Li Feng hesitated, or rather, was afraid to act.
After all, this action was tantamount to openly breaking with Manager Chen, and if upon returning to Black Stone County, Manager Chen wasn't severely punished, then he would be the unlucky one.
Han Zheng noticed that Li Feng, in reality, was a bit indecisive, a technically oriented talent.
When discussing the principles of medicine baths, he was articulate and confident.
But when it came to action, he would look before and after, unable to make up his mind.
With his personality, if he were to compete for the Store Manager position in the future, he would definitely not be able to compete with Chen Moshan's son.
Han Zheng could only further incite Li Feng.
"Chen Moshan is letting greed lead him to his death; I don't want to die alongside him just for fifty silvers. What's the use of risking our lives for that?
If he doesn't leave, I'm taking my men and going. At worst, after returning, I'll return the silver to the Store Manager and get a scolding from the master.
But Pharmacist Li, you, so refined and cultivated, once demons arrive, you might even not be able to outrun those physically strong fellows."
Hearing that Han Zheng was about to leave made Li Feng panic.
He gritted his teeth, "Let's do it! As long as you, Brother Han, can control Chen Moshan, I can command the fellows at Shenghe Hall."
Manager Chen was a manager, but Li Feng had spent many years at Shenghe Hall and was not without influence; his prestige was no weaker.
"Leave it to me; that old thing won't stir up any troubles."
Once Li Feng was persuaded, the matter was almost settled.
Han Zheng summoned Li Sancheng and repeated his plan to them.
Zhao Jinming and Wang Bao had no objections.
Since Han Zheng had led them to slay the pig demon, their reverence and trust in him had peaked—everyone was completely led by Han Zheng.
Li Sancheng was rubbing his hands in excitement, "I've found that old thing displeasing for a long time! When do we make our move?"
"No time like the present, right now!"
At that moment, at the spiritual field.
Manager Chen was lounging on a recliner, brewing tea leisurely as he watched the workers at Shenghe Hall picking spiritual medicine.
Anyone who was slow would still get a scolding from him.
"Manager Chen seems quite relaxed."
Seeing Han Zheng and the others approaching vehemently, Manager Chen's heart pounded fiercely, and he stood up from the recliner.
"What have you come for?"
Li Feng stepped out from behind Han Zheng, taking a deep breath.
"Chen Moshan, you want to line your pockets and falsify accounts to embezzle spiritual medicine, that's one thing.
But you shouldn't gamble with everyone's lives out of greed!
The pig demon might catch up to us at any time, yet you are here wasting time; what is your intention?"
Manager Chen's face immediately darkened, "Li Feng, have you lost your mind? What nonsense are you spouting!"
Han Zheng spoke lightly, "Manager Chen, the one who has water in his brain is you. Do you still not understand the situation you're in? How absurd!"
With that, Han Zheng waved his hand and led Li Sancheng and the others straight towards Manager Chen.
"Someone, stop them!"
Chen Moshan shouted.
Among the workers he brought from the manor, a few were his confidantes.
Among them, one worker holding a sickle was the fastest and rushed in front of Han Zheng with the sickle.
"How dare you! You are all hired guards of my Shenghe Hall; are you rebelling now?"
Han Zheng chuckled coldly and with one kick sent the tall and burly worker flying several meters out, crashing to the ground with a thud.
Han Zheng approached, stepping on the worker's head and said coldly, "I didn't notice you being so brave when facing the pig demon.
Cringing before demons, yet you dare to draw a blade against me, do you think I'm easier to bully than a pig demon, or have you always been this brave? Hmm?"
As Han Zheng applied more pressure with his foot, the worker's face was filled with terror.
He felt that with just a bit more force from Han Zheng, his head could be crushed!
"Spare… spare me!"
The worker, spitting blood, mumbled his plea incoherently.
With one kick, Han Zheng knocked the man aside; the worker twitched twice and then lay motionless, alive or dead unknown.
This scene terrified the rest of Manager Chen's confidantes, none daring to make a move.
They all recalled the terrifying ferocity of Han Zheng bathed in demon blood while slaughtering the pig demon yesterday.
The ferocious and monstrous pig demon, almost a giant, was easily slain by Han Zheng; standing up against him was clearly courting death.
Besides, if things were indeed as Li Feng said, that the pig demon could catch up at any time, then Chen Moshan was indeed joking with their lives.
You have lived for seventy or eighty years long enough, but we haven't had enough of life yet!
Han Zheng walked over, grabbed Manager Chen's head, and slapped his face, sending several of his few teeth flying.
"Old thing, I've put up with you for a long time!"
Manager Chen still wanted to curse, but Li Sancheng, from who knows where, pulled out a filthy rag and stuffed it in his mouth, tying him up roughly and throwing him aside.
Clapping his hands, Han Zheng gave Li Feng a look, signaling that it was settled.
Chen Moshan didn't know if it was because he had lived too long and become muddled, or because he had been a manager so long that he was used to giving orders.
In these desolate, remote mountains, his status as manager was a joke.
Might makes right.
Li Feng told the workers authoritatively, "Chen Moshan has embezzled and flouted the law; he has now been detained and will be handled by the Store Manager after returning to Black Stone County.
Although we have slain the pig demon on our journey, to prevent the pig demon's parents from tracking us for revenge, we must hasten our pace.
Let's start picking spiritual medicine at full speed; once you've collected a type, bring it to me for grading.
Everyone be assured, if anything happens, I, Li Feng, will bear the responsibility—it has nothing to do with you!"
Li Feng had worked at Shenghe Hall for over thirty years, from an apprentice to a senior pharmacist, and his prestige was substantial.
The most important thing was that Han Zheng's martial prowess backed him up, so the employees of Shenghe Hall dared not refuse.
Even the confidants of Manager Chen had never thought of causing any trouble.
They hastened their pace, and it didn't even take half a day—in just two hours they had finished harvesting the Spiritual Medicine and loaded them all onto carts.
Before departing, Han Zheng suddenly stopped Li Feng.
"We can't take the same route as before, in case we run into a boar demon, we'd be caught off guard," he said.
Li Feng thought for a moment and said, "The previous road is the closest one already. If we change routes, I do know one.
However, that road involves passing through many scattered villages, winding around, and it's somewhat longer—a good two hundred miles further than the previous route."
"Two hundred miles is not a problem, as right now we have more people and Spiritual Medicine than when we arrived, so safety is most important."
Li Feng nodded, feeling that Han Zheng made sense.
Though Han Zheng appeared young, his actions were extremely prudent and mature.
Having agreed on a plan, no one else objected.
The caravan set off with Han Zheng remaining highly vigilant all the way, especially with the boar demon incident in mind.
Fortunately, nothing happened, and although this road was somewhat longer, there were still inhabited places, with a small village every one or two hundred miles.
However, these villages were all in utter disrepair, and the villagers were impoverished and numb. Some villagers couldn't even muster a full set of clothes.
Previously, Han Zheng had thought the poor in Black Stone County had it tough, but outside the city, the people's conditions were even harsher.
Seeing those ragged villagers, Li Feng sighed, "There have been many natural and man-made disasters in recent years, coupled with Southern Mountain's innate sterility and hilly terrain, which is unsuitable for growing crops. The common people's lives have been increasingly tough.
Even if they don't die in wars or become food for demons, a significant number starve to death each year."
"Doesn't the Court do something about this?"
Li Feng replied sarcastically, "The Court? If the Court could manage, would the Smell Fragrance Sect be causing chaos?
Look at our County Magistrate in Black Stone County. He has been in office for three years and has held court only twice.
Aside from drinking and composing poetry, he spends his days in a drunken stupor, never caring about what happens in the county."
With that, Han Zheng was suddenly reminded of the existence of the County Magistrate of Black Stone County.
However, this magistrate was so ineffectual that he was nearly invisible. In Black Stone County, the real power lay with the two major families and the three gangs.
"Moreover, our County Magistrate is actually one of the better ones. While ineffectual, he at least doesn't make things worse.
I heard that in neighboring Yongning County, the situation is genuinely disastrous.
Their County Magistrate, a corrupt official, has colluded with local gangs to exploit the people severely, often ravaging households.
Many from Yongning County cannot survive and flee to Black Stone County to make a living."
Han Zheng gently shook his head.
Such was the nature of dynastic decline—incidents darker and more absurd than these were countless in history.
Ultimately, whether rising or falling, it was the common people who suffered.
"Pharmacist Li, how much further to Black Stone County?"
"About another two hundred miles. Just about ten miles ahead is Li Family Village; we can rest there as we pass through."
After saying this, Pharmacist Li called out to the people in the caravan, "Pick up the pace, everyone. We can rest once we get past the next stretch."
Since the carts were loaded with medicinal materials, their speed was inevitably slowed.
When passing difficult sections of the route, the employees of Shenghe Hall had to help push the carts.
Thus, after half a day, everyone was somewhat tired, needing to rest every three or four hours.
Half an hour later, a small village appeared before the caravan.
"Huh, why is there red smoke coming from that village?" Li Sancheng muttered curiously, tagging along behind Han Zheng.
Han Zheng also felt something was wrong.
Most ordinary people ate only two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
One reason was the lack of grain. Another was to save firewood.
Now, it was midday when almost no one in the village would be cooking a meal. And even if they were, why would the smoke be red?
Moreover, the red smoke was strangely eerie, as crimson as blood, and it rose straight into the sky, undisturbed by the slightest breeze.
"Stop for now."
Han Zheng raised his hand to halt the caravan temporarily and walked up to a slightly elevated mound to take a closer look.
That red smoke in the village wasn't from cooking meals.
Instead, hundreds of villagers gathered in an open area, cutting their hands to let their blood drip onto thick incense sticks.
As the blood-soaked incense was lit, the scarlet, blood-scented smoke shot up high into the sky.
The villagers, though bleeding, looked intoxicated under the blood-red incense smoke.
Even if some had turned pale from blood loss, they still appeared blissfully otherworldly.
In front of the many villagers, two individuals in white robes led the villagers in chanting scriptures.
"Merciful Mother of Life, Pu Du all beings.
Grasp the wondrous law from Heaven, ruled by the True Spirit.
We, the followers, heed the fragrance sincerely.
Fear not life nor death, only then transcend.
Join our Sect, home of immortality.
Without life nor death, reach the ultimate bliss!"
The villagers' chanting was uneven and accented.
Yet, their voices were filled with an indescribable frenzy and intoxication, sinister beyond measure.
Li Feng approached Han Zheng, looking somewhat distressed.
"This is bad! It's the Smell Fragrance Sect!
Wasn't the Smell Fragrance Sect always active in Huainan Road?
This is already part of the territory of Southern Mountain, even less than two hundred miles from Black Stone County. How could the Smell Fragrance Sect appear here?"