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A Prophet - Chapter 12 (Part 1)

Chapter 1 - The Miraculous Uses of Honey 

The Mid-Autumn Festival of August had arrived, and a large, round moon illuminated the rushing waters of the Huangpu River.

Mei Xuanzi's recent series of maneuvers had already thrown the Jianghuai region into chaos, and Grandfather's sect operations were growing increasingly quiet. That night, Zuo Yongchan of the Tiansheng Sect came calling once again.

"Well? Have you found the mole yet?" Zuo Yongchan asked.

Grandfather nodded slightly.

Zuo Yongchan chuckled. "Grandfather should trust me this time around."

Grandfather remained expressionless.

Zuo Yongchan continued, "What has Grandfather decided about the sworn brotherhood I mentioned last time? I've been waiting to become sworn brothers of the eight-fold kowtow with you, but I haven't heard back. I'm not sure what Grandfather's intentions are."

This was precisely the question Grandfather had been pondering. When Zuo Yongchan made his late-night visit previously, he had demanded that the Tiansheng Sect and the Muzi Lotus merge into one to jointly counter the Plum Blossom Society. He had claimed this move was backed by a powerful figure behind the scenes. When Grandfather asked who this big figure was, Zuo Yongchan had replied, "As big as you want them to be! Within three years, the secret societies across the entire country are bound for a massive reshuffle!" With that, he had offered Grandfather a mysterious smile.

"Now that I've helped Grandfather uncover the traitor, surely someone of your legendary wisdom knows there is an influential operator behind Mei Xuanzi. With winds and waves this violent, even the government has been dragged in. If Grandfather hesitates any further, I'm afraid the Muzi Lotus will be completely wiped out!" Zuo Yongchan watched Grandfather closely as he spoke.

Grandfather sighed. "Since Sect Master Zuo refuses to name this influential backer, I dare not act rashly!"

Zuo Yongchan grew anxious. "It's..." The words reached his lips, only for him to swallow them back down. A moment later, he smiled and said, "Grandfather should simply wait and watch how the situation evolves. Before long, if you find yourself entirely out of options, you can come find me at my humble abode." With that, he flicked his sleeves and strode away.

Grandfather watched Zuo Yongchan's departing back, his mood growing heavier by the moment. Ever since Mei Xuanzi began making grand spectacles to build momentum, Grandfather had harbored a vague sense of an undercurrent churning beneath the Jianghuai region. It was like a giant python winding its way through various factions, and what it dragged along in its wake would be a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering tsunami across all of Jianghuai!

Grandfather silently pondered his next countermeasures. What on earth was this nationwide secret society reshuffle that Zuo Yongchan spoke of? After the 1911 Revolution, China under Nationalist rule appeared unified on the surface, but was in reality carved up by warlords. Manipulating a nationwide reshuffle of secret societies was not something a mere faction or two could pull off. Was the Nationalist high command planning a grand reshuffle, or were various warlord cliques joining hands to pull off another major upheaval? Since the 1911 Revolution, the political winds had changed overnight. A suffering China gasped and groaned through historic, earth-shattering transformations. Was the country about to plunge into total chaos once again? Grandfather racked his brain, searching for answers.

"Grandfather, Second Elder, Zhang Zizan, Huang Farong, and others request an audience!" the housekeeper announced. Grandfather nodded and told them to enter.

Second Boss Ba, Zhang Zizan, and Huang Farong walked in beaming from ear to ear. When Grandfather saw them, he wondered what on earth had put these three in such high spirits.

After taking a seat, Second Boss Ba threw his head back and grinned. "Grandfather, the trick has been cracked!"

Grandfather was stunned. "What trick?"

"Mei Xuanzi's Gathering of the Immortals and Noodles of the Gods trick!"

Grandfather's eyes instantly lit up. At a wave of Second Boss Ba's hand, Huang Farong and Zhang Zizan stepped forward, and it was only then that Grandfather noticed they were both holding items. Zhang Zizan carried a bowl of noodles, while Huang Farong held a glass jar.

Second Boss Ba looked at Grandfather, then at Huang Farong and Zhang Zizan, before announcing, "Demonstrate it for Grandfather!"

Zhang Zizan placed the bowl of noodles on the tea table. Huang Farong picked up the glass jar and poured its yellowish, viscous contents into the noodles. Grandfather fixed his eyes on the bowl. The clock ticked steadily, and the room fell into complete silence. A short while later, a miracle occurred: the noodles in the bowl began to dissolve, and in the span of about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they had melted away entirely.

Grandfather was shocked. "What is inside that jar?"

Huang Farong smiled, blinking her large eyes. "Honey!"

"Honey?"

"Yes!" Zhang Zizan said excitedly. "I looked through Western biological texts and found that honey contains diastase, which can hydrolyze starch. When Mei Xuanzi performed his street magic, he must have put honey in the pot beforehand. When the noodles were first dropped in, they didn't change much, allowing Mei Xuanzi to scoop them into a bowl. By the time he finished eating, a quarter of an hour had passed, and the noodles in the other bowls simply melted away!"

Grandfather nodded and smiled, even though he had no idea what "diastase" was. He prompted Zhang Zizan, "Tell me the details."

Zhang Zizan explained, "Ever since I saw Mei Xuanzi's performance, I went home and experimented with all sorts of ingredients—peppercorn water, tangerine peel decoction, seawater, vinegar—you name it, I tried it. Later, I went to the library at St. John's University and found a piece of information in a book called Biochemical Overview. It recorded that in 1883, a French biochemist discovered a substance called 'enzyme'. There are many kinds of enzymes, and the diastase found in honey is the most stable. Below forty degrees Celsius, it undergoes no transformation and can rapidly hydrolyze starch..."

Grandfather listened intently, marveling at the advancements of Western science. The Jiangxiang school was facing unprecedented challenges in this new era, and whether it could continue to rejuvenate itself was anyone's guess.

"When did you crack it?" Grandfather suddenly asked.

Zhang Zizan stammered, "Actually, earlier..."

Huang Farong immediately interrupted him. "Actually, Zizan went to the library to flip through books a while ago, but he only discovered the secret this morning."

Grandfather glanced at Huang Farong, then nodded. "Ah, very good."

Seeing that the timing was right, Second Boss Ba quickly chimed in, "Grandfather, ever since Zizan joined your ranks, he has been utterly loyal and has repeatedly achieved great merits. Now that the position of Fourth Boss Ba is vacant as well, we might as well promote Zizan to the rank of 'Scholar'. This is also the shared wish of all the brothers in the sect."

With that, all three of them cast their gaze toward Grandfather.

Grandfather narrowed his eyes, nodded, and looked back at the trio, thinking to himself that these three had clearly plotted this before coming. He understood that this must have been Huang Farong's idea all along. She had her husband demonstrate the method of cracking the trick while simultaneously pulling Second Boss Ba in to propose the promotion. This avoided the appearance of reporting out of turn while giving the request much more weight.

The next day, Grandfather summoned a full assembly of the sect, showered Zhang Zizan with praise for cracking the trick, and subsequently proposed his promotion. The various Boss Ba figures in the sect knew what was going on; Grandfather had long intended to elevate this technical strategist, so they all spoke up one after another to praise Grandfather's wisdom.

The Third Boss Ba, who had just been released from the dungeon, shouted loudly, "Brother Zizan's promotion to Scholar is what everyone desires! It is thanks to Grandfather's wise cultivation that our brothers are able to stand out. With Grandfather at the helm of the Jiangxiang School and all the brothers pulling together, we will undoubtedly defeat the Plum Blossom Society!"

His words were flattering without being excessive, and complimentary without feeling greasy. Grandfather was quite pleased upon hearing them.

Around noon, the sect slaughtered chickens and geese. Amidst burning incense, three kowtows, and fervent oaths, Zhang Zizan officially became the Fourth Boss! Amidst the congratulations of the crowd, a banquet commenced. The Boss Ba and the lower-ranking members drank to their hearts' content, bringing a rare atmosphere of jubilation to the sect.

In the midst of the clamor, Grandfather walked out alone, making his way to the back courtyard. Standing before the gardenias, memories rushed over him like a tide. Flowers bloom and wither through the passing years, people come and go leaving empty halls. He thought once more of Qi Chunfu and Sun Yexing. As the leader of a sect, the greatest sorrow was having brothers betray you—killing traitors, severing limbs, replacing the old generation with the new. Alas, how sorrowful!

Just as he was lost in thought, Huang Farong walked over. "Grandfather, today is a time of great joy. Why does a look of sorrow still fill your old face?" Her tone already betrayed a hint of drunkenness.

Grandfather glanced at her sideways. "You've been waiting for this moment for a long time, haven't you?"

"Nothing escapes Grandfather's eyes..." Huang Farong's bright eyes rolled, and she offered a faint smile.

Grandfather let out a cold laugh. "Zizan must have found the method to crack the trick long ago, only he kept it a secret. He was just waiting for me to get rid of Qi Chunfu so you could expose it then, ensuring the position of Fourth Boss Ba would naturally fall to him."

Huang Farong pressed a hand to her temple. Swaying unsteadily from drink, she murmured, "Biding your time and striking only when the moment is right—that is the principle of conduct Grandfather has always taught us juniors. Farong merely... merely put what she learned into practice. Besides, back then the traitor's identity was unclear, making it even more inconvenient to reveal the method for cracking the trick. Farong... ever since marrying into the Muzi Lotus, Farong has worked diligently. Whenever a major situation arose, I would lie awake thinking day and night, racking my brains. Grandfather knows full well that Farong is a treasure, but... Farong is also just a fragile woman. My husband Zizan has a strange and erratic temper, blowing hot and cold. When Farong has endured grievances, has Grandfather ever seen it? Fate has dealt me a bitter hand. Far from home, I miss Yan Niang in the south and my birth mother in the north, with not a soul to rely on, entirely alone and helpless..." As she spoke, tears began to stream down her face.

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