Behind Qingquan Village lay a stretch of dense forest, tangled and wild. No proper paths existed, only narrow trails worn down by villagers over time.
These trails were cramped and lined with tall weeds, and the trees here were mostly oaks and pines. Small birds and squirrels occasionally darted between the branches, but not a single larger animal, like a wild pheasant, could be seen.
Chen Jinshu had entered the forest not only to gather herbs but also to send a message to her First and Second Senior Brothers.
She tied a carefully folded paper note to Xiao Yin's leg.
"Deliver it safely. If there's danger, avoid it if you can."
"I understand, Master!" chirped the small blue bird before flying off.
Once Xiao Yin was gone, Chen Jinshu knelt down and began foraging for medicinal herbs.
Though herbs in the mortal world lacked the potency of spiritual medicine, they were still lifesaving tools for ordinary people. Wild ginseng, for instance, still retained some spiritual energy, which explained its higher medicinal value.
At first glance, the forest only offered common herbs, but she picked some anyway. Villagers were likely suffering from colds or fevers, and these herbs were perfect for treating those.
Two hours later, her bamboo basket was filled to the brim with herbs. She had gathered familiar names like Rehmannia, Fo-ti, Pseudostellaria, Codonopsis, Astragalus, Atractylodes, Chinese yam, and licorice root.
She also collected several medicinal insects like centipedes and ground beetles, useful for specific treatments.
If brought to a town pharmacy, these herbs would be considered valuable. Though she couldn't use spiritual energy, Xiao Yin's luck-enhancing aura still benefited her greatly. Combined with her strong affinity for wood-type spiritual roots, she could sense nearby plants with ease and found excellent herbs hidden deep in the undergrowth.
With these, all she needed was a patient in need, and her skills could shine.
"Master, I'm back!" came Xiao Yin's voice just as Chen Jinshu was preparing to return.
"That was fast! Good work. I'll give you something tasty later."
She had stored spiritual fruits in her storage pouch for just this purpose. The pouch operated by divine sense rather than spiritual energy, so she could still use it without violating the rules. To stay cautious, she only used it for essentials and kept most items outside.
As she and Xiao Yin emerged from the forest path, they bumped into several women and children returning from the fields.
"Miss Chen, what were you doing up in the hills?"
"I went to gather herbs," Chen Jinshu replied with a calm smile, revealing the contents of her basket. "There's plenty growing in the mountains. I might be a refugee now, but I want to give back. Before this, I worked as a physician at a local clinic. If anyone runs into an illness that's hard to treat, and you're willing to trust me, I'd be happy to help."
"I recognize this one," a woman said. "Our man used this when he broke his leg, and the doctor prescribed it too!"
"This Miss Chen is really something. Such talent!" murmured another.
Now that they saw she was a woman, the village ladies seemed to relax. If they fell ill, they wouldn't need to feel uncomfortable being treated by her.
"All right, Aunties, I'll let you get back to work. I need to sort through these herbs," Chen Jinshu said, not pushing further. Insisting they come to her would sound like she was cursing them to get sick.
She returned to the simple house that had just been completed. As she entered, Hua Jingyi, her Fourth Senior Brother next door, called out.
"The village chief just finished preparing a classroom for me. Students will start coming soon."
"Really? That's fast. Seems like the village chief has a long-term vision after all."
"Also, your Seventh Senior Sister has opened a small workshop selling snacks to villagers, and maybe to the nearby town too."
"We'll meet at the back hill tonight. First Senior Brother sent a letter," he added in a low voice.
As other villagers began returning, Chen Jinshu fell silent and started tending to her herbs. She had practiced alchemy for years, so understanding basic medicinal theory was second nature. As she laid out her herbs to dry, several villagers passing by stopped to watch. Their eyes drifted between the neatly arranged herbs and her quiet, focused movements.
Some looked surprised, others skeptical.
Suddenly, a cry pierced the air.
"Help! The Li family's wife is in labor and bleeding heavily!"
The shout froze Chen Jinshu in place. She hadn't expected her first patient to be such a critical one. She'd never delivered a baby before, and the idea made her nervous. But she'd overestimated how quickly the villagers would trust her. No one thought to call on her at all.
After all, she had only been in the village a few days. Who would risk a mother and child's life on a stranger?
Still, she couldn't just stand by. This was her chance to prove herself. Recalling case studies from her medical texts, she grabbed the herbs and tools she might need, placed them in a small basket, and headed toward the Li household.
She didn't know who Lady Li was, but most of the village women were moving in the same direction, so she followed.
Qingquan Village wasn't large, barely housing a hundred people. Every new birth mattered, and having more children would bring some joy to these hard times.
Chen Jinshu hurried along the narrow path and soon reached the house. Just as she arrived, she heard something that made her stomach drop.
"She's already unconscious, and the bleeding won't stop. The baby still hasn't come out. Prepare for the worst. I've done all I can."
The midwife who emerged looked bitter. Though this might harm her reputation, she'd rather the family prepare for death than cling to false hope.
"My wife!" Lady Li's husband sobbed from inside the room.
Chen Jinshu pushed through the gathered crowd, nearly dropping her basket.
"I'm a physician. Your wife might still be saved!"
Lady Li's husband looked at the unfamiliar, plain-faced woman in front of him and hesitated.
"Wait any longer, and both lives could be lost."
"Please, Doctor, help them!"
"Who are you? I've never seen you before. And a woman doctor? Are you trying to mess things up?" The midwife scowled.
She had delivered many babies in the village, and this outsider claiming to treat something even she couldn't handle rubbed her the wrong way.
"In that case, how will you know unless I try? And you're not the one making the decision here. Are you trying to stop her from getting help?"
Without another word, Chen Jinshu pushed past the older women and entered the birthing room.
The stench of blood hit her immediately.
"Boil more water!" she shouted, and Lady Li's mother-in-law, quick to act, rushed to the stove.
When Chen Jinshu saw the mother on the bed, she could already sense a faint shadow of death on her face.
Without her intervention, the woman would've been declared dead already. There was no way they could get her to town in time. In rural places like this, she'd already be laid in a coffin.
But when Chen Jinshu checked her pulse, she found a flicker of life.
It wasn't much—but it was enough.