บท 34: Chapter 34 The Hidden Dangers of Qingshan Village (Requesting Yue votes, Rewards, and Followers!)
Martial Artist Plague!
Wang Sheng was now extremely sensitive to this phrase.
He hadn't expected to receive this news from another martial artist.
He exchanged a glance with Old Ji, then said, "Explain in detail!"
Xu Qu was unaware of their unease and continued, "I actually discovered it by accident. Not long ago, I found some people dumping something in a certain area of the Yellow Dragon River. Upon eavesdropping, I realized they were poisoning the water. Those people weren't very strong, so I followed and investigated. Ultimately, I confirmed they were men of King Yong Nian.
They set up countless poisoning spots in the Yellow Dragon River basin in Shuzhou, dumping day and night, polluting the entire stretch of the Yellow Dragon River within Shuzhou..."
"It's impossible!" Xu Qu hadn't finished speaking when Old Ji interrupted, "If you said they were poisoning a well, I might believe it, but do you know how big the Yellow Dragon River is, how fast its currents are? To pollute the entire Yellow Dragon River..."
Old Ji's confidence waned as he spoke.
He thought of the situation in Qingshan Village. Zheng Ankang had died from the Martial Artist Plague, and likely everyone in the village had contracted it.
Could it be that someone was using methods against martial artists on ordinary people?
It simply wasn't worth it.
So, it must have been an indirect effect.
And the most likely source to infect the entire village was the water source.
In Shuzhou, the biggest water source was the Yellow Dragon River and its tributaries.
He knew that under King Zhou Yuanqing, the primary forces were all stationed at the ports along the Yellow Dragon River, and the water used for drinking came from there.
King Yong Nian was now against King Zhou Yuanqing… but was it really necessary? King Zhou Yuanqing wasn't a match for King Yong Nian!
Xu Qu guessed something from Old Ji's reaction; it seemed the two men before him knew about this.
"Possibility doesn't matter; according to my investigations, most villages, towns, and cities that use water from the Yellow Dragon River have been affected, which proves something."
"You've investigated all this?"
Wang Sheng interrupted him, being nosy was always the biggest cause of trouble.
Xu Qu felt a bit awkward and said, "It's just that I happened to become a martial artist from being an ordinary person; so, my sense of justice is a bit… strong."
"Strong enough to almost get yourself killed?"
Getting involved without the strength or backing of a great grandmaster was courting death.
"..."
Xu Qu couldn't argue, it was the truth.
This time, he had almost died.
He had noticed that the thing that had saved him countless times was dimming, and if this happened one or two more times, it might disappear.
That scared him.
The little passion he had left was extinguished; lacking strength and recklessly causing trouble was akin to seeking death.
Wang Sheng rebuked him and then dropped the subject.
The issue of Martial Artist Plague could not be concealed; it would be widely known before long, and Xu Qu had no need to lie.
It also let him identify the culprit responsible for the inexplicable affliction in his body.
King Yong Nian!
The situation was as previously speculated; he was just an unlucky soul caught in the crossfire.
He had thought about revenge, but a gentleman's revenge could wait ten years.
If he became an invincible great grandmaster and King Yong Nian was still alive, he would settle the score.
Now I can't beat you, but can I outlast you?
Wang Sheng made up his mind in that instant, to survive longer, he absolutely must not act impulsively.
Xu Qu was a living example.
Since he now knew what he needed to, regarding Xu Qu's words—
"You can leave on your own once you're healed, don't bring trouble to the village."
Though Xu Qu said there was no risk, a prudent man doesn't stand under a wall about to collapse. He didn't want to expend energy to confirm it.
Allowing him to leave after being treated, was already a discretionary decision considering the information provided.
Old Ji had a different opinion, "No, he can't leave now; I can't treat a martial artist."
"..."
Xu Qu fell silent again, thinking to himself that he had said so much, yet they were completely indifferent!
You're a doctor, watching a seriously injured person lying in front of you; how can your heart be so cold?
"A doctor's duty is to..."
"I don't have such a rebellious son!"
Old Ji had lived most of his life and had never had anyone moralize at him like this.
"If you were my son and dared to cause such trouble, I would break your legs!"
Left with no other choice, Xu Qu had to come up with another idea.
"I can offer you a reward, such as the martial artist skills!"
Wang Sheng was taken aback upon hearing this, as if he had just remembered something, and said, "Indeed, we risked our lives to save you, and should not be left without any reward. Saving a life is more valuable than anything, so it should be fine to compensate with martial artist skills?"
Although such skills meant little to him personally, they were extremely precious to the people in the village, like a bounty.
Xu Qu's eyes lit up; indeed, only a martial artist would be interested in martial artist skills, "Does this mean I can stay?"
Wang Sheng gave him a strange look.
"Who said that? The martial artist skills are just our compensation for saving you."
Although it was odd why this man insisted on staying, he still needed to make things clear.
"..."
Goodness, just because he had casually spoken up, a set of martial artist skills was about to be given away for nothing?
No matter what he thought, Wang Sheng turned to Old Ji and said, "Since we've already saved him, let him recover from his injuries here and record the skills."
Old Ji nodded in agreement; keeping the cultivation technique was not out of the question.
Wang Sheng got the confirmation and looked back at Xu Qu.
"Although I don't know why you insist on staying, you must leave once your injuries heal."
The moment they saved him, Qingshan Village had already become involved with Xu Qu.
There was no need to deliberately detach themselves; they just needed to treat him as a normal injured person, which would make things seem normal even if someone came looking for him.
Of course, this premise was that Xu Qu would leave once he recovered a bit; otherwise, if assassins did come knocking, would King Yong Nian's people reason with ordinary people?
A man who disregarded even military discipline, Wang Sheng did not believe they would consider the lives of ordinary people.
Having said this, he then went outside to the courtyard, planning to begin his daily practice.
Until Xu Qu recovered, he would be here.
Old Ji understood this and didn't say anything, clearing out a clean room for Wang Sheng.
Wang Sheng then began his daily cultivation at Old Ji's house.
His skill in Baduanjin was formidable because it had a progress bar bonus that others couldn't emulate, so there was nothing much to hide.
He practiced without any reservations.
Old Ji also went about doing his own things.
Meanwhile, in the room, Xu Qu was pondering how he could stay here.
He didn't even understand why he was so determined to stay in this insignificant village.
It was merely an intuition!
Before this, it was this intuition that had led him to a great opportunity and made him a Third Grade Martial Artist.
He still chose to trust it this time, although it seemed there was no chance for him to stay.
Neither the doctor nor the young man was responsive to persuasion. If he didn't come up with a plan, he would have to leave once his injuries healed.
After three days of contemplation, he suddenly thought of an excellent reason.
"What, you say we should let him stay for a while?" Wang Sheng looked at Old Ji and furrowed his brows, not thinking it was a good decision, "What's the reason?"
Old Ji sighed as well, actually not wanting this, but what Xu Qu knew was desperately needed by Qingshan Village.
"He can address the hidden threat of the martial artist's plague among the villagers of Qingshan Village..."
This alone was reason enough to have Xu Qu stay!
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