I Grind to Martial Saint

Han Yuan hadn’t expected to run into Zhang Cang here, so he found a teahouse where they could sit and catch up.

As it turned out, after leaving Zheng Family Village, Zhang Cang had been traveling throughout Cangshui County, practicing medicine and saving lives.

He had arrived in Wushan County Town not long ago, and upon discovering the epidemic, he decided to stay. He wanted to do his part to resolve the plague as quickly as possible.

Han Yuan simply said he had come to Wushan County Town to find someone.

Zhang Cang wasn’t the prying type, so he didn’t press for details.

Recalling the scene from earlier, Han Yuan asked softly, ”Is the epidemic in Wushan County Town that difficult to handle?”

”They call it an epidemic, but from the symptoms I’ve observed lately, it looks more like an infestation of poisonous insects.”

Zhang Cang picked up his teacup, took a sip, and sighed.

”Poisonous insects?” Han Yuan looked skeptical.

”Yes... For example, in the Southern Mang Land of the Great Ling Dynasty, the forests are dense and the climate is hot, humid, and miasmic. Many terrible poisonous insects breed there.”

”But Wushan County is far from the Southern Mang Land. While its mountain forests are dense, the climate isn’t hot and humid. So many poisonous insects shouldn’t be appearing here.”

Zhang Cang said gravely.

Han Yuan understood what Zhang Cang was getting at.

’The ’poisonous insects’ he’s talking about are probably some kind of parasite that absorbs nutrients from the human body.’

’So strange...’

Han Yuan’s eyes filled with suspicion.

”That’s not all... there’s something even stranger.”

”Here in Wushan County, there’s a group calling themselves the Wangling Sect.”

Zhang Cang’s voice lowered as he spoke of the Wangling Sect.

”The Wangling Sect...”

”What are their origins? Are they a branch of your Taoist School?”

Han Yuan asked offhandedly.

The Great Ling Dynasty was vast, and with Evil Spirits causing havoc, it was only natural for all sorts of beliefs to spring up.

’Most of them are just out to swindle money from the common folk, though.’

”Definitely not.”

”The Wangling Sect reveres a so-called Yellow Springs Saint Mother. They claim she can eliminate all calamities and illnesses, and even guide people across the Yellow Springs to paradise after death.”

”That’s not a Divine Spirit worshipped by the Taoist School at all. It’s some unrecognized deity that popped up out of nowhere.”

Zhang Cang stated emphatically.

Han Yuan didn’t doubt Zhang Cang’s expertise.

After all, the man studied the Daoist Scriptures day and night; he certainly wouldn’t be mistaken about something like this.

”So, what’s so strange about this Wangling Sect?”

Han Yuan asked, intrigued.

”The epidemic in Wushan County Town is very tricky. I’ve been here for days, and I’ve only managed to find a few leads.”

”But the people from the Wangling Sect claim that drinking their talismanic water will cure any illness or disaster.”

Zhang Cang said in a low voice.

”Isn’t that the standard trick for charlatans in the Martial World?”

”Is there something different about it?”

Han Yuan asked, surprised.

”Yes... very different.”

”After drinking the Wangling Sect’s talismanic water, the illness actually shows signs of improvement.”

”I’ve observed it many times. It’s true.”

Zhang Cang said earnestly.

”The Wangling Sect’s talismanic water is that miraculous?”

Han Yuan frowned.

”Yes... That’s why so many people in Wushan County now believe in the Wangling Sect.”

Zhang Cang nodded, then added, ”But there’s another strange thing. The moment they stop drinking the talismanic water, their condition rapidly deteriorates.”

”So once you start drinking the talismanic water... you have to keep drinking it. You can never stop.”

Upon hearing this, Han Yuan’s eyes glinted as a thought seemed to strike him.

”In that case... this Wangling Sect is definitely strange.”

Han Yuan’s tone grew serious.

”Exactly... I’ve warned some people not to drink the talismanic water.”

”But now, not a single person believes me.”

Zhang Cang shook his head and sighed.

”They might not believe you, but I do.”

Han Yuan smiled, then asked, ”Zhang Cang, do you know where the Wangling Sect usually swindles people?”

”Over in the Kaiyu Road area.”

”It’s the poorest part of Wushan County. Almost every household there believes in the Wangling Sect.”

Zhang Cang said gravely.

”How about you take me there for a look?”

Han Yuan asked with a smile.

”Of course.”

”But what are you planning to do?”

Zhang Cang asked.

”I just want to see for myself whether this Wangling Sect is a force for good or evil.”

A cold smirk played on Han Yuan’s lips.

After leaving the teahouse, the two of them headed quickly toward Kaiyu Road.

At the end of Kaiyu Road was an open area, currently packed with a large crowd.

Most of the people looked sickly, but their expressions were fervent as they knelt on the ground, ceaselessly chanting a strange scripture.

”Yellow Springs Saint Mother, deliver me from the sea of suffering.”

”Yellow Springs Saint Mother, deliver me from the sea of suffering.”

At the far end of the open area stood a makeshift Dharma Platform.

An old man in a dark Magic Robe with a gentle face sat cross-legged on the platform. His hands formed a Dharma Seal, and he too was chanting a Daoist Scripture.

”That person is the Mage of the Wangling Sect.”

”He calls himself the Master of Difficulties, and claims his Magical Power is divine.”

Zhang Cang and Han Yuan whispered from a hidden corner.

”Is he the one who makes the talismanic water?”

Han Yuan asked.

”Yes... Just keep watching and you’ll see.”

Zhang Cang said in a low voice.

Han Yuan focused his gaze and saw that after the crowd finished chanting the strange scripture, the Master of Difficulties opened his eyes and said gently, ”You may all come and take today’s talismanic water.”

Soon, a few burly men came out carrying a large wooden barrel.

The barrel was a dark color, and its surface was covered in a dense layer of Talisman Paper.

Han Yuan squinted, trying to get a clearer look.

The Talisman Paper was covered in strange, twisted, densely packed symbols drawn with Cinnabar.

The sight of the symbols made Han Yuan feel nauseous.

In his vision, the crimson symbols seemed to come alive, transforming into writhing centipedes.

’This Talisman Paper... is really eerie.’

Having seen it with his own eyes, Han Yuan finally understood why Zhang Cang had called the Wangling Sect strange.

In fact, Han Yuan felt ’strange’ was an understatement on Zhang Cang’s part.

’Downright sinister’ was a more fitting description.

”Exactly... This Wangling Sect is up to no good.”

Zhang Cang nodded.

At that moment, the Wangling Sect followers in the clearing took out porcelain bowls they had brought with them and began to form a line in front of the talisman-covered barrel.

The Master of Difficulties stood up, ladled water from the barrel, and poured it into each believer’s bowl.

He seemed to say a few words as well.

The believer immediately fell to their knees before the Master of Difficulties and kowtowed three times, their forehead hitting the ground with loud thuds.

Only then did they take the so-called talismanic water and leave, walking away with extreme care as if afraid to spill a single drop.

Soon, all several hundred believers had received their talismanic water and departed.

But a moment later, another few hundred followers flooded in.

The Master of Difficulties sat down on his rush mat again and began guiding the newcomers in their chanting.

Han Yuan and Zhang Cang, however, had already slipped away unnoticed.

”Interesting.”

”They’re not after money, nor are they after women. They’re just handing out talismanic water for free.”

”There’s something seriously wrong with this Wangling Sect.”

Han Yuan said gravely.

”I think so too.”

”Unfortunately, I’m just one person with no influence. No one will believe me.”

Zhang Cang shook his head.

”I believe you.”

”You’ve actually been a huge help to me this time.”

Han Yuan said with a smile.

”What do you mean?”

Zhang Cang was confused.

”You’ll know in a few days.”

”Zhang Cang, you should lay low for the next few days. Don’t go out on the streets unless you have to.”

Han Yuan cautioned him.

Although Zhang Cang didn’t know why, he chose to trust Han Yuan.

”Alright. Besides, I’ve just made a bit of progress in my research on the epidemic.”

”I’ll see if I can come up with a cure in the next few days.”

Zhang Cang nodded lightly.

”Mm.”

”Where are you staying now?”

Han Yuan asked.

”I’m staying over on Beishu Street...”

Zhang Cang told him his address.

Han Yuan, in turn, told Zhang Cang to come find him at his inn if any trouble arose.

With that, the two said their goodbyes and parted ways.