Lower-class citizen, those in high positions, creating false appearances.
Talking about these things, Zhang Rongfang actually felt a bit repulsed already.
Because regardless of everything, his true identity in this world is actually Zhang Rongfang.
And Zhang Rongfang, was born among the barbarian scholars.
In other words, he is exactly the lower-class citizen that the other person was talking about.
Ning Hongli spoke a lot about how to guide his thinking on these matters.
But the perspective was always to completely separate him from ordinary people.
The two chatted as they walked along the road. Until Ning Hongli had to leave for some reason, Zhang Rongfang didn't say a word, only responded simply.
When night fell and the city lights came on, the night market in the town of Mianqiu also gradually began to set up.
BBQ, pancakes, various fruits and drinks, a faint fragrance wafting everywhere, making people salivate.
But he had no appetite for food or drink at this moment.
From the idle conversation with Ning Hongli earlier, he already anticipated that in the future, if his identity is exposed, what awaits him might be a choice to make.
A choice made by the Great Dao Teaching.
Unless he is willing to demonstrate with actions and words that he has completely abandoned his origins.
Otherwise....
Coming back to his senses, Zhang Rongfang closed his eyes for a moment and opened the attribute panel.
'No matter what, take it one step at a time. Perhaps by then, there will be a way.'
He should first see how many attribute points his Golden Toad Skill has acquired.
At this moment, on the attribute panel, the free attribute points have increased by 3 points.
It had been 6 days since the last breakthrough, and today was the seventh day.
'So it's indeed one point every two days?!' Zhang Rongfang's heart relaxed, feeling increasingly at ease.
No matter how challenging the external rules might be, as long as he observes the growth of the attribute points every day, he would always have continuous hope.
He dumped all the attribute points into the Life Attribute. Watching it rise from 207 to 210.
Feeling satisfied, Zhang Rongfang closed the attribute panel and planned to buy some food to take back.
He was standing at a crossroads at this moment.
In the direction he was facing, there were three BBQ stalls ahead, two wonton stalls to the left, and a sweet soup shop to the right.
He was just about to head towards the sweet soup shop when suddenly his body froze, stopping in place.
"That is!?"
Zhang Rongfang's gaze quickly shifted, immediately locking onto the slender figure selling BBQ.
The person had almond-shaped eyes and willow eyebrows, long hair draped over the shoulders, wearing a simple grey cotton dress that couldn't conceal the graceful lines of her figure.
Compared to years ago, she seemed much more mature, with her body's curves fuller.
The once innocent and willful pretty face had now become gentle and clear, carrying a hint of worldly wisdom.
'Xiao Qingying!?'
Zhang Rongfang recognized the identity of the woman.
He still remembered that the beloved daughter of his first master had mysteriously disappeared in Qinghe Palace back then.
How could she appear here now?
Unconsciously, he stepped closer and stood in front of the BBQ stall.
In this small town, there weren't many martial artists, and there were naturally not many like him with a height of over two meters.
At this moment, standing at the BBQ stall, he stood out among the group of customers, appearing out of place.
Xiao Qingying glanced up at him.
"What skewer would you like, and how spicy? You might have to wait a bit, as there are quite a few orders roasting here. You can see the prices on the wooden sign to the right."
Her way of speaking had completely changed from before, becoming gentle and clear.
Zhang Rongfang realized that his changes had been too significant for her to recognize him.
The Zhang Rongfang of the past, in Qinghe Palace, was just a scrawny kid, whereas now, in the Great Dao Teaching, he was a big guy.
Years of rigorous training and cultivation had transformed him into someone completely unlike the past Zhang Rongfang.
Even if he didn't change his appearance, no one could recognize him now.
Contemplating, Zhang Rongfang hesitated, but still didn't disturb her life.
"I'd like ten skewers, medium spicy." He fished out his money pouch and counted several large coins over.
Since she seemed to be living well now, there was no need to disrupt it.
He sighed inwardly.
Currently, he might appear prosperous, but in essence, he was walking on a tightrope.
One slight mistake would send him plummeting off a cliff, shattering to pieces.
His unwillingness to worship the gods would eventually be exposed.
By then.... even his closest allies in the Celestial Treasure Palace of the Great Dao Teaching, even the Thousand Stone Sect, which he currently viewed as hope, might covet his mysterious power.
Therefore, from the beginning until now, Zhang Rongfang has understood clearly that his only reliance is on himself.
His own martial strength is everything.
Soon, the skewers finished roasting, sprinkled with scallions, were handed over to him.
Zhang Rongfang accepted them, taking a deep look at Xiao Qingying, memories of Qinghe Palace flashing by like a fleeting image.
His hand paused for a moment, but he didn't greet her and turned to leave.
"Xiaoying, business is good today, huh." A new male voice with a hint of age suddenly entered his ears.
Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped, and he turned around abruptly.
He had intended to leave, but that voice just now....
He turned back towards the BBQ stall.
Sure enough!
To Xiao Qingying's right, there was an old man with a goatee, hands behind his back, leisurely walking over.
With sunken eyes and a mean face, he had a tin tea pot hanging at his waist and tortoiseshell-patterned glasses around his neck.
This person was none other than his second master in Qinghe Palace—Zhang Xuan!
Zhang Rongfang's throat moved. He wanted to step forward and acknowledge them, but at this moment, he was Zhang Ying, not Zhang Rongfang.
There were likely experts from the Jade Void Palace sent to protect him nearby, so he couldn't reveal himself.
Traveling all the way from the Great Capital to Ze Province, he had already understood that often one cannot indulge in wishful thinking.
His current identity and status were different, and he had to be mindful of his words and actions at all times. Otherwise, once his identity was exposed, it would bring disaster to those close to him.
Especially when....
Zhang Xuan had another layer of identity.
Zhang Rongfang took a deep look at Zhang Xuan, turned around, and left, heading back to the inn.
Back then, Qinghe Palace was one of the uprising bases. Now, with uprisings throughout Ze Province... Zhang Xuan reappearing nearby....
A coincidence?
He didn't think so.
Soon after returning to the inn, Zhang Rongfang went to his room intending to quickly write a note to remind Zhang Xuan to leave immediately.
Knock knock knock.
"Xiaoying, come out for a while. There's an urgent gathering." Ning Hongli gently knocked on the door from outside.
Zhang Rongfang swiftly put away the written note, a bad premonition suddenly rising in his heart.
"Understood, Senior Hongli."
He opened the door and left the inn.
Outside, Shangguan Feihua was not present, but many others had already gotten up, gathering on the right side of the street in front of the entrance.
Shang Dingye, the Grandmaster, was evidently acting as the temporary leader.
He was holding what seemed to be a secret letter, which he unrolled to read, his brows tightly knit.
After a short while, he finished reading, gently crushed the paper, and scattered it.
"Everyone, prepare to assist in sealing off the entire county town!"
All the Jade Void Palace experts present became alert.
"Grandmaster Shang." One person bowed and asked gravely, "To seal off the entire Mianqiu County, could it be that...?"
"That's correct, Master Shangguan has already gone to intercept and eliminate the higher-ups of the Righteous Alliance. He will return soon. The entire Mianqiu has been infiltrated by the alliance. It has become a nest of the chaotic army! It must be purged!" Shang Dingye stated solemnly.
"But... this entire county town has over 300,000 people... we don't possibly have enough manpower!" Ning Hongli frowned.
"The garrison nearby has already been called in. The entire county town, along with the local garrison, have been infiltrated and must be completely eradicated." Shang Dingye spoke with a composed expression, instilling dread in their hearts.
Many people present looked grim.
Not everyone is a bloodthirsty madman; this isn't just killing a few, but tens of thousands!
No matter how many Spirit People there are, even if they endlessly plunder outside populations, they don't lack numbers, but such massacres.... Such endeavors are not pleasant experiences for anyone.
"Everyone, proceed." Shang Dingye gave a cold sweep with his eyes. "These are special times, and we do not have the leisure to sift through the identities of the chaotic army individually. We can only kill chickens to scare monkeys, making them understand that creating chaos is meaningless! It only brings death!"
Boom!!
At this moment, a cannon blast sounded abruptly in the distance.
This was followed by the incessant sound of gunfire.
Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped a beat, recognizing the gunshots as originating not far from the city perimeter.
The screams of the living, cries of terror, anguish, the roars of men, the weeping of women, and the wailing of children.
All at once they flooded into his keen ears like a torrent.
"Why must we use such violent means? This is Ze Province, it's our territory, shouldn't we first seal off the area and then screen them slowly?" Zhang Rongfang couldn't help but step forward and speak aloud.
"We don't have time." Shang Dingye glanced at him indifferently, "If we don't quickly seal and execute, it's very likely that the higher-ups of the alliance will get wind and flee. Such an outcome would render much of our operation meaningless."
Zhang Rongfang squinted his eyes, wanting to say more, but his hand was gently grasped by Ning Hongli.
This old flame of his master gave him a faint shake of her head.
"This is Master Shangguan's order, we have no right to interfere."
"....."
In Zhang Rongfang's mind was the image of Master Zhang Xuan and Xiao Qingying at the barbecue stall.
He couldn't control others, but....
Previously he thought that the Great Dao Teaching was a Taoist sect arising from commoners, rooted in the lower classes.
But now it seemed... he was wrong.
Perhaps within the Celestial Treasure Palace faction, it wasn't this cruel.
But in Jade Void Palace, the Great Dao Teaching itself belonged to the interest standpoint of aristocratic families, now exposed without doubt.
"Alright, everyone, disperse and act freely. Remember, regardless of how much wealth you acquire, half must be handed over to the palace in the end. No hoarding is allowed." Shang Dingye instructed coldly.
"Yes!"
A part of the people became visibly excited.
What was the most satisfying about a massacre for them?
It was the thrill of breaking into homes like opening boxes, seizing wealth!
Besides that, they could casually pick anyone they fancied on the street, dragging them to some dark corner to abuse at will.
Having done such things many times, becoming numb, many no longer cared. Instead, they saw it as entertainment.
Only those who still retained some conscience looked displeased, passive.
Several dozen people soon dispersed.
As the Spirit Soldiers entered outside, some immediately rushed back into the inn, turning on the guests inside.
With the sound of doors being broken, the Jade Void Palace elites had fully turned into beasts, venting their carnal desires.
Screams, cries, and even guests arrogantly scolding, relying on their status, were helpless.
Resistance meant instant death.
The experts mobilized this time were mainly Spiritual Guards and Spiritual Veins.
They were virtually unkillable. Reckless, like beasts unleashed to destroy everything.
Zhang Rongfang stood in place, unhappily listening to the upheaval behind him in the inn.
He didn't intervene but glanced over at Ning Hongli.
"I'm alright... don't worry, I understand. I won't act recklessly!" he said earnestly.
Ning Hongli looked at him worriedly.
"It's nothing, just do what you want to do. They're all lowly people, sinners by right, deserving punishment. Just don't see them as people, treat them as playthings or livestock." She comforted softly.
But this kind of comfort only made Zhang Rongfang feel more repressed inside.
"I... understand." he replied quietly.
Reviews
All reviews (0)