Chapter 2

She tossed a few damp branches onto the fire. The flames died down, and thick smoke began to rise in billowing waves, passing through the treetops and rolling up into the sky. Lu Yue sat on the ground with her arms wrapped around her knees, staring at the smoke as she muttered, “Oh, Dad! Oh, Mom! Hurry up and come find me…” She glanced down at the lingzhi mushrooms beside her, then at the fire. Suddenly, an idea struck her. She pulled up a handful of lamb's quarters from the ground and placed them near the fire to roast. Once the wild greens had softened and wilted, she picked them up, blew on them, and stuffed them into her mouth. They were so hot that she hissed, but she didn't spit them out. After chewing a couple of times, she tasted the bitterness, the astringency, and a strong earthy flavor. But her stomach growled again, so she stuffed another handful into her mouth. After eating a little of the wild greens, she finally felt a bit stronger. She stood up and threw several more handfuls of damp leaves onto the fire. The smoke grew even thicker, rising like a giant signal flare. Then she turned around and stared at the lingzhi mushrooms she hadn't picked yet. There were three more particularly large ones. She picked up the branch again and tapped the ground around the mushrooms a few times, making sure there was nothing dangerous nearby. Then she reached for the second one. This time, she'd learned her lesson. Instead of touching the cap directly, she grabbed the stem and rocked it from side to side. This one was only slightly smaller than the first, but it was still enormous! After a few shakes, it loosened. With a sharp crack, she pulled it free. Then came the third and fourth. After picking all four of the larger mushrooms, she also harvested the two medium-sized ones. She left the small ones untouched, saving them for another time. The lingzhi mushrooms were piled together at her feet, a magnificent heap of deep purplish-black mushrooms. She crouched there, looking at the pile, then glanced at her injured arm. Suddenly, she broke into a grin. “I'm rich!” In the distance, a shout came from the top of the hillside. “Yue'er… Yue'er…” The voice was faint, coming from far away, but she could tell it belonged to a man. He had a loud, booming voice. Lu Yue sprang to her feet, grabbed a burning branch, and waved it vigorously toward the sky. “Over here… I'm over here!” She shouted at the top of her lungs. Her voice was high and hoarse, like a broken gong. “Yue'er… Where are you?” “Over here! Follow the smoke!” As she shouted, she tossed another handful of damp leaves onto the fire. The smoke grew even thicker, rising like a massive column. The sounds from the forest drew closer and closer: branches being pushed aside, footsteps, and heavy breathing. A man's voice came from above the slope. “Yue'er? Is that you?” Lu Yue looked up, her throat suddenly tight. She couldn't get a word out. Someone forcefully pushed aside the bushes, and a man came rushing down the slope. He was in his thirties, tall and as thin as a bamboo stalk, with prominent cheekbones. His clothes were covered in three or four patches. His trouser legs were rolled up to his calves, and his straw sandals were so worn that barely half of each remained. Lu Man. Her father. When Lu Man saw her, he stopped for a moment. Then he rushed over in three quick strides and grabbed her arm, looking her up and down. “You little rascal! Where have you been? Do you have any idea how long everyone at home has been looking for you? Your mother has cried until her eyes are swollen!” His voice trembled, and his grip was so tight that her arm hurt. Lu Yue grimaced under his grasp. Afraid her father would scold her, she quickly changed the subject. She pointed at the lingzhi mushrooms on the ground. “Dad, look at these!” Lu Man lowered his head and froze. The pile of mushrooms was a deep purplish-black, and the largest one was even bigger than his head. “Th-this… What is this? Why does it look like lingzhi?” “Because it is lingzhi, Dad!” Lu Yue crouched down, picked up the largest mushroom, and shoved it into his arms. “Look! It's super huge!” Lu Man held the enormous mushroom in both hands. His arms trembled, and his mouth hung open. For a long moment, he couldn't say a word. Lu Yue bent down and gathered the remaining mushrooms, piling them together in the hem of her clothes. When she stood up, her legs wobbled again. “Dad, let's go! What are you standing there for?” Holding the mushroom as though it were a red-hot potato, Lu Man looked utterly stunned. “This thing… It looks like it could sell for quite a bit of money?!” Lu Yue had already turned and started walking toward the edge of the forest. She glanced back at him. “Definitely!” Lu Man hurried after her, still muttering, “Your mother has been pacing around at home, worried sick. Your eldest uncle and the others, along with your eldest brother, have been searching the entire mountain with Erlang and the others!” “Dad!” Lu Yue interrupted him. “Hm?” “I'm hungry!” Lu Man fell silent. He freed one hand to support her arm and quickened his pace. The two of them walked one after the other out of the forest. Behind them, the fire continued burning, its column of smoke rising into the sky, particularly conspicuous against the evening twilight. After walking a dozen or so steps, Lu Yue suddenly stopped. “Dad.” “What is it?” “Did you hear something?” Lu Man perked up his ears and listened for a moment before shaking his head. “No. I didn't hear anything.” Lu Yue frowned and looked back. The forest was pitch-black. She couldn't see a thing. But from the direction of the hot spring, it seemed as though something had made a gurgling sound. It didn't sound like bubbling water. She stared in that direction for two seconds. Lu Man tugged at her. “Come on. Don't dawdle. Your mother and the others are waiting!” Lu Yue turned around and followed him. But she glanced back once more. There was nothing there. It seemed as though the sound had come from inside the cave! She hugged the lingzhi mushrooms tightly against her chest and quickened her pace.