Chapter 10, Hunting
A young bear was struck by several arrows and fell to the ground, while another bear, with an arrow lodged in its rear, howled in pain and fled into the woods
Pharmacist Fu shook his head and said: "In the thirty-second year of the Kangxi reign, the Emperor suffered from a severe case of malaria, and the imperial physicians were unable to cure it despite numerous treatments. It was later that the French missionary, Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, used a Western medicine called 'cinchona powder' to heal him. However, this medicine is only available in the imperial palace, and the pharmacy in Yichang has never seen it before"
"What about the mountain spirit?" Mo Can suddenly said
Someone in the team suddenly exclaimed: "Boss, you are bleeding a lot..."
Only Mo Can remained unscathed among the entire team
Mo Can has yet to obtain the genuine medicine, and although he is quite unwilling in his heart, the current situation does not allow for personal choice, so he can only reluctantly follow behind.
Foreman Dou took off his badge and handed it along with the bear gallbladder to Pharmacist Fu, hurriedly saying: "This is my badge; you take the bear gallbladder and the child and escape quickly. This mother bear is too formidable; it seems we cannot return." After saying this, he drew his sword and resolutely charged forward.
Nevertheless, most people still found it difficult to fall asleep and dared not close their eyes
This is a leech, it must have just bitten from the bushes by the stream," said Master Fu, "This creature attaches itself to the skin with its suction cup on the head, and after it has had its fill of blood, it will naturally fall off, leaving one completely unaware while the blood flows incessantly. Everyone should check if they have been bitten.
But it seems that we are lost, Mo Can said
Pharmacist Fu sighed and said: "This is the onset of miasma; it is likely that more people will fall ill next."
Which is the most formidable beast in Shennongjia
Everyone is afraid to sleep, holding swords and waiting until dawn.
If only I could obtain the genuine medicine "Tianzhu," Mo Can was thinking
Is there a method of treatment?" asked Foreman Dou
This guy is still here, damn it. Someone cursed while pulling down on him.
"Hurry up!" Master Fu tucked the bear bile waist token into his bosom, grabbed Mo Can, and the two of them stumbled into the dense forest, behind them the faint sounds of the guards' continuous screams could be heard
"Hush," said Captain Dou in a low voice, "We are fortunate, 'Searching high and low yields no results, yet what comes easily requires no effort.' Archers, prepare yourselves, aim carefully, and shoot at my command."
That night, they camped in a large cave, and the guards lit a bonfire early to prevent the miasma from attacking again. The aroma of roasted meat wafted through the dense forest as everyone gathered around the fire, drinking and chatting about various topics from all corners of the world
Mo Can gently pulled out this medicinal herb and placed it into the backpack behind him
Along the way, the guards shot a deer and several mountain chickens, much to everyone's delight, as there would be meat for dinner
Foreman Dou gazed at the suffering of his subordinates, pondering for a long time. Finally, he made a decision and slowly said: "It seems that we can no longer continue. If anyone else falls ill, we will all perish in this vast forest. Enough, we shall return home."
It was not until dawn that those beasts quietly retreated
What about 'Seven Leaves One Branch Flower'? It reminds me of another type of herbal medicine that Shi Yuhe once mentioned.
Finally, I can deliver the results. Although it is just a bear cub, it is better than returning empty-handed said Foreman Dou, holding the bear bile and letting out a long sigh
This is the "Wen Wang Yi Zhi Bi". Because it parasitizes the roots of other plants, it is called "Jie Mu Huan Tai". This medicine is very effective in stopping bleeding and healing bones, and it can only be found in this region. " The pharmacist Fu explained to him
"Gather close to the campfire, the beasts are coming," Master Fu reminded everyone
Do not pull hard, as it will break the suction cup and remain on the flesh. Remove the shoe sole and hit it forcefully. "Pharmacist Fu quickly said, while also noticing that he had been bitten in several places.
Before the sun had set, the forest had already grown dim. In the distance, the sounds of tigers roaring and wolves howling echoed, instilling fear. Captain Dou ordered the guards to prepare a large amount of dry wood and twigs, igniting a bonfire; as long as the fire remained lit, the wild beasts would not dare to approach.
Mo Can took a deep breath, feeling a warmth spread throughout his body. He knew that the true medicine must be hidden within this vast sea of forest.
White bear!" The guard in front suddenly exclaimed
At that moment, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the ground, shaking the air and causing the branches to rustle. In the midst of everyone's astonishment, a gigantic white bear with blood-red eyes burst forth from the forest, charging towards them with great speed
"Stay close to me and do not fall behind," Dr. Fu advised Mo Can.
As the leading foreman Dou walked ahead, he looked down and saw that one of his pant legs had already been stained red with blood. He hurriedly took off his pants and noticed several bleeding points on his buttocks and thighs that were still oozing blood
Only the towering canopies of ancient trees block the light, creating a damp and dim atmosphere, with vines entwined and coiling like dragons in the forest. The air is permeated with the scent of decaying wood and fungi
Several days later, they finally arrived at the sparsely populated Shennongjia primeval forest. Before them lay an endless sea of trees that obscured the sky and blocked the sun, reminiscent of the mysterious desolation of ancient times, evoking a sense of fear and reverence.
The foreman Dou said with a grave expression: "The white bear is within this dense forest spanning several thousand miles. I do not know how many of us will be able to come out after we enter this time... Regardless, everyone must remember, we absolutely cannot get separated. A person cannot survive long in this forest alone... Alright, let us set off and see how our luck fares."
Upon hearing that they were to return, the guards immediately perked up, supporting their ailing companions and helping each other as they sought their way back.
"Boss, this is not a solution. If we don't get any sleep, how will we have the energy to search for the polar bear tomorrow?" said Pharmacist Fu to Foreman Dou
In the depths of the dense forest, there is a turquoise pool, where two young bears are bending down to drink water at the edge of the pool, their entire bodies pure white, without a single stray hair.
At the gnarled roots of a tall incense tree, there resides an inconspicuous, diminutive herb. On its red flower stalk grows a cluster of thick flower spikes, resembling a robust writing brush. Its peculiar shape caught Mo Can's attention
Pharmacist Fu smiled and said, "It is said that the most terrifying creatures in Shennongjia are the cauliflower iron head, the pants bee, and the drought leech that everyone has encountered. The iron head is not large but is the most venomous snake in the area. The pants bee builds its nest in the ground, and when a person passes by the nest, they swarm and fly into the pants, stinging wildly. Isn't that frightening to think about?"
Mo Can still walked at the back of the group. Wherever her gaze fell, she saw numerous herbs such as Angelica, Notoginseng, Aconite, and Dendrobium, as well as Gastrodia, but the plants were not large and were far from genuine medicinal herbs
"The mountain spirit is merely a rural legend. In the eighth year of the Kangxi reign, the court issued an edict for the Yichang Prefecture to capture a mountain spirit and bring it to the capital. However, for over a hundred years, not a single one has been caught, nor has a corpse of a mountain spirit ever been seen," replied Master Fu.
In the darkness, countless pairs of glowing green eyes appeared around them at some unknown time, staring at them motionlessly. Everyone was on high alert, gripping their swords and daggers, afraid to sleep, lest they be dragged out by those beasts if they let their guard down.
The mountainside is filled with dense broadleaf forests, where dark tree buttresses are covered with lichens and mosses. Various unknown mushrooms can be seen everywhere, occasionally mixed in with toxic fungi such as the white death cap and the devil's fingers.
Several guards were trembling all over, their faces devoid of color, their teeth chattering incessantly. Soon, they became feverish, their faces flushed, and they began to vomit profusely. Before long, they were drenched in sweat, babbling incoherently and losing their senses
The guards quickly drew their bows and shot arrows, with several arrows "whooshing" as they struck the front of the white bear. However, this female bear had tough skin and thick flesh, and the arrows could not penetrate at all. With two loud "cracks," two guards had their brains splattered and died under the bear's paws. The other guards were taken aback, and they all brandished their swords and fought desperately against the enraged mother bear, who was roaring fiercely.
Pharmacist Fu, panting heavily, could no longer run and stopped to catch his breath
As Master Fu walked, he introduced: "Among the unique herbs of Shennongjia, there is also 'A Bowl of Water by the River', Shuangye, which has purple berries at the top, and a small bowl-shaped depression at the root, hence the name. It can be used as a high-quality wound healing medicine"
In the morning, after breakfast, Foreman Dou ordered a guard to escort the injured person down the mountain back to Yichang Prefecture, while the others continued their journey
***
Everyone will take turns keeping watch for one hour, with me and Master Fu on the first shift while the others sleep said Foreman Dou
During dinner, they placed the smoked cured meat they had brought on the rack to roast until it became tender, sizzling and oozing with oil, filling the air with an enticing aroma. The guards ate in silence, none of them wanting to speak. Captain Dou sat alone, drinking quietly from the wine jug, while everyone else felt a profound sense of despondency and unease.
"One pig, two bears, three tigers," someone said, "Wild boars specifically target the groin with their tusks, and once they knock someone down, a group of pigs will come together to tear at them, which is quite terrifying. Black bears only attack when they are angry or protecting their young, while tigers are known as 'gentle beasts' and rarely harm humans."
The two young polar bears were completely unaware of the danger and began to play by the shore after drinking water
"The omens are more ominous than auspicious," Master Fu said with a heavy heart. "What Captain Dou actually means is that he is trying to buy us time to cover our escape back to Yichang to report in."
After having breakfast, everyone extinguished the bonfire and continued on their way after tidying up. They walked for more than an hour along the bushes by the water, stepping over the pebbles exposed in the stream, and then began to climb over the mountains.
Will they all die? Mo Can thought of those guards
At the command of Foreman Dou, six or seven sharp arrows were simultaneously shot out with great speed
I have also bled
The crowd cheered as they rushed forward, drawing their swords to stab the severely injured young bear. A guard immediately wielded a sharp blade and forcefully slit open its belly, cutting out the golden-yellow gallbladder, while blood stained the young bear's white fur in front of its abdomen
In the dead of night, Mo Can was suddenly awakened by a blood-curdling scream. Everyone quickly rose and grabbed their weapons, while hundreds of rats, each over a foot long, scurried away in panic amidst the flames. A sleeping guard was found covered in blood, with his nose and ears bitten off. Doctor Fu hurriedly opened his medicine box to stop the bleeding and applied a healing ointment.
I have. "A guard called out first.
Indeed, the herb is known as 'Seven Leaves, One Branch Flower, Grabbing All Poisons Together.' The seven leaves grow at the top and bloom small yellow-green flowers, bearing purple fruits in autumn. It is often used in the Jianghu to prepare antidotes. The most remarkable feature is the 'Pearl on the Top,' also known as 'Longevity Herb.' It has creeping fibrous roots and produces a spherical tuber called 'Earth Pearl,' which is said to nourish yin, enrich blood, and promote longevity. Its stem bears three rhombic leaves, blooms small golden flowers, and in autumn produces a fruit the size of a pea, referred to as 'Heaven Pearl.' This item is the most precious; any herbalist who discovers it will immediately swallow it. It is said that consuming one will render a person unaware of hunger, thirst, or fatigue for several days, making it a rare sight in the world. "Master Fu exclaimed sincerely.