A Divine Farmer

Chapter 230 - A Wild Person

Chu Peng, being acquainted with Zhang Xiaolong, wouldn't make a move without thinking it through. He was acutely aware of who had taken over the Strong Dragon Group and, with the backing of Lee Donghua and the Yishui Su family, he knew the opposition wouldn't be easy to tackle. Whatever strategy he employed, they would likely have a counter ready.

He was eager to bring Zhou Li back into the fold quickly, but Chu Peng was a man of patience. Without a clear advantage, he would never foolishly rush into action.

Zhou Li's approach to Zhang Xiaolong was undoubtedly calculated. With Xiaolong's protection, Chu Peng couldn't just hassle her whenever he wanted. And Soaring Dragon's clout wasn't like other companies; a simple phone call or message from him wouldn't necessarily sway them. Zhou Li had entered on her own terms, and it seemed she would have to leave the same way.

To secure Zhou Li, he'd either have to topple Soaring Dragon or persuade them to relinquish her willingly. Neither task was simple. Soaring Dragon was a behemoth, and Zhou Li was a formidable woman. Thus, his only option was to wait.

Chu Peng likened himself to a hunter, biding his time for the prey to slip up. Only at that pivotal moment would he strike, delivering a decisive blow.

Zhou Li was no easy target. Chu Peng couldn't help but smirk at the thought. The anticipation of finally claiming victory over her, after all the effort, promised to be all the more satisfying. It would be a triumph laced with the thrill of conquest.

……

Zhou Li's involvement had smoothed out many aspects of Essence Dragon's operations. Previously, Yang Jingjing had been stretched thin managing everything on her own.

Su Mei was growing increasingly eager, pressing Zhang Xiaolong to take action so she could flex her capabilities.

Initially, Su Mei had joined Soaring Dragon to be closer to Zhang Xiaolong, but she soon found herself trapped in a role where Xiaolong was rarely present.

Despite her dedication at Soaring Dragon, she remained under Chen Yaru's command. No matter how exceptional her performance, it seemed to lack luster without Zhang Xiaolong's notice.

Now, things had changed. With Eyebrow Dragon Company behind her, Su Mei was determined to show Zhang Xiaolong that she was not only outstanding but also well-suited to be a company manager. She was far from being just a spoiled heiress or merely a decorative piece relying on the Su family's name.

Seeing that all preparations were complete, Zhang Xiaolong didn't want to keep everyone waiting. However, he still needed to locate a medicinal herb known as the Blood Converging Vine. With this herb, the efficacy of the Injury Medicine would significantly improve, potentially doubling its effectiveness and making it the perfect complement to the Beauty Preserving Grass.

He had not included this herb when treating Zheng Hong; if he had, the recovery would have been quicker. It wasn't that Zhang Xiaolong was unwilling, but rather that the herb was simply unattainable. It was nowhere to be found, not in old Mr. Yang's village shop, nor in the city's pharmacies—most people hadn't even heard of it.

Zhang Xiaolong lamented the loss of such ancient knowledge. Reflecting on his previous conversation with Mr. Yang, he realized that to truly revitalize his ancestors' legacy, access to quality doctors and medicines was essential.

Thankfully, his relentless efforts had paid off. He discovered a trove of rare medicinal herbs in the wilds of Qilin Mountain, located three hundred miles from Qingyang, with even more valuable finds hidden deeper within the mountain.

Feeling confident, he bade farewell to Yaru and the others and ventured alone into the ancient forest. Along his journey, he collected small amounts of the rare herbs that were difficult to procure elsewhere, using his divine power to nurture the remaining plants, ensuring their better growth. His passage left a trail of revitalized flora—a truly remarkable sight.

Qilin Mountain, surrounded by a hundred-mile expanse of forest, was far more treacherous than Nest Mountain, nearly devoid of human presence, and thus much lonelier.

After two days in the mountain, Zhang Xiaolong had not yet found the Blood Converging Vine, but he had gathered an impressive array of medicinal herbs. These new resources promised to enable Su Mei's pharmaceutical company to create even more extraordinary medicines.

As I walked forward, I suddenly heard some unusual rustling ahead, which caught me off guard.

I was deep in the heart of Qilin Mountain's forest, a place where people seldom ventured, yet there was the unmistakable sound of someone consuming food.

Sure, the woods teemed with wildlife, but I, Zhang Xiaolong, was convinced that what I heard was a human eating.

Encountering someone here was unexpected, and I decided to investigate.

The sight that greeted me was startling. A man was clutching an animal, possibly a rabbit, and was savagely tearing at its flesh with his teeth, even drinking its blood.

Had it not been for his clothing, I might have mistaken him for a wild man.

He was a mess from head to toe, but his camouflage attire was proof enough that he was no savage.

Alerted by my presence, he spun around, and in a flash, a gun was in his hand, aimed squarely at me.

“Don't panic, I'm just here to gather herbs,” I said quickly, raising my hands to show I meant no harm.

“People don't come here to pick herbs. How did you get in?” he asked, his grip on the gun steady, his gaze more wary than before.

I was sure I could evade a gunshot, but I remained still. “Just because it hasn't happened before doesn't mean it's not happening now. Look at my basket; it's full of herbs. That's not a lie, is it?”

Uncertainty flickered in his eyes as he weighed his options.

“You're hurt,” I observed, noting the bloody wound on his shoulder. “And if I'm not mistaken, you've been poisoned. Without treatment, you won't make it out of these woods alive.”

“So, you are a traitor!” he accused, his face contorted with rage as his finger squeezed the trigger.

The pistol, fitted with a silencer, emitted only a faint “Pu!” as it discharged.

The two were in close proximity, and the wild man was certain that at such a range, his shot would be true. Yet, as the gun fired, he instantly realized he had missed, and to his horror, the man before him had vanished without a trace.

A veteran of many battles, he scanned the area urgently. But before he could even react, a numb sensation spread across the back of his hand, and his pistol clattered to the ground, his body no longer responding to his commands.

“Who are you, and why do you have a gun?” Zhang Xiaolong inquired, holding the wild man's pistol.

Lying on the ground, the wild man's face was contorted with rage. “Now that I'm at your mercy, there's no point in talking. Go ahead and kill me if that's what you want. Don't expect to pry any more information from me. I just can't fathom why someone with your skills would serve the Great Yang Country,” he spat with disdain.

“The Great Yang Country?” Zhang Xiaolong gave the wild man a pat down. “I am no traitor, nor am I anyone's lackey. I'm simply here to gather medicinal herbs in the mountains. Moreover, you should try to stay calm given the poison coursing through your veins. The more agitated you become, the quicker it will take effect. If you don't wish to die, then sit tight and behave for a while.”