The Disciple of the Medium

Before Li Huowang could respond, the sound of noodles being slurped filled the air again.

"If you want to be a 'Chuma' (medium disciple), it's not that simple," Li Zhi began to explain, looking quite pleased with himself. "The gods pick their own disciples. If you want to join, you need the right chance."

"Oh? If it's convenient, please elaborate." Li Huowang had spent so long conversing with this guy precisely to learn more about such matters.

The more detailed his understanding of this unfamiliar world, the safer he would be.

Li Zhi waved his chopsticks through the air. "To become a medium, you need to be very ill—preferably near death. If you're lucky, the god will visit you in a dream, heal you, and as payment, you become their disciple."

"How do these gods look?" Li Huowang asked, his curiosity piqued.

Li Zhi pondered for a moment, as if recalling something. "Well... how should I put it? They don't look human."

Having just realized there were no noodles left in his bowl, Li Zhi enthusiastically headed toward the pot again.

"Not human..." Li Huowang mused to himself. From what he'd heard, these gods were not only communicative but also engaged in transactions. They seemed similar to the "Old Master You" from before.

It seemed that the people here were either actively or passively making deals and interacting with these beings.

Li Huowang recalled the wriggling, flesh-bound "Buddha" at Zhengde Temple.

The monks' cultivation methods appeared to follow a gradual process, transitioning from men, women, animals, to eventually the "Great Buddha." The abilities they gained seemed directly linked to their interaction with flesh.

Then he thought back to the seven Buddhas' powers, which could both bestow flesh upon Old Master You and grow hundreds of fleshly hands.

It wasn't hard to deduce that the monks at Zhengde Temple probably cultivated these abilities through such practices.

"Interacting with different entities grants different abilities. Maybe this explains the origins of their various sects?" Li Huowang thought, starting to form a rough understanding of this world.

Just then, Li Zhi returned with a bowl of noodles, piled high without a drop of soup.

As he squatted down, he resumed eating, speaking non-stop between mouthfuls. "Let me tell you, being a medium disciple is no easy task. If you can avoid it, you should. It's a lot of messy work, plus the three disasters and three tribulations... and you don't even get much money."

After listening to Li Zhi's rambling for a while, Li Huowang couldn't help but interrupt, "So, what do medium disciples call the gods for?"

Li Zhi gave Li Huowang a glance before answering, "Everything. Exorcise evil, cure illness, bring luck, handle weddings and funerals, divination, feng shui for graves."

"That impressive? They can do everything?" Li Huowang asked, incredulous.

"Well, every god has different abilities. If your own god can't handle a problem, you can always ask another one," Li Zhi replied, nonchalantly.

Hearing this, Li Huowang's expression grew more serious. "What if someone is being haunted by something? Can they handle that too?"

"Haunted by something? That's just evil spirits, of course we can handle it." Li Zhi said matter-of-factly.

"Are you sure? It might not be just any ordinary thing," Li Huowang thought of Dan Yangzi, his suspicion growing as he eyed the man in front of him.

Something about this guy seemed unreliable.

"Hey, you can try if you want. It's only fifty copper coins. Are you worried I'll take the money and run?" Li Zhi chuckled, not the least bit concerned.

"Fifty copper coins, that's your fee?" Li Huowang thought the price was suspiciously low.

"This is my fee, the god's fee is different. Don't get it mixed up," Li Zhi said, chewing his noodles before burping contentedly.

"My tea money is fifty copper coins, no bargaining—been the same rule for over three hundred years. Of course, it has to be new money, can't be old, torn, or clipped coins. As for the god's fee..." Li Zhi trailed off.

"I negotiate with the god?" Li Huowang asked, intrigued.

"No, you can't. The god chooses whatever they want. Most of the time, gods don't care about money. They take what they want," Li Zhi explained.

"They take what they want? And they don't ask for money?" Li Huowang felt a growing unease. What exactly would these gods take in exchange?

"What have gods taken before?" Li Huowang pressed.

"Well, I wouldn't know. You can't talk about it if the god took something. It's bad luck. Saying it aloud will bring misfortune," Li Zhi replied, licking his bowl with both hands, completely unperturbed.

"Aren't you the medium? Don't you know what the gods take?" Li Huowang was perplexed.

"To be honest, I'm just the god's errand boy. I'm responsible for calling the god, and that's it. I don't bother with the rest. For the few copper coins I get, I can't be bothered to care about the details."

Compared to the monks from Zhengde Temple or Dan Yangzi, Li Zhi seemed far more laid-back and detached from the situation.

"Are you sure you don't want to try? Who's possessed, exactly?" Li Zhi asked, seemingly enjoying his food.

Li Huowang stood up after a brief pause, his focus still firmly on the woman with the red veil. "Let's keep going. I've rested enough."

"Alright! By the way, when do we eat dinner?" Li Zhi asked, looking around as if expecting an immediate answer.

Li Huowang and his group continued on their journey, with Li Zhi's carefree personality seeming to keep him constantly looking for things to talk about. However, Li Huowang and his companions gave little response to his attempts at conversation.

Li Zhi's words and tone were casual, and he didn't seem to harbor any ill intent. However, Li Huowang didn't trust appearances, and his guard was still up.

Li Huowang glanced at the woman with the red veil again. There was something about her, something off. With every step, her movements were too precise, almost mechanical. She didn't seem human; she was more like a puppet, manipulated by unseen hands.

The strangeness of the situation was amplified by the fact that Li Zhi referred to her as his "wife."

"Li Shixiong, should we separate from them?" Bai Lingmiao whispered, walking over to him.

"Not yet. Let's wait and see," Li Huowang replied quietly, still analyzing the situation.

If Li Zhi's words weren't lies, then it was possible that the gods he spoke of might be the key to breaking free from Dan Yangzi.