Li Ping'an was rather curious too, and thought he would go see who from the Academy had come to the little county town.
By then, news of an immortal's arrival had long since spread.
The government runners beat gongs and drums, shouting all through the streets.
For one thing, it would steady people's hearts; for another, it would intimidate the enemy.
Everyone gathered in the square, waiting for the immortal to arrive.
Li Ping'an and Old Ox squatted on the outskirts, holding a handful of soybeans.
Such lively scenes had been rare since the marauders surrounded the town.
Heads jostled in a disordered throng.
Quite a few vendors had also seized the business opportunity and temporarily moved their stalls here.
Some sold tea, some sold melon seeds and pastries, and there were even physiognomists and fortune-tellers.
Li Ping'an rather liked this bustling atmosphere.
At the county magistrate's residence.
For once, the assistant magistrate had put on his official robes and hat that day.
He had groomed and dressed himself with meticulous care.
Ever since the marauders began causing trouble, the assistant magistrate had not enjoyed a single peaceful night's sleep.
Not only did he have to resist the marauders outside, he also had to guard against spies within the town.
He had sent dozens of memorials to the imperial court requesting aid, one after another, but all had sunk like stones into the sea.
The court had given him only one sentence: "As long as the town stands, you must stand with it."
This was plainly driving him to his death.
A plague had broken out a while ago too. Had Pockmarked Li not found a way to treat it, the town would probably have fallen long ago.
Although afterward, Pockmarked Li had explained to him that a blind