Recently, several significant events occurred in the Jin Sect.
One was that two new county leaders came to Wanshou County and Linjiang County.
Another was that there was a fire at the Jin Sect's grain storage warehouse. It was rumored that aside from the relief warehouse, which was previously emptied by a rat infestation, being burned down, the grain in other warehouses was also affected.
Burning the grain storage warehouse was a serious crime, and the Prefect of the Jin Sect would inevitably bear some responsibility, but the situation was strange. Since the warehouse was burned, apart from dismissing the negligent grain officer and holding him accountable, Prefect Wang in the Jin Sect seemed untouched by the incident.
In the Funeral Shop, Xu Qing listened to Huang Xiaoliu's report and remained stunned for quite a while.
He and Gu Zixu went to set fire to the grain storage warehouse, but they didn't burn the other warehouses. The relief warehouse and other grain warehouses were separated by fire lanes, so it shouldn't have spread to them.
Clearly, someone exaggerated the losses with worthless numbers!
Xu Qing slapped his thigh, regretting that he hadn't burned down all the grain storage warehouses!
However, it was only a thought. The warehouse had reserves exceeding a million bushels, and he almost couldn't manage the relief warehouse alone. If he truly stole so much grain, he would have to expand the rat house several streets beyond the Underground Street to accommodate it.
Huang Xiaoliu observed the changing expressions of the Sect Leader, not knowing what had occurred.
Xu Qing's grain theft was carried out secretly; apart from Xuan Yu and the Gray Immortal of the Feng Shui Hall, no one else even heard the slightest rumor.
No matter how much Huang Xiaoliu racked his brains, he couldn't fathom that below his very feet lay tens of thousands of bushels of stored grain.
"Sect Leader, there's another matter. Those refugees, upon hearing that Wanshou County is set to increase its population, have flocked over in large numbers."
"Our county doesn't lack population that much, so the influx of refugees isn't overwhelming."
Xu Qing was intrigued and asked, "About how many refugees are there?"
"According to the constables patrolling the streets, Wanshou Village already has close to ten thousand refugees, while our county has around two thousand."
"..."
After a moment of silence, Xu Qing said, "Keep having the immortals of the Transmission Hall investigate. If manpower is insufficient, go back to Yellow Stripe Mountain and bring your siblings into the hall."
"Remember, when selecting personnel for the Transmission Hall, choose those of upright character. Don't recruit those with rebellious tempers or dishonest behaviors."
Having said that, Xu Qing withdrew five thousand incense offerings from the Dharma Realm of the Cat Immortal Hall and tossed them over in front of Huang Xiaoliu.
Huang Xiaoliu had never seen so much incense; even if his great-grandfather Huang Laoxu accumulated incense for a year, it might just amount to this much.
Though returning to Yellow Stripe Mountain to undermine his great-grandfather was somewhat disreputable, Huang Xiaoliu felt that rather than letting his siblings suffer with his great-grandfather, it would be more enjoyable to switch allegiances and live the good life with the Sect Leader.
...
Later, two old men and a tall woman, whose face was covered by a black gauze veil, appeared on Underground Street.
"Old Gu, the number of refugees in the Jin Sect is still insufficient. I need you to spread news along the road to Yaozhou, saying that Wanshou Village is being promoted to county status, and plans to open warehouses for grain distribution, attracting refugees to come and increase the population..."
With an Elder's Pill pressed under his tongue, Xu Qing spoke indistinctly, as though chewing sticky rice cakes.
Gu Zixu didn't understand Xu Qing's intent but agreed to carry it out.
Refugees were unrestrained, and spreading rumors was not difficult.
After sending off Gu Zixu, Xu Qing took Xuan Yu, who was attached to Sun Ernian, and went to Wanshou Village.
A puppet and a cat posed as grandfather and granddaughter, leisurely walking along the official road, encountering many haggard refugees carrying cookware.
Apart from those refugees who narrowly escaped death, there were also those who starved or died of disease along the roadside.
Xu Qing, having a professional affliction, could not bear to see those bodies left exposed in the wild or devoured by beasts and wild dogs, so he picked up his old trade and began to provide redemption and burial for the ill-fated individuals along the way.
Gradually, tales of the 'White Browed Good Samaritan' began circulating among the refugee communities near Wanshou County.
Xu Qing reflected deeply as he traveled.
In the face of hunger, the dark humanity hidden beneath the surface was all released.
He witnessed truly kind people, but their numbers were very few.
Perhaps there were many once, but after enduring hardships over thousands of miles, even the kindest individuals would establish barriers for self-protection.
Digging graves and burying bodies, chanting sutras for redemption.
Even though the refugees were all pallid and emaciated, Xu Qing received the most rewards, ironically Qi Replenishing Pills, Fasting Pills, and tonics, during the liberation of those who died of starvation.
The bodies of those who died from disease, or contagion, yielded many medicinal remedies like Hundred Herbs Pill, cooling powder, and talismans for dispelling disease.
Xu Qing wandered around Wanshou Village for a long time, and after he had managed to collect most of the bodies he encountered along the road, he put on a Human Skin Mask, assumed the role of the 'Old Immortal' dedicated to saving people.
The Human Skin Mask was obtained from Bai Luo, the Protector of the Celestial Heart Sect, who once eliminated his entire clan. Though his face was human, underneath was a face capable of changing countless expressions.
With the Human Skin Mask, Xu Qing transformed into a kindly doctor, claiming to be an elderly man living on Spirit Calabash Mountain.
In cultivation paths, 'Spirit Calabash' referred to the state of heart and mind, while in secular terms it implied a sacrificial altar or spirit shrine.
Even though Xu Qing appeared as an old man on the verge of decay, he engaged in humanitarian acts.
This stark contrast between appearance and deeds made it difficult for people not to remember him!
By mid-October, after wandering around Wanshou Village for half a month, Xu Qing finally paused his steps.
Before him lay a temple ruin, its walls crumbled, leaving only rubble, gradually eroding under the winter wind.