Chapter 23: Accidental Harvest

After another night, Han Li rose early and headed to the herb garden to check on the changes in the plants.

Before even stepping into the garden, he caught a whiff of intense medicinal fragrances. Startled, he quickened his pace and arrived at the cluster of herbs emitting the strong aromas.

*Are these the same plants from yesterday?* Han Li rubbed his sleepy eyes in disbelief.

"The Yellow Dragon Grass leaves have turned purple… the Bitter Lotus now has nine petals… the Forget-Worry Fruit's skin is blackened!" He burst into laughter, his usual composure shattered. "These herbs, which only had one or two years of potency, now resemble decades-old treasures! Their colors, shapes, and scorns—all match mature, rare specimens!"

After meticulously verifying the herbs against his medicinal texts, he confirmed their transformed state.

*If I can accelerate herb growth like this, I'll have an endless supply of rare ingredients! Even selling the surplus could earn mountains of silver!* His mind raced with excitement, and he flipped joyfully on the ground like a giddy teenager.

When his elation subsided, practicality took hold. First, he needed to test if these herbs were safe. After all, they absorbed the mysterious liquid that had caused the rabbits' gruesome deaths. Second, he had to determine whether the green liquid in the vial would regenerate or if it was a one-time anomaly.

He bought two gray rabbits from the kitchen, tying them near his hut for observation. Harvesting the herbs, he blended them into bone-strengthening tonics and fed the mixture to the rabbits.

Days passed. The rabbits thrived, growing more vigorous with each dose. Yet Han Li's anxiety deepened—the vial showed no signs of producing more liquid.

One gloomy night, as he stared at the inert vial, realization struck: *Previous transformations occurred under clear skies with moonlight. Today's overcast weather might be the issue.*

But the heavens defied him. For half a month, drizzling rain cloaked the valley. The rabbits remained lively, while Han Li's frustration festered. The vial's mystery—and his future—hung on a sliver of sunlight.