This truly is a human tragedy, Chen Xuan thought, no wonder she was so emotional during the argument before.
It's true that disasters can turn people into things scarier than monsters... but after all, they were once people. If Liu Shuyue were to draw her sword against them, killing thousands or even tens of thousands, it's really hard to say what her mental state would become.
To ensure my client's mental health, it's necessary for me to lend a hand.
"I see. I have a second question... Can you take me to see where these refugees gather?"
Liu Shuyue hesitated for a moment, "I suppose I can, but..."
"The more detailed the understanding of the situation, the more effective the ability transaction can be."
"I understand..." She could only agree, "I'll prepare the carriage for you."
Half an hour later, the two arrived outside the city.
This was the first time Chen Xuan had observed Liu Shuyue's world so comprehensively. Zhangwei was undoubtedly a big city; to get from the government office to outside the city, one had to pass through two city walls. The ground wasn't muddy dirt roads but uniformly paved with stone slabs. Shops lined the streets like a continual stream, cries of vendors filled the air, and there were endless streams of pedestrians, porters, and mules. If there was one word to describe it, it was bustling. The sight on the street reminded him of the painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival."
While "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" depicted Bianjing, the Northern Song Dynasty's capital, Zhangwei wasn't the royal capital of Great Qi, indicating that although sects were far removed from the mortal world, various magics and cultivation methods still had a profound influence on this land.
Once outside the city gates, the scenery changed.
Soldiers could be seen patrolling alongside the official road; any refugee who got close would be driven away and beaten. About four or five hundred meters from the city walls, there were many tents set up on the muddy ground, looking like crowded hills from a distance. Countless silhouettes moved among the tents, and the noisy sounds of quarrels, swearing, and wailing could be heard from afar.
"That's where the refugees gather," Liu Shuyue said, "Two days ago, there were only just over three thousand people, and now there are almost seven thousand. But this is far from the limit; Zhangwei is located on the throat road going north, flanked by the Jiuqu River and swampy land, and most of the refugees affected by the disaster will gather here."
Chen Xuan wanted to get closer for a look but was pulled back by her.
"Do you really want to go over there?"
"Hmm, what's the matter?"
"...Then follow behind me." Liu Shuyue said and then moved ahead of him, drawing the long sword from her back.
Seeing outsiders approaching, a crowd of heads gathered around, staring intently at the two of them. For a moment, Chen Xuan had the illusion that they were not refugees but wolves with greedy eyes. But the fierce glow and restlessness in their eyes were restrained by the sharpness in Liu Shuyue's hands. Their feet shuffled for a long time and ultimately did not dare to approach within five steps.
"These people don't represent all the refugees..." the young girl explained for them softly, "they've been hungry for too long."
"Master... please give us something to eat!"
"Honored ones, could you take my child for a few pancakes, please, I beg you all!"
"When can we enter the city?"
"That's right, I have relatives in Chengzhou, why aren't we allowed to go!?"
Compared to those who wanted to come up and grab directly, there were more people pleading and questioning. Their voices were so many that they almost merged into one, making it difficult to tell who was speaking.
Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream overwhelmed the crowd's chatter.
Liu Shuyue's brows tightened, and she immediately turned and walked towards a tent, the people around her dared not stop her, giving way one after another.
The place where the sound came from was only about a dozen meters away. A middle-aged man lay in a pool of blood, a short knife stuck in his waist, and a woman kneeling beside him was pale-faced. Several young people were scrambling to squeeze into the crowd.
Liu Shuyue shouted, "Stop!"
Everyone instantly froze in place, unable to move.
This time Chen Xuan found himself not included. He followed Liu Shuyue forward and saw those few people tightly holding a cloth bag.
She snatched the bag and opened it to reveal a few strings of copper coins and some broken silver inside.
"Let me go! That belongs to me!" The leader of the robbers yelled with a ferocious face.
"Please spare me, I know I was wrong!" His accomplice, however, was frightened, repeatedly pleading for mercy.
Liu Shuyue didn't want to look at them anymore, and directly called in the soldiers, briefly explaining the situation. The soldiers took out their ropes and immediately tied them up, beating them up before dragging them back into the city. Only then did she bring the money bag back to the front of the tent, intending to return the stolen silver coins to the woman.
But when the two returned to the tent, they saw the woman lying quietly on the man, no longer breathing. Her hands were clutching the short knife, its tip thrust backward into her own chest.
"Without a man, she couldn't survive."
"Exactly, that money is of no use to her... we might as well share it! At least we can buy a few pancakes!"
The people around were chattering.
Liu Shuyue looked towards Chen Xuan, seemingly wanting to say something, but she couldn't open her mouth for a long time.
It was Chen Xuan who finally took the money bag, "I've seen enough, let's go back."
Sitting in the swaying carriage, Liu Shuyue couldn't help but say, "If there was enough food, those people wouldn't be like this..."
Watching her eyes flicker, Chen Xuan suddenly understood her initial hesitation and why she had defended the refugees multiple times. She didn't just learn today about the situation in the camp; she feared that after witnessing the ugliness of these people herself, she would see them as hopelessly irredeemable thugs, unwilling to provide any further assistance.
"Isn't Shen Fang distributing relief food? Why hasn't the situation for the refugees improved at all?"
Chen Xuan had seen a temporary wooden platform in front of the camp, with several large pots on top, which should be the porridge distribution point arranged by the Governor.
"The quantity is too little... They're still distributing based on the previous amount for three thousand people, and each person only gets one bowl of thin porridge a day. But the number of refugees gathering here is rapidly increasing, and this bit of porridge is simply not enough," Liu Shuyue said helplessly. "I have already mentioned this to Shen Fang, and he promised to increase the relief amount soon, but..."
Plans can never keep up with changes.
Chen Xuan knew what she wanted to say. By the time the relief porridge is raised to the amount for seven thousand people, the refugees coming here might exceed ten thousand.
"If reluctant to provide porridge, then why not simply let them go north? Allowing these refugees to pass through Zhangwei City in batches is better than concentrating all the pressure outside the city gates."
"Perhaps to the Governor, this is also a kind of negligence — allowing Qing State's people to wander without travel permits would mar his political record, potentially affecting his career path in the future," Liu Shuyue said indignantly. "But even so, he is still the Governor of Zhangwei, a respected Lord, already more favored than most people. He isn't even willing to pay such a small price."
Back in the store, the young girl eagerly asked, "You've seen the situation, when can we trade abilities?"
Chen Xuan gestured for her to be patient.
Can the famine issue be resolved?
Of course.
However, the solution does not mainly rely on abilities... but on money.
But he couldn't candidly tell her that.
After all, he was running an Ability Store.
After pondering for a moment, Chen Xuan picked up the scanning gun and pointed it at Liu Shuyue.
...
...
"Report to the Lord, the Immortal Master just went outside the west city with that man," a subordinate truthfully reported to Shen Fang.
"What is she doing taking a companion to such a place?" County Magistrate Tang was quite surprised. He had just been inside the Martial Hall and personally saw the Immortal Master leading a young man to her accommodation. Although the guards claimed the two did not return to the room and disappeared halfway, this shocking discovery instantly reversed everyone's attitude towards the Immortal Master.
Needless to say, normally her words carry such a cold air that strangers dare not approach within three steps.
"Those servants have loose tongues, do you really believe them?" Shen Fang laughed, shaking his head. "If there was such a suspicion before, now I can be sure that person is not her companion."
"Then who could it be?" The County Magistrate recalled his strange attire when he appeared, which could not possibly belong to a local, "Could he also have come out of a Sect?"
"It's said that the Lotus Cloud Sect sends a disciple to each country only once a century, so that's unlikely," Shen Fang dismissed the guess, "But I am certain the Immortal Master probably doesn't want to give up just yet. That person's status should be comparable to hers, which is why she does not repel getting close to him. She cannot solve this alone, she needs help."
"Someone who can help Sect disciples... only the Heterodox Sects?" The County Magistrate showed a look of disgust.
There aren't only Cultivators from the Lotus Cloud Sect; uncountable others attempt to peek into the mysteries of Heaven, but most take the wrong path and aren't acknowledged by the world.
Sometimes, they are even targeted for elimination by the Lotus Cloud Sect disciples and the Government.
"Hard to say, in reckoning, it might result in a crime," Shen Fang sighed at this point, "It's still a pity..."
"What does the Lord pity?"
"It's a pity for Immortal Master Liu. It's evident she truly wants to help those fleeing from disaster."
The County Magistrate glanced around, then suddenly lowered his voice, "Does the current emperor truly intend to regulate the Immortal Masters?"
"It's been five years... she's still existing outside the core; no one can feel at ease," Shen Fang said blandly. This isn't really a secret; any official mindful of politics or skilled at gauging imperial intentions has heard a bit of it. For example, in the northern Yue Kingdom, male Immortal Masters have become guests of honor to the queen, with the Immortal Techniques they offered being able to arm an elite unit; other kings are more or less similar, squeezing out the abilities of the Immortal Family, except for Liu Shuyue.
He heard from his mentor, the current Prime Minister, that the emperor has repeatedly berated the Immortal Masters for not recognizing good intentions, failing to fulfill their duty to assist the state. Together with some rumors from neighboring countries, the King of Qi probably won't let it slide anymore.
"Is that why the Lord doesn't agree with her proposals?"
"In times like this, not getting involved with her is the wise choice, or if the emperor blames her, both you and I would suffer for it."
"But can saving the people be a crime?" County Magistrate Tang suddenly hesitated.
"You've been by my side as County Magistrate for two years, yet you still don't understand this principle?" Shen Fang sneered, yet felt a bit of sympathy, "If one wishes to find fault, there's nothing one can't find. Helping the people is good, but if it goes against the emperor's will, good deeds can also become bad. After all, the Immortal Master is ultimately a subject; as long as she is one, there will always be ways to control her. King's orders must not be defied — this is an iron law written in the contracts between the Sect and the kings."
He paused here, "By the way, do you know how the secret arts and magic of the Heterodox Sects came to be?"
The County Magistrate shook his head, "I wish for the Lord's guidance."
"It's not guidance; I've heard a rumor for you to listen to," Shen Fang said indifferently. "Some say they are derivatives of Lotus Cloud Sect's Immortal Techniques."
The County Magistrate thought about the relationship and couldn't help but widen his eyes.
The Lord took a deep breath.
"Now do you think... is it still important whether saving the people is a crime?"
For the Kings, Sect disciples are treasures that appear once in a century.
This is not an exaggeration but a fact — they are full of treasures; their limbs can be used as weapons, the magic from the Immortal Family can expand one's strength, and their offspring are smarter and healthier than ordinary people.
To assist the state is to assist the king.
In this matter, the only thing he could do was maintain his integrity and stay away from this vortex as far as possible.