บท 7: This Golden Age
The next day, Monday.
In her bedroom, Tang Shu, who had been meditating all night, opened her eyes which were clear and bright.
Feeling the faint presence of energy in her dantian, she felt somewhat relieved.
The body she shared not a small resemblance with had good fundamentals. In just two days of cultivation, she faintly felt the gathering of inner strength, which comforted her as a newcomer to another world.
Regardless, having a trump card gave her confidence in everything she did.
Looking up and seeing that it was no longer early, she remembered she had classes at school today. Tang Shu got up and went toward the bathroom. Reaching for her waist out of habit, she found it empty and was reminded that she was not her former self anymore.
She, who always liked to have one or two hidden weapons at her side, felt momentarily unaccustomed and thought of having a few hidden weapons custom-made when she found time. Even if she wasn't in Damo Country, she was used to carrying things for self-defense.
After having breakfast at the base of her apartment building, Tang Shu, with her backpack, walked into the gates of Imperial Capital Medical University. Her beautiful eyes surveyed the prestigious school with a history of a hundred years, and her steps slowed significantly.
"So this is the academy of this world? It truly is special."
In Damo, the Imperial College was what everyone dreaming of studying aspired to, yet including the Imperial College, all academies taught the same curriculum; none could establish an institution to solely teach the art of healing.
This place was different—although not quite the great unity under heaven, it certainly belonged to a prosperous age.
An age of prosperity not seen in a thousand years.
Tang Shu followed her schedule toward Building 2, walking as calmly as if strolling through a garden, oblivious to the fact that her outstanding appearance and cool temperament had already become a scene in the eyes of others.
"Who's that beauty? A freshman from the first year?"
"Must be. I haven't seen her before, so ninety percent chance she's a freshman. Didn't we just finish military training last week?"
"Just looking at her appearance, she's definitely a freshman! Otherwise, she would have been on the 'campus belle' list by now. I've been on the campus forum for so long and never seen a photo of her."
"Internet addict, I didn't expect you to be so useful at a time like this."
"Of course, usually, each of you is like a bookworm, oblivious to what's happening outside. You're so engrossed in studying that you don't even know about the big events happening. Isn't it time for yours truly to enlighten you?"
"Hey, you're puffing up just because I called you fat."
"Wait a minute, why do I feel like I've seen this junior before? She seems familiar."
"Pfft, do you think you're the 'Jade-like Scholar' from the Jia Mansion? Kid!"
Despite the low volume of the discussions, Tang Shu, with her exceptionally sharp ears, had already overheard the conversation. As the Young Sect Master of the Tang Sect, she was all too accustomed to such astonished and admiring glances in Damo and had developed a strong immunity to them, not paying much attention.
"Click—"
With the sound of a smartphone camera button being pressed, the figure that had caused a small commotion was captured on screen, and soon after, the owner of the phone moved the image to where it was supposed to appear.
***
As the best medical university in the country, the campus of Imperial Capital Medical University was truly one in ten thousand.
Of course, this one in ten thousand referred not only to its architecture, rich in historical character, the hundred-year-old trees along the roads which required two people to embrace, and the distinguished medical personnel it had cultivated for hundreds of years.
What's more, it had the coveted Medicinal Garden that every practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine dreamed of.
"Medicinal Garden?"
Tang Shu stood before a vibrant expanse of greenery and read the words inscribed on the sign.
"It's really quite crude and direct."
She had been drawn over by the familiar herbal fragrance mixed in the autumn breeze, the unique scent of the Snow Soul Grass in bloom.
Standing at the edge of the boundless Medicinal Garden, Tang Shu spotted the blooming Snow Soul Grass not far away.
Next to that fortunate plant crouched an old man with white hair at his temples. His clothes were stained with soil, and at that moment, his weathered, rough hands were grasping a pair of scissors, making his way towards the petals of the Snow Soul Flower standing against the wind.
"Wait."
Instinctively, Tang Shu's voice stopped the old man's action before it could proceed.
The old man paused at her words, and his scissors did not touch the flower. Instead, he turned his head in confusion to look at her.
"Young lady, is there something you need?"
"The Snow Soul Flower blooms once every ten years. When the petals are separated from the flower, they will wither instantly due to the lack of a sufficient supply of venom. By cutting it like that, all you'll get are worthless, withered yellow petals."
The old man was startled and looked at her with a trace of doubt in his aged eyes before turning back to the flower, which was blooming stunningly.
"So it's called the Snow Soul Flower? But... it's bright red right now."
Not withered yellow.
Even if a more conventional red flower were to wither, it would turn red, not withered yellow.
Tang Shu frowned slightly, already certain that the old man was truly unaware of the Snow Soul Grass's properties.
"You could try. After all, there are three other undamaged ones right next to it."
The old man remained in thought, maintaining his previous action for a moment before retracting his hand, "No need, I believe you. If it truly blooms only once every ten years, even the waste of a single flower is regrettable."
Tang Shu glanced around the Snow Soul Grass and realized that it was surrounded by an empty space about two meters in diameter. Presumably, the old man had discovered its toxicity and had isolated it from the other medicinal herbs.
"Young lady, could you tell me how to harvest this flower in a way that preserves its original venom?"
The old man stood up and, with a trembling stride, stepped out of the Medicinal Garden, his lips curling into a hint of a smile.
"I stumbled upon these plants while sketching in Yunnan. A single leaf from the plant poisoned a wild rabbit to death. I was inspired by the hunt and carefully transplanted them back here."
Despite his extensive knowledge, having searched through all the ancient texts without finding any plants like it, or even similar, the old man could only attribute this phenomenon to the world being full of wonders.
A glint of understanding flashed in Tang Shu's eyes, "The Snow Soul Grass is quite special, from its topmost flowers to its roots, all are highly toxic. A small leaf killing a wild rabbit is not surprising."
"If the elderly gentleman wishes to study its petals, you can place a few leaves in water. Once the venom has seeped through the veins, submerge the flower in it, then cut with scissors."
The old man said joyfully, "So the venom from the leaves can preserve the petals from wilting?"
"Yes."
"Thank you for informing me, young lady. How do you know about this Snow Soul Flower?"
Tang Shu paused for a moment, a trace of nostalgia flashing in her eyes.
"An elder at home enjoys cultivating medicinal herbs, so I've been surrounded by them from a young age."
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