Chapter 3 Morning Dew and Ancient Array
As dawn broke, Gu Changsheng knocked on the door of No. 6 Courtyard.
Lin Qiuyu opened the door and came out, carrying the small bamboo basket from yesterday in her hand.
"So early?" Lin Qiuyu was a little surprised.
"Morning dew grass should be picked while the dew is still fresh," said Gu Changsheng. "If you go too late, the medicinal effect will be reduced."
Lin Qiuyu nodded and went back to the room to get the medicine hoe.
The two of them walked along the mountain path towards the deep part of the back mountain.
Gu Changsheng walked ahead at a leisurely pace.
"Over by the back mountain's Spirit Stream, the morning dew grass grows best," he said as he walked. "The stream flows all year round, and the bank is always damp, which is just right for this kind of grass to grow."
"Have you been there?" Lin Qiuyu asked.
"Yesterday when I was sweeping the steps, I heard one of the senior brothers mention it in passing," Gu Changsheng said casually. "He said there's a lot of grass over there, but the way is a bit roundabout."
Lin Qiuyu didn't doubt.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, the mountain path gradually narrowed and the trees on both sides grew denser.
Gu Changsheng suddenly stopped and squatted down.
"Look here," he said, pointing to a clump of grass growing in a crack in the stone.
The grass leaves were slender and long, with dewdrops hanging from their tips, glistening faintly in the morning light.
"Is this the morning dew grass?" Lin Qiuyu also squatted down to take a look.
"Right." Gu Changsheng reached out and pushed aside the weeds beside him. "Be careful when you pick them. Dig them out with the roots. If the roots break, most of the medicinal properties will be lost."
Saying this, he took out a medicine hoe, gently inserted it into the soil, and with a flip of his wrist, the entire plant, roots and all, was pried out along with the soil.
The movements were clean and crisp.
Lin Qiuyu was stunned.
"Have you... ever picked medicinal herbs before?"
"Someone at home knows about this." Gu Changsheng put the grass into the basket and stood up. "Come on, I'll teach you."
Lin Qiuyu squatted down in the same way and inserted the medicine hoe into the soil.
The first time, I exerted too much force and almost broke the grass blade.
Gu Changsheng reached out and held her wrist.
"Be gentle."
Lin Qiuyu's hand stiffened.
Gu Changsheng's hand was very steady, and he controlled the force just right. He held her wrist and inserted the medicine hoe diagonally into the soil, then gave it a gentle lift.
Another complete morning dew grass was dug out.
"Like that," Gu Changsheng let go of his hand. "Remember the force."
Lin Qiuyu nodded, her ears feeling a little warm.
She lowered her head and continued digging the grass, being much more careful this time.
Gu Changsheng watched from the side and gave some pointers from time to time.
The roots must be kept intact.
Clear the weeds beside it. Don't let them get mixed in.
"Don't touch off the dewdrops. They are the essence."
Lin Qiuyu did everything as instructed.
As they picked, the two walked deeper into the woods, getting closer and closer to the sound of the stream.
After walking a bit further, the view suddenly opened up before us.
A small stream flows through the rocks on the mountain. The water is very clear and the pebbles at the bottom can be seen. On both sides of the stream bank, there are many morning dew grasses, one patch after another. The dewdrops roll around on the leaves.
"Here it is," said Gu Changsheng.
Lin Qiuyu looked at the grass all over the ground, her eyes shining.
"So many!"
"Pick them quickly," Gu Changsheng squatted down and said, "Once the sun gets high, the dew will dry up."
The two of them began to get busy.
Gu Changsheng picked them up very quickly, one after another, his movements smooth as if he had done it hundreds of times. Lin Qiuyu followed behind him, imitating his technique and gradually became more proficient.
The grass in the basket is getting more and more.
When she had picked half of them, Lin Qiuyu suddenly frowned.
She pressed her hand to her chest and slowed down her movements.
Gu Changsheng glanced at her.
"What's wrong?"
"It's okay." Lin Qiuyu shook her head, her complexion a little pale. "It's just... I suddenly feel a bit nervous."
She said this, glancing upstream at the brook.
Over there is a patch of bare rock, covered with moss. In the crevices of the rock, some faint lines can be vaguely seen, as if they were carved by someone.
Gu Changsheng followed her gaze.
The Heavenly Dao mission system within him quivered slightly at that moment.
It was more obvious than the time in the ruins yesterday.
"Sit down and rest for a while," Gu Changsheng said. "I'll go over there to have a look. Maybe there's something even better."
Lin Qiuyu wanted to say something, but the feeling of oppression in her chest returned. She nodded and sat down on a rock by the stream.
Gu Changsheng carried a basket and walked upstream.
The closer the system gets to that rock, the faster it trembles.
He walked up to the rock, squatted down and reached out to brush aside the moss covering it.
Beneath the moss, there are revealed incomplete lines.
The patterns are very ancient, and the carvings have become blurred, but the general outline can still be discerned. It is part of an array, and a very ancient one at that.
Gu Changsheng's fingers gently brushed over the patterns.
A very faint aura of the law flowed through the fingertips.
Although it was so faint as to be almost negligible, the quality of this aura was very high and originated from the same source as the Heavenly Dao mission system within him.
It is the lingering aura of the fragments of the Heavenly Dao.
Gu Changsheng's eyes deepened.
He calmly continued to brush away the moss, revealing more of the patterns.
The lines extend into the crevices of the rock, and then they can no longer be seen. But the visible part is already sufficient for the system to conduct an analysis.
Consciousness sinks into the body.
On the system interface, new text is emerging:
[Detected residual patterns of an ancient array]
[Pattern nature: Incomplete, ancient]
[Energy characteristics: Highly consistent with the aura of the fragments of the Heavenly Dao]
[Associated target: The source of the seal fluctuation within Lin Qiuyu's body has been confirmed]
[Analysis conclusion: This ancient array was once used to seal or guide the power of the fragments of the Heavenly Dao]
Gu Changsheng withdrew his hand and covered the moss back up.
He stood up and turned to look back at Lin Qiuyu.
Lin Qiuyu was still sitting on the rock. Her complexion had improved a little compared to before, but her brows were still knitted.
"Found something better?" she asked.
"No, just ordinary." Gu Changsheng walked back. "How do you feel?"
"Much better," Lin Qiuyu stood up. "I d