Unity Society

Crow Mountain Inner City.

Mountain Gang Internal Affairs Hall.

"Hall Master, your subordinate has returned."

"How did the investigation go?"

"There isn't a single weapon wound on He Xiuyong; it's all fist and foot marks. He was beaten to death. His face was plastered with a layer of lime, and quite a bit was swept up from the ground as well. Roughly estimating, the killer's strength shouldn't be much greater than He Xiuyong's."

"Do you think it was a personal vendetta, or is it targeted at our Mountain Gang?"

"Your subordinate checked the warehouse. The door latch was undamaged, the dust on the cargo crates remained undisturbed, and not a single valuable item is missing."

The subordinate paused, then added:

"Nothing happened in the other villages at the exits of Crow Mountain. Your subordinate dares to guess that it should be a private grudge. The killer's target was clear; they came specifically for He Xiuyong himself."

The hall was silent for a moment, with only the "crackling" of candle flames.

"...Fine."

The Hall Master's fingertips tapped on the desk as he said in a low voice:

"Continue the investigation. Find out who He Xiuyong has been feuding with lately. I will report the results to the Gang Leader first; the situation in the south is getting worse and worse. Caution is never a mistake."

Yin Hour.

Outer City West District, slaughterhouse, brightly lit.

Butchers swung their blades, the muffled sounds of bones cracking and flesh tearing echoing out. The stench of animal fur and the smell of blood made one's nasal passages tighten.

Li Yun arrived on time, collected his slip, and prepared to escort the meat shipment. He happened to run into Zhuo Yong, and after exchanging greetings, he asked:

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

Zhuo Yong was stunned, as if he had thought of something, and his expression turned somewhat envious:

"I've heard of them, but I've never eaten them. All things have spirit; some animals can cultivate just like us. They are classified according to their strength, from the first to the ninth rank. A first-rank Monster Beast is about the same strength as us, a second-rank Monster Beast is comparable to Bright Force, and so on. Monster Beast Meat is quite valuable; one jin costs at least one hundred taels of silver. I hear this stuff is a great tonic. It's a pity, I don't even know where it's sold. At the very least, our slaughterhouse doesn't have it."

After a pause, Zhuo Yong continued:

"As for Blood Ginseng, I hear it has miraculous effects for accumulating blood and energy. It is judged by quality and age. A one-year-old Blood Ginseng, the size of a finger, costs fifty taels."

Tsk tsk.

Fu Huaixing is truly generous toward Zhu Daqi. No wonder Xiao Shun looked a bit off yesterday.

Li Yun thought to himself:

It seems that for the year-end grand competition, I might have to fight for the first place in the Body Tempering Realm. If Fu Huaixing is happy, perhaps he will reward me with something good. It would reduce the time I need to accumulate blood and energy.

"Many thanks for the information, Senior Brother."

Zhuo Yong waved his hand, took two assistants, escorted his cart, and left.

Li Yun also began to work.

Ever since the last detour, Li Yun had not made a move.

Although the Outer City was chaotic, it had not yet completely collapsed.

This time, Li Yun only needed to escort the shipment to a meat stall in the North District of the Outer City.

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

At a fork in the road ahead, a small alley was packed with beggars.

Several men and women dressed in coarse white robes were ladling hot porridge and handing it to the beggars.

The crisp clinking of ceramic bowls echoed one after another:

"Drink slowly, there is more."

The leader stood on a stone pedestal, a crescent moon embroidered on the cuff of his white robe.

Li Yun focused his hearing, and the voice repeated over and over, carrying a bewitching rhythm:

"The end times are approaching; only by entering our gate can you be saved."

"With one heart and one mind, you shall receive divine protection."

"..."

"A bowl of thin porridge crosses the bitter sea; with one heart and one mind, we see our god."

"White robes unstained by worldly dust, hand in hand we ascend to Penglai."

"..."

This thing...

Li Yun lowered his voice, telling the two assistants to quicken their pace, wanting to leave this place quickly:

"Walk faster."

Although the two assistants did not understand why, the martial artist lord had his reasons, and it was best to just obey.

The "creak, creak" sound of the cart caused everyone in the alley to look over.

The two assistants felt a chill in their hearts; now they knew why the martial artist lord wanted them to take a detour.

At this time, in this attire, handing out porridge here.

Even a fool would know there was a problem.

Li Yun turned a blind eye and walked straight ahead.

The assistants followed behind, not daring to breathe a word.

The beggars' gazes darted back and forth between the cart and the thin porridge in their bowls.

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

Adam's apples bobbed as they swallowed their saliva.

But catching a glimpse of Li Yun's sturdy frame, they hurriedly lowered their heads, and not a single person dared to move a step.

The two groups brushed past each other; one side pushed the cart forward, while the other huddled against the wall, motionless.

It was not until the sound of the cart faded away that the alley returned to its previous atmosphere.

The white-robed man on the stone pedestal continued to speak:

"Fellow countrymen, do not fear the cold, do not worry about hunger."

His voice was gentle, like a warm breeze in spring, yet it strangely pierced through the alley:

"We are disciples of the Unity Society, sent by the command of our god to save the suffering.

This porridge is nectar bestowed by the god; drink it, and it will dispel illness and add strength."

The rice porridge was soft and glutinous, with a hint of sweetness upon entering the mouth; for the beggars who had not been full for a long time, this was undoubtedly a great favor.

Some wolfed it down, others were moved to tears, muttering incessantly:

"Thank you."

The white-robed men and women distributed the porridge methodically, their mouths never ceasing to repeat the doctrine:

"The end times are approaching; only by entering our gate can you be saved.

With one heart and one mind, you shall receive divine protection.

Share in the Vacuum Homeland."

The white-robed leader continued:

"The world is in chaos, and disasters occur frequently; these are all signs that the end times are approaching.

Human suffering is endless; only by joining our Unity Society can you receive the god's protection."

A white-robed woman walked up to an old beggar who was curled up and coughing, gently patting his back, her voice soft:

"Old man, do you know why this illness plagues you?"

It is because your heart lacks sincerity that you have not received the god's guidance.

If you enter our gate, we shall be of one heart and one mind.

The god will personally cleanse you of your sins and drive away your illnesses.

One day, we shall all journey together to the "Vacuum Homeland," where there is neither sickness nor disaster, where food and clothing are plentiful, and where there is eternal peace and joy.

The old beggar coughed until it seemed his lungs would tear, his withered, bony hands clutching his chest tightly as his face turned a bruised purple.

The surrounding beggars all turned their gazes toward him in unison.

At this moment, the man in white leading them walked over, took a yellowish-brown pill from his sleeve, and held it to the old beggar's lips:

"This is a holy medicine bestowed by the god; take it, and you shall be well."

The old beggar, half-doubting, swallowed the pill under the watchful eyes of those around him.

In mere moments, his coughing actually ceased, his complexion gradually eased, and a glimmer of light returned to his eyes:

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

He grabbed the man in white's hand in excitement:

"Immortal!

I want to join!

I want to follow the god!"

A sudden uproar broke out, and expressions of longing appeared on the faces of the beggars.

Someone immediately knelt on the ground:

"Immortal, please take me in as well!

I also want to enter the 'Vacuum Homeland'!"

The white-clad leader helped the kneeling man up, a look of compassionate pity on his face:

"The god loves all people; as long as you convert with a sincere heart, you may all enter our gate."

He signaled for his disciples to take out a stack of yellow talismans and distribute them to the crowd:

"These are divine talismans. Wear them close to your body to ward off evil and avert disaster.

Those who wish to join the faith, bring your talismans and come forward to perform the conversion ceremony."

The beggars knelt down at once, chanting the doctrine in unison:

"The end times approach; only by entering our gate may you be saved."

"Only with one heart and one mind shall you receive the god's blessing."

"Together, we shall share the Vacuum Homeland."

The old beggar in the crowd met the gaze of the white-clad leader, then slowly lowered his head.