The next morning arrived wrapped in a thin veil of silver mist.
Cloud Peak Sect stirred awake beneath the familiar sound of the morning bell.
Dong—
Dong—
Dong—
Joshua was already outside.
The cool mountain air carried the fragrance of pine and damp earth as he walked toward the training grounds with a bamboo basket hanging from one arm.
Unlike yesterday, no one whispered as he passed.
Instead...
Several disciples nodded politely.
Joshua returned each nod with one of his own.
It wasn't friendliness.
Simply courtesy.
"Morning, Mo Xuanyu."
"...Morning."
Chen Hu jogged over, carrying a much larger basket over one shoulder.
"You going to Herb Valley too?"
Joshua nodded.
"The assignment."
Chen Hu scratched the back of his head.
"I always mix up the herbs."
Joshua looked at the basket.
"...Then why is yours so big?"
"So I can pick everything."
"..."
"...The elders can't fail me if I bring the whole mountain."
Joshua thought about it.
"...They probably can."
Chen Hu sighed.
"...You're right."
Both continued walking.
For a while...
Neither spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It was simply quiet.
Eventually Chen Hu glanced sideways.
"...Hey."
Joshua looked over.
"...About before."
"The old me."
Joshua waited.
Chen Hu smiled awkwardly.
"I really was an idiot."
Joshua answered honestly.
"...You were."
"..."
Chen Hu laughed.
"I walked into that one."
"I deserved it."
Joshua shook his head.
"People change."
Chen Hu looked surprised.
"You think so?"
Joshua nodded.
"...You're talking to me now."
"...Instead of laughing."
"I suppose that's true."
The road toward Herb Valley wound through the eastern forests of Cloud Peak.
The deeper they walked...
The cooler the air became.
Birdsong echoed between towering cedar trees.
Crystal-clear streams crossed the stone path every few hundred steps.
Several disciples had already gathered near a wooden gate carved with vines and flowers.
A large wooden sign stood beside it.
HERB VALLEY
Picking without permission beyond marked areas is prohibited.
Do not eat unidentified plants.
Absolutely do not disturb Elder Mu during her afternoon nap.
Chen Hu blinked.
"...Why is the last rule bigger than the others?"
"I can answer that."
An elderly woman's voice drifted from inside the valley.
Everyone instinctively straightened.
A tiny old lady emerged carrying two bamboo baskets that looked almost larger than she was.
Her silver hair was neatly tied into a bun, and her green robes were stained with soil.
Despite her gentle smile...
Every disciple immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Elder Mu."
She smiled warmly.
"Good morning."
Her eyes swept across the group.
"New faces."
"Good."
"The herbs are happier when young people visit."
Chen Hu whispered,
"...Can herbs be happy?"
Joshua answered quietly,
"...I don't know."
Elder Mu looked directly at them.
"They can."
Neither disciple dared question her.
The valley was breathtaking.
Sunlight filtered through layers of ancient trees, illuminating endless fields of medicinal flowers.
Blue blossoms swayed beside streams.
Golden vines climbed weathered rocks.
The scent of fresh herbs drifted gently through the air.
Butterflies fluttered lazily between colorful petals.
It felt less like a garden...
And more like another world.
Several disciples couldn't help looking around in amazement.
Elder Mu clapped her hands.
"Listen carefully."
She lifted a small white flower.
"This is Moon Dew."
"It eases fever."
She held up another with purple leaves.
"This..."
"...will make you spend the afternoon hugging a tree."
The disciples quickly wrote it down.
Joshua simply watched.
Elder Mu smiled knowingly.
"No notebook?"
"I'll remember."
"You have confidence."
"I'll try."
She nodded approvingly.
"Trying is enough."
The disciples scattered through the valley.
Joshua walked slowly between rows of herbs.
He wasn't searching randomly.
Instead...
He crouched beside each plant, quietly observing.
Leaf shape.
Stem.
Roots.
Fragrance.
Without realizing it...
Names surfaced naturally inside his mind.
"...Silver Leaf."
"...Spirit Mint."
"...Morning Orchid."
Joshua paused.
"...How do I know that?"
No answer came.
Only instinct.
He carefully placed the herbs into his basket.
A loud scream suddenly echoed through the valley.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Every disciple jumped.
Even Elder Mu sighed.
"...Again."
Joshua and Chen Hu hurried toward the noise.
They found three disciples staring at a patch of moving bushes.
"...A snake?"
"...No."
The bushes shook violently.
Then—
A familiar voice emerged.
"I found food!"
Everyone stared.
Lucian crawled out of the bushes holding a bright red fruit above his head like a priceless treasure.
Chen Hu blinked.
"...Senior Brother?"
Joshua looked equally confused.
"...Why are you here?"
Lucian smiled proudly.
"I came to visit."
Elder Mu folded her arms.
"You came to steal snacks."
"They're growing wild."
"They're growing because they're medicine."
Lucian examined the fruit.
"It looks delicious."
Elder Mu's smile became frighteningly gentle.
"It is."
"For the patient."
Lucian nodded.
"I can be a patient."
"You will be."
Before anyone could react—
Lucian took a huge bite.
Crunch.
Silence.
Elder Mu closed her eyes.
"...Children never listen."
Five seconds passed.
Lucian looked around.
"...Nothing happened."
Ten seconds.
"...See?"
Fifteen—
"Hic."
Everyone blinked.
"Hic."
Lucian frowned.
"...That's..."
"Hic."
"...Unfortunate."
"Hic."
He tried speaking again.
"Hic."
"Hic."
"Hic."
The hiccups came one after another so violently that he nearly doubled over.
Several disciples struggled not to laugh.
Chen Hu failed first.
Then Bai Feng.
Soon half the valley echoed with laughter.
Even Joshua's shoulders trembled very slightly.
Lucian pointed accusingly.
"You..."
"Hic."
"...Don't."
"Hic."
"...Laugh."
Joshua answered calmly.
"...I'm not."
"Hic."
"...Liar."
Joshua looked genuinely puzzled.
"...I'm smiling."
The entire valley fell silent.
Every disciple stared at Joshua.
Lin Xia slowly whispered,
"...Did..."
"...Did he just smile?"
Chen Hu looked horrified.
"I missed it!"
"It was gone too fast!"
Lucian ignored his hiccups completely.
He stared at Joshua with wide eyes.
"...Ghost."
"Hic."
"...Do it again."
Joshua's expression returned to its usual calm.
"...No."
"Hic."
"...Cruel."
Elder Mu walked over carrying a steaming bowl.
"Drink."
Lucian obediently accepted it.
"...What's in it?"
"A lesson."
"..."
He drank it anyway.
The hiccups disappeared almost instantly.
Lucian blinked twice.
"...Amazing."
Elder Mu smiled sweetly.
"I've prepared another bowl."
"What for?"
"In case you decide to taste more medicine."
Lucian quickly hid behind Joshua.
"...Ghost."
"Protect me."
Joshua looked at Elder Mu.
Then at Lucian.
"..."
After several thoughtful seconds...
He took one small step sideways.
Leaving Lucian completely exposed.
Elder Mu laughed.
"So even your friend knows better."
Lucian sighed dramatically.
"...Betrayed."
Joshua corrected him.
"...Educated."
For the first time that morning...
Even Elder Mu laughed aloud.
The sound drifted gently through Herb Valley, carried away on the mountain breeze.
As the disciples returned to gathering herbs, she watched Joshua quietly from beneath half-lidded eyes.
"...Interesting child."
There was something strangely familiar about him.
Not his face.
Not his cultivation.
Just...
The quiet way he looked at the world.
It reminded her of someone she had met a very long time ago.
The thought disappeared as quickly as it had come.
Elder Mu smiled to herself.
"...Perhaps I'm getting old."
Far away, the mountain bell rang again.
The peaceful morning in Herb Valley continued, filled with laughter, rustling leaves, and one blond senior disciple who had officially been banned from eating anything without permission.