Chapter 269: Beauty Like a Flower (Part Six)
“It’s all because of this hateful war!” the Apothecary ground his teeth, “My family also lost most of them in the continuous years of war, so I understand how you feel.”
Afterward, he proactively told Liu Sheng how to gather herbs, and where he often gathered them, even providing her with cloth bags, a hoe, ropes, and baskets—all the necessary tools for gathering herbs.
“Take them, they’re not worth much anyway.” The Apothecary saw Liu Sheng shrink back, not daring to accept, and felt even more that this little girl was sensible and well-behaved, making his heart ache even more.
Liu Sheng accepted them, slinging the basket onto her slender shoulders, and thanked him sincerely.
Although these things were not worth much in the Apothecary’s eyes, for Liu Sheng, they were things she couldn’t buy.
Because she had no money at all.
Having obtained the necessary information and tools, Liu Sheng quickly set off to gather herbs in the mountains outside the city.
...
Several days later, Liu Sheng secretly watched Jiang Caibin finally able to leave his home, and a huge weight was finally lifted from her heart. Then she turned and left.
It was good that Jiang Caibin wouldn't die; she had other things to do.
The most important things now were three:
One, follow Lu Siniang.
Two, observe Lu Siniang.
Three, save Lu Siniang.
The secondary important things were two:
One, earn money.
Two, Cultivate Martial Skill.
Every afternoon, after Lu Siniang and her A-niang closed their stall and returned home, Liu Sheng would observe to ensure nothing unusual happened, then take her herb-gathering tools and head into the mountains.
Clearwater was already on the outskirts of the city, very close to the unnamed mountain next to it. A few hundred steps up the mountain was an abandoned ancient temple.
The ancient temple was desolate and quiet, with only a very familiar old locust tree, and no other living things, perfect for Cultivating.
But there was no Spiritual Qi in this world, so she could only practice some mundane Martial Skill, practicing her fists, kicks, and light footwork.
Practicing until late at night, she would then go into the mountains to gather herbs. If she encountered any wild beasts, it would be a good opportunity to practice her skills, and the meat and fur could be sold for money.
By early morning, she would return laden with her harvest.
Liu Sheng waited at the door early in the morning, delivering the game to a familiar butcher at the meat shop, and giving the herbs to the round-faced Apothecary at the pharmacy. Once she had saved a little money, she immediately went to the ironware shop and bought a dagger.
Mainly because daggers were cheaper.
Liu Sheng had decided that when she saved more money, she would buy a long sword, and her “heroine dream” would be complete.
Dreaming, Liu Sheng, clutching the hard-earned silver, squatted in the corner of the street again, waiting for Lu Siniang and her A-niang to set up their stall.
You ask when is sleeping time?
Oh, it's now.
Liu Sheng continued to disguise herself as a disheveled little beggar, spreading a newly bought straw mat opposite the tofu stall, covering herself with a thin floral quilt, and falling asleep.
Sometimes, when she woke up, she would find a few copper coins on her straw mat.
Counting it this way, spending most of the day sleeping was truly too lazy.
Of course, she would still leave Little Tentacle to watch Lu Siniang, so she could be aware of any unusual movements in time.
Thus, Liu Sheng watched as Jiang Caibin and Lu Siniang formally met, and then watched them grow closer and closer, often playing together.
This caused Liu Sheng to have to follow them all over the city, greatly shortening her sleep time.
But Liu Sheng never revealed herself to Jiang Caibin.
“You think that Jiang Caibin is rarely so liked by a little girl, and if he reverted to his true nature, it might not be the case.”
Liu Sheng’s merciless exposure of her thoughts caused a fit of coughing.
“Although that is not wrong, my thought is that it is rare for someone to be close to Lu Siniang, and it is a good opportunity to observe her true nature through this.”
“That doesn’t sound much better.”
“Jiang Caibin is indeed our tool.”
“What’s wrong with using him a few times after saving him a few times?”
“That makes sense.”
As she continued to follow, Liu Sheng indeed gradually discovered some clues.
Lu Siniang was indeed still Lu Siniang.
But she was still observing, waiting.
On this day, when the little white flower transformed into a black lotus and tried to cut off Jiang Caibin’s hand to claim it for herself, she finally appeared, once again saving Jiang Caibin from Lu Siniang.
...
“Liu Sheng Jie, she’s following behind…”
Jiang Caibin looked back and cautiously said to Liu Sheng.
This was the second day Liu Sheng formally appeared before Lu Siniang.
She was taking Jiang Caibin up the mountain, taking him to gather herbs and hunt together.
This was also Jiang Caibin’s initiative. Ever since he regained his “Jiang Caibin” consciousness, he no longer wanted his A-niang to work so hard and do such things to support him. He wanted to try to take responsibility himself and earn some silver to help with household expenses.
“Although she is not my biological A-niang, as long as I am here for a day, as long as I am En Zai, she is my A-niang,” Jiang Caibin said.
Liu Sheng nodded and simply said, “Then come along.”
So she had the same attitude now: “Let her follow.”
“Okay.” Jiang Caibin nodded obediently, only occasionally looking back.
Watching the small figure stumble and fall several times while following behind, Jiang Caibin also felt a pang of pity.
“Are we really not going to care about her?” Jiang Caibin looked back, “She’s still young and hasn’t practiced any footwork, unlike us.”
“What, have you already forgotten that she tried to chop off your hand yesterday? How did I not know you were so compassionate and considerate of others?” Liu Sheng raised an eyebrow.
Recalling their first meeting, Jiang Caibin had scoffed at her and Wang Dongdong with a face completely different from now.
Jiang Caibin also seemed to recall the unpleasantness of their first encounter and scratched his head sheepishly: “People always change, you know, as the saying goes, ‘After three days’ separation, a scholar should be regarded with new eyes.’”
Having experienced the low point of his life, Jiang Caibin had matured a lot. At least he knew that relying on himself, he couldn’t truly be a carefree fop, so of course, he had to tuck his tail between his legs and start anew.
At this moment, Jiang Caibin, with tears in his eyes, said, “Remembering what she said yesterday, I also feel that those people were beasts. No wonder such a young girl would resort to such extreme behavior.”
Liu Sheng was even more surprised. It seemed Jiang Caibin had not only curbed his bad temper but had also become much more emotional.
“Let’s see first.”
Liu Sheng didn't agree or disagree, but merely slowed her pace a little to allow the still “small” Lu Siniang to catch up.
...
In the forest, a massive wild boar crashed to the ground, Liu Sheng landed gracefully, a long sword in her hand still dripping with blood.
“Liu Sheng Jie, you’re amazing!” Jiang Caibin clapped his hands vigorously, cheering loudly.
And Little Tentacle, watching from the side, also held her hands tightly, her face full of tension, seemingly silently cheering for Liu Sheng.
At this moment, a mountain breeze blew, rustling Liu Sheng’s hair and clothes.
Little Tentacle was also mesmerized.
Though also a young girl, Liu Sheng looked tall and elegant, with an extraordinary demeanor, already somewhat like the heroic figures described by storytellers.
A pathological and twisted desire reignited in Little Tentacle’s eyes. Looking at Liu Sheng’s hands and feet, she felt an urge to dismantle them and attach them to herself.
But thinking of Liu Sheng’s skill, half of her desire extinguished, and the other half was deeply hidden in her heart.
Hmph, when she had such power, she would definitely dismantle all the limbs from this girl!
Little Tentacle’s anxious gaze was impossible for Liu Sheng, who was immersed in the fight, to ignore. She could feel the gaze lingering on her limbs.
It was scorching hot.
According to Liu Sheng’s understanding of Little Tentacle, this little one was definitely up to no good.