Chapter Eleven: The Jade Purification

As dawn broke, Luo Changning opened his eyes to find that the inner strength within him had grown significantly, far surpassing his usual rate of cultivation. This delighted him immensely. He went to the main hall for breakfast but did not see Su Meng, so he asked Aunt Qing, “Where’s my aunt?”

“Miss is still in her room, sleeping. She hasn’t gotten up yet.”

Luo Changning nodded, wrapped a dozen meat buns in oiled paper and tucked them into his chest, picked up the bladeless sword from the table, and headed out toward Mount Mo Hui.

Along the way, the cries of street vendors filled the air, brimming with the vibrance of city life. The economy of Annan Province was rather backward, comprised mostly of hills and islands. Bandits and pirates were rampant, and agriculture was underdeveloped. Without second-rate or higher sects and noble families to support it, many cultivation resources that were sold cheaply elsewhere could not even be found here.

He sighed. Though mountains were plentiful, valuable medicinal herbs were rare, and even when they did exist, they grew deep in the wilds. The martial prowess of Qingyang County was so low that few dared venture into the mountains, and those with slightly better skills felt it beneath them, preferring instead to pay high prices for herbs from Heishui County.

Unlike Qingyang, Heishui County was not blocked by the east-west Mo Hui mountain range; one only needed to cross the Heishui River to reach the border of the wild dense forests and trade poisons and herbs with the primitive tribes there.

Yes, Heishui County. Luo Changning resolved that, given the chance, he must visit and see if he could find any treasures.

Ascending Mount Mo Hui, Luo Changning first knelt silently for half an hour before Su Qinqin’s grave, then ventured deeper into the mountains. Wealth and glory are found amidst peril; only danger brings opportunity.

Passing through a cedar grove, he came upon a cliff. Luo Changning, nimble as a monkey, scaled the top in just a few leaps. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto the upper left cliff face, where a chestnut-colored marrow-cleansing herb grew.

Marrow-cleansing herbs came in five grades, from highest to lowest: azure, white, ink, yellow, and red, defined by the color of their leaves. The higher the grade, the better the cleansing effect. Their leaves were delicate and warm to the touch, like fine jade, hence they were named after jade. The chestnut-colored one before him was also called Yellow Jade Marrow-Cleansing Herb.

Luo Changning rejoiced inwardly. Indeed, opportunity and danger coexist. If the Yellow Jade Marrow-Cleansing Herb were refined into a pill, there was a seventy percent chance it would become a mid-grade elixir!

He moved to the upper left, channeled his inner strength into his feet to steady his stance, freed his hands, and carefully dug away the soil and stones. Soon, the herb’s roots were exposed. With a deft pull, he extracted the marrow-cleansing herb and stowed it in his chest.

Reaching the cliff top, Luo Changning traveled deeper for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. Suddenly, the woods ahead opened up, separated by a small river. Since his master left, there had been no one to bring him wine on the mountain. He cupped river water in his hands and drank several gulps. The water was clear and sweet.

He took out the oiled paper and devoured seven meat buns in quick succession, feeling a twinge of existential doubt. Gazing at the river, he mused: with such pristine water, the fish must be delicious. Why persist in chewing cold buns? Better to catch a few fish and roast them.

No sooner thought than done. Luo Changning placed the buns on a clean stone at the riverbank, removed his outer garment, rolled up his trousers, and waded into the river.

His swimming skills were excellent, and with the aid of his martial arts, he quickly caught a grass carp weighing three or four pounds.

He cleared a space, took out his dagger, and scaled, gutted, and bled the fish, removing its bitter gall. After washing it clean, he gathered dry branches and grass, and with his fire striker soon had a blaze going.

He skewered the fish with a sharpened branch and roasted it over the fire. The aroma of grilled fish mingled with the scent of grass and wood, whetting his appetite. Luo Changning licked his lips, tossed some saltbush berries and pepper he’d picked among the branches into the fish’s belly, and roasted it a while longer. Once the spices released their fragrance, the fish was perfectly done.

He bit into it—the skin was crisp and elastic, the flesh tender and fragrant, tinged with salt and pepper, and a hint of sourness. The only flaw was a muddy taste lingering in the head and tail.

Luo Changning ate with regret; if only he could have a sip of his aunt’s homemade wine now—or better yet, an entire gourd of it.

After eating, he washed his face, doused the fire, and was about to leave when a roar sounded behind him.

A deafening howl—

Startled, he turned toward the noise and saw a massive brown bear, seven feet tall, weighing nearly eight hundred pounds, its fur glossy, mouth wide open in a furious roar, less than thirty paces away.

The bear was enormous, its fangs sharp and menacing. Luo Changning pondered, “Though I possess inner strength, I cannot wield it yet. I’m no match for this bear—fighting would mean certain death. If I try to escape via the river, it’s too shallow. Even if I can breathe underwater, I’d be slower and at a disadvantage. Climbing a tree won’t work either; bears are faster climbers than people.”

“Alas, my carelessness in lingering by the river has brought this upon me. Even if wild beasts aren’t drawn by the scent of blood, they come to drink. Am I to be buried in a bear’s belly today? If so, what a cosmic joke—my vengeance unfulfilled, only to die at the hands of a beast!”

“Wait—the bear may run swiftly, but if I dash into the dense forest and target areas thick with trees, perhaps I could seize a slim chance at survival.”

He considered all this in an instant and resolved to bolt into the woods.

It was not cowardice or lack of courage; rather, a true man knows when to act and when to yield. One must weigh the situation—there’s no sense in risking everything to fight a wild bear. Such bravado is tantamount to suicide.

Though Luo Changning had tasted death once, he cherished life. The memory of starving to death in his past life was still vivid.

And how could he resign himself to dying before Dugong Bancheng? A man should not die before his skills are honed, his reputation established, his vengeance repaid.

Suddenly, a girl’s voice rang out from the woods, sharp and playful: “You silly bear, why are you running so fast? I can’t even catch up with you!”

Soon, a girl in a pink dress came running from the forest toward the brown bear.

The bear saw the girl and grinned, looking goofy and utterly harmless. It reached out a furry paw and lifted her up so she could sit on its arm.

The girl, tiny atop the massive beast, hugged its neck and nuzzled it affectionately. The two seemed like old friends.

Luo Changning stared in astonishment at the pink-clad girl and the bear frolicking as if no one else were present. Moments ago, the bear had bared its fangs in a menacing display, and now it was licking the girl’s face with eager affection.

“Little girl, is that bear your pet?” Luo Changning called out.

Though both appeared to be mere children, Luo Changning’s soul was that of a fourteen-year-old boy. Calling a girl his own age “little girl” was not out of place.

“Ah, someone’s here!”

The girl hugged the bear tighter, looked up at Luo Changning with wary eyes, then blushed, whispering, “What a beautiful person…”

“Haha, you’re a funny one—not afraid of bears, but wary of people.” Amused by her startled, endearing manner, Luo Changning teased.

“Hmph, what’s scary about bears? People are the scariest. My brother says everyone outside the mountain is bad—villains and scoundrels. Besides, the beasts in the woods won’t hurt me. This silly bear even helps me catch fish and pick fruit.” She pouted proudly.

After speaking, she wrinkled her nose and sniffed the air, her eyes suddenly lighting up as she looked at the extinguished fire. “Wow, did you just roast fish here? It smells amazing…”

“No wonder this silly bear ran off and left me. It must have smelled something tasty—what a keen nose.” She pinched the bear’s face, laughing.

The bear carried her toward the riverbank. Luo Changning watched the approaching creature, feeling no danger now; instead, he found the bear and its mistress equally lovable.

“My fish was eaten long ago—even the bones have sunk to the riverbed. Funny that you two can still smell it,” he said. For reasons unknown, Luo Changning felt a strange closeness to the pink-clad girl.

Was it because he wished for a sister? He wondered to himself.