The Unity Society

Crow Mountain's Inner City.

The Mountain Gang's Internal Affairs Hall.

"Hall Master, your subordinate has returned."

"How did the investigation go?"

"He Xiuyong had no wounds from sharp weapons at all. He was covered in fist and kick marks—beaten to death.

His face was smeared with a layer of lime, and we swept up quite a bit from the ground.

By our rough estimate, the killer's strength wasn't much greater than He Xiuyong's."

"Do you think this was revenge, or an attack on the Mountain Gang?"

"Your subordinate checked the warehouse. The bolt was intact, the dust on the crates was undisturbed, and not a single valuable item was missing."

The subordinate paused, then added:

"Nothing happened in the villages by the other exits from Crow Mountain, either.

Your subordinate would venture that this was probably a personal grudge.

The killer had a clear target: He Xiuyong himself."

The hall fell silent for a moment. Only the candles crackled.

"...All right."

The Hall Master's fingers came to a stop on the desk. He said in a low voice:

"Keep investigating and find out who He Xiuyong has recently fallen out with.

I'll report the findings to the Gang Leader first. Things in the south are getting worse by the day.

Better safe than sorry."

The hour of the Tiger.

The West District of the Outer City. The slaughterhouse blazed with light.

Butchers swung their knives, accompanied by dull thuds as bones cracked and flesh split.

The rank stench of animal hide and blood made people's nostrils tighten.

Li Yun arrived on time, collected his paperwork, and prepared to haul a load of meat.

As luck would have it, he ran into Zhuo Yong. After greeting him, he asked:

"Senior Brother, do you know what 'Monster Beast Meat' and 'Blood Ginseng' are?"

Zhuo Yong froze, as if something had occurred to him. His expression turned a little envious.

"I've heard of them, but I've never eaten either.

All things possess a spirit. Some animals can cultivate just like us.

They're divided into nine ranks according to their strength.

A first-rank monster beast is about as strong as we are. A second-rank one is comparable to Bright Force, and so on.

Monster Beast Meat is quite valuable. One catty costs at least a hundred taels of silver.

I hear it's incredibly nourishing.

Too bad I don't even know where they sell it.

They certainly don't have any at our slaughterhouse."

After a pause, Zhuo Yong continued:

"As for Blood Ginseng, I hear it's remarkably effective for building up qi and blood.

The price depends on its quality and age.

A one-year-old Blood Ginseng, about the size of a finger, costs fifty taels."

Tsk, tsk.

Fu Huaixing really was willing to spend on Zhu Daqi.

No wonder Xiao Shun had seemed a little off yesterday.

Li Yun thought to himself:

Looks like I might have to fight for first place in the Body Tempering Realm at the year-end tournament.

If Fu Huaixing is pleased, he might reward me with something good.

That would save me some time building up my qi and blood.

"Thanks for telling me, Senior Brother."

Zhuo Yong waved a hand, then led two workers away, pushing his own handcart.

Li Yun began his work, too.

Ever since he'd changed his route last time, Li Yun hadn't made a move again.

The Outer City was chaotic, but it hadn't completely fallen apart yet.

This time, Li Yun only needed to deliver the meat to a butcher's stall in the Outer City's North District.

As he neared his destination, Li Yun saw a strange sight.

A small alley at the crossroads ahead was packed with beggars.

Several men and women in coarse white robes ladled out hot porridge and handed it to them.

The crisp clatter of pottery bowls rose and fell:

"Drink slowly. There's plenty more."

The person leading them stood on a stone pedestal, a crescent moon embroidered on the cuff of his white sleeve.

Li Yun listened closely. The voice repeated the same words over and over, its rhythm strangely hypnotic:

"The end times are near. Only those who enter our faith will be saved."

"United in heart and deed, we shall receive divine protection."

"..."

"A bowl of thin porridge will carry you across the sea of suffering. United in heart and deed, we shall behold our god."

"White robes, untouched by worldly dust. Hand in hand, united, we shall ascend to Penglai."

"..."

This was...

Li Yun lowered his voice and told the two workers to hurry so they could leave as quickly as possible:

"Pick up the pace."

The two workers didn't understand why, but a martial artist had his reasons. All they had to do was obey.

The squeaking and creaking of the handcart drew the attention of everyone in the alley.

The workers' hearts clenched. Now they understood why the martial artist had wanted them to take a detour.

The time, the clothes, the charity porridge—it was being handed out here.

Even a fool could tell something was wrong.

Li Yun ignored them and walked straight ahead.

The workers followed close behind, not daring to breathe too loudly.

The beggars' gazes shifted back and forth between the handcart and the thin porridge in their bowls.

The faint aroma of rice suddenly seemed as bland as plain water.

Their throats bobbed as they swallowed.

But when they caught sight of Li Yun's burly frame, they hurriedly lowered their heads. Not one of them dared move a step.

The two groups passed one another. One pushed the handcart onward, while the other huddled motionless against the wall.

Only after the sound of the cart had gradually faded did the alley return to its previous atmosphere.

The white-robed man on the stone pedestal continued:

"Good people, do not fear the cold or worry about hunger."

His voice was gentle, like a warm spring breeze, yet somehow it carried through the alley:

"We are disciples of the Unity Society, sent by the divine to rescue the suffering and bring relief to the afflicted.

This porridge is sweet dew bestowed by the divine. Drink it, and your illnesses will be driven away and your strength replenished."

The porridge was soft and smooth, with a hint of sweetness. To beggars who hadn't eaten their fill in ages, it was an enormous blessing.

Some wolfed it down. Others were moved to tears, murmuring over and over:

"Thank you."

The men and women in white handed out the porridge in orderly fashion, repeating their teachings without pause:

"The end times are near. Only those who enter our faith will be saved.

United in heart and deed, we shall receive divine protection.

Together, we shall share the Vacuum Homeland."

The leader in white continued:

"The world is in turmoil, disasters strike one after another. These are all signs that the end times are near.

Human suffering is endless. Only by joining our Unity Society can you receive the divine's protection."

A woman in white walked over to an old beggar, curled up and coughing. She gently patted his back and spoke in a soft voice:

"Old man, do you know why this illness clings to you?

It's because your heart isn't sincere and you haven't received the divine's guidance.

If you enter our faith and unite in heart and deed, the divine will cleanse your sins and drive away your illness.

One day, you'll go together to the Vacuum Homeland, where there is no sickness or disaster, where food and clothing abound, and where peace lasts forever."

The old beggar coughed as if his lungs would tear. His bony hand clutched his chest, and his face turned blue-purple from the strain.

The surrounding beggars all turned to look at him.

Just then, the white-robed leader walked over. He took a yellowish-brown pill from his sleeve and held it to the old beggar's lips:

"This is sacred medicine bestowed by the divine. Take it, and you'll be well."

The old beggar hesitated, then swallowed the pill under everyone's watchful gaze.

Before long, his coughing really did stop. His face gradually relaxed, and a spark of light returned to his eyes.

"I'm better... I'm really better!"

He excitedly grabbed the white-robed man's hand:

"Immortal!

I want to join!

I want to follow the divine!"

The beggars erupted in an uproar, their faces filled with longing.

One of them immediately fell to his knees:

"Immortal, please take me in, too!

I want to enter the Vacuum Homeland!"

The leader in white helped the kneeling man up, his face bearing a compassionate smile:

"The divine loves all people. Anyone who sincerely takes refuge may enter our faith."

He gestured for a disciple beside him to bring out a stack of yellow talismans and hand them around:

"These are divine talismans. Wear one close to your body, and it will ward off evil and disaster.

Those who wish to join our faith should bring a talisman with them, and they may undergo the rite of conversion."

The beggars immediately knelt and cried out the teachings:

"The end times are near. Only those who enter our faith will be saved."

"United in heart and deed, we shall receive divine protection."

"Together, we shall share the Vacuum Homeland."

The old beggar in the crowd met the white-robed leader's gaze, then slowly lowered his head again.