After bidding farewell to Fatty Zhou, Qi Ping and Sister Nan hurried back together. Since their peaks were separated by only a single mountain, they shared the same path home.
"Little Qi, how did you figure out so quickly that the ducks' symptoms were related to Blood-Iniquity Insect venom? If you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have even considered it!"
Sister Nan looked at the youth, who still had a hint of boyishness on his face, with amazement. She wondered how the scruffy kid Old Man Zhou had picked up years ago had suddenly grown up into someone so capable. She had read the manual more times than he had, yet she only realized the connection after he pointed it out. Qi Ping's mind was exceptionally sharp.
"Maybe it is because I just finished reading it?" Qi Ping mused, sounding a bit uncertain.
The truth, of course, was that he understood the ducks' cries thanks to Animal Speech. The ducks had practically shoved the answer in his face; how could he not know?
"That is possible," Sister Nan agreed, finding his explanation reasonable. However, she didn't dismiss the fact that he was incredibly clever. She could no longer treat him as a mere boy. In terms of both strength and intellect, Qi Ping had become a formidable peer.
The two chatted until they reached their respective peaks. Upon returning, Qi Ping immediately gave the fine wine, fruit, and spirit rice he had bought to Old Man Zhou. After a few casual words, he retreated into the dense forest.
He didn't tell the old man about the day's troubles. Mentioning marauders and Ink Cicadas would only cause unnecessary worry. If possible, Qi Ping wanted the retired old man to enjoy his final years in peace and happiness, shielded from the chaos of the outside world. When Old Man Zhou asked how the trip went, Qi Ping simply replied that things were the same—marauders were still a problem, but it was safe enough if one moved with caution.
Back in the forest, Qi Ping checked on the bees' honey production. Finding everything in order and the food supply sufficient, he had them produce a bottle. With the Blood Ginseng available, the Golden Marrow Bees' production speed was impressive. Not only could they support the expansion of the colony and their own growth, but they also had a surplus for Qi Ping's cultivation.
Once he had the bottle, he immediately delivered it to Sister Nan as promised. Given their current level of trust, her breaking through to the fifth level was a benefit to him as well. At the fourth level, she could already hold her own against a fifth-level marauder and even find an opening to poison him. If not for the Ink Cicada, she likely would have won on her own. This was a testament to her strength.
Once she reached the fifth level, her combat power—combined with her toxins and her crisis-perception talent—might rival someone at the sixth level. With her living so close, they could support each other against any threats.
Returning to the woods, Qi Ping wasted no time planting the two Streaming Light Grass plants near the Blood Ginseng. These were precious resources for the Bloodline Mutation Potion and could not be neglected. He immediately performed the Plant Growth skill five times in a row to help them take root, only stopping when his mental energy felt drained.
Seeing the two plants radiating a vibrant glow again, a relaxed smile spread across Qi Ping's face.
"Farming in peace is truly the most comfortable way to live," he whispered from the heart.
Though he had only been out for half a day, he felt more exhausted than he did after half a month of working on the mountain. The memory of those two skilled marauders still made his heart race. They had used the Breath-Concealing Art to launch a sneak attack. Had he not possessed the sensory bonus of a Jungle Druid in the forest and been cautious enough to sense a flicker of abnormality, he might have been killed in a single blow. And even then, they had possessed a weapon as terrifying as the Ink Cicada.
More importantly, Qi Ping knew there were likely many more marauders in Qingshi County who were even stronger and more treacherous than those two. Any encounter with someone more skilled at concealment or equipped with even more vicious tools could end his life. These thoughts only made him more determined to be cautious about leaving his peak.
'If I have no business, I will simply stay on the mountain raising bees and farming.'
In the familiar woods, he finally felt a sense of security. Perhaps because of the brush with death or the repeated use of his skills, the mentally exhausted Qi Ping leaned against a tree and fell into a deep slumber under the protection of his Golden Marrow Bees.
At first, his sleep was fitful. His brow was furrowed, and his hand gripped the Mid-Grade saber he had looted. He didn't even dare to take off his defensive robe. Sensing their leader's unease, the bees crowded around him, alert to every sound in the forest.
Only after several hours did he finally relax into a deep, dreamless state. He slept for nearly twenty hours before slowly waking up.
"Did I sleep that long?"
He looked at the sky and realized nearly an entire day had passed. Stretching his limbs, he felt a wave of profound comfort wash over him.
"This is the life!"
This was the existence that suited him. The life of adventure, full of clashing blades and high stakes, was exciting, but the danger and anxiety that came with it were things he wished to avoid. How much better it was to steadily grow his strength through nurturing herbs and raising bees? The potential of the Blood Ginseng and the spirit land beneath it hadn't even been fully tapped yet.
"Time to get back to the Blood Ginseng and the grass. I need to get them to the right age for the potion."
"A beautiful day begins with accelerating the growth of spirit herbs!"
"Buzz... (Good morning, Boss!)"
"Buzz... (Boss, you slept for so long! I didn't sleep as much as you even if you added up my last three days!)"
"Buzz... (Yeah, yeah...)"
"Good morning," Qi Ping replied, greeting his guardians. He immediately went to perform Plant Growth on the Blood Ginseng. One of the plants was already over ninety years old; it would only take another day or two to reach the century mark required for the potion.
Afterward, he went about his daily chores—tending to the Black Little Bees, caring for the flowers, and nurturing the Sun-Essence and Moon-Sleeper varieties.
(You planted flowers, Druid XP +1)
(You engaged in deep communication with the Black Little Bees, Druid XP +1)
'The sources of Druid experience are quite varied. As long as I follow the path of a Beast King and a Jungle Druid, my experience will continue to grow.'
One day later...
Under Qi Ping's care, one Blood Ginseng plant officially reached the century-old mark.
One week later...
(Druid Level has increased to Level 2...)
(Level 2 Druid Class Skills are being generated...)