Chapter 20 Hunting Injury

After Ji Tangtang bought the watch and came out of the department store, it was already three in the afternoon. Seeing that it was getting late, she didn’t bother to find a place to store her things in the Qiankun pouch, but instead headed straight to the small courtyard where she had sold ginseng that morning.

Inside the courtyard, Lu Yuanqi had already checked his watch for the third time. He still had matters to attend to today, but his second uncle had specifically instructed him to personally deliver the grain seeds to the woman who sold the ginseng. Clearly, his second uncle valued that woman greatly. Privately, he also felt that the woman was most likely a hidden master living among common folk.

In truth, not only was their grandfather on his deathbed, but ever since that incident years ago, both his second uncle and aunt had suffered greatly. Since then, his second uncle’s health had been declining year after year. The whole family worried that one day he would no longer be able to hold on. Meeting him this time, Lu Yuanqi could clearly sense that his second uncle’s condition had worsened again. In the future, it was very likely they would need to seek this woman’s help again… Whether because of his uncle’s orders or his own judgment, she was someone to be treated with the utmost respect.

Still, he truly had other business later and couldn’t afford to delay too long. Fortunately, before long, she finally arrived.

Though pressed for time, Lu Yuanqi still invited Ji Tangtang into the courtyard and personally poured her tea. Ji Tangtang, having hurried over, was indeed rather thirsty. She raised the cup and drank it down in one gulp, then thanked him. Lu Yuanqi lifted the pot and poured her another cup, smiling as he said:

“It’s us who should be thanking you.”

As he spoke, he handed her the grain seeds he had obtained through connections.
“These are the seeds we discussed before. Please take a look.”

In addition to the seeds, he also gave her a small cloth bag.
“This was prepared on my second uncle’s instructions, a token of thanks. He says he’ll enjoy your flower tea thoroughly.”

Lu Yuanqi carried himself with poise and courtesy while receiving Ji Tangtang, showing no sign that he was in a rush. But Ji Tangtang, being a spirit, was highly sensitive to human emotions. She keenly sensed the impatience he was suppressing, though his upbringing did not allow him to show it, and he continued to host her politely. She didn’t know the reason and didn’t ask, nor did she linger. After thanking him, she asked if he lived there and when he was usually around, then left with her things.

After leaving the courtyard, Ji Tangtang found a secluded spot and entered her secret realm. Inside, time flowed differently than in the outside world. Once inside, she didn’t rush; first, she carefully sorted out all the items she had bought that day, then leisurely went into the forest to pick wild fruits.

The secret realm was spring all year round, with a great variety of wild fruits. But not all of them were edible—many were highly poisonous. Ji Tangtang carefully chose only the fruits she knew well. She picked a large quantity, intending not only to bring some to Liu Xuemei later, but also to send some to Gu Shiyu. After all, she had used quite a few of his ration coupons today.

On the way, she encountered rabbits and pheasants and casually hunted a few. After drinking spiritual spring water and absorbing spiritual energy these past two days, her body—once frail from its original owner—had been nourished back to health, drawing closer and closer to her true form. Her agility had improved as well. Previously, she could only manage to catch small animals like rabbits and pheasants. But today, she even brought down a wild boar.

The wild boars in the secret realm were nothing like ordinary ones—they were several times larger and far more ferocious. Though Ji Tangtang succeeded in hunting it, she also sustained serious injuries in the process. Gritting her teeth, she swallowed a few pills for internal injuries and cursed the heavens.

What humiliation—once a mighty spirit brought low! To think she could be injured by a mindless pig that hadn’t even developed half a shred of spiritual wisdom. In her former strength, she could have killed it with her eyes closed in a single move.

After taking the medicine, she soaked in the spiritual spring pool for more than half an hour. When the pain finally eased, she gathered wild vegetables and fruits into her basket and exited the secret realm.

She arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative just in time to see Liu Xuemei finishing work. The moment Liu Xuemei saw her, her face lit up with joy and she hurried over. That afternoon at the counter, she had been showing off the wild fruits left and right, until she had unknowingly eaten them all.

She had originally worried that eating so many at once might upset her body. But not only did she feel fine, even her morning sickness had disappeared. At this moment, seeing Ji Tangtang felt like meeting a dear relative.

“Big sister, you still haven’t told me your name! You must tell me, otherwise, when I meet people on the road, I won’t even know how to introduce you.”

Liu Xuemei said this, then introduced herself:
“My name is Liu Xuemei, you can call me Xuemei or Meihua.”

“My name is Ji—…” Ji Tangtang began, about to say her real name, but halfway through she remembered that after taking the transformation pill, she no longer had her original appearance. She quickly changed course:
“…Qingyun. You can just call me Sister Qing.”

“Alright, Sister Qing, I’ll take you to see my older brother.” Liu Xuemei smiled. “Let’s hurry, if we’re late, my brother will have already gone home.”

Ji Tangtang followed Liu Xuemei across two streets until they reached the grain station. As soon as they arrived, Liu Xuemei spotted a tall man and ran over, grabbing his arm:
“Big brother, wait a moment before you leave.”

Liu Jianfeng frowned and scolded her:
“Why are you running? Be careful—you’re about to be a mother, how can you still be so reckless? When I meet your husband, I’ll definitely have to speak with him.”

Liu Xuemei pouted.
“Why are you blaming him? He didn’t tell me to run.” She shook off his arm angrily. “Why are you always like this? If you keep scolding me every time, I won’t come find you again.”

“Then why did you come now? What is it?” Liu Jianfeng asked, glancing at Ji Tangtang as he noticed the two had arrived together.

“I came for something important. Let’s talk inside.”

Seeing his gaze linger on Ji Tangtang, Liu Xuemei set aside her anger and waved Ji Tangtang over. “Come, Sister Qing.”

Though Liu Jianfeng’s face showed impatience, his steps still turned back toward the grain station, obeying his sister.

Once inside, Liu Xuemei pointed to Ji Tangtang and said:
“She’s my friend. She wants to buy some fine grain. Brother, help us think of a way.”

“How come I didn’t know you had a new friend? Where did you meet her?” Liu Jianfeng lowered his voice, speaking sternly. “Do you not understand the times we live in? If someone takes advantage of you, you’ll be dragging me into trouble.”

Liu Xuemei’s eyes reddened.
“She really is my friend, someone I just met. She’s not a bad person.”