Leaving the tense atmosphere lingering near Fude Temple, Lu Qiancha and Gantang parted ways at the street corner.
Gantang was so captivated by the roadside stalls selling honeyed fruits and roasted chestnuts that she could not move her feet. She happily dove into the piles of snacks.
Lu Qiancha, however, had a clear objective. She headed straight for the familiar Baicao Pavilion, a raw herb shop located next to the fang market.
As soon as she stepped into the shop, the rich and complex aroma of Chinese herbal medicine greeted her.
Behind the counter, the shopkeeper, wearing a green cotton robe, immediately offered a warm, enthusiastic smile.
“Oh, young guest! Are you here to fetch medicine for your elders? Just say the word, and I shall provide whatever you need.”
Seeing that face full of smiles, Lu Qiancha recognized him at a glance. He was the painted skin ghost her Ling Shi had detected earlier while he was hiding in the crowd.
However, since the other party was working so hard to act the part of a helpful shopkeeper, Lu Qiancha was more than happy to play along.
She did not bother to expose him. Walking straight to the counter, she slapped her small hand onto the surface and spoke in a crisp, bold voice.
“Shopkeeper, I want fresh Shihu Zhulan. How much do you have left? I’ll take it all.”
“All… All of it?!”
The smile on the shopkeeper’s face froze for a moment, clearly startled by the young guest’s extravagance.
He reflexively turned around, his gaze scanning the dense rows of herb drawers behind him.
His fingers clicked rapidly on the abacus for a few moments before he confirmed hesitantly, “We have 6 jin 8 liang of fresh, unprocessed Shihu Zhulan in the warehouse. Young guest, do you really want that much?”
He paused, and to maintain his persona, he dutifully reminded her, “While these fresh Shihu Zhulan have excellent medicinal properties, they are extremely difficult to preserve.”
“Once they have been out of the soil for more than seven days, their medicinal properties will dissipate, making them no different from withered grass.”
“The dried ones, however, can last for six months to a year. Since you are buying so much, why not choose these processed ones instead?”
“I only want the fresh ones,” Lu Qiancha said with a wave of her hand, her tone decisive. “Wrap them all up for me. Money is not an issue.”
In any case, the monthly allowance copper coins in her pocket had come from that evil temple. Spending them did not just feel painless; it felt like the pleasure of fleecing the enemy.
“Uh… very well.”
Seeing that the young guest had made up her mind, the shopkeeper could only comply. He quickly flicked the abacus beads.
“6 jin 8 liang comes to 194 coins at market price. Since you are so straightforward, I will round it down for you. That will be 190 coins.”
While signaling the assistant to fetch the goods from the backyard, he could not help but add one last reminder in a seemingly concerned tone.
“Young guest, forgive an old man for meddling. Shihu Zhulan is warm and dry by nature, primarily aiding in the promotion of vital energy.”
“If consumed too frequently or in excess, I fear it may fuel internal fire and damage body fluids, scorching the true yin and harming the body’s foundation.”
In other words: eating too much would cause her to overheat and harm her health.
“Yes, yes, I know. Thank you for the reminder, Shopkeeper.” Lu Qiancha answered obediently, but she did not care at all. She briskly counted out 190 copper coins, piling them onto the counter with a dull thud.
Soon after, the wolf cub took the two large bundles of Shihu Zhulan handed over by the assistant. They were carefully tied with fresh lotus leaves and straw rope, emitting a faint, delicate fragrance.
Holding the herb bundles that were nearly half as tall as she was, Lu Qiancha walked out of the shop with a light step.
Later, in a corner of an alley where no one was watching, Lu Qiancha stored the Shihu Zhulan into her storage bag. Feeling light, the wolf cub walked forward with a spring in her step.
Just as she turned the corner, she saw Gantang holding a paper bag, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel hoarding food. She was squinting her eyes in satisfaction while waiting for her.
“Senior Brother, do you want some roasted chestnuts? They just came out of the pot, and they smell wonderful!” As soon as Gantang saw Lu Qiancha, she immediately hurried forward like a chirping bird.
Like she was presenting a treasure, she shoved the paper bag—which radiated the enticing aroma of caramelized sugar and chestnuts—directly into Lu Qiancha’s free hand.
The rich scent drifted into her nose, instantly awakening the hunger in Lu Qiancha’s belly.
“Sure!”
Her eyes lit up, and she reached out a hand to grab two steaming, oily chestnuts from the bag without hesitation.
Her fingertips deftly peeled away the brownish-tan hard shells, and she popped the golden, plump chestnut meat into her mouth, chewing happily.
“Delicious.”
The sweet, soft, and fluffy texture melted on Lu Qiancha’s tongue. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction, her small head swaying with pleasure.
She grabbed two more to tuck into her small pouch before saying, “That’s enough wandering for now. Let’s go back.”
“Okay!” Seeing that her Senior Brother liked the snacks she bought, Gantang nodded happily.
On the way back, as Lu Qiancha walked, she felt like her mouth was a bit idle.
With a slight thought, a lingguang flashed from her storage bag, and several stalks of fresh Shihu Zhulan appeared in her hand.
Treating it like a snack, she picked up a stalk and bit down with a crisp *crunch*.
The sweet juice instantly filled her mouth, carrying a milky flavor. Lu Qiancha chewed with great relish, making Gantang beside her feel a little hungry just watching.
However, Gantang soon noticed the familiar plant in the other’s hand. Last time, after Lu Qiancha ate that, she had become very strange…
“Uh… Senior Brother,” her eyelids twitched as she quickly whispered a reminder, “you should probably wait until you’re back in your room to enjoy that.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry~”
Lu Qiancha waved her small hand dismissively, her mouth stuffed full and her heart brimming with confidence.
While reassuring Gantang, she *crunched* through another half a stalk. Her expression was relaxed and carefree, and the tip of her tail even curled up proudly.
Through her persistent Desensitization Training over the past few days, a mere Shihu Zhulan had long since been mastered. Now, it was nothing more than a tasty vegetable.
At least, that was what Lu Qiancha thought until she had gobbled down nearly half a jin of Shihu Zhulan.
Now, an unnatural pink flush rose to her cheeks, her blue eyes grew misty and clouded, and her head felt as though it were filled with warm, fluffy clouds.
When the gates of the residence finally came into view, Gantang clearly felt her Senior Brother’s condition take a sharp downturn.
Lu Qiancha’s gait began to drift, and her feet felt as if she were walking on clouds.
To make matters worse, the wolf cub had somehow pressed herself tightly against Gantang.
Her furry head was like that of a kitten deeply attached to its owner, unconsciously rubbing against Gantang’s shoulder, neck, and arms, making Gantang feel itchy.
***
At the same time, Lu Qiancha let out satisfied whimpers with every breath. That fluffy tail wagged even more cheerfully, affectionately wrapping around Gantang’s calf several times.
“Se… Senior Brother?” Gantang’s face turned slightly red from the rubbing. She felt entirely uneasy as she watched her Senior Brother, who was clearly starting to feel the effects and losing her senses.
She asked in a worried whisper, “Are you really okay? How about I help you back to your room to lie down for a while?”
Hearing Gantang’s words, Lu Qiancha experienced a brief moment of clarity. She jerked her head, trying to shake away the dizzying warmth, and forced herself to stand upright.
The wolf cub tried her best to put on an ‘I am fine, very clear-headed’ posture. Unfortunately, those watery, blurred, and unfocused blue eyes and cheeks as red as ripe apples completely exposed her predicament.
“Are you sure? You don’t look like you’re in a very good state.”
Gantang frowned.
Lu Qiancha cleared her throat forcefully, trying to make her voice sound steady and strong.
With a final bit of stubbornness, she said, “I’m really fine. I just feel a bit hot… Let me stay here to feel the evening breeze. I’ll clear my head and then I’ll be fine. You should go back to your room first.”
After saying that, Lu Qiancha even tried to use her soft paws to gently push Gantang toward the door without much strength. The force was less of a push and more of an affectionate, spoiled pat.