She pointed excitedly at one of them. "This is the one!"
Huo Luan's cold, hard face softened into a faint smile.
"Master Nangong is saved. This time, I will definitely cure the cold poison in his body!"
Chu Lingzhi's eyes sparkled, her expression brimming with confidence.
"Then let's not waste time. We should head back immediately!" Huo Luan said.
"Alright!" Just as Chu Lingzhi was about to leave, she suddenly thought of something. She turned around and pointed ahead. "Pull out all those thorny ones and bring them back."
Huo Luan asked, "Are they useful herbs?"
"Barrenwort. Take it back—it'll be useful for Master Nangong."
"Understood." Huo Luan stepped forward and quickly pulled up the few stalks of barrenwort.
Chu Lingzhi glanced at the wild boar lying quietly there and frowned. "Wouldn't it be a waste not to carry it back?"
"Roasted wild boar sounds pretty good," Huo Luan said. It would definitely taste better than last night's roasted lamb.
"It's that big. Can you carry it back alone?" Chu Lingzhi looked at Huo Luan.
"I can," Huo Luan replied.
"Really?" Chu Lingzhi was surprised. That boar had to weigh at least three hundred jin.
"I'll give it a try." Huo Luan was very strong.
"Give me the snake." Chu Lingzhi reached out her hand, only then noticing that her palm was full of thorns from the barrenwort.
She tried to clench her fist, but it hurt more as the thorns dug into her flesh.
Huo Luan noticed her injured hand and said casually, "I can manage."
He walked over, kicked the boar to confirm it was dead, then crouched down, dragged it onto his back with one hand, and stood up. With a slight leap, the boar was hoisted onto his shoulder.
One arm couldn't steady it properly, and it wobbled precariously.
Chu Lingzhi quickly stepped forward. "Give me the snake. Don't let it bite the boar."
"Miss Chu, your hand is injured."
"Stop being so fussy. If you accidentally let the snake go, Master Nangong will kill you."
Huo Luan raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and handed the snake to Chu Lingzhi.
Nangong Yehen's health was the priority.
Chu Lingzhi mimicked his grip and took hold of the white-headed snake.
She carefully examined the other snake, found it to be non-venomous, and released it.
The two returned to their resting spot.
Seeing Huo Luan carrying a wild boar back, Chu Junyu and Nangong Yichen were overjoyed.
The two boys circled the boar, their handsome, fair faces brimming with excited curiosity.
It was their first time seeing a wild boar.
As soon as Chu Lingzhi returned, Nangong Yehen noticed her injured arm.
His gaze darkened, and he abruptly grabbed her hand—the one not holding the snake—and examined it, his tone grim. "You're injured?"
Seeing the bloody wound, Nangong Yehen's heart tightened slightly.
The two boys immediately dropped their excitement and looked worried.
They crowded around, and Chu Junyu asked anxiously, "Mommy, does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt. I tripped and got scratched by a branch," Chu Lingzhi said.
"Tripped?" Nangong Yehen didn't seem to believe her. He shot a cold glance at the dead boar. "Was it because of that?"
"How are you so smart?" Chu Lingzhi looked at him and asked.
"You didn't fall once walking from the foot of the mountain to here."
Entering the thicket, he found it even harder to believe she'd trip and get hurt.
Chu Lingzhi pursed her lips and sat down on the ground. "Bring the medical kit."
Huo Luan immediately fetched the kit.
Nangong Yehen gave Huo Luan a cold look. "What happened? Weren't you supposed to protect her?"
Huo Luan blamed himself. "I failed in my duty and caused Miss Chu to be frightened."