RIIDMDR chapter 84

 

After it rained, Nan Xu gave Zhuang Si and Zhuang Wu the task of harvesting sweet potatoes and cabbages while he headed into the mountains to search for Polygonum hydropiper[mfn]Polygonum hydropiper commonly known as water pepper or smartweed. It has a very pungent, peppery taste, which is how it got its common name “water pepper.” In some East Asian traditions (especially Japan and parts of China), Polygonum hydropiper has been used in small amounts to add spiciness and aroma to certain alcoholic drinks.[/mfn]. He had been thinking about brewing wine for a while. Now that the rice and sweet potatoes were ripe, he had the necessary raw materials, all he needed was yeast.

Previously, Nan Xu wasn’t sure he could find the plants he was looking for in such a vast mountain. However, the advanced map he received as a reward showed which plant species were common in each area, which was very useful.

After breakfast, Nan Xu set out, carrying a bamboo basket and a sickle. He kept an eye on the mental map as he walked. Trying to do two things at once, he stumbled and fell. Fortunately, he was familiar with the area near the inn because they had walked through the mountains so much that they had worn a path.

Not long after he started walking, Nan Xu heard a dog bark and something scurry through the woods. Recognizing the sound as Guan’er’s, he stopped and looked around.

Guan’er leaped out of a nearby bush with a wildflower in his mouth. He swung his head and ran to Nan Xu, dropping the flower at his feet. Nan Xu exclaimed, “Why are you here?”

When Guan’er left, Tingchuan had just poured the remaining porridge from the pot into his bowl. The firewood under the pot was still warm, so the porridge and rice were very hot. Guan’er had to wait a long time before eating them.

Probably in a hurry to catch up with Nanxu, Guan’er panted heavily with his tongue hanging out. His saliva smeared Nanxu’s trouser legs as if to scold him for leaving without waiting for Guan’er.

Nan Xu smiled, patted the dog’s head, and waited for him to rest before continuing on. After two or three minutes, Nan Xu noticed that Guan’er’s breathing had calmed down. Just as he lifted his foot, he heard the crackling sound of his footsteps on a dry branch. He felt something in his heart. Looking back, he saw Tingchuan approaching at a leisurely pace.

He was holding a bunch of tangled flowers. When his eyes fell on Nan Xu’s feet, Tingchuan paused and gave Guan’er a stern look. Guan’er held his head high, proud of his fast run.

Nan Xu noticed this as well and asked with a smile, “Did you come here with Guan’er? Why are you picking flowers along the roadside, just like him?”

Tingchuan: …

Nan Xu asked this question without any hidden meaning; he simply felt that Tingchuan was too handsome. His appearance didn’t quite match the bouquet he held, making the mountain flowers seem less vibrant by comparison.

Tingchuan glared at Guan’er again, expressionless. He had come to see the wildflowers in full bloom and remembered how delighted Nanxu had been to dig up a simple green herb. Everything seemed to become a treasure in his hands. He simply broke off a few branches of each color, figuring that if Nanxu liked any of them, he would pick more on his return.

Just as he was breaking off the branches, Guan’er, who was walking with him, blinked a few times, took a bite of a low-growing wildflower, and took off running.

He wondered how this dog had learned to show off so much. He loved showing off to Nan Xu. It wasn’t really a good thing, but it didn’t matter. How could a fingertip-sized wildflower competing with one blooming high up in the tree?

He came in full of confidence, but all he heard was Nan Xu asking why he had learned to pick flowers from a dog. It would be strange if he were happy.

Guan’er barked twice, his tail wagging furiously. Tingchuan made a mental note to withhold Guan’er’s food tonight to teach him that his own food security rests in his hands.

“Hey? Those look like osmanthus flowers.” Nan Xu suddenly asked, stopping his teasing of Tingchuan and striding towards him.

Tingchuan didn’t know what kind of osmanthus Nan Xu was referring to, so he handed him all the flowers. Nan Xu picked through them and pulled out the most inconspicuous one. Due to the friction between the flowers, not many petals were left on the branch. But Nan Xu took a closer look and confirmed that it was osmanthus.

Delighted, he had not thought there were wild osmanthus trees in the mountains. He hurriedly asked, “Where did you pick this?”

Tingchuan recalled that Nan Xu had left through the courtyard gate and taken the path along the stream. To catch up quickly, Tingchuan took a shortcut behind the house. “It’s a bit far from here. I’ll show you on our way back.”

Nanxu nodded, feeling excited. Osmanthus could be used to make many things. Its fragrance is refreshing, making it perfect for osmanthus cake or wine.

Seeing his delighted expression, Tingchuan thought he had indeed done a good job. Though few male demons liked flowers and trees, Nanxu was different. He wasn’t as superficial as other men.

The three of them continued walking along the mountain path. Along the way, Nan Xu discovered many plants he had overlooked before, such as kudzu root[mfn]Kudzu root is the thick, starchy root of the kudzu plant (Pueraria lobata). In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it’s called gé gēn (葛根) and is used for things like treating colds, relieving muscle tension, reducing fever, and even helping with hangovers.[/mfn] and polygonatum[mfn]Polygonatum is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family, commonly known as Solomon’s seal.[/mfn]. Kudzu root can be made into powder, which can be used in cooking or dissolved in hot water to form a sticky paste. Sprinkled with dried osmanthus fruit, the paste tastes delicious. Polygonatum is a precious herb that nourishes the spleen and lungs, replenishes qi, and nourishes yin. It’s not found in the herb garden, so Zhixing would probably like it.

He stopped along the way to scoop up any goodies he found, stuffing them into the basket behind him. Before long, the bag was filled to the brim. Tingchuan watched from the sidelines, occasionally offering assistance. Had he not known Nan Xu’s true demonic nature, he might have suspected a hamster connection based on his habit of bringing things home.

However, upon further reflection, he realized that he had often brought things back to the inn during his leisurely wanderings in the mountains, unknowingly picking up many of his habits, influenced by Nan Xu.

Nan Xu had learned from the system that there was Polygonum hydropiper in the mountains, but he couldn’t find any, even after walking all the way to the foot of the mountain. As the sun began to set, he hesitated, unsure whether to continue. If he continued, he’d have to spend the night in the mountains. However, if he turned back, he’d have to come back the next time he went looking for water pepper.

He was actually inclined to continue walking, but that would force Tingchuan, who was with him, to spend the night in the forest.

“Tired?” Tingchuan asked, noticing him standing still.

Nan Xu shook his head, unsure whether to reveal his dilemma. After all, the forest was lush with vegetation, and Tingchuan might wonder why he thought what he was looking for wasn’t on the path he’d just taken. After ten seconds of hesitation, Nan Xu decided to speak his mind. Tingchuan’s curiosity wasn’t that strong. Even if he hadn’t said anything, Tingchuan would certainly have noticed something odd about him.

As Nan Xu had suspected, Tingchuan listened to him without a trace of doubt. After glancing around, Nan Xu said, “Just a little further and we’ll reach the place where the canine demons live. If we can’t make it back to the inn tonight, we can stay with them.”

Nan Xu’s eyes lit up. He knew only that the canine demons lived not far from the main peak. It would take a demon a whole day to travel that distance, but Nan Xu’s speed certainly couldn’t match that of the demons. Therefore, he had never considered going to see them.

Who would have thought that something he hadn’t dared to imagine would happen so easily? Nan Xu was astonished. He hadn’t noticed it himself, but his travel speed was almost catching up to a demon’s!

Furthermore, after nearly a day’s journey with few breaks and only wild fruit to eat, he wasn’t tired or hungry.

Perhaps the spiritual energy in these mountains was unknowingly affecting his body—like the hermits in the human world who lived deep in the mountains and tended to live long lives.

Nan Xu wondered if he could live past a hundred with a bit of effort. Then he decided, “Let’s keep going.”

As dusk fell, he saw stone houses stacked in the flat valley below the main peak. They were arranged in a staggered pattern, forming something resembling a village.

Some houses had stone slabs paving their fronts, with daisies planted around them. Farther away, there were fields and vegetable plots under cultivation where canine demons could be seen using stone hoes to prepare new land. Some stone houses were already lit, and the shifting shadows of people at work could be seen through the windows.

Nan Xu stood on a high boulder, gazing at the scene before him. He suddenly felt as if he were back in the dilapidated village of his childhood. The only difference was that the scattered houses in his memory were surrounded by courtyards.

Back then, many of the village elders would only return home from farm work after dark. If their wives were home, they would arrive with their hoes and enjoy a hot meal. Life was simple, and poverty never dimmed their smiles.

Nan Xu withdrew from his memories and said to Tingchuan beside him, “They’re all doing well.”

Tingchuan didn’t deny it. “Only the Canine Tribe can accept the transition from nothing to something so calmly. If it were any other demon tribe, they might not be so content.”

Nan Xu thought so, too. The Canine Tribe demons weren’t particularly squeamish, and with a leader like Xu Ji, they wouldn’t have a hard time living a bad life.

“First, let’s greet Xu Ji, and then I’ll go look around the nearby mountain,” Nan Xu said.

Tingchuan responded, and the two of them, along with the dog, descended the boulder. Perhaps having spotted his former master, Guan’er rushed into the village first. Nan Xu and Tingchuan followed slowly behind. Soon, they heard Xu Le’s excited shout.

Xu Le trotted out of the village with Guan’er. When he saw Nan Xu from a distance, he grinned, jumped up, and waved. “Brother Nan!”

He rushed over like a little missile and knocked his head against Nan Xu’s chest. The demon hugging Nan Xu was overjoyed. “Brother Nan, you’re here! I never dreamed that would happen.”

Nan Xu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Only ten days had passed since he and Xu Le last saw each other, yet it felt like half a year.

Tingchuan’s eyelids twitched. He had just yawned and wasn’t prepared for the child to throw himself into his arms. He grabbed the child by the collar and tried to pull him away from Nan Xu, but the child clung to him like a piece of candy. The harder Tingchuan pulled, the tighter the child hugged Nan Xu.

Since Nan Xu was right there, Tingchuan couldn’t use much force. He gave up and coughed a few times to get Nan Xu’s attention.

Inwardly, he thought, What a little pup—so young but already strong.

“Brother Nan, are you here to play with me? Are you staying at my house tonight?” In Xu Le’s world, there was no one but Nan Xu.

Nan Xu didn’t notice Tingchuan’s annoyance. He patted Xu Le on the head and smiled. “Do you have a bed for me?”

Xu Le hurriedly said, “Yes! I have a new one. I’ll take you to see it.”

He took Nan Xu’s hand and led him home.

Tingchuan stood there, forgotten, and watched the two walk away. He exchanged a glance with Guan’er, whose tail slowly drooped.