"It's okay!"
Yan Qingshan shook his head and smiled at the girl. His injuries had naturally healed long ago, but he had been wrapping the wound and pretending to be recovering, because he was really afraid of suspicion.
After all, his previous injuries were quite serious. You are all healed in an instant. Isn't this telling others that you have a secret?
While Yan Qingshan was talking to the Little Medical Fairy, the staff of Wanyaozhai also arranged to recruit mercenaries. The reason why these mercenaries were so enthusiastic was not only that herbal medicine collection was safer than hunting monsters and the income was not low, but there were other reasons.
Wanyaozhai was the largest medicine shop in Qingshan Town. As long as you could establish a relationship with it, you might be able to use the favor at any time.
...
In the silent forest, a large group of people walked quietly, pairs of vigilant eyes constantly scanning the dark places in the surrounding trees, hands tightly gripping the weapons at their waists, ready to deal with any emergency at any time.
As veteran mercenaries with years of experience in the Warcraft Mountains, even though many of them were only working together for the first time, they maintained a basic understanding. They could discern signals of danger and safety from each other's gazes as they exchanged glances.
"Where are we?"
Yan Qingshan sat in the simple carriage, looking down at the map. As the leader of the herb-picking team and a patient, he naturally received the best treatment.
"It seems to be here. Is this the route we're taking?"
Xiao Yixian, who was standing next to the carriage, heard Yan Qingshan's words and came over to check the map, pointing to one of the many red lines. Yan Qingshan, comparing the route he remembered, was able to roughly determine the direction, but he just needed to confirm it with someone.
"There are quite a few cliffs along this route!"
Yan Qingshan said naturally, glancing at the markings on the map. His eyes wandered around, consolidating his surroundings, especially the steep cliffs near the route.
"It seems so. Mountain roads with many cliffs are difficult to navigate, and there aren't many grassland valleys with abundant medicinal herbs. But wasn't this the path chosen by Brother Qingshan?"
Little Medical Fairy glanced around, puzzled by Yan Qingshan's words.
"Is that so? Maybe I'm confused! Little Medical Fairy, how's it been this time out..."
Yan Qingshan chuckled, not continuing the previous topic.
Little Medical Fairy lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly. "Not bad! Thanks, Brother Qingshan, otherwise I'd be really overwhelmed!"
"It's okay. Isn't it normal to help each other? Xian'er!"
Yan Qingshan raised an eyebrow and calmly changed to a more intimate address. Without waiting for Little Medical Fairy's response, he returned his gaze to the map and began marking the Monster Mountain Range outside Qingshan Town.
Little Medical Fairy, this cold-hearted beauty, with a warm heart, needn't rush. On the contrary, this piece of meat is right here. Wouldn't it be more fun to take it slow?"
Yan Qingshan chuckled to himself and turned his attention elsewhere. Looking at the scattered markings of cliffs on the map, a bitter feeling welled up in his heart. "I was too naive, after all."
This small map only covered the area around Qingshan Town near the outskirts of the Demonic Beast Mountains. There were at least a hundred marked peaks alone, and many more, both large and small, were not on the map.
The Demonic Beast Mountains were countless and vast. Near Qingshan Town alone, there were eight different entrances to the outer reaches of the range, and these routes branched off in many directions. Every herb-gathering expedition not only had to return to the original herb sites but also had the responsibility of exploring new routes.
The valley where Yan Qingshan and his team had last discovered a large quantity of Yellow Lotus Essence was one they had just found. They hadn't anticipated the sheer number of wild wolves, including a small pack of over ten first-level demonic wolves. Although they eventually slew the wolves, the team suffered heavy casualties.
Every route was marked with cliffs of varying sizes. If they were to search through them one by one, it would take forever.
Yan Qingshan's head ached. Reality was truly unlike fiction. In novels, finding even a small opportunity took only two or three chapters. Even if he knew there was an opportunity outside the Demonic Beast Mountains, he wouldn't see any results for months.
Yet, he had to do it, as it was the closest place where he could potentially obtain advanced martial arts and fighting techniques.
...
In the Demonic Beast Mountains, a team of nearly a hundred people slowly advanced, heavily guarded, at the center was the herb-collecting team from Wanyaozhai. Surrounded by a crowd of stars, Yan Qingshan methodically arranged everyone's work.
Beside him, the young woman in a white dress, Xiao Yixian, straightened her body slightly, listening intently, occasionally glancing at his profile. When he turned, she turned away again, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She panted softly, looking very hot.
Yan Qingshan noticed her little gesture and found it quite amusing. With Shuguang's analysis and help, he had managed the herb-gathering team so cleverly and rationally these days. Not only were the people at Wanyaozhai impressed, but even the mercenaries spoke respectfully to him.
The young woman next to him, the original leader of the team, had been even more impressed by him these days, practically idolizing him.
The girl blushed shyly and turned her head away, her delicate face making her look quite endearing. She slightly avoided his gaze, yet at the same time, she was secretly observing him—just like a girl's first reaction when she sees her idol!
Yan Qingshan patted the wooden plank of the carriage where he sat cross-legged, wanting Xiao Yixian to sit over and rest. "Xian'er, come and sit for a while!"
Xiao Yixian shook her head and said, "No need, Brother Qingshan, I'm still fine."
The sun was at its zenith, and under the blazing sunlight, the hurried travelers' lips, tongues, and mouths were dry and parched.
A mercenary, sweat-drenched and bareheaded, approached the carriage. "Qingshan, it's too hot, and there's another medicinal field ahead. Although it's only been harvested for less than three months, we need to stop."
The bald mercenary's name was Mangba, the leader of a mercenary squad in Qingshan Town, and a five-star fighter with a fairly good cultivation level.
Because of some connection, he was almost always among the mercenaries escorting the Wanyaozhai herb-collecting team. Last time, it was he who carefully escorted the still-breathing Yan Qingshan back to the herb-collecting team. He was considered his lifesaver.
"Uncle Mangba, let's hurry up and rest in the woods ahead!"
Yan Qingshan glanced at the perspiring Little Medical Immortal next to him, handed him a canteen of water, and nodded to Mangba. The scorching sun was indeed unbearable. The mercenaries, wearing heavy armor, were even hotter than the herb-collecting team, and were more susceptible to sweating and dehydration, which significantly affected their combat effectiveness.
"Hey! Great!"
Mangba replied, turning to inform the other mercenaries. Everyone was excited to hear that they could rest in the woods and quickened their pace to continue their journey.
The Monster Mountain Range was fraught with danger. Along the way, the team had encountered three waves of monsters and several other groups of wild beasts.
However, with the support of the numerous mercenaries, things were fine. The casualties were few and far between, and a simple bandage would heal them.
The numerous mercenaries approaching the forest naturally made quite a noise, but this was intentional. The safest path within the Monster Mountain Range was the path these mercenaries had long trodden. The weeds were sparse and low, hiding few dangers.
The forests lining the path were dense and shady, but they undoubtedly harbored wild beasts, including even monsters. Caution was required whenever entering the forest.
Just as now, a group of powerful mercenaries, creating a significant disturbance by entering the forest, were quickly attacked.
"Everyone, be careful! It's red ice snakes! Three on the left, five in the middle, two on the right, and four more following behind..."
Yan Qingshan warned the mercenaries loudly. Shuguang had activated his alarm detection function the moment they took action.
With his powerful perception, he easily identified the attacking monsters and their movements through comparative analysis, accurately reporting the data within his field of vision.
Several phantom crimson shadows roared in, swooping down from the treetops.
Red Ice Snakes, first-tier ice-attributed magical beasts, are common in the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountains. They specialize in icy attacks, inflicting a chilling poison within the ice. If a victim is not treated promptly within half a day, the poison will freeze their blood and lead to death.
These red ice snakes appear to be a group, and this forest is likely their home. They hide in the treetops, dangling from the trunks. When the mercenaries below make a noise, they strike decisively, unleashing icy cones of icy poison like lightning.
The attacks of first-tier magical beasts are formidable. Although the mercenaries anticipated a surprise attack before entering the forest, they had not anticipated its swiftness and ferocity. Two mercenaries, unable to dodge, were struck by the poison, their faces turning pale. They collapsed, their limbs limp, their bodies shrouded in a white mist of freezing cold, like ice sculptures.
The sudden attack by the numerous red ice snakes naturally attracted more attacks from the mercenaries. With their combined efforts, only two or three of the approximately thirteen or fourteen red ice snakes, at the rear, escaped, leaving behind a field of 20 to 30 snake carcasses.
After the dozen or so red ice snakes were dispatched, the two mercenaries severely wounded by the cold poison, along with several others injured in the earlier battle, were brought to the herbalist's team. Yan Qingshan and the Little Medical Immortal treated them accordingly.
"Bandage them up, and give the other two some Huanglian powder. Help them move around to prevent any hidden injuries."
Yan Qingshan briefly examined the symptoms of the injured and prescribed appropriate treatments. Because he had to feign incomplete injuries, he couldn't personally perform the treatment, so his apprentices went to assist and treat the mercenaries. This was also an opportunity for them.
Meanwhile, the Little Medical Immortal personally treated the other mercenaries, a smile on her face as she carefully and meticulously treated them, a gesture of sanctity that could not be violated.
The high status and prestige this young woman would enjoy in Qingshan Town in the future were inseparable from her character and behavior.
Yan Qingshan bandaged and treated the wounded. While some mercenaries surrounded the herb-collecting team to provide security, others went on to clear the way, and a few were assigned to clean up the corpse of the red ice snake.