Outside Tongguan Town, the sky had already brightened.
Wisps of cooking smoke rose from within the town.
Amid a crowd of gaunt, stoop-shouldered commoners,
a young man in coarse hemp clothes, with a straight and upright build, stood out conspicuously.
Especially the object wrapped in rough cloth on his back—it was clearly a broad, heavy saber.
At such a sight, the people on the muddy road all gave him a wide berth.
Martial outlaws of the greenwood always relied on their kung fu, killing people like flies and doing whatever they pleased.
If ordinary people were not careful, they would become ghosts beneath such men's blades, so everyone tried their best to avoid getting close to them.
This young man had clearly been taken for a martial outlaw by the surrounding townsfolk.
Qin Zheng's gaze swept across the shabby little town, and his expression grew slightly grave.
Since crossing over, he had acted in haste just to stay alive and had yet to properly understand this world.
Things had been fine in Black Goose City. Whether its buildings and facilities or the spirits of its people, nothing had fallen below Qin Zheng's expectations.
But after arriving in Tongguan Town and seeing its muddy roads, bent and emaciated townsfolk, and crude, dilapidated houses,
he briefly wondered whether he had come to the wrong place.
Could a place like this still be called a town?
And it was merely ten li from Black Goose City.
A distance of ten li, yet such an enormous difference!
It seemed the state of this world was even worse than he had imagined!
As Qin Zheng thought this, his mood grew somewhat heavy.
He did not have the ability to save everyone. In these unspeakable times, being able to preserve himself was already the best outcome.
Feeling the immense strength surging and roaring beneath this lean body, Qin Zheng felt a little more at ease.
Not long after, he had walked through all of Tongguan Town, and nothing unusual had happened along the way.
He came to a stall and ordered two meat flatbreads. Then Qin Zheng asked the stall owner, "Has Tongguan Town seen any strangers coming and going recently?"
The stall owner was an old man with graying temples. Hearing Qin Zheng's question, he furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before saying, "Tongguan Town is a poor town. Strangers rarely come here."
"As for you, sir, you're the first stranger I've seen enter Tongguan Town in over a month."
Qin Zheng nodded. He understood that Shi Dian, fleeing pursuit, naturally could not openly show himself before the common people.
Either he had disguised himself and silently blended into Tongguan Town,
or he was not hiding in Tongguan Town at all, but had concealed himself in the deep forests and old mountains nearby.
Thus, Qin Zheng nodded, swept his gaze over the surroundings, and asked again, "Old sir, has Tongguan Town... always been like this?"
This place truly did not resemble a town, and the mental state of its people was abysmal, utterly unlike that of Black Goose City's residents.
Upon hearing this, the old stall owner glanced around to either side, then let out a deep sigh before speaking. "It was not always so."
"From your accent, sir, you should also be from this region. Since you do not know the situation, you must be one of the honored people living within Black Goose City."
"Actually, it is not only our Tongguan Town. The four towns and thirteen villages around Black Goose City are all poor and ruined like this."
Qin Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he heard the old stall owner continue, "Ten years ago, Tongguan Town was not wealthy, but it was not as impoverished as it is now."
"All of this began because a band of fierce bandits came into the mountains. Every year, the towns and villages near Black Goose City have to pay them tribute—over a thousand taels a year!"
"Year after year, it has been like this. If we do not pay, the bandits come down from the mountains to burn, kill, plunder, and pillage, only leaving once they are satisfied."
"Tell me, if we pay, we can at least live in peace. If we do not, not only will we fail to keep our money, we will lose our lives as well."
"After ten years, Tongguan Town became like this. The other towns and villages are likely no different."
Having said this, the stall owner let out a heavy sigh, his body seeming to stoop even further.
"These bandits act so brazenly, yet the authorities do nothing?"
Qin Zheng frowned and asked.
If they were allowed to continue unchecked, the people's resentment would eventually pile up until it erupted.
When that day came, it would not be something that could be suppressed simply by clearing out the bandits.
The old stall owner shook his head and said, "They have come, but it was useless. The mountains are too vast, and the constables cannot find them."
"Besides, every time people from the authorities come, we first have to pay a service fee. After they leave empty-handed, the bandits learn that we reported them and come down the mountain to wreak havoc again."
"After this happened several times, we stopped making trouble for ourselves. We just endure it honestly."
Qin Zheng heard helplessness and despair in the old stall owner's voice.
There was nothing he could do, so he could only fall silent.
The people within Black Goose City lived better than those outside the city because, first, the city had a large population and no shortage of martial arts experts.
Moreover, troops stationed by the imperial court guarded the area beside Black Goose City. No matter how bold or wild these bandits were, they would not dare cause trouble in Black Goose City.
But the towns and villages surrounding Black Goose City had grievances too bitter for words and could only endure passively.
In these times, unarmed commoners were the lowest rung to be exploited, and also the class that suffered most.
Qin Zheng took out two copper coins from his robes and handed them to the old stall owner. After thanking him, he turned to leave.
"Ah, right, sir!"
At that moment, the old stall owner seemed to remember something and hurriedly called Qin Zheng back.
Qin Zheng turned around and heard the old man say, "Starting a few days ago, there's been a ruffian in town who comes to buy meat flatbreads from me."
"Every time, he buys a great many. He looks like someone who is not short on money, which is rather strange."
"If you are looking for someone, sir, you might find something if you go ask him."
"He's right over—ah, there he is!"
After the old man spoke, Qin Zheng saw a slovenly ruffian walk past him and come to the old stall owner.
"Hey, old man, pack up fifty meat flatbreads for me. Hurry it up, I've got things to do later."
The ruffian casually picked up a flatbread from the stall, stuffed it into his mouth, and began wolfing it down.
At the same time, he took a piece of loose silver from his robes and tossed it onto the chopping board before the old man.
Qin Zheng watched the ruffian, took several steps forward, and lightly patted him.
"What is it?"
The ruffian turned around and saw Qin Zheng, his eyes immediately wary.
Then, when he looked at the large object wrapped in rough cloth behind Qin Zheng, his eyes darted about before he turned and ran.
Qin Zheng's gaze sharpened. He immediately took several long strides to catch up, then lightly struck the man with his palm, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Tell me. Where do you deliver the meat flatbreads you buy every day?"
Qin Zheng asked.
Trembling, the ruffian hurriedly said, "To the ruined temple three li east of town. Sir, please don't kill me. I've never done any great evil."
The ruined temple three li east of town...
Qin Zheng withdrew his gaze from the ruffian, who was still begging without end.
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