"Four bowls of mutton soup—extra meat, extra broth. And four flatbreads, two plates of cold cuts!"
Zhang Guinian found a roadside stall and sat down, ordering food and drink first.
"Brother Zhang, Brother Gong." Meng Yuan cupped his fists toward the two young men who had come with Zhang Guinian.
One was Zhang Lingfeng, Zhang Guinian's clansman and junior relative. The other was named Gong Zihua, whom Meng Yuan had met earlier at the ranch.
Zhang Lingfeng and Gong Zihua returned the greeting with smiles, then the three sat down alongside Zhang Guinian.
"What exactly is this Luo Sect about?" Meng Yuan knew a fight was coming, but he still wanted to understand the whole story.
Zhang Guinian gulped down soup and said, "Little Gong, tell him. Old Nie brought him out; he's no outsider."
"We only found out ourselves these past few days." Gong Zihua possessed the bearing of a true gentleman. He stopped eating meat and drinking soup as he spoke, smiling. "We've more or less uncovered Mother Luo and the Luo Sect's background. They seem to be some branch of Buddhism, using this impoverished place to win hearts and gather followers."
"Using medical treatment to spread their teachings?" Meng Yuan asked.
"Exactly." Gong Zihua smiled faintly. "At the beginning of the second month, many people around here gradually fell ill. That was all Mother Luo's doing. Then Mother Luo stepped in to save them, gaining the allegiance of many foolish souls. That was how the Luo Sect was established."
"So that was it." When Meng Yuan had heard Sister Hua speak of Mother Luo before, he had already found the illnesses somewhat strange. Sure enough, Mother Luo had poisoned them, then treated them herself, using the favor to preach her doctrine.
Meng Yuan had dealt with Buddhist