Chapter 5: Five, Gathering Herbs Chapter 5: Five, Gathering Herbs The next morning, after breakfast, Song Yufeng left with Mrs. Jin.
Watching the car disappearing into the distance, Li Meixiang shook her head and sighed, then looked down at the baby in her arms, her eyes brimming with distress, “Xiao Ning, my poor child, from now on, you can only be with your grandparents, alas! It’s truly a sin!”
The infant faintly tugged at the corner of her mouth, a touch of indifference in her starry eyes. She would live well without parents, and moreover, this place was more suitable for her than the Song Family. Although she couldn’t lift the Seal within her body now, she would one day, and then she would slowly regain her strength. She would personally deal with her enemies.
When the external enemies invaded their clan, she was just advancing her cultivation. Because her cultivation hadn’t fully stabilized, she went to confront them and thus suffered severe injuries, almost losing her Primordial Soul. If it weren’t for Elder Mie Yu arriving in time, carrying that wisp of her Primordial Soul to this place, finding her a suitable body to be reborn in, she might have perished by now.
However, Elder Mie Yu didn’t want her to face those enemies again, so he placed a Seal in her body. Unless she had the ability to lift the Seal, she could not resume cultivating; otherwise, she would just be an ordinary person.
Yang Lisheng saw the indifferent look in Song Yan Ning’s eyes and was stunned for a moment. He must have seen it wrong; such a small child couldn’t possibly have that kind of look.
“Let’s go inside, it’s so hot outside, don’t let the child get sunburnt.” Yang Lisheng was about to take a closer look at the baby when he saw her blink a few times, yawn, and slowly close her eyes, making him smile unwittingly. He definitely saw it wrong.
Li Meixiang nodded her head. Seeing Song Yan Ning had fallen asleep, she smiled and kissed her forehead, “Xiao Ning has fallen asleep again, such a sleepy child, I’ll carry her to the room.”
Yang Lisheng nodded, walked into the yard, picked up his bamboo basket for collecting herbs, and slung it on his back, “I’m going to the mountains to gather some herbal medicine.” He and Meixiang both received a retirement pension, but they rarely spent that money. Their living expenses were mostly covered by the money he made from selling herbal medicine.
He and Meixiang were both doctors, who also helped treat the villagers’ illnesses, but they never took money from the villagers. Hence, as thanks, the villagers would bring them vegetables and eggs. They said many times there was no need, but to no avail.
Song Yan Ning heard Li Meixiang’s footsteps fading away, and she slowly opened her eyes. It seemed she needed to be more cautious in the future, making sure not to reveal her emotions. After all, she was still a baby, and acting differently from other infants could cause unnecessary trouble.
Turning to look out the window, Song Yan Ning sighed helplessly in her heart. She wished she could grow up faster, recover her strength sooner. Elder Mie Yu, in finding her a body to be reborn in, why did he have to put a Seal inside her?
Hearing footsteps again, Song Yan Ning closed her eyes with a look of helplessness. When would such days end?
Li Meixiang entered the room and saw Song Yan Ning sleeping soundly, smiled, and then walked out again. This child really saved them worry; she hadn’t made a fuss all night, sleeping quietly, unlike other children who needed to be fed several times a night. But thinking of the reason, her heart filled with distress. The child must feel that her parents didn’t like her, and that was why she was so undemanding.
After hearing Li Meixiang leave again, Song Yan Ning did not open her eyes but tried to practice her former Cultivation Techniques. Since she had nothing to do now, she might as well give it a try to see if she could cultivate; she couldn’t let time go to waste. Even if she couldn’t undo the Seal in her body, she had to try; what if she could cultivate?
After a long time, Song Yan Ning opened her eyes with a look of resignation on her face. It was indeed hopeless. If she could go out and find some low-level spiritual grass, perhaps it would be helpful. Why didn’t Elder Mie Yu just find her an adult body? Even if it wasn’t an adult, being able to move freely would still be better.
Glancing at her own little hands, Song Yan Ning felt like crying without tears.
Li Meixiang finished cooking and made a bottle of formula. She entered the room and, seeing that Song Yan Ning had already woken up, smiled and walked over. She put the bottle on the table and picked up Song Yan Ning, “Hungry, aren’t you? Grandma has prepared your formula, drink up quickly.”
She put the bottle to Song Yan Ning’s mouth.
The taste of milk spread in her mouth, and Song Yan Ning slightly frowned. She really didn’t like the taste of milk, but what could she do about it? After all, she was just an infant.
Looking at Song Yan Ning’s little hands holding the bottle, appearing quite content, Li Meixiang couldn’t help but smile. However, as she laughed, her eyes gradually moistened. Such a lovely child—how could Xinxin bear to abandon her?
She reached out tenderly and stroked Song Yan Ning’s soft hair, “Xiao Ning, your grandparents will definitely take very good care of you.” They would surely nurture Xiao Ning well, to grow into a smart and exceptional lady of the household. They would show her parents that she was no less than her two sisters.
Yang Lisheng, with a bamboo basket on his back, was walking through the mountains, picking herbs and wild vegetables and putting them into the basket behind. He came here almost daily unless it rained or the weather was harsh. Although he was not young anymore, his body was incredibly strong, and even some younger people might not compare to him.
Seeing some herbal medicine under a tree in front, Yang Lisheng walked over, took the bamboo basket off his back, set it aside, and pulled out a small iron trowel for digging up herbs. He crouched down and started to dig carefully.
After putting the herbs into the basket, Yang Lisheng was about to lift the basket when he heard rustling from the grass nearby.
Hesitating slightly, Yang Lisheng moved two steps towards the sound and gently used his trowel to part the grass, peeking inside. He saw two black snakes, each over a meter long, fighting each other.
It was normal for snakes to be in the mountains during this weather, and he often encountered them. However, the snakes avoided him because he applied his own snake medicine, which repelled them with its scent. These two snakes were not only unafraid but were also fighting not far from him. Based on his experience, there must be some precious herbs nearby.
His gaze carefully searched the surroundings, and sure enough, before long, he discovered a plant with a striking purple-red hue. Aside from its vibrant color, it had only one leaf. What kind of herbal medicine was this? How had he never seen it before?
His family had a lineage of medical expertise, so he had been poring over various medical texts since he was young, and having been a doctor for so many years, he was very familiar with herbal medicine. There were very few herbs he had not seen.