The grain sack trembled violently. Zhi Xuan's feet moved like shadows; he could hit the sack ten times in the same amount of time it took Tang to lift the wooden log once. His movements were so fast and subtle that the dust around him barely moved.

  He watched Grandfather Wu from the corner of his eye. Grandfather Wu merely stood still, but his eyes—those sharp eyes—were now focused entirely on Zhi Xuan, his eyebrows slightly raised. There was no reprimand, but intense observation.

  Zhi Xuan immediately reduced his speed, forcing a slight tremor in his legs, as if he were struggling. He had to hide his strength. The speed felt incredible, but he knew that if he continued hitting at that pace, he would complete a thousand strikes in less time than it would take Mingling to run two laps.

  After about an hour, the horse stance training ended. All the youths were panting and sweating, but a burning excitement was in their eyes.

  "I'm going to die!" complained Mingling, staggering, kneeling on the ground. "Grandfather Wu's training today felt heavier than usual! I swear the grain sack on my back was filled with pure jade stone!"

  "You're just whiny, Ming," Tang retorted, although he too was breathless, his stout body now covered in sweat and mud. "But I admit, I feel my muscles getting stronger. Divine Wheel, here I come!"

  Grandfather Wu walked closer to them. He patted Bashan's shoulder gently, nodding with satisfaction. Then, he turned to Zhi Xuan.

  "Zhi Xuan," Grandfather Wu called. "Your mortal wheel... it is calm, but its energy is wild. Watch yourself. That speed will destroy you if there is no clear purpose."

  Grandfather Wu then whispered, just loud enough for Zhi Xuan to hear. "I don't want you to get into trouble. Don't let your mortal wheel run out of control, even though you have made rapid progress. Do not seek it out."

  Zhi Xuan merely nodded, his chest feeling cold from Grandfather Wu's warning. Grandfather Wu must have sensed his increased strength.

  "I understand, Grandfather Wu. I will be careful," Zhi Xuan replied.

  Grandfather Wu then walked away, returning to his routine of checking the fields outside the village, leaving the youths exhausted but invigorated.

  As the afternoon approached, Mingling, Tang, and Zhi Xuan gathered again behind the blind horse stable. Mingling carried a large leather bag, and Tang carried a sharpened hunting knife. Bashan and Zhuwei did not join them, choosing to continue their breathing exercises.

  "Okay, it's afternoon," Mingling whispered, his eyes gleaming with secret excitement. "The hunters must have already left for the northern hill. This is the perfect time! We go in, grab the Ginseng on the shadow hills, and return before dinner! Grandfather Wu will surely be proud!"

  Tang smirked, carefully swinging his hunting knife. "I'll lead! My raw strength can scare away low-level beasts!"

  The three youths, enveloped by the shadows of the creeping dusk, sneaked out of the ironwood palisade gate, heading towards the forest that now felt both familiar and threatening. Their mortal hunting mission had begun. No one glanced their way; all the adults were busy with afternoon chores or still resting from Grandfather Wu's harsh training.

  Tang was still leading, his steps heavy and confident, occasionally swinging his hunting knife in the air, creating a loud whoosh. Mingling trailed behind, his steps full of excessive energy, hidden beneath conspiratorial excitement. Zhi Xuan was in the middle, letting his body move with speed that he tightly controlled.

  They took the less-traveled path, heading towards the Broken Bamboo Gate that Bashan had indicated.

  "Are you sure we're far enough from the reach of Grandfather Wu's staff?" Mingling whispered, looking back, his large eyes bouncing off the leaves.

  "Grandfather Wu's staff can reach us all the way to the northern hill, Ming," Tang replied in a deeper, proud voice.

  "But the important thing is, we don't get found."

  "That's not funny, Tang," Mingling grumbled. "I really don't want to be punished to run laps for a week. Zhi Xuan, do you see Bashan or Zhuwei following us?"

  Zhi Xuan narrowed his eyes, observing his surroundings. His mortal senses now felt incredibly sharp. He could hear the rustling of leaves caused by a distant squirrel, and the smell of freshly overturned moss.

  "None," Zhi Xuan replied, his tone relaxed and slightly careless, like Mingling. "Bashan is too disciplined to break his promise. And Zhuwei... he's talking to his knife. No need to worry."

  Hearing Zhi Xuan's words, Mingling sighed with relief. "Alright! Let's hurry! Pure Forest Ginseng is waiting for us! I can feel the energy in the air!" Mingling tripped over a curved tree root. He immediately grumbled. "Damn it! This forest is getting darker."

  Tang looked around and reached for the rough map tucked into his waist, opening the map and focusing on the faint paths written on it. "Shadow hills... We have to circle a cave a few miles ahead, then walk east a few more miles."

  Mingling, who was behind him, moved forward and also looked at the rough map. "You know, I'm curious about the twin pine trees, my father once said it was a catapult capable of shooting down fallen gods!" he said, pointing back at the mark on the river's edge.

  Tang shook his head. "Your father always exaggerates, Ming. They're just two pine trees growing close together on the riverbank. Bashan said it's a boundary marker for hunters. If it was really a god-slaying catapult, there would already be a temple there, and we wouldn't be allowed to herd One-Eyed Goats."

  "Maybe the temple is hidden!" Mingling insisted, leaping forward to keep pace with Tang. "Maybe we should look for it! Imagine, Zhi Xuan, if we find a hidden temple, we won't need Ginseng anymore! We'll become masters in a hidden place, and return to the village with gold-embroidered robes!"

  Zhi Xuan chuckled, stepping carefully between the slick stones. He enjoyed this ridiculous chatter; it felt grounding and real, far from purple spirals and heavenly orbs.

  "Gold-embroidered robes? You'll just look like a giant duck trying to draw attention, Ming," Zhi Xuan countered, his tone relaxed. "Forget the temple, we're here for Ginseng. Focus. Bashan said on the shadow hills. Does that mean we have to cross a river?"

  Tang pointed to Bashan's map with his thick finger. "Look, the path does turn east, crossing a small stream. The cave up ahead is the Blind Bat Cave, which Uncle Chen always avoids. We circle around there, then cross and climb the shaded side of the cliff. Ginseng likes moisture and darkness."

  They hurried along the increasingly dark path. The Blind Bat Cave looked like a gaping black hole in the side of the hill. Zhi Xuan noticed that Tang and Mingling, though brave, were starting to quicken their pace.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "Tang, slow down," Zhi Xuan said. "We don't want to make noise. Remember, there are high-level beasts here."

  "I'm just excited, Zhi! I can feel my muscles pulsing!" Tang glanced back. "What about you? You've been quiet. Usually, you're the most excited about stupid plans."

  "I'm observing the surroundings," Zhi Xuan replied, forcing a frown onto his brow. "I have to make sure no one sees us, and we don't stumble upon Bashan's traps. Besides, if you keep moving this fast, we'll run out of breath before we even reach the broken bamboo gate."

  Tang opened the rough map again, pointing to a few spots. "This is the broken bamboo gate; we'll scout first whether there are any hunters passing or not, then veer into the small valley to the east."

  "Broken bamboo gate," Mingling repeated, moving closer to the map. "Okay, we have to be careful here. Uncle Chen likes to pee behind that gate before continuing his journey."

  Tang grinned. "Don't worry, Ming. If he's there, I'll offer to scrub his back. Maybe he'll give us a free Ginseng tip!"

  Zhi Xuan snorted softly, but then his eyes fixated on something in the bushes. "Ming, Tang, stop," he whispered, his voice now returning to a more cautious tone.

  Tang and Mingling immediately stopped, Tang with his hunting knife raised rigidly. "What is it? Fire-Roaring Ape?" Tang asked, his voice suddenly trembling.

  "No," Zhi Xuan replied, pointing to the ground. "Look."

  In the muddy ground, large, deep footprints were etched. Clearly not human tracks, and clearly not One-Eyed Goat tracks. They were tracks with three thick claws, spaced quite far apart, indicating a significant body size and weight.

  "Tracks... of a Mud Forest Bear?" Mingling muttered, his voice now containing real fear. "My father said they are lazy, but if disturbed, they can tear down pine trees!"

  "No," Tang said, his eyes focused on the tracks. "Not a bear. Bears have five claws. These... these are Stone-Antlered Deer tracks. They're not dangerous, but they run as fast as Blacksmith Uncle's best horse, Zhuwei. And they are very territorial."

  "Stone-Antlered Deer?" Mingling frowned. "That's not as cool as a Mud Forest Bear. But still, it means they're faster than us. What if we get chased?"

  "We won't get chased, idiot," Tang countered, though his tone was now slightly disturbed. "We'll avoid them. Stone-Antlered Deer move along water paths. We have to cross that stream immediately."

  Zhi Xuan merely nodded in agreement. He observed the tracks again. With his newfound sensory sharpness, he could see that the tracks were fresh, perhaps only a few hours old. His mortal wheel spun calmly, providing a strange tranquility amidst the threatening forest.

  "Tang is right," Zhi Xuan said. "We have to move fast, but quietly. If we make noise, those territorial Stone-Antlered Deer will think we are invading their territory. We'll use the broken bamboo gate to scout, and head straight for the river."

  They moved again, now much more carefully. Tang channeled his strength to move with softer footsteps—a considerable effort for his large muscles. Mingling walked between Tang and Zhi Xuan, his eyes darting everywhere, searching for threats.

  After fifteen minutes of walking in tense silence, they reached the broken bamboo gate—an area where tall bamboo clumps had fallen and formed a natural gateway.

  Tang and Zhi Xuan crouched behind thick bushes, while Mingling, who was the shortest, crawled forward slightly to scout.

  "Clear," Mingling whispered, relieved. "No Uncle Chen, no hunters, and most importantly, no smell of urine!"

  Tang laughed quietly. "Thank goodness. Come on, hurry! We have to move east now."

  They slipped through the gap between the bamboo, and the landscape immediately changed. They were now descending a steep slope, heading towards the increasingly loud sound of rushing water.

  "This stream looks bigger on Bashan's map," Tang mumbled, clutching the slightly tattered map. "The water is cold and swift. We have to be careful when crossing."

  Zhi Xuan had already walked ahead, towards the riverbank. It was only a few meters wide, but the current was strong, carrying pebbles and small branches. On the opposite side, the cliff rose steeply, dark, and covered in thick moss—truly the perfect "shadow hills" for Ginseng.

  "We can jump across the large stones in the middle," Zhi Xuan suggested, observing. "I'll go first. I'll test the stability of those stones."

  "Wait, Zhi!" Tang exclaimed. "I'm the strongest! Let me go first! If anyone slips, I can withstand the weight of Mingling and his bag!"

  Zhi Xuan just smiled faintly. "I won't let you catch a wet cold before you even get to show off your muscles, Tang. Let me go first."

  He didn't wait for an answer. He took a short, focused breath, concentrating the energy that now felt dense in his mortal wheel, and channeled it to his legs. He didn't use full speed, but used it for precision and balance in the air.

  Zhi Xuan leaped onto the first stone—a large, flat, slippery stone. His feet landed softly and steadily, barely a splash of water sound. Then, he leaped to the second stone, and quickly crossed to the cliff side. His movements were so fast and controlled that he looked almost floating above the water.

  Tang and Mingling were silent on the riverbank, their eyes wide open.

  "Did you see that, Ming?" Tang whispered, completely forgetting about his hunting knife. "Zhi Xuan... he moves like a drunk forest rabbit! That's not normal!"

  Mingling nodded, gaping. "I told you he looked like he wanted to float! He must have drunk some secret potion last night! Why didn't you tell us, Zhi Xuan?!"

  Zhi Xuan turned back, grinning. "I just don't want to fall asleep again. Hurry up! The water is cold!"

  He couldn't hold back his excitement. This new control felt incredible. He could use his strength, channel it with mortal precision, without exploding the grain sack.

  Tang and Mingling, with renewed enthusiasm and a mixture of jealousy, immediately followed. Tang managed to jump with great force, almost slipping on the second stone, but successfully crossed. Mingling was not so lucky; he slipped on the last slippery stone and fell into the water, the cold river water soaking half his body.

  "Damn it!" Mingling grumbled, struggling to rise from the cold water.

  "I'll give you that Ginseng, Ming," Zhi Xuan promised, stifling a laugh. "It will dry you faster than a bonfire."

  They both helped Mingling, who was now soaking wet and whining. Their Pure Forest Ginseng mission had just become very real. They began to climb the cliff, moving deeper into the shadow hills.

  Thump... Thump... Thump...

  The sound of footsteps felt familiar, like regular and slow steps full of scouting. Tang, who was in the lead, froze, stopping on the cliff path.

  "What is that sound?" Tang whispered, his muscles tense under the damp robe. He was frozen on the narrow cliff path, the hunting knife in his hand raised.

  Mingling, still wringing water from his wet hair, suddenly looked very alert. "That's not the sound of a Stone-Antlered Deer. That's... heavy footsteps."

  Zhi Xuan listened. Thump... Thump... Thump... The sound was indeed footsteps, but slowed and cautious steps, as if the source was hunting. The sound came from above, from the direction of the thicker forest at the top of the cliff.

  "It might be a hunter from the other village," Zhi Xuan whispered, forcing himself back into a careless attitude. He had to ensure he remained mortal and natural. "Maybe he's stalking a flower-eared rabbit to hunt."

  "Flower-eared rabbits don't make footsteps like that," Tang countered, his voice strained. "That's too heavy. Too... careful. Ming, you wait here. I'll scout."

  "Don't be stupid, Tang!" Mingling hissed. "If it's a bear, you'll be ripped in half! We have to go back!"

  "We're not going back!" Tang insisted, his face flushed with a mixture of fear and ambition. "The Pure Forest Ginseng is here, on this shadow cliff! We've come all this way!"

  Zhi Xuan sighed. He knew this was the point where his new strength would be very useful, but he couldn't reveal it.

  "Calm down, both of you," Zhi Xuan said, stepping forward and patting Tang's shoulder. He had to use his logic in this almost chaotic situation. "Tang is right, we can't go back. But Mingling is also right, we have to be careful. The sound comes from above. We move below it. We stay on the cliff path, looking for Ginseng in the rock crevices. If it's a hunter from another village, they won't see us here."

  Tang nodded, relieved that Zhi Xuan sided with him. "Good idea, Zhi. We move sideways, not up."

  Mingling was still frowning. "If I die here, I'll come back to haunt Tang's one-eyed goats!"

  The three continued their journey, clinging tightly to the cold, damp cliff. They began to search, illuminating every crevice and tree root with Mingling's dim lantern light.

  "Pure Forest Ginseng, Pure Forest Ginseng," Mingling muttered, his eyes scanning the ground. "Please, show yourself. I don't want Grandfather Wu to yell at me, and I don't want to eat wheat pancakes again tomorrow."

  "You guys know what it looks like, right?" Zhi Xuan asked, his sapphire eyes scanning the moss and leaves. "Grandfather Wu once said the root looks like a small crying human baby. And the leaves are dark purple."

  "Don't scare me, Zhi!" Mingling whined. "Of course, I know. The leaves are like a broken heart. Bluish-purple color, growing in a very shaded spot."

  "I found it!" Tang exclaimed, his voice a whisper but filled with excitement. He knelt beside an ancient tree root. His large, thick hands moved carefully.

  Zhi Xuan and Mingling crawled closer. There, hidden under a curved root, amidst thick moss, grew a cluster of small plants. The leaves were indeed dark purple, and the thin roots looked like pulsating veins.

  The young shepherds have successfully found the Pure Forest Ginseng on the treacherous shadow hills, but a new threat is approaching from above: the sound of a heavy, cautious hunter. This situation will force Zhi Xuan to use his newfound speed and precision again, potentially revealing more of his hidden abilities.