Chapter Sixteen: An Unlikely Friendship Across Generations

After a one-day delay to restock supplies, Tong Jin set off with the caravan.

Three carriages in the caravan were loaded with massive wooden crates. From the pungent medicinal scent wafting from them, Tong Jin knew there was no shortage of herbs inside.

"Brother Tong Jin, come sit up here too!" Nanrong Fengyue and Nanrong Qinglan, who were sitting on the medicinal crates and swinging their little legs, called out to him.

Tong Jin smiled, caught up in two strides, and hopped onto the carriage, sitting down side-by-side with the two girls.

"Brother Tong Jin, where is your home?" Fengyue asked, blinking her eyes.

Tong Jin looked up at the sky. It was nearing autumn, and the sky was a deep, distant blue. "My home is in Taian City."

"Taian City? Never heard of it." Qinglan found it uninteresting and shook her little head, her two small braids swaying along with her.

Tong Jin smiled and reached out to pat Qinglan’s head. Unexpectedly, she ducked into his arms. Just as he thought the little girl was being playful, she suddenly looked up, her large eyes blinking. "Brother Tong Jin, you have Tiger-Whisker Grass on you, don't you?"

Tong Jin was stunned. Before he could speak, Fengyue giggled from the side, "And Earth-Milk Fruit, too!"

Tong Jin was truly startled. He had indeed gathered these two rare medicinal plants along the way recently. He had already sold a piece of Blood-Crimson Kui Wood to a pharmacy owner, but he had never taken the herbs he kept on his person out. How did these two little girls know? A sense of wariness rose in his heart.

"Hee hee, don't be nervous, Big Brother. Qinglan and I have been extremely sensitive to the scents of various herbs since we were young. The scent of the spirit herbs on you is especially alluring," Fengyue said, giggling. Although she was young, she clearly sensed Tong Jin’s wariness.

Tong Jin breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. They were two little monsters. The Tiger-Whisker Grass and Earth-Milk Fruit in his possession were not comparable to common medicinal herbs; they were true spirit-grade medicines that only appeared in ancient texts. For these two girls to identify them instantly by scent alone was truly extraordinary.

"Hehe, what are you chatting about with the little brother, making you all so happy?" Nanrong Yao, riding a date-red steed, slowly drew near.

"Daddy, Brother Tong Jin is amazing! The spirit herbs he has are much more precious than those three carts of hay you have!" Qinglan wrinkled her nose and said to Nanrong Yao.

"Ho ho, this girl. My three carts are top-quality medicinal herbs. How did they become worthless hay in your mouth?" Nanrong Yao was not angry; instead, he shook his head with a laugh. He then turned to Tong Jin and gave him a meaningful look. "Little brother, don't take it to heart. These two girls have been spoiled by me and can't keep a secret."

Tong Jin masked his embarrassment and said, "Master Nanrong, you are too kind. Just smelling the thick aroma of these three carts tells me they are top-tier goods."

Nanrong Yao replied, "Don't look at these two girls as if they only play around all day; they have a natural gift. Since childhood, they have been highly sensitive to all kinds of herbs and can identify the species just by a whiff." He paused, then added, "Since the girls say you have rare spirit herbs, would it be convenient for me to take a look?"

Tong Jin hesitated for a moment. Nanrong Yao continued, "It’s fine if it’s not convenient. You know I’m in the medicinal trade, so I naturally have a soft spot for these things. I assume your spirit herbs have another purpose and wouldn't be for sale to me."

Put this way, Tong Jin felt he had no choice but to show them. He said simply, "Master Nanrong, what are you saying? They are just flowers and grasses I picked up along the way; there is no reason I cannot show them. Besides, I have no use for them; they are just for trading for some pocket money." He then took the cloth parcel from his bosom and handed it to Nanrong Yao.

Nanrong Yao opened it cautiously. Inside the cloth lay a brown, curling blade of dry grass and several small, round black berries. "This is Tiger-Whisker Grass and Earth-Milk Fruit!" Nanrong Yao whispered. "Although the quality isn't the absolute highest, they are indeed the real things. Little brother, you are truly lucky!"

Tong Jin replied modestly, "Just a blind cat bumping into a dead mouse. If you like them, Master, take them as a gift. I am truly grateful that you are willing to take me along on this journey; consider it a small token of my appreciation."

"What? Little brother, you are willing to give these away for nothing?" Nanrong Yao was clearly tempted, but while tempted, he realized that doing so wouldn't be honorable; it felt a bit like taking advantage of someone.

"They are just small spirit herbs. It didn't take much effort for me to pick them, so why would I be reluctant?" Tong Jin was remarkably generous. He didn't know that these spirit herbs were all rare treasures. Many people made a living specifically by searching for them, yet often went years without finding a single one. It was only because Tong Jin had chosen an incredibly remote route heading south, combined with sheer good fortune, that he had found these rare items in such a short time.

"If that is the case, then for me to decline would be hypocritical. I won't hide it from you, little brother: both of these are rare treasures. I cannot let you suffer a loss. I will certainly look after you on this journey, and once we reach the Holy Capital, there will be a generous reward!" Nanrong Yao said excitedly. Fearing that Tong Jin might change his mind, he quickly wrapped the parcel back up and tucked it into his robe.

Tong Jin and the two girls exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

"By the way, little brother, you said you found these yourself, so you must be well-versed in rare treasures. Does your family also deal in the medicinal business?"

Tong Jin shook his head. "I only occasionally read about them in books and happened to remember a few. It is Fengyue and Qinglan who truly impress me." This comment made the two girls lift their heads with smug pride.

Nanrong Yao offered some humble words as well, then suddenly turned serious. "Little brother Tong Jin, you are so generous that I, Nanrong, have made up my mind to be your friend. Actually, there is something I am worried about telling you, fearing it might create a rift, but I won't be at peace if I don't."

Tong Jin was taken aback. "Master Nanrong, please speak freely." His heart began to thump as he wondered what it could be.

"This... sigh!" Nanrong Yao seemed to find it difficult to speak, but finally steeled himself. "Actually, my daughter approaching you was my arrangement from the start. It was because I heard you had sold a piece of top-quality Blood-Crimson Kui Wood."

Nanrong Yao watched Tong Jin’s reaction carefully. "Do not misunderstand, little brother. I have no ill intent. It is just that you know I am exceptionally interested in rare spirit herbs, and I had my daughter approach you only to see if you had other rare items, which I would have bought at a high price."

Hearing this, Tong Jin generally understood the sequence of events. He turned to look at the two little girls beside him, who were looking at him with innocent eyes.

Nanrong Yao gave a helpless smile. "These two girls had no idea. I only told them that you, sitting by the window in the restaurant, were a very interesting person."

Tong Jin felt a wave of relief. If the two girls had been approaching him with a hidden agenda from the beginning, he would have been truly saddened. As it stood, the matter was not very serious—it was merely a case of someone being overly obsessed with treasures, leading to a clumsy strategy. Besides, it was because of this that he had such a comfortable journey south. "Master Nanrong, you take it too seriously. Since you were willing to be open about it, it shows you are a man of integrity. These spirit herbs were well worth giving!" Tong Jin said with a magnanimous laugh.

"Hahaha, little brother Tong Jin is indeed a straightforward person. When we reach the next town, let's have a proper drink!" Seeing that Tong Jin had truly let go of his grievances, Nanrong Yao was also very happy. Although Tong Jin was young, he had an extraordinary bearing. He possessed great wealth yet remained calm and humble, and he acted with discretion. Most importantly, through two days of observation, Nanrong Yao could tell that Tong Jin was a man of upright character. Combined with the fact that Tong Jin had given away two spirit herbs without hesitation, he immediately felt the urge to forge a deep friendship. He did not want to miss out on such a rare bond across generations, which was why he had finally steeled himself to explain the whole story.

Just then, a loud shout came from the front of the caravan: "Alert! We have a situation!"