Sacrifice for Redemption: Fu Bao's Journey to Save Grandfather

"Grandpa Fuxing, where is Shennong now?" Fu Bao asked anxiously as she sat on the auspicious clouds, scanning the vast forest below. Amidst the dense foliage, finding Shennong seemed like a daunting task.

"Don't fret, my dear. Grandpa will guide you to him," reassured Old Fuxing. As an esteemed deity with considerable experience, he possessed the ability to sense the presence of other gods.

Navigating through the forest, Fu Bao followed Old Fuxing closely. Eventually, they reached a towering tree, where Fu Bao spotted a robust young man with sun-kissed skin. He wore nothing on his upper body except for a skirt fashioned from animal skins, and was busy chewing on a handful of freshly picked herbs.

With a furrowed brow, the young man appeared dissatisfied with the taste and continued his search on the forest floor. Startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, he turned abruptly and fixed his gaze on them. "Who goes there?" he demanded.

Fubao was taken aback, not expecting Shennong to appear so youthful despite being the deity of medicine. His well-maintained appearance contradicted his age, and it was clear he was the legendary king of medicine.

Old Fuxing let out a discreet cough, feeling a slight urge to shield Fubao's eyes. He expressed his dissatisfaction, "Shennong, you're a deity after all. Mind your influence. Can't you see you're not even wearing clothes? What if the little girl sees?"

As a carefree celestial being with no exposure to knowledge about the distinctions between men and women, Fubao wasn't embarrassed by Shennong's exposed form. Instead, she was fascinated, especially by his transparent belly. While it might be a bit unsettling to witness internal organs, Fubao was grateful to have found him and focused on how to seek his assistance.

"You old lucky star, how can I not influence you? You bring a little girl to visit me, then blame me for not wearing clothes?" Shennong retorted indignantly. "Taste this herb!"

Fu Bao addressed Shennong as "Uncle" without hesitation, which surprised him.

"Little girl, do you realize how old I am? I might be even older than Lao Fuxing!" Shennong chuckled at the term of endearment.

"But you look so youthful, it feels right to call you Uncle," Fu Bao insisted. "Uncle Shennong, I'm Fu Bao. I've been sent down from the mortal world due to a mistake. My grandfather there is gravely ill and on the verge of dying. That's why I've come to you. I need your help to save him!"

Shennong paused, contemplating. "Each mortal must undergo the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. Your grandfather is reaching the end of his life, and it's his time to go. If I were to intervene, it would disrupt the natural order, causing chaos in the mortal world and defying the laws of heaven."

"I understand it's a difficult request, Uncle Shennong. But let me tell you, my grandfather fell from a mountain and became paralyzed. Do you know why? It was because he was collecting medicinal herbs!" Fu Bao's eyes welled up with tears.

"Gathering herbs?" Shennong's interest was piqued as soon as he heard this.

"My grandmother told me that my grandfather discovered a wild Lingzhi mushroom growing on the edge of a steep cliff. Despite the danger, he ventured up the mountain to gather it, hoping to sell it to support our family. Unfortunately, he slipped and fell," Fu Bao explained.

Shennong nodded thoughtfully. "Risking so much to gather medicine... That sounds familiar."

"But there's more," Fu Bao continued, determined to persuade him. "Before my grandfather was paralyzed, he often treated villagers and collected herbs for them. Even when they couldn't afford it, he never asked for payment. He's a truly kind-hearted person!"