According to the rules set by the elders, disciples could no longer seize herbs from one another once they were off the mountain.
The disciples felt much like students emerging from an exam hall. With the results now a foregone conclusion, there was no point in dwelling on gains and losses, and everyone began to relax.
Disciples who knew one another began to congregate, asking about each other's hauls and chatting cheerfully.
"Junior Brother Zhao, how many herbs did you get?"
A familiar voice called out from behind him. Zhao Lin didn't need to turn to know it was Zhang Xiaoshan. He stopped and waited for him to catch up, then answered casually, "Not too many."
"How many is 'not too many'?" Zhang Xiaoshan pressed.
Zhao Lin thought for a moment, then held up his thumb and index finger in the gesture for "eight."
"Only eight?"
Zhang Xiaoshan's eyes widened. "That's not great," he exclaimed. "What a shame."
"A shame about what?"
