"Lord Gin, you may not be aware, but the organization has carried out dozens of elimination operations against Jing Yuan, the head of the followers of the Reignbow Arbiter. We even attempted it five times last month."
Green Hibiscus was ecstatic. Several times, he pushed the Starskiff's speed throttle to its maximum, but unfortunately, he would receive a warning from the damned Cloud Knights shortly after each attempt.
To avoid violating the Starskiff traffic laws and being pulled over by the Sky-Faring Commission's cops, Green Hibiscus could only suppress his excitement. While piloting the Starskiff, he gave Lord Gin a detailed account of the organization's situation.
"A decapitation strike against Jing Yuan?"
Caelus sat in the most comfortable seat at the rear of the Starskiff, adopting the air of a big boss.
"Then why is he still alive? Is it because some of you are slacking off?"
Stelle, who sounded like a chairman's wife asking if an employee was slacking off at work, immediately caught the hint from Caelus's eyes and reacted.
She adjusted her tone from that of a chairman's wife to that of a henchman.
"Senior Vodka, as you know, that guy is called the 'Closed-Eyes General.' He usually doesn't get involved in any official business… We barely even see his face. The brothers and sisters really can't find a chance to strike, you know?"
With a helpless tone, Green Hibiscus divulged a lot of information that Caelus hadn't managed to find with Fenghuang Down.
He was truly, incredibly excited!
By serving as the catalyst for Lord Gin's entry into the organization, his future was bound to be limitless!
Once Lord Gin became the organization's second-in-command, right under the Head, he, Green Hibiscus, would at the very least become part of the junior leadership.
When the brothers and sisters of the branch comprehended the true mercy of the Medicine King, Lord Gin would be the one they thanked the most. Wouldn't he, Green Hibiscus, be the second most thanked?
Perhaps he could even become the supreme leader of the branch!
And if he could comprehend the true meaning of the Immortal Path from the precious illustrated book gifted by Lord Gin and further master the Immortal Force, he might truly be able to unravel the mystery of longevity.
The more Green Hibiscus thought, the more excited he became. Forgetting all about his driving license points, he began to speed recklessly.
Before long, he had brought the Star Rail duo to the Exalting Sanctum district, to a courtyard far from the bustling streets.
"We're here, Lord Gin, Senior Vodka. This is the largest base of our Exalting Sanctum branch."
Green Hibiscus no longer spoke as cautiously as he had on the road.
This was their territory. Inside and out, it was guarded by their own brothers and sisters. There was no need to worry about any accidents or exposure.
"Lord Gin, this way, please."
Green Hibiscus respectfully invited the Star Rail duo inside, his hospitality warm and thorough.
Caelus let out a soft "Mm," and led his simple, adorable little sister Vodka forward. He moved without any reservation, his gaze unabashedly sizing up the surroundings.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was here to inspect a property for purchase.
Caelus passed through an arched gate and entered the courtyard's interior.
The interior was indeed vast, incomparable to an ordinary villa. It was more like a large-scale electronics factory.
Good grief, Caelus thought, it's a Southeast Asian scam syndicate's base!
Caelus saw a young woman in a blue-and-white gradient short outfit, a pair of fair white thighs exposed. She had her arm linked with a Cloud Knight's as they walked toward the deeper parts of the courtyard.
Both Caelus and Stelle stopped in their tracks.
A Cloud Knight?
"Why is a Cloud Knight here?"
"Lord Gin, there's no need to worry. Only those deluded by the Demon Bow would harbor hatred for the Merciful Medicus. However, there are a few clear-minded brothers who will join us."
Green Hibiscus answered respectfully.
"The one next to him is called Lan Tao, a very shrewd sister who has been entrusted with the important task of recruiting newcomers."
Green Hibiscus, deeply versed in the ways of a subordinate, provided a thorough explanation in one step.
Stelle's little face was filled with confusion.
Since when did recruiting people involve honey traps?
More importantly, why wasn't the person she encountered one who used a honey trap?
Caelus coughed lightly to remind Hachi-Stelle not to let her expression become too obvious.
Her sunglasses had slid down her nose. Stelle, who had been eyeing the beauty, pushed them back up with her middle finger, returning to her Vodka persona.
"Aren't you worried they might be undercover agents sent by the Cloud Knights?"
"Senior Vodka makes a good point, but... those who are not sincere cannot pass the entrance test."
It had to be said, Green Hibiscus was a veteran Disciple. He spoke with great artistry. Caelus could see his ambition for advancement.
"Is that so? Then take me to see the site where you test your newcomers."
Caelus had searched Green Hibiscus's memories for matters related to the newcomer test but hadn't finished reading everything.
"Of course, Lord Gin. Please, follow me."
Green Hibiscus bowed humbly and turned to lead the way.
After passing through several guarded archways, Green Hibiscus led the two to a large pavilion.
There were many members of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus here, seemingly on patrol and guard duty.
The two individuals in full black suits were strange, but when the members saw Green Hibiscus, a veteran Disciple, treating them with such respect, they didn't dare to approach and ask questions. They all just nodded respectfully.
"Lord Gin, this is where the newcomers undergo their assessment."
Green Hibiscus began his introduction for Caelus.
"The newcomers will go through a six-month assessment. The first three months will be spent here, copying scriptures. At the same time, seniors will guide them to understand the greatness of the Medicine King."
In a room with excellent soundproofing, a senior was giving an impassioned speech on a podium, leading a group of newcomers in shouting slogans like 'Merciful Medicus!'
Inside the room, which was a hybrid of a classroom and a lecture hall, projected images showed miracles such as the dead being brought back to life with flesh regrown on white bones, and barren, dead planets being reborn under the Power of Abundance.
"The latter three months are for the new family members to undergo their Immortal Path enlightenment..."
Green Hibiscus explained the testing method in detail. Caelus's expression remained unchanged, occasionally nodding in affirmation.
Internally, however, he felt a bit strange.
Damn it, what kind of test is this? It's basically a pyramid scheme!
And for a full six months!
It sounded like a long time, but that was from the perspective of a short-lived species. For a long-life species, six months was perhaps equivalent to half a month for a short-lived one?
The key difference was, unlike the fake pyramid schemes on Earth that were only after money, the proclamations of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were not based on ethereal nonsense.
With prolonged, repetitive brainwashing coupled with genuinely existing miracles, it was difficult for those with weak minds to resist.
There was also the so-called Immortal Path enlightenment, which involved adding special medicinal powders to the newcomers' food to induce the Mara-struck state.
This, they called, perceiving the Immortal Force.
"During this process, even if a Cloud Knight dog really manages to sneak in, they will definitely be exposed."
Green Hibiscus explained with a smug look.
During the Immortal Force enlightenment, a person's mind becomes very chaotic, making it easy to identify whether they are an undercover agent.
"Even if an agent's identity is discovered, it doesn't mean anything. They still have the chance to forsake the darkness for the light. For example, Lord Purple Rose was once a Cloud Knight hound who attempted to infiltrate the organization. As long as one has a change of heart, they can still join the organization and become a brother or sister."
"As for those incorrigible ones, they will be locked in the basement. Killing one of them is the final stage of the newcomers' assessment."
In a dimly lit basement with a simple concrete floor and scattered lights hanging on the walls.
Caelus stared at the Cloud Knight bound by iron chains in a cage and nodded. "Not bad."
It was no wonder the Seat of Divine Foresight always failed when sending spies to the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. With this series of moves, an ordinary Cloud Knight stood no chance!
And the extraordinary ones? Well, there's one in the cage right now.
"Lord Gin, it seems you've come at just the right time."
As Green Hibiscus's voice fell, a man in a pale red robe brought in a person who had completed the training period to conduct the final assessment.
"What a lucky fellow."
Caelus's tone was cold.
"Indeed, indeed."
Green Hibiscus nodded in agreement.
Letting Lord Gin see the decisiveness of someone passing the assessment might save him from a few detours in the future.
However, Caelus was referring to the Cloud Knight about to be offed as trial material.
Just as the Cloud Knight was about to be killed by the candidate, Caelus used Jizo Mitama and Fenghuang Down to instantly control the minds of the three people present and the Cloud Knight. He slightly altered and blurred this memory, and used a Shadow-Eating Soldier to transport the Cloud Knight out of the Kingdom of Shadows.
Caelus even blurred the Cloud Knight's own memory. He couldn't have him reporting back immediately after getting out. This play had only just begun.
Stelle watched the whole series of operations, stunned.
"Green Hibiscus!"
"Lord Gin, I am here!"
Caelus raised his voice, snapping Green Hibiscus out of his daze. He was annoyed with himself. What's wrong with me? How could I get distracted while talking to Lord Gin?
Just as Green Hibiscus was reflecting on his mistake, his Jade Abacus suddenly chimed with a message tone.
Stelle took out her own phone and glanced at it. "Why doesn't my phone have a signal?"
"Senior Vodka, only specific communication frequencies can be used in this area. I can add you and Lord Gin to the network later."
"For now, Lord Purple Rose has arrived. I will take you two to meet him."
Green Hibiscus was even more eager than Caelus.
"Lead the way."
Stelle put her hands in her pockets, looking cool.
The mere Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, this evil cult is nothing special. Coming here feels as free as returning home.
As expected of Lord Caelus!
Seeing the Stellaron spirit getting smug again, Caelus helplessly pinched his own chest to remind her.
It made Stelle shiver. Taking advantage of Green Hibiscus not paying attention, she shot Caelus a fierce glare.
Can't you pinch somewhere else to remind me? Do you have to pinch the cherry!?
Back in the front courtyard.
A stream trickled down from the crevices of a rockery. A Chinese flowering crabapple and an old plum tree complemented each other like yin and yang. A wooden pavilion was formed from an entire inverted log of golden-thread nanmu wood.
Purple Rose sat at a stone table, his palm rubbing a teacup, contemplating the matter Green Hibiscus had reported to him.
The immortal painting that brought Green Hibiscus enlightenment, the Immortal Spirit Fruit, an Immortal Force comparable to the Head's... Every single item was a heavyweight!
All of it together made him, a small regional leader, feel immense pressure.
"Lord Purple Rose, I have brought Lord Gin and Senior Vodka!"
The shout from his trusted subordinate brought Purple Rose back to his senses. He lifted his head and looked in the direction of the voice.
Green Hibiscus walked in with two figures. Their attire didn't look like that of Xianzhou natives; they looked more like Outworlders, dressed all in black.
Especially that girl in black—could she really see clearly wearing sunglasses at night?
"I never expected that besides us, there would be followers of the Medicine King like Mr. Gin and Miss Vodka. This is truly a joyous occasion!"
Purple Rose was the first to rise and greet them.
"Are you the person in charge here?"
Caelus asked without a change in expression, not being polite in the slightest.
"Uh, yes, yes. My codename is Purple Rose."
Seeing Caelus act as if he were the true disciple of the Medicus, Purple Rose grew even more uncertain. He glanced at Green Hibiscus.
"Lord Purple Rose, this is the immortal painting Lord Gin bestowed upon me. My Immortal Force has reached a new level because of it."
Green Hibiscus took the booklet from his coat.
"Oh?" Purple Rose glanced at Caelus, and seeing no reaction, he immediately took it. "Let me see!"
But when he opened it...
"Cough—pfft!" Purple Rose nearly choked, his eyes wide as if he had seen a ghost.
"Y-You call this an immortal painting?"
Purple Rose suffered a tremendous psychological shock!
"Hah, is this your branch leader? His understanding of Lord Medicus is still so shallow."
Caelus shook his head in disappointment.
Green Hibiscus immediately jumped out to perform. "Lord Purple Rose, you must perceive the ultimate love, truth, kindness, and beauty through this painting..."
"Look here, the Plagues Author is being crushed by the Medicine King, enveloped by the Medicine King's mercy! This is resolving hatred with the physical body!"
Although he had already studied it carefully once before, seeing it again, Green Hibiscus couldn't help but become emotional, shouting with sincere fervor.
He could feel his Immortal Force growing!
Purple Rose only felt his brain being stirred by the Reignbow Arbiter's nonsense, then turning into mush.
His short-circuited brain instinctively began to think according to Green Hibiscus's explanation.
Caelus followed up with a sharp rebuke, while also using Fenghuang Down and Jizo Mitama to slightly suppress the negative effects of Purple Rose's Mara-struck state.
At that moment, Purple Rose's eyes snapped wide open.
He felt that the more he understood the Medicine King's Immortal Path according to Lord Gin's line of thought, the smoother his control over his Immortal Force became.
"Th-This is!"
"Merciful Medicus, Merciful Medicus… Yes, Merciful Medicus! I've attained enlightenment!"
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 50 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin