Chapter 1479 - 743: Well Prepared (Part 2)
Lin Beichen felt a bit guilty and hurriedly said to the villagers kneeling in front of him, "Everyone, please get up. Since you’ve come here to find me, you must trust me."
"I will definitely take full responsibility for this matter, come up with every possible solution to resolve it, and let everyone’s life return to peace as soon as possible."
"I won’t let Sima Li continue his reckless actions. Rest assured, I won’t deceive you."
Upon hearing this matter, Lin Beichen agreed to the villagers’ request without hesitation.
He decided to take full responsibility for managing this matter, and the villagers were moved to tears upon hearing Lin Beichen’s agreement.
They bowed continuously to thank Lin Beichen.
The old village chief grabbed Lin Beichen’s arm and said, "Thank you so much. I knew we were right to come to you."
"You won’t ignore all of us. I’m here to thank you on behalf of all the villagers."
"They are so evil, doing all kinds of bad things. We ordinary people are weak and not their match, forced to watch as they bully us."
Seeing these ordinary people, Lin Beichen also felt deeply troubled in his heart.
When Lin Beichen saw the villagers’ eyes full of longing, he was deeply moved.
He absolutely cannot tolerate bullies oppressing the people, causing them to die from lack of food.
Lin Beichen talked with the old village chief for a long time, mostly discussing details, and the old village chief was completely open.
He told Lin Beichen everything that happened in the city, including how many commoners died, in full detail.
The more Lin Beichen heard, the angrier he became, feeling that he must stand up for the villagers to seek justice and avenge them.
Lin Beichen couldn’t help but sigh and said to everyone, "Everyone go back, I’ve already figured things out."
"Since I’ve promised everyone, I will definitely handle it. Please allow me to go back to my room and pack, and I’ll head down the mountain right away."
The old village chief and the villagers looked at Lin Beichen with gratitude, as if seeing hope, and smiled.
Lin Beichen quickly returned to his room, hurriedly packed his clothes, and prepared to go down the mountain.
He must resolve this matter quickly, otherwise more commoners will lose their lives because of it.
Especially the elderly and children, if they can’t eat, their bodies won’t hold up. At best, they’ll suffer from hunger; at worst, they’ll lose their lives.
Just as Lin Beichen finished packing and was ready to go out.
The old Daoist suddenly blocked Lin Beichen’s path, saying seriously, "Lin Beichen, heed my advice, don’t go down the mountain."
"This is like an egg hitting a rock; you can’t accomplish anything with your strength alone."
"Don’t act impulsively. Do you realize you’re representing the Daoist Temple now? Please consider the Daoist Temple’s position before doing anything, alright?"
"Have you thought about if you mess up this matter, will the City Lord spare our Daoist Temple? Maybe the temple will suffer because of this."
"How can you be so impulsive, thinking for the commoners but not thinking about the Daoist Temple? You should think this over carefully."
Lin Beichen looked at the old Daoist standing in front of him with confusion.
He felt these words were not something the old Daoist could say, as this matter was significant.
The commoners were suffering bitterly, and even lives were lost. Faced with such a major issue, he was indifferent and even said such selfish words.
Lin Beichen looked incredulously at the old Daoist and asked, "Old Daoist, what is going on with you? Do you know what you’re saying?"
"I want to know, why did you learn Daoist skills? I don’t understand how you became like this."
"Always hesitant and cautious, and now at the critical moment, you’re still stopping me, do you really think I’ll listen to you?"
"I’ll be clear today, I am determined to do this, whether it’s like an egg hitting a rock or risking harm to the pond fish, I cannot worry about it anymore."
"Take a look at the longing eyes of the commoners; how can you bear to refuse them? They have only this one hope, and do you intend for them to go to their deaths one by one? It’s ridiculous."
The old Daoist listened to Lin Beichen’s words but didn’t show any change in expression.
He didn’t feel wrong, as a Daoist, he had to consider the safety of the Daoist Temple first.
Now with Lin Beichen doing this, if the City Lord discovers it, he definitely won’t let it go.
By then, the entire Daoist Temple will be in chaos and can’t be peaceful.
The old Daoist still remained unchanged, persistent in blocking Lin Beichen’s path.
"No way... No matter what you say today, I won’t let you go down the mountain, and regardless of your misunderstanding, I will stick to my decision." The old Daoist said resolutely.
This made Lin Beichen even more confused by the old Daoist’s behavior, and he angrily said to him, "Since you say this, I’ll also be clear."
"Move aside for me immediately. If you insist on stopping me, then I do have a way to resolve this."
The old Daoist looked at Lin Beichen puzzled and asked, "What way?"
Lin Beichen seriously said to the old Daoist, "It’s simple, I’ll immediately choose to leave the Daoist Temple, then whatever I do won’t implicate the temple or you."
"It won’t have anything to do with you, so you should be relieved now."
The old Daoist saw Lin Beichen’s seriousness and knew he wasn’t lying.
If he persisted, maybe Lin Beichen would really choose to leave the Daoist Temple.
The old Daoist said nothing, just unwillingly looked at Lin Beichen.
His body moved aside, allowing Lin Beichen to go down the mountain to do what he wanted without saying another word.
Seeing this, Lin Beichen didn’t trouble the old Daoist anymore and hurriedly left.
Lin Beichen descended the mountain and wandered around the city. What he saw pierced his heart.
The commoners were hungry and emaciated, moaning constantly, and even began to beg along the streets.
The scene was unbearable, and Lin Beichen truly worried about the commoners’ lives.
The situation of the elderly and children was even more heart-wrenching, with children crying non-stop and the elderly full of helplessness.
Lin Beichen glanced back at this scene, his heart aching beyond words.
He quickly headed to the City Lord’s Mansion, but upon arrival, he found that James and other outsiders were directly living inside, enjoying high treatment.
Lin Beichen was instantly enraged, not understanding why the City Lord acted this way.
Why did he treat James and the others with such favor, requiring the highest level of reception?
Lin Beichen intended to confront the City Lord but was unexpectedly met with stern refusal and eviction.
"Get out... The City Lord doesn’t want to see you. Don’t appear here again."
"If you make the City Lord unhappy again, don’t blame us for being rude."
"You better be wise, don’t meddle in matters that aren’t yours."
Lin Beichen was furious hearing these words.
He glared at the guards and cursed, "Fawning lackeys, do you think you’re so impressive."
"Trying to chase me away is truly laughable." His face was full of ridicule.
"Get out, don’t invite trouble, scram..."
"You..." Lin Beichen was too angry to speak.
A guard shouted loudly, "The City Lord’s Mansion isn’t a place anyone can come to. You were chased away before; I didn’t expect you to have no dignity and come again. I truly admire your courage."
Hearing the guard’s words, Lin Beichen’s inner fury was uncontrollable. He angrily looked at the guard and asked, "How does this concern you? Don’t fawn and babble here."
"I won’t give up. Remember this, I’ll be back, let’s wait and see."
Lin Beichen was filled with frustration, unable to release it. He had come intending to reason with the City Lord but couldn’t even meet him.
Now he was humiliated by the guards, the anger was unbearable.
He glared at the guards, initially planning to teach them a lesson, make them restrain their arrogance, and stop aiding evil.
But on second thought, he came down the mountain for the city’s commoners, to seek justice and resolve their plight, not to quarrel with them.
Lin Beichen could only swallow this anger for the time being. Seeing the city commoners struggling to feed themselves, hungry every day, living miserably, only able to eat once a day, begging along the streets while getting beaten and freezing, it was helpless to watch.
Yet in the City Lord’s Mansion and with those outsiders, each meal was a feast.
Thinking of this, Lin Beichen was furious. He turned back to look at the guards angrily, thinking to himself, "On what grounds do you live such good lives while letting the commoners starve and freeze."
"This is too much. Since I’ve promised the commoners, I will take responsibility to the end."