All over Greenwater City, there's no one selling Blood Skin Apricots.
If it were only for the business of the medicine shop, Qiu Zhiheng wouldn't be willing to take risks. He picked the apricots this time for Elder Yao, who's recently been getting better. If he eats more apricot skin to replenish blood, maybe he will wake up.
"You go back to take care of the medicine shop. I'll definitely return home before dark." Qiu Zhiheng pinched his wife's chubby cheeks and went up the mountain with a medicine basket on his back.
On Kuwu Mountain, the thick fog persists year-round. Qiu Zhiheng is an Eighth Layer Lust Cultivator, and until he reaches halfway up the mountain, the fog's harm is still within a bearable range. Once past halfway, the fog becomes increasingly dense, and Qiu Zhiheng must use Lust Cultivation Technique to stimulate his blood circulation for detoxification.
The more challenging part is that beyond five or six meters ahead, it's all bright white, and nothing can be seen clearly.
How can one harvest medicines in such thick fog? You can't even see where the apricot trees are, so where to find the apricots?
Qiu Zhiheng has a way.
He takes out an unopened apricot blossom from his chest pocket, purchased from Greenwater City, the only one bought.
The blooming season of Blood Skin Apricots is very short. When picking apricots, people also pick some apricot flower buds, which are sold to the Grass Cultivators of Greenwater City. They maintain the apricot blossoms; the fresh blossoms can be made into top-grade fragrances and are priced similarly to apricots.
Qiu Zhiheng cuts his palm and sprinkles some blood onto the apricot blossom. The unopened blossom gradually opens, releasing a refreshing scent that drifts afar.
This fragrance doesn't drift randomly in the wind; it moves purposefully and with direction.
Lust Cultivation Technique, Seeking for a Partner.
Using his blood, Qiu Zhiheng makes the apricot blossom develop a strong desire to seek a partner. During the pollen drift, it relies on its powerful instinct to actively locate the Blood Skin Apricot trees.
Qiu Zhiheng follows the scent, relying on his sense of smell, and walks along the mountain paths for dozens of miles.
Arriving near a forest, the scent becomes stronger. Qiu Zhiheng knows he's close to the apricot tree.
Finding even one apricot tree today would count as success. Each tree has at least a hundred or so apricots, enough for Elder Yao's use, and also some left for unexpected needs.
Qiu Zhiheng quickens his pace, walks a few more miles, then suddenly stops; someone's been following him for half an hour.
An Eighth Layer Lust Cultivator wouldn't face rivals among ordinary people, but on Kuwu Mountain, Qiu Zhiheng must act cautiously. The intense poison mist severely weakens combat power, and different Taoist Sects have varying resistance to poison.
If encountering a Poison Cultivator, even if they are only the Sixth Layer, Qiu Zhiheng must consider retreat before engaging.
Qiu Zhiheng stops, and the person following him also halts. After a brief standoff, the person steps forward.
"Boss Qiu, I've been following you all along, intending to take advantage of your guidance to find some good things, but I'm too embarrassed to ask directly due to face."
Approaching is a slender, tall man in his fifties, full of wrinkles, wearing a satin-surfaced long gown.
Qiu Zhiheng can't recall meeting him before, so he directly asks, "How should I address you?"
"Boss Qiu, don't you remember me? I'm Fan Zhongfu, bought medicine at your shop yesterday."
Qiu's Pharmacy attends to many customers daily, and Qiu Zhiheng often isn't at the counter; even if he did visit, Qiu Zhiheng couldn't possibly remember.
But since it's mentioned, Qiu Zhiheng politely responds, "Mr. Fan, a pleasure to meet you. What medicine are you looking to gather on the mountain today? If it's a herb I know, I can guide you."
Fan Zhongfu says, "It's my first time on Kuwu Mountain; not sure what good medicines are here. I'm here to gather whatever you find, and if there's extra, I'll collect a bit too. If none, I dare not ask you; I'll consider it an experience."
This is pure nonsense.
Saying you learn farming by following an old farmer is logical.
This is Kuwu Mountain, going up aimlessly under the risk of deadly poisoning, just for experience? Such words can't fool Qiu Zhiheng.
Putting the apricot blossom into the basket, Qiu Zhiheng looks at Fan Zhongfu and asks, "Mr. Fan, please be straightforward, what do you really want from me?"
Fan Zhongfu chuckles, "I've already said it all, just hoping to learn some of your medicine gathering skills."
Qiu Zhiheng shakes his head, "I'm done gathering medicine, heading down now. Anything else you need?"
Fan Zhongfu pauses silently for a moment, then asks, "If it's not medicine, can I ask about someone named Li Qi, do you know him?"
"I know him," Qiu Zhiheng nods, "Why are you looking for him?"
Fan Zhongfu replies, "Nothing major. I'm from Snowflake Beach, he had some trouble with our place, I'm just asking if you could send him a message to come to Medicine King Valley, would he come?"
"That depends on what I need to tell him."
"Just tell him it's a matter of life and death," Fan Zhongfu considers, "Or better, tell him directly: if he doesn't come, you'll die, your whole family too."
Qiu Zhiheng's eyes twitch, ready to use his technique, but the technique is interrupted before activation.
His short gown suddenly tightens, making it hard for Qiu Zhiheng to breathe.
"Don't be foolish," Fan Zhongfu doesn't move yet can manipulate Qiu Zhiheng's clothing at will, indicating he's a high-level Garment Cultivator, "I don't want to kill you, nor your family. I just want to find Li Qi for some clarification."