"Miss Xyliana, the prescription is ready. But according to what you said, your friend's voice was damaged by poison. This prescription can only be tried.
There's no real guarantee it will work." He handed the prescription to the assistant beside him, then stroked his graying beard and spoke slowly. The assistant took the prescription and went to the medicine shelf to fetch the herbs.
Xyliana's expression froze. "How could this be? Is there no other way at all?"
"Doctor Wu, just go ahead and write the prescription. Money isn't an issue." Seeing how anxious Xyliana looked, Doctor Wu showed a bit of sympathy and replied slowly, with helplessness in his voice.
"Miss Xyliana, it's not that I don't want to write a prescription. Once the voice is damaged by poison, even a god might not be able to heal it. In this world, only..."
"Only what?" Xyliana pressed. "Forget it. It's only something I heard."
"It's said there is only one kind of medicine that can restore a ruined voice, even one destroyed by poison. But this medicine is extremely rare. It's called Lingyin, and it's a rare herb."
"I've lived a long life and never seen it myself." "Doctor Wu, please tell me what this Lingyin looks like. I'll find a way to search for it."
A determined light flashed in Xyliana's eyes as she looked steadily at Doctor Wu. The sincerity in her bright gaze made it hard for others to refuse. Her expression was moving.
"Ah, you child." Looking at the sincerity on her face, Doctor Wu sighed and spoke helplessly. He turned around and started searching the bookshelf beside him.
Finally, from an inconspicuous spot on the top shelf, he pulled out a book wrapped in cloth. He gently placed it on the table, carefully unwrapped the cloth, and revealed a tattered book. Although it was called a book, it looked more like a private notebook.
The pages were yellowed and worn. It was clearly very old. As he flipped through the pages, Doctor Wu slowly explained.
"This Lingyin is a very rare herb. It grows on the Lingyin tree and is actually its leaf. Though the Lingyin tree has a good name, its fruit doesn't live up to it."
"It's said that the fruit is called Evil Voice Fruit, and it doesn't look any different from normal fruit. But eating it changes one's voice, making it hoarse and deep. That's why it's called Evil Voice Fruit."
"Miss Xyliana, look, this is the Lingyin tree." Xyliana followed Doctor Wu's finger to the page. On the yellowed page was a drawing of a fruit tree, with several tightly packed lines of text beside it.
Xyliana couldn't read the words, but the tree. Wasn't that the very tree she had picked fruit from the other day? No wonder her voice changed after eating the fruit.
She froze for a moment, caught off guard. "This is the Lingyin tree, and Lingyin is the leaf on this tree. According to this book, the tree doesn't bloom but produces fruit."
"Each fruit has only one leaf. Every Evil Voice Fruit has just one Lingyin leaf. That's why it's so rare."
Doctor Wu's aged and hoarse voice came slowly. Xyliana silently began to regret it. Who would have thought that the tree she found by chance that day was actually the Lingyin tree.
And the fruit she casually picked was something so rare. "Doctor Wu, please tell me, is there any place in Yicheng where this tree might be found?" Xyliana asked eagerly, full of hope.
Her eyes were wide open with anticipation. "Sigh." Doctor Wu let out a long sigh before speaking slowly. "I only heard the stories."
"It's said that a thousand years ago, someone once saw a Lingyin tree in the Cloud Mist Valley on Mount Qinghua. But the Cloud Mist Valley is hidden deep within the mountain. Many people have tried to look for it over the past thousand years, but none returned."
"Eventually, people stopped searching. Look, it's written here in the book. 'When sun and cloud rise high above Qinghua, and fog like spring breeze flows far and wide.'"
"'The cloud valley lies in an unseen place, with Lingyin leaves blooming, all sounds return.'" Seeing the hope in her eyes, Doctor Wu couldn't bear to disappoint her and changed the topic.
"So, Miss Xyliana, take this prescription for now and have your friend try it. Even if his voice doesn't recover, it might ease the discomfort in his throat."
Xyliana took the medicine handed to her by the pharmacy assistant. Her expression dimmed, but she forced a small smile and bowed politely to Doctor Wu. "Thank you, Doctor Wu."
This Lingyin tree was truly that rare. So many had searched for it for a thousand years without finding it... Yunwu Valley... could she really find it? Her brow furrowed slightly, a trace of sadness appeared in her eyes, and her lips pressed together as she tried to control her thoughts.
She secured the bamboo basket on her back and got up to leave. Walking along the street, Xyliana suddenly thought of Xinru's gentle smile. "Such a noble and graceful person, if he can no longer speak…"
The evening wind blew gently. Looking up at the starlit sky, a bitter feeling spread in her chest. Xyliana suddenly felt a little sad.
She turned into an alley and saw that the usually dark street was now full of dazzling lights. At some point, colorful lanterns had been hung everywhere. The lights reflected on the quiet street and spilled through the flowering trees beside the road.
The pure white petals were dyed with brilliant colors, showing a kind of beauty not seen before. These lanterns were like stars in the sky, shining and glowing. The whole street looked like a dream.
For a brief moment, Xyliana felt as if she had entered Moon City. It was like she stood in an amusement park lit up in the night. As she kept walking forward, she saw a tall figure standing at the end of the lit street.
She walked closer and then could see clearly. That person was standing under the flower lanterns, the colored lights casting shadows on his handsome face. His long lashes fell across his cheeks, and the light made everything more vivid.
Even though he wore plain cloth clothes, it couldn't hide his fairy-like appearance. His peach blossom eyes curved slightly, and the tea-colored eyes shimmered in the glow. A warm smile rested between his brows, and his soft lips curved gently.
His expression showed how good his mood was. There was joy in his eyes. He just stood there under the lanterns, looking at her with a gaze as gentle as water.
She walked closer, and Yavin smiled as he took the bamboo basket from her shoulders and the medicine from her hand. He limped slightly as he walked with Xyliana into the courtyard. On the table was a rich dinner, its aroma making one's appetite grow.
"Yavin, did you make all of this?" Looking at the delicious dishes, Xyliana held back her hunger and asked softly. At her words, a smile appeared in his tea-colored eyes.
He nodded slowly, picked up a piece of meat, and placed it into her bowl. The color looked fresh and beautiful. The meat was rich and fragrant, its flavor spreading in her mouth.
It was tender and smooth, and after one bite, the taste lingered between her teeth and lips. A look of happiness flashed across Xyliana's face. "Yavin, it's really a waste if you don't become a chef!"
"They say Drunken Fragrance Restaurant is the best in Yicheng. But after tasting your food, I'm starting to doubt if they can match your skill!" Seeing the joy on her face and hearing her praise, Yavin's eyes curved happily.
His soft lips lifted slightly in a smile. The sparkling stars in the night sky looked as if they had melted into his tea-colored eyes. They shone brightly as he raised his slender fingers and began to gesture.
After a few days together, the two had gained some understanding. Xyliana could mostly understand what he meant. "You mean, we'll go try Drunken Fragrance Restaurant together?"
Yavin nodded, the smile on his lips growing wider. "All right, once your leg's better, we'll have a big meal at Drunken Fragrance!" Pushing down her thoughts, Xyliana smiled gently, her eyes curved in a sweet expression.
Looking at the girl before him, Yavin's eyes grew warmer. His gaze was sincere, pure like the moonlight. The scene in front of him and the vague memories in his mind slowly blended.
The cheerful voice of the girl seemed to echo by his ears. "When your leg is better, I'll take you to eat a big meal!" He was dazed for a moment, lost in thought.
"Yavin, were the flower lanterns in the alley your doing?" "Yavin? Yavin! What are you thinking about, so deep in thought?" Xyliana's voice brought him back to reality, and Yavin quickly returned to himself and nodded.
"Thank you, I really like them, they're beautiful." Xyliana smiled softly, and starlight filled her eyes, clear and bright like the moon and stars. Yavin reached out and clumsily gestured.
I. wait. for you... you. came... night. fell... you. afraid. of the dark... Looking into his clear eyes, Xyliana paused slightly. A warm feeling rose in her chest, and she smiled gently, speaking slowly.
"All right, I'll come earlier next time, I won't be this late again." A determined light rose in her eyes, and Xyliana's heart grew more resolved. She had to find the Lingyin tree.
No matter what, she would try her best. The sky was clear, the moonlight bright. The tree shadows swayed gently in the wind.
The candlelight inside the house glowed warmly, adding a peaceful atmosphere to the delicate courtyard.