Chapter 79: Mountain Goods, An Outing?

Early the next morning, Jing Qingxin and Gao Shen had already packed up and prepared themselves. Breakfast was simple—a bowl of noodles each—and as the rest of the village was just beginning to busy themselves with their own morning meals, the two quietly slipped out the back of their house, heading up the slope toward the rear mountain.

The morning forest air was crisp and fresh, as if they had stepped into a natural oxygen bar, invigorating both body and spirit with its cool clarity. Dew still clung to the grass and leaves, and the ground was damp beneath their feet. From the moment they entered the woods, Gao Shen kept a firm grip on Jing Qingxin's hand, ensuring she would not stumble or fall.

Gao Shen walked ahead, using a wooden stick to sweep aside wild grasses and clear the path. Jing Qingxin followed leisurely, her gaze roaming curiously, eager to discover any hidden treasures the mountain might offer.

As they made their way deeper, Jing Qingxin found a wealth of wild goods: fresh mushrooms, wood ear fungus, tender wild greens, and berries. Anything that caught her eye, she gathered with delight, utterly absorbed in the joy of the harvest.

They intended to spend the entire day in the mountains. There was no rush to venture too far—the hills were teeming with bounty, and it would be a shame to let it go to waste. Jing Qingxin did not hesitate to collect anything edible, stopping to pick whatever she pleased, emboldened by her trusty travel companion—the magical "Liuguang Brocade." With this remarkable tool, she could gather as much as she liked without worry.

This was also why Gao Shen indulged Jing Qingxin’s leisurely pace. With the storage space at their disposal, no matter how much they collected, there was no burden of carrying it back themselves—everything was easier and far more convenient.

Naturally, they seized the opportunity to gather as many supplies as possible. With the "Liuguang Brocade," there was no fear of excess; they could store away the mountain’s bounty for gradual enjoyment. In times like these, no one would complain about abundance.

Occasionally, they came across common medicinal herbs. Jing Qingxin would pull them up, roots and all, storing them for later transplantation to her own medicinal garden. Who knew when such herbs might prove useful? It would be a waste to rely solely on the precious, rare plants already growing in her space.

The thought of transplanting herbs reminded Jing Qingxin of the empty plots still available in her "Liuguang Brocade." She realized she could also plant grains, vegetables, and fruit in that magical space, not just in her courtyard’s garden. The oversight made her all the more excited.

With that revelation, Jing Qingxin set to work, digging up any wild plants suitable for cultivation, roots and all, storing them away to transplant later that evening.

Meanwhile, Gao Shen began digging shallow pits to set traps. With limited materials, the pits weren’t deep enough for large game, but they might catch a few small animals. Whenever Jing Qingxin paused to pick or dig, Gao Shen took the opportunity to set a trap nearby, marking each one carefully for easy retrieval on their return.

Whether it was luck or misfortune, by the time they had climbed well above the halfway point of the mountain, they had yet to spot a single wild creature—not even a fleeting rabbit.

Jing Qingxin was not particularly troubled by this. Perhaps it was the influence of her life in the modern era; she had grown accustomed to the absence of wildlife in the hills. In her time, even in the most remote mountains, wild animals were rarely seen—they were either domesticated or kept in state-managed reserves.

Gao Shen, however, felt differently. He was native to this era and had often ventured deep into the mountains to hunt. The complete absence of wildlife struck him as unusual, and he frowned, pondering whether they should continue deeper into the forest.

“What’s wrong?” Jing Qingxin asked softly as she finished digging up a wild rose, turning to find Gao Shen standing still, brow furrowed in thought.

Gao Shen gazed towards the heart of the mountain, murmuring, “It’s strange—something feels off.”

“What do you mean?” Jing Qingxin stowed the rose in her storage, coming to stand beside him.

“We’ve been walking for ages and haven’t seen a single wild animal. Isn’t that odd?” Gao Shen scanned the surroundings, searching for any sign of life.

“Is it odd? Maybe there simply aren’t any animals in this part of the mountain. Or perhaps we haven’t gone far enough; maybe the wildlife stays deeper in the forest,” Jing Qingxin replied calmly. She wasn’t particularly set on hunting game. They had already gathered plenty that morning.

“Maybe. Let’s not go any deeper, though. Let’s just circle around the outskirts—it’s safer that way,” Gao Shen said thoughtfully.

Jing Qingxin checked the time: it was already half past eleven. They’d had an early breakfast and had been busy all morning. The noodles they’d eaten were long since digested.

“Alright, let’s find a place to rest and have lunch,” Jing Qingxin suggested.

Gao Shen nodded in agreement.

Soon, they found a level clearing. Jing Qingxin took out two collapsible rattan chairs from her “Liuguang Brocade.” Raised, they served as seats; lowered, they could be reclined for a nap.

“What else do you have in that space of yours? Even chairs?” Gao Shen laughed, marveling at the convenience. It was like carrying a mobile home—wherever they stopped, they could settle in with ease.

Jing Qingxin stuck out her tongue sheepishly. “It’s hard to say exactly. All sorts of things, really—I’ve collected so much over time.”

In truth, even she couldn’t recall everything she’d stored in her magical space. Whatever was handy, whatever she liked or received from friends and family, she tucked away. For her, it was the perfect storeroom—no trouble at all. Wherever she went, she had whatever she needed at hand.

Next, Jing Qingxin produced a small iron pot—she’d thought to bring it that morning, along with a ladle, bowls, and chopsticks, since she had the space.

Gao Shen quickly gathered stones to build a makeshift stove, and Jing Qingxin filled the pot halfway with spring water. She added the freshly washed wild vegetables, seasoning them to make a fragrant pot of vegetable soup.

Reclining on his rattan chair, Gao Shen gazed at the blue sky, inhaling the savory aroma of the soup, and watching Jing Qingxin stir the pot with leisurely ease. He couldn’t help but smile. Amused, he thought: Was this really a hunting trip, or had they simply come out for a springtime picnic?

———Author’s Note———
Qingqing is truly touched that so many friends enjoy this story.
No matter what, Qingqing will keep writing!
PS: Let me clarify the update schedule. Since the story is awaiting official online release and subscription, the timing and word count are as follows:
Currently, one chapter is updated daily at 7:10 PM, each about 2,000 words. Due to platform limitations before launch, I can’t post longer chapters, but every Friday night there will be an extra chapter.
On the launch day, there will be at least 10,000 words of updates. After that, I’ll maintain at least two chapters (about 4,000 words) a day, sometimes three or four, with details to be announced after launch.
So from now on, I won’t answer questions about the update schedule in the comments section.
Thank you to every lovely reader following this story. Love you all!
This book is exclusively published by Xiaoxiang Academy; please do not reprint!