Chapter 66: The Miraculous Fruit Soup That Cures Coughs

Inside the clay pot over the bonfire, steaming white vapor rose, and she quickly stirred it with a branch, "A Mu, A Mu."

"Qinghuan."

Outside, A Mu was led in, her body hunched, by Axi, who was beaming with joy, "Qinghuan, the things you brought have all been given to the tribespeople, and they're all grateful to you."

"Yes, Qinghuan, I hear you've done something remarkable in Otherworld, that Heavenly Maiden..."

Nan Qinghuan quickly poured out the pears and loquat paste simmering in the pot, filling an Earthen Bowl to the brim, "A Mu, stop talking, come taste this lung-moistening pear soup."

Hearing this, A Mu frowned deeply, "Pear soup? Qinghuan, how come A Mu has never heard of it? What is this?"

Nan Qinghuan smiled, "It's just pears and loquats simmered together. See, there's a small bowl. You're always coughing, aren't you? Drink this to moisten your lungs, and before long you won't cough anymore."

A Mu reached out and took the bowl of medicine Nan Qinghuan had brewed for her, and she suddenly felt very moved, "Thank you, Huaner. Ying finding you is his good fortune. Don't run off again, Ying treats you..."

"I'm sorry, A Mu. I won't run away anymore. I want to stay and lead you all to a good life."

A Mu was overjoyed to hear her words, "Good, good Huaner, good."

"Sister Qinghuan, is what you said true?"

"Silly girl, of course it's true. You're right, Ying treats me so well, how could I let him down?"

"That's wonderful, Qinghuan truly wants to stay this time."

Although Axi couldn't understand most of what she said, she understood one thing: Nan Qinghuan wouldn't run away anymore, and Ying wouldn't be alone anymore either.

"Here, you try some too, see how it tastes."

"I get some too?"

"Yes, I made plenty. Drinking a little is good for your body."

Axi and A Mu each took a tentative sip, and Axi suddenly jumped up, "Wow, it's so sweet! Qinghuan, it's delicious, I've never had medicine this good before."

Seeing Axi's look of utter astonishment, Nan Qinghuan could hardly imagine what kind of bitter lives they'd led before, "Silly girl, this isn't medicine, it's simmered from fruit. Pears and loquats have the effect of moistening the lungs and stopping coughs, you know?"

"Fruit?"

Axi didn't understand, "Qinghuan, fruit can cure coughs too?"

Nan Qinghuan was just about to explain something when Dashan's voice suddenly came from outside, "A Mu, A Mu, something's wrong."

Seeing Dashan arrive, Axi was thrilled, "Dashan, you're here! This fruit soup is so delicious!"

"Axi is here too. A Mu."

"Dashan, what happened?"

When Nan Qinghuan came outside with a flashlight, Ying was just returning from a hunt with the tribespeople, "Huaner, where are you going?"

Ying still had a blood-drenched tiger on his back. Seeing Nan Qinghuan about to go out, he immediately threw the tiger down and grabbed her hand, "Where are you going?"

Nan Qinghuan knew he was nervous about her and afraid she'd run away again. She was about to explain when Dashan cut in, "Youchao Xuan fell into the Devil Spring. None of us dare go down, so I came to find A Mu to think of something."

"What did he go to that place for?"

Ying didn't seem to like Xuan much. He didn't like any male who got close to his female, even if he came to help the Tribe.

"Enough, stop the chatter, let's go quickly. If we're late, someone could die."

"Huaner, I'll go with you."

Nan Qinghuan was a bit speechless at his domineering manner, "If you don't mind the trouble, then come with me, I..."

"I don't mind the trouble, I'll carry you."

Ying's favorite thing was to stick close to Nan Qinghuan. He slightly bent down and patted his shoulder, "I'll carry you. It's far, and if your little feet get tired from walking, my heart will ache."

It had to be said, the tribespeople all felt Ying was like two different people in front of them versus in front of Nan Qinghuan. Axi, seeing how well Ying treated Nan Qinghuan, said, "Qinghuan, just let Ying carry you. If he doesn't see you for a moment, he'll come looking for you."

"I..."

Ying was more than happy to carry her, "Get on. If we're late, that kid's going to die."

To save Xuan, she couldn't worry about all that. It had to be said, Ying's height was an advantage. She clung tightly to his neck on his back, and she lit the way for him. Soon they arrived at the Devil Spring the tribespeople spoke of.

It was a large volcanic crater, pitch black so that nothing could be seen. Nan Qinghuan swept her flashlight around the surroundings; it was so quiet that only the breathing of their small group seemed to remain.

"Xuan, Xuan."

All around was dead silent, with only her voice echoing through the valley. But this shout was no small matter—the mountains immediately rang with the howls of a wolf pack, accompanied by the roars of other wild beasts.

It made one's hair stand on end.

"Ying, put me down."

She shone her flashlight not far ahead, and to her surprise, white mist was rising. She wanted to go closer but Ying grabbed her, "Don't go, it's very dangerous there. I don't even allow the tribespeople to go there."

Nan Qinghuan immediately stopped. She turned to look at Dashan, "How did Xuan find this godforsaken place?"

"Xuan said the Spirit of the Earth guided him to this place, and he wanted to see if he could find it. But he fell in, and none of us dared to fish him out, this..."

"He fell in."

Nan Qinghuan was very worried, "Why didn't you tell me earlier just now?"

"I..."

She was a bit angry. How could Dashan be so stupid? She'd told him Xuan had gone missing here, never expecting he'd actually fallen in.

"I'll go over there and take a look."

"Huaner, don't go."

"Let me go, I have to go. I was the one who asked him to help search for the Salt Mine. Only by finding the Salt Mine can we make Salt and let the tribespeople eat salt. I can't abandon him."

After saying this, Nan Qinghuan prepared to walk toward the hazy white mist. No matter what, she had to go see, "Xuan, Xuan, can you hear me?"

Seeing her insist on going, Ying hurriedly strode forward, "Huaner, I'll go with you to rescue him."

Seeing that Ying was no longer stopping her, she suddenly smiled, "Thank you, Ying."

The couple carefully made their way through the white mist. Unexpectedly, Nan Qinghuan actually saw... something glinting under the moonlight, catching and reflecting the beam of her flashlight. She swept her flashlight across the area ahead and actually saw... "Xuan."

Xuan was drifting on the water's surface, his entire figure looking eerie in the night. Nan Qinghuan immediately handed the flashlight to Ying, "I'll go down and fish him up."

"Huaner, let me go."

"You go; you can't swim, it's dangerous. I'll go."

"I can. Wait for me."

Ying reached out and pinched her little cheek; that silky touch made him loath to let go. He walked slowly toward the spring. At this moment, Nan Qinghuan suddenly felt that her man's image was truly tall and grand.

"Ying, be careful."

Ying turned his head and gazed at her deeply, the corner of his mouth curving into a fine smile. "Wait for me."

Splash—the sound of water spraying upward rang out. Nan Qinghuan used a flashlight to light the way for Ying. Behind her, Axi and Dashan were terrified. "Qinghuan, that Youchao Xuan is probably already dead. Ying can't go down there. Many animals and people have died here. I'm worried..."