Chapter 10: The Immortal Herb Chooses Its Master Voluntarily

“Mm.” Xue Qinghe regarded his reply, as succinct and straightforward as ever. He exhaled softly, then rose to open the tent’s flap.

Wang Dong curled his lips, stood up, and tidied his clothes.

“Prince, I’ve come to see Xiao Dong.”

“Teacher, Rongrong, come in quickly.”

Wang Dong approached the table, about to speak, when suddenly a figure leapt forward and embraced him tightly.

Feeling the warmth of the embrace, Wang Dong did not resist but smiled and returned the hug.

“Xiao Dong, I’m so relieved you’re alright. You really scared me.”

Hearing those caring words warmed Wang Dong’s heart.

Perhaps coming here wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

“All right, all right, I’m fine, see?”

Ning Rongrong carefully examined Wang Dong’s body again, finding no injuries except for a pale complexion. Only then did she truly relax.

Turning around, she addressed Ning Fengzhi, “Dad, I miss Grandfather Jian and Grandfather Gu. Could you call them over?”

The other three immediately understood her intention.

Ning Fengzhi crouched down and pinched her cheek. “It’s just a fight with Du Gu Bo. Surely, you don’t need both grandfathers to come?”

“But today’s matter can’t just be let go!” Ning Rongrong’s face puffed up in indignation. She clenched her tiny fists and waved them ahead.

Wang Dong chuckled at her reaction and gently took her fists down with his small hands.

“All right!”

Then, casting a glance toward Xue Qinghe, he added, “Don’t worry. That Du Gu Bo should already be dealt with.”

Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes and sighed. “I’ve arranged for someone to handle it. If all goes as expected, he won’t be getting out of bed anytime soon.”

He then leaned slightly toward Wang Dong. “Do you want to finish him off completely?”

Again?

Wang Dong was straightforward: “Up to you.”

With that, he turned to the others, “Rongrong, Uncle Ning, I brought back a lot of herbs from that place. Let’s take a look.”

As his words fell, the room suddenly burst with radiant light, a myriad of colors intertwining until it was hard to keep one’s eyes open.

Everyone gazed at the pile of herbs on the table—some emitting a faint blue glow, surrounded by chilling mist; others resembling blazing flames, as if warping the very air.

After a long moment, Ning Fengzhi was the first to speak.

“I always feel they shouldn’t be piled together like this.” Ning Rongrong and Xue Qinghe nodded in strong agreement.

Ning Fengzhi then produced several boxes and suggested to Wang Dong, “How about we pack them into these first?”

Wang Dong nodded without objection. Given the urgency during the day, piling them together was only temporary.

As Ning Fengzhi reached out to touch the blue-glowing herb, a sharp, overbearing cold pierced him.

“Ouch—”

“Dad!”

“Teacher!”

Two voices rang out simultaneously. Xue Qinghe and Ning Rongrong looked over to check, and only after confirming all was well did they relax.

Wang Dong, puzzled, picked up the herb that had stung Ning Fengzhi, but his own body did not react at all.

Smiling, Xue Qinghe remarked, “So that’s why that old Du Gu Bo didn’t take it—only certain people can hold it.”

No wonder Du Gu Bo looked so surprised; it turns out he couldn’t take it either.

“If I’m not mistaken, these herbs are sentient.”

“In that case, this one isn’t suitable for Uncle Ning.”

Xue Qinghe agreed. “We can try releasing our soul energy to see which herb resonates.”

“Wait!” Ning Rongrong’s soft voice suddenly interrupted. “Are we really going to eat these beautiful flowers?”

Wang Dong was uncertain too, but he sensed these herbs were far from ordinary.

At that moment, a peculiar herb shaped like an octagon appeared, topped with a large white flower whose center held an icy crystal stamen. It flew toward Wang Dong.

Simultaneously, another herb, entirely fiery red and resembling an eternal flame, followed closely behind.

The two flowers intertwined, forming a red-and-blue aura that entered his mouth.

Just as Xue Qinghe moved to intervene, a magnificent purple chrysanthemum spun upward and slowly approached him.

As it rotated, its petals fell one by one, gathering as if trying to slip into Xue Qinghe’s mouth.

He narrowed his eyes, pursing his lips to keep it out.

The petals, seemingly offended, turned into a mist, which he unwittingly inhaled.

Xue Qinghe sighed helplessly. “Quite domineering.”

Ning Fengzhi looked at the two and asked, “Do you feel any changes in your bodies?”

Xue Qinghe spoke first. “There’s a strong medicinal force surging inside, as if about to burst through.”

Wang Dong nodded in agreement. “I feel my physical strength has improved greatly.”

“Xiao Dong, you ate two herbs, so your changes should be greater than Prince’s,” Ning Rongrong mused.

After hearing their descriptions, Ning Fengzhi said,

“Looks like these herbs are beneficial to you. We still need to use soul energy to neutralize the medicinal force so their effects can be fully realized.”

Both nodded together.

Ning Rongrong eagerly looked at the remaining herbs, but long after, none showed any signs of moving toward them, and a hint of disappointment crept into her heart.

Ning Fengzhi patted her shoulder gently. “Rongrong, fate cannot be forced. Everything is destined.”

She sighed softly and nodded.

“Wait!” Wang Dong spoke up timely, then channeled his soul energy into the soul device.

A golden light flashed, revealing a strange herb unlike any other.

Everyone’s eyes lifted to see it: its roots and leaves resembled finely woven wisteria curtains, while its top bloomed with a golden tulip.

Its appearance filled the room with a rich fragrance, but unlike the others, it kept its distance, avoiding the cluster.

Wang Dong rolled his eyes. “Truly noble.”

“Hahaha, no wonder it didn’t come out earlier—it wants a private room,” Xue Qinghe laughed, admiring the herb’s aloof demeanor.

Ning Rongrong, however, stared at it silently. “Dad, its aura feels so comfortable.”

Ning Fengzhi, who also possessed the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda martial soul, naturally sensed it too.

But since there was only one herb of its kind, after a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Dad doesn’t like it much. It probably isn’t a good match.”

Wang Dong and Xue Qinghe caught the deeper meaning behind his words. They exchanged glances, momentarily at a loss for what to say.

…

End of chapter.

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