Chapter 26: The Dipsacus Decoction, Comparable to a Miraculous Elixir!

"You're back. Time to eat."

A familiar, melodic voice drifted from the courtyard. At that moment, the corners of Zhang Hao’s mouth curled upward, and the gloom in his heart vanished, leaving no trace. This was his home, his sanctuary. Only here could he find a sliver of peace, set aside everything weighing on his mind, and completely relax his body and soul.

He sniffed the air. A scent that was both familiar and faintly novel filled the space—it was the aroma of Li Siyu’s cooking. With a smile, Zhang Hao carried his spirit-binding basket and his pack across the threshold. After setting his things down, he walked straight into the ancestral hall, lit three incense sticks, and performed the ritual he had instructed the villagers to follow.

When he rose, he saw Li Siyu standing in the doorway, staring at him blankly.

"I ran into something unclean in the mountains today, so I came back to clear out the bad luck. Don't worry, I'm fine," Zhang Hao said with a smile.

Li Siyu nodded expressionlessly. "Brother Hai already mentioned it when he got back. I know."

Zhang Hao paused, then nodded in return.

"Let's eat," Li Siyu added.

Zhang Hao was about to agree, but he immediately thought of the teasel root in his spirit-binding basket. "Wait, let's put the prepared dishes back on the stove for a moment. I found something good in the mountains."

Li Siyu looked puzzled, her delicate features knitting together. Ignoring her confusion, Zhang Hao walked into the courtyard, lifted the spirit-binding basket, and said, "Tonight, I’m going to show you what I can do."

Under Li Siyu’s surprised gaze, he walked into the kitchen. Looking at the unfamiliar room and the various pots and pans, he took a deep breath and pulled out the *Mountain Rambler’s Travelogue*. To be honest, he wasn't much of a cook; he could handle boiling noodles or porridge, but stir-frying was a different story—it was difficult. Fortunately, the *Travelogue* contained recipes, and all he had to do was follow them.

*[Teasel root must be washed in mountain spring water. Do not cut; it must be broken...]*

As he read the instructions, Zhang Hao mentally visualized the cooking process. The village used mountain spring water, which was fine. Not being allowed to cut it meant he had to snap it by hand, which was easier. Then, he would stir-fry it in rapeseed oil, adding it to the hot oil for exactly three seconds before removing it. He had to be careful with the heat—too long or too short, and the spiritual essence of the teasel would dissipate. After that, it had to be stewed with wild mushrooms...

Just reading the steps made his head spin. For someone who rarely cooked, this was an immense challenge.

*Cough, cough, cough.*

Suddenly, a series of sharp coughs erupted behind him. Zhang Hao whirled around to see Li Siyu leaning against the wooden doorframe, one hand clutching her chest and the other covering her mouth. Her face was pale, and she was wracked by relentless coughing. He immediately dropped what he was doing and stepped forward, patting her back to help her breathe.

Li Siyu’s illness was long-standing, and over the years, it had only grown worse. Still, he believed that consuming the teasel root would bring her some relief. After a long while, the coughing finally subsided.

"How are you?" Zhang Hao asked with concern.

Li Siyu waved her hand. "I'm fine. It's over now." She added softly, "Let me do it. You just tell me what to do."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Zhang Hao pressed.

Li Siyu nodded, having already rolled up her sleeves to begin the preparations.

Zhang Hao took a deep breath. "This part needs to be..."

Before long, Zhang Hao stood to the side while Li Siyu followed his instructions to prepare the teasel root.

...

An hour later, Zhang Hao carried a large, steaming bowl of teasel root soup into the main hall. He set it in the center of the table and took a deep breath. His mouth watered instantly. "It smells amazing."

Li Siyu nodded. "It really does. What is this? I’ve never seen it before."

"It’s called teasel root. It’s a medicinal herb that can also be cooked," Zhang Hao replied.

Li Siyu tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, looking thoughtful. "I see."

Zhang Hao smiled. "This root is highly nourishing, and its medicinal properties are even better when cooked. You haven't been well; you should eat plenty."

"Okay," Li Siyu said as she picked up the bowls and chopsticks. She ladled a large portion of the root into Zhang Hao’s bowl, then served herself.

"Your body is weaker and needs the extra nourishment. If I eat too much, it might be too much for me," she murmured to herself.

Zhang Hao didn’t argue, simply nodding. "Alright."

Although he had just emerged from the illusion created by the Mountain Phantom and had warned the villagers not to eat anything from the mountains for three days, there was an exception: treasures like this teasel root. Such items could dispel all negative energy; the lingering influence of the Mountain Phantom was nothing compared to this. He hadn't told the villagers this because they rarely encountered treasures of such quality and wouldn't know how to distinguish them. If they mistook ordinary mountain plants for treasures, it would be disastrous.

He lifted his bowl, took a spoonful of the broth, and sipped it. The fragrance of the wilderness, the earthiness of the mushrooms, and the faint, bitter edge of the teasel mingled in a marvelous way, exploding with flavor in his mouth.

As expected, it tasted much better because Li Siyu had cooked it. If he had done it himself, he likely would have ruined such a fine ingredient. He was starving, so after a brief moment of appreciation, he began to eat heartily.

The crispness of the teasel, the chewiness of the mushrooms, the marvelous taste of the broth, and the lingering, rich sweetness constantly stimulated his palate. Once the bowl was finished, sweat began to pour from his forehead and face, soaking his clothes. It felt as if all the impurities in his body were being purged. He felt refreshed, and the previous sense of physical weakness vanished completely. It felt as if a surge of power was flowing through his meridians, nourishing his body.

This was the effect of the teasel soup—restoring health to the weak and strengthening the bones and muscles. The *Mountain Rambler’s Travelogue* hadn't lied to him.

He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth within him. Suddenly, his ears twitched. His thoughts sharpened.

*Chirp, chirp...*
*Coo, coo...*
"Sigh, today was truly terrifying..."

It was as if he could hear everything outside the courtyard: the birds chirping, the chickens clucking, the neighbors talking next door...

*This...*

Zhang Hao snapped his eyes open and peered outward. He was stunned to find that he could see much further than before, and with incredible clarity—he could even clearly distinguish the individual textures on the south wall of the outbuilding. But the sensation vanished as quickly as it had come.

*Was this... because of the teasel soup?*

His pupils dilated as he looked back at the bowl. Could the soup actually enhance his hearing and vision? It had to be. He had read about this in the *Travelogue*—it was the "Listen" and "Observe" techniques from the Four Mantras of Mountain Rambling. The "Listen" technique, when mastered, allowed one to hear sounds from a hundred meters away and perceive all movement. The "Observe" technique allowed one to clearly perceive everything within a hundred meters. Of course, these techniques had deeper applications, but in that fleeting moment, the soup had allowed him to briefly touch upon that realm.

More importantly, he felt that his hearing and vision had genuinely improved, as if all five of his senses had been sharpened. He hadn't expected the teasel soup to have such an effect!

Zhang Hao looked up, staring at Li Siyu, who sat across from him. After watching her finish her bowl, he asked curiously, "How do you feel? Do you notice any effects?"