Chapter 31: Snow Lotus Fruit
After walking for what felt like an eternity, the two finally reached the foot of the mountain. Bai Zhi was exhausted and starving. Her vision swam with stars; the single egg she’d eaten for breakfast was long since digested. Her stomach was completely empty, and her mouth felt as dry as if it were on fire.
Hu Feng pointed to a patch of grass nearby. "There’s a small stream over there. Go wash your face and have a drink."
The mention of water made Bai Zhi swallow hard. She immediately ran toward the patch of grass, and sure enough, behind it was a crystal-clear stream. She knelt by the bank, cupped some water in her hands, and took a few gulps. Once her thirst was quenched, she splashed her face. The cool water refreshed her considerably. Only then did she plop down onto the grass behind her and sigh, "It’d be great if we could catch a fish or two in this stream." She rubbed her growling stomach.
Hu Feng had also finished washing his face by then. He stood up and said, "Let’s go. If we rest any longer, we won’t even make it up the mountain by noon."
Bai Zhi sighed and resignedly got to her feet. Just as she was about to walk away, her gaze swept over the plant she had just knocked askew by sitting on it. It was a very ordinary-looking plant, bearing small yellow flowers that resembled a type of chrysanthemum, much like many of the wildflowers they had seen along the path.
She stepped over it, but after only a few paces, she stopped short. "Hold on." She spun around, went back to the crooked plant, and examined the small, chrysanthemum-like yellow flowers more closely.
Hu Feng turned back as well, frowning. "Don’t tell me this wildflower is a medicinal herb."
Bai Zhi sniffed the plant and chuckled. "You actually guessed right. This flower is a medicinal herb. I just wonder if the doctors in your parts know how to use it for treatment."
Hu Feng’s handsome brows arched slightly. "’Your parts?’"
Bai Zhi quickly looked up, a sheepish smile on her face. "Whoops, misspoke. I meant *our* parts." To change the subject, she hastily pointed at the little yellow flowers. "The flower is medicine, but the root is even better—it’s delicious." She quickly shrugged off her basket, pulled out a small trowel, and started digging. After just a few moments, she was already out of breath.
Seeing she was serious and not just joking, Hu Feng squatted down and took the trowel from her hand. "You rest. I’ll dig."
That was an offer Bai Zhi couldn’t refuse. She quickly sat down to the side to catch her breath.
Hu Feng was strong; one scoop of his trowel was worth three of hers. In no time, he’d reached the root.
Hu Feng pointed to the object lying in the dirt. "This?"
Bai Zhi leaned in for a look and nodded eagerly, her face breaking into a huge smile. "Yes, yes, that’s it!"
She reached out, brushed away the dirt, and pulled a few sweet potato-like tubers from the soil.
Hu Feng asked, "Are these wild sweet potatoes?" ’They look a lot like those black lumps I dug up on the mountain before,’ he thought.
Bai Zhi shook her head and took one to the stream to wash it. "This is called a Yacón, but it’s also known as a Snow Lotus Fruit. It’s delicious. Here, try some." She handed the washed tuber to Hu Feng and then grabbed another to wash for herself.
Hu Feng took the Snow Lotus Fruit and sniffed it. The smell wasn’t very pleasant, and he couldn’t help but frown. "Can you really eat this?"
Bai Zhi was too hungry to waste words on him. She’d eat first; explanations could wait.
She asked Hu Feng for his dagger and began to peel the Snow Lotus Fruit, taking bites as she went. The sight made Hu Feng’s own mouth water.
Bai Zhi handed the half-eaten Snow Lotus Fruit to Hu Feng. "You eat this first." She pressed the half-eaten piece into his hand and took the unpeeled one he was still holding to start on it.
On some strange impulse—perhaps he was just dizzy with hunger—he took a bite without a second thought, not even considering that the piece of Snow Lotus Fruit might have someone else’s saliva on it...