Chapter 3: Gathering the Orchid Grass Fruit

Soon, she arrived with practiced ease at a cliff’s edge. The young girl circled the spot a few times before fixing her gaze on a cave about two meters wide. She touched her chin thoughtfully and murmured, “Last year, there were three plants inside. Surely, there will be some this year too.”

The mere thought of possibly finding three plants made her eyes sparkle, as if she had already envisioned thirty taels of silver slipping into her pocket.

Delighted, she stomped her feet lightly on the spot, glanced around with her small head, then quickly ran northward. Before long, she returned carrying a wooden stool.

The stool stood about a meter tall, reaching her elbow. Then she dashed south and fetched a smaller wooden stool, less than half the size of the first. Both items were props she had hidden here the previous year, and to her surprise, they were still there.

With practiced movements, the girl stepped onto the wooden stool and climbed up to the cave entrance. As soon as she entered, darkness immediately engulfed her vision—she could see nothing. Hastily, she shifted slightly to the side to avoid blocking all the sunlight with her body.

The cave was small, barely enough to hold two people. Once inside, she cautiously stepped aside and finally spotted two tender orchid plants nestled in the shadowy corner. Her eyes lit up as she looked at the tiny red fruits hanging from the orchids, her mouth nearly watering.

These were potent medicinal herbs, rumored to be lifesaving. Though she wasn’t entirely sure of their exact effects, she knew one thing for certain: these fruits could fetch a hefty sum.

She stared intently at the two red fruits for a long moment before hurriedly retrieving a silk scarf and two small boxes from the basket on her back.

As she took out the boxes, her expression suddenly grew sorrowful—for these boxes were very expensive.

The first time she had come to pick orchid fruits, she hadn’t had such boxes. The two fruits she picked soon turned to pulp. Although she still earned a fair amount, it was only half the price of intact fruits.

Since then, she had learned that only boxes made from golden nanmu wood could preserve the fruits without them turning into juice. Yet, damned if those two boxes hadn’t cost her more than ten taels of silver. Just thinking about it made her wince.

After cursing the unscrupulous merchants in her heart, she finally steadied herself and turned back to the two small fruits. Holding the silk scarf in one hand and the nanmu box in the other, she carefully approached the first fruit and plucked it smoothly.

“Oh yeah!” she exclaimed happily, closing the box and placing it back into the basket on her back.

Then she turned her attention to the other fruit. Around it was a circle of poisonous thorns, but with care, they wouldn’t prick her. Usually, such rare medicinal places were guarded by venomous creatures, yet she had never encountered any here.

Lost in these thoughts, suddenly the sharp clatter of swords rang out outside. The sudden noise made the girl shudder all over.

The sound grew nearer and nearer until it was as if it whispered right beside her ear. Fearfully, she poked her head out just a little and finally glimpsed the scene outside.

A man clad in a white jade robe, his body covered in blood, was locked in a fierce battle against several figures dressed in black.

Startled, the girl quickly withdrew her head, her heart pounding wildly. She—she had actually witnessed the legendary fight to the death.