Chapter 90 Goodbye Qingyao City
Ji Shi only brought a few dozen trusted disciples. The number of people was small, and with the help of flying on his sword, he arrived at Qingyao City in less than half a day.
As soon as he entered the city, Ji Shi began to doubt whether this was still the number one city in the world that he had seen before.
The sky was overcast, dark clouds seemed to press down, and a heavy stench of blood filled the air.
White banknotes were scattered everywhere in the streets and alleys. Almost every household hung white cloths, and everyone was dressed in mourning. The elderly and children knelt on the ground and wept. The wealthy could at least afford coffins, while the poor were simply wrapped in straw mats.
Ji Shi walked slowly with heavy steps.
At first, no one noticed them, but when a little girl looked up and saw them, she was terrified, as if she had seen the King of Hell, and she backed away, crying out, "Mother!"
The woman shielded her, pointing a trembling finger at them and shouting, "You dare come here again! I'll beat you to death! Give me back my son! Give me back my son!!"
"You... are you crazy!" The disciple next to Ji Shi shoved the man away. "It was the Linyi Sect that massacred the city! What does it have to do with us!"
The woman knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably: "I...I don't understand any sects! All I know is you cultivators! If it weren't for you fighting each other all the time, our lives wouldn't be getting harder and harder! You all deserve to die!"
The woman was about to rush over when Ji Shi reached out and stopped the disciple next to him from interfering.
With a "smack," the woman's hand landed squarely on Ji Shi's face.
"Senior Brother!"
"I'm fine," Ji Shi shook his head and said softly, "What she said is also true. When the major sects fight each other, it only harms these innocent people. We are the ones who owe them."
Seeing that Ji Shi didn't dodge, the woman didn't press the matter further. She went back to hug her daughter, crying out, "My child! How could you be so heartless as to abandon me!"
Ji Shi lowered his head and remained silent.
At this moment, a maidservant came up to them, curtsied, and said, "Master Ji, our city lord invites you."
Ji Shi followed the people into the city lord's mansion. Seeing this familiar place, he felt as if he had been transported to another world.
In the past, that group of people would gather under the eaves, making noise, laughing and having snowball fights, making dumplings, and one of them would get drunk and run up onto the roof, only to be persuaded down by the others.
Thinking like that was only yesterday.
"The first snow hasn't fallen yet, too bad we can't have a snowball fight."
Hearing this voice, Ji Shi turned around with a smile and asked her, "Didn't you not like it?"
Lin Mumu was helped out, and Ji Shi subconsciously wanted to go over and support her, but then lowered his outstretched hand.
Lin Mumu saw his actions but didn't point it out. She only said, "I didn't like it before because no one was with me. But after you guys came along, I had the happiest time since my parents died."
Ji Shi raised an eyebrow: "Including when you bully me?"
Lin Mumu laughed, "Why are you still holding a grudge?"
“It’s not that I’m holding a grudge,” Ji Shi walked over to her, gently put his arm around her shoulder, “I just miss the hot-tempered and rude Lord Lin from back then.”
"Irritable and uncouth?" Lin Mumu's voice rose a few decibels. "You explain yourself clearly, who's irritable and uncouth?"
“I, I, I,” Ji Shi laughed, “I’m talking about myself. Lord Lin is very magnanimous and has spared me this time.”
Lin Mumu turned her head back. "Let me tell you, even though I'm injured now, I can still beat you up easily."
Ji Shi coaxed her, "The city lord is mighty, this humble servant dares not do it again."
After escorting the person to the room, Ji Shi was finally able to sit down and have a cup of tea. The cool touch as it passed down his esophagus made him feel alive again.
Seeing this, Lin Mumu couldn't help but nag, "It's only early winter and you're still indulging in the cold. You'll regret it later."
Ji Shi laughed and said, "Such a lovely young girl, why are you talking like an old man?"
Lin Mumu rolled her eyes at him: "Take it or leave it."
"I like to hear that," Ji Shi sat down, brought up the serious matter, and asked her earnestly, "What exactly happened the other day?"
Lin Mumu shook her head: "Judging from the people here, it is indeed the Linyi Sect. But we have never had any grudges with the Linyi Sect. At most, we helped Immortal Venerable Chu in the battle of the Sun God Temple back then. But that is not enough to warrant a massacre of the city. Moreover, if they wanted to settle scores, why did they only come now?"
Ji Shi frowned in confusion, twirling the blanket in his hand: "No matter the reason, the important thing is to protect the remaining people in the city and not let them suffer such a terrible fate again."
He suddenly looked at Lin Mumu and asked, "How many guards are left in the city?"
Lin Mumu looked troubled: "Most of them have already died in the battle; less than 30% remain."
“That’s enough,” Ji Shi said. “Including the people I brought, move them to the same place. These people only need to look after them. The day after tomorrow, Changjin Mountain will send people to negotiate with other sects to see if we can gather enough people to fight.”
“I’ve already tried,” Lin Mumu said. “I sent out a plea for help right after the city was massacred, but apart from Changjin Mountain, no sect responded. None of them were willing to confront Linyi Sect head-on.”
“No wonder,” Lin Mumu sighed, “Over the years, all the sects, big and small, have suffered considerable damage and are in a period of recuperation. Who would be willing to be the first to take the lead?”
Ji Shi raised an eyebrow: "You can't say that. Am I here to be this bird?"
Lin Mumu laughed, "You're the only idiot."
Ji Shi assured him, "Don't worry, even if it's just us, we can protect Qingyao City. I swore an oath in public: as long as the city stands, I will stand with it. This time..."
Ji Shi looked at Lin Mumu seriously and said, "I'll go with you."
Lin Mumu was momentarily stunned. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar person in the candlelight, she curled her lips and said, "You really are different from before."
Ji Shi asked, "Is it because you've become more mature? Many people say that."
“No,” Lin Mumu shook her head gently, “it’s just that I’ve become even dumber.”
Ji Shi paused for a moment, then laughed and sighed, "There's nothing I can do. I told you when I climbed onto your roof that I'm going to be a great hero. You can't take away my precious opportunity."
Lin Mumu kept her head down and didn't say anything.
“But…” Ji Shi changed the subject: “The people in the city may not be willing to listen to our arrangements. They seem to have a great aversion to these cultivators.”
Lin Mumu explained, "It's not their fault. They've suffered a lot over the years. Don't worry, leave this to me. You can focus on the challenge."
Over the course of three days, under Lin Mumu's arrangement, the people of Qingyao City were taken to the largest temple in the city, and people were sent to guard the foot of the mountain and the temple.
Three days had passed, but the Changjin Mountain disciple who was promised to arrive on the second day still hadn't come. Ji Shi's heart was in suspense, wondering where things had gone wrong.
As dusk fell, Ji Shi ran alone to the city wall, where red flags fluttered. Ji Shi stared at them blankly, saying nothing.
He didn't know when Lin Mumu had arrived beside him. Ji Shi caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye; her pale yellow dress was fluttering in the wind. It looked very familiar; it was the dress Lin Mumu loved most when he stayed in Qingyao City.
"Is your master trustworthy?" Lin Mumu asked first.
Ji Shi turned to look at her: "I may not believe others, but my master would never harm me."
Hearing his certainty, Lin Mumu didn't know how to continue, but the truth was undeniable, leaving her no choice but to be suspicious.
"What on earth happened that would leave such a large place like Changjin Mountain completely silent?"
Ji Shi remained silent for a long while before saying, "Perhaps...perhaps it's just a little late."
Lin Mumu mercilessly exposed him: "Jiang Yan couldn't possibly be unaware of the crisis in Qingyao City. Everything else can be delayed, but if reinforcements are delayed, it will be fatal, unless he personally gave the order."
“Impossible,” Ji Shi said, gripping the railing tightly. “I’m still here. Master can’t possibly not save me.”
Lin Mumu looked into his eyes but didn't say anything more. After a while, she suddenly turned around, took a bundle from a servant, and stuffed it into Ji Shi's arms.
"What... are you doing?" Ji Shi asked in confusion.
"What can you do? Run!" Lin Mumu said, "There's still some time. It won't be difficult to escape successfully. I'll find someone to pick you up. Once you're out, don't come back."
"No way!" Ji Shi refused without even thinking. "I'm here to save everyone. How can I run away by myself?"
"Are you just waiting to die if you don't run?!" Lin Mumu's voice was louder than his, and she poked his forehead with her finger: "What are you thinking? Let me tell you, no one from Changjin Mountain is coming. If you leave now, you still have a chance to live!"
"And what about you?" Ji Shi asked timidly.
"I..." Lin Mumu hesitated for a moment, "I have to stay with everyone."
“Then I’ll go with you,” Ji Shi said, handing the bundle back to her. “I don’t do things that are like being afraid of death, so don’t try to get rid of me.”
Lin Mumu was furious and yelled, "After all these years, can't you learn anything new! This isn't called being afraid of death, it's called self-preservation! Besides, you've done plenty of things to be afraid of death before, what's one more?"
“This time is different,” Ji Shi said with a determined look in his eyes. “If I leave, you will all die.”
Lin Mumu said, "We'll die even if you don't leave, it's just one more person dying."
She placed her hand on the back of Ji Shi's hand and advised, "Listen to me, let's go."
Feeling the cool touch on the back of his hand, Ji Shi's heart skipped a beat. After a while, he said, "Lin Mumu, let's make a bet."
"What are we betting on?"
"Let's gamble on whether reinforcements will arrive. You don't believe in my master, but I do. I'm betting my life on it. Please believe me just this once."
The north wind began to howl at night, chilling people to the bone.
Lin Mumu choked up a little and asked him, "Why bother?"
Ji Shi laughed and said, "I didn't understand before. I didn't understand why Chu Jianshan could go to such lengths to thank Master Uncle, I didn't understand why Senior Brother Bai would never return to Changjin Mountain, I didn't understand what Master's wife wanted, I didn't understand why brothers would turn against each other and become enemies... But now, I seem to understand some of it."
"You know nothing, my ass!" Lin Mumu smacked him with a hammer, nearly shoving him away. "You're a complete idiot!"
Ji Shi smiled and pressed her hand down: "So what if you're silly? Chu Jianshan once said that fools are lucky. Trust me, we can get through this."
Lin Mumu turned her head away, forcing herself not to shed tears.
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