Chapter 65: The Mortuary and the Swordsman
The green hills stood like ink against the sky, enveloped in serene clouds.
On a dirt path in the mountains, a Daoist priest walked ahead, with a horse following closely behind. The path was only three to five chi wide and often broken or collapsed in places. While the man had no trouble walking, the jujube-red horse had to tread carefully.
A swallow circled above them. The weather was pleasantly cool today.
Song You glanced up at the sky, unable to discern much from it. Yet, sensing the changes in the spiritual qi of the world and the cyclical nature of the seasons, he felt that the weather wouldn't remain clear for long.
Whether it stayed sunny or turned rainy, it made little difference to him. Song You continued his leisurely pace forward.
Where was he heading? To be honest, he didn't know. He just walked south.
Seeing a cluster of thorny moss growing by the roadside, Song You casually broke off a few stems as he passed by. The bamboo shoots that had just sprouted in the spring were indeed tender and crisp. Avoiding the thorns, he gently snapped them off without needing to use much force.
Thorny moss was similar to roses in appearance, and they also looked alike. The tender shoots that sprouted in spring and autumn were edible. They were about the thickness of chopsticks.
With a gentle snap, you could peel off the outer skin, revealing a tender, green, and semi-translucent stem inside. It looked like celtuce and had a crisp texture when eaten. The taste was subtly sweet with a hint of vegetal fragrance.