Chapter 409: Favored One Bayen
After sowing the seeds of the Warrior, it was getting late. Ace looked back at this seaside city one last time, preparing to leave.
Just then, there was a sudden commotion at the city gate. Many people scrambled toward the harbor, shouting as they ran.
“The Favored One of Demigod Thoth, the wise Bayen is here!”
“Legend has it he is an extremely wise elder!”
“The New Medicine he brought has saved thousands for free, and he is very approachable. If we ask him, we will surely be treated!”
“Let’s go, let’s go. Even if Mr. Bayen doesn’t have time to treat us, his disciples are all skilled doctors and will surely help us!”
People scrambled to the harbor, and some hurriedly ran home, seemingly wanting to bring their families.
Ace, who was about to leave, stopped. His body trembled slightly as he thought of that shrewd old man. It had been seven years since Bayen left his hometown to find opportunities after failing to advance to an official wizard, with no news since.
“I didn’t expect to hear the words ‘Bayen’ and ‘New Medicine’ here. If nothing is amiss, it should be old man Bayen. But a Favored One?”
Ace hesitated slightly. He activated the 3-ring spell Invisible Concealment, hid his power, and followed the crowd to the harbor wearing an unfamiliar face.
A small brig docked at the harbor. A long plank extended from the ship to the ground. An old man in a white robe with completely white hair and beard, eyes revealing the light of wisdom, walked out first. His beard was short, a 1-ring hexagram badge was pinned to his chest, and he held a wooden cane as tall as a person, walking down slowly.
Behind him were a group of young men in white robes. They also had a hexagram badge pinned to their chests and held heavy books in their hands, which also featured the hexagram pattern.
Ace was in the crowd. The Eye of Truth activated, and rune structures flashed in his eyes.
Bayen emitted a pale red light. Undoubtedly, he had completed the life transition and become a Level 1 Life. But whether Bayen was an official wizard, relied on the grace of a Deity, or both, was unclear.
Those dozen young men behind Bayen had nowhere to hide in Ace’s eyes. Their mental power far exceeded ordinary people, and their bodies and souls showed a certain degree of magic “contamination.” Undoubtedly, they were a group of wizard apprentices.
Ace stared at the 1-ring hexagram badge on Bayen’s chest, looking thoughtful. Why did Bayen dare to act with such fanfare? Perhaps Bayen really was a Favored One.
Ace didn’t squeeze forward. He recalled the books he recorded in the Byrne Noble Library not long ago. Demigod Thoth was the child of the Lady of Night. He refused his mother’s gift, did not accept the bestowed priesthood, and chose to be a free Demigod.
According to the Genealogy of Artemis, Demigod Thoth has a gentle attitude towards mortals and likes wise men among mortals very much. He is the patron of scholars and doctors. Thoth once asked the Goddess of Wisdom for guidance. As for what exactly He asked and how the Goddess of Wisdom replied, it is unknown.
While Ace was thinking, the crowd had already surrounded Bayen and his disciples. Bayen’s disciples seemed very experienced; they quickly separated the crowd and organized them into lines. Ace also joined a line.
The old man in front of Ace had his right arm drooping. His arm seemed badly dislocated, making him grimace in pain.
“I wonder if Lord Bayen’s disciples are any good. My arm hasn’t healed for three days. My family counts on me to pull tow ropes to make money; we’re about to run out of food.”
The young man in front of him coughing violently turned back and said, “It won’t be too bad. Besides, this is free treatment, don’t ask for too much.”
The old man grimaced and said, “What you said makes some sense. I see they have a strange badge pinned to their chests. What is that for?”
The young man coughed for a while, gasped for breath, and said weakly, “I heard it’s the symbol of the Bayen School. There are too many scholars and doctors protected by Demigod Thoth; Lord Bayen seems to do this to distinguish himself from them.”
Time passed as they spoke, and it was getting late. Finally, it was the coughing young man’s turn.
In front of them was a white-robed man in his early twenties. Under Ace’s observation, the man had activated the spell Lesser Insight Perception and was seriously observing the coughing young man’s trachea and lungs.
Ace’s eyes flickered. He looked around and found that Bayen’s disciples conducting the free clinic were actually all wizard apprentices. The thick books in their hands were customized Grimoires. Ace even detected faint magic signals and contract marks within them.
It was almost certain, but Ace didn’t rush. He waited patiently for the white-robed wizard apprentice in front to treat the constantly coughing young man. That trace of vitality and moisture was exactly the Lesser Nourishment spell. After restoring the other party’s vitality with Nourishment, the white-robed wizard apprentice prepared a large jar of black paste potion and gave it to the young man, who had stopped coughing.
Soon it was Ace’s turn. The white-robed wizard apprentice looked at Ace kindly. Lesser Insight Perception was already activated, observing Ace’s condition.
Dreamlike colors flashed in Ace’s eyes. The other party felt dizzy, then stood up swayingly and said, “Your situation is somewhat special. Please wait here. After I finish treating the others, I will treat you last.”
Ace didn’t speak, just nodded, then stood aside watching Bayen and the others treat patients.
Undoubtedly, the medical skills Bayen used were exactly the New Medicine proposed by Ace, supplemented by wizard spells. But why did he dare to use spells so openly? Was the identity of a Favored One that useful?
A trace of doubt rose in Ace’s heart as he waited patiently.
Night gradually fell, and the crowd gradually decreased. After Bayen repeatedly promised to continue the free clinic at the Municipal Square of Tidecaller Harbor tomorrow morning, the people finally left completely.
Ace was still standing there, which attracted Bayen’s attention. He walked up and said to the white-robed wizard apprentice, “Miseon, why is this patient still here?”
The wizard apprentice named Miseon suddenly felt a splitting headache. He clutched his head, feeling as if his brain had turned into paste; he couldn’t remember why at all.
Watching his abnormality, Bayen snorted coldly. He extended his hand towards Miseon. Mana pulsed, and a complex spell model appeared: Calm.
The mana poured into Miseon’s body, soothing him. Ace quietly withdrew his casting mark, and Miseon returned to normal.
“Long time no see, 1-Ring Wizard Mr. Bayen.”
Ace, dressed in the traditional fisherman attire of Tidecaller Harbor, bowed slightly and said.
Bayen’s expression changed. Mana surged; it seemed to be the power of a curse, forming instantly and pouncing on Ace without hesitation.
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