Chapter 79: Did You Sell Me?

The car finally arrived at the picturesque valley, resembling a paradise.

Zhao Lu and a group of people were waiting there, and as soon as they saw Tang Ailian, they rushed towards her with big smiles.

"Ah, Ailian is here!"

"Yeah, Ailian, you've finally come to see us."

"Ailian, why did you take so long? We've been waiting for you."

"Ailian, we've missed you so much."

"Don't crowd around Ailian. She must be tired. Ailian, come, let Shang Jiang take you to your place."

"Never mind him. Ailian must be hungry. Come over, Ailian, let Zi Long take you to eat something first."

"Ailian, where should we put the things you brought?"

"Silly, Ailian's things should naturally be placed in Ailian's room."

"I'm telling you, you're silly. Even though Ailian brought a lot of meat, do you want to put it in her room too?"

Zhao Lu carried a cartoon-patterned new blanket and some buckets and basins, then kicked Shang Jiang. "Go handle it. Ailian is our little princess. How can she use things that men have used?"

Tang Ailian watched this group of people arguing, but she didn't say anything. They were already arguing on her behalf.

The old man, Bai, came over to mediate. "Young lady, Zhao Zi Xian called ahead and asked you to visit him in his office first."

Tang Ailian finally escaped from the overwhelming enthusiasm of the workers and followed Bai to Zhao Zi Xian's office. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being sold.

Indeed, as soon as she entered the office, Zhao Zi Xian extended his hand to shake hers, seeming reluctant to let go. "Welcome, young divine doctor. From now on, we are colleagues."

Tang Ailian was at a loss and looked at Bai. "Bai Lao, why do I have trouble understanding what you're saying? You're not trying to sell me, are you?"

In fact, she had sensed that something was amiss when Bai Lao gave her money for the ginseng earlier. How could he give her twenty thousand in cash for two thousand-year-old ginseng roots?

She had come here to utilize the spiritual energy in the valley for her cultivation, not to be sold.

Bai Lao chuckled nervously. "No one wants your freedom. You just need to help the workers here treat a specific illness when they get sick."

However, Tang Ailian knew that when Bai Lao offered money for the ginseng, there must be something he wanted from her. Otherwise, why would he part with such a large sum of money for ginseng?

Zhao Zi Xian quickly assured her, "You only need to treat one type of illness, the same one you treated for the workers last time."

"Only that one?" Tang Ailian asked, her eyes wide.

"Yes, just the one you treated before," Zhao Zi Xian confirmed.

Bai Lao scratched his head, looking somewhat sympathetic towards Tang Ailian. Most of the people here had that specific illness.

After some consideration, Tang Ailian said, "I still can't join you. I'll temporarily cooperate with you and help treat the illness caused by Yin energy. I won't be responsible for anything else."

Zhao Zi Xian had no choice but to agree.

Tang Ailian finally settled in the factory. She began by examining the workers who had contracted the same illness she had treated previously. Fortunately, their conditions were much milder. Tang Ailian simply used a specific incantation and hand gestures to draw in the natural energy of heaven and earth to expel the Yin energy from their bodies.

She had the knowledge of traditional medicine in her memories, and with some practice, she was able to use it effectively.

When the news spread that Tang Ailian was going to gather herbs and live in the mountains, eleven workers she had previously helped all wanted to accompany her, but Tang Ailian declined their offer. If people followed her, how could she discreetly transport the valuable herbs into her mental space?

However, Zhao Zi Xian, the factory manager, was worried. He insisted on witnessing her abilities. Tang Ailian had to demonstrate her skills by smashing a boulder as large as herself with a single punch before they finally let her go up the mountain.

The valley covered more than a hundred acres, surrounded by various mountain peaks. It had a wide variety of herbs, some of which were already extinct outside. Tang Ailian gathered everything she found useful, whether it was known or rare herbs, and used her telekinesis to transport them into her mental space.

She also found several wild fruit trees, such as grapes, red dates, plums, pears, bayberries, pomelos, jujubes, and more. Regardless of whether the workers had planted them or they grew wild, Tang Ailian moved one of each tree into her mental space.

Tang Ailian spent a month gathering herbs in the mountains. While some of the workers patrolled the area at first, she eventually ventured further from the base, and there was no one around her.

With no one watching over her, Tang Ailian used her abilities to communicate with old trees she encountered on her way and asked them where to find valuable herbs. Through this method, she managed to gather herbs that others wouldn't find in a year.

Tang Ailian had everything she needed in her mental space, and she wasn't interested in staying in the base every night. She continued to explore further into the mountains, where there was no one around her.

However, there were some security concerns. To her surprise, she was suddenly called back to the base after a month. When she arrived, Zhao Zi Xian insisted on testing her skills, and she had to smash a boulder with a single punch to prove herself. After the demonstration, they finally allowed her to return to the mountain.

In the mountains, Tang Ailian could freely communicate with old trees and ask them where to find valuable herbs. As a result, she was able to gather herbs that others wouldn't find in a year. The only thing she couldn't find was the primary herb needed for the Yang-Rising Decoction: Snake Yang Grass.

Despite all the gathered herbs, Snake Yang Grass remained elusive. Tang Ailian had transferred several fruit trees into her mental space, including grapevines, date trees, plum trees, pear trees, bayberry bushes, pomelo trees, and jujube trees, among others. She even relocated some valuable herbs, whether they were known or rare, into her mental space.

(End of this chapter)