Chapter 83

When Han Ying heard him ask this, she nodded and took out a photo from her pocket, handing it to Xu Mo, and then asked, "Look, this thing, have you seen it before in the mountains?"

Xu Mo took the photo and looked at it. In the photo, a small plant was placed on a table. The plant was not large, with long, narrow leaves shaped like willow leaves, and the leaves faintly emitted a glow.

He had seen this plant before on the ceiling of the cave where the monster lived; it was the night-blooming grass.

"Is it the night-blooming grass?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Exactly, the night-blooming grass. You... know its name?" Han Ying was extremely surprised when she heard this, then realized and was both surprised and delighted, asking, "Have you seen it before? Where did you see it? Was it in these mountains?"

In her excitement, she asked several questions in a row, losing her usual composure.

Xu Mo nodded and affirmed, "It was in these mountains."

Han Ying followed up, "Where? Can you take me there?"

Xu Mo thought of the monster, "Not now."

Han Ying was very disappointed, her disappointment showing in her eyes, and she asked, "Why?"

"That place is too dangerous," Xu Mo explained, then asked, "Is the night-blooming grass very important to you?"

Han Ying nodded solemnly, "I have been searching for it all over the country for more than four years, almost five years. I must find it." Her voice was still gentle, but her tone was very firm.

"Hmm?" Xu Mo gazed at her face, waiting for her to explain why she was searching for the night-blooming grass.

Han Ying continued, "My mother's health is not good. I am looking for it to treat her." As she spoke, a sad expression appeared on her face.

"What's wrong with her?" Xu Mo's heart stirred, but his face remained calm.

Han Ying seemed to think of something, her tone becoming even heavier, "Seven years ago, my mother was in a car accident and has been in a coma ever since."

She spoke tactfully, but Xu Mo understood that she was a vegetative state patient. He couldn't help but wonder: Can the night-blooming grass really treat a vegetative state patient? He asked, "From what you say, this prescription seems to be from a traditional Chinese medicine doctor?"

Han Ying nodded, "Yes, it's from a very famous old Chinese medicine doctor, who is very skilled. Many people have heard of him, Mr. Li Heling."

Xu Mo frowned when he heard this. The name of the miraculous doctor Li Heling was well-known in the country. It was said that he found a cure for the SARS virus that was prevalent ten years ago from traditional Chinese medicine theory. However, according to what Mr. Chu and Mr. Wei said, the night-blooming grass is a specialty of a small island. How did Li Heling know about it? Could he have some connection to that island?

He heard Han Ying continue, "My mother's injuries have long healed, but she remains in a coma. This prescription is mainly to wake her up."

Xu Mo said, "Oh," and asked, "Has this prescription been used before? Is it really effective?"

Han Ying nodded, "It did have some effect, but after using it for over a year, we ran out of night-blooming grass, and the medicine was discontinued. My mother remained in a coma, so I had to go out to look for it."

Xu Mo couldn't help but be surprised, "Where did you get the night-blooming grass before?"

Han Ying said, "It was found by my ex-husband. I don't know where he got it from. After we divorced, I lost contact with him and couldn't get any more night-blooming grass."

Xu Mo looked at Han Ying and was surprised, "You were married?"

Actually, at Han Ying's age, being married was quite normal; not being married would be unusual. He hadn't known Han Ying for long, and although she had saved him and was very kind to him, he didn't have any improper thoughts about her. Still, hearing that she was married, he felt a slight disappointment.

Han Ying blushed when he asked this.

"Ha ha!" When Geng Yanli heard Xu Mo's question, she couldn't help but laugh and interjected, "Sister Ying even has a child, of course she was married." She then turned to Han Ying and asked, "Sister Ying, when you divorced your ex-husband, did your son stay with him?"

Han Ying nodded and said sadly, "Yes, but I haven't seen him for several years."

Geng Yanli didn't say more and turned to Xu Mo, changing the subject, "If you know where the night-blooming grass is, that's great. It will save us a lot of trouble. It seems like Sister Ying meeting you and saving you was fate. She has been searching for four to five years and was about to give up, but she met you, and you happen to know where the night-blooming grass grows. What else could this be if not fate?"

Gong Lei added, "Sister Ying is a good person, so even the heavens are helping her."

"Yes, yes," Geng Yanli continued, "After we finish eating, can you take us to find it?"

Xu Mo shook his head, "I'm afraid it's not possible for now."

"Why?" Geng Yanli frowned, looking at Xu Mo with confusion.

"That place is too dangerous," Xu Mo replied, then explained, "There's a man-eating mutant monster guarding it, and it's very fierce."

"Ah!"

When they heard this, Han Ying, Geng Yanli, and Gong Lei couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Han Ying frowned, while Geng Yanli said, "A man-eating monster, this is a big problem." She paused and asked, "Is the monster very powerful?"

"Very powerful," Xu Mo replied, then added, "These mango trees were knocked down by it. Do you think it's not powerful?"

Geng Yanli said, "Oh," and looked at the fallen mango trees, then exchanged a glance with Gong Lei, their expressions hesitant, as if they were considering giving up.

Xu Mo continued, "So if you want to find the night-blooming grass, you must be fully prepared before going to that place. Otherwise, you will surely be attacked by the mutant monster."

In his heart, since he knew Han Ying was looking for the night-blooming grass, he should have picked it for her. However, the night-blooming grass grew on the ceiling of the cave's main hall, which had smooth stone walls and was at least seven to eight meters high. He couldn't climb it alone.

If others went in with him, the monster, which had ingested a lot of rage powder and was already in a frenzy, might not be distracted by his ability to harmonize with nature. More importantly, no one else could enter silently like him. If the monster heard any noise and targeted anyone, he might not be able to distract it again.

Han Ying couldn't help but ask, "Where does the night-blooming grass grow?"

"It's in a cave," Xu Mo replied and then described the cave's terrain.

After hearing this, Han Ying, Geng Yanli, and Gong Lei became even more hesitant.

Gong Lei and Geng Yanli didn't say anything. They were just guides and assistants hired by Han Ying, introduced by acquaintances, and they were familiar with each other. However, it was clearly not worth risking their lives for this.

Han Ying thought for a moment and said, "I have all the climbing equipment in my bag. Although the main hall is smooth, with some effort, it might not be impossible to climb."

She paused, her eyes sweeping over Gong Lei and Geng Yanli, and smiled, "Xiao Lei, Xiao Li, you've accompanied me this far. Since we have news about the night-blooming grass, the mission is considered complete. After we finish eating, we'll head back."

" Sister Ying, we..." Gong Lei's face was full of shame, and he couldn't finish his sentence. He wanted to say he would go with Han Ying, but the thought of the danger made him unable to speak.

Geng Yanli advised, "Sister Ying, since collecting the night-blooming grass is so dangerous, I think... it's best... to give up."

Although she was trying to persuade Han Ying, she knew that Han Ying had been searching for the night-blooming grass for nearly five years with great determination. Despite the danger, the possibility of her giving up was very low, so her words lacked conviction.

Sure enough, Han Ying shook her head with a smile without hesitation. She was gentle by nature but very stubborn when it came to things she was determined to do. She wouldn't have searched for the night-blooming grass for five years and traveled all over the country if she were easily swayed by others' words. However, she didn't need to explain her determination to others.

Seeing that her persuasion was ineffective, Geng Yanli said, "Since we're already here, there's no need to leave in a hurry. If Sister Ying wants to go, we can't follow, but we can wait for you here. We came together, so we should leave together."

Given the risk to their lives, she didn't say anything about "going in with you" as a courtesy.

Han Ying smiled, "That's not necessary. You can go back first." She then turned to Xu Mo, "Where is that cave? Can you tell me?"

Xu Mo smiled, "No need to rush. Let's think of a way to distract the monster first."

"Us?" Han Ying couldn't help but ask, surprised by his words.

Xu Mo nodded, "I will go in with you."

Han Ying couldn't help but tremble all over when she heard this, staring into Xu Mo's eyes. Xu Mo's expression was firm, and he didn't avoid her gaze.

Han Ying suddenly understood his meaning and sighed, "You don't have to do this. I saved you by chance. You said the mutant monster is very powerful, so there's no need to take such a risk for my sake."

Xu Mo smiled lightly but didn't respond.

Geng Yanli couldn't help but clap her hands in approval, "That's great, Sister Ying. Mr. Xu knows the terrain well. Having him go in with you is the best."

Han Ying looked at Xu Mo and tried to persuade him again, "This is my personal matter, and it has nothing to do with you. You really don't have to do this."

Xu Mo smiled, "If we prepare well, we might not encounter any danger."

Geng Yanli quickly added, "Sister Ying, Mr. Xu is right. He is so confident. If he goes in with you, there will be no problem."

Before she finished speaking, suddenly, "Roar..." the monster's roar came from a distance.

Xu Mo's face changed when he heard this, and he quickly said, "Not good, the monster is coming. Let's hide quickly."

——

PS: A reader voted for an update with four votes, but unfortunately, it didn't work.

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