The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 104 - 94: Medicine King Temple at the Foot of Zhongnan Mountain

Chapter 104: Chapter 94: Medicine King Temple at the Foot of Zhongnan Mountain

Former Right Chancellor Lu Kang!

To be precise, you should add the word "former" before it.

This fellow was exactly Zhou Pan’s backer.

Li Yan even suggested to Zhang Shi Tong to take this old man down.

This person could well be described as a great avaricious official from Guanzhong. Like Zhou Pan, who had a knack for money-grubbing, there was more than one such opponent, and Li Yan was nearly deceived by his pretense of integrity.

Seeing the odd expressions on the faces of the few, Lu Kang thought they were awed by his identity and slightly shook his head, "Gentlemen need not concern yourselves. I’ve retired and returned to my homeland, no longer holding the position of Right Chancellor."

"Oh, excuse us then."

Li Yan and the others exchanged a glance before directly turning to go back inside.

Lu Kang was clearly surprised by their reaction.

The middle-aged bodyguard Feng Ping whispered beside him, "Master, these people are rough types from the pugilistic world, ignorant of proper manners, you needn’t pay them any heed."

Lu Kang then glanced at the sky and nodded, "Looks like the rain will stop ahead of schedule. Let’s set off now. We can rest at Zhongnan Mountain’s official inn and it will be a good opportunity to take the wife and daughter up the mountain to offer our prayers."

"Yes, Master."

Bodyguard Feng Ping bowed respectfully and then proceeded with the arrangements. Not long after, he led the team and left the desolate residence.

"Pfft!"

After they left, Sha Lifei couldn’t hold back a laugh, "This old fart, still acting all high and mighty even after stepping down, disgusting!"

Wang Daoxuan also laughed helplessly, shaking his head saying, "I observed his facial features, a full Heavenly Court, a thick Earth Store, eyes clear and spirited, signs of a wealthy and magnanimous man. Who would have thought he was in fact a wolf in sheep’s clothing?"

"It really is true that appearances can be deceiving..."

They needed to deal with Zhou Pan, and naturally had gathered some information on Lu Kang.

This former Right Chancellor rose from a humble background to prominence through half a lifetime in the bureaucratic seas and was notoriously dark-hearted and greedy. In a short time, he made the Lu Family one of the most known major clans in Shangluo.

The key point was that he was slippery enough to get involved in many things and yet always managed to extricate himself cleanly, without a trace of mud sticking to his body; otherwise, the powerful Li family wouldn’t have found him such a headache.

If not for some bad luck, he might well have become the Governor of Shan State.

Sha Lifei’s eyes gleamed as he spoke with a playful laugh, "This old man, having been an official for many years, has accumulated a fortune. Having angered the newly-appointed Governor, he’s like a big fat sheep ripe for the shearing."

"Cutting him down would not only bring us money but also a reputation of meting out justice for Heaven. The strong men in the Green Forest Road would probably flock to us."

"When that happens, we better stay far away to avoid getting blood spattered on us!"

Li Yan also added with a smile, "You’re right. With this official Lu drawing attention, we can also pass through Niubei Ridges safely and reach Fengyang sooner."

"Let’s wait another two hours before we go."

With a plan in place, the group was naturally not in a hurry.

When they set off at the hour of Si, the sky had cleared completely.

After descending the slope and taking a few curves, the road became difficult.

This ancient Qin Chu road was old, and at some places, the blue stones had already shattered, intermingled with soil. After the rain, the road was pitted and uneven, and also largely uphill, causing the horses to slip often.

At that time, the porters showcased their abilities.

Shouldering their carrying poles and ropes, they lined up on both sides of the carriage, cooperating with each other, while pushing the vehicle and varying their footsteps. It seemed to be a chaotic left and right, but the weighty coffin remained stable.

Even when passing through rutted paths, it was steady as ever.

"Excellent skill!"

Li Yan couldn’t help but praise them.

Wang Daoxuan laughed and said, "Indeed, as the saying goes in the funeral business, eight out of ten rely on the porter. This line of work is strongest in the Capital, where they practice carrying the imperial bier. Seventy-two men must work together carrying a lone heavy Zitan wood, with a bowl of water on it, training until they can pass through any ruts and hollows without spilling a drop!"

"That place is called the Lucky Place."

The head porter, Layman Yue, laughed heartily and said, "Their skills are way beyond ours, with many roles like ’eye’, ’flag’, ’canopy’, ’follower’, ’bearer’. Not only are their skills exceptional, but there are also those from the Mystical Sect among them."

Speaking, he lowered his voice mysteriously, "I’ve heard a rumor that over ten years ago when a great drought struck the North, the Yellow River ran dry, coinciding with the Earth Dragon turning over, revealing a Stone Dragon Coffin that caused strange phenomena and claimed many lives."

"It was the people of the Lucky Place who, in cooperation with the Taixuan Orthodox Sect, performed rituals along the way, carrying the Stone Dragon Coffin into Wangwu Mountain to suppress it, calming it down..."

Wang Daoxuan, full of curiosity, "The impoverished Daoist has also vaguely heard about this, but those in the know are scanty and all refused to discuss it. Could Layman Yue be privy to the details?"

Layman Yue smiled bitterly and said, "I’m just an ordinary person. Although familiar with some taboos of the trade, when real troubles arise, I can only watch helplessly. I wouldn’t know these kinds of secrets."

"Our patron deity in this profession is the God of the Destitute. After all, we’re at the bottom rung. If it weren’t for lack of choice, who would want to do this? Just scraping by is good enough."

Seeing his mood, Wang Daoxuan quickly changed the subject and pointed to a distant high mountain, smiling, "Since we’ve got nothing else to do, let me tell a story to pass the time."

"The Medicine King, his honor, secludes himself in Zhongnan Mountain year-round. One night, an old man sought his help, claiming to be a dragon from the Dragon Palace at the bottom of Kunming Pond in Chang’an. Because of the dryness and lack of rain for several months, a Hu monk was performing rituals by the pond to pray for rain, prompting the people to burn incense and kneel in prayer."

"However, this monk actually harbored ulterior motives, wanting to incite the wrath of the people to kill the dragon and extract its brain for medicine. The Medicine King said, ’Saving you isn’t difficult, but within the Dragon Palace at the bottom of Kunming Pond, there are three thousand sacred medical prescriptions. Lend them to me for a glimpse, and I will rid you of this calamity.’"

"The dragon hesitated, saying these prescriptions came from the heavens, and the Heavenly Emperor strictly forbade their arbitrary dissemination. But the Medicine King insisted, so the dragon, desperate to survive, finally agreed. Shortly after, the water in Kunming Pond surged, and the Hu monk perished from his fury."

"This prescription became the ’Thousand Gold Prescriptions,’ saving countless lives afterward."

Sha Lifei interjected, "I’ve heard about that, ’The Medicine King Subduing the Dragon’ legend."

Li Yan seemed thoughtful, "I heard this story in my childhood too, but looking back now, it seems a bit odd."

"The people of this world are all like Ye Gong, who loves dragons. If there really were dragons in Kunming Pond, I suspect the entire Mystical Sect would be in an uproar. Also, that Hu monk’s methods suggest he was after treasure, merely using rain prayer as a pretext."

"That’s possible too."

Wang Daoxuan laughed, "In olden days, Chang’an shone brightly to the four corners, gathering mystics from the Mystical Sect, including those from the Western Regions and the South Seas. Perhaps there’s more to the story, but it’s beyond our knowledge."

"The reason I’m telling this story is different. Although we can’t go up Zhongnan Mountain to offer our prayers and visit the recluses, there is a Medicine King Temple at its base with a thriving incense offering. We could stop there and light three sticks of incense."

Li Yan nodded, "The Medicine King’s virtues are boundless, naturally we should pay our respects."

Old driver Meng, who had already hopped off the carriage to lead the horses, diligently avoiding those slippery and dangerous slopes, heard the conversation and fell silent for a moment. "My grandson, I don’t know what ailment he has contracted, but from birth he’s been a simpleton, I’ll also go light a stick of incense."

Ascending the mountain was like this; with a goal in sight, the journey felt more vigorous.

Just after the hour of Shen (3-5 p.m.), the group had already arrived at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.

The mountains rolled on continuously, veiled in clouds and mist, with the forest so still and deep. Several winding paths snaked into the mountains, obscured by the dense trees and white fog.

Upon reaching this place, it was evident that the number of people had significantly increased.

Firstly, there were many groups coming to offer incense, with only a part coming from Guanzhong. Many others had come from thousands of miles away in different states.

Despite the long journey that left both men and horses weary, this was merely the starting point. Entering the mountains would be an ordeal in itself. So, people chose to rest at the mountain’s foot first, gather their strength, then progress to worship.

Secondly, ancient pathways through the Qinling were vital for connecting the north and south, with supporting facilities like mountain passes, post stations, and shops set up along the way.

At this location, for instance, there stood a Zhongnan Inn, surrounded by several hostels and tea houses. There were even shops that specialized in selling incense and candles, naturally drawing quite a crowd.

Li Yan’s feelings, however, ran deeper.

He looked at the Zhongnan range, his eyes filled with awe.

In his past life, he too had visited, but with Divine Skills at his disposal, the sight was entirely different.

Wang Daoxuan had told him that all famous mountains and rivers, those Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, connect to the earth’s energy below and hook to the sun, moon, and stars above, causing Innate Astral Qi to converge and form a "stance."

Zhongnan Mountain was not listed among the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands because it was not a standalone peak but part of the mid-section of the Qinling range. Its primary peak, Taibai Mountain, was known as "Xuande Cave Heaven," while Cuihua Mountain was "Western City’s Taixuan Supreme True Cave Heaven."

That is to say, he had not yet reached the core area.

Even so, he could smell a scent of pure and vigorous Qi, with a hint of clarity yet majestic and vast, like a giant standing between heaven and earth, the pressure hitting him squarely in the face.

Seeing this, Wang Daoxuan could not help but chuckle, "Just get used to it, and it will be fine. The Qinling is a great Dragon Vein; there are many similar areas.

"You have the Divine Smelling Skill, that’s why you feel it so intensely. I had no such fortune and could only experience it through the aid of a magic platform."

"The practice of Mystical Sect is not solely for spells and Divine Skills. Just to behold this vast world is to make one’s journey in the Human World worthwhile..."

"Daoist is right," Li Yan came back to his senses and sighed, looking forward to the Cave Heaven Blessed Land even more.

Their group, since they were on their way to a funeral, was clearly not welcomed anywhere – not by hostels and certainly not by tea houses or shops.

Understanding the situation, they parked their carriage far off the road in the woods, agreeing to take turns guarding it in shifts, proceeding to offer prayers at the Medicine King Temple before continuing on their way.

Given the circumstances, aside from rundown temples and deserted houses, they could only camp in the open fields as long as it didn’t rain. They were able to travel both day and night.

"Brother Yan, look!"

Sha Lifei suddenly pointed to the right.

That was where the court post station was located.

Post stations were among the most important facilities of the court, varying in size.

Large post stations typically included the hostel, postal palace, Posthouse Governor residence, military officer hall, Horse God Temple, stable, storage, and watchtowers; walls were built around them, and with the local populace living nearby, they resembled small towns.

Due to space constraints, Zhongnan Inn was only a small post station but was nevertheless fully equipped. Over the courtyard wall, one could hear the neighing of war horses from the nearby stable.

At the gate of the post station, the Posthouse Governor was sending off a group of people with a respectful demeanor; it was none other than Lu Kang and his family, along with their entourage.

Li Yan was momentarily stunned, then shook his head, "We miscalculated. Had we known they were heading to the mountain, why wait those two hours?"

Since it had come to this, they ceased further deliberation and followed Wang Daoxuan’s lead to depart.

"They are heading into the mountain."

Wang Daoxuan commented upon seeing the path Lu Kang and the others had taken, shaking his head, "A trip up the mountain will take at least two days. It appears that this Master Lu is in no hurry at all."

"Let’s go; this way leads to the Medicine King Temple."

True to his word, the Medicine King Temple was not far, just around the bend along the mountain path, situated in a hollow. The temple occupied a considerable area in a tranquil environment.

At this time, there were already many pilgrims coming and going, all with solemn expressions.

A young man, probably offering incense for a relative, knelt and prayed with tears in his eyes, murmuring incessantly, "King of Medicine, my mother has been bedridden with illness, growing thinner by the day; I pray for your blessing for her speedy recovery..."

Like him, there were many others offering incense.

Perhaps moved by the atmosphere, the driver, old Meng head, also seemed a bit teary-eyed. He offered incense and bowed with great devotion on his face.

Seeing this, Li Yan also grew contemplative.

To be honest, he did not know how effective offering incense really was. Those able to gather Divine Astral within the mundane world were Earth Spirits, able to protect a region from the intrusion of Evil Spirits, which was blessing enough.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death all follow the laws of nature; to say that lighting a stick of incense could cure someone’s ailment would likely be too much even for a true Immortal; the Heavenly Dao would fall into disarray.

Perhaps the best one could do was to comfort the human heart.

No matter how it was put, the Medicine King’s boundless merit had saved countless lives. Even if only in remembrance, true and sincere veneration was proper.

With these thoughts, Li Yan took three sticks of incense, lit them, and with great respect, placed them in the incense burner before turning his gaze to the Divine Statue of the Medicine King, with kind white eyebrows, holding a gourd and staff, looking down upon the mortal realm as if with a trace of pity.

Excellent craftsmanship...

Such Divine Statues were usually cast by craftsmen of the Mystical Sect, then consecrated by invocations and worshipped in temples. Over time, they absorbed the Power of Incense and gathered Divine Astral.

If the statue was not well-made, the strength of the incense it attracted would naturally not be extraordinary.

Li Yan inwardly praised the workmanship and prepared to bow in worship.

He could already smell the rich scent of incense from the statute, a sign that so many offerings had indeed coalesced into Divine Astral.

But just at that moment, the Hook Seal on his left hand suddenly became hot.

Li Yan’s vision blurred and a hallucination manifested:

The lights around him dimmed, the wooden sacrificial table rapidly decayed into dust and dissipated, revealing an ancient and worn stone platform.

Atop the platform sat an old man, garbed exactly like the Medicine King, except for his face.

Yellow fur with black spots, wide mouth with tusks, and white ringed eyes.

And on the forehead, a bold "王"!