Chapter 390

Chen Wuji had not cultivated inner energy, and did not understand its principle.

But from Chen Li and the others' reactions, and from Xiao Yuan's attitude of setting out to try upon hearing just a bit of news, one can see how important inner energy is to martial artists.

"Since you're looking for medicinal herbs, why bother to leave?" Chen Wuji advised, "You can stay in my army; it won't interfere at all with going into the mountains to gather herbs during the day."

After finally catching a few formidable old treasures, how could Chen Wuji let them go easily? Even if he had to drag them by force, he would find a way to keep these few people.

Xiao Yuan said helplessly, "Deputy Commander Chen's kindness, I truly feel unworthy of it; we intend to roam the surrounding mountains, and if we return in a day, we really won't go far."

"I know Deputy Commander Chen's intentions, but the soldiers in the army all have duties; how could we delay them for our private affairs? Let us go ourselves."

Chen Wuji raised his hand to interrupt Xiao Yuan's words, "You are more important! I will immediately arrange people to look for medicinal herbs; over the mountains within a radius of tens of li, I will have them search each one."

"Deputy Commander Chen, no!" Xiao Yuan hurriedly stopped him.

Chen Wuji wouldn't listen to him, loudly calling Chen Li in and ordering, "Pick five or six soldiers who know herbs from the whole army, and let…… Chen Bang lead a team into the mountains to gather herbs. Each person carries a bamboo basket; return when the baskets are full of medicinal herbs; take only aged herbs, not those with short years."

"Yes!"

Xiao Yuan stared dumbfounded.

This enthusiasm made him somewhat hard to digest; he could only helplessly wry smile and say, "Deputy Commander Chen truly thinks too highly of us; with our old bones, how could we trouble Deputy Commander Chen to treat us this way?"

"Reasonable, quite appropriate, have some tea." Chen Wuji raised his head and made a gesture of invitation.

Xiao Yuan, helpless, could only sit down and keep Chen Wuji company while drinking tea.

After just one sip, his expression suddenly scrunched up: "Deputy Commander Chen, what tea is this? The taste is so strange—how can it be both fishy and bitter?"

"Horny Goat Weed." Chen Wuji smiled.

"Although the taste isn't great, it's a good thing; I saw it when I just came down the mountain and casually grabbed a handful. It's a pity I didn't encounter any herbs that pair well with it; if we added some goji berries, dried tangerine peel, or licorice, the flavor would improve a lot."

Upon hearing it was Horny Goat Weed, Xiao Yuan immediately picked up the cup he had just put down and took a big gulp, then asked, "Deputy Commander Chen, is this aged?"

"This should be about three to five years old, but Xiao Ershu made a mistake: not all medicinal herbs are better the older they are; this Horny Goat Weed is one such exception." Chen Wuji explained.

This old man doesn't even recognize the classic medicinal herb Horny Goat Weed, yet he's shouting about going into the mountains to pick herbs.

What does he plan to pick?

"Whether Horny Goat Weed is good depends on looking at the leaves and smelling the aroma; if the fragrance is rich, it's definitely good, no need to worry about its age." Chen Wuji watched the old man frown, gulping down mouthful after mouthful, unable to help thinking, who says that being old means you don't care about such things?

He's almost at the point of losing his temper.

"Deputy Commander Chen, please trouble yourself for another cup for me, Xiao." Xiao Yuan raised his bamboo cup and stood up.

Chen Wuji and Xiao Yuan refilled their cups, then he deliberately asked, "Xiao Ershu, do you feel any change in your inner energy?"

As the instigator, he needs to find a reason for Xiao Yuan's gulping of Horny Goat Weed water.

Otherwise, if later this Old Master can't save face, wouldn't that be rather awkward?

Xiao Yuan carefully sensed it, shook his head, "Not very noticeable."

"Maybe you drank too little; Xiao Ershu, try drinking a bit more." Chen Wuji advised.

Xiao Yuan understood and smiled, "Then I'll shamelessly ask Deputy Commander Chen for a few more cups."

A pot of Horny Goat Weed water suddenly took effect like alcohol, and the two's conversation gradually expanded.

The two were chatting about everything under the sun, enjoying themselves, when Xiao Yuji stepped in with light footsteps, "Husband, eh… Second Uncle is here too?"

Xiao Yuan nodded, silently looked up at the tent ceiling, and pressed back the words that were about to leave his mouth.

They aren't even married yet, so how did she just call him "husband"?

The Xiao family's children cannot be so casual.

It's only out of respect for Chen Wuji's face; otherwise, Xiao Yuan would definitely make Xiao Yuji experience the power of family discipline today.

"You, with your dusty and grimy face, is wilderness survival not treating you well?" Chen Wuji asked with a smile.

Xiao Yuji picked up the kettle and poured herself a cup, fanned the bamboo cup with her hand to cool the tea, and complained, "Don't even mention it; everything else is fine, but Sister Hong Red actually demands we eat everything raw—I really can't stand it, it's too harsh."

Yesterday Qin Hongred again led her little disciples into the mountains for survival training; Xiao Yuji, bored, also followed along; before departing, Qin Hongred greeted Chen Wuji, planning to stay in the mountains for five days this time.

"Can't stomach eating raw meat?" Chen Wuji asked with a smile.

Aside from raw meat, other things in the mountains eaten raw are not hard to accept.

Xiao Yuji suddenly covered her mouth, held her breath for a while, then gasped, "Not just raw meat—she even eats maggots raw. Husband, believe me, for the next one or two months, absolutely do not kiss Sister Hong Red, and with me… uh, never mind."

The frank Xiao Yuji almost blurted out something obscene; seeing Xiao Yuan silently drinking tea, she quickly stopped herself.

Xiao Yuan practiced inner observation—eyes on nose, nose on heart—and showed no extra expression.

He was merely constantly calculating in his mind what opportunity to find to let Xiao Yuji feel the power of family discipline; his niece has grown up, hard to discipline, so enforcing family rules needs some flexibility.

"Eat… maggots?!" Chen Wuji's expression also became somewhat dazed.

Qin Hongred's wilderness training is also getting a bit too wild.

"Mm." Xiao Yuji tightly closed her mouth, suppressed the urge to vomit, and after a moment said, "The maggots inside bamboo—some bamboo have lots of them; Sister Hong Red eats them anyway, and she keeps saying they're delicious."

"Bamboo worms, this thing raw probably isn't tasty at all, but fried or roasted it's not bad—indeed tasty, a great snack with drink." Chen Wuji still thought it was something else.

As for bamboo worms, that's acceptable.

Xiao Yuji stared blankly, "Husband, that… can it actually be tasty?!"

"If I have free time later, I'll make you a stir-fried plate; you'll know once you taste it. But I've never eaten them raw." Chen Wuji used to be a big eater, having tried many strange local specialties; bamboo worms look off-putting, but they're actually quite good when eaten.

Xiao Yuji was completely speechless, "I, I'd rather not."

Her psychological shadow is already big enough; she doesn't want to go through it again.

After feeling the temperature of the bamboo cup with her hand, Xiao Yuji lifted it and took a big, satisfying gulp; moments later, her expression suddenly changed.

Puch!

"What is this water?" Xiao Yuji covered the corner of her mouth and asked.

"Horny Goat Weed tea."