CHAPTER 107: CHAPTER 107: INTO THE MOUNTAINS

The next day, Lu Zheng got up, washed up, traveled back to ancient times for breakfast, and then returned to go to the largest outdoor gear store in Hai City.

"Hello, what do you need?"

"I plan to go hiking in the deep mountains; what might I need?"

The owner raised his head suddenly and carefully looked Lu Zheng over.

"What’s the matter?"

The owner chuckled, "Do you know which trail you’re planning to hike?"

"Uh..." Lu Zheng blinked, unsure how to answer.

Speaking of deep mountain hiking, he only knows about the Ao-Tai Line because it is the most famous.

But the problem is, if Lu Zheng dared to answer that, the owner would probably turn around and call the police.

"Wuyi Mountain National Forest Park?" Lu Zheng tried tentatively.

The owner chuckled again, "How many days do you plan to stay in the deep mountains?"

"Um..."

Lu Zheng hesitated, suddenly realizing that he could travel back and forth anytime.

Encountering extreme weather, danger, or nightfall, he could return.

So...

"One day?"

"What? How long?" The owner was dumbfounded by Lu Zheng, "One day?"

"Uh... basically, without having to stay overnight outdoors, but the daytime hiking environment is indeed deep mountains and old forests, sparsely populated." Lu Zheng explained.

The owner, "..."

What kind of place is that?

"Similar to those field research stations in research institutes!" Lu Zheng finally thought of a suitable analogy, "Built in remote deep mountains but with places to stay and sleep."

"Oh—"

The owner nodded, showing understanding, and breathed a sigh of relief.

He was ready to call the police.

But according to Lu Zheng’s final statement, it was actually not dangerous, probably related to research institute members’ families or reporters, companions, and similar identities.

Then without any preparation or knowledge, they came to buy outdoor gear.

It’s evident that he’s an outdoor novice, coming up with the deep mountain hiking name as if not valuing his life.

It’s good that it was a misunderstanding.

So the owner asked, "Can you tell me roughly what kind of environment is outside of the research station? You know, in different environments, different gear is needed."

Lu Zheng nodded, "Temperate broad-leaved forest."

He’d studied high school geography, so he knew this bit of professional knowledge.

The owner nodded again and asked, "Is mountain climbing needed?"

"Yes!"

"Are there many mosquitoes there?"

"Many!"

...

After a whole morning’s rush, Lu Zheng finally purchased a batch of equipment.

Hiking shoes, a fisherman’s hat, a storm suit, a raincoat, a large capacity canvas backpack, anti-slip pole, multi-purpose spade, multi-functional portable axe.

Additionally, there were mosquito repellent sprays, climbing tiger claws, a hundred-meter descent rope with climbing gear, a first aid medicine kit, a survival kit containing a compass, a flint, and a multifunctional army knife enhanced with a flashlight.

"Really don’t need a tent and survival blankets?"

"Thanks, really won’t need them."

"Such a pity." The owner shook his head, "You’ve equipped everything; if you added a tent and survival blankets, you could even tackle the Ao-Tai Line."

Lu Zheng: ╮(￣▽￣)╭

...

Although Lu Zheng is now a Daoist and Martial Dual Cultivation expert, he can’t fly yet, so he still needed to prepare when traversing deep mountains.

He took the gear home and then traveled back to ancient times, heading to Renxin Hall.

"Uncle Liu, I’m planning to go into the mountains."

Liu Qingyan, who was picking herbs, suddenly raised her head, "Going to find Zhi Ma?"

Lu Zheng nodded.

Elder Liu frowned, "Deep mountains and old forests, sparsely populated; Guo the Third stumbling upon Zhi Ma was a stroke of luck. I reckon he won’t see it again in his lifetime."

Lu Zheng nodded and said, "I know Zhi Ma is hard to find, but even if I can’t find it, I should be able to find some old ginseng or Huang Jing or Polygonum multiflorum and the like, right?"

Lu Zheng mainly wanted to make money.

Although Lin Wan transferred the ten million back to Lu Zheng after recovering from illness, Lu Zheng thought that ten million isn’t much; it’s one-tenth of a small goal for some people.

As someone with a cheat, having only ten million is utterly shameful, so Lu Zheng planned to look for some Centennial Ginsengs in ancient mountain forests.

It’s known that in modern times, Old Ginsengs over a hundred years old have prices that increase tenfold.

A pound of Centennial Ginseng is estimated to be worth five million, and that was the price five years ago.

Compared to modern times, Centennial Ginsengs in the Great Jing Dynasty are also exorbitant, and Lu Zheng doesn’t have much money to speculate on ginseng.

Moreover, it’s particularly eye-catching.

So now, with his cultivation achieved, he decided to harvest himself to enrich himself.

Seeing that Lu Zheng didn’t have high expectations, Elder Liu said, "It’s hard to find something good within thirty miles; even Guo the Third is venturing deeper."

Elder Liu pointed to the mountains northeast of Tonglin County and said, "Reishi likes shade; you should search more in shady mountain streams. Even if you can’t find Zhi Ma, you might find some ginseng. If you’re lucky enough to find untouched Centennial Ginseng not bitten by animals, that’s quite fortunate."

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of the Great Jing Dynasty is plentiful, and herbal medicines are more effective than on Earth. Animals with a hint of Spiritual Qi often seek and consume herbs.

Not to mention those animals that gain intelligence from accidentally eating herbs, or those that enhance their cultivation by consuming spirit medicines, or spirit medicines themselves turning into spirits...

...

By now, it was afternoon, and Lu Zheng was pulled by Liu Qingyan to the Liu Family in the evening, returning with a bag of jerky and ten big steamed buns.

And upon hearing Lu Zheng was heading to the mountains, Aunt Liu gave him three smoked fish and made five large pancakes overnight.

Lu Zheng, "..."

...

The next day, Lu Zheng set out, found an opportunity to slip into the woods beside the official road, returned his things to the modern era, and first went to the White Cloud Temple to inquire whether there were any formidable demons in the deep mountains and old forests.

Daoist Mingzhang naturally said, "Of course there are!"

Lu Zheng’s face changed dramatically.

"However, those who remain deep within the mountains enjoy solitude and reclusive living. As long as you don’t disturb them, they won’t show themselves to you." Daoist Mingzhang said, "You might walk past their caves without knowing."

Lu Zheng let out a long breath.

"Of course, some have bad tempers; if you accidentally disturb their rest, you may get swallowed whole."

Lu Zheng’s eye twitched furiously.

"But rest assured, there are no Great Demons around Tonglin County; I just wanted to inform you in advance."

Lu Zheng took a deep breath, realizing he still can’t beat his master yet.

"By the way, the ’surrounding area’ I mentioned is three hundred miles, so don’t go too deep."

Mountain paths are hard to traverse, and three hundred miles of mountain roads are very deep, ten times the range typical medicine gatherers reach, sufficient for Lu Zheng to find various precious herbal medicines.

After confirming the safe range, Lu Zheng bid farewell and headed north, soon entering the mountains.