Peach Blossom Divine Medical God Chapter 1996 - 1970: Herbal Market (Part 2)

With renewed urgency, he inquired again, "Old man, who sent the message and instructed you to go?"

"Naturally, it was a disciple from Lion Tiger Mountain; he arrived late last night with great haste, appearing quite urgent," Daoist Liu responded, his gaze already fixed on the path leading to Lion Tiger Mountain.

"And where is that disciple now?"

"He? He departed immediately after delivering the message last night," Daoist Liu stated.

Chen Yang's suspicion immediately turned sharp upon hearing this.

If Lion Tiger Mountain had dispatched someone with a message, why would they have that disciple rush back so hastily?

The logic didn't quite align.

A sense of unease settled upon Chen Yang, though he lacked concrete proof.

"Old man, has it occurred to you that this might be a trap?" Chen Yang voiced his concern directly.

Daoist Liu paused, then erupted in laughter. "Chen Yang, my young friend, what are you getting at? This humble Daoist possesses no enemies. Who would go to such lengths to ensnare me? Furthermore, I verified the individual's identity; he was indeed a disciple from Lion Tiger Mountain, without a doubt."

"Rest assured. Once this humble Daoist returns, you shall prepare to receive my teachings."

Daoist Liu clapped Chen Yang on the shoulder with a broad grin, his excitement palpable.

Despite Chen Yang's lingering doubts, Daoist Liu's firm words made it difficult for him to press the issue further.

As a precaution, he offered a suggestion: "To be absolutely safe, I propose Ao Min accompanies you, just in case."

"Hmm, that's wise. It's better to be cautious. I shall bring that bothersome loach along; it might give me an edge should any trouble arise." Daoist Liu considered this for a moment before agreeing with a smile.

Having gathered his belongings, he promptly sought out Ao Min.

Ao Min's cultivation had seen remarkable progress during this period, reaching the mid-stage of Gathering Spirit.

This advancement wasn't due to exceptional talent alone; rather, it stemmed from the cultivation base he already possessed before being sealed.

His power had not been fully restored immediately after breaking the seal.

Through continued recuperation, his original strength had been gradually re-established.

"Old man, you wish for me to accompany you to Lion Tiger Mountain? Are you jesting? This king has no obligation to you whatsoever," Ao Min declared with an air of utter disdain upon hearing Daoist Liu's request.

Witnessing Ao Min's blatant disrespect, Daoist Liu's expression soured.

"You insolent loach, don't be ungrateful. This humble Daoist provides you with food, shelter, and lodging – consider it a significant favor," Daoist Liu retorted icily.

"Hmph, so what? This king still refuses to be your bodyguard," Ao Min scoffed, his face a mask of contempt.

"You..." Daoist Liu pointed at Ao Min, his temper about to flare, but Chen Yang intervened to mediate.

These two were quite a pair, perpetually bickering whenever they encountered each other.

"Enough, enough, cease this quarreling, both of you. Ao Min, simply accompany him this one time," Chen Yang interjected.

"Hmph, old man, since Brother Chen Yang has spoken, this king will begrudgingly offer you passage. Understand that this is for Brother Chen Yang's sake, not yours," Ao Min proclaimed loudly.

Daoist Liu's face darkened, but he remained silent, acknowledging his reliance on Ao Min at this moment.

"Alright, enough arguing. The sooner you depart, the sooner you will return," Chen Yang said, a hint of amusement in his voice, before sending them on their way.

Driven by his eagerness to recruit a disciple, Daoist Liu departed without delay.

Ao Min accompanied him on the journey to Lion Tiger Mountain.

As the two figures faded into the distance, a subtle apprehension flickered within Chen Yang, though he quickly dismissed it.

He departed from Green Cloud Taoist Temple and made his way back to the village.

En route, he stopped by Zhang Xueying's residence to check on Xiaoxiao and Lingling.

Following a full day of treatment yesterday, their conditions had improved substantially, with only minor residual symptoms and slight fatigue apparent.

The symptoms of sweating and shivering had completely vanished.

"Your recovery is progressing admirably. After today, you should be fully back to normal by tomorrow," Chen Yang confirmed after his examination.

Jiang Miaoyan's face brightened considerably upon hearing this. "Brother Chen Yang, thank you."

"There's no need for such formalities between us," Chen Yang replied, waving a dismissive hand.

"Brother Chen Yang, it's nearly noon. Would you care to stay for lunch? Miaoyan and I will prepare it together," Zhang Xueying added, her smile conveying genuine warmth.

"I must decline this time. I have other matters to attend to this afternoon. Perhaps another day,"

Chen Yang politely refused, as his afternoon was already committed.

After a few quick words were exchanged, Chen Yang departed from Zhang Xueying's residence and immediately headed towards the county town.

Upon arrival, his first stop was a restaurant to meet with Wang Qingyue.

Wang Qingyue had emerged from her seclusion some time ago but had been occupied with matters in the county, making her visits to Chen Yang infrequent.

Her delight was evident upon Chen Yang's unexpected appearance.

She even took the effort to dress up slightly before accompanying him to a restaurant for a meal.

Chen Yang's visit wasn't spontaneous; he had several inquiries for Wang Qingyue.

Specifically, three matters.

Firstly, intelligence regarding the Five Poisons Cult.

Although the Secret Bureau was handling the Five Poisons Cult's affairs, the imminent danger necessitated Chen Yang gathering more information.

Secondly, his concern was about Gu Xuanyu.

He recalled hearing that Gu Xuanyu had ended his seclusion previously, yet complete silence had followed, which struck him as peculiar.

This quietude prompted a feeling that a significant event was brewing.

Thirdly, he intended to leverage Wang Qingyue's connections to gain a comprehensive understanding of the power structures within the province.

He was intensely curious about Liu Ruyan's origins.

His aim was to explore this avenue to learn more about the cultivation world.

Naturally, Wang Qingyue shared all the knowledge she possessed regarding Chen Yang's three questions.

"I've also heard whispers of individuals from the Five Poisons Cult being sighted near the county recently. However, this organization operates with extreme mystery, leaving me with little concrete information."

"My understanding is limited to their cultivation techniques being exceptionally peculiar and their poison mastery being unparalleled globally. Extreme caution is advised when dealing with them."

"Regarding Gu Xuanyu, I'm equally unclear about his current circumstances. After his return from the Capital City, he made a single appearance in the provincial capital. His present activities remain unknown to me."

...

Throughout the course of their meal, Wang Qingyue imparted a significant amount of information to Chen Yang.

She addressed and clarified nearly all of Chen Yang's lingering doubts and curiosities.

This meal proved highly fruitful for Chen Yang, offering him substantial insights into the cultivation world.

"Chen Yang, you must exercise considerable vigilance these days. The situation surrounding the county is exceptionally volatile. The emergence of the Five Poisons Cult and Gu Xuanyu's potential involvement pose significant risks that cannot be ignored," Wang Qingyue cautioned him.

Chen Yang acknowledged her warning with a nod, fully understanding the gravity of the situation.

"I am aware. My inquiries about the Five Poisons Cult were merely casual, nothing more," Chen Yang replied with a smile.

"The most crucial aspect is to avoid any confrontation. The Five Poisons Cult possesses unfathomable strength, and entanglement with them invariably leads to immense trouble," Wang Qingyue stated, taking a sip of water.

"By the way, Qingyue, what has kept you so occupied lately?" Having concluded their discussion on serious matters, Chen Yang inquired with a smile about her recent activities.

Wang Qingyue offered a faint smile. "What else could I be doing? I'm continuously assisting my brother with various tasks every single day."

"It's incredibly tedious and offers no enjoyment whatsoever."

Her tone clearly conveyed the mundane nature of her current life.

Hearing this, Chen Yang decided not to probe further and prepared to settle the bill and depart.

However, at that precise moment, as if a sudden thought struck her, Wang Qingyue addressed Chen Yang again. "Oh, right, Chen Yang. I recently heard something from a friend. I believe, since we have leisure today, we could perhaps join in the festivities. Who knows, we might even gain something valuable."

"What sort of event is it?"

Chen Yang looked at her expectantly.

"You haven't heard? They've established a medicinal market in the western part of the county. Numerous physicians and medicinal merchants attended the opening ceremony. I've heard it's quite the bustling occasion," Wang Qingyue explained.

"I genuinely had not heard anything about it," Chen Yang responded with a smile, shaking his head.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingyue playfully teased him. "Then you are truly out of touch with your peers in the outside world. An event directly related to your profession, and you remain uninformed?"

"So, how about we go have a look together later? We can wander around, and I can purchase some herbs. With you present, you can help me inspect them, ensuring I don't get swindled."