Chapter Nineteen: The Traitor
Zhao Bao suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
The winter weather was bitterly cold, but Zhao Bao’s heart was even colder.
Not even the glowing brazier beside him could dispel the chill that gripped his soul.
He knew all too well the cruelty of the palace, yet Li Dafu’s words had shattered his previous understanding of brutality.
Fortunately, when he first intended to offer the secret manual, he had been cautious and chose Li Dafu—the most reputable and benevolent man in the Zongwu Mansion—to present the treasure.
Immediately, Zhao Bao knelt hastily and said, “Godfather, your admonition is justified. It is my good fortune to follow you!”
“The manual in my hands has been memorized and then burned. In this world, there is only one handwritten copy, and that is with you, Godfather.”
“Moreover, I swear on my life: even if I die, I will never allow a third party to see the ‘Silky Bone Palm’ manual!”
Li Dafu nodded slightly.
With a wave of his hand, a gust of palm wind swept through, flinging open the doors and windows.
The dim room brightened at once. Even the charcoal in the brazier seemed to blaze more fiercely.
“Go now. Do not disappoint the expectations our family has placed on you.”
Li Dafu’s face wore a weary expression, as if he were about to rest.
Zhao Bao respectfully kowtowed before turning to leave.
As Zhao Bao departed, silence fell upon the room.
A silence so chilling it was unsettling.
Suddenly,
Li Dafu burst into a cackling laugh.
His voice, already sharp, now sounded like a ghostly wail that made one’s hair stand on end.
A strange smile crept across Li Dafu’s face:
“Zhao Bao, Zhao Bao, if you do not die, how can I find peace?”
“This ‘Silky Bone Palm’ is simply marvelous—it will become our family’s secret weapon.”
“To keep this secret safe, only your death will suffice.”
It became clear that from the very beginning, Li Dafu never intended to let Zhao Bao live.
He hadn’t killed him immediately because he had other plans:
“Our family must not kill you with our own hands, or else the reputation of the ‘Great Benevolent Man’ will be lost. Who would dare bring treasures to us then? Who would want to be our godson?”
The illustrious name of the Great Benevolent Man brought Li Dafu many benefits within the palace.
It was a feather in his cap, one he was loath to tarnish.
Yet with his high position and power, Li Dafu had countless means to kill a mere Zhao Bao without dirtying his own hands.
“Hmm, let you die during training at the Zongwu Mansion, before the annual examination.”
“The sooner you die, the sooner I can rest easy.”
Having made his decision, Li Dafu laughed even more gleefully.
The cold, sinister atmosphere in the room intensified, and the fire in the brazier was extinguished completely.
………………
………………
At Lu Family Village.
Even though night had fallen, tens of thousands of lights still flickered around the village.
So many had come seeking cures that there was no room inside the village; many patients had to set up tents outside.
Liang Jin sat upright on a high platform.
Not only was his seat on a raised dais, but the terrain itself was the highest point, allowing him to overlook the surroundings.
Behind him stood several long yellow banners fluttering loudly in the wind.
Before him lay the rice paddies of Lu Family Village.
Originally used to brew medicinal talisman water, the area had now been converted into a martial training ground.
Lu Qian, leading a group of villagers armed with long spears, was practicing martial arts.
Lu Qian and three of the most loyal villagers had all been bestowed by Liang Jin with the “Bone-Firming Medicine,” transforming them into warriors.
Additionally, two ninth-rank warriors had joined the Taiping Dao.
Liang Jin appointed these ninth-rank warriors as sacrificial ministers, making them middle-level managers.
This organizational structure kept the gathered Taiping Dao followers orderly, preventing serious chaos.
“Report!”
“Great Sage, Miao Yuanzheng and his men have finished distributing the talisman water and have returned to report to you.”
A villager ran in to report to Liang Jin.
Liang Jin nodded.
“Send Miao Yuanzheng to see me.”
Soon, Miao Yuanzheng strode up and bowed respectfully.
“Your servant has not failed in his mission.”
“Great Sage, may I request more talisman water? I am willing to distribute it to the people again.”
Miao Yuanzheng’s voice was urgent.
In recent days, he had led his men across Taiyang County distributing talisman water, saving many lives.
Yet he also saw countless others still suffering from the plague.
He even heard that nearby counties were also severely afflicted.
This left him no time to rest; all he wished was to go out again and save more people.
Liang Jin merely asked,
“Have you seen your child?”
Miao Yuanzheng answered,
“Yes, thanks to the Great Sage’s talisman water, my child’s condition has greatly improved. It seems he will recover soon.”
At this, a gentle smile appeared on Miao Yuanzheng’s face.
Every time he returned to find his son healthier, joy accumulated in his heart.
Liang Jin beckoned him closer.
Miao Yuanzheng was slightly puzzled but respectfully approached and stood by his side.
His respect was sincere.
He truly admired this young man before him.
Without this man, countless more would have perished amid the plague.
Liang Jin pointed to the surroundings.
“Look around. Is there anything unusual tonight?”
Miao Yuanzheng grew more puzzled but focused his gaze on the surroundings.
He took in every detail.
Countless lights twinkled in the darkness like stars scattered across the sky.
Far down the road, a flowing line of torches resembled a great dragon; these were patients coming to seek cures.
The torches served as their lighting.
At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
But soon, Miao Yuanzheng sensed a different aura.
“Hmm?”
The long line of torches on the road was interrupted; the rear portion seemed blocked and clustered together.
Near Lu Family Village, the torches were moving southward, as if being guided or diverted.
This meant someone was sealing off the village and evacuating its patients.
Could this be the Great Sage’s intention?
Miao Yuanzheng looked at Liang Jin, but Liang Jin shook his head in negation.
This startled Miao Yuanzheng.
“There is a traitor!”
Only someone with significant influence within the Taiping Dao could order the followers to evacuate without alarming Liang Jin.
Immediately, Miao Yuanzheng became highly alert.
He glanced back toward the dense forest behind the village.
Though the forest was silent, cries and fluttering wings of birds could be heard overhead.
Birds usually rest at night, but their sudden flight indicated something had frightened them.
Squinting, Miao Yuanzheng scanned the village.
Among the patients, some robust men were stealthily moving toward the rice paddies from various directions.
Though dressed as commoners, their fierce aura was unmistakable.
They came with ill intent!
Miao Yuanzheng’s hand moved near the long sword on his back.
“Great Sage, do not worry.”
“Your servant wields a single blade and will protect you.”
In his travels distributing talisman water, Miao Yuanzheng had encountered many who tried to steal this precious life-saving resource.
He had already slain many such villains and was prepared to do so again tonight.
With his strength as a seventh-rank warrior, he was confident he could roam Taiyang County at will.
This was his confidence!
Liang Jin waved his hand.
“Do not be hasty.”
“Let us see who the traitor truly is first.”
Miao Yuanzheng asked,
“Do you already have a suspicion, Great Sage?”
Liang Jin smiled faintly.
“Whoever approaches me first will be the traitor.”
As they spoke, a figure hurriedly entered the rice paddies.