Chapter 7

Entering the mountains to gather herbs is dangerous, but as long as one returns alive, generally one can collect seven or eight types of medicinal herbs.

And these seven or eight types are enough for a family to live a happy life.

Slim Monkey said that Fang Ling couldn't gather three types, which was clearly a joke at Fang Ling's expense.

Those who have survived a disaster often have unsettled hearts and are willing to use others' embarrassing moments to calm their agitated feelings.

Slim Monkey was the same; his heart was not at peace. During these five days, he experienced many dangers. The enthusiastic and outgoing man who accompanied him was silently swallowed by a sudden pit on the way back.

Although he was naturally optimistic, at this moment, his entire state was somewhat abnormal.

He didn't dare to find a laughingstock among ordinary people, so Fang Ling, who had no strength and no backing, naturally became the target for him to relieve his unease.

"Ha ha ha..."

Several men standing nearby burst into laughter. One of them, who had lost an arm, laughed loudly: "I bet you, Slim Monkey, if Fang Ling gathers more than two types of herbs, I'll treat you to a drink at Yanlai Tower today!"

"Count me in!"

Lin Mu's eyes widened, and he was about to speak, but then he released his aura. In this situation, he wanted to see how Fang Ling would handle it.

Fang Ling glanced at Slim Monkey and the others who were making fun of him but ignored them. With his current strength, defeating Slim Monkey was no problem, but he wouldn't react just because a dog barked at him.

"You damn fool, who told you to enter the mountains? Who told you to enter the mountains!" A figure in a green linen robe, with a voice tinged with sobs, rushed in as if mad.

As she rushed over, her small fists quickly and fiercely struck Fang Ling's chest.

Although these punches seemed to use all her strength, they caused no pain to Fang Ling.

On the contrary, these punches gave Fang Ling an incredibly warm feeling.

"Do you know how I've been these past few days?" Her punches grew weaker and weaker, and finally, the figure that rushed over hugged Fang Ling tightly and sobbed.

Looking at the weeping girl, Fang Ling's heart was stirred. This excitement was more likely from the original owner's consciousness. Although the girl didn't say anything, from her red, peach-like eyes and the weariness on her face, Fang Ling understood how she had spent these past two days.

At this moment, he felt a bit envious of that Fang Ling.

The feeling of being cared for is really nice.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Fang Ling gently embraced the slender figure and said with a smile, "Sister Ying, I'm back, aren't I!"

He gently patted Huashuying's back to help her calm down.

Huashuying was still crying, but at this moment, Fang Ling felt a gaze as cold as a snake's eyes on him.

He turned his head and saw a man who looked to be around twenty, staring at him with a grim expression.

Chen Zhenghua, the eldest son of the Chen family!

From the original owner's memory, Fang Ling instantly identified this person.

Fang Ling had no good feelings toward Chen Zhenghua and met his gaze with a cold look.

As the next head of the Chen family, Chen Zhenghua was someone who thought the streets of Dingfang City were too narrow for him to walk. Seeing this ant-like person dare to look at him, he was instantly furious.

He was about to take action against Fang Ling when a middle-aged man standing next to him whispered something in his ear.

His face slowly broke into a smile.

"Fang Ling, how was your harvest?" Zhang Zhisshi walked over with a faint smile.

Fang Ling patted Huashuying and then smiled at Zhang Zhisshi, "Not very good."

Slim Monkey cackled, "Xiao Fangzi, you didn't even manage to cover the appearance fee, did you?"

The appearance fee refers to the fee that gatherers should pay to the Treasure Pavilion. In addition to the priority purchase of the herbs gathered, each gatherer must also pay a fee equivalent to a thousand gold taels in herbs upon leaving.

In the past, there have been gatherers who couldn't even cover the appearance fee, but such gatherers were very rare.

For such people, the Treasure Pavilion would always generously waive the shortfall.

Zhang Zhisshi's face turned a bit sour. He was the organizer of this gathering, and although the amount gathered was left to fate, if the income was too low, he would have a hard time explaining it to the shopkeeper.

At the very least, it would make him seem incompetent.

With a bad mood, his tone was harsh: "Bring it out!"

Fang Ling looked at Zhang Zhisshi's face and smiled inwardly. He gently took out a three-leaf clover from his basket.

This was a twenty-year-old three-leaf clover.

Seeing this three-leaf clover, Zhang Zhisshi's face improved a bit.

A twenty-year-old three-leaf clover was worth five hundred gold taels. Although it wasn't enough to cover Fang Ling's appearance fee, it was better than coming back empty-handed.

Fang Ling put down the three-leaf clover and reached into his basket again, taking out another three-leaf clover.

This three-leaf clover was clearly larger than the previous one, and the spiral pattern at its root was even more robust.

A thirty-year-old three-leaf clover!

Zhang Zhisshi's face was now beaming. A thirty-year-old three-leaf clover could sell for eight hundred gold taels.

If added to the first one, Fang Ling's appearance fee would be covered.

Slim Monkey licked his lips. This thirty-year-old three-leaf clover made even him a bit envious. He had entered the mountains twice, risking his life, and only managed to gather one thirty-year-old three-leaf clover last time.

And this Fang Ling, on his first trip into the mountains, managed to gather one.

"Xiao Lingzi is not bad." Zhang Zhisshi's way of addressing Fang Ling had changed from "Fang Ling" to "Xiao Lingzi."

Fang Ling smiled but didn't speak, instead reaching into his basket again.

There were still more, this kid's basket still had more!

For a moment, many people's faces showed anticipation.

But Chen Zhenghua's expression was not good, and he felt a bit nervous.

No, this kid's basket absolutely cannot have anything good, or else that charming Huashuying...

Just as Chen Zhenghua felt nervous, Fang Ling's hand held another herb.

It was still a three-leaf clover, but this one was smaller and withered compared to the previous two.

The appearance of this three-leaf clover greatly relieved Chen Zhenghua. Just by its appearance, it was worth no more than a hundred gold taels!

If Fang Ling's basket contained only this kind of thing, even if he brought out a hundred, it wouldn't cover his debt!

Zhang Zhisshi's face also showed a hint of disappointment. But then he consoled himself: For a young man like Fang Ling to return alive and earn his appearance fee was already not easy. He shouldn't be so hard on young people.

High expectations are not good either!

"Phew, Fang Ling, I thought you were going to bring out something amazing, ha ha, it's still a three-leaf clover. Although it's not worth much, it's still from the secret realm of Lashan. I'll treat you to a drink later..." Slim Monkey patted Fang Ling's shoulder and said with a chuckle.

Before Fang Ling could speak, a figure suddenly rushed over and, without waiting for him to react, snatched the three-leaf clover.

"Fifty-year-old three-leaf clover, this is a fifty-year-old three-leaf clover!" The man's voice was filled with excitement.

Without waiting for others to speak, he loudly said, "Young man, I'll offer you three spirit stones for this three-leaf clover!"

Zhang Zhisshi, who was never polite to those who dared to compete with the Treasure Pavilion, was about to draw his knife but then gently put it down and stayed in place.

A smile appeared on his dark, large face.

He couldn't help but smile because the person speaking was Master Zhao.

With Master Zhao's status in the Treasure Pavilion, a single word could make him lose his job.

This fifty-year-old three-leaf clover was worth three thousand gold taels.

Fang Ling was a bit dazed; he thought this three-leaf clover was worth at most a thousand gold taels.

Seeing Fang Ling's silence, Master Zhao said more urgently, "Young brother, I need this three-leaf clover to refine a batch of Danyuan Pills. I hope you can part with it!"

"Master Zhao, according to the agreement, the Treasure Pavilion has the right of first refusal for the herbs we gather!" Fang Ling rubbed his hands and pretended to be hesitant.

Master Zhao waved his hand and said, "You don't need to worry about that, just give it to me." As he spoke, he took out three spirit stones and handed them to Fang Ling, saying, "If you have any herbs with a long age, come to me."

The three shining spirit stones, as they landed in Fang Ling's hand, gave him a cool feeling.

The gatherers, including Slim Monkey, looked at the spirit stones in Fang Ling's hand with envy. For them, a single gathering trip could hardly earn three thousand gold taels, but Fang Ling had truly hit the jackpot, selling a small three-leaf clover for three thousand gold taels, and people were even competing to buy it.

Huashuying's face also showed a smile. Three thousand gold taels, which felt like a mountain to her, were now enough!

With these three thousand gold taels, she wouldn't have to serve as a maid for the hateful Chen family's eldest son, and she could continue to stay by Fang Ling's side.

But thinking that these three thousand gold taels were earned by Fang Ling risking his life, she felt even more酸楚 (heartache) amidst her joy.

Just as Master Zhao, holding the three-leaf clover, was eager to return to refine the pills, Fang Ling pulled him back and said, "Master, I have two more three-leaf clovers. Can you help me determine their age?"

As soon as he said this, everyone outside the secret realm was stunned.

There were still more, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Fang Ling, eager to see what he would bring out!