The girl was not very old, seemingly the same age as Xiao Yan, with a fairly delicate appearance, though overall quite ordinary—far from comparable to Mi Xiao Yan.
She wore a hemp garment different from the other villagers’ animal skins, her face calm and composed, exuding the aura of someone in a position of authority.
As soon as she arrived, the surrounding chattering girls immediately fell silent and parted to make way, showing great respect for her in the village.
If Ling Xiaodong wasn’t mistaken, this girl should be the village chief spoken of among the villagers.
The girl walked up to him slowly, gave a slight bow, and performed the formal etiquette typical of noblewomen.
“I am Fang Xiaosi, the clan leader of this village. May I ask the honorable surname of the guest from outside the mountains?”
Ling Xiaodong cupped his hands in return and said, “No need for formalities. My surname is Ling, given name Xiaodong.”
Yuetingting, who had been pushed to the side by the villagers earlier, finally squeezed her way back in. She originally intended to scold her overly confident disciple but upon seeing Fang Xiaosi in front of Ling Xiaodong, she forgot about it and instead looked curiously at the exceptional girl.
Fang Xiaosi asked, “And this young lady is?”
Before Ling Xiaodong could answer, Yuetingting spoke first: “I am his master, Yuetingting.”
Fang Xiaosi nodded slightly and turned to gesture an invitation: “Guests are welcome. Our village hasn’t seen outsiders from beyond the mountains in a long time. If you two don’t mind, please come inside and rest for a while.”
Fang Xiaosi’s invitation matched perfectly with Ling Xiaodong and Yuetingting’s wishes. Without hesitation, they accepted her kind offer.
Fang Xiaosi glanced around at the densely packed villagers and waved her hand.
“All right, disperse. I will entertain the guests, so everyone go about your business!”
With her command, the circle of women surrounding them reluctantly broke up, chattering all the way as they discussed the rumored feel of a man’s touch.
Ling Xiaodong and Yuetingting followed Fang Xiaosi, walking while curiously observing their surroundings.
The wooden houses around them were simple but remarkably new, neatly arranged in orderly rows. The flat fields were planted with mountain rice.
Though the grains were small and the yield low, the rice was drought-resistant and hardy, making it a reasonable choice for cultivation here.
Beside the fields was a small river, where three or four girls were washing clothes naked, beating them with sticks on the riverbank.
After all, with no men around, washing clothes was likely to get them wet. It was easier to just strip off and avoid the hassle.
Ling Xiaodong stared at the riverside scene, reluctant to look away, a slight smile tugging at his lips. After all, admiring a beautiful sight was a delight for the senses.
Those clothes really were white—or rather, that washing stick was really big!
Just as he was thoroughly studying this daughter village’s customs and learning their laundry methods, a pair of soft jade-like hands suddenly landed on his head.
With a crisp snap, Ling Xiaodong’s head was forcibly turned back by Yuetingting.
Squinting her eyes, Yuetingting asked coldly, “Was it nice to look at?”
Ling Xiaodong quickly shook his head in denial.
“No! Not nice at all! Master is much older than them!”
Yuetingting knew he was referring to the scene inside the shen frog’s belly. The thought of master and disciple’s skin touching in the slippery stomach acid made her blush slightly.
Annoyed and embarrassed, she tugged at her disciple’s ear and scolded angrily, “Did you hear me? Don’t even think about it!”
“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Master, what are you talking about? I don’t know anything!”
“Hmph! It’s better if you don’t know!”
Yuetingting gave a light snort, crossed her arms, and turned her head away, refusing to look at him. Yet the pinkish, fair nape of her neck still revealed her shyness.
“We’ve arrived. Please come in.”
While the master and disciple were bickering, Fang Xiaosi had already led them to a house slightly grander than the others.
However, even this grander house was still just a village wooden home, without any elaborate carvings or decorations, only slightly larger than the average cabin.
Inside, the furnishings were sparse—just an old-style table and chairs, with a few bookshelves packed full nearby.
Since Hu chairs only became known after trade between the Great Zhou and the Hu people, it was curious how such a new item appeared here in this daughter village that seemed so isolated from the world.
Ling Xiaodong and Yuetingting knelt by the table opposite Fang Xiaosi.
Because kneeling was very uncomfortable for the calves, and used to Hu chairs, Yuetingting twisted her waist and couldn’t find a comfortable position. Disregarding etiquette, she simply crossed her legs.
Ling Xiaodong spoke first, asking the question that had been puzzling him since entering the village.
“Village Chief Fang, is it true that this village only has women?”
Fang Xiaosi pressed her lips into a slight smile. Though ordinary in appearance, she had her own charm.
“Mr. Ling, you can just call me Miss Fang.”
She then explained, “That’s right. The village records show that since the beginning, there have only been women here. So the girls’ behavior towards you earlier was a bit rude. Please don’t take offense.”
Yuetingting, interested, asked, “Men represent yang, women yin; yin and yang complement each other, balancing the natural order. If your village is all women, how do you reproduce?”
Fang Xiaosi raised her hand and pointed outside the window at a giant tree.
“This is thanks to the protection of the Sacred Tree. In our village, once a woman turns twenty, she receives the blessing of the Sacred Tree. After spending a few days beneath it, she becomes pregnant. Unfortunately, all the offspring are girls; there has never been a boy born.”
Ling Xiaodong was astonished. “That’s incredible! What is the origin of this Sacred Tree?”
“Have you, Mr. Ling, ever heard of Fusang?”
Ling Xiaodong looked confused, but Yuetingting’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The Sacred Tree Fusang!”
Fusang is located in the Blue Sea, a land abundant with forests. Its leaves resemble mulberry leaves, and the tree can grow thousands of feet tall with a girth over two thousand feet. Two trees grow from a single root, leaning on each other—hence the name Fusang.
“That is the legendary place where the three-legged golden crow rests, the Sacred Tree Fusang that connects gods, humans, and the underworld?”
Fang Xiaosi shook her head, smiling wryly like a monk playing with words.
“Yes, and no.”
This piqued Yuetingting’s curiosity deeply.
“What do you mean?”
“According to our oldest village records, a golden bird flew from the east, carrying wood in its mouth. It was shot down by an arrow from thousands of miles away. The branch it carried fell to the ground, took root, and grew with the wind to become what it is today. This is merely a branch of the Fusang tree.”
Although it wasn’t the legendary Xuanyang Grass, Ling Xiaodong was somewhat disappointed but had expected this—after all, what herb could grow that enormous?
Still, he marveled, “A single branch so huge with such miraculous powers—how magnificent the original Fusang tree must be!”
After Ling Xiaodong and Yuetingting finished their questions, it was Fang Xiaosi’s turn.
“I wonder what brings you two into the mountains?”
“We came to find Xuanyang Grass to save a life.”
“Oh?”
A strange glint flashed briefly in Fang Xiaosi’s eyes. As if she hadn’t heard clearly, she asked again, “Xuanyang Grass?”
Ling Xiaodong nodded slightly and inquired, “Miss Fang, have you heard of it?”
“I know of it,” she replied.
This news excited him instantly. He propped himself up on the table, eager to sit upright.
“Where can it be found?”
Fang Xiaosi did not answer directly. Her expression turned serious.
“Mr. Ling, I have an unwilling request.”
Ling Xiaodong put his hands down from the table and sat back.
He calmed himself, knowing Fang Xiaosi wanted to negotiate, but for Xiao Yan’s life, he was willing to pay any price.
“Please speak.”
Fang Xiaosi slowly stated her demand.
“I hope, Mr. Ling, that you will unite with a woman from our village and leave behind a male heir.”