Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Nan Yan and her group disembarked from the plane and switched to walking as they entered Shennongjia.
The pilot stood in place until their figures were no longer visible, then returned to the helicopter and headed back to report.
Shennongjia, one of the most mysterious places in China, was also known as the “Roof of Central China.” It earned this na because it is believed that Yan Emperor Shennong, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese people and a divine farr associated with agriculture and dicine, once used the mountains here to gather herbs, save the people from diseases, and teach them agriculture. However, most people only venture into its outskirts, as the deeper parts of Shennongjia are considered a restricted area.
In the depths of Shennongjia, the landscape is breathtakingly beautiful, with layers of mountains and abundant natural beauty. It’s a paradise for wildlife, but for humans, it’s a restricted area. This area has been designated as a World Natural Heritage site, shrouded in an aura of mystique and wonder.
Hua Shifang resided deep within Shennongjia, living here for over a decade and taking on four disciples in the process.
Every person who arrived here did so by chance.
So got lost, like Fu Yubai, who had originally co to Shennongjia for tourism but unintentionally ventured deep into the area, losing his way along with his tour guide and friends. Unknowingly, he had walked all the way to the innermost part and discovered the true hidden paradise and the old immortals inside. He decided to stay and not leave, later becoming Hua Shifang’s disciple.
Others intentionally entered the area to seek treasures or find rare herbs such as the Hundred-year Ginseng. However, they would often get lost and be picked up by Hua Shifang. Upon witnessing his extraordinary dical skills, they would persistently ask to beco his disciples.
One example was his eldest disciple, Shao Jianming.
Nan Yan was unique; she found her own way here. After passing Hua Shifang’s test, she was accepted as a closed-door disciple.
They passed through the jungle and mountains, crossed the Lychee River, and ventured into the depths of the prival forest. As the dense vegetation gradually thinned, they once again saw the light of day and arrived at Hua Shifang’s secluded paradise.
This was Sun Chan’s first ti here, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Senior Brother, you really know how to find a good place. This is perfect for cultivating dicinal herbs!”
Along the way, they had already co across many wild dicinal herbs.
However, after seeing the herbs carefully cultivated by Sun Chan in his Hundred Herb Garden, Nan Yan found these wild herbs here to be lacking sowhat. Although they were wild, they didn’t grow as well as the herbs Sun Chan had painstakingly nurtured. Nevertheless, for those willing to search, rare dicinal herbs could still be found in this area.
A few wooden houses were enclosed by a half-height fence on the outside, and inside the fence, they kept chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, and other small animals. Several white wolves were lying in front of one of the thatched huts. When they saw soone approaching, they imdiately stood up, baring their teeth and growling.
Fu Yubai raised his voice and shouted to them, “Little White, Little Gold, Little Yellow, it’s us.”
The wolves recognized Fu Yubai’s voice, and their initial aggressive and furious deanor was imdiately pacified.
“Aw-woo-”
“Aw-woo-”
The white wolves, which had been raised to be friendly with humans, responded with howls.
However, compared to their previously fierce baring of teeth, their current howling actually seed to convey a sense of intimacy.
The three of them entered the small courtyard.
Nan Yan had changed her body, and Little White, Little Yellow, and Little Gold, the three wolves, didn’t recognize her. So when they saw her approaching, their fur instinctively stood on end, and they entered attack mode.
Fu Yubai quickly told them, “They are all Master’s family, don’t attack them.”
A single howl served as their response to Fu Yubai.
The three wolves obediently lay back down and didn’t reject Nan Yan’s approach any further.
Sun Chan was a bit puzzled. “They recognize Yubai but not you?”
Nan Yan looked at him and said, “Second Master, my situation is a bit special. I’ll explain it to you when we et Master later.”
“Oh…”
Sun Chan didn’t press further. He had a lot of trust in Nan Yan and regarded her as his own child.
If she said she would explain later, then it would be explained later.
Fu Yubai had already circled through a few wooden houses and returned to their side.
“Master isn’t at ho.”
“I guessed as much,” Nan Yan replied.
If he had been at ho, he would have sensed their arrival and co out to greet them. With all the noise that Little White and the others had made, and no one coming out of the wooden houses, it was clear that there was no one inside.
“After you left, how many people are still here?” Sun Chan inquired, considering the number of wooden houses.
Fu Yubai replied in a gentle tone, “If Master hasn’t taken in any new disciples, then he’s the only one left.”
“Only him?”
“Yes.”
A hint of sorrow passed through Sun Chan’s eyes. Humans are social animals, and living alone in the wilderness for over a decade must be incredibly lonely!
He felt deeply for his Master.
Nan Yan noticed his expression with a sidelong glance and asked, “Second
Master, your expression doesn’t look quite right. What’s on your mind?”
Sun Chan looked at them both with a sowhat reproachful expression. “Why didn’t either of you stay behind to keep him company?”
Nan Yan:
Fu Yubai.
Did they understand what he ant?
“Second Master, have you misunderstood sothing?” Did he think their Master was leading a miserable life here?
He was being too naive!
While it was true that this place was devoid of human presence, and they had left only their Master behind after they left, their Master would definitely not feel lonely.
The rumors about how terrifying this place was circulated outside, and it was indeed terrifying for those whose strength was insufficient. However, for those with strength who had grown weary of the hypocritical and greedy world outside, this place was like heaven.
And their Master was precisely that kind of person.
Here, his life was extrely pleasant!
Just as Sun Chan was wondering what Nan Yan ant, Fu Yubai looked into the distance and said, “Master is back.”
Without further ado, he turned and hurried over.
Seeing the figure in the distance, carrying a dicine basket on his back, wearing a gray linen robe, and having white hair and a white beard, he murmured, “Brother Hua…”
It really was his senior brother Hua!
The two of them, senior and junior brothers, hadn’t seen each other for over ten years!
Hua Shifang’s indifferent gaze sharpened when he spotted the three people in the courtyard. His unhurried pace instantly quickened.
“Senior Brother!”
Sun Chan shouted loudly and ran over like a child, wanting to hug him with his arms outstretched.
However, he was rcilessly rejected by Hua Shifang.
Sun Chan:
Did his senior brother have to be so cold?
They hadn’t seen each other in over a decade, and he didn’t even want to acknowledge him!
This was too much!
There was also excitent in Hua Shifang’s eyes, and upon seeing Sun Chan’s injured expression, he cleared his throat and explained, “I’ve got feces on ; don’t dirty yourself.”
Sun Chan’s broken heart suddenly nded.
He knew his senior brother wouldn’t be so heartless.
“Master.”
Fu Yubai walked over, respectfully addressing him and then reaching out to take the dicine basket he was carrying.
Hua Shifang removed the dicine basket and handed it to him, but his gaze shifted to Nan Yan.
He inquired of Fu Yubai, “Have you brought another disciple for your Master?”
Sun Chan:
This wasn’t right.. Did his senior brother really not recognize even his own disciple?
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