Chapter 108: Obtaining the Blood Ginseng

In truth, what Xie Qingtang had said was not a lie. Though the little bird in her palm seemed small, its appetite was anything but modest, and it was exceptionally picky as well. At first, it would only eat sun-dried medicinal herbs, but with Xie Qingtang’s careful feeding, it had come to accept only the finest herbs. These top-quality, specially prepared medicines were, of course, quite costly. Though Xie Qingtang’s current Chunshan Hall had begun to turn a profit, with the added burden of her grandfather’s restorative treatments, things were still financially strained.

“If you find it too expensive to keep, why not give it to me? I rather like this clever and gluttonous little bird,” Gu Xiujin suddenly offered, causing Xie Qingtang to instantly feel reluctant.

No matter what, the little bird was exceedingly well-behaved. When let out, it would only circle the grounds of Chunshan Hall a few times before returning to her side. This was the first pet Xie Qingtang had ever raised, so she instinctively cradled it to her chest, eyeing Gu Xiujin with suspicion. “Why are you so interested in my bird?”

“You said yourself you weren’t that fond of it, and that it’s been costing you a fortune. Now you’re suddenly so protective,” Gu Xiujin replied with a helpless smile. He could tell at a glance that this bird was no ordinary creature.

He had intended to take it from her, but seeing her unwillingness, he had to give up. After consuming the blood ginseng, the bird indeed fell asleep. Xie Qingtang checked to ensure it was unharmed and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Once he was sure there was nothing wrong with the blood ginseng, Gu Xiujin did not hesitate—he immediately transferred the remainder of the reward money to the mysterious treasure hunter’s account. As agreed, the treasure hunter shipped the blood ginseng to the country, and three days later, Gu Xiujin finally received it. As he gazed at the ginseng nestled in its crystal box, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

This blood ginseng was unlike ordinary ginseng—its surface was laced with myriad red filaments, reminiscent of the veins and blood vessels within a human body.

Legend had it that the more a ginseng resembled a human, the more potent its medicinal properties. This specimen, with its extraordinary appearance, was thus of tremendous value.

Unable to restrain himself, Gu Xiujin brought the blood ginseng with him—sitting in his wheelchair—straight to Chunshan Hall, and solemnly presented it to Xie Qingtang for appraisal.

Xie Qingtang was astonished when she saw it. She had accompanied her master for years and seen many fine ginseng roots, but this was a legendary treasure of the highest order—truly exceptional.

She took the crystal box with great care, opened it, and beheld the blood ginseng inside. It had already taken on a faint human shape, with hands and feet, and even a face that seemed to show human features. The surface bore indistinct crimson threads, truly like a web of human meridians.

After examining its appearance, Xie Qingtang already had a good idea of its authenticity. She took out a silver needle, pricked the ginseng, and scrutinized the result for a while.

During this process, Gu Xiujin was extremely tense. Only after Xie Qingtang finished her examination, closed the crystal box, and nodded at him, did he hear her declare, “It’s genuine.”

“That’s wonderful!” Even Li Zhao, standing to the side, could not conceal his delight. Gu Xiujin, on the other hand, kept his emotions in check, though the light in his eyes betrayed his inner excitement.

Looking at the man before her, Xie Qingtang felt a wave of emotion. In all her years with her master, it was rare to encounter even one of the seven prized principal herbs in a decade. Yet this man had found two of them in less than two months. Although she herself had contributed to finding the four-leaf ghost needle grass, she could not help but marvel at Gu Xiujin’s extraordinary luck.

“I’ll do my utmost to gather the remaining five of the seven principal herbs as soon as possible,” Gu Xiujin said, emboldened now that he had acquired two of the crucial ingredients.

Xie Qingtang smiled, pushing the crystal box toward him. “At first, I doubted you could ever assemble all seven, but now I see there is hope after all.”

“Thank you for giving me hope,” Gu Xiujin said sincerely. Before meeting Xie Qingtang, his illness had always been something to delay, never to cure. Now, for the first time, he dared to believe in a future.

But it was after meeting Xie Qingtang that hope began to kindle in his heart, making him believe that anything was possible.

“Don’t thank me yet,” Xie Qingtang replied. “Wait until you’ve gathered every ingredient on the prescription and I’ve cured your illness—then you can thank me. Besides, I’m not helping you for nothing. You help me, I help you; we’re in a mutually beneficial partnership, aren’t we?” In truth, Xie Qingtang did not wish for her ties to Gu Xiujin to grow too deep.

She had her own burdens and many things she wished to accomplish. Gu Xiujin was a clever man; he heard the meaning behind her words, said nothing more, and left with his entourage.

That evening, as Xie Qingtang dined with her grandfather and the others, the little bird perched on a branch suddenly cried out in a strange, agitated manner. Ordinarily, it was very quiet, calling only when hungry, at which point Xie Qingtang would understand and give it a piece of medicinal herb.

But tonight, the cry was unusual. Xie Qingtang’s brow furrowed slightly, and just as the sound died away, there came a knock at the door.

Zhou Jinfan, surprised for a moment, went to open the door, only to find that the visitor was Shao Siming. He had come alone, bearing some tonic supplements.

He stepped inside, set down his gifts, and when his gaze fell upon Grandfather Xie in his wheelchair, his eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flickering within.

Sensing his look, Xie Qingtang immediately stepped in front of her grandfather, confronting Shao Siming warily. “Shao Siming, why are you here again? I’ve told you before—there’s no possibility of reconciliation between us.”

“My foolish child, what nonsense are you spouting? We’re father and daughter by blood—bone and sinew bound together. I know my past actions led to some misunderstandings, so I’ve brought some supplements for the old gentleman.”