Chapter 346: Divine Physician Shen’s Request

What Constable Captain He had warned him about was no small matter.

The Qinghe Commandery hall had nearly collapsed!

If Yin Xingtian and Old Seven stumbled in Qinghe Commandery, then the next thing to be dragged down with it would be Sanhe Commandery!

On the smaller scale, this news concerned the fate and momentum of the Sanhe Commandery hall.

On the larger scale, it concerned the lifeline of the entire Caobang!

Neither Constable Captain He and the Six Gates behind him, nor the many officials of the court, would want to see such a major patron fall into the hands of the Beggar Sect and the Five Poisons Sect…

Wangchuan did not begrudge the one hundred taels of gold he had given away.

Because the information Constable Captain He revealed afterward was absolutely worth the price!

The helm leader of the Five Poisons Sect branch helm had taken office!

And, very likely, that person was already within Qinghe Commandery, secretly working together with the Beggar Sect against the Caobang.

That information was of vital importance.

Wangchuan immediately had Chen Ergou find a Caobang disciple who had been to Qinghe Commandery before, gave him two 《Hundred Poisons Detoxification Pills》, and ordered him to head secretly to the Qinghe Commandery hall at once and report the matter to Old Seven.

Once the messenger had been sent out, Wangchuan made another trip to the infirmary to ask Divine Physician Shen about the Five Poisons Sect.

Medicine King Valley had always been mortal enemies with the Five Poisons Sect. If they had any intelligence, they should be willing to share it.

In the rear courtyard, Divine Physician Shen said only one sentence to Wangchuan:

“The helm leader of the Five Poisons Sect branch helm is indeed in Qinghe Commandery at the moment. Our people in the valley have been secretly keeping watch on him…”

Divine Physician Shen even told him the man’s exact place of residence.

Wangchuan was already hurrying off to make arrangements and send word when Divine Physician Shen called out from behind him:

“Hall Master Wangchuan, please wait.”

“Hmm?”

Divine Physician Shen fixed his gaze on Wangchuan and said, “Actually, now that the helm leader of the Five Poisons Sect branch helm has taken men to Qinghe Commandery, this is the perfect opportunity to wipe out their old base within Sanhe Commandery and destroy it. Hall Master Wangchuan… have you never considered launching a surprise attack on the Five Poisons Sect branch helm?”

Wangchuan stopped, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes. He was somewhat tempted.

But he quickly shook his head.

“The Five Poisons Sect is hidden deep in the mountains. We do not know its exact location. Besides, they specialize in poison. The mountains are full of venomous insects and snakes, impossible to guard against…”

He knew that Medicine King Valley and the Five Poisons Sect were bitter enemies. He had no desire to become Medicine King Valley’s blade against the Five Poisons Sect.

Divine Physician Shen said, “As it happens, I do know where the Five Poisons Sect branch helm is, because one of our disciples from Medicine King Valley is currently lying low inside it. And at present, it truly is the branch helm’s weakest moment. There are fewer than a hundred disciples inside.”

Wangchuan’s brows drew together slightly.

Divine Physician Shen continued to raise the stakes.

“So long as Hall Master Wangchuan is willing to act, I can provide a batch of detoxifying powder… If this is smeared over the body, then for twelve hours, any ordinary poisonous insects and snakes will keep far away.”

“And furthermore!”

Seeing that Wangchuan still looked unmoved, Divine Physician Shen gritted his teeth and said, “If Hall Master Wangchuan is willing to agree and help our Medicine King Valley destroy the Five Poisons Sect branch helm, I will dispatch two guards to act together with you. And afterward, I am willing to offer one thousand taels of gold and three 《Lesser Rejuvenation Pills》 as a reward.”

Wangchuan’s eyes widened in surprise.

Three 《Lesser Rejuvenation Pills》?

Divine Physician Shen…

was truly generous.

The Caobang’s rewards always came one pill at a time…

Yet he could produce three 《Lesser Rejuvenation Pills》 in a single breath?

That was equivalent to a reward of four thousand taels of gold.

Wangchuan could not help but weigh the matter carefully, balancing gain against risk.

But…

Was it really worth that much, merely to destroy a branch helm that no longer had its helm leader sitting there?

Wangchuan looked at Divine Physician Shen in puzzlement and asked, “Senior Shen, I’m afraid you want to destroy the Five Poisons Sect branch helm for some ulterior purpose, do you not?”

He was no longer a greenhorn fresh out of the gate. He was not so easily moved by a heavy reward.

Divine Physician Shen sighed.

“The Five Poisons Sect has recently been recruiting, and the number of disciples in the branch helm has doubled. Both I and the people of the valley are deeply worried that the Five Poisons Sect is preparing to stir up trouble within Sanhe Commandery and threaten the survival of our Medicine King Valley. So… I may indeed have appeared somewhat too eager, which caused Hall Master Wangchuan to grow suspicious.”

“…If that is truly the case, then it would be better to wait until our Old Seven returns. Then we can work together to deal with the Five Poisons Sect branch helm.”

What Wangchuan said was perfectly reasonable.

“At present, my hall is severely short-handed and cannot support a large-scale operation. I hope Senior Shen will forgive me.”

The moment he heard that, Divine Physician Shen grew anxious.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, let me speak frankly.”

“One of our Medicine King Valley disciples has fallen into their hands. It is highly likely that he will reveal the brother we planted inside the Five Poisons Sect branch helm… Once the helm leader of the branch returns and uses torture to interrogate him, the advantage we currently hold against the Five Poisons Sect will be greatly weakened at once. They may even turn the situation around on us!”

“Our Medicine King Valley has already secretly recruited twelve second-rank martial artists and is preparing to enter the mountains to carry out a rescue, but that manpower still is not enough to destroy the Five Poisons Sect branch helm! Today, when Hall Master Wangchuan came to visit, it suddenly occurred to me that, by borrowing the strength of the Caobang, it would be ideal, since we share a common enemy!”

“…Senior Shen, the hall really is badly short of manpower right now.”

Wangchuan still did not want to take the risk.

A look of anxiety appeared on Divine Physician Shen’s face, and he revealed another piece of information:

“The Five Poisons Sect branch helm has at least three master copies of martial arts manuals. And furthermore! Including all the spoils of the Five Poisons Sect branch helm, our Medicine King Valley can forgo all of it. Everything will belong to Hall Master Wangchuan!”

Master copies of martial arts manuals?

Wangchuan’s eyes lit up.

It was common knowledge throughout all of 《spirit realm》 that, aside from those who had cultivated a cultivation method to Perfect Mastery and could create martial arts manuals for transmission, the master copies of martial arts held by the major sects, powers, and clans were the true means of transmitting martial arts without limit.

With a single master copy, one could found an entire power.

More than once, he had coveted the master copies of martial arts in Yang Feiyue’s possession, yet had been too embarrassed to speak of it. He had only used the master copies in Yang Feiyue’s hands to teach martial arts to the disciples of the Sanjiang Branch Helm.

And now…

The moment he heard that the Five Poisons Sect branch helm possessed at least three master copies, he was immediately stirred.

With the global promotion of 《spirit realm》 and the explosive increase in player numbers, the demand for martial arts manuals would soar enormously! If he could get several master copies back, then the bargaining chips in his hands would increase, and naturally, so too would his influence.

At that moment, he was moved!

Seeing that Wangchuan was tempted, Divine Physician Shen struck while the iron was hot.

“The attention of both the Five Poisons Sect and the Beggar Sect is fixed on Qinghe Commandery right now. This is precisely the best moment for us to strike at the Five Poisons Sect branch helm! There is no time to lose! Hall Master Wangchuan! Decide quickly!”

“I want to see the exact location of the Five Poisons Sect branch helm first.”

After pondering the matter again and again, Wangchuan put forward a condition.

Divine Physician Shen immediately pulled out a map from his sleeve.

On the map, the locations of the Five Poisons Sect branch helm and the Blackwind Stronghold had both been marked.

The Five Poisons Sect branch helm lay only ten li from the Blackwind Stronghold, which meant little more than crossing two mountain ridges.

“The detoxifying powder, the names of your people, and the passphrase. Give them to me.”

Wangchuan extended his hand again.

Divine Physician Shen stared at him in astonishment.

“Hall Master Wangchuan, what are you…”

“I’m not used to working together with hired people. It makes it too easy for word to leak out. If this is going to be done, I’ll do it myself. Otherwise, go find someone else to cooperate with.”

Wangchuan stared straight at Divine Physician Shen as he spoke, his words ringing like iron.