Entering the mountains in search of wild ginseng at twenty-two

The next day, the two sat obediently before Father Chu, reporting their ginseng harvesting plan to their superior and awaiting approval.

Father Chu said, “This plan is quite good. Make a list of everything you’ll need to take, bring a field survival guide, and prepare some medicines. Even though it’s winter, disturbing hibernating snakes can be even more dangerous, so don’t forget the antivenom…”

Qin Yue replied, “Uncle Luo, there’s no need to worry. Ordinary snake venom can be forced out with spiritual power.”

Uncle Luo stiffened and said woodenly, “Well, just make sure you have enough food, then.”

Qin Yue remarked carelessly, “Uncle Luo’s Orleans-style baked chicken wings are delicious.”

Uncle Luo replied calmly, “Just buy more from KFC.”

Qin Yue said coolly, “Uncle Luo’s Orleans-style baked wings are tastier than KFC’s.”

Uncle Luo slapped the table. “I’m your uncle, not your mother!”

Qin Yue insisted, “Uncle Luo’s Orleans-style baked wings are even better than my mom's.”

Luo Yu covered his face, exasperated. “Why are you so obsessed?”

Qin Yue said lightly, “Food and desire are basic instincts.”

In the end, Qin Yue triumphed. Uncle Luo prepared a great deal of food for them, packing it into the storage bracelet. Along with the food, they packed some outdoor gear: a tent, down jackets, ropes, compasses, and so on.

Once everything was ready, the two flew directly from Qinging City Airport to their destination and took a bus to a small town at the foot of the mountain.

After a night’s rest, the next morning they set out for the mountain.

Entering the forest, Luo Yu immediately noticed the difference from Qinging: Qinging was in the south, where even in winter there was little snow, the trees rarely shed their leaves, and the landscape remained a deep green.

Here, in the northern woods, bare branches were everywhere and the air was bitterly cold, but their down jackets and snow boots somehow kept them warmer than they’d been in the south, and their boots stayed perfectly dry.

Luo Yu asked curiously, “Why is there snow everywhere, but I feel warmer here than at home?”

Qin Yue replied, “Northern air is dry and cold. As long as there’s no wind, the sparse moisture in the air can’t carry away much body heat.”

Luo Yu sniffed. “No wonder there’s such a thing as a humidifier. I never understood why anyone would buy one—turns out there’s a real market for them in the north. My nose is already sore and dry.”

They traveled alone along the path. At first, they encountered a few tourists, but after venturing deeper into the forest, only the sound of their footsteps crunching in the snow remained. The world was a field of white, with only the evergreens adding a touch of color. After walking for a while, they spread their divine sense and, finding they had left all other people behind, stopped to circulate spiritual energy through their bodies, channeling power to their feet.

With a light push of his feet, Qin Yue leapt forward more than ten meters, gliding across the snow before stopping to wait for Luo Yu. Though Luo Yu had practiced using spiritual power, he hadn’t yet mastered this gliding technique. Fortunately, upon reaching the fifth stage of Qi Refining, his body had improved greatly—his senses were keen and his balance rivaled the greatest masters in martial arts novels.

Imitating Qin Yue, he jumped and landed lightly on the snow. With a whoosh, he slid straight into Qin Yue, knocking him to the ground in a clumsy embrace.

Qin Yue snapped, “What do you think you’re doing!”

Luo Yu replied sheepishly, “I got nervous… didn’t brake properly.”

Qin Yue grumbled, “With all this space, why didn’t you aim for a tree instead of crashing into me?”

Luo Yu muttered, “The trees aren’t going ginseng hunting with me.”

Admitting defeat, Qin Yue brushed off the snow and helped Luo Yu up.

After a few more bickering exchanges, Qin Yue took Luo Yu’s hand and guided him through several practice runs.

Soon, the two vanished into the depths of the forest, leaving behind only two abruptly ending trails of footprints in the snow.

Deep within the vast forest, the two figures moved like a pair of owls, gliding swiftly among the trees, leaping over obstacles. Their speed and agility were so uncanny that anyone who saw them would surely wonder if they’d encountered ghosts.

As Luo Yu glided along, he probed the surroundings with his divine sense and suddenly shouted, “I found ginseng! A whole bunch of it!”

Qin Yue didn’t stop, only replied, “Those roots are less than two years old. There are too many in one place—they’re obviously cultivated. Not worth picking.”

Luo Yu said sheepishly, “I just thought you hadn’t noticed… Uh, wanted to remind you.”

Qin Yue responded, “My divine sense is no weaker than yours now.”

Luo Yu retorted, feeling wronged, “Don’t get cocky. I’m only at the fifth stage of Qi Refining. Wait until I reach the tenth—I’ll be better than you.”

Qin Yue smiled at the corners of his mouth. “By the time you reach the tenth stage, I’ll have built my foundation. With each level, divine sense grows exponentially. You’ll be even further behind.”

Struck by this blow, Luo Yu could only charge forward in silence.

After a while, they reached the summit and slowed to a stop.

Before them lay a sloping, barren land. Golden sunlight shone directly onto the snow, dazzlingly white. Looking down, the dark green forest snaked through the valley below, stretching endlessly into the distance. All around, silver peaks soared, the sky vast and blue.

“Ah—ah—ah!” Luo Yu cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, “I’m standing on Mount Everest!”

Qin Yue rapped him sharply on the head. “Are you trying to start an avalanche? I have no desire to die with you here.”

Luo Yu instantly fell silent, no longer daring to shout. Fortunately, the open terrain absorbed the sound and nothing happened.

They rested for a while, taking out a roast chicken from the bracelet to gnaw on, then used their spiritual power to conjure water into two cups, drank, enjoyed the scenery for a bit, and then set out down the mountain.

They crossed several peaks, entering the old-growth forest. Along the way, they found hibernating snakes and bears, foraging rabbits, sika deer... Each time, Luo Yu and Qin Yue would pause to observe. But all the wild ginseng they found was too young to pick. They also came across shelters left by ginseng diggers, and sometimes noticed carvings on the red pine trees—some old, some new, the most recent only a few months old. After encountering several of these, they became curious. Were these marks left by the ginseng diggers?

Using their divine sense near the marks, they found traces of excavation.

Luo Yu said, “Someone must have dug up the ginseng here and left these marks. No wonder we haven’t found any—it’s all been dug out already.”

Qin Yue replied, “I saw on TV that when digging wild ginseng, people perform certain rituals. Perhaps these carvings are part of that.”

Luo Yu said, frustrated, “Looks like we’ll have to venture further in if we want any luck.”

Qin Yue considered this. “It’s getting late. Let’s find a place to rest and look again tomorrow.”

Following Father Chu’s instructions, they took out the Field Survival Guide and picked a sheltered, sunny spot to pitch their tent.

Luo Yu spread out the sleeping bag inside the tent, crawling in as he spoke. “Coming out in winter isn’t so bad—no need to worry about snakes or bears, and no mosquitoes either.”

Qin Yue tossed his jacket aside. “Let’s hope you still think so tomorrow.”

Luo Yu laughed, squirming in the sleeping bag and making room for Qin Yue. “Why is this sleeping bag only for one? Would be warmer if we could share.”

Qin Yue replied, “Fool. Wouldn’t that let in a draft?”

Luo Yu argued, “Just open two holes at the top. If the inside connects, couples can cuddle to sleep.”

Qin Yue said, “Good thing the bags are separate. I have no desire to be someone’s pillow.”

Luo Yu scoffed, “You’re not my best bro. Why would I hug you?”

Qin Yue asked, “What’s a best bro?”

Luo Yu let out a series of mischievous laughs, his tone lewd. “A best bro shares everything—peaches, sleeves, even chrysanthemums.”

Qin Yue’s face darkened.

For the first time, Luo Yu had the upper hand and grew cocky. “Beauty Qin, come on, give me a smile! Not smiling? Then I’ll smile for you!”

Qin Yue snorted coldly. “If anything, you look more like a beauty than I do.”

Luo Yu bristled, “I just haven’t finished growing yet!”

Qin Yue suddenly smiled. “I’m afraid you never will.”

That smile dazzled Luo Yu. “Nineteen still leaves room to grow,” he retorted. As a southerner standing at one meter seventy-two, Luo Yu was quite envious of Qin Yue’s height.

Qin Yue zipped up his sleeping bag. “Keep telling yourself that.”

They bantered a while longer before drifting into sleep.

The next morning, Qin Yue felt something strange at his neck. Opening his eyes, he found Luo Yu had somehow ended up curled against him, body nestled in his arms, head buried in the crook of his neck like a marmot in a burrow, only a tuft of hair sticking out.

Though the sleeping bag kept his arms from wrapping around Qin Yue, he was still being used as a pillow!

Qin Yue wanted to shove him away, but his own arms were trapped, so he could only fume, veins bulging on his forehead, and shout, “Hey! What kind of sleeping is this!”

Half awake, Luo Yu cracked an eye, yawned lazily, and mumbled, “My body’s sensitive. Felt a warm spot and moved over—nothing to fuss about.” He snuggled in closer. “Don’t move, it’s comfortable. Let me snooze a bit longer… just five minutes.”

Qin Yue was helpless and could only let himself be used as a pillow, holding back his indignation.

Staring at Luo Yu’s sleeping face, Qin Yue thought: So this is how he looks asleep? … Much quieter than when he’s awake. Forget it. Since he’s so well-behaved, let him stay a while.

The sun rose. Flecks of sunlight filtered through the pine branches, scattering dappled, round spots across the little tent. A tit perched on a branch, head cocked, eyeing the strange object that had appeared. Soon a sable darted over, drove the bird away, and claimed the prime observation spot.

The tent lay quietly on the snow. Suddenly, a lively voice came from within, “There’s a huge squirrel outside.”

“Ignorant. That’s a sable.” The response was cold and elegant.

The tent shifted, then split open with a tear, and two people crawled out.

Startled, the sable vanished at once.

“It ran so fast!” Luo Yu exclaimed in excitement. “I wanted to see it up close! That’s a protected species!”

As Qin Yue packed up, he said, “You’ll have plenty of rare animals to see in the future… Pack your own sleeping bag.”

They tidied the tent and took out toiletries, fumbling through their morning routine. The air was cold enough to turn their breath to frost, making washing up a chore.

Luo Yu couldn’t help but complain, “Going into the mountains in winter is insane.”

Qin Yue smiled enigmatically, silent.

After breakfast, they pressed deeper into the forest. Crossing more peaks, they came upon a valley. Here, the snow was thin; it was truly untouched by humans. The clearest evidence: the red pines bore no more carvings.

The valley was a scene of primeval wilderness. The spiritual energy in the woods was abundant, warm as spring. Giant red pines soared into the sky, magnificent and verdant. Walking among them, humans seemed insignificant. Now and then, they passed fallen pines as thick as four or five people’s arms, struck down by lightning, with a thick carpet of fallen leaves underfoot, accumulated over countless years.

Luo Yu breathed in the fresh air deeply and sighed, “The air here is amazing. If only I could bring it home—wait, what’s that?”

Under a rotting branch not far off grew a cluster of plants—pure white and holy as immortals. Their flowers were modest and delicate, their calyxes crystal clear, containing glimmering silver threads, the whole like a piece of fine jade, faintly shimmering with spiritual energy.

Luo Yu rushed over, examined it with delight, and said, “That’s crystal orchid! It’s mentioned in the Compendium of Materia Medica… Only grows in primeval forests, almost impossible to transplant… And it turns out it’s a spirit flower?”

Qin Yue also stepped closer, studied it, and said, “It must be a low-grade spiritual herb. Good for the body, but short-lived, with less spiritual energy than ginseng. Not much use to cultivators.”

Luo Yu said, “Who cares, I’ll bring it back for my dad. He’ll love it.” With that, he had Qin Yue take out a jade box from his bracelet and carefully transferred the crystal orchid into it with spiritual power. The jade box had been specially crafted for gathering specimens, as Qin Yue had explained. In the cultivation world, such boxes preserved spiritual energy and ensured the best medicinal effects.

On this journey, they’d also found two or three ginseng roots of forty or fifty years, and some red lingzhi mushrooms—a modest harvest, but still far from their goal of gathering centuries-old ginseng by the handful. Oddly, though the area was deserted, there was nothing truly valuable to be found.

They unleashed their divine sense across the whole valley but found nothing.

Luo Yu said, disappointed, “Such a perfect spot, wasted.”

Qin Yue said coolly, “Let’s go. We can look elsewhere.”

Just as they were about to leave, a hoarse, urgent voice called out from the distance, “Immortal masters, please wait!”

Best Bro Immortal Cultivation Chronicle, Chapter 22: Into the Mountains in Search of Wild Ginseng—update complete!