Chapter 182
Chapter 182
Several days later, they finally reached Dali, the former heartland of the Ancient Nanzhao Kingdom.
The region was filled with mountains, forests, venomous creatures, and poisonous miasma. They encountered several kinds of venomous snakes almost immediately, along with huge spiders of every color and countless centipedes.
Fortunately, Qianqian and Houhou were natural enemies of such creatures.
Shen Qingzhu gave everyone an insect-repellent sachet. “The air here swarms with tiny insects that carry disease. A single careless bite can make you ill.”
Everyone quickly hung the sachets on their clothes.
“No wonder Nanzhao was so difficult to conquer. It is such a small region, yet venomous creatures are everywhere. Outsiders can fall victim at any moment.”
And descendants who controlled gu and practiced shamanic arts still lived here.
“Let’s go. The carriages cannot travel any farther.”
They left the carriages in a suitable place and rode into the misty forest.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
The two roosters suddenly plunged into an unremarkable thicket. Several large black king cobras slithered out, hissing, and the birds attacked.
Nanshu swallowed. “Those snakes are enormous. Thank goodness Qianqian and Houhou came. Otherwise, I would never enter this place.”
“Ji Yan’an, look! So many mushrooms!”
After briefly watching her roosters fight, sharp-eyed Jiang Yunsui spotted a thick cluster of mushrooms and ran over. The environment was perfect for fungi, which delighted her.
“Don’t run off,” Ji Yan’an warned.
“I know, I know.”
She patted a bolete nearly as large as her face several times before picking it.
“Grow lots and lots of mushrooms.”
“There are more ahead!”
Jiang Yunsui abandoned her horse and bounced happily through the woods, humming about a little girl gathering mushrooms.
She was that mushroom-gathering girl now.
“Jiang Yunsui, where did you go?”
Busy harvesting, she raised an arm. “Here! I’m here!”
When the others arrived, their expressions stiffened at the multicolored mushrooms piled into a small hill.
There were far too many.
Fat Chef wiped his face. “Looks like we’re having a mushroom banquet today.”
It was nearly mealtime, so they found a nearby place to cook.
Nanshu eyed the mushrooms nervously. “Why did this one change color? It looks poisonous. Can we really eat it?”
He felt as though one careless bite might end his life.
Jiang Yunsui defended her treasures. “Of course! That’s a bruising bolete. It’s a little poisonous, but once it’s thoroughly cooked, the poison is gone.”
Everyone fell silent. Somehow, that made them even less willing to eat it.
Even Shen Qingzhu, who had grown up here, had not known so many mushroom varieties were edible. He picked out several.
“If I remember correctly, aren’t all of these poisonous?”
“Cook them longer and they won’t be! If anyone was poisoned, they obviously didn’t cook them through.”
She looked at them as though they had no appreciation for fine food.
“These mushrooms are delicious.”
Song Jin laughed dryly. “I suspect you’re trying to poison us.”
Little Mushroom’s lips thrust out. “If you won’t eat them, I will. Hmph, you don’t know what’s good…”
Still grumbling, she carried Shen Qingzhu’s rejected mushrooms to Fat Chef.
“Fat Grandpa, I want these!”
Nanshu muttered, “She really will eat anything.”
When the dishes were ready, everyone watched Jiang Yunsui eat with obvious delight and began wondering whether the mushrooms truly tasted that good.
Nanshu was the first to give in to curiosity. “I’ll try one. Mr. Shen, you can cure me if something happens, right?”
Shen Qingzhu sipped his tea. “Even if it is deadly poison, I can at least slow its effects.”
Reassured, Nanshu tasted Jiang Yunsui’s strongest recommendation.
“Oh? It really is delicious.”
Jiang Yunsui looked smug. “See? I told you these taste best.”
Being slightly poisonous was merely a tiny flaw.
Song Jin raised an eyebrow and tried some too. In the end, everyone except Ji Yan’an and Shen Qingzhu tasted the dish.
After eating his fill, Nanshu suddenly began grinning foolishly.
“Flying little people! Young Master, look!”
He grasped repeatedly above his head.
Song Jin shook his head and stared at the warped, fantastical world before him. “I have seen through the essence of existence. So this is the world’s true form.”
Fat Chef flapped his arms. “I’ve grown wings! I’m flying!”
Jiang Yunsui stared in alarm.
Ji Yan’an’s icy gaze settled on the culprit.
She blinked. “But I’m fine.”
“Of course you are! What do we do with them?”
“Shen Qingzhu can cure poison,” she replied guiltily.
Struggling to restrain Song Jin, Shen Qingzhu snapped, “Only if I can hold them still!”
Ji Yan’an ordered Ji Yi and the others to help.
Nanshu giggled at the flying people, then cried, “Young Master, why did you turn into a duck?”
Fat Chef hugged Jiang Yunsui. “Little Yunsui, Fat Grandpa will take you flying!”
Nanmo dug a hole and buried his legs.
“What are you doing?” Shen Qingzhu demanded.
“I am a tree.”
Chaos erupted. They were harder to restrain than pigs being slaughtered for the New Year.
By the time everyone was stable, Shen Qingzhu was exhausted.
“Didn’t you say they were safe?”
Jiang Yunsui touched her disheveled buns. “Fat Grandpa must not have cooked them long enough.”
It was certainly not the mushrooms’ fault.
Even gentle Shen Qingzhu wanted to roll his eyes. “The toxin is mild and not fatal, but it causes hallucinations and confusion.”
With half her hair loose, Jiang Yunsui sidled up to Ji Yan’an. “Help me tie my hair.”
“You deserved this.”
Nevertheless, he straightened her head and combed her thick black hair. He did not hurt her this time, but the hairstyle grew increasingly messy.
“Why are you making it worse?”
Ji Yan’an remained expressionless. “I don’t know how. You already knew that.”
Jiang Yunsui slapped her forehead. “I forgot. I’ll find Ji Si.”
“Si Si! Si Si, I need help…”