Gray told Spoon to greet the python spirit.

“Hello there, we’ve come to see you,” said Spoon graciously.

The python glanced amicably at Spoon.

The two of them went around the tree, and Gray saw crystal flowers. Gray caught his breath at the sight of the beautiful, long-lost herb. They picked the herbs carefully, each acquiring a large handful. “How beautiful they are! I’m so happy!” Spoon whispered.

“The python spirit was there to show us the herbs,” Gray suddenly realized.

“I like the python spirit. It’s like my family.”

“Thank you for saying that, Spoon.”

Gray suggested going to the stream; perhaps they would have an unexpected harvest over there.

So they climbed up. Suddenly Spoon stopped. She said someone was calling her.

Gray listened carefully; indeed, a faint voice was wrapped in the wind. It might have been calling Spoon but it might have been the whistling of the wind. Looking nervous, Spoon said something.

“Spoon, what are you saying?”

“It’s her, it’s her.”

“Who?”

“The woman who showed me the herbs.”

The woman approached, carrying a load of firewood. She was also a Yun villager. Her name was Jade.

She set down her burden and said with a smile, “I saw you from afar. Niulan Mountain is very happy today because a new guest has come.”

“Thank you, Jade,” said Spoon. “Did you meet anyone there today?”

“How did you know? I did meet a friend from years ago. It is said that she died of lymphatic cancer, but she appeared in the stream and smiled at me. She is an experienced herb farmer. Spoon, are you cold? You don’t look right.”

“I’m just overcome with emotion, because you’ve met her. I’m so excited today.”

After they parted from Jade, they didn’t find any more herbs. In a trance, Spoon uttered “ah” now and then.

“I remembered her appearance now. How could I have forgotten her? Very strange. In fact, she didn’t ever really leave me, did she?”

“In fact, you’ve been looking for her all the time on a winding path, but you were unaware of this.”

Gray felt feverish, and suddenly he was dazed. For a moment, it seemed they had forgotten each other’s existence. They were taking different paths and they were about to be separated. Gray awakened from this trance when he heard Spoon shouting.

Spoon pointed at the giant spirit mushroom at the edge of a graveyard. Her voice shook: “Who is it?”

Gray said with a smile, “Spoon, you are blessed. It is here for you. We need it for treating patients!”

Kneeling on the ground, Gray picked it carefully and placed it in the bamboo basket. He said a convalescent would need it. He went on to say that Spoon was a lucky star, and Niulan Mountain must be very fond of her. Otherwise, why would it have sent her such a precious gift?

Completely refreshed, they went down the mountain joyfully. But Spoon was a little uneasy. Every now and then, she checked on the bamboo basket on Gray’s back. She was afraid the spirit mushroom would fly away. She kept saying, “It’s not a dream. It’s not a dream.”