Chapter 138: I Left Some for You

Be careful!

Xiao Ze shouted, his hands were occupied, unable to draw his sword; at the critical moment, he could only thrust his body sideways, ramming his shoulder into the black light to try to deflect it.

That black light was a three-edged bone-piercing dart; after Xiao Ze's bump, its direction shifted slightly, yet it still whistled straight at Tuan Tuan.

Miss, get down!

Almost as Xiao Ze shouted, Xiao Er's fierce roar also rang out.

Tuan Tuan reacted extremely quickly, her small body flung itself down without hesitation, pressing tightly against the cold glazed bridge surface.

Pfft—!

Xiao Er had no time to put down the herbs in his hands; he directly turned the precious clump of spirit grass, soil and roots included, into a shield and thrust it forward to block.

The bone-piercing dart sank deep into it; the force was so great his arm went numb.

The first strike missed, but the person hiding in the shadows did not give up.

A second black light followed close behind; this time it was a pair of darts in quick succession, one high, one low, sealing off all of Xiao Er's escape angles—clearly aiming to take out this most troublesome guard first.

Courting death!

Xiao Ze had already set down the herbs in his hand, freed a hand, quickly drew the short dagger hidden in his boot, and hurled it along the path of the incoming projectile.

The dagger turned into a silver thread, its speed actually three-tenths faster than the concealed weapon! It shattered the first flying dart and, with tremendous residual force, flew toward the opposite shadow.

Ugh!

A muffled groan came from the shadows.

Almost simultaneously, due to Xiao Ze's interference, the aim of the second dart aimed at Xiao Er drifted off.

Xiao Er seized the fleeting opportunity, flung the herbs from his bosom aside, his waist-worn blade flashed out, and its bright blade swept over the flying dart.

Clang!

That bone-piercing dart was knocked precisely aside by the blade's light and plunged into the endless darkness below.

Xiao Er stepped forward a few paces, blade in hand, shielding Tuan Tuan, who lay prone on the bridge, tightly behind him as he gazed toward the rock wall where the projectile came from.

All he saw was a black figure clutching its shoulder, stumbling as it turned and fled, vanishing into the tangled crevices of the rock.

Xiao Er fixed his gaze on the disappearing back, his voice icy: "It's that Jiang Xin!"

He turned, helped the still-prone Tuan Tuan to her feet, examined her carefully, confirmed she was unharmed, and then let out a breath of relief.

Tuan Tuan glanced at him, then at Xiao Ze: "Second Uncle, Third Elder Brother, are you all right?"

Xiao Ze kept a wary eye ahead, fearing further ambush: "All good, hurry on!"

The three quickened their pace, swiftly crossing this perilous transparent bridge.

Only when he saw their feet firmly planted on solid ground did Mo Zhanggeng, who had been anxiously waiting at the cave entrance, finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Tuan Tuan shouted at him: "Divine Doctor Grandfather! The bad guy got away—come quick!"

Only then did Mo Zhanggeng, cradling something in his arms, carrying something on his back, and his hands still full of spirit grass, cross the glazed bridge and walk over.

Xiao Er bent to lift Tuan Tuan, Xiao Ze and Mo Zhanggeng tidied up the spirit grass once more, and the group hurried into the valley.

Jiang Xin simply bandaged his wounded shoulder and hurried back to the reception hall of Sacred Medicine Valley.

Gongsun Zhi was leisurely flipping through the medical texts on the desk, chatting idly with Xue Jin.

Jiang Xin did not go inside, merely standing in the shadow outside the door, he quickly shook his head at Gongsun Zhi.

Gongsun Zhi frowned, muttering, "Useless! They actually failed! Not good—there are too many of them; we shouldn't linger here."

He set down the book in his hands: "Your Highness has business; I'm leaving first."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Xue Jin sprang to his feet and personally saw them out of the valley.

When Tuan Tuan's group appeared in the valley, "returning laden with spoils," all the disciples of Sacred Medicine Valley were shocked.

"What did they take?"

"Looks like Nine-pure Spirit Leaves!"

"Really?"

"They look just like the drawings in the classics, but nobody's ever actually seen them before!"

"What? Nine-pure Spirit Leaves?! Did they go to the bottom of the valley?"

"And they still made it out safely?"

"Good heavens! How did they manage to take so much?"

"Quick, go report to the master!"

Upon hearing the news, Xue Jin hurried back and bumped straight into them.

When he saw the several large bundles of spirit grass they carried—enough to be used as firewood—his expression froze instantly, his eyes bulged, and the corners of his mouth twitched violently.

"You! You!" he pointed at the pile of "spirit-leaf firewood," his hand trembling, heart aching, "These Nine-pure Spirit Leaves take a century to grow—how could you take so much?"

Tuan Tuan lifted her chin, righteous and bold: "Wasn't it you who said we could go look for ourselves, and take whatever we found?"

She glanced at what they held in their hands: "Is it really that much? We didn't even uproot them all—we left some for you! Who told you not to go pick them yourselves? Leaving them there would be such a waste!"

Hearing this, Xue Jin grew even more furious, smoke seemingly pouring from his seven orifices, gritting his teeth: "You're going too far!"

Before he finished speaking, his gaze locked onto several purple grasses pressed underneath, glistening with dew, and his tone shifted at once.

"Is this… Purple-cloud Fine Jade? And Earth Jade Marrow Ganoderma? These are spirit herbs long thought extinct!"

He steadied himself, drew a breath: "These spirit herbs are the foundation of our Sacred Medicine Valley; I only permitted you to take the Nine-pure Spirit Leaves, and promised nothing else—please, leave the rest……"

"What else do you want?" Mo Zhanggeng drawled, cutting him off, lifting an eyelid: "You little brat, are you still going to say I should spit out what I've swallowed?"

"Hmph, even if your father Xue Tong were here, he wouldn't dare say that! What, now you think you can call the shots for him?"

Xue Jin looked puzzled: "You know my father? Who are you?"

Mo Zhanggeng looked around: "I am Mo Zhanggeng. Back when I was drinking wine and discussing medicine with your father on Kunlun Mountain, you didn't even know where you were."

"The Divine Doctor's Healing Hand?!" Xue Jin exclaimed, bowing hastily, and performed a deep salute to Mo Zhanggeng: "Junior had no idea the Divine Doctor had arrived; please forgive my offense!"

Mo Zhanggeng let out a snort from his nose, counting it as a reply.

Tuan Tuan looked at him in surprise: "Divine Doctor Grandfather! I had no idea you were this capable!"

Mo Zhanggeng was very pleased: "You just found out, good disciple!"

Again he earned an eye-roll from Tuan Tuan.

Xue Jin sat up straight, his face uncertain.

Mo Zhanggeng had deep ties with his father; if he himself used force to detain him, his father would certainly be displeased upon learning of it.

It seems this spirit grass won't be retrieved today.

These Nine Clear Spirit Leaves are so rare; I've gone to the valley bottom several times and never managed to pluck a single stalk, yet now so many lie before me—I can finally fulfill a wish of mine.

He bowed again to Mo Zhanggeng: "Since you, senior, are here, I, junior, dare not press the matter. But I have a request; I hope you, senior, will grant it."

Mo Zhanggeng gave him a sideways glance: "Speak plainly, what is it?"