Chapter Forty-Nine: The Medicinal Guide

Of course, when Meng Yun returned, she immediately noticed something unusual in the village.

The once lively village was now eerily quiet. Some villagers had abandoned their fields altogether, choosing instead to stay hidden indoors, locking their doors tightly. There were fewer people walking through the streets and alleys; daytime was tolerable, but at night the village became unsettlingly silent and strange.

Fubao, playing outside, would occasionally whisper to Little Ginseng, “Hmm… has the little loach come out yet?”

Little Ginseng replied, “Such a scary fish!”

Watching Fubao playing outside, Meng Yun pondered for a moment, then divided the things she had brought from her mother’s house into two portions, picked up one, and headed to the old house.

When Meng Yun arrived at the old house, Grandmother Lin was dressed in peculiar attire, burning incense before a beautiful painting that had been hung on the wall at some unknown time. The painting depicted a large carp with twin wings, half-hidden in clouds and mist. Fubao stared wide-eyed at the painting, pouted, and muttered, “It's so ugly!”

Grandmother Lin was speechless—what could a child possibly understand?

Meng Yun couldn’t make sense of her mother-in-law’s actions and could only watch quietly as she sang and danced.

Meng Yun was at a loss, thinking, “This is quite the performance.”

Fubao looked on with disdain, “Hmm… Grandma’s dancing is so ugly! That’s not how it’s supposed to be!”

Grandmother Lin had already noticed Meng Yun’s arrival and, after finishing her ritual and tidying up, pulled mother and daughter into the inner room.

Once inside, Meng Yun handed Grandmother Lin the things she had brought, then began to ask about the recent happenings at home and in the village. Something felt very strange to her.

After hearing Meng Yun’s concerns, Grandmother Lin hushed her and glanced toward the door, then pulled Meng Yong aside and whispered, “It’s night now, don’t speak too loudly. Listen, when you go home, be sure to hang up that painting and pay your respects often. That painting is of the Mountain God, the guardian deity passed down through generations here in the Dabie Mountains. Recently, there have been serious problems with the Cangjiang River. The officials sent from above haven’t been able to uncover the truth, but we know! They don’t believe the words of the elders in this place. The breach in the river has shaken something loose from the riverbed.”

Her expression grew grave as she spoke.

“But what exactly is it?” Meng Yun asked, looking at Grandmother Lin’s strange demeanor, feeling a little uneasy.

“It’s the little loach!” Fubao, who had been playing with ants in a corner, suddenly ran over and said with a soft face.

Grandmother Lin and Meng Yun were both speechless.

No one paid any heed to Fubao.

After listening to Grandmother Lin, Meng Yun was incredulous. How could such sinister things be possible? She knew the Dabie Mountains had always been shrouded in mystery, but she hadn’t expected something so uncanny. Meng Yun didn’t disbelieve, but never imagined such events would happen so close to home.

“Mother, then… what should we do? When I came home this time, I met my uncle. He and my father went to Cangjiang together, and I have no idea how they’re doing.” Meng Yun grew worried as she thought of her father and uncle.

“Your uncle? The one who’s a prime minister?” Grandmother Lin knew a bit about Meng Jia. Who the officials sent were mattered little; what mattered was that something in the river had been disturbed—what should be done?

“Yes, that’s him. Do you have any way to handle this? What do you think?” Meng Yun asked.

“I don’t know. I’m thinking your father and uncle will go to Ci’en Temple after investigating Cangjiang, to seek Master Wuneng. He’s a sage, and he should have a solution.” Grandmother Lin believed that with their wisdom, her husband and brother-in-law would surely think of the same thing.

Meanwhile, Meng Yun’s father and his companions had already arrived at Ci’en Temple to meet Master Wuneng.

Upon their arrival, a monk was waiting for them.

Seeing the three, he said, “Honored guests, Master Wuneng is traveling the world and has not yet returned. He anticipated your arrival and left a brocade box for you, to be handed over by his disciples. He said it can resolve the disaster.”

With that, he handed the brocade box to Meng Yun’s father.

Meng Yun’s father and Bai Zhanshuang exchanged a glance, took the box gratefully, “Thank you, Master.”

“No need for thanks. What the Master entrusts, we disciples must do our utmost. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now.”

“Safe travels, Master.” Although they bade farewell to the monk,

Meng Yun’s father opened the box. Inside was a string of prayer beads and a letter. He was puzzled, unsure how to use the beads.

Bai Zhanshuang opened the letter and, after a while, said, “So that’s how it is. Come, let’s go to a village near the Dabie Mountains to look for a medicinal guide.”

“A medicinal guide?” Meng Yun’s father and Han Hua asked in unison. Bai Zhanshuang remained silent and handed them the letter to read for themselves.