Chapter Forty-Nine: Journey to the Temple

“Incantations” and “talismans”—Zhang Xuan pondered these items, realizing that the true spectacle would unfold tonight, an event he absolutely must not miss.

“Second Brother, do you know where that temple on the outskirts, mentioned by the older woman earlier, is located?” Zhang Xuan asked.

“Yes, I know,” Yuwen Chengdu nodded.

“What’s this, Little Xuan? That master is quite renowned. Are you thinking of seeking him out as a mentor, planning to study medicine?” Yuwen teased.

“Well, it makes sense,” Yang Zaixing chimed in. “Your martial skills are neither here nor there, and since you have me and Yuwen to watch over you, maybe it’s time for a change. Who knows, you might have a knack for medicine and become a great healer. If you do, we’ll have no worries when it comes to injuries or illness—there will always be someone to help us. I have faith in you!” Yang Zaixing patted Zhang Xuan’s shoulder, wholeheartedly approving of Zhang Xuan’s plan to study medicine.

Zhang Xuan gave his elder brother a speechless look. “Are you interested in coming along tonight to see for yourself? As for becoming a disciple, that’s not happening. I’m only curious about the ‘talismans’ he’ll be handing out. As for studying medicine under him, my brain hasn’t turned to mush just yet.” With that, Zhang Xuan headed toward Yan Manor, eager to join the evening’s excitement, hoping to eat early so he could claim a strategic vantage point for the event.

Yang Zaixing and Yuwen Chengdu watched Zhang Xuan’s departing figure, exchanged glances, and followed suit. Still, Yang Zaixing couldn’t help but wonder why Little Xuan was so interested in these wandering healers and their ways. “Yuwen, have you ever seen this kind of healing? Using talismans for treatment—I’ve never seen anything like it. Little Xuan seems really invested in this. I don’t get what’s gotten into him.” Over their time together, Yang Zaixing had never known Zhang Xuan to be this type of person. After pondering for a while, he gave up, deciding not to waste any more brain cells. He would follow Zhang Xuan to the outskirts tonight and see what secrets he was keeping.

“I’ve never seen this method either,” Yuwen replied, “but I’ve heard of people using talismans to heal. This is the first time I’ve witnessed it myself—it’s rather miraculous. That person was convulsing moments ago, and the master fixed him with a few gestures. Why not go tonight? I know where the temple is. Maybe we can get a talisman or two ourselves; could be handy someday.”

“Yes, let’s go see tonight. If it’s really so magical, we should get as many as we can. If we ever get sick, we’ll have them ready.”

Luckily, Zhang Xuan didn’t overhear their conversation. Had he known his two brothers were planning to acquire talismans for themselves, he would have rolled his eyes and called them “idiots,” wondering how they could believe such nonsense. Still, it was understandable—this was an era steeped in superstition. In this time, Zhang Xuan alone had studied dialectical materialism, and if there were any other time travelers, he’d let that statement slide.

Upon their return to Yan Manor, Zhao Yun was still practicing his spear under Yang Bo’s guidance, and Yang Hu was training nearby. The other martial pupils, in twos and threes, sparred or practiced together.

Zhang Xuan looked around but didn’t see Grandpa Tong or Grandpa Li. He had planned to ask if they’d ever encountered anyone promoting the “Way of Great Peace,” since Zhang Xuan remembered the Yellow Turban Rebellion erupted around the year 184. He didn’t know exactly how long Zhang Jiao’s plotting lasted before the uprising, but it was a sudden event, hastened because their plans were leaked, prompting the authorities to crack down on the Way of Great Peace. Zhang Xuan, still inexperienced in the world, wanted to ask the two elders, who’d spent years on the martial circuit, if they'd had such encounters. If so, he could estimate when chaos would arrive and plan accordingly. However, seeing no sign of them, he suspected they were occupied indoors with something intimate—after all, they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, which was only natural. Still, Zhang Xuan thought it shameless to be so uninhibited in broad daylight, and decided to abandon his original plan to ask them.

Yang Zaixing explained to Yang Bo about his oath of brotherhood with Yuwen Chengdu, and that he now had a second younger brother. Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun expressed a strong desire to join their brotherhood, but Zhang Xuan refused, saying Zhao Yun was too young and his skills too weak. Once Zhao Yun caught up, Zhang Xuan promised to reconsider. Zhao Yun pointed at Zhang Xuan and declared, “Third Brother, just you wait. It’s only a matter of time before I surpass you,” then went back to training.

Yang Bo listened and said only one thing: “Very well. I hope you three will share honor and disgrace together, never letting each other down.” With that, he fell briefly into reminiscence, then turned and walked into the courtyard. Clearly, he was a man with stories, though whether they were his own remained unknown. Zhang Xuan asked his elder brother about the meaning of Yang Bo’s words, and whether Yang Bo had experienced something similar in the past, but Yang Zaixing was just as puzzled. From the time he could remember, Yang Bo had always been with the Yang family, and he knew little else.

Afterward, Zhang Xuan and his companions spent some time sparring and training in the martial yard. When evening came, Zhang Xuan still hadn’t seen Grandpa Tong or Grandpa Li, and could only marvel at their stamina—truly admirable men, living up to their reputation. If Grandpa Tong knew what Zhang Xuan was thinking, he would surely hang Zhang Xuan up for a beating, without mercy. Zhang Xuan decided to wait until after tonight’s “assembly” to ask them about the Way of Great Peace.

Once the three had finished dinner, they informed Yang Bo that they’d already scouted the area and were heading out for their usual evening run—a routine for Zhang Xuan and Yang Zaixing, though this time Zhao Yun wasn’t included. Led by Yuwen Chengdu, they set out for the temple on the outskirts, eagerly awaiting the night’s assembly.