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Chapter 28 The Way to Survive
After General Gong left the Weiwu Hall, the Prefectural Magistrate couldn't help but complain, "This young man really doesn't understand the rules. Disaster victims are still people. Letting the Prefect lead troops to kill civilians, do we still want our reputation? He himself is so protective of his own reputation."

Shen Fang sighed and looked at Liu Shuyue, who was standing there in a daze. "I'll ask you one more time, Immortal Master, does the method of summoning convenient food really require the right time and place to be used? Can't it happen every day?"

Seeing that she didn't answer for a long time, the prefect knew it probably wouldn't work, so he shook his head and said, "Then I suggest you go outside the city right now and persuade the disaster victims to hand over their grain. As long as they have no grain, I won't easily resort to force, and that way the situation will be more orderly..."

"What are you trying to persuade them to do?" Liu Shuyue suddenly asked. "Persuade them to die?"

Shen Fang remained silent.

“If there’s no relief food, and they’re asked to hand over their grain, what’s the difference between that and telling them to commit suicide?” She became more and more indignant as she spoke, the tragic scenes she had witnessed on the road flashing before her eyes. “Even ants cling to life, let alone living people!”

She had no magical ability to conjure food.

These foods were all provided to her by Chen Xuan.

But could Chen Xuan provide it indefinitely? She could tell that although the shop was mysterious, it was far from being so mysterious as to create something out of nothing... Whether it was ability or food, every transaction had a price.

Even if he were to offer a few more bargaining chips to get a few more days' worth of instant noodles, it would ultimately be to no avail. Or rather, once he left Zhang Wei, these expensive quick-food packages might actually bring disaster upon the disaster victims.

"They can only blame their bad luck," Shen Fang said.

"……life?"

"Indeed. Everything in the world has its destiny. They just happened to encounter the Dark Demon Calamity, and war is about to break out on the border. This is not a problem that can be reversed by human effort alone. The Immortal Master can divine and predict, so he should understand this better than I do. Their fate is just like this, so why blame yourself?"

Fate... such a familiar topic.

By the way, didn't she just discuss this with Chen Xuan not long ago?
"If the Immortal Master cannot speak up, then I shall bear this infamy." Shen Fang turned and walked out of the hall.

"Wait a minute," Liu Shuyue called out to him.

"What are your orders, Immortal Master?"

"Since Your Excellency already knew how this matter would unfold, why didn't you tell me from the beginning?"

"Heh, in the end, this is nothing more than a subject's conjecture about the emperor's intentions," Shen Fang waved his hand. "If you guess right, that's fine, but if you guess wrong, wouldn't you be a laughing stock? Of course... the most important thing is, if I tell you, will you definitely give up? I can see that the Immortal Master's efforts these days are not just for show, but are genuinely for the sake of those disaster-stricken people."

Yes... even if he warned himself, the outcome probably wouldn't have changed.

"I'll go talk to the disaster victims outside the city," Liu Shuyue nodded and said finally.

"It's good that you've come to your senses, Immortal Master." Shen Fang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "I'll take you there."

……

……

At the city gate, fully armed soldiers were already lined up, holding torches, awaiting orders from their superiors.

The prefect asked everyone to calm down before letting Liu Shuyue leave the city. "Immortal Master, as you can see... those uncouth men won't be able to hold back for long. I'll give you half an hour; the signal will be the gong."

Liu Shuyue passed through a side door and arrived at the gathering place for disaster victims with ease.

The lookout immediately recognized her.

"Immortal Master! It's the Immortal Master!"

"Why are you here?"

"Have you been keeping a close eye on the remaining grain?" Liu Shuyue asked.

"Don't worry, we wouldn't dare to slack off on what you asked us to do." A man patted his chest and said, "They're all piled up in the shed, and there are two teams outside taking turns guarding them. So far, there haven't been any problems."

Those foods weren't just instant noodles.

Most of the bagged flour was sold to city dwellers in exchange for larger quantities of flatbread, millet, and beans. These foods had one advantage: they could be stored for a long time and were quite filling.

Liu Shuyue knew exactly how much food was available. For the group of over 10,000 people, the food could last for about 20 days.

"Gather everyone here, I have something to say to you all!"

Her command was quickly met with a response from everyone, and in less than a quarter of an hour, the area in front of the camp was packed with people.

Countless eyes were fixed on Liu Shuyue, on this immortal master whose status was worlds apart from theirs, yet who brought them a glimmer of hope in their moment of despair.

Liu Shuyue was also hesitant.

Because once this decision is made, there is no turning back.

At the Lotus Cloud Sect, all the teachings she received revolved around the concept of assisting the country. As long as the kingdom was not destroyed, she should serve it until the very last moment.

She suddenly understood why the previous disciples hadn't left any trace of success... because they had never seen the world beyond this world and were trapped in the responsibilities given to them by the sect throughout their lives.

She had seen it, but putting it into practice was another matter entirely.

Liu Shuyue doubted whether she truly possessed the ability to reach the end on a path no one had ever attempted before.

But looking into the trusting eyes of the crowd, her hesitation gradually faded. If that person hadn't given her the ability to lead the disaster victims, she wouldn't have even been able to gather everyone together. Now that she had accomplished the impossible, why not try again?
After all, this is the true meaning of slaying demons and comforting the people. "The troops from the royal city arrived just half an hour ago," Liu Shuyue announced loudly. "However, they are not here for disaster relief. Everyone is on horseback, and they did not bring any food carts!"

"Is there...no relief food?"

"Then what are they here for?"

A commotion arose in the crowd.

"The ridiculous thing is that they're wearing armor and their quivers are stuffed with arrows. If unrest breaks out here, they won't hesitate to attack! That's right, this army isn't here to provide disaster relief, but to deal with you! As far as I know, no more disaster relief supplies will be delivered after this, because the higher-ups never intended to do so in the first place!"

Unusually, a deathly silence fell over the scene.

At this point, no one was whispering anymore.

With the help of the flickering firelight, Liu Shuyue saw a palpable fear in everyone's eyes.

Even the disaster victims knew that the fine bread and the food they exchanged would not be enough to survive the entire famine, and that they would ultimately have to rely on relief and resettlement from various places to survive.

But now we know there was no disaster relief at all?

After a long while, someone murmured, "How could this be... Isn't this the responsibility that the imperial court should fulfill?"

"So many disasters have occurred in other places in previous years... why shouldn't we be able to avoid them?"

An old man pushed through the crowd and walked shakily to Liu Shuyue. "Immortal Master... are we going to die? It doesn't matter if I die, but could you... take my child with you?"

Liu Shuyue recognized her; she was the old woman who had knelt before her when the grain was distributed that day.

"No, I will take you with me."

As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at each other.

"This is a death trap, so you can't stay here. I will lead you to find a way to survive, and whatever the outcome, I will face it with you!" Liu Shuyue raised her right hand. "Of course, I won't force you to go... Perhaps those who stay will find a turning point. Whether you stay or go is your decision! Those who are willing to come with me—"

Crash.

Not just one or two hands, but countless hands. Not hesitantly raised, but resolutely raised high!
To her utter surprise, a sea of ​​hands appeared before her eyes!

People didn't even ask her where she was going!
"Immortal Master, please take us away!"

"That's right, we'll follow you wherever you go!"

"To hell with the imperial court! I knew those people were scoundrels a long time ago!"

"What a load of rubbish! All they know is how to bully us poor people!"

Countless voices rose and fell, as if the disaster victims were pouring out all the anger and discontent that had been suppressed in their hearts for a long time.

Seeing this scene, Liu Shuyue couldn't help but recall Chen Xuan's words, "As long as your interests are aligned with everyone else's, they will wholeheartedly support you. That is the core of this ability."

To maintain consistency...

It turns out I've wanted to get rid of this for a long time.

Liu Shuyue couldn't help but laugh. "Aren't you going to ask me where my way out is?"

"Then...where does the Immortal Master plan to take us?" someone immediately asked, which drew a burst of laughter.

Even in such a dire moment, they could still smile, simply because the Immortal Master was standing right in front of them!
"Head south, keep heading south, there might be a place where we can all find shelter!" She pointed south. "Let's pack up and set off tonight!"

"No, no!" the prefectural magistrate said, squinting. "Your Majesty, the movements of the disaster victims are not right!"

Shen Fang also noticed this anomaly: the torches in the camp were lined up in an orderly fashion, just like an army about to go to war.

If it were about collecting food, there would be no need to go to this lengths...

Moreover, it has dragged on for too long.

He gave Liu Shuyue half an hour to talk, but she hasn't responded at all.

That said, are these people really the same displaced refugees from a few days ago? When did they transform from a disorganized group of enemies into the united people they are today?

"Does Your Excellency intend to wait any longer? This humble general has no intention of delaying any longer," the adjutant in charge of the troops said impatiently. "Judging from the movement of the fires, the disaster victims are at risk of rioting prematurely. We must act immediately."

"How could this be... the Immortal Master is still in the camp."

"Perhaps she was careless and inadvertently captured by the mob." A cruel smile appeared on his lips. "If Your Excellency can't bear the sight of blood, you can wait for my good news in the city. Men, pass on my order: the cavalry will flank her from both sides and, once they are in position, they can slaughter her at will!"

Seeing that he couldn't dissuade him, Shen Fang had no choice but to mount his horse and follow.

However, as soon as the group rushed out of the city, they saw a man on horseback blocking their way.

The person on horseback was none other than Liu Shuyue.

(End of this chapter)