The next day, the sun stood high.
Lu Zheng got up, washed, ate breakfast in the ancient world, then returned to the modern world and headed to Haicheng’s largest outdoor gear shop.
“Hello, what do you need?”
“I’m going hiking in the deep mountains. What do I need?”
The shopkeeper looked up sharply, sizing Lu Zheng up carefully.
“What’s wrong?”
The shopkeeper smiled, “Which route are you planning to take?”
“Uh…” Lu Zheng blinked, unsure how to respond.
Truth be told, the only hiking route he knew was the Aotai Line, as it was the most famous.
But if he said that, the shopkeeper might call the police.
“Wuyi Mountain National Forest Park?” Lu Zheng ventured.
The shopkeeper smiled again, “How many days are you planning to stay in the mountains?”
“Um…”
Lu Zheng froze, suddenly realising he could travel back anytime.
Extreme weather, danger, or nighttime, he could always return.
So…
“One day?”
“What? How long?” The shopkeeper was baffled, “One day?”
“Uh… roughly, no overnight camping, but hiking in a deep, remote forest during the day,” Lu Zheng explained.
The shopkeeper, “…”
What kind of place was that?
“Like a field research station!” Lu Zheng finally found a fitting analogy, “Built in a remote deep forest, but with a place to rest and sleep.”
“Oh!”
The shopkeeper nodded, understanding, and breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been ready to call the police.
But based on Lu Zheng’s explanation, it didn’t sound dangerous, probably just a family member of a research team, a reporter, or an accompanying visitor.
Clearly unprepared and clueless, they’d come to buy outdoor gear.
A complete outdoor novice, throwing around terms like “deep mountain hiking,” as if their life wasn’t at stake.
Good thing it was just a misunderstanding.
So the shopkeeper asked, “What’s the environment like around the research station? Different environments require different gear, you know.”
Lu Zheng nodded, “Temperate broadleaf forest.”
He’d at least studied high school geography and knew that much.
The shopkeeper nodded and asked, “Will you need to climb rocks?”
“Yes!”
“Are there many mosquitoes?”
“Lots!”
…
After a busy morning, Lu Zheng finally bought a batch of gear.
Hiking boots, a bucket hat, a waterproof jacket, a raincoat, a large canvas backpack, trekking poles, a multi-use entrenching tool, and a portable multi-function axe.
Plus mosquito repellent spray, a climbing grapple, a hundred-metre rappelling rope with a climbing kit, a first-aid medical pack, and a survival kit with a compass, firestarter, multi-tool knife, and a high-powered torch.
“No tent or emergency blanket?”
“Thanks, I really don’t need them.”
“Shame,” the shopkeeper shook his head, “With your gear, add a tent and blanket, and you could tackle the Aotai Line.”
Lu Zheng: ╮(￣▽￣)╭
…
Though Lu Zheng was now a master of both Taoist and martial arts, he couldn’t fly, so he still needed proper gear for crossing deep mountains.
He took the equipment home, then returned to the ancient world and went to Benevolent Heart Hall.
“Uncle Liu, I’m heading into the mountains.”
Liu Qingyan, sorting herbs, looked up suddenly, “To find a lingzhi horse?”
Lu Zheng nodded.
Old Liu frowned, “The deep mountains are vast and empty. Guo the Third stumbling upon a lingzhi horse was pure luck. I bet he’ll never see one again in his life.”
Lu Zheng nodded, “I know lingzhi horses are rare, but even if I don’t find one, I might come across old mountain ginseng, yellow essence, or fleeceflower root, right?”
Mainly, Lu Zheng wanted to make money again.
Though Lin Wan had transferred the ten million back to him after recovering, Lu Zheng thought ten million wasn’t much, just a tenth of someone’s small goal.
As a cheater, having only ten million was embarrassing, so he planned to search the ancient forests for century-old mountain ginseng.
In the modern world, ginseng over a hundred years old was worth at least ten times more.
A half-kilo century-old ginseng was valued at five million five years ago.
In the Great Jing Dynasty, century-old ginseng was also exorbitantly priced, and Lu Zheng didn’t have the funds to trade in it.
Besides, it would draw too much attention.
Since he’d made some progress in his cultivation, he decided to take matters into his own hands and provide for himself.
Hearing Lu Zheng wasn’t overly hopeful, Old Liu said, “Finding good stuff within thirty li is tough. Even Guo the Third has to go deeper and deeper.”
Pointing to the mountains northeast of Tonglin County, Old Liu said, “Lingzhi likes shade. Search in dark ravines. Even if you don’t find a lingzhi horse, you might find some ginseng. If you’re lucky enough to find century-old ginseng not eaten by animals, that’s good fortune.”
The Great Jing Dynasty was rich in spiritual energy, and its herbs were more potent than those on Earth. Animals with a hint of spiritual awareness would seek and eat these herbs.
Not to mention those that gained sentience from eating herbs, boosted their cultivation by consuming spiritual plants, or herbs that turned into spirits themselves…
…
It was already afternoon. That evening, Liu Qingyan dragged Lu Zheng to the Liu household, where he was given a bag of dried meat and ten large steamed buns to take home.
When Aunt Liu heard he was going into the mountains, she added three smoked fish and made five large flatbreads overnight.
Lu Zheng, “…”
…
The next day, Lu Zheng set out with his pack, slipped into the woods by the official road, stashed his things in the modern world, then visited White Cloud Temple to ask if there were powerful monsters in the deep forests.
Daoist Mingzhang said matter-of-factly, “Of course there are!”
Lu Zheng’s face paled.
“But those staying in the deep mountains prefer solitude and seclusion. As long as you don’t disturb them, they won’t show themselves,” Mingzhang said, “You might pass by their cave without even knowing.”
Lu Zheng let out a long breath.
“Of course, some have bad tempers. If you accidentally disturb their rest, you might get swallowed in one gulp.”
Lu Zheng’s eyes twitched wildly.
“But don’t worry, there aren’t such great monsters around Tonglin County. I’m just mentioning it to prepare you.”
Lu Zheng took a deep breath, knowing he still couldn’t beat his master.
“By the way, when I say ‘around,’ I mean within three hundred li. Don’t go too deep.”
Mountain paths were tough, and three hundred li was very deep, ten times the range of typical herb gatherers, enough for Lu Zheng to search for rare herbs.
With the safe range confirmed, Lu Zheng said goodbye and headed north, soon entering the mountains.
