A quarter of an hour later, a carriage arrived at the edge of the forest.

The coachman got down and lifted the curtain: “Honored guests, please!”

Qiao Mu got out first, followed by Gong Xinyue, Feng Jiu’er, Jian Yi, and finally Gong Xing’er, leading Long Shiyi by the hand.

Gong Xing’er had since learned that Long Shiyi was also one of Dragon Shadow’s men, which only made her like him more.

“Wow, what is this place?” Gong Xing’er looked at the dense entrance to the jungle and frowned.

“It looks like a place we’re not supposed to enter.”

“Honored guests, this is the place.” The coachman looked at the group.

“Because you paid an extra ten taels of silver, we’re making an exception to bring you here.”

“This is truly untouched wilderness. I hear all kinds of game can be found inside. Ordinarily no one can come or go here, but…”

The coachman leaned closer to Qiao Mu and lowered his voice.

“Recently, we found a way in — a very hidden path.”

“Over this period, we’ve brought in several groups of guests already, and they’ve all said they were very satisfied.”

“The proprietor said we should only recommend this to guests who have a particular passion for hunting.”

“This matter must be kept secret, absolutely secret.”

“You keep saying secret — but exactly who is it being kept secret from?” Feng Jiu’er, standing at the front, turned to look at the coachman.

The coachman immediately furrowed his brow and shook his head vigorously.

He waved his hand and took two steps closer to Feng Jiu’er.

“I’ll be honest with you — even the town chief doesn’t know about this place. Long ago, the town chief gave an order forbidding anyone from approaching this forest.”

“Who knew some commoner would discover this path and say there was plenty of game inside, which could solve our shortage of game.”

“That commoner sold the information to the big proprietor in charge of the inns. The proprietor came to see for himself and thought it was workable.”

“Last month, the proprietor personally brought the first group of guests in to play. The guests were very satisfied, and the proprietor happily gave the commoner a lot of money.”

“Truth be told, the town chief will surely find out eventually. The proprietor just wants to make a bit more money first — with the war on, business isn’t easy either.”

“The proprietor says the town chief’s ban on approaching was probably out of concern for danger, and that as long as we make this clear to the guests, that should suffice.”

“What do you all think? To go in, you must book a room at our inn, and each person must pay an extra five taels of silver.”

“If you don’t go in, the ten taels won’t be refunded.”

“Going,” Feng Jiu’er said, tossing out a single word.

“Good.” The coachman waved again. “Honored guests, let’s head back for now.”

“The entrance isn’t here. We’ll go back first to check in and pay the silver, then someone will take you in to hunt.”

No one wanted to be dragged back and forth, but with things as they were, there was nothing to be done but comply.

The group that had gotten off the carriage climbed back on.

The coachman got up and drove the horses, but didn’t take the same road back.

“Aren’t we going back to the inn?” Feng Jiu’er, standing by the doorway, gripped the curtain and asked.

“Yes, we’re heading to the inn now,” the coachman nodded. “The proprietor instructed that the road going and the road returning must not be the same.”

“When the time comes, the path you take into the forest and the path you take out will also be different. Sigh, it’s such a hassle for us too.”

“The proprietor hopes everyone won’t go around talking about this, so that more people have the chance to come hunt.”

“You honored guests, please do us a favor too — once you leave, don’t go spreading rumors.”

“You said there’s a path into the jungle?” Feng Jiu’er frowned. “Then why did you say no one had gone in before?”

“That, I wouldn’t know,” the coachman shook his head. “I haven’t been inside myself. I’m only responsible for bringing you here and taking you back.”

“Going into the forest, hunting — none of that is my responsibility.”

“But I can say for certain that there really is a path there. I hear you can even drive a carriage in — the road must be quite wide.”

“I also heard that the entrance is hidden, but once you’re inside it opens up wide. That road is an old one — who knows who went in there before.”

The coachman wasn’t ordinarily this talkative, but everyone found his words rather interesting.

It could be said that anything related to Nanshan was worth their attention.

After all this trouble, by the time they returned to the inn, everyone’s stomachs were growling.

Two men and four women booked a large private room.

The room had a dining area as well as three inner chambers — it was quite spacious.

Qiao Mu even ordered a whole table of dishes, planning to treat herself well.

Seeing them spend so generously, the innkeeper grew even more attentive.

Once the two waiters left the room, Gong Xing’er finally released the hands she’d been holding over her mouth.

“So much meat, so much meat.” She picked up her chopsticks and began grabbing food.

But her chopsticks were suddenly rapped.

She looked up and saw her sister staring right at her.

“Sister.” Gong Xing’er pursed her lips and lowered her eyes.

“Isn’t this food we can eat? Xing’er is hungry.”

“You can eat it.” Feng Jiu’er placed a chicken leg in her bowl. “Xinyue, don’t be so harsh on her all the time — Xing’er is very sensible.”

“Thank you, Jiu’er.” Gong Xing’er looked at the chicken leg in her bowl and immediately brightened.

Gong Xinyue withdrew her chopstick-holding hand and sighed softly.

“Jiu’er, actually Xing’er is quite capable — she’s just too gluttonous, so annoying!”

“Being able to eat is a blessing.” Qiao Mu, without hesitation, picked up a second piece of meat.

It had been over an hour past mealtime already, and she’d long been hungry.

Gong Xing’er tried several times to pick up the chicken leg with her chopsticks, but it kept slipping, so she simply used her hands.

Gong Xinyue looked at her and sighed again.

“Is Xinyue trying to recommend her own little sister to me too?” Feng Jiu’er asked, taking a sip of warm tea.

Gong Xinyue’s gaze shifted to Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er.” She took a nervous, deep breath before speaking. “Would that be all right?”

“Don’t judge this girl by her silly, scatterbrained looks — she eats a lot, has plenty of strength, and can endure hardship.”

“Jiu’er, what do you think?”

“Can endure hardship?” Feng Jiu’er raised her eyes to look at Gong Xing’er.

Gong Xing’er, realizing that they were discussing her life’s future, forcefully swallowed the chicken in her mouth, then held up her chicken leg and looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“Mm.” She nodded. “Is it all right?”

“I don’t want to leave Sister, but I also really like Jiu’er, Sister Qiao Mu, Brother Jian Yi, and Brother Long Shiyi.”

“Jiu’er, do you think it’s possible?”

There was still a bit of grease on the corner of her mouth, and her wide eyes were innocent and naive, yet utterly sincere.

“Does Xing’er know herbal medicine?” Feng Jiu’er asked softly.

“Mm-hmm.” Gong Xing’er nodded vigorously. “I know…”

She raised the hand not holding the chicken leg and tapped her thumb against her other fingers several times before looking up.

“Jiu’er, I know at least twenty-two kinds of medicinal herbs — all the ones grown in our village.”

“I not only know what they look like at every stage of growth, but also some of their medicinal effects, and roughly what price they can sell for.”

“Jiu’er, if you all just teach me, I can learn a hundred kinds. Really, I can do it.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly and waved a hand.

“Eat up. I’ll give you my answer before we leave Nanshan Town.”