Call On Me

11

Lan Zhan went with Wen Ning and me to Yiling. There have been reports of notorious creatures causing problems for the locals. So far, everything seems normal. The people have noticed my robes and immediately greeted me.

I never once cared for power and had any greed. All I want is for people to be safe and happy. That is what makes me stand out. The people know that I do not do things for money. A lot of the time, the locals exchange their goods for our services. Say we exterminate some resentful ghosts at a farmer's place, they pay us with some of their fresh produce. If it's a place that sells fabrics or clothing, they help by offering us some robes for our younger disciples.

The only time we really get paid is if it comes from a wealthy merchant in the area or a family who wants to make a donation. In return, San Bao helps those in Yiling, whether it be for night hunting purposes or even just in general. We even offer them medical support, as we are known for our medical care.

"The people here are very kind to you," Lan Zhan said to me.

"San Bao helps Yiling out all the time. We do not charge for our services. In return they still insist on some form of payment so they exchange our services for their local goods. Sometimes a family will even feed the disciples in return for their services. I wanted to be different from other sects. I do not care for power or lust over money. We still make money, and we take donations from others. I just didn't feel like the people here should have to pay us to help them with taking care of a couple ghosts," I explained, "Plus this place doesn't have a rich community."

Lan Zhan nodded, "what have the reports been as of recently?"

"Since this war started, more resentful spirits have come out. Even puppets have made an appearance here," Wen Ning answered, "a family that is well known here has been struggling. Their eldest son is currently in our care back at San Bao as he was recently under Wen Ruohan's control as a puppet. We managed to help him, but he is still recovering from the side effects."

"I didn't realize that he has come this far out," Lan Zhan said.

"He has," I said, "there is a Wen Sect Supervisor's office just at the entrance of the town. I would clear it out, but I do not have the power to do it on my own."

"How big is it?" Lan Zhan asked.

"It's their biggest office as far as Wen Ning has told me," I answered, "since he and his sister are no longer under Wen Ruohan's command, they know about some of his plans and locations of his offices and outposts. There are Wen disciples going in and out of the place. I had Wen Ning secretly scope it out and there is at least fifty people just as this post. Why else do you think San Bao has been keeping a low profile and not causing them problems? If they come for us, we will all die."

"You need more protection then," Lan Zhan said, "at least until this war ends."

"If the Wen disciples see other sects coming and going from San Bao, they will get suspicious and come to use. You guys have already put us in jeopardy just for coming once. You stand out at the moment with the Lan Sect robes you wear. We have kept ourselves out of their way, but if they start seeing us associating ourselves with you, it will end badly for us," I explained.

"Is there a way to help you more?" Lan Zhan asked.

"I am working on that on my own," I said, "I do not need outsiders help."

"We-Leader San—"

"Hanguang Jun, you are here at the moment to help me with the situation in Yiling. Nothing more. No more about my problems," I interrupted him.

He just sighed and nodded.

We ended up taking out a few of Wen Ruohan's Puppets. They were taken back to San Bao to be treated. They will be able to head back home within a few days. When we returned to San Bao, I went straight to my room. There I had a big space just to work and not be disturbed. I had a place just for books on charms, talismans, medicine, alchemy, chemistry, clan histories, and so on. I do work that no other sects dare to try.

My room has charms built into the walls so that if something goes wrong, nothing burns down or breaks. I even made a charm attached to the ceiling, if a fire broke out, it would start to rain water. It would soak everything in water here, but it would keep the place from burning down. The walls were also warded so noise doesn't travel. At the moment, I had my alchemy and chemistry books out. I was looking for a way to make an artificial core. It would act like a golden core. It's all about making an elixir or pill. Perhaps it can help me even just by forming a new one.

It was noted by Wen Qing that my spiritual pathways were healthy and clean. The energy they send to me each month stores properly in my Dantian but it does not last because I have no golden core to maintain it. It's like my body can hold the energy but not keep it. So it was all about making a new one or making something artificial to help me maintain the energy better. I saw that to make such an elixir to help make a new core, you need a few rare items.

The first is Flesh Ganoderma, a genus of polypore mushrooms that grow on wood. This was located within the burial mounds. having a magic effect on youthful looking and longevity. Certain types of Ganoderma are also described as possessing a power to bring the dead back to life. Flesh Ganoderma is believed to have contained a highly condensed energy for longevity and even immortality.

The second, is a peach tree. It is a sacred tree of immortality and the peach of immortality grew in the garden of Hsi wang mu (Chinese: 西王母; pinyin: Xīwángmǔ; "Queen Mother of the West"). However, the fruit is only ripe every three thousand years. If by my calculations, it was close to being ripe within a couple weeks.

The last one is a black lotus flower that blooms deep within a cave in the Bural Mounds. Two of these three items are within the burial mounds. If I want them, I need someone to help me. Even the peach will be a challenge as it is located high on a mountain and is guarded by a large spiritual beast. No one knows exactly what that beast is either.

I brought Wen Qing in to have a look at all this and she suggested I give it a try to make the elixir, but in order to do that, I need help. Wen Ning already offered to help me, but I need someone a lot stronger to come along...which means, Lan Zhan would have to come. Knowing him, he'd come with me. If he knew that there was a chance for me to cultivate again, he'd help me, even if it meant risking our lives for it.