Chapter 30 "To Be an Immortal": To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, and a destiny for the people. ...
After Bingjing Mingguang and his group left, less than a day later, only two of the "Heavenly Maidens and Heavenly Lords" remained, both with nowhere to go and still recovering from their illnesses.
Some children remember where their home is, but they need an adult to take them back.
More often than not, they were abandoned or sold by their families, or were orphaned.
In fact, these children who were captured by cult members, although young, were almost all from impoverished backgrounds.
Children from poor families often spend their childhood on the streets, moving from place to place with their parents. Whether begging or doing odd jobs for some shopkeeper, they are not necessarily going to freeze or starve to death on their own.
After spending some time with these exceptionally obedient children, Doctor Wu finally couldn't bear to abandon them.
He planned to take them with him to Shiwen County, Changxing City, Dayuan County, his hometown.
Doctor Wu hasn't been back for many years, but in his memory, Shiwen County was a very peaceful and prosperous place.
As the saying goes, fallen leaves return to their roots; he has been adrift outside for long enough.
He plans to open a clinic so he can practice medicine and raise these children at the same time.
In the end, Bitao left most of her money to Doctor Wu, far exceeding the five times the consultation fee she had promised.
Doctor Wu was not polite at all. Over the years, he had traveled around practicing medicine and had saved up some money, which he kept in Datong Money Exchange, which had branches all over the Qingliao Kingdom. He could withdraw the money with his seal.
With what Bitao gave him, he can open a clinic back in his hometown, provide food, clothing, and shelter for these kids, and still have a considerable amount of money left over.
Bitao touched the pitifully shrunken pouch on her chest, her face full of bitterness.
They infiltrated a cult with great fanfare, hoping to make a fortune through illicit means.
After all that trouble, I still came back penniless...
Fortunately, she had previously slipped two gold bars into Cang Ling's person, just in case.
Doctor Wu was ruthless, but he only used the "Black Tiger Steals the Heart" technique on the cold-faced but warm-hearted Bitao. He would never ask Cangling for it, nor would he deduct the share that the celestial maidens and celestial lords had received.
Therefore, with these two gold bars, Bitao was able to indulge in one last lavish meal before leaving Chongchuan.
She and Cang Ling found a mid-range restaurant, ordered a large table of dishes, and ate until their bellies were round and full.
Bitao has always had an amazing appetite, and Cangling ate quite a lot as well. The two of them finished off all the food on the table.
Bitao touched her belly and leaned back in her chair, saying, "Brother, you probably won't believe it, but I don't know you."
"Hiccup~"
Cang Ling, who had just finished eating, let out a burp and stared blankly at Bi Tao.
Bitao sat up straight, poured a cup of tea and pushed it to Cangling, then poured one for herself.
"Mingguang said that my immortal essence was too weak to be transmitted, which caused damage to my memories in my celestial soul."
"It was from him that I learned your name was Cang Ling."
Cang Ling hesitated for a moment, then picked up the teacup, brought it to her lips, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp to calm her nerves.
Having spent so much time with Bitao in the mortal realm, Cangling had indeed noticed that something was off about her.
The strange thing is that Mingguang Tianxian is in the cellar, but Bitao is able to resist going to see him for several days.
Back in the Heavenly Realm, Bitao would create opportunities to find him even when she didn't have them. Every time she tried to get close to Mingguang Tianxian, she was willing to suffer injuries.
However, because Bitao was as cunning and eloquent as ever, and Cangling was still recovering from her injuries, the two had not sat down together to talk about the past. Cangling never imagined that Bitao did not recognize her.
Cang Ling even felt somewhat relieved, thinking that Bi Tao had been reincarnated and had gained some insights from her journey from an immortal to a mortal. She decided to compete well and her obsession with Mingguang Tianxian was not as strong anymore.
Only now, when she herself admitted to the damage to her Heavenly Soul, did Cang Ling realize the truth.
But... he doesn't recognize himself and yet he calls him brother?
Cang Ling remained silent for a moment, then looked at Bi Tao and sighed. Yes... she probably called him brother because she really didn't know him.
Cang Ling asked her, "So what do you plan to do after that?"
What to do? Nothing.
Bitao looked at Cangling and said, "Go home... go burn paper money for my mother-in-law."
"Actually, when I first joined the cult, I just wanted to make some money to spend."
Bitao smiled and said, "Although I haven't made much money yet, I'm lucky to have met Brother Cangling and Doctor Wu."
"The mountains are high and the rivers are long, and the road ahead is long. Brother Cangling still has a competition to attend, and I still have many things I haven't figured out. Let's part ways here..."
As for the celestial realm, the gods, and the competition, Bitao needs some time to think about and accept it.
Even if you really accept it and believe that she is indeed from the heavens.
Bitao also needs to think carefully about whether she should continue being a human or an immortal.
What's so good about being an immortal?
With great power comes great responsibility. It's so difficult for Bitao to even get a decent meal in this world. The vast world is like a flowing river, and Bitao, like a clay bodhisattva, can barely save herself when crossing it.
Although Bitao had no memory of the Heavenly Realm, she knew very well what she was.
An immortal should establish a moral compass for heaven and earth, secure a destiny for the people, and usher in an era of peace for all generations. Is that her? ①
Cang Ling ended up with a gold bar, which Bi Tao then dismissed.
He didn't want to leave, but Bitao, whether she had memories or not, was incredibly stubborn, and Cangling couldn't sway her decisions.
After Cang Ling left, Bi Tao didn't rush off anywhere.
She had been to Chongchuan City once before, but hadn't really explored it properly yet.
This was the farthest she had ever traveled in her life.
Bitao wandered around the city, staying in an inn for two or three days, and had a new winter coat made for herself at a tailor shop.
She wore a blue skirt and a white jacket, with the Four Gentlemen of flowers—plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—embroidered in vibrant red thread on the front.
This was the most popular style during the Lunar New Year holiday.
She also bought some cheap but shiny jewelry, rouge and face powder, sachets, and jade pendants of very poor quality on the street...
These things that Bitao would never have dared to touch before, now give her a heavy feeling of human joy when she holds them in her hands.
On her last day, Bitao found a relatively secluded paper-making shop and bought a lot of paper money, including gold paper folded into ingots.
They even bought two palm-sized paper figurines, one male and one female.
I plan to burn it so that it can be used by my mother-in-law for washing clothes, cooking, combing hair, folding blankets, and even talking to keep her entertained.
These things could certainly be bought back home, but since she was already in Chongchuan City, she wanted to burn some new things and money for her mother-in-law.
After leaving the paper shop, carrying this large pile of things, Bitao prepared to hire a horse-drawn carriage and head straight for Shiga Village.
It's already mid-February, and spring will arrive in just over a month.
Although she didn't have much money left, she could go back to the mountains to hunt and save up.
Bitao carried, held, and hugged this huge pile of things meant for the dead, parading through the streets, and all the living people avoided her.
Bitao's face was hidden behind this pile of things, but she was smiling. Her face, which was lightly powdered, was as bright and beautiful as a peach blossom.
Upon reaching the main street, Bitao turned slightly to the side and saw the location for hiring a horse-drawn carriage from behind a large pile of burning paper money.
There was a large group of carriages parked there, exclusively for the "wealthy" to choose from for transportation.
Bitao was happy about being able to be a "rich person" again, and her steps even skipped a little.
She quickened her pace, about to cross the street to hire a car, when suddenly she was knocked to the ground by a group of people who seemed to have no eyes.
Fortunately, Bitao clamped her arms together at the moment of impact, so the paper money and the bag of gold ingots in her hands did not fall apart.
"Pah! What bad luck today! Who's having a funeral procession on the main street?"
Someone spat, but then flicked the whip in their hand.
With a "smack," one of the boys who had fallen to the ground was whipped in two.
"Ah!" A woman's voice cried out in pain, accompanied by the crack of the whip.
"Run! You slut, you dare to run away after I bought you? If you run again, I'll beat you until your skin is torn and your flesh is ripped open!"
Pedestrians on the street spontaneously moved to the sides, some whispering, "What bad luck! One is burning paper money while holding a dead body, the other is a slave trader, tsk..."
"I wonder how much money the city patrol guards took from these unscrupulous people, allowing them to come to the main street..."
Bitao, wanting to protect what was in her arms, fell to the ground. Upon hearing this, she slightly turned her head and looked towards the line of slaves bound by ropes, like grasshoppers.
Then Bitao's pupils suddenly dilated, and she met the gaze of one of the women.
The woman was not very beautiful, and at this moment she was covered in mud and mess, with her hair in a disheveled state.
But her eyes are big and bright, and when she looks at people, it's impossible for anyone to refuse her requests.
—It was Big Eyes who had just said goodbye to Bitao two days ago!
She was chained in the middle of the group of slaves, and the skin on her wrists was chafed raw and bloody from the ropes.
That whip just now was lashed at her; there was a long, bloody welt on her face and neck.
When she saw Bitao, her eyes widened instantly.
Tears welled up in her eyes instantly, but she quickly bit her lip and not only did she not greet or ask Bitao for help, she even turned her head away and refused to look at Bitao again.
They were quickly pulled away.
She was too ashamed to look any longer, afraid that if she looked any longer, the slave traders would notice Bitao and harm her.
She couldn't resist and went home.
Her home is in a county town near Chongchuan City.
She still held onto a sliver of hope for her parents and relatives, hoping that seeing her return after such a harrowing experience, they would feel compassion for their own flesh and blood.
But she was wrong, terribly wrong.
Just as Bitao had predicted, her parents, upon her return home, were shocked and fearing she would ruin the family's reputation, locked her in the temple in the backyard.
She thought she was about to be hanged, and she didn't even have the desire to escape.
"So be it," she thought.
She had no means of making a living, so where could she go if she escaped? The world was vast, yet there was nowhere for her to find refuge.
However, all her money was taken from her, and she was also accused of having lost her virginity.
After she tearfully and vehemently denied it, she was taken out of the ancestral hall the next day.
She was overjoyed, thinking that her parents were finally willing to accept her back.
Little did she know that another hell awaited her.
She was sold again.
How could she possibly ask Bitao for help? She was betraying the kindness of Bitao who had saved her life, and was handing her life back to the devil's hands.
She deserved to end up like this!
Big Eyes, who had originally wanted to run away, stopped struggling after seeing Bitao and was numbly pulled away.
Bitao was still shocked that Dayan'er had fallen into such a predicament when the stall owner next to her pulled her up.
"Young lady, why are you walking down this street with so much paper money for burning? Go home quickly."
The shopkeeper picked up the two tattered paper figures that Bitao had dropped on the ground, stuffed them into Bitao's hand, and gave her a push in the back, saying, "Go back now."
Bitao stood up, the pleasant smile on her face gone, and walked with somewhat stiff steps toward the hired carriage.
From afar, she could still hear the slave traders beating and cursing the slaves, but she didn't turn back to look.
Bitao negotiated a price with a driver, explained the location, and declined his offer to help carry her things, while also showing off her agility.
They paid part of the fare to board the carriage, and upon arriving at the agreed location, they paid the remaining amount.
Inside the carriage, there were two hot water bottles filled with hot water, wrapped in sheepskin to keep them warm, so they were cozy to hold in your arms.
Bitao lay in the car, munching on a snack, savoring it slowly with her eyes closed.
After finishing eating, he got up and tried to use his saliva to patch up the broken paper figure.
After traveling for a full day and half the night from Chongchuan City, exhausted, they found an inn in a town along the way to stay the night.
Bitao took a refreshing hot shower, tidied up her things, and lay in bed wrapped in a blanket, finally managing to get the matter of Da Yan'er out of her mind.
She told herself that everyone has their own destiny, and she wasn't a god anymore, so she couldn't save anyone repeatedly.
Just as I breathed a sigh of relief and closed my eyes to drift off to sleep, I was suddenly jolted awake by a piercing scream from downstairs.
"Who is it?! Trying to summon a soul in the middle of the night?!"
The people staying near the peach tree opened their windows and started cursing at the street, but their voices suddenly weakened halfway through.
He spat out, "Why is it always these Tsinghua cultists..."
Then, as if he couldn't afford to offend them, he slammed the window shut.
Bitao went barefoot to the window, hesitated for a moment, and then opened the window a crack.
Outside, a group of men dressed in white robes with blue gauze coverings, representing the Tsinghua cult, were gagging several children and dragging them toward a carriage.
The New Year festival had just passed, and the red lanterns under the inn had not yet been taken down. They swayed in the cold wind in the darkness, revealing a faint scarlet light that spread across the ground like an ominous glow of blood.
By the light, Bitao saw one of the children lying in the bloody light, his head and face half-covered by a tattered cloth, lying there, seemingly dead.
"What should we do with this? It looks dead..." one of the cult members whispered to his companion, "Should we just find somewhere to throw it away?"
"Dying my ass! These little brats are all as cunning as ghosts. They're obviously from Chongchuan who ran away after something happened! They're probably faking their deaths and dragging themselves here!"
The cultist then went to pull at the unconscious child on the ground, but just after he dragged him a couple of steps, a scream rang out.
The cultist cursed and kicked out hard, but missed.
The child who had just appeared to be dead on the ground suddenly turned around, grabbed the hand that the cultist was dragging him by, and bit down hard.
The moment the other person let go, he scrambled to his feet and ran away in a flash.
Bitao hid behind the second-floor window, watching the small figure tumble and crawl into a dark alleyway.
The cultist who had been bitten went after him, but was quickly grabbed by the collar by his companion.
"Stop chasing them! They've all disappeared like stray dogs, these few are enough."
"Time is running out. We need to get to Chongchuan as quickly as possible. Before handing it over, we need to subdue those celestial maidens and celestial lords, as well as these brats, and wait for the rest of the procession to arrive so we can spread the teachings together!"
"I won't be able to get a good night's sleep for the next couple of days!"
"That damned Seventh Steward, all talk and no action, deserves to be burned to ashes, leaving us with such a huge hole to fix!"
"Let's go! Get in the car!"
A group of cultists quickly boarded a carriage and left the street. Bitao stood in the house for a long time before reaching out to close the window that was letting in the cold wind.
She went back to bed, wanting to continue sleeping.
But her feet were too cold to sleep.
Stepping on the hot water bottle filled with hot water felt like stepping on ice; the chill that gathered from her feet traveled through her veins and penetrated her heart.
In the middle of the night, Bitao, with her hair disheveled and wearing a cloak, wandered through the alleyways.
The alleys here are very narrow. After the heavy snowfall, no one cleared them, leaving only a very, very narrow path in the middle.
I don't know if it was made by a stray dog or something else.
Bitao stumbled through the snow, her shoes and socks soon getting completely soaked.
A bone-chilling coldness crept up her spine from the soles of her feet.
After turning through countless narrow alleys, she saw a house that had collapsed halfway down, with a dim light still shining inside.
Bitao rushed in, only to have a wooden basin propped up against the broken door frame slammed down over her head.
Bitao raised her arm and forcefully knocked the wooden basin away.
Yet the snow in the wooden basin still scattered like flowers from the Seven Heavenly Maidens, covering Bitao completely.
Some snowflakes seeped down Bitao's collar, and the last bit of warmth on her chest completely dissipated.
She saw several little brats rush out after hearing the noise, each of them holding a "weapon".
A short wooden stick, a rusty and rotten knife, and a twig picked up casually from the ground.
Bitao stood there, frowning, staring at the group of brats as if she had some deep-seated grudge.
After a moment, she closed her eyes and exhaled a breath that was completely cold.
The adults inside the house also heard the noise and rushed out with a broken pickaxe.
Upon seeing Bitao clearly, he spoke in a surprised and hoarse voice, "Bitao? What are you doing here?"
Bitao glanced at the old man who looked like he was on his deathbed after only a few days apart, moved her lips but her voice choked in her throat.
The children recognized Bitao and dropped their weapons.
Several of the bolder ones even ran towards Bitao, hugged her, and sobbed uncontrollably.
"elder sister……"
"Sister... Waaah... I'm so hungry..."
Bitao followed the group of people inside.
The room was still somewhat warm; at least the dilapidated kang (heated brick bed) could still be used to make a fire.
But lying on the kang was a boy with a bloody head, the same boy Bitao had seen before, the one who bit the cultist and then ran into the alley like a lone wolf.
Bitao recognized him by the cloth wrapped around his head and face.
It turns out it has the ability to see ghosts.
He was very obedient and hid one of his eyes.
But in this chaotic world, where the human realm is like a purgatory, how can one hide an eye that is different from that of an ordinary person and escape the bites of evil spirits?
He was being treated for his wounds by Doctor Wu, and now he must have heard the commotion outside, so he's struggling to get up from the kang (a heated brick bed).
He was even holding a small, extremely sharp piece of wood in his hand.
Bitao quickly walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and pressed down on his shoulder.
He opened his eyes in a daze, and his eyes, as black as the night, inevitably shone with a bright light like fireworks after he saw Bitao.
"Lie down, it's alright now," Bitao comforted softly. "You did very well this time too."
He stared blankly at Bitao for a moment, unsure whether he had heard it or not.
Then, surprisingly, she obediently closed her eyes and fainted.
Doctor Wu knew that Bitao was not the type to meddle in other people's business. The fact that she was able to lead all these people away from the cult already showed that she was a rare person who was eager to help others.
He volunteered to take on the responsibility of caring for these children because he couldn't bear to leave them, and also because he was getting old and could no longer travel around.
But he... in the end, he was too arrogant. His old and frail body was simply not strong enough to provide shelter for these children.
He felt a sense of shame, unable to express it, when he faced Bitao.
Bitao asked him, "What's going on? How did you all end up here?"
Doctor Wu sighed deeply, hugged the several children who looked bewildered, and suddenly burst into tears.
It's not that complicated.
On his way back to his hometown, he happened to pass through this place. He said goodbye to Bitao, deposited most of his money in a money shop, and then continued on his journey with the children.
Upon arriving here, they did not stay at an inn, but cautiously found a house to stay in in this remote place.
But the children needed to eat, and Doctor Wu couldn't carry so much food himself, so he took a few of the children with him.
Those cultists ran into them, not only kidnapped him, but also beat up the martial arts doctor.
Bitao now understands why he looks so much older in just two days.
He wasn't really old; rather, he had suffered a lot of physical pain at his age and had multiple bruises on his body.
Although he was lucky that his bones weren't broken, he was still unable to sit or stand up straight, let alone be in the mood to carefully trim his beard and groom his hair every day as before, especially at a time when he had lost his child and his future was uncertain.
He naturally looks old and frail.
"Yesterday some children went missing, and the food was wasted. Today... Gouwa and the others were starving and were thinking of going out to buy some food tonight, but who knew they would run into those damned bastards again!"
Doctor Wu spoke through gritted teeth, probably because the beating he received had damaged his internal organs. He covered his mouth and coughed muffledly for a long time.
Tears streaming down his face, he looked utterly pathetic.
After a while, he turned his head away and wiped his face with his sleeve, not wanting to appear as if he was deliberately trying to gain Bitao's pity.
She had already given them almost all her money. Although she was a very intelligent woman, what else could she do now?
“You don’t need to worry about us…” Doctor Wu said with difficulty, “We’ll rest for a bit and then continue on our way, avoiding that group of people.”
"It will be good once we reach Shiwen County, it will be good once we get there..."
Doctor Wu also wanted to say that once they got there, if anything else happened, he could ask his old friends or acquaintances for help.
But then Doctor Wu thought that many years had passed since they last met. His parents had died when he was young, and he had traveled all his life without ever marrying or having children.
As for those childhood friends from back then, it is still unknown whether they are still alive.
Even if he were alive, could he truly cherish the feelings of his childhood? He himself was already over sixty years old.
Doctor Wu never admitted to being old. As a doctor, he always felt that he could not compare to a young man in his late twenties or early thirties, but at least he could hold his own against a middle-aged man in his thirties.
But after suffering a beating, he was afraid of being found by those people and didn't dare to go out to get medicine. He just endured it. Only then did Doctor Wu realize that he had indeed aged.
An old person like me shouldn't be standing up for anyone.
If he hadn't intervened, these children would have each had their own fate, and they might have been able to survive even with difficulty.
But if he acts as a protective umbrella, the children lose the ability to survive on their own. What will happen to the children when he dies and they lose their protection?
What should I do...?
Doctor Wu didn't want to sigh in front of Bi Tao at all, so he held it in and then burst into another fit of heart-wrenching coughing.
Bitao sat silently, holding a broken bowl in her hands.
The bowl contained hot water handed to her by a tiny child.
There's no food, and if we go out we'll be arrested. Hot water is probably the only "good thing" in this house that can save our lives.
The bowl was missing more than half of its contents, so it couldn't hold much water, and the hot water cooled down quickly.
Bitao didn't drink it; she held it in her hands.
But even though the water in the bowl had gone cold, she felt that the bone-chilling coldness from before seemed to be dispelled by the remaining warmth in her palm.
Something was awakened within her body; that intense heat traveled from the broken bowl to her palms and then flowed throughout her entire body.
Ultimately, it roared and surged within her blood.
She was surrounded by children, whether intentionally or unintentionally. When they escaped from the cult and went into the mountains, they didn't dare to get close to Bitao. Only one brave one with the ability to see ghosts brought Bitao a bowl of hot soup.
Now, probably because they were still frightened and really hungry, they still didn't dare to rush into Bitao's arms for a hug like before, but someone quietly reached out and touched Bitao's back.
The sensation was subtle yet incredibly magical, as if it carried an irresistible, immense force.
The peach was pushed forward one step.
This step was silent and unnoticed, yet it was as if an ancient bell hidden in the chest had been struck, its sound so loud that it pierced through the clouds and shattered rocks.
Bitao was deeply shaken, realizing that she could no longer retreat.
But where will this step lead? Will it lead from human to immortal, or from human to demon?
Even Bitao herself didn't know.
She finally drank the bowl of water that had gone cold.
To the rambling Doctor Wu, who was still planning to return to his hometown, he said, "Don't go back. At your age, you have no children and can't open a clinic. You'll just end up being eaten alive."
"I'll bring you food and medicine tomorrow morning. Don't go anywhere here, just wait for me for a few days."
"I'll bring people to pick you up in a few days."
After Bitao finished speaking, she took in the shocked and delighted expressions of the children and Doctor Wu.
Then that night, she returned to the inn and went to the stables in the backyard, where she found the carriage she had hired.
I took out all the things I had brought for my mother-in-law.
I found a crossroads and squatted there to burn it before dawn.
While burning the offerings, she muttered, "Grandma, I wanted to go back to visit your grave, but now... I'm afraid I can't go back."
"Just put these things away here. These paper money and ingots are top-quality goods that I bought in the city!"
"And these two little figures... one of them is slightly injured. If he doesn't recover well down there, you should at least treat him..."
Bitao carefully burned everything. When she stood up, the ashes in front of her swirled around her several times with sparks before shooting into the sky.
She couldn't see that the two ghost kings, who had collected a large number of offerings, rushed over without stopping, changing shifts with their colleagues, as soon as she started to light the fire.
The underworld has been incredibly busy these days, especially this part of the star realm, which needs to deal with the upheavals and series of problems caused by the competition for celestial positions.
The immortals who followed the competition all wished they could split themselves in two for use.
Mortals' destinies are predetermined, while celestial beings in the heavens carry memories. Their actions in the competition—whether it be acts of charity, healing, or border generals fiercely fighting enemy troops—can inadvertently bring back to life those destined to die, thus affecting the destinies of those who are meant to live and causing their own demise.
A mortal's birth chart is a natal chart, which is related to the rise and fall of the celestial realm. Although it may not affect the whole body by changing one thing, it can cause a thousand-mile dike to collapse due to an ant.
Therefore, all the immortals who are supervising the examination are currently extremely busy.
The underworld, as the place that receives mortals and even fallen immortals participating in the competition, is extremely busy.
Bai Duo and Zhuo Xian were dispatched to various places and had no time to visit their "daughter" during this period. They could only relieve their longing by spending time on the Silver River.
Receiving offerings is at least a reason to meet, after all, they are ghost kings who have been dead for thousands of years. If someone gives them money, why can't they accept it?
However, this shift change will only allow me to come and take a brief look before I have to leave.
It's good that I suddenly received a lot of money, but why did I also receive two ghost children?
And this ghost child is far too small!
It was only the size of a palm, dazed and unable to speak, standing on the shoulder of the bewildered Bai Duo, braying incomprehensibly like a donkey into Bai Duo's ear.
One of them even broke his back while screaming...
Bai Duo had no choice but to reach out and lift the little ghost child up, using the ghostly energy emanating from his fingertips to repair his body.
At the same time, he longed for his "good daughter" whom he had missed for so long. The outside world was wonderful, but it wasn't fun either.
Why doesn't my "daughter" look happy at all?
After finally repairing the broken back of the little ghost child, Bai Duo exchanged a glance with Zhuo Xian, who had also rushed over, and the two of them followed behind Bi Tao.
Bitao, smelling strongly of burning paper money, took out all her money and bought food and medicine.
Relying on his strength, he carried a load of things on his body, huffing and puffing, and then followed the winding alleyway hidden in the back alley to deliver the things to Doctor Wu and the children.
This time, Bitao even looked down and saw that although no one was clearing the snow in the alley, there was indeed a path leading to it.
The path was wide enough for people to pass through, but looking at the footprints left in the snow pits, Bitao thought it looked like a drunk person...
This time, her shoes and socks were completely free of snow. She delivered everything and carefully explained some things to them.
I obtained the seal from Physician Wu, which allows me to withdraw money from the banks in Chongchuan City.
They returned to the inn before dawn and, together with the bewildered coachman who had slept all night and was told by his employer in the morning that they had to turn back, headed back towards Chongchuan City.
After entering the city, Bitao first withdrew some money, exchanged it for silver coins, and inquired about some things in the city.
After confirming the incident at the Chongchuan City cult branch, where did the cult members who rushed over find refuge?
How many people are there, and how many of them look like martial arts practitioners, etc.
It took two days to gather this information. Fortunately, this group of cult members who were sent over were just "pioneers" and not the main force.
They were simply there to find out why the branch where Manager Seven was located had been suddenly destroyed.
However, they were destined to find nothing, because the place had long been burned to the ground.
Bitao specifically chose a windless day, and the courtyard was quiet amidst the hustle and bustle, and a bit far from the neighbors.
The fire burned everything to the ground, and the bodies of those people in the cellar were completely destroyed, let alone any clues about those who opposed the Tsinghua Cult.
They couldn't find any clues, but developing the Chongchuan branch was urgent. In addition, it was time for the Heavenly Maiden and the Heavenly Emperor to hand over their belongings, so they had no way to kidnap or abduct decent people.
They had no choice but to pick out some decent-looking people from the slave market and send people to capture some from the refugees or remote, impoverished areas to make up the numbers.
After several days of scouting, Bitao meticulously counted the number of people coming and going and the courtyards where they lived.
Based on my previous experience with the Seven Stewards, I estimated that their guards and outing personnel totaled less than forty.
However, since they have "pioneers," there will definitely be a large following.
Bitao needs to deal with this group of people before they arrive.
Fortunately, the place they chose to stay was not in the bustling city center, and was even closer to the city gate than the courtyard that the Seventh Steward had previously selected.
After all, since they were arresting and buying people, they had to give the Chongchuan government some face on the surface, which is why they chose a remote location.
That's good, so that innocent people won't get hurt when things get serious.
After confirming these details, Bitao went to the money exchange and withdrew the money she had previously given to Doctor Wu.
Doctor Wu's life savings remained untouched by Bi Tao, and those funds were not needed for the time being.
It was her third day back in Chongchuan.
Those cult members are still actively buying and arresting people.
Every day, horse-drawn carriages could be seen entering and leaving the courtyard where the cult members lived.
Occasionally, a cart covered with tattered cloth would be used to haul away unrecognizable corpses into the mass grave.
Unlike the Seven Stewards, they did not plan ahead and seize the time when the Heavenly Maidens and Heavenly Lords had free time to "train" them.
Those who were temporarily captured or bought were the ones who were crushed as a warning to others.
So the number of dead and living people coming and going in their courtyard was terrifying.
On the fifth day, Bitao hired several strong and sturdy bodyguards and personally tested their skills to demonstrate her own prowess.
He then had them accompany him on a short convoy mission, ostensibly to act as his bodyguards.
They left the city with money and bodyguards, heading straight into the mountains.
He instructed the bodyguards: "You don't need to do anything, just stand behind me with this box. I will settle the balance in three days."
Although they didn't know what this exceptionally skilled woman was up to, their code of conduct as镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) was to "not do unjust things, nor take ill-gotten gains." ②
Therefore, seeing the employers, a group of refugees, scattering their wealth like flowers, they were all deeply moved, but none of them had any wicked thoughts.
Even if they move, they might not be able to defeat this woman.
They obediently "held back" the goods that Bitao had asked them to hold.
Little did they know that inside was a box of bricks.
Bitao had spent some time in the mountains outside the city and had at least a nodding acquaintance with the refugees living there, so that they wouldn't be wary or resistant to her.
She generously distributed most of her wealth to hire refugees for her own use.
They did not conceal their purpose of dealing with cultists and fabricated "reinforcements" to reassure the displaced people and get their help.
Of course, some people did not participate in order to protect themselves.
Bitao then gave them some loose change to shut them up.
But many refugees were very willing to help Bitao.
Because many of their family members were abducted by the cult during this period.
They had nowhere to turn for help. They were not citizens of Chongchuan City, and the government was unwilling to stand up for them. If they reported it to the authorities, they would be driven away.
When you ask the cult members to return their members, nine out of ten never come back.
Bitao had no intention of sending them into danger or directly confronting the cult.
They were simply instructed to set traps, find low-lying areas, dig up the frozen ground, insert sharpened wooden pieces, and then cover them with dry branches and fine snow.
They then brought over some fallen logs, hoisted one end with a rope, and set up a tripwire.
The animal traps were bought in the city and placed on flat, easy-to-walk paths. They were also marked to avoid friendly fire.
Everything is ready; all that's left is to "catch the turtle in the jar."
On the fifth night, Bitao began assigning tasks to the group.
He still didn't let them take up arms and fight the cultists to the death. He just told the strong and fast runners among them to follow him into the city to lure the "turtle".
Going with her is dangerous, so the hiring fee will be several times higher.
The remaining refugees simply stayed in the mountains, waiting for an opportunity to act.
Before leaving, Bitao calmly instructed in front of the fire: "If anyone falls into the trap and survives, and you happen to have a weapon and the strength to kill them."
"Then we should repay grievances and settle scores."
"But if you encounter danger, you should prioritize avoiding it and protecting yourself."
...
After giving her instructions, Bitao led the group into the city under cover of night.
The guard, familiar with the terrain, was "bribed" once again.
However, this time, Bitao also made a cooperation agreement with them.
"How much profit can the soldiers make guarding this city gate every day?"
"These Tsinghua believers spend their days buying people and goods, and they are all fat and bloated with gold and silver."
"Tonight I will lure them out of the city and set fire to the east wall. Then the soldiers can use the excuse of 'the fire is raging' to rush in and loot as they please."
“We have launched a second attack on the cult, which will surely enrage them. They will send out their entire force, leaving only a handful of people to remain. However, their warehouses will be filled with gold and silver.”
"Wealth and status are just a matter of a soldier's decision."
The leader of these guards was the same man who had secretly made a fortune by searching Bitao's body and carriage that day.
He was described as rugged, and although he was on duty tonight, he reeked of alcohol.
The guard said a beautiful woman was looking for him, and he thought his lover, whom he was enjoying a romantic getaway, had come...
When they finally met Bitao, they couldn't recognize her at first glance.
After all, none of the brothels he frequented had beauties like her.
Only after Bitao reminded him did he remember who she was. He was initially cautious and unwilling to cooperate, but Bitao, accompanied by a group of dark-faced men, threatened him, saying, "My parents, husband, children, and seventeen family members all died at the hands of cultists."
“I am irreconcilable with them in this life. You can choose not to help me, but the gold bars and ingots you took a few days ago were all money from cultists. My people know about this.”
"And since you've made a fortune, sir, you must be squandering it all these days, right? Doesn't anyone suspect where your money came from?"
"If I fail to succeed tonight, you will cooperate with me tomorrow, and the burning of the Tsinghua branch of the cult will be exposed, and everyone will know!"
"At that time, the superior will not spare you, and the cultists will not spare you either."
"When did I ever conspire with you to burn down the Tsinghua Cult..."
The man paused, but he did have some sense. He was so angry that his face turned red and his neck bulged. He realized that Bitao was trying to frame him and drag him into the mess.
Bitao continued, "Their cruelty is evident in the people they've been taking to the mass graves these past few days. Just think about your entire family of twenty-two, plus your two lovers at Zui Chunfeng."
The city gate guards' expressions changed drastically.
This treacherous villain even knew exactly how many people were in his family!
How did she know about his lover at Zuifeng Tower?!
He has indeed recently become rich overnight and is spending recklessly; his superiors have begun to take notice of him...
"You! You cunning woman! That day you ordered me to steal your money, were you doing it on purpose?!"
This really wasn't intentional.
That day, Bitao simply treated him like a "little devil" and dismissed him.
However, a "gatekeeper" is, to put it nicely, the head of the city gate guards; to put it bluntly, he is someone who manages a dozen or so people to guard the gate.
He was rude and mean, greedy for petty gains, harbored filth and evil, and accepted "offerings" from displaced people without any compassion.
As for finding out how many people were in his family, that was far too easy. He was, after all, the head of the city gate guards; he could easily find out by asking around.
If you use a few tricks, you won't even be able to hide what color his underpants are.
Letting him buy at the bottom and cover the losses is a last resort.
This trip can be described as entirely safe, with only benefits.
She lured the cultists away, and if she acted swiftly, she could eliminate these "pioneers" silently from the rest of the courtyard.
If Bitao hadn't been left without anyone else, how could he have ended up reaping the benefits?
Fortunately, this kind of person is also easy to sway and threaten. He agreed to cooperate and opened the door to convenience for Bitao.
The weather is perfect tonight, with no wind or waves.
They were all covered with black cloths, revealing only their eyes.
After entering the city, he found a kerosene can he had prepared in advance in the bushes in the southeast corner, smashed it against the wall under cover of night, and set it on fire!
Then, when the cultists reacted, Bitao and the others launched a barrage of insults and provocations against them.
He would throw two oil canisters intermittently, making a lot of noise but not actually fighting.
In addition, Bitao's men were already insufficient, leading them to believe that Bitao and her group were bluffing and had nowhere else to turn.
"That fire a few days ago was also started by your great-aunt! I burned it until it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Why didn't your Tsinghua Emperor appear and save the lives of you bunch of bastards?!"
The cult members were already furious when they were awakened by the fire and the banging on the door in the middle of the night.
Having been members of the religion for so long, they can enjoy the benefits of having a powerful backer.
Even the local officials gave them some face and turned a blind eye to what they did.
When have I ever been provoked like this before? To be subjected to such a barrage of insults.
Enraged, the leader, a fat man, ordered his men to chase after them: "Chase them! Turn them all into human skewers! I'll personally grill them until they're crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!"
Bitao and the others chased after them, running desperately towards the city outskirts.
Seeing that the fire was about to be extinguished, the cultists, just as Bitao had predicted, left only a few to guard the courtyard, while the rest chased after it.
They relentlessly pursued Bitao and the others, plunging directly into the mountains and forests.
Some people discovered that the city gates were not closed tonight when they were leaving the city. Fearing a conspiracy, they were about to warn their companions when they were dragged away and knocked unconscious by guards lurking in the shadows of the city gates.
However, the number of cult members was actually less than Bitao had estimated.
In the mountains and forests, shouts, chases, and the occasional cries of pain from those who had been hit rose and fell.
The fires where refugees kept warm were still like will-o'-the-wisps in the cold night, a sign of homelessness.
However, at this moment, this mountain forest has become a graveyard where lives are taken.
The number of cult members is still too small.
Not enough to play with.
Before they even passed the third trap set by the wild boar and wolf, the people chasing them were gone.
Bitao lit a torch over the bonfire, her breath filling the air with white mist.
She felt that she had truly become an "immortal" at this moment.
If becoming an immortal is like this, then Bitao really has to go to the Ninth Heaven to fight for a high position.
She excitedly grabbed the torch and walked to the largest trap.
Looking down from his vantage point at the group of people who had fallen into the trap.
The trap isn't actually that deep.
The frozen soil in winter is not easy to dig. Bitao knew this best when she dug her mother-in-law's grave in winter.
Therefore, these traps are always set in places that naturally have pits, and then deepened a bit.
No taller than half a person, the reason these cultists couldn't climb out was because they were now dressed as "human bundles".
The pit was filled with countless sharp wooden shards, which had now pierced the limbs and even the chest of the cultist who had fallen in.
Some cried out for mercy, while others cursed and swore, but what was truly astonishing was that none of them died.
The sharp wooden pieces that Bitao had the refugees make were only slightly longer than a palm.
Even if the body is covered in thorns, it won't be fatal in a short time; it will only render the person unable to resist.
Other traps, such as wooden stakes and animal traps, are not fatal.
Bitao is a hunter, not a killer.
She catches her prey, and in order to sell the pelt, she tries to keep the prey as intact as possible.
Holding a torch, she squatted by the pit, pulled down the headscarf covering her face, and gave a murderous smile to the warden she had "hunted" in the trap, who was now terrified.
The teeth, appearing especially white in the firelight, seemed like deadly steel blades.
For example, the final warning from the Asura demon before it began to feed left this group of half-dead cult members utterly terrified and disoriented.
Bitao rested her elbows on her knees, half-kneeling by the pit, and handed the torch to the refugees who were gradually gathering around her.
They were forced to leave their homes by disaster, suffering from hunger and cold, displaced and at the mercy of others, like a flock of walking lambs.
At this moment, the flock of "lambs" gathered around, excitedly watching the "wolves" who had fallen into the trap inside the pit.
The change of identities caused them to choke out sobs that were both painful and joyful.
He was so excited that he wanted to jump into the trap and torture these cultists to death.
Bitao also felt the blood in her body surging and churning with pleasure.
She pressed her trembling fingertips down as she leaned into the trap, getting a clearer view of the people's expressions.
She has a natural love for hunting; otherwise, why would she spend so much time in the mountains and forests?
The previous group of cult members didn't actually "kill" their fill. Because they had to consider the celestial maidens and celestial rulers, they could only use a slow, gentle approach.
This "hunt" is more in line with Bitao's usual style.
"You bad thing...you've made it impossible for me to go home."
Bitao pointed at the fat cult leader, who was riddled with holes but still managed to catch his breath.
He rubbed his forehead twice with his fingers, looking troubled, but his eyes shone like a wolf.
She said, "I was planning to go back to my hometown to pay respects to my ancestors' graves. If my mother-in-law blames me, I'll have her hold you accountable."
These past few days, the two "mothers-in-law" have been frantically taking turns trying to figure out why Bitao was unhappy.
Whenever I had a spare moment, I would rush to Bitao's side to take more photos with her. After so many days, I finally saw Bitao smile.
Because she cannot perceive me, cannot appear, and cannot express her pride in her daughter at this moment!
We must settle accounts!
They'll remember this fatso; when they descend into the Netherworld, they'll make him regret it!
How dare they delay their daughter from going home to visit her ancestors' graves!
At this moment, those who were tracking Bitao through the Silver Gull saw this scene, especially Bitao's overjoyed expression. Even through the screen, they were all stunned and subconsciously held their breath.
There was still no warning sign for the forbidden peach blossom on the Silver River net.
But how could there be such a person... no, an immortal?
The methods of "murder" are so varied and diverse, yet they never involve the cause and effect of killing or harming life.
Did the immortals who accompanied the race make a mistake in their records?
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