nucmednet Chapter 352 Living in the Wild
Chapter 352 Living in the Wild
Leaving the imposing mansion of Yelü, an endless, boundless grassland came into view. The undulating waves of grass resembled a green ocean, stretching all the way to the horizon. Ye Qingchen knew that losing her way in this vast grassland could lead to certain death, so she carefully took out her magical compass from her bosom. This compass was a rare item in ancient times; none of them had ever seen one before, especially Gu Mochen, whose eyes were filled with curiosity, his gaze fixed on the small, gently turning needle in Ye Qingchen's hand as if drawn by a magnet.
"Qingchen, what is the use of this small, spinning needle?" Gu Mochen couldn't help but ask, his tone filled with a childlike curiosity.
Ye Qingchen smiled slightly and patiently explained the principles of the compass to everyone: "This compass, don't underestimate its small size, it's incredibly useful. It always points south and north. In this vast grassland, when we can't tell which way is which, just look at it and we'll know our direction and won't get lost." Everyone looked amazed, filled with curiosity and respect for this small object.
On this seemingly flat yet treacherous grassland, the group continued their journey. The sun hung high in the sky, casting its scorching rays, making the earth slightly hot. Sweat streamed down everyone's faces, soaking their clothes. The sounds of horses' hooves and wheels mingled, echoing across the vast grassland. After traveling for about half a day, finally, a cluster of yurts appeared in the distance.
Rows of white Mongolian yurts were scattered across the grassland, resembling giant mushrooms blooming on a green carpet. However, this place was completely different from the bustling towns they had seen before; there were no tall, sturdy brick courtyards, no lively, bustling streets. Looking around, all they could see was vast grassland; they were undoubtedly very far from the capital of the Liao Dynasty, and it seemed they were almost at the Liao border.
The grass here is still lush, but a closer look reveals that none of it has broad leaves. This is likely because the extreme temperature difference between day and night makes it difficult for large-leaved grasses to survive. The surrounding trees are also low-lying shrubs with small leaves, slender branches, and sparse foliage, swaying gently in the breeze, creating a desolate scene. From this, it's easy to infer that resources are scarce in this area.
The group gazed at the cluster of yurts before them, their minds filled with uncertainty. Should they approach this place? Would they be robbed by the locals if they came here? Although the six of them were highly skilled in martial arts and confident they could defeat the people here, would they be safe if they didn't provoke them? They looked at each other, unable to make up their minds.
Just as everyone hesitated, the rapid sound of hooves approached from afar. A patrol of men, riding strong, powerful horses, galloped up to them. These patrolmen were burly, their skin tanned dark and shiny by the sun, their eyes revealing vigilance and competence. Looking at Ye Qingchen and his companions' horses and magnificent carriage, the leader spoke up: "Friends, where do you come from? Where are you headed?"
Gu Mochen stepped forward calmly, a gentle smile on his face, and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Brothers, we are doctors from the border between the Great Liao and the Great Xia. We have heard that there are many good medicinal herbs in the Northern Frontier. We healers are compassionate and plan to go to the Northern Frontier to purchase a batch of herbs so that we can treat everyone to the best of our ability." Gu Mochen's voice was steady and powerful, and his eyes revealed sincerity.
The patrolmen exchanged glances after hearing Gu Mochen's words, seemingly discussing their opinions of him. After a while, the leader nodded slightly and said, "So you are healers. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. The grasslands are often windy and sandy, making the journey difficult. Please be careful on your way." With that, he led the patrol onward.
Watching the patrol team disappear into the distance, Ye Qingchen and the others finally felt a sense of relief. But they knew this was just a minor incident on their journey; many more unknown challenges awaited them ahead. They tidied their belongings, patted their horses, and continued their journey towards the northern frontier.
As the sun gradually set in the west, the horizon was painted a magnificent red, like a giant oil painting. The temperature on the grassland also began to drop, and gusts of cool wind blew, causing everyone to shiver. Ye Qingchen and the others quickened their pace, hoping to find a suitable place to rest before dark.
Finally, they stopped in a sheltered mountain hollow. The terrain was relatively flat, and there were some low bushes around to provide shelter from the wind and cold. Working together, they quickly set up tents and lit a campfire. The roaring campfire illuminated a small area and warmed their weary bodies and minds.
They sat around the campfire, eating roasted rabbit and snacks while discussing their upcoming journey. Ye Qingchen gazed at the leaping flames, lost in thought. She knew that this trip to the Northern Frontier would not only involve facing harsh natural environments but also dealing with various unknown dangers. She had to be extremely careful in her words and actions.
Gu Mochen seemed to read Ye Qingchen's mind. He gently patted her shoulder and said, "Qingchen, don't worry. No matter what difficulties we encounter, we can overcome them together. When you're out having fun, you should be happy." Ye Qingchen turned her head and looked into Gu Mochen's determined eyes. A warm feeling welled up in her heart. She nodded slightly and revealed a confident smile.
Night deepened, and the grassland was utterly silent, save for the crackling of the campfire. Everyone gradually drifted off to sleep in their tents, but Ye Qingchen found it difficult to fall asleep. Lying in her tent, she listened to the occasional sound of the wind and the distant calls of unknown animals, her thoughts drifting far away. The temperature difference between day and night here was indeed significant; everyone had already started using down sleeping bags to stay warm. The campfire outside had never been turned off, as the unknown risks were ever-present. Therefore, the six of them huddled together in one tent, with the wagons and horses kept close to the camp to avoid any unforeseen emergencies.
Just as Ye Qingchen couldn't sleep, there was a sudden commotion outside, and the horses seemed a bit flustered. Ye Qingchen quickly looked out and saw two wolves. One was howling, probably a male, while the other was a female, looking quite disheveled, but showing no intention of disturbing the horses. It seemed they had been in a serious fight and appeared to have lost. Wolves are pack animals, so the only reason they were separated was most likely that these two wolves had been defeated! They had been driven out!