Ascension Day

With the death of the Giant Divine Spirit, the Incense Smoke Qi it had condensed dissipated on its own. The arrow fletchings embedded in the Snake Demon Yuan Qi’s body also turned into wisps of Incense Smoke Qi, vanishing without a trace.

Xu Ying checked the Snake Demon Yuan Qi’s injuries and frowned slightly.

Yuan Qi’s injuries were severe. He had already suffered internal injuries the night before, and now, with the arrow and sword wounds from the battle against the Giant Divine Spirit, he likely wouldn’t live much longer if left untreated.

"I don’t think I’m going to make it."

Yuan Qi seemed to have come to terms with it. "After I die," he said, "you can preserve my body and be exempt from a year of taxes. Oh, wait, I forgot—you going to the Government Office to pay taxes would be like walking straight into a trap! Hahahaha—COUGH COUGH COUGH!"

He broke into a violent fit of coughing.

Xu Ying smiled. "You’re not going to die. Have you forgotten? I’m a Snake Catcher. I can catch snakes, and I can also heal them. Huangtianpu Town is just up ahead. I’ll go there and get some medicine. Once I apply my remedies, I guarantee you’ll be back on your feet in no time."

Lacking strength and utterly exhausted, Yuan Qi said, "Going to Huangtianpu Town? Isn’t that like delivering yourself to their doorstep? The Divine Spirit of Huangtianpu Town is probably no weaker than that Giant Divine Spirit. Your condition right now is barely better than mine; you’re no match for it. I’m an Exotic Snake, and you’re a Snake Catcher. We’re supposed to be enemies. If you were to abandon me and leave right now, I wouldn’t blame you."

Xu Ying shook his head. "There is no Divine Spirit in Huangtianpu Town. I was here a while ago. They say the local Divine Spirit was promoted and transferred away, and the City God hasn’t assigned a new one yet. But... you’re right. I should just abandon you and leave."

He dropped the Snake Demon and walked into the village.

Yuan Qi panicked. "I can still be saved! Don’t leave me!" he cried. "You have to at least try!"

Xu Ying retorted irritably, "What, you expect me to carry you into town for medicine? I’m starving. I’m going to get something to eat first. You just stay put and don’t move."

Only then did Yuan Qi relax.

Xu Ying walked over to where the Giant Divine Spirit had been eating. The villagers had all scattered and hidden in fear, leaving only a little girl of about ten years old sitting on the ground, a half-eaten chicken leg in her hand, staring blankly at him.

Xu Ying glanced at the table and saw half a chicken was still there. He took a piece of broken silver from his robes, placed it on the table, and said, "This is payment for the meal, on behalf of the big fella."

He wolfed down the food, quickly devouring the entire half-chicken.

Seeing how famished he was, the young girl offered him her own half-eaten chicken leg.

Xu Ying was tempted to take it and gnaw on it, but he resisted. Instead, he pulled out another piece of broken silver and gave it to her. "Little one," he said, "help me look after my friend over there. Bring him a basin of water to drink, and don’t let him die. Also, don’t get too close. He’s poisonous."

The girl nodded, licking the shreds of meat from the chicken bone like a kitten.

Xu Ying strode out of the village and, before long, arrived at Huangtianpu Town.

The town was festooned with lanterns and decorations, bustling with activity. People thronged the streets, carrying roasted suckling pigs, chickens, and ducks, leading calves, and bearing a decorative sedan chair. Trumpets and suonas blared as everyone hurried forward in a procession.

Xu Ying blended into the crowd, scanning the street for an apothecary. ’Is some wealthy lord getting married?’ he wondered, taking in the lively scene.

A troupe of drummers approached, beating large drums. Following them was a tall float led by an ox adorned with red and colorful fabrics. On the float rested a Lotus-shaped Shen Kan, upon which sat a stone Divine Statue.

The Divine Statue had six arms, with bronze ribbons twining between its arms and palms, winding around its front and back. It had two faces, one on the front and one on the back, and the carving was exquisite and lifelike.

Two Incense Burners were placed around the Shen Kan, one in front and one behind. Incense sticks as thick as an arm burned within them, their fragrant smoke curling up to wreathe the Divine Statue.

’The Divine Spirit of Huangtianpu was transferred away,’ Xu Ying thought. ’Are they welcoming one of the New Gods?’

The people of Huangtianpu Town had also set up a running banquet along the streets. The aroma of food was overwhelming. Xu Ying squeezed his way forward, grabbed some meat, and stuffed it into his mouth, eager to first fill his stomach.

Strangely enough, ever since encountering the Da Zhong at Jianshan, he had felt constantly hungry, never able to eat his fill, and was suffering from a deficiency of Qi and Blood.

He followed the float for another half a li before he finally spotted Huangtianpu Town’s apothecary.

The Shopkeeper and his assistant were also at the entrance watching the float, leaving Xu Ying alone in the shop.

Xu Ying scanned the shop, then called an assistant over. "I need you to get some herbs for me."

The assistant, still peering outside, asked distractedly, "Do you have a doctor’s prescription?"

Xu Ying shook his head. "No need. I’ll tell you the names, you get them. And be quick!" As he spoke, he laid out his last few pieces of broken silver.

He had originally planned to flee to another region, saving his Silver Coins to find a wife. But with Yuan Qi injured, he couldn’t afford to think about that now. The medicine came first.

The assistant’s eyes lit up at the sight of money. "What herbs would you like, sir?" he asked eagerly.

Xu Ying listed the names and quantities of the herbs he needed. The assistant was startled by the list. ’Is he trying to treat an elephant?’ he muttered to himself. ’Why so many ingredients?’

Xu Ying needed to treat not only himself but also the Snake Demon Yuan Qi. Yuan Qi was over thirty feet long and weighed eight hundred catties. While not as large as an elephant, he was still massive and required a correspondingly large amount of medicine.

As a member of a Noble Family of Snake Catchers, who regularly ventured into the mountains and forests to deal with venomous snakes, poisonous insects, demons, and monsters, it was only natural to have some medical knowledge. Xu Ying had followed his grandfather and adoptive father for many years; his medical skills were considerable, and treating injuries was well within his abilities.

However, Xu Ying needed a large quantity of herbs, and it would take the assistant some time to gather them all. So, Xu Ying simply left the apothecary to follow the float. ’I might as well see how a god is enshrined,’ he thought.

He had seen deification rituals in villages before; they were quite simple. When a virtuous elder passed away, an ancestral hall would be built for them. A statue would be crafted from clay or wood, a spirit tablet placed before it, and daily offerings made. In time, the statue would develop supernatural qualities.