Chapter 61 Wen Zhong (Second Watch)

  But just then, Shengong Bao was prescribing medicine for a man. The man had a stout build and was extremely fat, wearing a luxurious official robe, holding three iron balls in his hand, constantly rotating them. However, his face was deathly pale, without any blood color, his lips were somewhat purple, his eyes were dull, unfocused, as if he would soon lose his soul.

  Shen Gong Bao's divine eyes scanned once, and in an instant, he understood what illness it was. He said lightly: "Suitable is just right, don't overdo it, remember that excess is not as good as moderation!"

  The young man smiled awkwardly and then said with a proud tone, "I don't know if you can give me some spiritual medicine, I will definitely thank you with a large sum of money!"

  Shen Gong's eyebrows furrowed, and he let out a cold hum: "Take the prescription away, ten taels of gold!"

  Hearing Sheng Gongbao's impolite words, the man glared at him in anger and shouted: "How dare you! Do you know who I am?"

  "No matter who you are, if you continue to be unreasonable, don't blame me for making it impossible for you to enter the human world from now on!" Shen Gongbao said coldly with a stern face. Although he knew that the person in front of him might be some noble or aristocrat's son, could a Taiyi Xuanxian like himself be afraid? What a joke!

  "Who are you?" The man stood up in anger, his thick and sturdy hands pointing at Shen Gongbao like a pig's trotters. He was about to shout loudly, but just then, a murmur of noise came from the crowd, all blaming this man.

  Recently, Shengong Bao has been treating people's illnesses almost free of charge, so the local residents have come to adore him, and his reputation for kindness is already well-known to everyone.

  At this time, the man treated himself and others as a medical god, but he provoked public anger. The onlookers all shouted: "Who are you? How dare you treat Daozhang like that? Do you want to provoke public anger?"

  "Yes, this guy is really too rude, he's overindulged himself, his body is weak and frail, yet he still has the nerve to ask Da Zhang for spiritual elixirs!"

  "It's extreme, it's extreme! Looking at this person's complexion, I'm afraid that if they don't reduce their desires, they won't have many days left!" A scholar shook his head and said.

  "Hurry up and leave here, I've already called a guard over, and that guard was just cured of his illness by the Taoist priest not long ago!"

  Everyone was talking and pointing fingers, with voices of accusation and curses non-stop. If it were just one person alone, they wouldn't dare to be so bold. But at this moment, there were many people gathered, as the saying goes, "there is strength in numbers" and "the more people, the bolder". Even if that person had a high social status, would they still dare to offend everyone?

  The fat man's face turned a deep purple, his pig-like hands shaking as he pointed at the crowd, stuttering: "You... you people are so insolent, I will definitely... definitely make sure to severely punish you!"

  The voice was extremely stern, and the gloomy appearance involuntarily made everyone's voices much smaller. Just at this moment, a majestic thunderous voice suddenly rang out from outside the crowd: "Is that so?"

  The voice was majestic and powerful, and the crowd involuntarily made way for a path to let the newcomer approach. Shen Gongbao furrowed his brow and looked over, only to see that this person's hair was flecked with white, showing an old demeanor, but his expression was solemn and stern. He wore a suit of gold-inlaid armor with empty spaces, with two golden whips coiled together at his waist, and a pair of tiger eyes glaring at the fat man.

  Shen Gong Bao gazed at the majestic old man in his sixties with a third eye on his forehead, and silently exclaimed: "It's finally here!"

  This man is none other than the great merchant Taishi - Wen Zhong!

  Wen Zhong was a great merchant and high-ranking minister, deeply favored by Emperor Yi. He exhausted his mind and energy as the great merchant, conquering east and west, stabilizing the mountains and rivers of the capital, and maintaining the vitality of the Shang Dynasty. As a person, he was upright and unyielding, with great prestige, and was extremely loyal to the Shang Dynasty.

  After Emperor Yi's death, he entrusted the orphan to Wen Zhong and other elders, and also awarded Wen Zhong a golden whip, which was used to punish the foolish ruler and the treacherous officials. People all called Da Shang "Wen Yu An Bang, Wu Zu Ding Guo" where "Wen" refers to Wen Zhong.

  However, Wen Zhong had once entered a famous mountain in his early years, intending to cultivate the Great Tao. Unfortunately, he lacked good fortune and although he heard of the fruit of the Golden Dawn, he did not attain the ultimate truth. He ascended Mount Tai but had no affinity, so he descended the mountain and entered the imperial court. Unexpectedly, he became a high-ranking official, and because of his loyal and diligent assistance to the great merchant, he was finally unable to change the fate of the cruel and tyrannical Shang Zhou, even with the ability of a Taishi. Nevertheless, when Jiang Ziya was enfeoffed as a god, he sensed Wen Zhong's integrity, purity, and loftiness, and enfeoffed him as the Nine Heavens' Yingyuan Leishen Puhua Tianzun, supervising the twenty-four thunder gods of the Thunder Department, bringing forth clouds and rain, nurturing all living things, punishing evil and eliminating treachery, with good and evil fortunes determined by him.

  Wen Zhong was a disciple of the Golden Spirit Mother of the Intercepting Teachings, who had learned the immortal family's magical techniques and could still use the "metal, wood, water, fire, earth" five elements escape technique. His cultivation was not high, but he belonged to the earthly immortal category, owning a mount called the Ink Qilin, which could travel thousands of miles in an instant. At his waist hung his treasured artifact, the Male and Female Twin Whips.

  The Earthly Immortal is a term for cultivators who have entered the realm of refining the void and merging with the Tao, but have not yet passed through the heavenly tribulation to become Celestial Immortals. Wen Zhong was at this peak state, and with a bit of luck, he could break through and enter the realm of Celestial Immortals. However, Wen Zhong had killed too many people in his lifetime, and the karma entanglements were too great, so even until death, he did not achieve the realm of Celestial Immortal.

  Certainly, the most striking feature of Wen Zhong is the third eye in his brow, similar to Yang Jian's, but unlike Yang Jian's third eye, Wen Zhong's third eye has a divine insight that can emit several inches of white light, which can distinguish between good and evil, loyalty and treachery.

  When Shen Gongbao recognized Wen Zhong, others also recognized Wen Zhong, the current Taishi. For this old Taishi, all merchants respected and loved him, so everyone rushed to bow their heads and say: "We have seen the Taishi!"

  "You're welcome!" Wen Zhong said calmly, but his voice was like a thunderclap, full of energy.

  Then Wen Zhong turned his gaze to the fat man in the field and asked again, "Who gave you the right to wantonly harm good citizens? Is it your father Fei Lianshi or who?"

  "Fei Lian?" Sheng Gong Bao was startled, and looked at the man again, secretly thinking: "Could this person be E Lai? One of King Zhou of Shang's personal bodyguards?"

  In my mind, I couldn't help but recall the relevant information about Evil Coming. I was puzzled and wondered if it wasn't said that this person had extraordinary powers, able to fight against multiple people, which is why he was recommended by Fei Lian to Shang Xun as a personal bodyguard?

  But with such an appearance, I'm afraid anyone can knock him down. His body is so stout and his posture is so weak, how could he be the personal bodyguard of Shang Zan?

  Shen Gong's gloominess was interrupted by the commotion in the scene, and he saw E Lai trembling and saying: "Taishi, I just said that casually, don't take it seriously!"

  "Hum! If I find out what kind of dark deeds you've done, even your father, Fei Lian, won't be able to protect you!"

  "Ah! Ah! Ah!" E Vil nodded repeatedly, cold sweat dripping down his pig-like face, but he didn't have time to wipe it away, hurrying to explain to Wen Zhong. E Vil knew that although this man was a civil official and the Grand Preceptor, he was even more ruthless than Huang Feihu, a military general who had spent his life killing and fighting. He wouldn't hesitate to harm him just because his father was a scholar-official.

  "Get out! Hmph!" Wen Zhong gave a cold glance at E Vil, and then ignored him.

  He hastily acknowledged and then twisted his plump body, squeezed out of the crowd, and left in a hurry.

  "Your humble servant Xing Gongbao has seen the Grand Tutor!" Xing Gongbao bowed and greeted Wen Zhong.

  Wen Zhong couldn't see clearly, but suddenly knew that Shen Gong Bao was probably a celestial being or even higher. He hastily returned the courtesy and said: "Fellow Daoist, no need to be too polite, I also cultivated for many years when I was young, and I worshiped under the Golden Spirit Holy Mother of the Intercepting Teachings Sect. Let's just address each other as fellow Daoists from now on!"

  "So, I'm being presumptuous, but I heard that you, fellow Taoist, have come today with another matter?"

  "However, I have one more thing to trouble you with. Recently, I heard that a highly accomplished person has arrived in Chao Ge, and his reputation for benevolence and righteousness has spread throughout the city. That's why I've especially come to invite you to visit the Tai Shi's residence for a gathering. What do you think?"

  Shen Gong Bao burst out laughing and said, "A fellow Daoist invites me like this, how can I refuse? If I don't go, it would be impolite!" In fact, Shen Gong Bao had been smiling inwardly for a long time. He had waited for several days, wasn't it just to wait for the Taishi?

  He then said to the crowd: "Today, Taishi has invited me, so I won't be able to treat illnesses for you all anymore. When I have time in the future, I will definitely come and see you again!"

  Everyone hastily shouted: "Nothing's wrong! Nothing's wrong!"

  Thus, Wen Zhong stretched out his hand and said, "Fellow Taoist, please!"

  "Haha, let's have the Taoist friend go first, I'll just follow behind!"

  Wen Zhong no longer declined and took large strides to leave first, with Shen Gongbao following behind him at a steady pace.

  They soon arrived at the Taishi Mansion, and after entering, Wen Zhong led Shen Gongbao to the reception hall. He ordered someone to serve tea and water, and the servant quickly brought them over. After brewing, they bowed and retreated, leaving the two to slowly sip their tea and discuss matters.