My junior sister sees everyone as a heretical cultivator.

Chapter 282 I, the hermit, have my own brilliant plan

Ma Tietou's mind was racing: What should he do...? He had never heard of this person in Anhe City. Perhaps he came because of the Heavenly Ascent. After all, too many extraordinary people had appeared today, and many of them were unfamiliar faces...

If it's someone from out of town, perhaps...

Ma Tietou seemed to suddenly remember something, and he looked up sharply: "Heroine! You don't know, actually... actually we also have our own difficulties! Think about it, in the past, those who governed Anhe City were the immortal masters of the Heavenly Furnace Sect and the Taoist priests of the Qingxu Temple. They were high and mighty, and they never even glanced at us ants?"

He pounded his thigh hard as he spoke: "The government... they turn a blind eye too, nobody cares, nobody asks... We... we able-bodied people, it's not like we haven't thought about finding work! But look at this city, every industry is so competitive, everyone's fighting tooth and nail for it!"

"We can't compete with those who have connections, nor can we compete with those who are talented. To put it bluntly, we are just a bunch of useless people who have been eliminated by the world! Who doesn't want to live like a human being, with some dignity? But can dignity put food on the table? We have no choice... that's why we've come to this point!"

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Shi coldly interjected, "Oh, here we go again, the classic sob story segment. Is the next step to say, 'I didn't want this to happen, but the world forced me into it'?"

However, the name that Ma Tietou mentioned unintentionally made Su Ling'er's heart tremble.

Qingxu Temple… How long had it been since she last heard those three words…

A complex and bittersweet emotion welled up in her heart. She thought of the sect leader who wanted to kill them all, and of her fellow disciples who, like her, were struggling at the very bottom of the cultivation path, desperately seeking a sliver of immortality...

What happened to them? Were they dismissed and returned home, or did they wander off to some other place, or do they continue to pursue that elusive path to immortality?

While Ma Tietou's words were meant to elicit sympathy, they also revealed a cruel truth: the high and mighty immortals would not easily interfere with the workings of the mortal world. The suffering of mortals was the business of the imperial court and government, and cultivators should seek transcendence rather than engage in worldly affairs.

Moreover, no matter how miserable their lives are, it is not caused by evil spirits or heretics. For both reason and emotion, cultivators should not forcibly intervene. But... since I have seen it, how can a chivalrous person sit idly by?
Su Ling'er took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, and resumed her aloof demeanor.

"Are you done?" She slowly raised her fist. "You mean, just because you live without dignity, you can comfortably trample on other people's dignity?"

Ma Tietou was speechless for a moment, and could only continue kowtowing, "No, no, no... Please calm down, heroine, it's my fault, it's all my fault..."

"I think you don't know you're wrong, you know you're going to die," Su Ling'er said, completely losing her patience. "Save your unnecessary words for the rats in the jail."

……

Justice seemed to have triumphed over evil, and the villains seemed to have been defeated, but the oppressed disabled beggars in the courtyard remained strangely unmoved... The entire courtyard remained deathly silent.

The beggars simply huddled silently in their corners, some not even raising their heads, still holding their bowls of half-cold porridge, sipping it slowly, as if the thrilling fight just now was nothing more than a passing breeze to them.

They wanted to use this to prove they had behaved properly and hadn't done anything outrageous. Everything that happened today seemed meaningless to them. After all, this suddenly appearing female warrior might be very strong, and even if Ma Tietou died in the end, what then?

The heroine will eventually leave, the sun will still rise tomorrow, and their lives will return to their original course. Perhaps a new "Master Ma" will appear, perhaps those who were defeated today will return tomorrow with even fiercer revenge, or perhaps those they care about will be...

Nothing will change... nothing can be changed... hope died the moment their limbs were broken...

……

Jiang Shi glanced at the group of beggars in the courtyard who weren't making any moves, then looked at the buzzing comments in his live stream chat, and immediately started posting in the chat:

[Jiang Shi]: "My friends! I love telling the truth!"

[Jiang Shi]: "What we've seen today is absolutely just the beginning of the inside story of Anhe City! This is just the tip of the iceberg! Do you want to see me, Old Jiang, delve deeper into the lion's den and uncover this even deeper darkness for you? If you do, and this post gets over 100,000 likes, I'll sell my life for you!"

The barrage of comments exploded instantly, filling the screen.

[Support Brother Jiang! Let's fucking get them! These NPCs need to be taught a lesson!]

[100,000? Who do you think you are? Brothers, let's get it to 1 million! Let's show Brother Jiang what real power is!]

[These mere black market operators dare to act so arrogantly in front of us viewers? Absolutely outrageous! Watch me unleash my auto-clicker!!!]

Seeing the rapidly rising number of likes, Jiang Shi felt reassured. He turned around and, with his intact hand, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Su Ling'er, speaking with great emotion, like a true righteous man advocating for the people: "Heroine! I believe this matter is far more complicated than it appears! Government procedures are cumbersome, and there may even be collusion involved, making it difficult to uncover the truth!"

He then raised his arms and shouted to the group of disabled beggars in the courtyard: "Brothers! Tell me, isn't what I said reasonable!"

However, all that answered him was deathly silence. The beggars, as if avoiding a plague, silently carried their bowls, moving three inches further away, as if afraid of getting anything on them.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Jiang Shi's face, but he still clasped his hands in a fist salute to Su Ling'er: "Heroine! I am willing to risk my life to be captured by you and imprisoned in the government jail, to observe these filthy villains up close, and to find out if there are any bigger secrets behind them! I am willing to risk my life for us displaced people!"

Su Ling'er looked at the beggar in front of her, who had lost an arm but was still so righteous and awe-inspiring. She admired him greatly, but was still a little worried. "Your idea is good, but it's really risky. If you are recognized, you will be in trouble. Besides, they have memorized your face. How will you sneak in then?"

"Don't worry, heroine, I have a brilliant plan!" Jiang Shi smiled mysteriously.

(End of this chapter)