"This..."
Yu Rang broke out in a cold sweat. He turned to look at the streets of Ye City. The figure of the old gentleman had already vanished, but Yu Rang's heart was still pounding. The concept of a Confucian thirteen-realm expert in the Great Shang Dynasty was unimaginable. If he were to go to White Emperor City, His Majesty would have to personally greet him; a thirteen-realm expert in the human realm held such prestige.
Lin Zhao stood still, the old gentleman's voice still echoing in his ears: "Your teacher's teacher has a life of hard work, and will have many things to mend and toil over. Little Zhao, you must take good care of yourself."
"Mmm!"
Lin Zhao nodded and said in his heart, "Teacher's teacher, please be extra careful. When we meet again, I'll treat teacher's teacher to a drink!"
"A drink?"
The old gentleman's spirits immediately lifted, and he chuckled, "Alright, we'll talk about it next time."
He drifted away, leaning on his walking stick as he traversed the mountains. They had only just parted, and he was already looking forward to their next meeting. Scholars were all poor. He wondered what kind of fine wine Lin Zhao would treat him to. It must... certainly not be bad, after all, he was a disciple of Suihan!
...
"What on earth... is going on?"
Chu Yu frowned. Everyone seemed frozen.
Lin Zhao, carrying his Thunderclap Sword, looked straight at Yu Rang. Since the teacher's teacher had offered help, Yu Rang must have also been warned. So Lin Zhao frowned and said, "Lord Yu Rang, how about we each take a step back? Zhumashang Lane is the territory you've designated for me. I hope you can give our Snow Region Heavenly Pool some face. Regarding matters in Zhumashang Lane, allow me to be in charge, what do you say?"
Yu Rang breathed a sigh of relief. He had been wondering how to save face and concede defeat, as directly admitting defeat would be too embarrassing for a commander of the three armies and damage his prestige within the military. Now, Lin Zhao was proactively offering him a way out. A wave of relief washed over Yu Rang. This young sword cultivator was quite adept at handling human affairs.
"Hmph!"
Yu Rang said sternly, "Since the young hero in white says so, it would indeed be difficult for me, Yu Rang, to refuse. So be it. Matters concerning Zhumashang Lane will be decided solely by the young hero in white. No one shall interfere. Anyone who dares to move against the young hero in white's troops again will have only themselves to blame, for I, Yu Rang, will show no mercy!"
"My Lord!"
Zhao Yichuan, clad in yellow robes, frowned. "The white-clothed troops are so defiant, showing no regard for our Linlu Army. Are we just going to let him go like this?"
"Shut up!"
Yu Rang's gaze was ice-cold. "Zhao Yichuan, can you not understand my words?"
Zhao Yichuan gritted his teeth. "Yes, my Lord! Your subordinate obeys!"
Saying this, Zhao Yichuan glared fiercely at Lin Zhao before tugging on the reins and leading his men away from Zhumashang Lane.
"My Lord, what exactly happened?"
Chu Yu followed, asking, "Could it be... a Saint appeared? Just now, there was a surge of celestial phenomena, and you and Yu Rang both disappeared. Were you taken into the heavens and earth by a Saint?"
"Mmm."
Lin Zhao smiled faintly. "Don't ask too many questions, don't say too much. This matter is over, anyway."
"Yes!"
Chu Yu smiled and nodded. The fact that the matter was resolved was the best news.
...
Inside the Marshal's Mansion.
Lin Zhao set up a large table and summoned the fourteen women, as well as the young girl who called herself "Tong Yu". He ordered the camp's cooks and cavalry to prepare a feast. These women were truly pitiful, having lived in fear for six days. It was time to put their minds at ease.
Once everyone was seated, Lin Zhao stood up, clasped his hands in greeting to the women, and said in a clear, pleasant voice, "My name is Bai Yi, and I come from the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. On the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, I've gathered a team to resist the demon race. You don't need to worry about me harming you. I am not the same as the Great Shang cavalry outside, so you can rest assured. With me here, no one can touch you. Enjoy today's meal, and afterward, I will do my best to arrange for your future."
"My Lord..."
One of the young women had already realized that Lin Zhao was not a bad person. Otherwise, why wouldn't he have harmed them over so many days? Looking at Lin Zhao, she said softly, "Can we no longer stay in the Eastern Wu Kingdom? This... this is our home..."
"You cannot."
Lin Zhao shook his head. "The demon race could descend southward at any time. Once their army bypasses the Washing Sword River, the Eastern Wu Kingdom will bear the brunt of it. Moreover, Eastern Wu has already been destroyed. Your only hope is to go south."
Amidst the crowd, Tong Yu remained silent, eating rapidly. She needed to eat her fill, and then she would look for an opportunity to escape. At this moment, Tong Yu trusted no one, not even Lin Zhao.
As it happened, Lin Zhao looked at her and said, "Chu Yu, keep an eye on Tong Yu. She looks like she wants to run. How can she survive outside Zhumashang Lane?"
Chu Yu happily nodded.
Tong Yu immediately drooped her little head. Her intentions had been seen through, and she disliked the young sword cultivator even more.
...
Not long after.
Under Lin Zhao's command, Chu Yu went from house to house, gathering all the heads of households and respected elders in Zhumashang Lane at the Marshal's Mansion. She didn't quite understand Lin Zhao's intentions, nor did she ask. There was no need. Lin Zhao planned for the overall situation, and she just needed to follow orders, as Lin Zhao always considered things more comprehensively and appropriately, which she could not match.
"Everyone, please be quiet."
Lin Zhao ascended the steps and turned to face the people who could influence the hearts of those in Zhumashang Lane. "Eastern Wu has been destroyed, Ye City has suffered a massacre for seven days, and outside Zhumashang Lane is already a living hell. In the future, you will inevitably not be able to stay in Zhumashang Lane. From now on, please pack your belongings and prepare carriages. You must leave Ye City after seven days. As for where you will go next, I am still considering it."
An old man tremblingly stood up and said, "General, thank you for saving the lives of the people of Zhumashang Lane..."
The other heads of households also stood up, even kneeling down.
"Everyone, please rise."
Lin Zhao could not bear to see such a scene. "If there are no objections, then return and pack. Those who are unwilling to leave can stay, but they will most likely be sent back to the Great Shang Dynasty as convicts and refugees."
"Yes, we understand. We will comply immediately!"
That night, the people of Zhumashang Lane were busy packing their belongings.
...
In the early morning, Lin Zhao could no longer stay put. He said, "Chu Yu, can Yufeng carry people? Take me to Fusu Great Wall?"
"Yes."
Chu Yu soared into the air, grabbed Lin Zhao's arm, and flew swiftly through the sky. In less than fifteen minutes, the outline of the Fusu Great Wall appeared in their sight. Before they even reached the city, a figure clad in snow-white appeared in their vision. Lin Wanhua met them, riding her sword.
"Something up?" she asked.
"Indeed, something is."
Lin Zhao struggled slightly, allowing Chu Yu to place him on the city wall, feeling rather disheveled. He clasped his hands and smiled, "Miss Lin, I need your help with something this time."
"Speak." Lin Wanhua smiled.
"I led the Snow Region Army to cooperate with the Great Shang cavalry in capturing Ye City. They massacred the city for seven days, while I protected over ten thousand people from harm. Therefore... I wish to bring these more than ten thousand people to Fusu Great Wall. After all, Fusu Great Wall is a harsh and cold place that lacks population. If these people are willing to stay and cultivate, they can cultivate. If they are willing to do business at Fusu Great Wall, they can do business. If they are unwilling, they can go to Shanhaiguan Pass to work as laborers. Let them choose."
He added, "These people will bring their families and will include many wealthy individuals, bringing vast amounts of gold and silver to Fusu Great Wall. How to utilize them will depend on what Miss Lin decides."
"Ah?"
Lin Wanhua's delicate mouth parted slightly. "Many rich people?"
"Mmm!"
Lin Zhao and Chu Yu nodded heavily.
Lin Wanhua's face immediately broke into a radiant smile. "Then let them come! I will immediately order the artisans at Fusu Great Wall to build more houses, which we will then sell to those rich people. Moreover, the younger generation of cultivators at Fusu Great Wall is indeed nearing a generational gap, and we also lack merchants. Do you want me to personally go to Ye City to escort them?"
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao chuckled. "There's still one day left. Will you come tomorrow morning to pick them up?"
"Mmm, alright!"
...
The next morning.
The seven-day massacre finally ended. The Great Shang cavalry returned to their camp laden with spoils. As the morning sun fully rose, Lin Zhao led the 500 cavalry of the Snow Region Army to escort the people of Zhumashang Lane away from Ye City. After seven days of slaughter, there were indeed few people left in Ye City. The adults and children from Zhumashang Lane, when they emerged, seemed out of place.
Along the way, adults and children, a constant stream of carriages, especially from officials and wealthy merchants, had more than a dozen carriages each, laden with heavy goods. One wealthy family alone had three carriages filled with gold and silver, requiring two strong horses to pull them. Some of the daughters from affluent families were beautiful and radiated intelligence, and under the protection of the Snow Region Army, they ultimately suffered no harm.
The moment they exited the city, a group of Great Shang cavalry stared in astonishment. Dozens of cavalry commanders clustered together, their eyes practically turning green as they looked at the chests of gold and silver and the radiant daughters of wealthy families. Among them, the leader of the accompanying cultivators, Zhao Yichuan, a star-river realm expert in yellow robes, became greedy and rode his horse to block the front of the Zhumashang Lane convoy, smiling and saying, "My lords, the thousand-horse commanders, are you really not going to skim a little off the top?"
"Zhao Yichuan, I advise you to get out of the way."
Lin Zhao spurred his horse forward, facing Zhao Yichuan.
"Tsk tsk, how imposing!"
Zhao Yichuan chuckled. "Do you really think Chu Yu's fists alone can silence all of us?"
Immediately, a group of accompanying cultivators, as well as over a dozen thousand-horse commanders, succumbed to their greed and drew closer. One thousand-horse commander grinned and said, "Commander Bai Yi, how about... sharing half the wealth and beauties?"
Lin Zhao gritted his teeth in anger.
Just then, a sword light appeared from the west, carrying with it a sky full of sword intent. A peak twelve-realm sword immortal descended from the heavens, it was Lin Wanhua. She landed beside Lin Zhao and smiled, nodding. "I'm here to pick them up."
She then looked at the group behind her in surprise and asked, "What are they doing?"
Lin Zhao smiled calmly. "If you don't like them, feel free to kill them all with one sword. I guarantee none of them are innocent."
"Alright."
Lin Wanhua reached out and drew her sword.