Chapter 228 - 163: Opening (Part 2)
Fang Yue let out a long sigh of relief and collapsed onto the ground, completely drained.
It was only then that Fang Yue felt his right arm. A fiery pain burned through it, and it was even a little numb.
It was an injury from his fight with the leader of the men in black.
However, the injury itself was nothing. What truly terrified Fang Yue was what had happened at the very end.
"I can’t believe how ruthless those people were!"
Inspector Fang’s voice rang out,
filled with deep anger. "They actually used themselves as bait to break the seal! This world is truly about to descend into chaos!"
"These people... their crimes are monstrous... We can’t linger here. We must leave at once."
After saying this, the Inspector turned and left without a moment’s hesitation. From the direction he took, it was clear he wasn’t returning to the County Magistrate’s Office. He was leaving the city immediately.
Seeing this, Fang Yue’s heart went cold.
He delayed no longer. He rushed home, gathered his family, and they too headed east under the cover of night.
「Meanwhile, in the Shanyang Prefecture Observatory.」
"Another one has been destroyed." Hui Hengli stared at the Chaotic Celestial Phenomenon Instrument before him. Fully half of the lights on it had already gone out, and more were still extinguishing.
As he watched the lights dwindle, his face grew paler and paler.
If the lights were to disappear completely, the entire Shanyang Prefecture would likely plunge into unprecedented turmoil.
At this thought, Hui Hengli took a deep breath and immediately used a Secret Technique to report what was happening.
~~~~~~~
「Yujing City, the capital of Great Wei.」
It was one of the most prosperous cities in the world.
Within the deepest reaches of the Great Wei Observatory’s headquarters stood the Seven-Star Demon Suppression Tower.
Countless shimmering silver constructs moved according to some unknown pattern. Viewed from a distance, they formed a topographical map of Great Wei’s Two Capitals and Thirteen Provinces.
It depicted every mountain and river, so lifelike it seemed the work of gods.
On the highest floor of the Seven-Star Demon Suppression Tower, within a magnificent golden palace, sat an old man. He wore a purple immortal robe and had a majestic air. This was the master of the Seven-Star Demon Suppression Tower, the Grand Director of the Observatory, Marquis Wu of Wei, Mo Li.
Mo Li’s eyes were slightly closed, as if he were taking a short nap.
Just then, an old man in green robes approached at a slow pace.
Upon reaching the center of the hall, the green-robed elder bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Grand Director."
"You may rise."
Mo Li waved his hand dismissively.
"What is it?"
The green-robed elder hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Urgent reports have come in from Shanyang, Gongzhou, and Yongzhou Prefectures. The great formation sealing the Demon Realm is under attack and can no longer hold."
"Hmm. Prince Wucheng is rebelling. He wants to use the Trapped Dragon Ascension Ritual to become a Celestial Being. Pay it no mind. Just have our people below use the Original Talisman Seal to seal off the three prefectures."
Mo Li remained in his drowsy state, as if none of this had anything to do with him.
"Yes, sir."
The green-robed elder nodded in agreement, but then hesitated and said,
"If we do that, I fear the common people of the three prefectures will suffer terrible casualties. Will this affect the Emperor’s Dragon Qi?"
"And what if it does?"
Mo Li said nonchalantly, "Heh heh, if the current Emperor hadn’t lost his virtue, how would things have ever gotten to this point?"
"Every last one of them wants to become a Celestial Being, but how could it be so easy? Sacrificing thousands to elevate one person... that’s a crooked, evil path. They’ve long since gone astray, and it’s a dead end."
Hearing this, the green-robed elder was taken aback. He immediately lowered his head and bowed.
"I understand."
"Mm, you may leave."
Mo Li waved his hand, dismissing him.
The green-robed elder bowed and withdrew, quickly leaving the palace.
Once the elder’s figure had vanished from sight, Mo Li opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.
’Chaos in the world is both a disaster and an opportunity. This realm has been stagnant for far too long. It’s time to stir the pot.’
~~~~~~~
At this time, just as dawn was breaking, two carriages were traveling on the main road to Shanyang Prefecture.
Fang Yue led the way on horseback, while his older brother Fang Cheng and their father Fang Mu each drove one of the carriages.
This was the tenth day since Fang Yue and his family had fled Xiahe County Town.
That night, he had easily convinced his family to abandon their home and property. They packed their valuables and dry rations and left directly through the east gate.
After leaving the city, he had expected a fierce battle, but surprisingly, they encountered no trouble from the Rebel Army at all.
Their journey was unimpeded, and they soon left the borders of Xiahe County.
Along the way, they rarely encountered the Rebel Army. Instead, they ran into several groups of highway robbers.
These were merely refugees taking advantage of the chaos. Without a single Martial Artist among them, they were dealt with easily.
Now, perhaps because they were getting closer to the Prefecture City, they hadn’t seen any organized Rebel Army forces for two days. Even the refugees who tried to rob travelers had all but disappeared.
"Zhi’Er, what’s going to happen to our fields now that we’ve left? I wonder what they’ll be like when we eventually go back."
At their midday meal, Ms. Chen asked, her face etched with worry.
For the past several days, she had been so worried about their fields being stolen by the Thief Soldiers that she’d had no appetite.
All that land, all those properties... Zhi’Er had worked so hard to acquire them.
Now that they had left like this, there was no telling when they could return.
The farmlands and Tea Garden in the countryside, the house in the county town, and even the family’s hoard of silver—it was all going to be lost.
The thought made Ms. Chen’s heart ache.
"Mother, don’t worry," Fang Yue said, consoling her. "Once we get to Shanyang Prefecture, we can just build everything up again. As long as we’re safe, we can always acquire more material possessions."
In truth, Ms. Chen knew this. But the thought of giving up so much property and so much silver still pained her.
As dusk began to fall, a long procession of people appeared on the road ahead.
It was a long line of refugees fleeing from various regions.
Most of the refugees were in ragged clothes. The majority were bone-thin, and some only had a single flimsy garment to cover themselves, looking utterly destitute.
Not only that, but among the refugees were boys and girls with straw tags stuck to their clothes, being led from one carriage to the next.
From the looks of it, they were selling their own children.
Who would be willing to sell their children unless they had no other way to survive?
Seeing this scene, Fang Yue couldn’t help but feel a pang of compassion.
Whether empires rise or fall, it’s the common people who suffer.
’It’s the same in this world, whether in my past life or this one.’
However, he didn’t have the slightest intention of offering a helping hand.
There were too many refugees; even he couldn’t save them all. *When prosperous, help the world; when in poverty, perfect yourself.*
Besides, he was alone and still needed to protect his family. If he revealed his wealth, he would only be asking for trouble.
"Kind sir, please, be merciful! Please buy my Nannan. I’m begging you, sir, just give her a chance to live!" Just then, a middle-aged woman, pulling a little girl of about ten by the hand, knelt by the roadside, pleading desperately.
"Get lost!"
"Sir, I’m begging you, please..."
The little girl was plain-looking, with a thin frame and dark skin. Her eyes were vacant, and she seemed a bit dazed. It was hard to tell if she was scared witless or simply born that way.
"How dare a filthy beggar like you approach the master? Who do you think you are?"
"How dare a filthy beggar like you approach the master? Who do you think you are?"
A burly driver from one of the carriages ahead of Fang Yue’s berated the middle-aged woman.
The middle-aged woman looked up at the sound of his voice, saw the man, and started in surprise. She hastily kowtowed once.
After a moment, Fang Yue’s carriage moved forward and passed by the woman.
The same plea rang out once more.
Fang Yue was about to drive on, but Ms. Chen spoke up. "Zhi’Er, why don’t we take them with us?"
Ms. Chen was kind-hearted. She’d always had a sharp tongue but a soft heart—it was true in their old village, and it was true now.
"Alright."
Fang Yue glanced at his mother and knew her heart had softened. Besides, it wasn’t a big deal, so he found it hard to refuse.