Chapter 40 – Medicine God Valley

“It’s to worship the Mountain God!” the little boy said happily.

But Xiaojiu and the others still looked puzzled.

The innkeeper came over to explain:
“Our little town is surrounded by mountains. These mountains are not only our shield in life, but also the source we rely on to survive.”

“Every year on the fifteenth day of the ninth month, we hold a grand sacrificial ceremony to thank the Mountain God for giving us abundant produce and a peaceful life.”

“So whenever this time draws near, the town becomes especially lively. Every household hangs red lanterns to welcome the Mountain God.”

“There will also be all sorts of activities in town—especially for young men and women. It’s said that couples who meet and fall in love during these days are blessed by the Mountain God, so all the young people put on their best clothes and finest jewelry, hoping to meet their destined one.”

Hearing this made Xiaojiu’s group itch with curiosity.

They couldn’t wait to go out and look around.

“You go on. I’ll wait for you here at the inn.”
Seeing the eager looks on their faces, the old man waved them off. Kids had boundless energy—an old fellow like him wouldn’t join the bustle.

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

Before leaving, they even scooped up the little boy to take him along.

“Show us the fun spots. This is your reward!” Xiaojiu gave him a few silver coins to guide them.

“Got it!” The little boy was even more excited than they were—he’d been wanting to go out for a while.

He led Xiaojiu’s group through the bustling streets. Red lanterns hung high, adding a warm yet mysterious glow to the night.

On both sides of the street, vendors called out to sell their goods—sugar figurines, dough sculptures, handmade woven ornaments, and mountain produce. The air was thick with the mouthwatering smell of food.

“Let’s go to the riverbank and watch the river lanterns first!” the boy suggested, eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Let’s go! Where is it?” The endless sights had the group’s heads turning in every direction.

They arrived at the town’s small river.

By then, countless lanterns floated on the water, each carrying someone’s heartfelt wish. They swayed gently with the breeze, like scattered starlight falling on the river’s surface—beautiful beyond words.

“I want to release one too.” Each of them bought a lantern, and Xiaojiu handed one to the boy.

“What did you write?” Zhao Hu leaned over curiously.

“If I say it, it won’t come true,” Xiaojiu quickly covered it up.

Hearing that, Zhao Hu and the others also hurried to hide theirs, secretly setting their lanterns afloat.

“Where to next?”

“There’s a riddle guessing booth over there, and a lion dance, and even acrobatics!”

Like a seasoned tour guide, the little boy led them through the crowd to the heart of the market.

Sure enough, the place was packed.

At the riddle booth, people were racking their brains to figure out the answers.

Not far away, lion dancers in colorful costumes leapt and twisted to the beat of drums, their powerful moves drawing waves of cheers.

On the side, acrobats performed thrilling stunts that made the audience gasp in awe.

Xiaojiu’s group blended right into the crowd, laughing and cheering along.

As night deepened, the town’s liveliness showed no signs of fading.

Reluctantly, Xiaojiu and the others left the festivities and returned to the inn.

“I love this place so much,” they said, still replaying the games in their minds.

The joy here was genuine—Xiaojiu even wanted to stay a few extra nights. She also wanted to see the Mountain God worship ceremony with her own eyes.

Night had fallen, and the small town gradually settled into tranquility. Only the red lanterns swayed gently in the wind, as if telling one touching tale after another of the mountain god and the warmth between mortals.

The next day, the group prepared to set off. The day before, Xiaojiu had bought two horse-drawn carriages in town, so today everyone could travel in comfort.

At the entrance, a young boy saw them about to leave and quickly handed over the basket in his hands to Xiaojiu and the others.

“These are jujubes and mulberries I picked on the mountain this morning. You can take them to eat on the road,” he said.

Xiaojiu quickly took it. “Thank you!”

Then she pulled a large bag of assorted candies from her backpack.

“This is for you. I still don’t know your name,” Xiaojiu said as she handed the candies to him.

“Man Cang, my name is Man Cang. My father says it means ‘full granaries,’ a blessing for a good harvest.” The boy clearly liked his name.

“All right, I’ll remember you. My name is Xiaojiu , and I’m the village chief of Taoyuan Village. You and your father can come visit us there someday.”

Man Cang happily waved at them. “I’ll remember you too, and I’ll come find you one day!”

After a reluctant farewell, Xiaojiu and the others continued their journey to Gu Lao’s home.

Several hours later, Gu Lao pointed to a valley ahead. “We’re here. This is the place.”

They followed him into the valley.

Mist swirled all around, giving the place the feel of a celestial realm.

Along the way, they encountered many people, each looking at Gu Lao with deep respect.

“Master, you’ve returned!”

“Master, you’ve returned!”

…

Seeing the group of children following behind him, the villagers cast curious glances, thinking they must be his new disciples. But they had never seen him take in so many at once.

Gu Lao led them to a bamboo house—his usual residence. It was simple yet serene, with medicinal herbs drying outside, clearly tended to regularly.

Pushing the door open, he walked inside. On the bamboo bed lay a man.

Xiaojiu and the others stepped forward curiously. “Is this the person you’re going to save?”

Carefully holding the Tianshan snow lotus, Gu Lao walked in and replied, “Yes, this is the last herb we needed.”

Xiaojiu looked at the man on the bed, puzzled.

Strange.

Why did he feel so familiar?

Yet she was certain she had never seen him before.

She looked him up and down several times, but still nothing came to mind.

“Village chief, what are you looking at?” A Dou asked when he noticed her staring at the man.

Xiaojiu shook her head.

“Nothing.”

“We’ve brought him the medicine. What do we do now?” the chubby boy asked, idly picking at the bamboo wall.

“Where is this place? It’s like a fairyland. I love the smell of the herbs here,” Da Ya said happily, sniffing around.

Coming out with a row of needles, Gu Lao overheard her and replied, “This is the Valley of the Medicine God. All the plants here are medicinal herbs, so the scent is strong. It’s rare for someone to enjoy it.”

“The Valley of the Medicine God?”

Xiaojiu and the others looked confused.

But Shen Zhiyuan had heard about it from her mother.

“The Valley of the Medicine God holds a high status among the Four Kingdoms. Its members are all highly skilled in medicine. Even the most powerful figures in the kingdoms show them respect and dare not offend them—after all, the one person you should never anger is your doctor.”

Its reputation came not only from its unmatched medical skill, but also from its steadfast commitment to healing the world.

Those of the Valley shunned worldly disputes, devoting themselves to alleviating suffering.

Whenever epidemics, wars, or natural disasters struck, the Valley would promptly send disciples, carrying precious herbs into afflicted areas, saving countless lives and earning the people’s reverence as living bodhisattvas.