Divine Tang Era

"Grandfather, this is for you."

"Fan Meng, this is for you."

"Wan Zhen, this is for you."

While eating, Liu Xuan took things out of his basket and gave them to Xu Dan and the others. Xu Dan unwrapped the oil paper, revealing a piece of already sliced ​​boiled mutton. Fan Meng and Wan Zhen had the same thing in their hands.

"Why did you bring so much food? Can you finish it all?" Xu Dan tasted a piece; it did taste good, and it had salt added.

Fan Meng and Wan Zhen started eating without any hesitation.

After finishing a roast chicken, Liu Xuan reached for something in his basket. Xu Dan cautioned him, "We're still on our journey, don't eat too much, or you'll get a stomachache."

"Don't worry, I have a big belly, I'm not afraid."

After rummaging around, Liu Xuan pulled out a bag of beef from his basket and began to eat it in large bites.

Xu Dan shook his head repeatedly. The more enjoyable the meal was now, the more painful it would be later. He was an experienced person; otherwise, he wouldn't have so much experience. Lu Shizong and the others guarding them didn't say anything, simply letting them eat.

After a while, having rested enough, Lu Shizong led his martial arts school disciples on their way.

After walking about three or four miles, Liu Xuan suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Cold sweat poured down his face, and his lips turned pale. He tried to endure it, but he couldn't hold it in any longer. He quickly ran to Lu Shizong and said, "Senior brother, I need to relieve myself."

"Go over there," Lu Shizong pointed into the distance.

Liu Xuan turned around, grabbed some straw paper from his basket, and ran over.

"Is there anyone else who wants to go? Hurry up," Lu Shizong said, turning to the martial arts school disciples.

Upon hearing this, some disciples left the group and ran towards Liu Xuan's direction. Xu Dan noticed that those who had been eating and drinking so voraciously were the ones heading off. These guys were still too inexperienced; they didn't know that you shouldn't eat too much while traveling. Perhaps, this was the meaning of training.

A short while later, Liu Xuan returned, clutching his stomach.

Lu Shizong did not let him return to the group, but waited for him on the side.

A little while later, everyone who had gone out returned.

Lu Shizong pointed at them and said, "Look at you, you ate and drank so much during the rest period. Especially Liu Xuan, one roast chicken wasn't enough, he ate beef and mutton too. With this kind of travel, the food they just ate hasn't had time to digest, it's all lingering in their stomachs, how can anyone stand that? This is a lesson, in the future, be careful not to eat too much when traveling, lest you end up like them."

After this experience, I doubt anyone will dare to eat and drink excessively while traveling.

Liu Xuan was scolded and returned with his head hanging low, too embarrassed to face anyone. If the Divine Tang Dynasty had a term for "social death," he would probably be utterly ashamed. Fortunately, he had a strong heart and was fine after a while.

Jinshan is on the edge of Jingning City; it looks close, but it's actually quite far to walk there.

After walking quickly for about an hour and a half, the group finally reached the foot of Jinshan Mountain. Lu Shizong told everyone to stop, rest, and eat, and then go into the forest to collect herbs later.

Everyone was tired from walking briskly with their heads down, so they quickly looked for a place to eat.

Liu Xuan waved to Xu Dan and the others, pulled them aside, and took out several paper packets from his basket for them.

Xu Dan opened the paper package and saw a roasted lamb leg. He took a bite; it tasted good, full of vitality, clearly from a demon beast. In Jingning, demon beast meat was quite expensive.

So Xu Dan asked, "Why did you take out monster meat? Aren't you afraid your family will beat you?"

"Once or twice is fine," Liu Xuan said slyly.

Xu Dan nodded without saying anything, turned around and took out the bamboo tube containing red sausage from the basket, took out the oil paper and opened it, and a rich aroma of wine and meat wafted out.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xuan asked, "What is this?"

"This is my special red sausage made with yak beef. How does it taste?"

Xu Dan placed the oil paper among the group, and everyone took it without hesitation and started eating. Xu Dan also picked up a piece for himself.

Liu Xuan ate the crispy, deep-fried red sausage, which exuded the aroma of wine and meat, and couldn't help but say, "It's so delicious!" He grabbed a few more pieces and threw them into his mouth, closing his eyes to savor the taste. Fan Meng and Wan Zhen did the same.

Xu Dan ate too much and didn't feel anything.

A moment later, Liu Xuan opened his eyes and whispered, "Grandfather, could you sell us your secret recipe for making sausages?"

"It's nothing special, why would I need to buy it? I'll give it to you," Xu Dan said generously.

"No, how can I give away such a unique secret technique? I'll bring Father to you later."

Liu Xuan said nothing more, just ate his sausage. Xu Dan then took out some beef floss to share with them, but compared to the deliciousness of the sausage, the beef floss was much less appealing. Xu Dan didn't care about that, took out the bamboo tube used for rice, tore some mutton into it, stirred it, and started eating.

"You're still eating?" Liu Xuan said, looking at him.

"What will you eat if you don't eat?" Xu Dan has a big appetite; he can't sleep well if he doesn't eat for a day.

"I will eat meat," Liu Xuanyi said sternly.

"I'll have steamed buns. I went to Meng's Steamed Bun Shop this morning to buy them. Their big steamed buns are really delicious. You should try some too." Wan Zhen handed over the steamed buns.

"I've eaten at that place before, you can eat there yourself!" Xu Dan waved his hand.

"I won't eat it either," Liu Xuan said.

Fan Meng refused, turned around and took out a cotton cloth-wrapped item from his basket. Inside were several freshly baked flatbreads.

"These are pancakes my mother made for me this morning. They're so delicious, you should try them." Fan Meng took out a pancake and gave one to each person. Xu Dan tore off a corner, found it filled with meat, tasted it, and thought it was quite good.

"Your mother's sesame seed cakes are really good, the best I've ever eaten," Liu Xuan commented, and Wan Zhen agreed.

"I think so too." Fan Meng scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed.

After eating and resting for a while, Lu Shizong gathered the martial arts school disciples together and taught them about safety procedures for entering the jungle.

"Everyone, please be careful. There are many snakes and insects in the forest, so when you enter the woods, be sure to use a stick or weapon to knock down the bushes to avoid being injured. Also, if you encounter a large, ferocious beast that you cannot handle, be sure to take cover immediately and then call us. If you find anyone other than the martial arts school in the forest, be sure to notify us immediately to avoid encountering bad people."

Alright, now you can either find someone to accompany you or go in to gather herbs on your own. Remember to call us if you need anything.

After Lu Shizong finished speaking, he ignored them and entered the forest with the others from the martial arts school, leaving the martial arts school disciples looking at each other in bewilderment.

After listening to his senior brother's words, Liu Xuan immediately said to Xu Dan and the others, "How about the four of us go herb gathering together?"

"Okay." Fan Meng and Wan Zhen had no objections, as did Xu Dan.

So the group went into the woods together.

Thinking there weren't many medicinal herbs outside the forest, the group went inside. After walking for a while, Wan Zhen suddenly called out, "Look what's that?" Xu Dan and the others looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a plant with golden spots on its leaves and sapphire-like flowers, standing quietly among the rocks.

If Xu Dan remembers correctly, this should be a golden-spotted bluebell.

Golden-spotted bluebells grow only on rocky cliffs where sun and shade meet. Their fruit is greenish-blue and shaped like an eagle's claw; their roots are sinewy and arranged in an orderly fashion. The flowers resemble copper bells and are the color of sapphire; the leaves are glossy and oily, covering the surface of the rocky cliffs. They taste bitter and are cooling in nature, and can expel stillborn fetuses, treat arrow wounds, reduce fever, relieve pain, and stop bleeding—their uses are endless.

"Go dig quickly, lest someone see us and come running over," Liu Xuan urged.

Xu Dan and the others then remembered that they had come to collect herbs, so they quickly took out pickaxes and jumped onto the rocks to dig.

The medicinal properties of this type of medicine are mostly concentrated in the roots, so they must not be damaged. Otherwise, the medicinal properties will be compromised, and the value will decrease. The leaves are also effective, so they should not be wasted.

A short while later, the golden-spotted bluebell was dug up. Liu Xuan held it in his hand and said proudly, "Haha, I finally dug one up."

"It's just one tree, what's there to say? Hurry up and put it away for Wanzhen," Xu Dan said.

Liu Xuan handed the herb to Wan Zhen, saying, "What's wrong with one? This is the first herb we've dug up. Although it's not a spiritual herb, it's almost there. Look at the others, who else dug it up? We were faster."

Xu Dan didn't bother to say anything to him. He waited until Wan Zhen had packed up before telling everyone to continue walking forward.