Why is this thing moving?

Zhang Kui was a bit surprised. He focused his senses, the small stone ball still quietly stayed put, but his personal space was entirely under his control. He was sure what he felt earlier was not an illusion.

The process of acquiring the stone ball was somewhat bizarre, even the Elder Huayan of the Celestial Tribulation Realm didn't notice anything, so Zhang Kui studied it quite a bit afterwards.

This thing is not a magical artifact; it's very peculiar. Neither dripping blood nor inputting mana was of any use, and it's extremely hard, impervious to damage from knives and swords.

And then there were the last words of the Three-eyed Giant Corpse,

"Save…"

Was it asking for help, or asking to save someone?

Everything was bewildering.

"Master, is there no hope for him?"

Ye Fei's words from the side interrupted his thoughts.

Upon seeing, Zhang Kui noticed a middle-aged man in front of him, pale-faced, with despair in his eyes.

"Don't worry, he can be saved!"

Zhang Kui smiled slightly, concentrating his spirit on treating the patient. Outside the small reed hut, the queue already stretched along the street.

From a high vantage point, more people inside the city were still carrying patients towards this place…

...

"What did you say!"

In the Lu City Government Office, Prefect Liu Qingshan abruptly stood up, filled with disbelief.

"It's true, sir."

Assistant Governor Wang Qiao was joyful, "That Daoist's talisman is amazingly effective, able to dispel the corpse poison within seconds, Luzhou is saved!"

"I see…"

Prefect Liu Qingshan's expression was uncertain, waving his hand, "I understand, you may leave now."

That Assistant Governor had just left when a middle-aged man in brocade clothes dashed out from behind the screen.

"Brother, you must think of a way, we've invested everything in glutinous rice and borrowed a lot too. If the corpse disaster is resolved, all the silver will be wasted!"

Prefect Liu Qingshan's face was pale.

"Indeed, it was my greed. Who could have thought such a person would suddenly appear? Never mind, it's destiny…"

The brocade-clad middle-aged man grew anxious, "Brother, you can't think like that. We've borrowed so much, and we have to repay it next month."

Prefect Liu Qingshan let out a snort,

"Delay it, who would dare come to the government office to demand debt!"

The brocade-clad middle-aged man stammered,

"Actually, they do dare…"

Prefect Liu Qingshan sensed something amiss, angrily asked:

"Which family did you borrow money from!"

The brocade-clad middle-aged man gave an awkward smile,

"Brother, it's… it's the Prince's Mansion."

"What?!"

Prefect Liu Qingshan felt as if he were struck by lightning, collapsing into a chair in despair,

"You idiot, you've doomed me."

Then, with a twisted expression, he clenched his teeth, "Invite Captain Chen of the Astronomical Bureau, say that the poison-spreading demon has been found!"

...

The sun was shining brightly, the sky a clear blue.

The entire street outside the small reed hut was packed with people.

Though the ground was full of patients afflicted with corpse poison, some even tied to stretchers, growling with fangs bared, the common folks were generally joyful, as if the prolonged dark clouds over the sky had finally cleared.

The young swordsman Ye Fei wiped the sweat from his forehead, unable to help but smile, extremely grateful for his initial plea for help.

He looked at the sky and respectfully asked:

"Master, would you like to rest and eat something?"

Zhang Kui looked up at the long queue, continued drawing talismans with his head down, "Let's finish this first. You take some people and treat the severe cases first, don't let people die."

"Yes, Master!"

Ye Fei respectfully replied with cupped hands.

However, just as he was about to take people away, a sudden clamor of hooves and screams erupted from outside the street, followed by chaos.

A thunderous voice echoed,

"The Astronomical Bureau is here to capture the demon, all bystanders retreat immediately!"

Ye Fei, hearing this, instantly filled with rage, his teeth gritting until they almost cracked, he drew his treasure sword with a clang and rushed out.

Over thirty black-clad, black-riding men of the Astronomical Bureau galloped in with a menacing air, led by a black-faced man with a stern countenance.

The commoners frightened, hid to the side. The young man alone with his sword stood in the middle of the road, furious.

"What do you intend to do!"

The black-faced man's eyes slightly squinted,

"I have received intelligence that a demon is spreading poison in the city and now selling talismans to harm the city."

"Nonsense!"

Ye Fei was incensed, "Taoist Zhang was invited by me and doesn't charge a penny, don't slander people wrongly!"

The black-faced man snorted coldly,

"There's just been a corpse disaster in the city, and now a spirit talisman appears, isn't that too coincidental? Offering it for free, there must be a bigger conspiracy at play."

The nearby common folk were initially resentful but dared not speak. Hearing this, many people's expressions changed drastically, looking suspiciously at the small reed hut.

Ye Fei's face turned bright red,

"You... shameless!"

The young man, unfamiliar with the officialdom's way with words, felt a surge of anger trapped in his chest.

The black-faced man sneered,

"Clear out quickly, or you'll be treated as accomplices and killed without mercy!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the black-clad riders behind him immediately drew their rune crossbow arrows, aiming at Ye Fei.

The young man's body bristled with cold sweat, and he gritted his teeth, grasping the sword hilt tightly, ready to fight to the death.

Just then, something flew out from the small reed hut, drifting gently to a stop between the two sides.

It was an ancient-looking bronze token, with the character "Hua" engraved on it.

The black-faced man was initially guarded, but upon recognizing it, his expression changed drastically. He instantly jumped off his horse and knelt on one knee.

"Luzhou Astronomical Bureau salutes the National Guardian True Man!"

A voice full of impatience came from within the small reed hut,

"You wait here, Ye Fei, quickly go pick the patients."

"Oh... oh..."

Ye Fei responded promptly, feeling astonished in his heart,

Could it be that Taoist Zhang is the National Guardian True Man?

Zhang Kui certainly was not.

This token was given to him by Elder Huayan before leaving, not only as a future guarantee to exchange for the Ancient Artifact, but also for ease of movement, as seeing the token is like seeing the person.

The Qian Dynasty's Astronomical Bureau officials have substantial authority, but above them, there's another system, consisting of over thirty National Guardian True Men and seven State Preceptors.

This is the fundamental stability of the Qian Dynasty.

The position of a National Guardian True Man is so esteemed that even the Emperor has to be courteous, so Tianji Zi alone could suppress imperial envoy Wu Siyuan and Eunuch Yin, leaving them breathless.

How could a lowly Captain not be afraid?

The commoners felt reassured upon hearing about the National Guardian True Man; this title symbolizes a living immortal in their hearts, causing many to kneel on the street immediately.

Zhang Kui pretended not to see, continuing to focus on healing.

Lian had once asked him, what is the path he seeks?

This question, Zhang Kui still couldn't answer, or rather, he never thought deeply about it.

For him,

Slaying demons is the path,

Healing and saving people is the path,

Refining the heart amidst the mundane world is also the path,

In past lives, myriad relentless troubles burdened the heart; in this life, wielding the sword with a long whistle, seeking justice fiercely, feeling right then doing without regard for circumstances or idle words, making the state of mind increasingly clear.

Perhaps, this is his dao heart...

...

The red sun sank in the west, the moon rabbit rose in the east.

The number of commoners waiting for treatment had greatly dwindled, but there remained a long line.

Having sat all day, Zhang Kui remained indifferent, mechanically repeating a set process, while Ye Fei and the helpers beside him, though hunger-panged, felt invigorated, not the least bit tired.

Meanwhile, on a street nearby,

The Astronomical Bureau's group still knelt on one knee, their faces pale, not daring to move.

The leading Captain Chen inwardly cursed Prefect Liu's family repeatedly.

The events of Black Water City had already spread; he had also guessed who Zhang Kui was, after all, not just anyone could slay a Grain Avoidance Realm Old Demon at the Enlightenment Realm.

Though the other was a Loose Practitioner, such formidable power, coupled with being esteemed by True Man Yuhua, meant it was only a matter of time before becoming a National Guardian True Man.

Though his actions were arrogant, he wasn't a fool. By now, he fully understood that he was used by Prefect Liu, that corrupt official, as a tool and had hit an iron plate head-on.

He just didn't know what the other party really intended to do.

Thinking this, Captain Chen internally lamented his predicament.

By the latter half of the night, they finally finished seeing all the patients. After Zhang Kui gave instructions, he was invited by the nearby innkeeper inside for a meal and some rest.

Ye Fei then approached Captain Chen with a stern face,

"Taoist Zhang asked me to tell you that by tomorrow when he wakes, he wants to see all the clues related to this corpse disaster."

Captain Chen breathed a sigh of relief, quickly standing up with a pleasing smile, "I trouble you, young man, to deliver the message. I will certainly do everything in my power to complete the task."

Once Ye Fei nodded and left, Captain Chen turned around, his expression changed, "Damn it, Liu Qingshan, you old dog dared to trap me, tonight I'll submit your dirty secrets!"

With that, he angrily led his men away.

...

The night wore on, and the moon shone amongst sparse stars.

A shadow snuck out of the Astronomical Bureau quietly, climbed over the city wall, and ran towards the reed-covered river outside the city.

Under the moonlight, it turned out to be one of Captain Chen's subordinates.

He arrived outside the River King Temple, knocked on the door lightly, then quickly slipped inside.

Soon, a satisfied laugh came from within the River King Temple, "This is good news indeed, the Great King was just worrying about being unable to handle it, give him the clues, and we'll just enjoy the show..."

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