Chapter 088: Poor Eyesight

The great tree stood at the edge of a marsh, its canopy blocking out the sun, clearly having weathered many years. Beneath its trunk, there was indeed a tree hollow—not large, nor deep—barely big enough for a person to enter while crouched.

Yan Shu felt that the Medicine King was prejudiced against the overweight.

Wait, that wasn’t right. The hollow was so narrow—how did Fatty manage to get inside? According to Qiao Yue Ru’s description, the tree hollow ought to be even larger. Could they have found the wrong tree?

Obviously, Xiao Ji Han noticed this too. He sent a voice transmission to Yan Shu: “Is this the place? We’ll know if we try.”

With that, he bent down and entered the tree hollow first, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

As soon as Xiao Ji Han disappeared, Qiu Shuo Ran hurried after him, as if afraid that if he delayed even a moment, his opportunity would be snatched away.

Watching his eager rush into the tree hollow and disappearance, Yan Shu pursed her lips. There was nothing wrong with seeking fortune, but that greedy, frantic look was unappealing anywhere in any world.

Sun Chang Feng, at least, maintained the dignity befitting a teacher. Though anxious, he showed no sign of it. Turning to Pang Fei Yan, he said, “You go ahead.”

Pang Fei Yan did not argue, following the others into the hollow, then Sun Chang Feng himself.

When it was Meng Yu’s turn, he glanced at Yan Shu, saw she had no intention of moving, and went inside.

Once they had all entered, Yan Shu yawned, bored, and finally walked in herself.

To be honest, if not for her fear of lightning, she had no interest whatsoever in the Medicine King’s legacy.

As she entered the hollow, a dazzling flash of light swept before her eyes. Yan Shu quickly shut them; when she opened them again, she found herself in a fragrant valley filled with birdsong.

Before her lay a lake, its clear waters rippling gently in the breeze. Behind her stood a humble thatched cottage, comprised of two rooms.

Beside the cottage stretched a vast medicinal garden—everywhere she looked, spiritual herbs abounded.

Wasn’t this the Medicine King’s Valley, described in detail in the original book?

Yan Shu was bewildered.

In the novel, it was described that Xiao Ji Han, upon receiving the Medicine King’s legacy, was transported to the entrance of a valley. There, a sign stood that read: Forbidden Ground—Trespassers Die!

Qiao Yue Ru had not entered that forbidden ground, not because she was frightened by the sign, but because she simply could not get in.

At the entrance, it seemed a barrier kept her out. Unwilling to give up, she tried several times, even bringing her sect members along, but without exception, all were blocked.

The book mentioned that after Xiao Ji Han had received the legacy, he asked the Medicine King why Qiao Yue Ru and others could not enter the forbidden ground, while he had slipped in without hindrance and begun the Medicine King’s trial.

The Medicine King replied, “The restriction I set was only meant to block the Beast Taming Sect. Those people raise all sorts of strange creatures—who knows if their beasts would ruin my medicinal garden?”

Yan Shu remembered that when she first read this, she had remarked that the Medicine King was prejudiced.

But now, what was happening? Why had she arrived directly in the Medicine King’s Valley, without so much as a trial?

Where were Xiao Ji Han and the others?

As she pondered, the cottage door opened, and an elderly man in white robes with a white beard emerged. Seeing Yan Shu, he said bluntly, “Why are you standing there? Gather up the herbs I’ve left to dry—night will fall soon.”

This white-robed, white-bearded elder was, of course, the Medicine King himself, or rather, a wisp of his soul left behind.

The Medicine King had ascended nearly ten thousand years ago, now a legendary figure. Seeing him so naturally task her, Yan Shu pointed disbelievingly at her own nose and asked, “You want me to inherit your legacy?”

The Medicine King snorted, “It’s too soon to speak of inheritance. Help me with my work first!”

Though he said that, Yan Shu, knowing the plot, understood that after Xiao Ji Han had passed several trials and entered the Valley, the Medicine King had assigned him chores for over a month before formally teaching him.

Yan Shu was conflicted.

First, the legacy was supposed to belong to Xiao Ji Han. Second, she was truly a poor student; even if she received the inheritance, she would only tarnish the Medicine King’s name.

She wavered between helping and refusing, hesitating whether to confess her academic shortcomings to the Medicine King.

An old man, who had painstakingly preserved a wisp of his soul for nearly ten thousand years, just to wait for a worthy successor, might have chosen her by mistake due to failing eyesight. If she bluntly admitted her flaws, would she anger him to the point of coughing blood?

“Brat!” The Medicine King, seeing her unmoving, grew furious, his beard bristling and eyes glaring. “Do you know how many people have begged for the chance to work for me? I give you this opportunity, and you won’t take it!”

Suddenly, several vines burst from the earth, swaying before Yan Shu.

Crack!

One vine struck near her feet, raising a cloud of dust.

Yan Shu jumped, certain that if she uttered a single ‘no’, those vines would lash her for real.

Without further thought, she hurried into the courtyard to gather the herbs. After all, Xiao Ji Han had already entered; the trials would only take a few days, and then the Medicine King would surely realize who was the true, worthy heir.

The Medicine King produced a lounge chair from somewhere, lying down with a leisurely sway. “Brat! No using spiritual power while you work for me. Once you’ve brought the herbs inside, sort them properly. Don’t dawdle!”

The vines followed her like legs. Yan Shu was a typical slacker; she would only move if lashed, and not move at all if not.

She huffed and puffed, hauling herbs back and forth. “I’m respecting my elders and caring for the young—not afraid of your vines, absolutely!”

Hearing this, the Medicine King stroked his beard with a smile. Once finished, the smile faded, and he glared, “Enough nonsense—get to work!”

By the time the sun had fully set, Yan Shu had finally cleared the courtyard of drying herbs.

The cottage was lit. She sat inside, sorting the herbs.

She knew nothing of alchemy, but she recognized the herbs.

As she organized them, she said to the Medicine King, who supervised from nearby, “Let me say this up front—I have very limited talent for refining pills, medicine, or healing. You chose me, not the other way around. You can’t get angry later!”

The Medicine King snorted, “Brat, you’re young but full of ideas. I just need a medicine servant, don’t flatter yourself.”

Fine.

She had said all she needed to say. In any case, Xiao Ji Han would arrive in a few days.

Unlike Yan Shu, who was transported directly to the Medicine King’s Valley, Xiao Ji Han and the others, as depicted in the original novel, were sent to the entrance of the forbidden ground.