attacks.
Cold poison is contained within the ice; if a victim does not receive timely treatment within half a day, their blood will be frozen solid by the cold poison until they die.
These few Crimson Ice Snakes seemed to be a group, and this forest was likely their habitat.
They hid in the canopy or hung from tree trunks.
When the mercenaries below made noise, they struck decisively, shooting out cold poison ice spikes like lightning.
The attack of a 1st Rank Magical Beast is no small matter.
Even though these mercenaries expected a surprise attack before entering the forest, they didn’t anticipate it being so fast and fierce.
Two mercenaries failed to dodge and were hit by the cold poison.
Their faces instantly turned deathly pale as they collapsed with weak limbs, their entire bodies emitting cold white mist as if they were ice sculptures.
The sudden attack by the many Crimson Ice Snakes naturally invited the counterattack of even more mercenaries.
Under their combined efforts, of these thirteen or fourteen Crimson Ice Snakes, only two or three at the back managed to escape with their lives, leaving behind a ground littered with the mangled corpses of the others, roughly twenty or thirty segments.
After these ten-plus Crimson Ice Snakes were dealt with, the two mercenaries severely injured by cold poison, along with several others, unfortunately injured in the battle, were sent to the herb-collecting team.
Yan Qingshan and Xiao Yixian administered the appropriate remedies to treat them separately.
“Bandage them up.
Also, feed these two some Yellow Lotus Powder and help them move their bodies to keep active, lest any hidden injuries remain.”
Yan Qingshan observed the symptoms of several injured men and decided on the corresponding treatment methods.
Because he had to pretend his injuries were not yet healed, it was inconvenient for him to handle them personally; he had junior apprentices go forward to help and treat these mercenaries.
For these junior apprentices, this was an opportunity.
On the other side, Xiao Yixian handled things personally, a smile on her lips as she carefully treated the other mercenaries, carrying a sense of sacred purity that could not be profaned.
The reason this young girl would be able to enjoy such high status and prestige in Qingshan Town in the future was inseparable from her personality and behavior.
While Yan Qingshan’s side bandaged and treated the injured, aside from one group of mercenaries surrounding the herb-collecting team for guard duty, the other mercenaries went ahead to continue clearing the path, and a few were assigned to clean up the corpses of the Crimson Ice Snakes.
(End of Chapter)