Chapter 349 - Fractured Crystal Leaf (1/2)

”Jing Yi?” Leng Jin Yu slightly frowned. Why did it seem as if Jing Yi still wasn't really back?

Jing Yi still didn't react as if he had only opened his eyes out of instinct but couldn't see what was in front of him. Leng Jin Yu tentatively reached out and touched his shoulder. The boy flinched. He jerked his head around, his expression as if he had just been caught red-handed.

”Jing Yi?” Leng Jin Yu couldn't help but feel worried. This was getting stranger by the minute. Why did Jing Yi have such an intense reaction?

Jing Yi stared at him before slowly blinking his eyes. ”Senior … Martial Brother … Yu?” It was as if he wanted to make sure if the person in front of him was indeed the one he thought.

Leng Jin Yu nodded. ”Yes.”

Jing Yi fell silent again and looked back at the canopy of the bed. He didn't really see it though. His thoughts were still with the things he had experienced just now.

”Jing Yi. What did you see?”

”See?” Jing Yi turned back again, puzzled. ”How do you know …?”

Leng Jin Yu gave a sigh and pointed at Jing Yi's other hand that was still clutching the herb from before. ”You absorbed a part of the spiritual energy of this herb.”

”The Crystal Grass?” Jing Yi frowned and tried to sit up. His thoughts were slowly returning to the present. ”What does that have to do with it?”

”It's because this isn't Crystal Grass. Haven't you noticed that it looks different?”

Jing Yi lifted the herb in his hand and frowned even more. However he looked at it, it seemed like Crystal Grass to him. It was about the size of his hand, maybe a little larger than the other stalks but not by much. The stalk consisted of five leaves that were about half the width of a finger and a bit wider in the middle. Furthermore, they were transparent, something that couldn't be said of many herbs. In fact, he didn't know of any other herb besides the Crystal Grass that had this trait. Even if there was, wouldn't it be too coincidental for it to otherwise look like Crystal Grass, too?

Jing Yi looked up at Leng Jin Yu doubtfully.

”Look at this.” Leng Jin Yu pointed at the root of the stalk where an irregular tear could be seen.

Jing Yi blinked. ”This … there were originally more leaves?”

”Mn.” Leng Jin Yu nodded. ”Seven, to be precise. What you've found isn't Crystal Grass but a Fractured Crystal Leaf. In contrast to the Crystal Grass that has up to five leaves at most, it always has seven leaves. If you hold it up against the light, each one will fluoresce in a different color of the rainbow.”

”Senior Martial Brother Yu seems to know a lot about this herb.”

Leng Jin Yu smiled wryly. ”Yes. It is one of the few I've familiarized myself with.” He sighed. ”Actually, I was searching for it.”