Chapter 7: Absorbing the Essence of Heaven and Earth

Wei Lan was seething with anger as she rushed into her sister Wei Wan’s home. With a loud “bang,” she slammed the door, startling Wei Wan. She looked furious and questioned, “Sister, when did Mu Nanhe get married? Why didn’t you tell me? You know I have feelings for him, and you’re not helping me!” Her cheeks were flushed red, and her chest was heaving, clearly very upset.

At that moment, Wei Wan, heavily pregnant and busy at the sewing machine, was taken aback by her sister’s sudden outburst. She paused her work, raised her head, and explained with a helpless expression, “I heard that Captain Mu got married back in his hometown. I really didn’t know about it. He returned from a mission and brought home a wife; I only just found out.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Lan became even angrier, stamping her foot and raising her voice, “He’s so outstanding; how could he marry a country girl? She doesn’t deserve him! Look at Yang Qingyan, she’s dressed in rags, thin and weak—how can she possibly catch Captain Mu’s eye?” As she spoke, she crossed her arms and wore a look of injustice and unwillingness.

Wei Wan frowned and her tone became serious, “He wasn’t married before, and I could support you in pursuing him, but now that he’s married, you must not be foolish and need to let go of your feelings. Disrupting a military marriage is against the law; we cannot do such a foolish thing.”

Wei Lan widened her eyes, looking at her sister in disbelief, as if she couldn’t believe these words were coming from her own sister. She had hoped that her sister would help her strategize to win Mu Nanhe back, but instead, she received such a lecture.

“Humph, if you’re not going to help me, fine!” Wei Lan said stubbornly, throwing down her words, not even glancing at the meal already set on the table, and angrily stormed out again, slamming the door with a loud “bang,” shaking the door frame.

Wei Wan shook her head helplessly, watching her sister’s departing figure, and sighed softly. She understood her sister’s temper well; once she set her mind on something, it would be like pulling nine oxen to change it. She thought to herself that when her husband returned, she would find a way to have him talk to Wei Lan, to prevent her sister from doing something foolish that she would regret later.

Wei Wan’s husband, Liu Jianjun, finished a day’s training at the military base, dragging his slightly fatigued body towards the family quarters. As he approached the entrance, he saw Wei Lan storming towards him with an angry expression. He instinctively raised his hand to greet her, wearing a friendly smile, “Lanlan, what’s wrong? You look so distressed.”

Who would have thought that Wei Lan would ignore him entirely, not even glancing at him as she brushed past.

Liu Jianjun’s hand awkwardly hung in the air, a puzzled expression on his face. He scratched his head, wondering: What happened? I didn’t provoke this sister-in-law of mine; why is she acting like this? With many doubts, he quickened his pace back home. As soon as he entered, he saw Wei Wan sitting at the sewing machine, deep in thought.

“Your sister came by; why did she leave without eating?” Liu Jianjun asked as he took off his coat. “I greeted her, but she didn’t respond. Did something happen?”

Wei Wan paused her work, raised her head, and sighed helplessly, “It’s because of Captain Mu getting married. She heard about it, stormed over to ask me for details, and you know she has feelings for him. I advised her to let it go and not to make a fuss since disrupting a military marriage is against the law. But she wouldn’t listen and just left angrily.”

Liu Jianjun sat down and poured himself a glass of water, taking a sip and frowning slightly, “This girl, why is she so stubborn? Captain Mu is already married; there’s no point in lingering on.”

Wei Wan got up and moved next to her husband, sitting down and saying earnestly, “I told her the same thing, but she didn’t listen at all. If you have time, please talk to her too. Don’t let her get deeper into this mess; if she stirs up trouble, we can’t afford that.”

Liu Jianjun nodded and responded, “Alright, I’ll find an opportunity to talk to her. Hopefully, she’ll listen. That girl has been spoiled since she was young—she’s got quite the stubborn temper.”

The couple exchanged a look, both seeing the helplessness in each other’s eyes. Wei Wan’s family was well-off, and they knew Wei Lan’s personality well. Once she set her mind on something, it was difficult for her to turn back. They could only hope she would come to her senses before causing an even bigger mess and avoid crossing lines that should never be crossed.

Meanwhile, Yang Qingyan had finally tidied up the house, leaving it neat and orderly. Looking at the freshly cleaned space—everything arranged meticulously, the windows bright and spotless, the bedsheets swaying gently in the breeze—she let out a small sigh of relief. Yet, an intense urge suddenly surged within her—she wanted to take a walk in the mountains.

She was well aware that, with her unique ability, she could more efficiently absorb the essence of nature in the mountains, strengthening her powers. This would, in turn, give her a better chance to protect herself in this unfamiliar era.

Mu Nanhe’s gaze followed her closely. When he saw the longing in her eyes as she looked toward the green mountains outside, he stepped forward without hesitation. “Qingyan, do you want to go up the mountain? The terrain is rough, and the paths are difficult to walk. You’re still recovering. Let me go with you,” he said, striding toward her and stopping in front of her.

Hearing his voice, Yang Qingyan slowly lifted her head. Her expression was distant and indifferent, as if there was a thin layer of frost between them. Her gaze met Mu Nanhe’s briefly before she looked away again.

She shook her head lightly and replied in a calm yet firm voice, “No need. I’m fine. I’m not that tired, and my body has mostly recovered. Back in my hometown, I often went up the mountain alone. I know the paths well—I’ll be fine.” With that, she turned slightly, preparing to leave.

Mu Nanhe stared at her aloof demeanor, feeling as if a heavy hammer had struck his heart. His feet seemed rooted to the ground, unable to move, as a deep sense of bitterness and helplessness washed over him. Memories of the past surfaced—the long years spent away on missions, his neglect, his absence when she needed him most. He had failed to be there for her during her hardest times. And now, even something as simple as accompanying her up the mountain had been so decisively refused. Guilt and regret surged like a tide, threatening to drown him.

He watched Yang Qingyan’s unwavering back, his lips moving slightly as if he wanted to speak. But in the end, he swallowed his words, fearing that pressing further would only annoy or anger her. His face darkened with worry and helplessness as he stood there, watching her lone figure step over the threshold and head toward the mountain.

Yang Qingyan walked along the winding mountain path at a steady pace. A gentle breeze brushed against her face, carrying the fresh scent of earth and the rich fragrance of wild plants. However, the body she now inhabited was truly weak. She hadn’t gone far before her legs began to feel as heavy as lead, making each step increasingly difficult. Still, she clenched her teeth and persisted. Closing her eyes slightly, she focused inward, immersing herself in the abundant energy flowing through nature. Quietly, she activated her ability, beginning to absorb the essence of the world around her.

As strands of energy seeped into her body, she could clearly feel her powers strengthening. Once her abilities had improved to a certain degree, she guided the energy to transform into a gentle warmth, circulating through her weary limbs. In an instant, the heaviness in her legs eased significantly, and her body felt as though it had been infused with new vitality. Her steps became lighter and more stable.

Regaining some of her strength, Yang Qingyan continued deeper into the forest. Her sharp eyes soon spotted an abundance of fresh wild vegetables along the way. Delighted, she crouched down and began skillfully gathering them. In the apocalypse, wild vegetables had been a rare source of nutrition and flavor. Being able to collect them again now filled her with a comforting sense of familiarity.

Unknowingly, she ventured into a more secluded part of the forest. Suddenly, a familiar shape caught her eye—ginseng roots. Fixing her gaze on them, she realized it was an exceptionally well-formed ginseng plant. A surge of excitement filled her heart. In the apocalypse, ginseng had become nearly extinct, yet she had unexpectedly stumbled upon such a rare find today. Carefully, she dug away the surrounding soil, ensuring the roots remained intact before gently lifting the entire plant from the earth. Holding it in her hands, she examined it closely, her eyes brimming with joy and appreciation.

At that moment, at the foot of the mountain, Mu Nanhe stood tall at the entrance of the residential compound. His sharp gaze remained locked onto Yang Qingyan’s gradually disappearing figure. He hadn’t moved an inch. Regret and powerlessness intertwined in his heart, churning violently within him.