Flame Shrine, Lingyang Branch.
A muscular middle-aged man sat in a soft tiger-skin chair, while a young woman in a grey robe and a veil held a silver needle, slowly inserting it into the man’s head.
Needle after needle, twelve silver needles in total, after which black mists started to emerge from each, and at the same time, the color of the needles turned dark.
Onlookers were shocked and started whispering among themselves.
"It’s smoking, it’s smoking..."
"Keep it down, don’t disturb Lord Divine Envoy while he’s being healed..."
"The doctor summoned from the Henshan Gathering Area is indeed skilled..."
"If she hadn’t come in time, I fear Lord Divine Envoy would have been in grave danger..."
"How dare someone harm Lord Divine Envoy, they are truly seeking their own death..."
"What’s unusual about that? The last White Robe was killed... the entire Flame Army was wiped out..."
"Shh, keep it down..."
Minutes later, the woman removed the silver needles one by one from the middle-aged man’s head and threw them into an alcohol box in front, then passed over a bowl of cooled medicinal broth, saying, "Lord Divine Envoy, drink this detoxifying broth, and the poison inside you will be completely cleared."
The middle-aged man opened his eyes, which shone brightly, took the broth, and drained it in one gulp.
After finishing, he looked at the young woman in the grey robe and spoke, "Doctor, has the poison inside my body completely dissipated?"
"It has been completely cleared," the Grey Robe woman replied. "I used the ’Taiyin Needle Technique’ to open up all the meridians in Lord Divine Envoy’s body and forced all the toxins out... Do you feel refreshed and free of the previous heaviness and blockages?"
"Indeed. The discomfort in my body has all disappeared." The middle-aged man took a moment to feel his condition and said to the young woman, "I, Lei Zongnan, have just arrived in Lingyang and was harmed by a treacherous person who poisoned my food and drink..."
"I was unconscious for the past few days and owe my survival to your timely rescue... I haven’t had the chance to ask how to address you?"
"An Ning," the Grey Robe woman replied.
"An Ning?" the man repeated. "In such turbulent times, living peacefully is not easy... However, I, Lei Zongnan, am someone who repays both grudges and kindness. You are my savior, and naturally, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Is there anything you desire, Miss An Ning?"
"Nothing," An Ning replied. "Healing the sick is a doctor’s duty after all."
"Well said, ’a doctor’s duty.’" Lei Zongnan laughed heartily. "Nowadays, few can speak such words... Miss An Ning, you are truly as your name suggests, genuine and kind, your joining our shrine is a blessing for us..."
"I dare not accept such praise," An Ning said in a calm voice. "I’m merely seeking shelter."
"Miss An Ning is indeed a straightforward person," Lei Zongnan looked at An Ning and asked. "Are you a member of the shrine from the Henshan Gathering Area?"
"Yes," Wang Tianlong came forward from the crowd, bowed respectfully to Lei Zongnan and said, "Lord Divine Envoy, Miss An Ning is the doctor recommended by our Henshan Gathering Area."
Lei Zongnan nodded and glanced at the ugly scar on Wang Tianlong’s face, saying, "After such horrifying incidents from the Henshan Gathering Area, I was planning to reinspect that area thoroughly... This is also why I haven’t promoted you to Black Robe; I find it hard to trust anyone from there..."
"But, you are an old member of our shrine and having survived such an ordeal indicates great fortune... This time by recommending Doctor An Ning who played a role in saving my life, you have proved your loyalty to the shrine..."
"Wang Tianlong, I now promote you to Black Robed Envoy of the Flame Shrine, responsible for all affairs in the Henshan Gathering Area. Do you believe you can handle this responsibility?"
Wang Tianlong knelt on the ground and said loudly, "Thank you, Lord Divine Envoy, for your trust. I will devote myself fully and will not let you down."
"Hmm, ’devoting oneself fully’ is easier said than done. After becoming a Black Robe, you need to thoroughly reform the shrine in the Henshan Gathering Area, reassembling all available forces; I will also send someone to aid you..."
"Yes. I will consolidate the forces in the shortest possible time and establish the branch in the Henshan Gathering Area," Wang Tianlong responded assertively.
He knew Lei Zongnan still did not fully trust him and would certainly send his trusted direct reports to supervise him.
However, that didn’t matter.
With An Ning’s help, no matter who he sent, they would eventually become ’one of their own.’
"Also, the higher-ups are still looking into the Divine Envoy Bian Feng’s case. That Tang Fei... he went to New Star, but doesn’t he have any remnants? Any comrades? You must behead a few people to settle the scores with the higher-ups..."
Lei Zongnan didn’t care who had killed Bian Feng; he was even grateful to someone for eliminating Bian Feng.
If Bian Feng hadn’t died, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to become the chief priest of the Lingyang District.
But, the White Robe of the Flame Shrine being killed and the total annihilation of the regional Flame Army was indeed a disgrace...