August 21, 2024
“Is Master not around?”
Liang Qu knelt halfway on the ground, his collar uncomfortably held by Lady Xu.
Breaking free was not an option; she was older, had never practiced martial arts, and it wouldn't be good if she got hurt.
“That's right, not here. He went to Tide River County and won't be back for ten days or half a month. Not only your Master, but your Second Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Sister, and Sixth Senior Brother went along too.”
Liang Qu lowered his head, furrowing his brows.
Leaving at such a crucial time didn't sit well with him.
“Feeling like there's a conspiracy, isn't it?”
“Yes, huh?” Liang Qu nodded instinctively but then realized something was off, so he looked up at Lady Xu in confusion. “How did you know, Mistress?”
“It's a classic 'drawing the tiger away from the mountain' strategy.” Lady Xu replied calmly. “A few days ago, the magistrate of Tide River County sent his eldest son over, claiming to have discovered some Water Baptism Sect cultists. After a month-long investigation by official detectives, they verified the location. To avoid accidents, he invited your Master to oversee the operation. Such timing, doesn't it seem just too convenient?”
“What is the Water Baptism Sect?”
“It's an old dog, hiding in the vast waters, mostly remnants of the former dynasty who dream of revival.”
“And Master agreed?”
“Yes, the magistrate offered many benefits, and at the time, we didn’t sense anything unusual.”
“If it's truly a ploy, does that mean the magistrate is involved as well?”
“Hard to say. If he is, informing us would only risk alerting the enemy. If not, it might well be a scheme by the Water Baptism Sect to sow distrust among us.”
Nan Di approached gracefully with a tray, carrying a small medicine bottle.
Lady Xu took it, removed the red stopper, and poured out three pills the size of fish eyes.
“Open your mouth.”
“Mistress, there's no need.”
“When I say open, you open.”
Reluctantly, Liang Qu opened his mouth and was promptly given a pill.
“There, good.”
Then, Lady Xu pulled away the bandages on his shoulder and chest, crushed a pill over each wound, and applied it directly.
It was remarkable.
The wound felt warm immediately and began to heal at a speed much faster than a lotus root could regenerate.
Such extravagance for minor injuries!
Liang Qu felt a pang of guilt.
He had grown used to being frugal and felt it was a waste.
“This bottle contains ten pills in total. I've used three. The remaining ones are yours. Don't hesitate to use them if you're injured. No one knows when accidents might happen. Don’t allow yourself to remain in a weakened state.”
Liang Qu bowed his head. “Disciple understands.”
Lady Xu reclined on her chair. “If it is truly the Water Baptism Sect, I suspect they’re related to the mountain spirit incident. You know mountain spirits can form a fetal pearl, right?”
“I know.”
“Good, it seems you’ve been diligent in your studies. The mountain spirit’s pearl forms quickly, draining the blood and energy of the host. The stronger the host, the more it absorbs, and the stronger the resulting mountain spirit becomes.
If extracted before it hatches, it’s a superior medicinal treasure. If an alchemist knows how, they can refine several fetal pearls into a Fetal Pearl Pill. The Water Baptism Sect did this before with astounding effects.
Just one batch of pills could turn an ordinary person into a Galloping Horse Martial Master on the spot, with unseen potential limits. Back then, they massacred entire villages for this. The founding emperor was furious, sending the elderly general Xu Youguang to eradicate them.
I was just a teenager but remember it well. Since then, the Water Baptism Sect hasn’t shown itself for decades. I suspect the mountain spirit in Righteous Prosperity City wasn’t a coincidence but rather a scheme buried by the Water Baptism Sect long ago.
Our River God sacrifice might have prematurely disturbed it, waking it up.”
Liang Qu was worried.
How could such a powerful boss exist in what seemed like a starting area for him?
“If it’s a ploy to draw Master away, can't we get him back quickly?”
“Xiao Jiu, you just said you crawled out of a mud pit, yet how can you be so naive? If it is truly a diversion, would they let your Master come back so easily?”
“Then, Mistress, what do you suggest I do?”
Lady Xu rolled her eyes. “How would I know? I’m just a defenseless old lady who reads a lot. Ask your senior brothers. If Xiao Second, Xiao Fifth, and Xiao Sixth aren't around, aren’t there still Xiao Third, Xiao Fourth, Xiao Seventh, and Xiao Eighth? Five grown men yet you expect me to come up with a plan? Shame on you.”
“Since that's the case, I’ll go to the Martial Hall and discuss with my senior brothers.”
As Liang Qu prepared to leave, Lady Xu pulled him back.
“Why rush? Have dinner first. If my guess is right, they won’t act immediately. Your Master just left two days ago. They fear he might suddenly return.”
Truly, she was worthy of being the wife of a Tiger-Hunting Grand Martial Master; her poise rivaled that of seasoned generals even without martial training.
“Better not, I have a friend watching our boat outside.”
“Have a servant watch it and invite your friend to dine with us.”
“Is that really appropriate?”
“Hmm?”
“Yes, yes, of course. I’ll go call him.”
“If you dare sneak off, don't you ever come back through this door again.”
Liang Qu tripped over the doorstep as he hurried to the riverbank and brought back Chen Jiechang.
“Such hospitality, I’m truly grateful.”
Chen Jiechang emerged from Yang Manor in a daze, clutching two small bottle of pills tightly.
He feared dropping or damaging them.
Not only had they dined on sumptuous delicacies, but they had also each received two bottles of precious medicines!
At the dinner table, upon hearing how Chen Jiechang and Li Libo had assisted Liang Qu during the mountain spirit incident, Lady Xu generously gifted them each a bottle of Blood Qi Pills, equivalent in effect to a ten-pound Red Blood Perch!
With the Martial Hall’s medicinal soup, these two really had a shot at becoming martial artists!
Chen Jiechang expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, Ah Shui!”
“Oh, thank me for what? You should thank my Mistress. I should be the one thanking you. Without you two handing over the knives, I would’ve been in real danger.”
“I just wanted to do something.”
“That’s enough.”
Liang Qu clapped Chen Jiechang on the shoulder.
Between men, a gesture sufficed over so many words.
Back at the Martial Hall, Liang Qu found Xiang Changsong and Hu Qi, recounting his entire conversation with Lady Xu.
Xiang Changsong crossed his arms, his hand supporting his chin. “Water Baptism Sect? I have no memory, never heard about it.”
“I’ve heard some rumors. They match what Mistress knows. Supposedly, their Fetal Pearl Pills created over a dozen Galloping Horse Martial Masters. With their battle formations, they held off three Wolf Smoke Martial Masters. The key is their rapid power boost -- just feed them lives, and Martial Masters are produced endlessly.”
Xiang Changsong shook his head. “Records might exaggerate. Ordinary folks, without martial foundation or realm expertise, cannot simply harness such power and execute formations to counter three higher-realm martial artists. It's just not plausible.”
“True, perhaps the dozen or so were already in the Flesh Barrier or Breaking Realms, possessing foundational skills. With the Fetal Pearl Pills inducing power surges, the results seemed mighty. So, the pills are exceedingly potent, but not godlike.”
Xiang Changsong nodded. “Based on Xiao Jiu’s account, our primary task now is to identify the mastermind, extract locations and plans for the mountain spirits, and eliminate them, solving the problem.”
“The challenge is locating the mastermind, whom we don’t know. Furthermore, should we consider inviting the other two Martial Halls for assistance?”
(Chapter End)