Methods of Staying Alive

After General Gong left Wei Wu Hall, the County Lieutenant couldn't help but complain, "This young junior really doesn't know the rules. Disaster victims are still people. Asking the Prefect to lead troops to kill his own people, do we still want any reputation? He's quite protective of himself."

Shen Fang sighed and looked at Liu Shuyue, who was standing there blankly. "I'll ask the Immortal Master one more time, does the convenient method of summoning grain really require specific timing and location to be performed? Can't it happen every day?"

Seeing that she didn't answer for a long time, the Prefect knew it was probably impossible and could only shake his head. "Then I suggest you go outside the city immediately and persuade the disaster victims to hand over their grain. As long as they have no grain, I won't easily resort to force. This way, the situation will be more presentable..."

"Persuade them to do what?" Liu Shuyue suddenly spoke. "Persuade them to die?"

Shen Fang was silent.

"Without relief grain, you still want them to hand over their grain. What's the difference between that and telling them to commit suicide?" The more she spoke, the more indignant she felt. The tragic scenes she had seen on the road resurfaced. "Even ants cherish life, let alone living, breathing people!"

She didn't have any immortal methods to conjure grain.

These foods were all provided to her by Chen Xuan.

But could Chen Xuan provide them indefinitely? She could tell that although the shop was mysterious, it was far from mysterious enough to create something out of nothing... Whether it was ability or grain, all transactions had a price.

Even if she offered a few more bargaining chips to exchange for a few more days of instant noodles, it would ultimately be futile. Or rather, once she left Zhangwei, these expensive quick-meal packs would instead bring disaster victims a deadly calamity.

"It can only be... blamed on their bad luck," Shen Fang said.

"...Luck?"

"Indeed. All things in heaven and earth have their destiny. They just happened to encounter the Anba demon disaster, and war is about to break out on the border. This is not a problem that can be solved by human effort alone. As an Immortal Master skilled in divination, you should understand this better than I do. This is their fate, why blame yourself?"

Fate... what a familiar topic.

Right, hadn't she just discussed it with Chen Xuan not long ago?

"If the Immortal Master can't bring yourself to say it, then I will bear this infamy." Shen Fang turned to walk out of the hall.

"Wait." Liu Shuyue called out to him.

"Does the Immortal Master have any instructions?"

"Since the Prefect already foresaw the direction of this matter, why didn't you tell me from the beginning?"

"Heh, in the end, this is just a subject's speculation about the superior's intentions," Shen Fang waved his hand. "If I guess correctly

"Then what are they here for?"

A commotion rippled through the crowd.

"What's laughable is that they're wearing armor and their quivers are packed with arrows. If unrest breaks out here, they won't hesitate to act! That's right, this force isn't here for disaster relief, but to deal with you! As far as I know, no relief grain will be delivered later, because the higher-ups never intended to send any in the first place!"

Uncharacteristically, the scene fell into a deathly silence.

At this moment, no one was whispering anymore.

Under the flickering firelight, Liu Shuyue saw palpable fear in everyone's eyes.

Even the disaster victims knew that relying solely on those exquisite flatbreads and the grain they exchanged wouldn't be enough to survive the entire drought. Ultimately, they would need relief and resettlement from various regions to live.

But now they learned there was no disaster relief at all?

After a long while, someone mumbled, "How is that possible... Isn't that the court's responsibility?"

"There were so many disasters in previous years... Why don't we have any?"

An old man parted the crowd and trembled as he walked up to Liu Shuyue. "Immortal Master... Are we going to die? It doesn't matter if I die, but can you... take my child with you?"

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

"No, I will take you all with me."

As soon as she said this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.

"This is already a place of certain death, so no one can stay here. I will lead you to find a way to survive. No matter what the outcome, I will face it with you!" Liu Shuyue raised her right hand. "Of course, I won't force you to leave... Perhaps those who stay might welcome a turn of fortune. Whether you go or stay is up to you to decide! Those willing to come with me--"

Swish.

Not one or two hands, but large swathes of hands. They weren't raised hesitantly, but decisively!

She never imagined that what appeared before her was a sea of hands!

The people didn't even ask her where they were going!

"Immortal Master, take us with you!"

"That's right, we'll follow you, no matter where!"

"To hell with the court, I knew these people were no good ages ago!"

"Damn corrupt officials, all they know is to bully us poor folk!"

Countless voices rose and fell, the disaster victims pouring out the anger and dissatisfaction they had suppressed for so long.

Looking at this scene, Liu Shuyue couldn't help but recall Chen Xuan's words, "As long as your interests align with everyone else's, they will sincerely support you. This is the core of this ability."

Aligning interests...

So she had wanted to escape long ago.

Liu Shuyue couldn't help but smile. "Aren't you going to ask me where this way to survive is?"

"Then... where does Immortal Master intend to take us?" someone immediately asked, eliciting a burst of laughter.

Even in such a dire moment, they could still laugh, simply because the Immortal Master stood before them!

"Go south, keep going south. There might be a place there where everyone can find refuge!" She pointed south. "Let's pack up and leave tonight!"

"No, no!" the County Lieutenant narrowed his eyes. "Prefect, the disaster victims' movements are not right!"

Shen Fang also noticed this anomaly. The torches in the camp were being organized in formation, like an army about to march.

If they were collecting grain, there would be no need for such measures...

And it had taken too long.

He had given Liu Shuyue half an hour to talk, but there had been no response yet.

Speaking of which, were these people truly the displaced refugees from a few days ago? When had they transformed from a scattered group hostile to each other into this united front?

"Does the Prefect still intend to wait? This subordinate doesn't want any further delays." The Deputy Officer commanding the troops said impatiently, "Judging by the movement of the torches, the disaster victims are at risk of rioting, and we must act immediately."

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

"Perhaps she was careless and was accidentally controlled by the mob." A cruel smile appeared on his lips. "If the Prefect cannot bear to see bloodshed, you can wait in the city for my good news. Guards! Pass my order: the cavalry will flank them on both sides, and once in position, they will have free rein to kill!"

Seeing that he could not dissuade them, Shen Fang had no choice but to mount his horse and follow.

However, as the group rushed out of the city, they saw a person on horseback blocking their path.

The person on the horse was Liu Shuyue.