Chapter Nine: Gaining Divine Powers Once More

Yang Zhonghai's face darkened, as if something weighed on his mind. He sighed and said, “Am I not thinking of your future? Do you think becoming a medicine boy is the end of all your worries? That’s a huge mistake. Leaving aside how hard it is to learn, the ostracism and suppression you’ll face, and the fact that you’ll be given the hardest, most exhausting tasks—what will you do when you have to venture into the mountains alone, sometimes even deep into the wilderness?”

Yang Fan didn’t argue with him on this topic, but instead asked, “Second Uncle, I know that once the assessment’s over and the rankings are registered, they can’t be changed. How can I give up my qualification? Oh, right, there’s another way: if I withdraw voluntarily, the eleventh place moves up. Isn’t that so?”

Yang Zhonghai nodded. “Getting ten taels of silver for nothing—could there be anything better? And the other party isn’t insignificant.”

“Heh!” Yang Fan let out a cold laugh. “I was fourth in the assessment. Instead of targeting those ranked lower, they come to me—because I’m alone and easy to bully? And you, Second Uncle, not only refuse to help but even try to threaten me. Yang Zhonghai, please leave. You’re not welcome in my home!”

Yang Zhonghai’s face flushed. He stood up and flung his sleeve. “You don’t appreciate a kind heart, Yang Fan. Don’t come to regret this in the future.”

He stormed out, fuming.

Yang Fan sneered coldly.

He remained seated, instead pondering who the eleventh place was, to be able to produce ten taels of silver to maneuver for the spot.

Why didn’t they make their move before the assessment?

Finding out wouldn’t be hard. Just as he was about to seek out Da Hu, the fellow walked in. “Yang Fan, what are you up to?”

“Nothing much. You?”

“Wanted to sleep in, but my mother drove me out, saying if I’m already this lazy, what progress will I make at the Hall of Benevolence? I might as well learn to cook.”

Yang Fan couldn’t help laughing, watching Da Hu come in and point to a stool. “Do you know who ranked eleventh?”

“Eleventh? Let me think… Oh, right, Jia Xuyang. That guy’s really unlucky—got injured on the first day, but still brought back quite a haul. He claimed to have dug up a huge piece of polygonatum, but lost it while fleeing for his life. If not for that, he’d have definitely secured a spot.” Yang Da Hu gloated. “Why are you asking about this?”

“Help me find out about his family background,” Yang Fan replied without explaining.

“No problem!” Da Hu’s eyes spun with ideas. “Is that guy up to something dirty? If he tries anything, I’ll teach him a lesson.”

“Don’t cause trouble—just gather information first!” Yang Fan urged.

“Alright!” Da Hu agreed, giving Yang Fan a long look. “Yang Fan, you’ve changed a lot since the assessment.”

“That second night, I didn’t come home. I faced death more than once. After such shocks, how could I remain unchanged?” Yang Fan’s voice grew a touch melancholic. “Even life and death don’t seem so important to me anymore.”

Da Hu patted his shoulder and went out, closing the gate behind him.

“Changed a lot?” Yang Fan smiled, unconcerned.

He then took out the small armless stone statue, crushed it in his hand, and revealed a mottled brown bead, flecked with golden hues.

He recalled that, when sensing it earlier, the light inside the statue had been intense.

Based on experience, he judged that it held potent essence, which was why he had purchased it.

The mark in his mind quivered slightly, releasing information about the broken bead.

[Mutated Earth Spirit Pearl, Fragment]—originally a fragment of an Earth Spirit Pearl, it retains traces of the miraculous. Having absorbed a vast amount of faith over the years, and lain buried deep in the earth, it gradually drew upon the energies of the ley lines, and, through the passage of time, mutated into a rare remnant treasure. Possessing it brings calm and peace, dispels malice, and may grant fleeting perceptions of the earth’s pulse. Contains four points of vital essence.

The simple information sent a shock through Yang Fan.

“So, there really is faith power… Does that mean gods truly exist?”

No answer came.

Yet his curiosity about the wider world outside only grew.

Suppressing his inner turmoil, he absorbed the essence immediately.

[Earth Essence: 7.9]

Without hesitation, he spent five points to awaken the Divine Power of Intimidation.

In an instant, Yang Fan felt his spirit sharpen, his bloodline subtly altered, and a profound, mysterious sensation surged within him.

It was astonishing.

“There’s no obvious change. How can I test it?”

As he pondered, he heard birdsong from the little tree in the courtyard. An idea came, and he activated the Intimidation power.

With a thud…

He saw the white-capped bulbul on the branch freeze, then fall to the ground. He hurried over to check.

The bird was trembling violently.

He noticed something else—the area had gone quiet.

Yes, utterly silent.

It was already September. Even in the daytime, the sounds of insects should be constant, but now, there was nothing.

Even the ants had stopped crawling.

The caterpillars were rigid and unmoving.

“So this is the power of Intimidation?” Yang Fan was astonished and quickly withdrew the power. After a long moment, the white-capped bulbul started to move again, struggled to its feet, and flapped away in fright.

“Though named Intimidation, it’s clearly an attack as well. I wonder how effective it is on people?”

Mulling over this, he used the rest of his essence to increase his Awakening. That familiar, cleansing sensation swept through him.

This time, the improvement was considerable.

His gaze sharpened—the veins on the leaves at the treetop were perfectly clear; a slight movement of his ears and he could hear the neighbors whispering.

His strength had grown, too.

But without a point of reference, he couldn’t tell just how much.

His own information appeared before him:

[Mark Holder: Yang Fan]
[Fate: Mountain Warden]
[Awakening: 9.9%]
[Awakened Divine Powers: Ingestion, Earth Sense, Intimidation]
[Earth Essence: 0]

Not much had changed, except there were no new Divine Powers to awaken, perhaps because his Awakening wasn’t sufficient yet.

After getting used to these changes, Yang Fan began to search his house, finding a thick-backed chopping knife and a short sword about a foot long.

The short sword was rusty.

He found a whetstone, dripped water onto it, and began to sharpen the blade. Though he wasn’t skilled, his actions were precise enough.

Once the rust was gone and the blade gleamed, he sheathed it and tucked it into his belt.

A while later, Da Hu returned with news.

Jia Xuyang was the son of Jia Dongsheng, the mayor of Jia Family Town, eighteen miles southeast. Both father and son were staying in town.

Jia Dongsheng wasn’t a martial artist, but he was an old hunter.

At dusk, Lin Xiaoyu entered with a food box. Pouting in displeasure, she said, “Brother Fan, why didn’t you come to our house for dinner? Are you treating us like outsiders now?”

“I just thought you were all busy, so I waited till later to visit.” Seeing the food she took out, Yang Fan was surprised at how plentiful it was.

There were tender meat slices, a plate of roasted pork, and several pancakes.

“Brother Fan, eat up!” Lin Xiaoyu propped her chin on her hand, sitting across from him.

Yang Fan scratched his head, then dug in heartily.

“Brother Fan, after you become a medicine boy at the Hall of Benevolence, will you still come back?”

“I will.”

“What about if you leave town someday?”

“This is my home. No matter how far I go, I’ll always come back to visit.”

“Mhm!”

After eating, Lin Xiaoyu packed up and left.

Once Yang Fan had tidied up, he went out as well.

The streets bustled with people, especially near the Taifeng Restaurant, where several young women—brought in from who knows where—were showing off their charms, shaking their chests and swaying their hips, drawing in crowds of men, young and old alike.

Yang Fan, however, headed west, toward the quieter part of town. In a secluded corner, he spotted a drunkard staggering along and unleashed his Intimidation power.

The drunkard stiffened and collapsed.

From the courtyard next door came the sound of someone falling.

“Marvelous!” Yang Fan’s face lit up with delight, and he quickly slipped away.