Chapter 232: The Running Ginseng

　　Through this contact, Lu Fei felt that the mountain guard was quite honest and reliable.

　　Putting down his guard, he held the small black dog and smiled, "Brother, we haven't found the herbs yet, so we can't leave for now."

　　"Not leaving?" Zhao Fengchun was taken aback, "What herbs are you looking for? Are they very important?"

　　Lu Fei took out his phone and showed the herb photos sent by Duan Lingyue.

　　"Do you know where these herbs are, Brother Zhao?"

　　Zhao Fengchun squinted and looked at them for a while, then said, "I have seen two of them; I can help you gather them. As for the others, I don't know. I advise you not to go further in; even during the daytime, it's not necessarily safe."

　　"Brother, I know you mean well, but there is one herb that is really important to us, and we must find it," Lu Fei calmly put away his phone.

　　Hu Zi and Jing Jian also did not seem scared.

　　Zhao Fengchun looked at them in a daze.

　　"You're so bold, are you really here to collect herbs?"

　　"We..." Jing Jian was about to answer when Hu Zi held his shoulder back.

　　"Whether or not we are, we've come here for the herbs," Lu Fei said sincerely, "I know it's too dangerous in the mountains, so I won't force Brother Zhao to guide us, just point us in the right direction."

　　Even though Zhao Fengchun seemed honest and reliable, they had just met, so there was no need to reveal everything about themselves.

　　"What exactly are you looking for?" Zhao Fengchun couldn't help but widen his eyes.

　　"Do you know, is there an old temple in these mountains?"

　　"Old temple? What old temple?" Zhao Fengchun looked even more surprised.

　　"I don't know either, it's just a deserted old temple. There are the herbs we need near that temple. If you know where it is, could you please give us some directions?" Lu Fei looked at Zhao Fengchun.

　　Zhao Fengchun hesitated, clearly knowing something but was wary and unwilling to speak.

　　"Old Zhao, don't rush to reply to us. Have some food and get some rest first." Instead of pressing for an answer, Lu Fei took out some dry rations for him to replenish his energy.

　　"Thank you!"

　　Zhao Fengchun was indeed hungry and tired. He nodded, then started eating the biscuits and beef jerky.

　　After he finished, he drank the remaining mineral water in one go.

　　Afraid that it wasn't enough, Lu Fei gave him another bottle of water and a few more packs of dry rations.

　　"Thank you, it's enough, enough."

　　Holding the dry rations, Zhao Fengchun was silent for a while before suddenly speaking, "Actually, if you want to go deeper, I can guide you as well."

　　Lu Fei and the other two exchanged surprised glances, not expecting him to be willing to lead them directly.

　　"Old Zhao, this is a matter of life and death. You need to think it over carefully," Lu Fei said, looking at him seriously. "This water and food isn't much. You don't have to take risks for us because of this."

　　"I'm not doing it just to repay you. In fact, I also want to collect some herbs." Zhao Fengchun sighed deeply, a hint of worry spreading across his bruised face.

　　"My father's illness can't be delayed any longer...The old village doctor said that only a certain type of mountain ginseng from here can save him."

　　"It was while I was trying to catch that ginseng that I got tangled up in the ghost tree vine..."

　　"Wait, what do you mean by 'catch'?" Jing Jian interrupted curiously, "Isn't it supposed to be picked or plucked?"

　　"That kind of ginseng is usually buried in the ground, with only a few leaves showing above. But when the sun sets, it pops out. It's like a little person, able to run and jump, and it's very cunning!"

　　Zhao Fengchun explained earnestly.

　　"I followed the method the old doctor told me, found its leaves, and waited until the sun set. When I saw it pop out of the ground, I immediately went to catch it."

　　"But it reacted so quickly and slipped away from my hand. I chased after it... Only later did I realize that the little thing intentionally led me close to the ghost tree vine."

　　"Wow! Able to run and jump, this ginseng must have become a spirit!" Hu Zi felt very surprised, looking around at the pitch-black surroundings, "What kind of mountain is this, where everything can become a spirit!"

　　Jing Jian stroked his chin and said, "This ginseng sounds like a type of ginseng baby. You can't catch it with your hands; you have to use red thread to loop it. Once they're looped, they can't escape."

　　"Yes, exactly, with red thread," Zhao Fengchun nodded vigorously.

　　"Unfortunately, I was clumsy and didn't manage to catch it, and got entangled by the ghost vines. Showing you the way might help me find my lost items, so let's give it another try."

　　"My mother passed away early, and my father raised me with great hardship... If he goes, I'll be left alone, and life won't have much meaning."

　　"Might as well take a risk."

　　"Anyway, on the way to the old temple, we'll also pass through the area where the ginseng is active."

　　As he spoke, he looked up and tried to force a smile.

　　"So don't feel burdened. I'm doing this for myself too!"

　　Jing Jian and Hu Zi were both moved by his words.

　　Especially Hu Zi.

　　"If my parents were so seriously ill, I'd take the risk no matter how dangerous it is! Boss, why don't we..."

　　Lu Fei looked at him seriously: "This is what we can do, Brother Zhao, if you are willing to guide us. But first, we will help you catch the ginseng."

　　Jing Jian also said, "You're so clumsy; you couldn't even catch the ginseng before you got injured, let alone with your leg in this condition now. If you run into something nasty again, wouldn't our efforts to save you be in vain?"

　　His words immediately cast a silence over the group.

　　Zhao Fengchun, who was initially quite moved, choked back his tears.

　　Huzi covered his forehead with his hand.

　　Lu Fei coughed lightly, easing the awkwardness.

　　"Old Zhao, if you agree, we can all rest tonight and set out tomorrow," he suggested.

　　"Thank you all!" Zhao Fengchun wiped his eyes and smiled.

　　"No need to thank us! Meeting in the deep mountains is a stroke of fate!" Huzi dropped his backpack on the ground and stretched his body.

　　"We should be thanking you. Without your guidance, we might not have found the place," they replied.

　　"But that temple is very strange; it can only be seen at night," Zhao Fengchun added seriously.

　　"Isn't that perfect? When the sun sets, we can catch ginseng for you, and then head to the dilapidated temple when it gets dark."

　　"But it's very dangerous. My father said that if you see a dilapidated temple, you must run as far away as possible; once a person goes in, they probably won't come out. That's why I didn't want to mention it earlier. I was afraid something might happen to you." Zhao Fengchun's face was full of worry.

　　Lu Fei comforted him, "It's okay, Brother Zhao. We're just going to look for herbs near the dilapidated temple. We may not even go inside."

　　"That's good, that's good." Zhao Fengchun let out a sigh of relief and looked around, "The air in the mountains is cool, and there are many strange things. If you plan to spend the night here, it's best to start a fire."

　　"Is it safe to start a fire? Won't it ignite the surrounding trees?"

　　"It's simple, just surround the fire with stones."

　　Zhao Fengchun supported himself, trying to stand up.

　　"Brother, just sit and rest. Hu Zi and I will go find some materials." Hu Zi waved his hand and pulled Jing Jian to look for dry wood and stones nearby.

　　Zhao Fengchun, still worried, cautioned, "Don't go too far, and don't split up! There's something in the mountains that can mimic people..."