After arriving in the upper realms, Meng Ying and Chu Jing bribed a battlefield registrar to join the Chen State camp. Despite her low Foundation Establishment cultivation, she narrowly escaped death at the hands of demonic cultivators several times.
During one battle, she risked her life to save a Golden Core cultivator from the Dragon Lion Guard who had been infected with corpse poison. Abandoning the now-useless Chu Jing, she boarded a warship back to the dragon capital.
The poisoned cultivator, wary of others’ touch, relied solely on Meng Ying’s care during the journey. By the time they reached the dragon capital, he had become infatuated with her due to their shared ordeal.
“Though the masters work tirelessly, there’s simply not enough help,” Meng Ying explained while guiding Nan Yan through the infirmary. “Of the 700,000 Chen State cultivators at Qitian Plains, 10,000 to 20,000 are infected with corpse poison daily. Fortunately, Chen State is well-prepared, so only the critically injured are brought back to the dragon capital.”
As they moved from patient to patient, Meng Ying carefully observed Nan Yan. Her excellent memory nagged at her, finding something familiar about Nan Yan’s healing techniques. When Nan Yan had to use her prayer beads to purify multiple people simultaneously, Meng Ying finally realized why.
Nan Yan spent two hours in the infirmary, progressing from individual treatments to group purifications for those less severely affected. Her methods drew the attention of the infirmary’s physicians, though some stubborn ones criticized her direct burning of corpse poison as too extreme. Thankfully, the sweet-talking Meng Ying deflected much of the criticism.
After treating over 300 people, Nan Yan’s spiritual energy was nearly depleted. As they stepped outside to rest, Meng Ying couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer.
“Excuse me, but are you… Senior Zhengyuan?” she asked hesitantly.
Nan Yan, having no intention of hiding her identity, replied, “Fellow Daoist Meng, it’s been a while.”
Meng Ying felt somewhat awkward. “I never expected you’d have successfully formed your Golden Core since we parted on the whaleship. But why are you walking around the dragon capital in disguise?”
After careful consideration, Nan Yan answered, “I’ve offended someone.”
Recalling Nan Yan’s rare beauty, Meng Ying assumed she was hiding from unwanted suitors. She couldn’t help but envy such a “problem.”
Noticing Meng Ying’s changing expressions and slight sigh, Nan Yan asked, “Why do you look so troubled, Fellow Daoist Meng?”
“Forgive my foolishness,” Meng Ying began. “After disembarking from the whale ship, we went to the Chen-Si battlefield. Within three months, Senior Brother Chu was injured in battle. Luckily, he encountered relatives from his Hai State clan who took him away. Left alone, I fortunately met Senior Qin Hao of the Dragon Lion Guard. Now that we’ve returned to the dragon capital, he wants to make me his Dao partner.”
Remembering Qi Yang’s occasional praise for Meng Ying’s ability to climb social ladders, and knowing that Dragon Lion Guard members likely came from good backgrounds, Nan Yan asked, “Isn’t that good news?”
Meng Ying shook her head with a bitter smile. “If only it were that simple. Senior Qin Hao’s family is quite prominent in the Dragon capital. How could they allow him to marry a rogue cultivator from the mortal realms? His family spoke to me today, saying I could only be his concubine. If I demand more, they’ll disregard the fact that I saved his life.”
“And what does Qin Hao himself say?” Nan Yan inquired.
“What can he do?” Meng Ying sighed dramatically. “All men are the same. How could he defy his family’s wishes? He says I should be his concubine for three to five years, and once we have children, he’ll elevate me to Dao partner status. Senior Zhengyuan, as a Buddhist cultivator, can you offer me some guidance? Why are some born with everything, while others must start from nothing, struggling all their lives only to face disdain? Take you, for instance. You were born with enviable beauty. Even though you’ve joined a monastery, if you ever choose to return to secular life, thousands would gladly bow at your feet. But I…”
“I wasn’t born with this appearance,” Nan Yan interjected, fingering her prayer beads. “As a child, I was ugly and often bullied for my looks and physique.”
Meng Ying listened attentively but inwardly doubted, believing it to be a fabricated story meant to comfort her.
Nan Yan continued slowly, her gaze lowered as if speaking of someone else: “My birth mother was very protective. Whenever I was wronged, she would seek justice for me. As I grew older, I learned she had a heart condition. So even when I was beaten severely, I’d return home pretending everything was fine… People are indeed born into different circumstances, but that’s not the main factor. What truly matters are the people you encounter.”
Perhaps due to Nan Yan’s sincere tone, Meng Ying, despite her ulterior motives, couldn’t help but ask, “Haven’t you ever met bad people, Senior?”
“Yes, in that respect, I may have been much luckier than you,” Nan Yan replied, her eyes softening with memories. “I was born to a wonderful mother and grew up surrounded by caring older brothers. Before I could decide what kind of person I wanted to become, the people I met ensured I wouldn’t stray from the right path.”
Of course, most of the time, simply upholding righteousness was challenging enough, let alone guiding others.
Meng Ying shook her head. “I still can’t believe that someone born poor and ugly could compare to those born with silver spoons. It’s like my former junior sister at the sect…”
Nan Yan’s childhood presence had been too strong for Meng Ying to forget, but she stopped mid-sentence.
“Why did you stop, Fellow Daoist Meng?” Nan Yan prompted.
Meng Ying explained, “Forgive me, Senior. My junior sister perished in a secret realm, her immortal path cut short. I fear disturbing spirits if I speak ill of the dead.”
“Oh, that’s unfortunate,” Nan Yan responded.
Meng Ying quickly changed the subject. “However, my junior sister had a brother with great fortune who now holds a high position in the dragon capital. I’ve been lingering here for a month, hoping to meet him. If I could gain his protection and secure a position, I could establish myself here.”
Nan Yan pondered for a moment. Her junior sister’s brother, holding a high position in the dragon capital… could it be her brother?
“Are you referring to Imperial Prince Mu Zhanting?” Nan Yan asked.
Meng Ying blushed slightly and nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”
Nan Yan recalled how this girl had flirted shamelessly at Yangyue Sect and later cleverly used Chu Jing to reach the upper realms. Now she seemed intent on leveraging this connection to climb higher.
Remembering her brother’s unwavering devotion to scholarly pursuits, Nan Yan silently recited “Amitabha” before asking, “He was slightly injured last night. I was planning to visit him as well and could introduce you. But, Fellow Daoist Meng, how are your… literary skills?”
Meng Ying looked puzzled. “Literary skills?”
“Indeed,” Nan Yan confirmed. “He’s incredibly erudite now and particularly enjoys exchanging poetry with scholars.”
Meng Ying’s eyes lit up, mentally noting this information. She quickly claimed, “I received some instruction from great scholars in my secular life. I can compose a few simple poems.”
Nan Yan felt a pang of sympathy. “Ah well… I meant to warn you to be careful…”
Their conversation was interrupted by a commotion in the distance. A Nascent Soul cultivator flew to the infirmary, his face beaming with joy as he summoned the chief physician.
“I heard there’s a master here who’s exceptionally effective at dispelling corpse poison. We have four Nascent Soul cultivators in the Dragon Herald Guard who’ve been infected. Bring them here immediately!”
Nan Yan, her spiritual energy depleted, was chatting with Meng Ying outside the infirmary when she heard the Nascent Soul cultivator calling for her. While drawing energy from two middle-grade spirit stones to replenish her strength, she asked Meng Ying, “I didn’t inform anyone before treating patients here. Do I need to register somewhere?”
Meng Ying explained, “Chen State’s frontline has four guards. The Dragon Fish Guard consists of Qi Condensation cultivators, the Dragon Serpent Guard of Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Dragon Lion Guard of Golden Core cultivators, and the Dragon Herald Guard of the highest-level Nascent Soul cultivators. They’re the smallest in number but the main force on the battlefield. Any Buddhist master at Golden Core level or above is assigned to assist the Dragon Herald Guard.”
Nan Yan understood the importance of Nascent Soul cultivators and the need to allocate more resources to them. However, she soon heard the Nascent Soul cultivator berating others.
“You should know better,” he scolded. “It’s not like we haven’t assigned Foundation Establishment Buddhist cultivators to treat and exorcise you. Golden Core Buddhist cultivators should be sent to the Dragon Herald Guard first.” Glancing at the Foundation Establishment cultivators still glowing with Buddhist light in the infirmary, he added dissatisfied, “Mere Foundation Establishment cultivators can be treated carelessly. You’ve kept us waiting far too long.”
Nan Yan found this situation inappropriate. In the cultivation world, the Nascent Soul stage marked a significant watershed. Once cultivators reached this level, their spiritual energy gradually transformed into primordial energy. Even if killed, their Nascent Soul could escape and survive independently, unimpeded by magical treasures. They could then either repair their physical body or obtain a new one through natural death. Mere corpse poison would only cause discomfort to Nascent Soul cultivators, posing no real threat to their lives.
Even for Golden Core cultivators, the survival rate when facing corpse poison was high. Those truly in mortal danger were the lower-level Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Meng Ying, a member of the Dragon Serpent Guard, muttered dissatisfied, “The frontline provides ample resources for the Dragon Herald Guard. Besides, this is the dragon capital; they don’t need to fight here…”
The Nascent Soul cultivator from the Dragon Herald Guard, after hearing the physician’s explanations, swept his divine sense and noticed Nan Yan under a tree near the entrance. He approached her and asked, “Are you a Buddhist cultivator from Mao State?”
Nan Yan nodded, “That’s correct.”