Joy and Sorrow Intertwined

After galloping for dozens of miles, Zhang Xuezhou pointed his horse in a direction and let it roam freely.

With his sleeves rolled up, he activated his Technique Within the Clouds, and jade wings appeared. His body soared into the sky like a ray of light.

Although Lu Baibai mentioned that there were many people whose flying skills were stronger than Zhang Xuezhou's, Zhang Xuezhou felt that his flying skills were far superior to those of Hongku and others.

"It also needs to be able to fly and run!"

Rong Tianding still needed to lead the team for four or five days, while Zhang Xuezhou had already approached the vicinity of Chang'an City in just one hour.

This is not merely a comparison of speed of movement, but also a comparison of time utilization, and involves the effectiveness and timeliness of competing for resources and benefits.

At least for now, Zhang Xuezhou can move around very freely, and he can prepare everything before Hongku arrives in Chang'an City.

"After exchanging so many materials with the teacher, I'll finally be able to refine the Creation Pill!"

Zhang Xuezhou boasted that he had a 50% success rate in refining Creation Pills, but to this day he has never refined a single Creation Pill.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't even have Pill Furnace.

As a cultivator at the Divine Ability Realm of the Yin Yang Nine Heavens Sect, Zhang Xuezhou was undoubtedly an anomaly among Alchemist. He relied entirely on the Yin-Yang School's past reputation to fool Hongku into believing his lies.

The soldiers at the gates of Chang'an City checked him but failed to detect him, Zhang Xuezhou easily entered the city.

He did not return to the mansion, but went back to the old house.

In the sprawling Zhang Household Village village, many people have become accustomed to the two oddballs, Zhang Xuezhou and Rong Tianding, and have their own livelihoods, a stark contrast to the village's former ways.

If the village still retains any distinctive features, it's that people gather together for meals.

Whether by contributing money or manpower, the village maintains a collective existence and does not form small family groups.

Zhang Xuezhou returned to his old house to retrieve the Spirit Artifact of the black and white twin horses, then turned two corners and entered the house of village chief Zhang Baojia.

The group had taken turns having a meal at Zhang Baojia. Many people sat on the ground around the cooking pot, while Zhang Baojia served food as needed.

"I've come to talk to you all about something!"

Zhang Xuezhou pushed open the door and entered. As many eyes swept over him, he coughed and spoke.

"My cousin has brought the people back from Huainan. They'll be close to Chang'an City in four or five days," Zhang Xuezhou paused, then continued, "Forty-two have come in total, and that's all!"

Family reunions are a wonderful thing, but many families will never have that opportunity again.

Zhang Xuezhou spoke without taking a deep breath, and the joy on the faces of the crowd lasted only a second before they withdrew their expressions.

"I never thought I'd have the chance to reunite in my lifetime," Zhang Baojia said solemnly. "We old folks are almost in our graves, and we've come to terms with life and death. This is all we can do in this life!"

Young people might still be ready to take revenge, but as Zhang Baojia and others grew old, even hunting wild beasts became difficult, and they could no longer utter any grand pronouncements.

In the past, in Zhang Household Village, these elderly people would have died one after another while hunting, thus disappearing from the village collective.

Compared to their previous lives, the many Zhang Household Village people who were able to make a living in Chang'an City had little to complain about.

Physiognomy has provided psychological comfort to many elderly people. Having seen too many ordinary people in the world, most of whom lead mediocre and miserable lives, it is enough to dispel the obsession with resentment and bitterness in their hearts.

Although many people are still somewhat unwilling, no one can change the past.

"Those who survived should live well," Zhang Zhong said. "We still have children. Four more babies have been added to the village in the past few years, Zhouzi's wife is pregnant with another one. Regardless of the future, the younger generation will always have the opportunity to go to Huainan to pay their respects!"

"We are just ordinary people, while they are kings and generals," Zhang Houtu said breathlessly. "Enough, enough, the common people can't fight against the officials!"

"Everyone, even if you can't let it go, you should at least try to let it go!"

Many people offered words of comfort, some weeping uncontrollably, while others forced smiles.

Rescuing people from Huainan was a joyous occasion, but the loss of so many lives was a sorrowful one. Many were unaware of who had died, or what had become of their spouses and children.

Just like Zhang Xuezhou's mixed feelings of joy and sorrow upon learning the situation, many elderly people also experienced fluctuating emotions.

Most things in this world are difficult to have both ways of doing, and the plight of many people in Zhang Household Village is just a microcosm of this era.

"Zhouzi, you are a great man now. You say that cultivators have extraordinary cultivation and strength. If cultivators are so powerful, how come they can't make ordinary people live a good life?" Lady Yourong sympathy, "Is there no way to make ordinary people live a good life?"

"Human nature is selfish, it's impossible... but it does exist. Speaking of which, I recently came across a technique to help ordinary people make a living!"

Just as Zhang Xuezhou was about to state the facts and reason, he pointed out that there is not much difference between humans and animals. Strong animals do not share their food and mates with the weak, and cultivators do not give alms and relief to sentient beings without reason.

In a normal theoretical sense, human society has always maintained a mechanism of survival of the fittest, constantly eliminating those who are not suited to survival, thus enabling continuous development and progress.

But the moment Lady Yourong's eyes dimmed, Zhang Xuezhou felt he should do something.

He was too busy taking care of himself to ever think about the idea that with great power comes great responsibility, but Zhang Xuezhou was willing to do his part within his capabilities.

He could even deliver good news right now.

Although it is unclear when the new emperor and his entourage will be able to properly communicate with the King of Huainan, it will not be long. This is not something that can be delayed indefinitely, and such a small step will inevitably be promoted on a large scale.

This is also a rare case where alchemy has benefited the general public.

"If there were more of these techniques, and more people who could create them, ordinary people would be able to live a better life," Zhang Zhong said with emotion after hearing this.

"Yes!"

Zhang Xuezhou gave an apologetic smile.

He dared not tell the crowd that the creator of Li Qi was the King of Huainan.

Cultivators cannot serve ordinary people; if the current situation has occurred, it can only be considered an accident.

This connection is too real, and Zhang Xuezhou can't change the situation, but Zhang Xuezhou clearly hopes for as many of these unexpected events as possible.

"Zhouzi, do you think we have any methods to improve the lives of ordinary people?" Lady Yourong asked.

"Our physiognomy is a great art for ordinary people to live their lives," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Doctor Zheng's medical skills are too!"

Although it cannot benefit all people like Li Qi, physiognomy is a kind of Fake Technique that provides comfort to people's hearts, and medical skills can also treat some patients. These arts have a narrow scope of application, but they can still play some role.

"Ordinary people not only need to be well-fed and clothed, but also need a peaceful mindset, access to medical care, and opportunities to rise above their circumstances!"

From offering each other solace amidst mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, to lamenting their own lives of hardship, and touching upon the concerns of others, Zhang Xuezhou did his best to draw away the sadness from everyone's hearts, prompting them to share what they had seen and to discuss what ordinary people needed.

After he summarized the situation, everyone realized that only the local gentry and wealthy could afford such a good life, and that the general public would be considered happy if they could enjoy even a little bit of it.

"Times will move forward, productivity will advance, and the structure of society will constantly change..."

Zhang Xuezhou synthesized the theories he had learned from textbooks, used a few terms, and was about to explain to everyone that this era would inevitably come, it was just a matter of sooner or later, and that if this generation didn't achieve it, the next generation might.

After speaking repeatedly, he glanced at the door and saw that Sang Hongyang had arrived at Laoshu Hutong at some point and was standing at the door listening intently.