Chapter 27: No Effect?

Giant Ox Township. Lu Family Village.

Today, the village is thoroughly split into two factions. One is the Taiping Dao, led by Lu Qiannan; the other is the secessionist faction headed by Lu Tianxing. The latter holds the majority.

Not long ago, the Grand Virtuous Teacher was taken away by the magistrate’s office, leaving the people without the talisman water they relied on to treat their ailments. However, word soon spread that Lu Tianxing had returned from the government offices with a miraculous cure for the plague. Consequently, a vast number of local patients abandoned the Taiping Dao to side with Lu Tianxing, hoping to obtain the medicine.

Following the example of the Taiping Dao, Lu Tianxing set up large cauldrons on the threshing ground to boil water and brew medicinal soup for the sick. His goal was to draw more of these "gullible" people away from the Taiping Dao. Lu Qiannan, for her part, could not be bothered to respond. Every day, she led her followers in practicing martial arts and chanting scriptures, waiting for the return of the Grand Virtuous Teacher.

Early this morning, a large crowd of patients gathered on the threshing ground. Lu Tianxing finally made an appearance. As soon as he emerged, the crowd swarmed him.

"Master Lu, is there any medicine today?"

Lu Tianxing smiled, reassuring the crowd, "Rest assured, everyone, I still have medicine! My own household needs none; every bit of medicine I obtained from the magistrate’s office will be used to treat your illnesses! And it is all free of charge!"

The crowd cheered at these words. Old Man Li was the first to praise him, "Master Lu is truly a man of benevolence! I heard that Boss Xu Gui’s medicine isn't free—he’s selling it. Some patients have even offered exorbitant prices just to snatch up a dose!"

The crowd nodded in agreement. They had all heard that both Lu Tianxing and Xu Gui had secured medicine, making them the primary targets for those seeking a cure. But Xu Gui, ever the merchant, insisted on payment. If the prices had been reasonable, it would have been one thing, but to maximize his profits, he had turned the medicine into an auction. During this plague, life-saving medicine was more precious than gold; for the poor, there was simply no chance of obtaining any. This was why they had turned to Lu Tianxing instead.

Basking in the praise, Lu Tianxing’s face glowed. He then asked, "By the way, after drinking my medicinal soup all these days, how does everyone feel? Are the effects obvious? Have you recovered by seventy or eighty percent?"

The final question was met with silence. The people looked at one another, hesitant and seemingly unable to speak.

Lu Tianxing turned his gaze toward Old Man Li. "Old Man Li, you speak up and share your feelings with everyone. Don’t be shy—just say it out loud."

Old Man Li’s expression stiffened. He weighed his words carefully before hesitating, "As for the effects... I don't feel they are very obvious... I suppose it might take... a little longer to see." As he spoke, he scratched the pustules on his body, clearly suffering from unbearable itching.

Lu Tianxing was slightly taken aback. Old Man Li had been taking the medicine for days, and he still felt no obvious effect?

With Old Man Li having broken the ice, the others lost their reservations. A young man spoke up indignantly, "It’s not that the effects aren't obvious—I feel like there are no effects at all! I wasn't that sick before taking the medicine, but after all these days, my condition has only gotten worse!"

Lu Tianxing frowned. The young man’s words were a deliberate slap in the face. He said in a deep voice, "Everyone’s constitution is different; the effects of the medicine will vary. Just because you don't feel it, doesn't mean it isn't working for others."

The young man looked at the crowd, confused. Could it really be as Lu Tianxing said?

The crowd fell silent again. But after a brief pause, they could no longer hold back their complaints.

"I don't feel any effects either. When I used to drink the Grand Virtuous Teacher’s talisman water, my condition was controlled immediately after one bowl. But now, I also feel my illness worsening."

"Exactly! Master Lu, your soup does clear heat and detoxify, but it does nothing to cure the plague!"

"My family and I feel the same. Our bodies are getting worse by the day, with no signs of relief."

The voices rose in a cacophony of complaints. At first, Lu Tianxing listened intently, hoping to hear at least one example of a successful recovery. But by the end, he realized everyone was complaining. A sense of panic gripped his heart. Afraid to think the worst, he held onto one final shred of hope and asked, "At least... in the days you've been taking the medicine, nobody has died, right?"

He shouldn't have asked. The question immediately triggered a chorus of weeping among the crowd. The others simply lowered their heads and sighed. No answer was needed; Lu Tianxing already knew the result. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

This was impossible! They had been taking the medicine for so many days—it should have had an effect! Lu Tianxing paced back and forth, unable to fathom the problem.

Old Man Li said hesitantly, "Master Lu, it's not that we doubt you, but... perhaps you picked up the wrong medicine from the magistrate’s office—something that doesn't cure this plague. Why don't you... go back to the office and double-check?"

Lu Tianxing stopped in his tracks. He was right; that was a possibility. And a very high one at that! Otherwise, how could it be failing to cure the illness?

"Right! I will ride to the city and ask immediately!" Lu Tianxing stopped hesitating and prepared to leave at once.

But at that moment, a group of people surged toward the entrance of Lu Family Village. They were aggressive and furious. As soon as they saw Lu Tianxing, they pointed and cursed:

"Lu Tianxing! You bastard! You were the one who tricked us, telling us the magistrate would provide medicine, and convinced us to return home. We’ve been waiting and waiting for days—where is the medicine?"

These patients were clearly those who had left the Taiping Dao to return home. Today, they had come to settle the score.

Lu Tianxing was taken aback. "You didn't receive any medicine? That shouldn't be... how could this happen?"

The crowd grew even more enraged. Someone ripped down the notice Lu Tianxing had posted on the board and threw it in his face. "Of course we didn't! If we had, would we be here demanding an explanation? We had the talisman water from the Taiping Dao to stabilize our conditions, and we were improving every day, but you tricked us into coming back. You’ve killed us!"

Lu Tianxing was stunned. Giant Ox Township hadn't received the distribution either, but he had assumed the magistrate was just being stingy, having given him one cartload and refusing to send more. He had assumed the quota was accounted for in that single delivery. He had been understanding at first, thinking that medicine was scarce during the plague and the government was trying to save what it could. But now, hearing that other places had received nothing at all, he could no longer sit still.

"Rest assured, everyone, I will go to the magistrate’s office and find out the truth. I will give you an answer! I am leaving right now—please, trust me one last time!"

Apologizing to the crowd, Lu Tianxing quickly grabbed his horse. He fled as if escaping, riding away in a hurry, leaving behind a crowd of patients who cursed his retreating back.

In the distance, Lu Qiannan and a group of steadfast Taiping Dao followers stood silently, watching it all with cold, detached eyes.