"Uncle Yang, you know him?"
Welt's brows were tightly furrowed. Without answering Fu Zhu, he rose from his seat and walked step-by-step toward Luocha, finally stopping right in front of him. He demanded in a stern voice.
"Who are you, really?"
Luocha merely glanced at Welt. Seeing the fierce look in his eyes, he couldn't help but turn his head away, avoiding his gaze.
"I am Luocha, an itinerant merchant and part-time doctor. That is all."
Welt didn't believe him. "Is that truly all?"
"If you refuse to believe me, sir, then no matter what identity I claim, it will be false in your eyes."
After saying this, Luocha fell silent, allowing Welt to continue staring daggers at him.
March 7th, watching this scene from the side, couldn't help but lean into Fu Zhu's ear and whisper.
"This is the first time I've ever seen Uncle Yang with an expression like that... It's like Luocha has some kind of deep-seated grudge against him."
Fu Zhu nodded, not forgetting to correct a mistake in March 7th's words. "It's more likely that someone who looks very similar to Luocha has a deep-seated grudge with Uncle Yang. If it were really Luocha, Uncle Yang probably would have made his move by now."
March 7th nodded in complete agreement.
Welt overheard the two youngsters whispering and sighed, turning his head to tell them, "I'll explain it to you two later when I have the chance."
Just then, Jingliu, who had been lying unconscious on the floor, suddenly moved her fingers. Though the movement was subtle, it was caught by everyone's sharp eyes, and they all turned to stare at her.
A moment later, Jingliu's eyes fluttered open in a daze. A sharp pain in her head made her want to raise her hands to her temples, but the moment she tried to move, she realized her hands were bound tightly to her body. Instantly, she remembered what had happened before.
Jingliu struggled to sit up from the floor, turned her head to look at Fu Zhu, and asked with a frown, "What did you give me?"
"A Golden Apple, a very precious item." Fu Zhu then turned to Jing Yuan and said, "Jing Yuan, since she's someone you know, remember to reimburse me for my Golden Apple later."
"Alright."
Jing Yuan nodded in agreement. Fu Zhu had done him a huge favor; even if a Golden Apple was forged from solid gold, he would reimburse a hundred of them.
"Golden Apple?"
Jingliu still couldn't figure out why she had passed out, but recalling the previous events, she was certain that Fu Zhu hadn't just fed her a simple Golden Apple.
"Jingliu, why did you return to the Luofu?"
While Jingliu was still pondering what Fu Zhu had done to her, Jing Yuan, his face grim, walked up behind her.
Hearing the familiar voice, Jingliu let out a soft sigh in her heart, then painstakingly turned her body to face Jing Yuan.
"My return naturally has its purpose."
Jing Yuan suddenly summoned his Formation Blade, its point aimed directly between Jingliu's eyebrows, his voice growing cold.
"Then state your purpose. And why are you traveling with an abomination of Abundance?"
Jing Yuan shot an icy glare at the bound Luocha. From the moment the man had appeared before him, he had sensed the aura of Abundance emanating from him—an aura detested by all on the Xianzhou.
Seeing that Jing Yuan had discovered him, Luocha spoke to Jingliu, "It seems we've been found out. We might as well be direct."
Jingliu thought for a moment before giving a slight nod.
Only then did Luocha turn to Jing Yuan and say, "General, while it is true that I bear the blessing of [Abundance], we, like you, are enemies of the Apothecary."
Jing Yuan did not believe his words, his gaze remaining fixed on Jingliu.
Seeing his disbelief, Jingliu explained, "Jing Yuan, do not hinder us. This is a battle between Aeons. If the Xianzhou chooses the wrong side, it will lead to eternal damnation. My purpose in returning to the Luofu this time is quite simple. I need an audience with the Marshal to inform him of the method we have found. Do you understand?"
Despite her being his former mentor, Jing Yuan still did not believe her.
"Why should I believe you? Besides, the Marshal is not someone you can meet just because you want to."
"No, the Marshal will see us."
Luocha suddenly let out a laugh. Even if his hands weren't tied, he would have wanted to raise them in a grand gesture. He suddenly turned his head towards Jingliu.
"Jingliu, have you not yet noticed the change in your own body?"
"Hm?"
Confused, Jingliu lowered her head to carefully observe and feel the changes within herself. Only then did she belatedly realize it.
"The Mara-Struck state...?"
She was somewhat astonished. Her blindfold had been destroyed in the previous battle with Fu Zhu. Logically, upon seeing Jing Yuan again now, those maddening voices should be echoing in her mind, tormenting her.
But now, it was quiet. An unprecedented quiet.
"Precisely!"
Luocha's eyes glinted as he looked askance at Fu Zhu. "Although I do not know how Mr. Fu Zhu managed it, the fact that the Mara-Struck state can be cured... if this news were to get out, General Jing Yuan, do you think the Marshal of the Xianzhou Alliance would grant us an audience?"
The moment he heard this, Welt and Jing Yuan's expressions turned grim.
From the very beginning, Jing Yuan had intended to suppress the news that Fu Zhu could cure the Mara-Struck state. Even within the Xianzhou Alliance, if this were to get out, it would only bring trouble to Fu Zhu.
"Fu Zhu is a benefactor of the Luofu. If you have such thoughts, then you can leave your life here today!"
Welt also raised his hand and tapped his cane. A barrier rose, enveloping everyone inside to prevent any disturbance from leaking out.
Furthermore, Luocha's words had also confirmed a thought in his mind.
Anyone with that face is bad news!
"Wait a moment."
Just as Jing Yuan was about to make his move, Fu Zhu suddenly called out to stop them.
Jing Yuan and Welt turned to him in confusion. "Fu Zhu, this concerns you."
"I know."
Fu Zhu pinched his chin, staring at Jingliu and Luocha. His decision to stop them was naturally based on his own considerations.
His ultimate goal right now was to become stronger, which meant unlocking Creative Mode and purchasing more mods.
Mods were relatively simple; he just needed to complete various achievements to buy them. But Creative Mode was much more troublesome. It required him to obtain the blessings of all Paths, and there were level requirements.
Back when he was summoned by Abundance, It had told him to heal and help more people. Perhaps this was a way to unlock a higher-level Abundance blessing.
Searching the entire galaxy for people who needed help by himself was far too inefficient. It was much better to have those in need come find him.
In that case, letting Luocha spread the news that he could cure the Mara-Struck state might actually increase his efficiency.
However, he also needed to guard against the trouble that would come after the news was out.
"Luocha, you can spread this news, but you cannot say it was me. You can only say that the Luofu has discovered a method of treatment. Understood? Of course, you don't have a choice."