Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1197 Harsh Reality
Early the next morning, the town's soldiers went to the flagpole to raise the Rong character flag. When they looked up, they saw a person hanging at the top of the flagpole, completely naked.

The guards rushed to the mansion to report to the town magistrate, but after searching everywhere, they couldn't find him. Even the town magistrate's staff didn't know where he had gone.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers had no choice but to go back and call their companions to lower the person down first. When the soldiers stood under the flagpole and looked up carefully, they saw that the person hanging there was none other than the town magistrate.

At this moment, Bu Ling also woke up from his sleep. He looked up and saw that he was on the flagpole, surrounded by people pointing and talking about him. Only then did Bu Ling realize that he was naked and hanging on the flagpole.

The soldiers rushed about, some pulling ropes, others searching for clothes—a chaotic scene ensued. The decree was issued, and his glorious image swept through Baishan Town like a hurricane in the east of the town; "the White Strip Decree" became the new term.

In the town center, the former Longji Steamed Bun Shop is now Chenji Fortune Telling Shop. At the entrance, Kuva, with two small children, looks at the market entrance, at the spot where Blind Zhang used to be; it's empty and clean. Kuva goes inside, looks at the fortune teller, and asks, "Where did Blind Zhang go?"

"My surname is Chen, and I am the manager here. I do not know Blind Zhang," said Manager Chen, who had a dignified and otherworldly air about him.

Kova said, "You're all in the same business, and you say you don't know? You took over Manager Bao's shop, and Manager Bao and Blind Zhang are sworn brothers. Now Blind Zhang has disappeared. Shouldn't I suspect you of murdering him for money?"

Manager Chen was stunned when he heard this, thinking, "In broad daylight, I'm getting into a lawsuit for no reason. I should have had my fortune told this morning."

Kournikova's expression changed again, and she said calmly, "Did Manager Bao say where he went?"

Shopkeeper Chen thought for a moment and said, "The child was asking where his mother was before he left, so he probably went to look for her."

Kournikova turned and left, and a small gold ingot flew through the air in an arc before landing in Manager Chen's hand.

Kournikova went to Xishitiao. At the entrance of the alley, looking at the unrecognizable houses and empty spaces, she felt a deep sadness.

The two little ones dragged him to another steamed bun shop, Qian's Steamed Bun Shop. When they arrived, Kuva recognized him immediately – wasn't this the school's second chef? A familiar face! "Old Qian, you bullied my sister, what are you going to do about it?"

Shopkeeper Qian took one look and saw it was Kova. Then he looked to the side and saw it was the girl who came to steal buns every day.

"Kova, you need to find out who bullied whom. Once you've found out, we can settle the score," said Manager Qian.

When Kournikova heard this, she realized something was wrong. The two girls were asking how they were supposed to bully her.
Kournikova turned to look at Ugly Girl, who said, "He didn't care when we took his buns before, but then he hid them. Luckily we found them, otherwise we would have had to take them ourselves. We couldn't even take more."

Shopkeeper Qian was both amused and exasperated. "My little darling, if you take this much, you'll empty the entire drawer. How am I supposed to do business? Three or five drawers are enough, but you're taking three or five at once. Who can stand that?"

Kournikova blushed, left the two gold ingots behind, and pulled the two children away, asking as they went, "Why did you take so many?"

Ugly Girl glanced at Kournikova disdainfully and said, "If I lose my secret stash of money, don't I have to earn it back?"

"So, you guys are just using money to run a steamed bun business, or are you doing it without any investment?" Kournikova's face turned green with anger.

The two girls fell silent. "Let's go, let's find someone to pay us back," Kournikova said, now very angry.

The three of them went straight to the town government office. Upon arriving, they struck the drum twice, and the drum broke.

A group of guards rushed out, but Kuva waved her hand, and the guards all got onto the roof, though their trousers weren't.

When Bruno and his entourage ran out and saw it, they were astonished. It was Kournikova! They were overjoyed, thinking that this was truly a stroke of luck.

"Guards, seize him!"

The scene was quiet. Ugly Girl looked at him and pointed to the roof. Bu Ling looked in the direction Ugly Girl pointed and saw a group of soldiers lying on the roof.

"Come down!" Bruno shouted.

The lead soldier said, "Sir, we can't get down."

"Why? Are you all just sitting around doing nothing?" Bruno was furious.

The guards said, "Sir, if you ask him to return our trousers, we'll get down."

Only then did Buring realize that the soldiers were lying naked from the waist down on the roof. Buring was a little scared, because he hadn't yet recovered from the shadow of the naked soldiers hanging there. Kuva bowed and said, "Lord Buring, you must do justice for me! My sisters haven't eaten for a year. You must uphold justice!"

Bu Ling said, "I am the town head appointed by the imperial court, and the orders I issue are issued by the imperial court."

"Oh, what will happen if I don't listen?" Kuva pointed and the town government building was razed to the ground.

Bruno was stunned. He assessed Kova's strength and realized he had no chance of resisting. He said, "You, you, you have to listen. You're still registered."

Kournikova said, "Oh, I hadn't thought of that until you mentioned it. Where's my house? Are all those things still there? I guess I'll have to return them to their rightful owners."

Bu Ling said, "What exactly do you want? I know I can't beat you, but I have connections."

Kournikova looked up at the sky and said, "I knew there were people on the flagpole. Do you want to go up there again?"

Breon was stunned. Before he could even speak, he was already in the air, taking off his clothes as he flew.

Bruno shouted, "I was wrong, I'll compensate you, it has nothing to do with me!"

In an instant, the order came down: "Alright, I accept your suggestion. Now, tell me how much compensation you're willing to pay me," Kournikova said.

He then approached Bu Ling and said, "Here's what we'll do: you let everyone in town go without food for a year, and I won't pursue the matter further."

Bu Ling said with a bitter face, "I can't do it. I'll compensate you. How much do you want?"

“Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll give you time. Whether you’re reporting to your superiors or raising funds, I’ll be waiting for you in Drunken Canyon in ten days. We’ll meet with the people from the imperial court. Oh, and I’ve taken the things,” Kourva said.

Kova and the two little figures vanished in a flash. Bu Ling wasn't stupid; once Kova appeared, she was no longer under his control. Without wasting a moment, he sent an urgent report.

They even rushed themselves to Zhongzhou; they've run away.

Two people arrived at Drunken Canyon the next day: Bai Nanshan and Blind Zhang. After the incident, only these two did not leave Baishan Town.

Grandma Wen looked at the two of them and said, "Kova is fine now, don't worry. You've come here for something, haven't you?"

Bai Nanshan hesitated to speak, while Blind Zhang had something to say but couldn't.

Grandma Wen looked at them and said quietly, "Baishan Town, it was meant to be a town of a hundred good deeds. After you ten people became sworn brothers, you also followed this path. But my son was the first to realize that you shouldn't do useless work. Elixirs cannot be replaced by merit, and you can't have any merit anyway. In the end, the facts proved it."

"The peak of the Divine Realm is not the end. This is what my grandson said, and I'm telling you all today. There are nine levels of martial arts, that's true. After the ninth level, there shouldn't be any more talk of Divine Realm; it should be Divine Refinement. After that, it's Qi Refinement, and beyond that, I don't know. This is the inheritance of the continent beyond the mist."

Bai Nanshan and Blind Zhang were both shocked and somewhat unable to accept it. Especially since Bai Nanshan was already at the peak of the Divine Realm, and now someone was saying he was wrong.

“My grandson has already proven that it should be the path of martial arts, refining the spirit, cultivating qi, and transforming into a spirit. He is currently in the Spirit Transformation stage, and it is said that he can control objects, people, and qi, and can summon wind and rain. But I don’t know the specifics. However, he is grateful for your previous help and left you a few books. It’s up to you to see how things turn out.”

As she spoke, Grandma Wen handed over several books on the principles of Taoism and nature.

Grandma Wen hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'm just guessing. If you can cultivate to the Spirit Transformation stage, you should be able to pass through that fog."

Bai Nanshan and Blind Zhang bowed to Grandma Wen and then turned to leave.

Kova came out and said, "Grandma, once we've settled things with Zhongzhou, we'll leave. Is there anyone else you want to take with you?"

Grandma Wen said, "No, that's enough. You guys are enough, especially that troublesome drunkard. What's she doing?"

Kournikova chuckled and said, "We're digging holes everywhere to find the good wine she buried underground, but there are so many that we can't remember the locations very well. Now we've hired two little guys to dig holes everywhere."

"Let her get drunk to death."

(End of this chapter)