Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 5 - Millennium Leaf Sand
Through everyone’s descriptions, Li Minchun finally understood the geographical environment here.
If it weren’t for the harsh conditions surrounding this place, it might just be an unremarkable island. However, precisely because of its harsh surroundings, countless rare treasures have emerged from the ocean depths.
Today, Li Minchun was ready to dive into the sea to explore.
After all, time waits for no one. Jian Yiqing is already on the brink of death, probably won’t last a few more days. If the antidote is not found soon…
Thinking of his pale face and furrowed brows, Li Minchun felt a pang of heartache.
No matter what, she must find the antidote.
“Sister, isn’t this too dangerous for you, especially since you’re pregnant? Maybe it’s better for someone else to go.” Xiao Ru’s mom was still a bit worried.
Li Minchun simply smiled, gently touching her slightly rounded belly, saying, “Don’t worry, both my child and I are tough and won’t give in so easily.”
With that, she leaped forward, drawing an arc in the air before diving into the sea.
Sunlight penetrated the water, casting beams of light into the deep blue seabed, long and short, dazzling like rays of twilight.
In shallower areas of the seabed, the sunlight even formed irregular grid-like patterns, resembling a large net that evenly covers the sand and stones on the ocean floor.
However, the bottom of the shallow sea is generally flat and uninhabited by any living creatures.
As she swam further, the light gradually dimmed, and more plants appeared on the seabed. Vibrantly colored fish swam in schools among the coral reefs and seaweed, seemingly carefree.
Unfortunately, Li Minchun had no mind to appreciate these rare sights.
With her continuous descent, she could distinctly feel the increasing pressure exerted from every direction on her body.
It felt as if countless forces were relentlessly compressing her from all sides, causing her muscles to ache.
When her breathing became labored, she activated the breathing apparatus borrowed from the villagers. When her vision blurred, she turned on the headlamp.
Casting aside all these adverse factors, her sole focus was on when she would finally discover the Millennium Leaf Sand.
According to the book, the Millennium Leaf Sand is a red plant. It is said to resemble clover, but with four heart-shaped leaves. Its ancestors date back about a hundred million years and it has been an antidote treasure since ancient times.
Finding this plant is not easy.
As she repeatedly eliminated the surrounding plants, Li Minchun grew more anxious about the baby in her womb.
Because of her, the child had suffered a lot. The doctor had advised that pregnant women should not swim or engage in strenuous activities. Yet, it seemed she was not being a responsible mother.
Thinking of this made Li Minchun feel guilty towards her child.
Only by quickly finding the Millennium Leaf Sand could she ensure the safety of her child and his father.
With this in mind, Li Minchun’s search became even more meticulous and swift.
However, she was unaware that she was gradually moving closer to danger.
“That’s it!”
Amidst the sea of plants, Li Minchun finally spotted it. Between the cracks of two rocks, a small plant peeked out with its tiny head.
It was entirely red, and its leaves were indeed composed of four heart-shaped petals.
In the ever-moving sea, the Millennium Leaf Sand swayed gently, like an enchanting young girl shyly revealing her allure.
Oh my, she finally found it. Could it be that her luck was really this good?
In her excitement, Li Minchun quickly uprooted the Millennium Leaf Sand and placed it into a prepared bag, ensuring it wouldn’t get lost.
Finding just one was sheer luck; Li Minchun didn’t dare hope to find another one.
Unfortunately, just as she was about to leave, a powerful underwater current surged towards her, carrying a massive amount of water.
The swirling flow formed a gigantic vortex, instantly sweeping up all the surrounding fish, shrimp, and rocks, pulling them into the huge ocean vortex.
“Oh no!”
Li Minchun’s heart trembled as she saw the vortex rapidly approaching her. She used all her strength to try and escape. Just after she fled, the spot where the Millennium Leaf Sand had been was reduced to ruins.
The current, thick at the top and narrow at the bottom, twisted and howled as it rushed towards her.
This time, Li Minchun wasn’t so lucky. In an instant, she was swallowed by the ocean current.
Suddenly, she felt as if her body was out of control, spun around with the swirling fish, shrimp, and rocks.
Soon, she felt dizzy, as if the world was spinning around her.
She tried desperately to control her body within the massive vortex, but to no avail.
Seeing her body about to be dragged into the depths of the ocean, Li Minchun felt a wave of despair…
The people waiting for Li Minchun to surface grew anxious as a huge vortex of current rose on the horizon.
They had seen this phenomenon far too often.
Most of the people on the island had been consumed by these ocean currents.
The current forms both below the surface and above, with the area on the sea surface being the widest contact point.
Once caught in these currents, survival is virtually impossible.
Zhenmu Island is isolated precisely because of the harsh conditions of the surrounding ocean. In other words, there is a natural barrier that prevents those inside from getting out and those outside from getting in.
Every few years, someone might break through this barrier, but few survive the attempt.
No one else has dared to challenge this natural barrier repeatedly like Li Minchun.
Now, she was only facing the first layer of danger and was already struggling so much. Who knows what the outcome will be in the future.
“I told you she shouldn’t go. That place is dangerous,” Xiao Ru’s mom said anxiously, pacing by the shore. Her eyes were glued to the horizon, hoping Li Minchun would suddenly appear above the water.
“I fear the worst. It’s been so long…” Even the patriarch seemed hopeless at this point. No one had ever survived being caught in an ocean vortex. Most who encountered it were never seen again. “All these years, only that one person managed to pass through this natural barrier. No one else measures up.”
Mentioning that individual always made everyone here speak with admiration and respect, raising their thumbs in acknowledgment.
Unfortunately, none of them could match that person’s feat.
“Perhaps we should head back. Waiting longer might be futile,” someone suggested, as the group was beginning to lose hope. No one truly believed that the seemingly delicate and slender Li Minchun could survive the ocean vortex.
Getting to Zhenmu Island might have been a stroke of luck in the first place.
“Look, is that her?” Xiao Ru’s mom exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the distant sea.
Everyone turned to see a solitary figure swimming rapidly toward them as the ocean vortex receded into the distance.
The speed at which the figure moved astounded even those who had grown up by the sea.
Before long, a breathless and exhausted Li Minchun emerged before them.
With her hands still wet, she pulled a small red plant from the well-protected bag. Though it was only the size of a palm, it was enough to leave everyone in shock.
“Oh my, it’s the Millennium Leaf Sand!” The doctor’s words immediately sparked a buzz among the crowd.
The Millennium Leaf Sand is a treasure coveted by many, rumored to be a treasure capable of neutralizing all poisons. For countless years, many have sought this tiny item, yet no one had ever been able to obtain it-until now, when Li Minchun managed to get it effortlessly.
Many people couldn’t help but gaze at Li Minchun with envy and burning curiosity.
“I was just lucky to have gotten it!” she replied modestly.
Thinking back to the danger she’d faced, she realized that if it weren’t for her quick thinking and grabbing onto the lush underwater seaweed, she might not have survived.
“Hurry, use it to prepare the antidote for our buddy,” the doctor finally, though reluctantly, returned the plant to Li Minchun after examining it for a long time.
The news that Li Minchun had obtained the Millennium Leaf Sand quickly spread across the small island. Soon, every resident on Zhenmu Island knew about it.
It was groundbreaking news. Everyone knew about the magical properties of the Millennium Leaf Sand. On Zhenmu Island, obtaining such a medicinal herb was akin to discovering a great fortune.
“It’s unbelievable that woman has such skill to get the Millennium Leaf Sand,” said one of the young men, sitting together, drinking and snacking while expressing their dissatisfaction.
They had been fishing since they were young, yet despite many years, they hadn’t found a single Millennium Leaf Sand. And that young woman managed to find it on her very first sea voyage-it was downright baffling.
“Yeah, and she decided to give it to that dying guy. They say it’ll only extend his life by two years. It seems like a complete waste,” the taller man replied, indignant.
“Why don’t we just take the plant for ourselves?” The shorter man suggested, slamming his glass on the table, causing a loud clink that startled the taller man.
But that thought resonated with the taller man, who smirked wickedly, rubbing his chin as he remarked, “Not to mention, that girl is pretty attractive. Did you see that figure? Wow.”
“We could split the treasure and share the beauty, what do you say?”
“Deal!” the shorter man agreed with a laugh.
With that, their glasses clinked together in agreement.
