I Faked My Death After Choosing the Wrong Protagonist - Chapter 36

Shen Qingzhuo knew this city was called Lan City. Because its cultivation resources and spiritual energy were poor, there were almost no cultivators here only ordinary mortals. However, he had never expected to see so many beggars.

The entire way into the city was lined with them.

Shen Qingzhuo asked, “What is the total population of this city?”

The shop owner thought for a moment. “Estimate would be about ten thousand. It’s a small city. I know what you’re thinking, Young Master you must be from out of town. Yes, Lan City is poor. It wasn’t always this bad; most people could at least afford to eat. But about a month ago, a disciple from a great family in Yun City came and built a dozen academies for us, and it’s been like this ever since. I’d guess at least half the population is homeless and begging now. Whole families, young and old, are out on the streets. They don’t realize that in current Lan City, very few people have an extra bite of food to give them. Sigh!”

Shen Qingzhuo was puzzled. “Building academies? Isn’t that a good thing? More people have a place to study why has it led to more poverty?”

“Sigh!” The bun shop owner couldn’t stop sighing; he was truly helpless. “The academies were built, but… we were the ones who had to pay for them! That Second Young Master of the Qi family from Yun City, relying on his status, didn’t even ask if we needed academies. He just came and demanded silver. When someone couldn’t pay and resisted, he had his men beat them so badly they couldn’t stand for days. Eventually, everyone borrowed from each other to scrape the money together. But now that the academies are built… where do we have the money to hire teachers or pay for tuition? Even the educated people originally in town have either moved away or, like the rest of us, are struggling just to survive.”

Shen Qingzhuo asked, “How much did he demand from each person, and how many academies did he build?”

The owner complained bitterly, “Eighty taels per person. Sixteen academies in total.”

Shen Qingzhuo fell into thought. Eighty taels per person even for the largest, most luxurious academy, sixteen buildings wouldn’t cost that much. While eighty taels might be nothing to a wealthy family, it was enough for a low-income household to live on for a lifetime.

Shen Qingzhuo, not caring if it caused the owner inconvenience, asked, “Can you take me to see these academies?”

The owner was good-natured and nodded. “Da Wang, Er Gui, you two watch the shop. Don’t let anyone steal any more buns. I’ll be right back.”

Shen Qingzhuo and Qi Ye were led to the destination. Indeed, there were sixteen academies, none missing. They were average in size and not particularly crude. However… these sixteen buildings were clustered together, separated by less than ten feet of space. Now, they had become shelters for the homeless.

There were no books and no students. Every door that was pushed open revealed homeless people huddled inside, disheveled and filthy.

Qi Ye clenched his fists, his face clouding with murderous intent.

The bun shop owner, seeing his expression, wisely looked away. Although both were currently using Disguise Pills and looked like ordinary people, the owner had sensed from the start that Qi Ye was not someone to be trifled with; thus, he only dared to speak to Shen Qingzhuo.

The owner continued, “However… things in Lan City aren’t entirely hopeless. A lot of people starved to death a while ago, which was tragic. But last month, a great benefactor arrived. Also from Yun City the Third Young Master of the Jun family. Every two or three days, he comes to distribute free meat porridge and meat pies to those with no food. People still go hungry, but at least fewer are starving to death. Even though the portion for each person isn’t much, as a businessman, I know that for such a large number of homeless people, the long-term cost is astronomical. I have to say, there are still good people in this world. Lan City isn’t doomed yet, hehe!”

Shen Qingzhuo asked, “What if someone falls ill?”

Seeing their living conditions, many didn’t even have decent clothes, and it was currently winter.

The owner lowered his head and gave a long sigh. He then led them to the academy at the very end of the row.

The people here looked even worse than the ones before they were all sick. To avoid infecting others, they huddled together to share warmth. Their blankets, surprisingly, were decent brand new and without patches.

The owner said, “These are the sick. I used to visit them at first, but there are just too many. The blankets and clothes were also sent by Young Master Jun, along with medicine. But with so many people, Young Master Jun can’t look after everyone. Whether they recover after taking the medicine depends on their fate.”

Shen Qingzhuo reached into his Spatial Ring but ultimately gave up on his idea. Most of his medicines were for treating injuries, prepared specifically for Qi Ye’s condition; they wouldn’t be effective for these illnesses.

Shen Qingzhuo thanked the middle-aged owner. Despite his earlier gruff words, the man was clearly very kind. “Thank you for the trouble, Uncle. This is my younger brother. I need to go somewhere else for a moment. Could I trouble you once more to look after him for me?”

The owner was a helpful man; he couldn’t help a thousand people, but he was happy to help one. He was about to agree, “Of course—”

But then he turned around and saw the youth in black still radiating murderous intent. He shrank back, feeling a bit intimidated. However, he still agreed. “Of course I can, but… it seems this brother of yours has a bit of a temper. I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep him settled, so you must come back soon, Young Master!”

Shen Qingzhuo gave a polite, gentle smile. “Thank you, Uncle. I will.”

Qi Ye was unwilling and grabbed Shen Qingzhuo’s hand. “You said you wouldn’t leave me,” he said, his expression shifting from rage to piteous grievance.

Shen Qingzhuo squeezed his hand and said softly, “It’s dangerous outside. Be good, I’ll be back right away.”

Qi Ye reluctantly lowered his head and let go of his hand, his eyes full of pouting sorrow.

The bun shop owner was utterly shocked. Was this… truly that terrifying, ‘do-not-mess-with’ brother in black?

After Shen Qingzhuo left, the owner walked up to Qi Ye. Qi Ye was taller than him, so he looked up at the youth and waved a hand in front of his eyes. “Hey?”

Qi Ye snapped his eyes toward him, a cold, vicious glare freezing the man in place. The owner shivered and scrambled back several steps. Terrifying! Young Master, please come back quickly I really can’t look after this brother of yours!

Lan City was not a small town, but there was too much barren land that couldn’t be cultivated. Development was backward, and the standard of living was several realms lower than other cities.

There were no cultivators here. Shen Qingzhuo didn’t want to expose his identity and cause trouble, so he walked a long distance before using his movement techniques. He found a pawnshop that dealt in jewelry and jade. He removed the green jade hairpin from his head and tied his hair back with a simple cord, then took out the circular white jade pendant from his ring. He decided to hock them both.

The shop owner asked if it was a temporary pawn or a permanent sale. Shen Qingzhuo replied, “A sale.”

The owner carefully appraised the items. The green jade pin was of average quality and not particularly valuable, but the pendant was worth quite a bit. Finally, he gave Shen Qingzhuo a substantial amount of silver.

Holding the heavy silver, Shen Qingzhuo felt that it truly was good to have money. He then went to buy large quantities of fabric and medicine to bring back. These didn’t cost much, so he kept the remaining change.

Like when he left, Shen Qingzhuo stopped using magic as he reached populated areas. He had no idea that Qi Ye, back at the bun shop, had already exposed everything.

On the way back to the shop, the owner had been nervous, worrying if the youth would follow him. By the time they arrived, the owner was drenched in sweat. To ease the awkwardness, he asked, “Little brother, what is your name?”

Qi Ye looked like he wanted to eat the man alive, his voice dark and fierce: “Qi Ye.”

The owner heard this and collapsed right onto the floor in terror. “Then… then that brother of yours in the white robes… is… is Master Shen?”

Though he wasn’t a cultivator, Yun City was the capital. Those figures were the elite of the kingdom, and the news about them not just in neighboring Lan City, but across the entire nation was common knowledge.

Qi Ye looked up and glared at him coldly, as if to say: Say one more word and I’ll kill you. The owner shut his mouth, his face deathly pale.

His two employees, Da Wang and Er Gui, came in. They had worked for him for years and were raised by him. They asked, “Boss, what’s wrong?”

The owner recovered and waved them away, wanting to get them out of there immediately. “Nothing, nothing! I remember the kitchen work isn’t done. Go work! Steam a few more baskets of buns today, and neither of you come out!”

The two were confused but obeyed, turning back to the kitchen. The owner provided for them and fed them; in their eyes, the boss was the best person in the world, and listening to him was never wrong.

Qi Ye stood at the entrance with his back to the man, letting the cold wind blow over him for a long time. His face was full of gloom. With every passing minute, his mood darkened until it felt like it could freeze someone to death.

The owner, feeling uneasy, took another peek at him. “Um… Xiao Ye, your brother should be back soon. Do you want to have a bun first?”

No response. Qi Ye didn’t even spare him a glance.

The owner silently shut his mouth and slapped himself twice. Keep your big mouth shut! Don’t you know who he is? Do you have a death wish?!

The middle-aged man was wallowing in self-reproach when, suddenly, a flash of pure white robes caught his eye. Master Shen, you’re finally back! He didn’t know how he had survived that hour of dread.

Before he could even show his joy, he saw the ice-cold, supposedly bloodthirsty “Demon Seed” break into a bright, joyful smile like a child seeing a parent return. He ran toward the man in white and threw his arms around his waist.

The owner: “??”

Did I really just see that correctly? Was that the same person who looked like he wanted to eat me?