The difficult path of cultivation for a grassroots female practitioner

Chapter 1043: Bonus Chapter for Readers Who Are Following the Updates

Since it was a desolate and uninhabited place, there was naturally no main road to speak of.

As weeds, thorns, and saplings increased, people could not walk as fast as they would on sandy or grassland terrain.

Fortunately, their clothes were religious robes, which wouldn't be torn by branches and thorns.

After such a difficult trek, they finally reached the riverbank around noon the next day.

Along the way, besides those who protected the flame...

For those with skillful hands, like Yao Guang, even while traveling, they couldn't stay idle. Xiao Han suggested that they collect materials for weaving fish baskets while traveling.

Once you get to the riverbank, you have to quickly weave a fish basket to catch fish.

The weaving of fish baskets is similar to that of carrying baskets; they don't need to be pretty, as long as the fish can get in but can't get out.

In addition to collecting materials for weaving fish baskets, Xiao Han also had to search for herbs that could detoxify.

Although Ling Xiao's hand has improved somewhat, applying herbal remedies could speed up the healing process.

The further you go, the more different kinds of plants you see.

Xiao Han picked a wild herb that was effective in clearing heat and reducing swelling, mashed it, and applied it to Ling Xiao's hand. Then she used tree bark to tie it up slightly to secure it.

Ling Xiao now completely trusts Xiao Han and lets her do whatever she wants.

When they arrived at the riverbank, Xiao Han saw that it was a fairly wide river.

Although the river was wide, it was probably in the dry season, and the flowing water was only about two zhang wide and three chi deep.

Although they still had plenty of water left after replenishing themselves in the swamp, they couldn't help but cheer and rush to the riverbank to wash up when they saw the flowing water.

Especially on their heads, everyone felt that the dust weighed three pounds.

There happened to be a riverbank with a large rock that served as a natural wharf.

Everyone climbed up and squatted on the big rock to wash and groom themselves.

Xiao Han didn't rush over; she started busily weaving fish baskets.

Ling Xiao didn't go down either; his injured hand hadn't healed yet, so he definitely couldn't get it wet.

Xin Ziqi and several other cultivators carrying tinder did not go down; they were busy gathering dry grass and branches to start a fire.

To be honest, after walking and sleeping in the desert for so long, we were covered in sand. Many of us were itching to take off our clothes and wash ourselves thoroughly in the river.

Unfortunately, it was broad daylight, so it was not appropriate to do so and we had to give up.

After washing her head, Yao Guang felt much lighter and then went ashore with her long, wet hair.

Seeing that Xiao Han was already weaving fish baskets, she wasn't in a hurry.

I twisted my hair a few times, then casually draped it over my back, waiting for it to air dry.

Their robes are waterproof, so she isn't afraid of getting her hair wet.

Then Yaoguang sat down and began weaving a fish basket.

When Xiao Han finished weaving a fish basket, Yao Guang was almost done as well, and hers was much more intricate.

She could only sigh inwardly, realizing that talent was something that could never be envied.

Fortunately, the other old women Liu who wove fish baskets, and a middle-aged male cultivator, had similar hands and feet to hers; they were all of average talent in handicrafts.

The other cultivators, who had finished washing up and had nothing to do, were instructed by Xiao Han to use wooden sticks to dig for earthworms and catch grasshoppers.

Xiao Han stuffed earthworms, grasshoppers, and other bait into the fish basket and found a spot surrounded by lush aquatic plants, but with a breathable space in the middle free of aquatic plants.

A long bark rope was tied at one end to the fish basket and at the other end to a small tree on the bank.

After Wang Pangzi and the others finished looking, they started setting the fish traps. Xiao Han then stopped paying attention to them and went to wash up by the big rock.

After she finished cleaning up her hair, she turned around and saw Ling Xiao staring at her expectantly.

So she could only let her hair down and call Ling Xiao down to wash up.

Xiao Han had Ling Xiao lie on a large rock, and then helped him remove the jade crown that held his hair back. She then scooped up river water and washed him.

At this moment, Xiao Han truly felt as if she were taking care of her silly son.

After Lingxiao finished cleaning, the first batch of fish baskets they had woven were all put into the water.

Before the fish even arrived, Fatty Wang had already started searching for plants to remove the fishy smell and enhance the flavor.

Meanwhile, some of the more resourceful monks had already begun to look for containers that could be used to cook soup.

Speaking of which, bamboo should be a great container for cooking soup, but unfortunately we don't have any here.

Burning firewood is actually very wasteful, but fortunately, many hands make light work, and someone has already gone to find a large pile of firewood.

Xiao Han's first woven fish basket had been in the ground for more than half an hour.

Fatty Wang was anxious and wanted to fish it out to take a look.

Xiao Han initially thought the time was too short, but after thinking about it, she didn't stop him and let him see it so he could give up.

She didn't go over there; she just kept her eyes fixed on that side.

Then Fatty Wang pulled the fish basket up, looked inside, and immediately shouted with delight.

"Wow, so many fish, hahaha."

Xiao Han couldn't care less about watching the show anymore; she got up and ran towards the other side.

Fatty Wang poured the fish from his basket onto the open ground on the bank.

Xiao Han took a look and exclaimed, "Wow, there are more than ten of them, big and small. That's really good!"

There were four or five crucian carp, the big ones were as long as a palm, and the small ones were an inch or two long.

Two fish that look a bit like blackfish, but probably not, a loach, and a few small miscellaneous fish.

Everyone was starving, so they all rushed over to help.

Some continued to lower the fish into the baskets, while others went to kill and clean the fish.

Xiao Han thought that in a river where no one visits, there should be plenty of fish and they should be easy to catch.

They immediately stopped resting and continued searching for materials to weave fish baskets.

Fatty Wang rubbed the seasoning plants he had found onto the fish, deciding to roast half of them over a fire and wrap the other half in large plant leaves to roast in the ashes.

However, these fish were far from enough for fifteen people, so Fatty Wang put away the second fish basket as well.

It had fewer fish than Xiao Han's basket, but it was still a success, so it was pretty good.

While grilling and collecting the fish in the baskets, everyone finally enjoyed the fragrant grilled fish at dusk.

The river fish didn't have a strong fishy smell, and since Fatty Wang's cooking skills were really good, even though it wasn't salty, the starving crowd still ate it with gusto, and some even ate the fish bones.

Although everyone only ate until they were about 60% full, this was the most they had eaten since entering this space.

Living by this river, everyone can avoid going hungry before the fish have eaten their fill.

The large, noisy group of cultivators failed to notice a pair of eyes hidden in the bushes on the opposite bank.