A Way to Survive

After General Gong left Wei Wu Hall, the County Lieutenant couldn't help complaining. "That young upstart has no sense of propriety. The refugees are people too. If we have the Prefect lead troops in killing them, what will that do to our reputation? And he's so protective of his own feathers."

Shen Fang sighed and looked at Liu Shuyue, who stood frozen nearby. "I'll ask the immortal master once more. Does the method for summoning convenient food really require the right time and place? Can't it be used once every day?"

When she still didn't answer, the Prefect realized it probably wouldn't work. He could only shake his head. "Then I suggest you go outside the city right now and persuade the refugees to hand over their food. As long as they're out of food, I won't resort to force lightly. That should make the situation look a little better..."

"Persuade them to do what?" Liu Shuyue suddenly said. "To go and die?"

Shen Fang fell silent.

"Without relief food, you still want them to hand over their own food? How is that any different from telling them to kill themselves?" The more she spoke, the more indignant she became. The horrific sights she'd witnessed along the way rose in her mind again. "Even ants cling to life, let alone living, breathing people!"

She had no immortal art that could conjure food.

Chen Xuan had provided all of it.

But could Chen Xuan keep supplying it without limit? She could tell that although the Ability Store was wondrous, it was nowhere near wondrous enough to create something from nothing... Whether it was abilities or food, every transaction came at a price.

Even if she offered a few more bargaining chips and got a few extra days' worth of instant noodles, it would ultimately make no difference. Or rather, once she left Zhang Wei, these valuable quick meals might bring the refugees nothing but a death sentence.

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

"...Luck?"

"Exactly. All things under heaven have their appointed course. They happened to encounter an Anba monster disaster, and now war is about to break out on the border. This isn't something human effort alone can turn around. The immortal master is skilled at divination. You should understand this better than I do. This is simply their fate. Why blame yourself?"

Fate... What a familiar topic.

Right. Hadn't she discussed it with Chen Xuan not long ago?

"If the immortal master can't bring herself to say it, then I'll bear the blame." Shen Fang turned and headed for the hall entrance.

"Wait." Liu Shuyue called after him.

"What can I do for you, immortal master?"

"Since the Prefect had already seen how this would end, why didn't you tell me from the start?"

"Heh. At the end of the day, this is only a minister's guess at his superior's intentions." Shen Fang waved a hand. "It's all well and good if I'm right, but if I'm wrong, won't I just make a fool of myself? And most importantly... even if I'd told you, would you really have given up? I can tell that you haven't been running around these past few days for show. You're truly trying to help the people suffering from the disaster."

Yes... Even if he'd warned her, the outcome probably wouldn't have changed.

"I'll go talk to the refugees outside the city," Liu Shuyue said at last, nodding.

"It's good you've made up your mind." Shen Fang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "I'll escort you there."

At the city gate, fully armed soldiers had already formed ranks with torches in hand, awaiting their superior's orders.

The Prefect told everyone to remain calm, then let Liu Shuyue leave the city. "Immortal master, you can see for yourself... Those rough men won't hold back for long. I'll give you half an hour. The signal will be the sound of the gong."

Liu Shuyue passed through a small side gate and made her way to the refugees' camp, now familiar with the route.

A sentry recognized her at once.

"The immortal master! It's the immortal master!"

"What brings you here?"

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

"Don't worry. How could we neglect what you entrusted to us?" A man thumped his chest. "It's all stacked in the shelters, with two groups taking turns guarding it outside. Nothing's gone wrong so far."

The food wasn't all instant noodles.

They'd sold most of the packaged noodles to the townspeople in exchange for more flatbread, millet, and beans. These foods all had one advantage: they kept for a long time and were fairly filling.

Liu Shuyue knew exactly how much food they had. For a group of more than ten thousand, it would last about twenty days.

"Gather everyone. I have something to tell you all!"

Her call was quickly answered. In less than a quarter of an hour, a dense crowd had gathered in front of the camp.

Countless eyes fixed on Liu Shuyue, a woman whose status was worlds apart from theirs, yet who had brought them a glimmer of hope in their darkest hour.

Liu Shuyue hesitated too.

Once she made this decision, there would be no turning back.

Back at Lotus Cloud Sect, everything she'd been taught revolved around serving the kingdom. As long as the kingdom had not fallen, she was supposed to serve it until the very end.

She suddenly understood why none of the disciples before her had left behind even the slightest mark of success... They had never seen a world beyond this one. They had spent their whole lives trapped by the duties imposed on them by their sect.

She had seen such a world, but acting on what she'd seen was another matter.

Liu Shuyue wondered whether she truly had the ability to walk an untried path all the way to its end.

But as she looked at the trust in everyone's eyes, her hesitation gradually faded. If that person hadn't given her the ability to lead the refugees, she wouldn't even have been able to gather them all together. Since she had already accomplished the impossible once, why not keep trying?

After all, this was what it truly meant to slay monsters and protect the people.

"Troops from the Royal City arrived half an hour ago," Liu Shuyue called out. "But they didn't come to provide relief. Every soldier is on horseback, and they brought no wagons of food!"

"N-no relief food?"

"Then why are they here?"

A commotion rippled through the crowd.

"The ridiculous thing is, they're wearing armor and their quivers are full of arrows. If unrest breaks out here, they'll attack without hesitation! That's right, this army didn't come to provide relief. They came to deal with you! As far as I know, no relief food will be sent later, either, because the people in charge never intended to send any in the first place!"

Strangely, the crowd fell into a deathly silence.

No one whispered now.

In the wavering firelight, Liu Shuyue saw palpable fear in every face.

Even the refugees knew that the fine flatbread and the food they'd managed to trade for couldn't possibly last through the entire famine. In the end, they would have to rely on relief and resettlement in various places to survive.

But now they'd learned that there would be no relief at all?

Only after a long while did someone murmur, "How can that be... Isn't that the court's responsibility?"

"Other places have suffered disasters in past years and received aid... Why should we get nothing?"

An old woman pushed through the crowd and staggered up to Liu Shuyue. "Immortal master... are we going to die? I don't mind 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 food was handed out that day.

"No. I'll take all of you with me."

At her words, everyone looked at one another.

"This place is a death trap, so we can't stay here. I'll lead you in search of a way to survive. Whatever the outcome, I'll face it with you!" Liu Shuyue raised her right hand. "Of course, I won't force anyone to come. Those who stay might even find a way out. Whether you leave or stay is your choice! Those willing to come with me—"

A rustle of movement.

Not one or two hands, but a sea of them. They weren't raised hesitantly; they shot up with unwavering resolve!

She had never imagined she would see an ocean of hands before her!

The people hadn't even asked where she was taking them!

"Immortal master, lead us!"

"That's right! We'll follow you anywhere!"

"To hell with the court! I knew those people were rotten!"

"Worthless officials! All they do is bully us poor folk!"

Countless voices rose and fell as the refugees poured out the anger and resentment they had held inside for so long.

Watching the scene, Liu Shuyue couldn't help remembering Chen Xuan's words: "As long as your interests align with everyone else's, they'll support you from the bottom of their hearts. That's the core of this ability."

Aligning their interests...

She had wanted to break free for a long time.

Liu Shuyue couldn't help smiling. "Aren't you going to ask where this way to survive lies?"

"Then... where are you planning to take us, immortal master?" someone immediately asked, drawing a burst of laughter.

Even at such a grim moment, they could still laugh, simply because the immortal master stood right there before them!

"South. We'll keep heading south. There may be a place there where we can find shelter!" She pointed south. "Let's get ready. We leave tonight!"

"Something's wrong, something's wrong!" The County Lieutenant narrowed his eyes. "Prefect, the refugees are moving strangely!"

Shen Fang had noticed the anomaly too. The torches in the camp were forming orderly ranks, almost like an army preparing to march.

If they were gathering food, there would be no need to go that far...

And this was taking too long.

He had given Liu Shuyue half an hour to talk, but he still hadn't heard back from her.

Come to think of it, were these really the same homeless refugees from a few days ago? When had they gone from a scattered mass, each person wary of the next, to being so united?

"Prefect, are you still going to wait? This general doesn't want to delay any longer," the deputy in command said impatiently. "Judging by the torches, there's a risk the refugees may revolt early. We must act at once."

"How can that be... The immortal master is still in the camp."

"Perhaps she let her guard down and was taken hostage by the mob." A cruel smile touched his lips. "If you can't stomach the bloodshed, Prefect, you can wait in the city for my good news. Men! Pass on my order: the cavalry will flank them on both sides. Once in position, cut them down at will!"

Unable to dissuade him, Shen Fang had no choice but to mount up and follow.

But as the group charged out of the city, they saw a lone rider blocking their way.

The rider was Liu Shuyue.