Chapter 432

Cao Cixiu smiled: "Gu Rongjin, you don't need to use the goading tactic; I was originally going to go down myself."

"Lord Cao misunderstood; this isn't the goading tactic. If Lord Cao feels one person isn't enough, I can also go down with you, how about that?" Gu Rongjin asked again.

"I can do it alone."

Gu Rongjin: "Impressive! Looking forward! We'll await the good news!"

Cao Cixiu went down alone; they waited here. Mu Yuanzhi originally wanted to move closer to look, but Gu Rongjin pulled her back: "Dangerous, little Yuanzhi—we can't get that close. Rest assured, Lord Cao will surely bring the item back safely."

Pei Si beside them nodded: "Exactly, Ah Ci handling things—you two can rest assured."

Mu Yuanzhi felt both worry and curiosity, but getting close to the cliff was indeed dangerous, so she followed Gu Rongjin's advice and shouted down: "Lord Cao, if anything happens, remember to shout loudly."

"Princess, rest assured."

From below came Cao Cixiu's somewhat distant reply; he had already descended far, about halfway down the cliff.

"Could it be that he's low on the cliff?" Gu Rongjin peered down.

Here the cold wind whistled, bringing a dangerous aura when it blew; standing on the cliff edge gave one a feeling of trepidation.

Gu Rongjin gripped Mu Yuanzhi tightly to protect her; after looking a while, he pulled her away and sat at the side to wait.

Pei Si, on the other hand, kept standing at the cliff edge peering down, occasionally kicking a stone or two over, making one's heart race.

Mu Yuanzhi sized up Pei Si.

This time entering the Back Mountain, they still hadn't seen Pei Si's strength, not knowing whether it was as he said—his skill lay in the small flute.

She had quietly asked Gu Rongjin, who also said he hadn't seen Pei Si act; his strength remained a mystery.

But he dared to come into the Back Mountain; if not relying on Cao Cixiu's presence, then his own ability must be not insignificant.

So mysterious, just like Cao Cixiu.

Before the new emperor ascended the throne, they had never before noticed this Third Prince, Pei Si.

"Ah Xiu is up!"

Just as Mu Yuanzhi was lost in thought, Pei Si excitedly interjected!

She and Gu Rongjin immediately went over to look.

They saw Cao Cixiu clutching a stalk of grass that at first glance seemed unremarkable—yellow flowers, green stem, round leaves.

Yet this unremarkable stalk is the Yan Suan grass recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas as capable of curing a hundred poisons, while itself can be a poison—a marvelous flower and herb—Yan Suan grass!

"I didn't expect to actually find Yan Suan grass here!" Mu Yuanzhi exclaimed delightedly.

The Back Mountain truly is full of surprises everywhere!

"No, Lord Cao, you didn't just pick one stalk, did you?" Gu Rongjin's expression turned odd.

Cao Cixiu: "Gu Rongjin, you wouldn't think this is some cheap roadside grass, would you? There's only one stalk."

"Ah..." Gu Rongjin was utterly disappointed, having thought he could gather a basketful for backup.

Mu Yuanzhi chuckled: "Having even one stalk is already a great fortune!"

Pei Si: "Exactly, this is already fortunate."

"Can such a tiny stalk possibly work? The Dead Sea is such a vast inland sea!" Gu Rongjin expressed doubt.

Mu Yuanzhi: "It should work—this is the divine grass recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, not an ordinary thing."

"No delay—let's head back quickly!" Pei Si said.

On the way back they made haste, returning before the Dead Sea in less than half an hour.

"How should we do it? Just toss it in?" Gu Rongjin asked Mu Yuanzhi.

"Boil it into a soup and pour it down?" Actually Mu Yuanzhi wasn't sure either how to do it properly.

Cao Cixiu: "I agree to do it that way."

Pei Si nodded: "Let's follow the doctor's advice."

"Since that's the case, I naturally ought to listen to my wife as well!" Gu Rongjin nodded.

"This puts a bit of pressure on me..."

"No pressure, wife—bring out your usual confidence; you're the number one physician under heaven!" Gu Rongjin immediately flattered.

Mu Yuanzhi: "Exaggerated—I dare not claim to be first in all the world."

"The princess is modest; my mother's illness—no one can cure it, all physicians and imperial doctors are helpless, only you can treat it. Last time, because of the affair with the bastard clansman, Mother fell ill again, and you cured her—you truly deserve the credit."

"Alright, then I'll be confident and brew the medicine!"

Others attended to their affairs; Mu Yuanzhi was responsible for brewing the medicine.

"It doesn't need to be simmered for several hours, does it?" Gu Rongjin asked.

"No, it's just like ordinary soup—it's not a medicinal decoction to drink, so it doesn't need to be boiled that long." Mu Yuanzhi said.

If we keep dawdling, we won't know when we'll get out!

Qilin... should be fine, right?

Mu Yuanzhi moved swiftly and orderly; the bowl of Yan Suan grass decoction was quickly brewed!

Cao Cixiu took that bowl of decoction and scattered it into the Dead Sea; everyone focused intently on the Dead Sea's changes.

Yet after waiting nearly a quarter hour, it seemed nothing was happening?

Everyone looked at each other, wondering if they'd labored in vain.

"Look!" Mu Yuanzhi pointed ahead.

They saw the Dead Sea, originally lifeless, dark, and terrifying—like stagnant water—gradually recover at a visible pace, slowly becoming like ordinary seawater; although not clear azure anywhere, it was at least vastly different from before.

"It really succeeded!" Gu Rongjin happily gazed at Mu Yuanzhi: "My wife is indeed formidable!"

"It does look successful; should we test it further?" Pei Si asked.

"How to test—throw a caterpillar down to try?" Gu Rongjin asked.

The caterpillar on Cao Cixiu's shoulder, as if it could understand human speech, shrank its whole body.

"Throw a piece of wood and see." Mu Yuanzhi said, picking up a piece of wood and throwing it in; the wood sank, and unlike before it didn't float up, but it also didn't rot or anything like that.

"Does it feel like it's become just an ordinary inland sea?" Pei Si said, stroking his chin.

"Not even the Dead Sea? Is this after disinfection came into contact with a curse?" Gu Rongjin found it strange.

Mu Yuanzhi: "It looks like it's just like ordinary seawater now, with no difference—did you notice? Even the previous foul smell has completely disappeared."

"Indeed, when we arrived, although the Dead Sea hadn't yet mutated, there was already a foul odor; just now it grew stronger, to the point of being almost unbreathable." Cao Cixiu said.

Mu Yuanzhi: "No delay, let's go."

"But if the Dead Sea can't be floated across on foot, we'll need to find a scout boat to get over, right?" Gu Rongjin said, "Otherwise, will the Third Prince have his subordinate carry you over?"

He said that on purpose, just to test Pei Si's strength.

"Okay." Pei Si nodded in agreement.

Gu Rongjin: ……

Cao Cixiu also looked like he had no objection.

Gu Rongjin and Mu Yuanzhi exchanged a glance, then were speechless.