245: Fifth Incarnation: Heavenly Physician (Thirty-Seven)

There was the heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei, whose family rose to power with the Guandong Cavalry. He was peerlessly brave and, under the guise of defending against the barbarians, had actually seized control of the three northern provinces. His "Black Cloud Cavalry" was fearsome, and his ambitions clearly lay beyond the border passes.

There were the wealthy salt and canal merchants of Jiangnan, who used their immense wealth to secretly raise death soldiers and collude with coastal pirates and frustrated scholars. Taking advantage of the imperial court's inability to look south, they had vaguely carved out the fertile lands of the Southeast, with their leader calling himself "Duke Jinghai." Transgressing ritual propriety, he gradually revealed his ambitions for hegemony.

There were also heroes of humble origin who, relying on extraordinary martial courage and a bit of luck, rose from among the refugees and defeated soldiers. They raised banners of righteousness and conquered territories. Although many rose and fell quickly, a few grew powerful enough to occupy one or two prefectures, calling themselves kings or commanders, and stirring up the local situation.

These local heroes, whether relying on ancestral shade, financial power, or martial strength, fought hard on this chaotic chessboard, vying for the shrinking yet still tempting "world" cake.

The more perceptive among them could also sense the pervasive yet elusive undercurrent of the "Way of Great Peace" coming from the bottom of society, and their attitudes varied:

Some dismissed it, viewing it as a mere nuisance—a case of deluding the ignorant masses.

Some tried to win it over or exploit it, only to find that this Daoist sect was strictly organized and had peculiar ideas, making it difficult to truly command.

Still others, like certain brutal and greedy local warlords, viewed the Way of Great Peace as a thorn in their side because it organized tax resistance and sheltered refugees in their territories. They repeatedly tried to suppress it, but it was often like trying to cut water with a blade—futile. Instead, the prestige of the Way of Great Peace grew even higher amidst the oppression.

It was in this chaotic and complex situation that Xu Yuan's "eyes," hidden deep within his vast network, saw several familiar faces from the "outside world."

On this day, Xiao Qi, the "Fang Master" responsible for intelligence gathering and Daoist coordination in the Heluo region, sent a wax-sealed letter through a top-secret channel, accompanied by a short report: "On the banks of the Luo River, a new power has recently emerged. The leader calls himself the 'Luo Divine Lord,' and his subordinates include both civil and military talents. Their methods are quite different from those of ordinary local tycoons, and they are particularly skilled in water conservancy, engineering, and trade regulation. Their Foundation is very stable. Among their core advisors, three seem to have noticed our existence and have recently made several subtle attempts to reach out."

Almost simultaneously, the "Fang Master" A Niu, responsible for the northeast, also sent news: A new force named the "Heavenly Craft Pavilion" has emerged in the north. They do not favor warfare but specialize in weapon improvement, mining and metallurgical innovation, and border trade. Although they are attached to the heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei, they have their own system, and their influence is growing daily. Their leader lives in seclusion, but several "Master Craftsmen" who act on their behalf behave very differently from ordinary craftsmen. They seem to possess great talent for governance and have shown an unusual interest in the Way of Great Peace's "Mutual Aid Workshops" and the promotion of simple farm tools. They have signaled a desire to "exchange techniques" through chamber of commerce channels several times.

Xu Yuan looked at these two reports from different directions, both pointing to the same possibility, his eyes calm and steady.

His fingertips lightly tapped the table, and the thick intelligence ledger flipped soundlessly, finally stopping on the few pages recording information about his fellow disciples from the "Minor Derivation Dharma Assembly."

"Finally... have they all surfaced?"

He whispered. Ten years was enough time for his fellow disciples, who possessed innate wisdom and special means, to find their respective positions and paths in this world.

Wang Yi took the traditional path of hegemony, while the "Luo Divine Lord" and the "Heavenly Craft Pavilion" clearly chose different entry points: one focused on governance and construction, the other on technology and industry.

They might not be as sharp and ambitious for the world as Wang Yi, but the depth of their roots and the subtlety of their influence were not necessarily inferior.

"Very well, it's time to meet." Xu Yuan stood up.

The Way of Great Peace had now become a colossus. A tall tree attracts the wind, and constant hiding was not a long-term solution.

Contacting these fellow disciples was not only to understand their intentions and paths to avoid unnecessary conflict, but also to take this opportunity to see if they could find some limited consensus based on realistic interests despite their differing philosophies, striving for more room for maneuver and survival for the Way of Great Peace and the thousands of living beings following it in this increasingly dangerous chaotic world.

The meeting place was chosen at a deserted ancient temple at the junction of the three factions' spheres of influence. The incense had long since ceased, making it very secluded. Xu Yuan only brought two of his most core "Chieftains" with him, traveling light.

Inside the dilapidated main hall of the ancient temple, several people were already waiting when Xu Yuan entered.

On the left was a man dressed in green robes, wearing a scholar's scarf, with an elegant face and a three-strand beard. He was the chief advisor to the "Luo Divine Lord" and Xu Yuan's Ninth Senior Brother—Zhao Qian.

Seeing Xu Yuan, a flash of complexity crossed his eyes, which then turned into a warm smile. He cupped his hands and said, "Junior Brother Su, it has been years since we last met, and your bearing is even greater than before. I didn't expect that you would manage to create such a... unique situation in this world."

On the right were two men dressed as craftsmen but with extraordinary temperaments. They were the two leaders of the "Heavenly Craft Pavilion," Xu Yuan's Eleventh Senior Brother Chen Feng and Twelfth Senior Brother Li Mubai.

Chen Feng's gaze was sharp as he sized Xu Yuan up, clicking his tongue in wonder: "Little Junior Brother, you really made us search for you! While it's turning upside down outside, you've gone and buried yourself in the mud to grow such a large patch of 'grass'!"

Li Mubai, who was more lively, leaned in and whispered, "Little Junior Brother, can you let us take a look at those 'Mutual Aid Food Vouchers' and simple waterwheel blueprints? They're quite interesting!"

Xu Yuan returned the greetings one by one, saying with a smile, "Ninth Senior Brother, Eleventh Senior Brother, Twelfth Senior Brother, it has been a long time. I am impressed that you all are also flourishing in this world."

After the pleasantries, the atmosphere tightened slightly.

After the pleasantries, the atmosphere tightened slightly. Zhao Qian coughed lightly and was the first to get to the point: "Junior Brother Su, let's skip the small talk. This world is in chaos, the Great Xuan is about to fall, the barbarians are watching like tigers, and natural disasters are frequent. Although we follow different paths, we ultimately come from the same sect. Meeting in this alien world can be considered fate."

He paused, "I have discussed this with Senior Brother Chen and Senior Brother Li. Among the three of us, one is good at organizing the people's hearts and taking root at the grassroots level, one is good at overall governance and water conservancy, and one is skilled in technological innovation and industrial development."

"If we can each utilize our strengths and support each other, it will be of great benefit in this chaotic world, whether it is to resist tyranny, defend against foreign aggression, or preserve more lives and accumulate strength."

Chen Feng took over, his tone direct: "To put it bluntly, Little Junior Brother, your Way of Great Peace has many people and a solid base, but you lack money and food, lack fine equipment, and lack experience in governing large territories."

"Our 'Heavenly Craft Pavilion' can help you improve farm tools and water conservancy, even secretly make some defensive gear for you, and help you coordinate food and supplies through trade channels."

"Ninth Senior Brother's side can provide governance talent and experience in coordinating money and food, and can also provide political support when necessary."

"In return, your grassroots network is our best set of eyes and limbs, and your ability to settle refugees and maintain local order is also something we urgently need."