Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Medicine King Valley

Li Xu and Wang Baimu trudged through the snow, their feet sinking deep.

The snow had completely covered the mountain path, leaving only a trail of their uneven footprints.

In the Qinling winter, all life seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber.

But beneath this silence, a vibrant life force was hidden.

The distant, snow-covered mountain peaks resembled a vast ink wash painting. Sturdy pines and cypresses were cloaked in silver, their branches heavy with crystalline icicles that glittered with a rainbow of colors in the sunlight.

From the valley, the crisp calls of a few birds would occasionally break the silence, adding a touch of life to the white world.

"Doctor Li, don’t be fooled by how bare the mountains look in winter. The real treasures are all underground."

Wang Baimu caught his breath and pointed to a snow-covered thicket ahead. "Look at these plants. They might be withered on top, but their roots run deep. Eating roots in winter is the most nourishing thing you can do."

Li Xu nodded in complete agreement.

Chinese medicine emphasizes the concept of "winter storage," believing that winter is the season when the body’s Yang Qi lies dormant. During this time, one should align with nature and focus on nourishment.

And the roots of plants, having absorbed the essence of heaven and earth throughout a year of growth in spring and summer, are where the most energy is stored.

Eating them in winter allows one to fully absorb their energy to replenish Yang Qi and strengthen the body.

However, as beautiful as the snowy landscape was, it also made foraging for herbs extremely difficult.

A thick blanket of snow covered the ground, burying the roots of all plants deep within. Trying to accurately locate and dig up Panlong Seven was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

"Village Chief Wang, do you happen to know where Panlong Seven usually grows?"

Li Xu asked.

Although he understood the medicinal properties of Panlong Seven, he wasn’t familiar with its natural habitat.

Wang Baimu scratched his head. "Doctor Li, I’ve been hunting in these mountains since I was a kid. I know animal tracks like the back of my hand, but when it comes to gathering herbs, I’m useless. Some of the elders in our village know how, but their legs aren’t good enough to come with us."

The two of them searched around the mountain but still couldn’t find any sign of Panlong Seven.

Wang Baimu suggested, "Doctor Li, since we can’t find it ourselves, why don’t we check out Medicine King Valley? There’s an herb cultivation base there. I’m good friends with Old Cao, the guy who runs it. I’m sure we can get some from him."

Li Xu nodded in agreement.

He had heard of the name Medicine King Valley before.

Legend had it that the "Medicine King," Sun Simiao, once lived as a hermit on Taibai Mountain for 24 years, gathering herbs and refining elixirs. He left behind many precious prescriptions and tales. Medicine King Valley, a treasure trove of medicinal herbs within the Taibai Mountain Range, was named in his honor.

The two continued on, crossing over a mountain ridge.

"SQUAWK! SQUAWK!"

Suddenly, the frantic squawking of a wild pheasant from ahead broke the mountain’s tranquility.

Li Xu looked toward the sound and saw an athletic-looking pheasant with iridescent feathers bursting out of a thicket, flapping its wings as it tried to take flight.

"Heh, what a lucky day! To run into a pheasant."

Wang Baimu’s eyes lit up with excitement.

He moved quickly, almost instinctively plunging his Wild Boar Spear into the ground. Then, he untied the sash from his waist and expertly shook out a loop, forming a snare.

The pheasant was clearly startled. It ran across the snow, trying to find cover.

However, the deep snow restricted its speed, its legs sinking in with every step.

Wang Baimu, like an experienced hunter, didn’t rush to chase it. Instead, he carefully observed the pheasant’s escape route.

When startled, pheasants usually flee along a familiar path or take off directly from an open area.

"Doctor Li, stay right here and don’t move. This thing is clever!"

Wang Baimu whispered to Li Xu.

Then, he crouched down and silently moved to cut off the pheasant’s escape.

Just as Wang Baimu had predicted, the pheasant ran a short distance through the snow, and upon realizing it couldn’t escape, it tried to take flight from beside a relatively low bush.

However, in the instant it flapped its wings and its feet had just left the ground, Wang Baimu’s snare shot out like a striking viper. With a whoosh, it accurately wrapped around the pheasant’s legs.

"SQUAWK."

The pheasant let out a terrified cry, lost its balance in mid-air, and fell heavily onto the snow.

It thrashed its wings, trying to break free from the snare.

But Wang Baimu had already rushed forward and grabbed the pheasant by the neck.

"Haha, Doctor Li, we’re in for a treat tonight! Stewed pheasant soup is incredibly nourishing."

Wang Baimu said happily to Li Xu, holding up the still-struggling pheasant.

Li Xu also walked over with a smile and praised him, "Village Chief Wang, your skills are extraordinary. I’m truly impressed."

Wang Baimu tied up the pheasant, placed it in a cloth sack he was carrying, and then brushed the snow from his hands.

The two continued on, crossing another mountain ridge.

The snowy scenery here was no different from before. The world was a vast expanse of white, with only the occasional clump of snow falling from a treetop to remind them of the life within it.

"WOOF~ WOOF WOOF~"

A sudden burst of frantic barking came from ahead.

Immediately after, a voice shouted, "Blackie, quiet down!"

Li Xu and Wang Baimu glanced at each other. They knew they had reached Medicine King Valley.

They looked in the direction of the voice and saw a middle-aged man covered in snow getting up from under a large tree. The thick layer of snow on him had just fallen from the branches above.

The man was wearing a thick, padded cotton jacket and a dog-fur hat, a somewhat helpless smile on his face.

Beside him, a black dog was barking furiously at them.

"Old Cao."

Wang Baimu shouted.

When the middle-aged man saw Wang Baimu, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face. "Old Wang, what brings you here?"

That man was none other than the person in charge of Medicine King Valley, Cao Xianjun.

He walked up and clapped Wang Baimu on the shoulder.

"Aiya, my foot slipped just now and I bumped the tree. WHOOSH! All the snow from the branches came down right on top of me."

Cao Xianjun grumbled as he brushed the snow off his clothes.

Wang Baimu roared with laughter and pointed to Li Xu to make an introduction. "Old Cao, let me introduce you. This is Doctor Li Xu. He’s incredibly skilled. If you’re feeling unwell anywhere, you can have him take a look."

Li Xu also smiled and nodded at Cao Xianjun. "Hello, Teacher Cao."

Cao Xianjun sized up Li Xu, doubtful that such a young doctor could be particularly skilled.

Still, he wanted to be polite for Wang Baimu’s sake, so he extended his hand enthusiastically. "So you’re Doctor Li. I’ve heard a lot about you."

After a few pleasantries, Wang Baimu explained their reason for coming. "Old Cao, Doctor Li and I came here mainly to ask you for some Panlong Seven. My old ailment is acting up again, and my leg is killing me. Doctor Li wants to prepare a prescription for me."

After hearing this, Cao Xianjun waved his hand dismissively. "Pfft, is that all? Of course you can! Never mind Panlong Seven, you can have whatever herbs you want. I have them all here. I’m growing over three hundred types of herbs here in my Medicine King Valley, you know."