Chapter 62: FIRST LESSON: HERB IDENTIFICATION

They continued deeper into the garden, and the scenery changed with every few steps. What had initially seemed like an ordinary collection of medicinal plants soon gave way to a dazzling variety of spiritual vegetation, with flowers in brilliant shades of red, blue, violet, gold, and green spreading across the fields.

Some plants glowed faintly beneath the sunlight, while others carried strange patterns across their leaves that seemed almost too perfect to be natural. A few flowers swayed even though there was no wind, their petals releasing wisps of spiritual Qi that drifted lazily through the air.

Li Yan’s eyes moved from one plant to another as he tried to take everything in. The spiritual plants were far more vibrant than anything he had encountered in ordinary fields, and even their fragrance seemed to contain traces of spiritual energy.

However, when Anyu eventually led them toward another section, that brilliance gradually disappeared.

The colours became duller, the plants appeared more ordinary, and there was none of the dazzling spiritual aura that had surrounded the previous section. Compared to the spiritual plants, the herbs looked almost insignificant, and Li Yan could understand why someone unfamiliar with Apothecary might overlook them.

Fu Hanzheng noticed his expression and chuckled as they stopped beside a small patch of herbs.

"Do not be too disappointed. Some herbs can be colourful too, but you must remember that colour is often deceiving. If you want something simply because it looks beautiful, what happens when that beautiful flower turns out to be poisonous and kills you on the spot?"

Li Yan immediately looked at the flowers surrounding them with a little more caution. The lesson was obvious, but Fu Hanzheng’s example made it clear that appearances could not be trusted when identifying medicinal materials.

"Then how do I know which ones are useful?"

"That is precisely why Apothecaries must learn to observe rather than simply look. Colour is only one characteristic, and it is often the least reliable when you are dealing with unfamiliar plants. You must consider the entire plant, including its leaves, stem, roots, texture, fragrance, sap, and even the environment in which it grows."

Fu Hanzheng crouched beside a small green plant whose leaves were narrow and slightly curved. At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about it, and Li Yan might easily have walked past it without noticing.

"Start with this one. Tell me what you see."

Li Yan lowered himself beside him and examined the plant carefully. He noticed that its leaves were a darker shade of green near the stem, while the tips were slightly lighter. The surface looked smooth, although there were tiny veins running through each leaf.

"The leaves are narrow, the colour is darker around the stem, and the surface appears smooth. The plant is also relatively short."

Fu Hanzheng nodded but did not immediately tell him whether his observations were correct.

"You have identified what your eyes can see. Now use your other senses."

Li Yan reached toward the plant, but Fu Hanzheng stopped his hand before it touched the leaves.

"Do not touch an unfamiliar herb casually. Before you place your hand on something, determine whether it can harm you through contact. A plant does not need to be poisonous when swallowed to be dangerous. Some medicinal materials irritate the skin, while others can enter the body through tiny wounds."

Li Yan withdrew his hand and studied the plant again. This time, he noticed a thin layer of translucent material covering parts of the stem.

"Is that the reason?"

"It is one of the reasons. That resin can cause irritation if you have sensitive skin. You would not have noticed it if you had simply grabbed the plant."

Anyu smiled as he listened from the side, clearly familiar with the lesson. He reached toward another plant nearby but stopped just before touching it.

"There are also herbs that react to spiritual Qi. Some close their leaves when touched, while others release a scent or change colour when spiritual energy enters them. That is why an experienced gardener learns to observe the plant before interacting with it."

Li Yan nodded and carefully brought his hand closer to the herb without actually touching it. He circulated only a tiny amount of Qi toward his palm and observed the plant’s reaction.

Nothing happened.

Fu Hanzheng watched him with approval.

"That is enough. You are learning to be cautious, which is more important than memorising a hundred names. Now, try smelling it."

Li Yan leaned closer without touching the plant and took a light breath. The scent was faint, almost impossible to distinguish from the surrounding greenery, but after concentrating, he detected a slightly bitter fragrance.

"It smells bitter."

"Yes. But do not take that as proof that it is a bitter herb. Fragrance can provide a clue, but it is not always enough to identify a material."

Fu Hanzheng plucked a small leaf from the plant and held it between his fingers before passing it to Li Yan.

"This time, you may touch it. The material has already been confirmed safe for you. Feel the surface carefully and tell me what you notice."

Li Yan rubbed the leaf gently between his fingers. The surface was smoother than he had expected, but there was a slight firmness beneath the thin outer layer. When he folded it, the leaf resisted before slowly bending rather than tearing.

"It is flexible, but not soft. The surface is smooth, and the leaf feels slightly thicker than it looks."

"Exactly. Texture can help you distinguish between herbs that look nearly identical. Two plants may share the same colour, shape, and even fragrance, yet one may have brittle leaves while the other remains flexible."

Li Yan examined the leaf again, this time paying closer attention to its edges. He realized that there were tiny ridges along them that he had overlooked earlier.

"Those ridges matter too?"

"Everything can matter when you are trying to identify an unfamiliar medicinal material. A small difference in the edge of a leaf, the arrangement of its veins, the colour beneath the surface, or the shape of its stem can separate one herb from another."

Fu Hanzheng stood and walked toward another patch several steps away. The plants there looked almost identical to the first group, and Li Yan immediately became more attentive.

"Now look at these."

Li Yan approached and compared the two patches carefully. After several breaths, he noticed that the second plant had broader leaves and a slightly reddish stem.

"They look similar, but the stems are different."

"Good. Now smell them."

Li Yan leaned closer and inhaled from a safe distance. The second plant had a sharper fragrance, with a faint sweetness beneath the bitterness of the first.

"The smell is different too."

"That difference is important. The two plants are commonly confused by inexperienced apprentices because they grow in similar environments and have almost identical appearances from a distance. One is useful for reducing inflammation, while the other can cause severe internal irritation if prepared incorrectly."

Li Yan looked at the plants again, realizing how easily someone could make a mistake if they relied solely on appearance.

Fu Hanzheng’s expression became more serious as he continued the lesson.

"This is why an Apothecary must develop patience. You cannot rush through identification simply because you recognize the general shape of a plant. First observe it. Then compare it with what you know. Only after you have eliminated the dangerous possibilities should you handle it."

Li Yan nodded as he committed the lesson to memory. The more Fu Hanzheng explained, the more he understood why Apothecary required far more than memorizing the names and effects of medicinal herbs.

He glanced at the countless plants surrounding them and realized that every one could potentially have several identifying characteristics that needed to be studied together.

Fu Hanzheng smiled when he noticed his disciple’s thoughtful expression and pointed toward another section of the garden.

"You have learned how to observe, but there is still one sense you have not used. Do you know which one?"