The Plague Rat’s figure flickered, appearing at the city gate like a ghost.
“What’s all the racket! A bunch of trash, disturbing my peace!”
After taking human form, the Plague Rat’s voice held a raspy magnetism, though his arrogant demeanor remained entirely unchanged.
The three sword sect disciples didn’t even see him move before they felt an irresistible force strike them. Their faces stung from several slaps as they staggered and fell to the ground.
Startled and enraged, the three were unable to gauge the depth of this black-clad man. They only felt that his aura was unfathomable, far surpassing that of their own master.
The trio was instantly scared out of their wits. They hurriedly bowed respectfully. “We... we do not know what great senior you are. Why... why are you interfering in the internal affairs of our sword sect?”
“Rat... I am here to participate in that bullshit Immortal Celebration Day of yours!”
The Plague Rat crossed his arms, his posture haughty. “I just don’t like the look of you. Got a problem with that? Scram, you eyesores!”
Feeling as if they had been granted a divine pardon, the three didn't dare say another word. They quickly hauled Jian Huaishuang up, intending to head into the city.
“Wait.”
The Plague Rat called out to them, casually tossing a crude porcelain bottle to Jian Huaishuang, his tone remaining abrasive.
“Here, a reward from my Master! Master said: you chose this path yourself, so don’t fucking regret it!”
With that, he didn’t bother to spare Jian Huaishuang another glance. His figure melted into the shadows, vanishing instantly as he returned to report to Chen Zhou.
At this moment, Chen Zhou wasn't paying much attention to the city gate. His sharp gaze was focused on another location outside White Jade City.
A group from the City Lord’s Mansion, accompanied by several White Jade City guards, appeared among the refugees.
He saw several refugees who had been lying on straw mats, seemingly at death's door, suddenly scramble up with agility upon seeing the newcomers from the City Lord’s Mansion. Their eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope.
The surrounding refugees surged forward like a tide, surrounding the group and shouting over one another.
“The officials! The officials are here!”
“Is it our turn today?”
“Steward Wang, please, show some mercy. I’m strong, I can do any kind of work!”
“Yes, sir! Just give us a bite to eat, we aren’t afraid of hard work!”
The crowd buzzed with noise, and their discussions reached Chen Zhou’s ears.
A tall, thin man tugged at his companion’s sleeve, saying excitedly, “I told you the City Lord is a living saint! They started giving out porridge a few days ago, and now they’re recruiting workers to expand the new city. Once you’re in, you’re a proper citizen. It’s a huge stroke of luck!”
A man with a scar on his face spat on the ground, his voice low but unable to hide his excitement.
“Exactly! I heard that Li Laosi’s group, who were taken a few days ago, got hot meals and a place to stay once they entered the city! Even if it’s hard labor, it’s better than waiting to die here! It’s just that they always pick the strongest ones. It’s making me anxious!”
An old woman wiped her tears, instructing a half-grown youth beside her, “Gouer, work hard once you’re inside. Listen to the masters, then... then you’ll have a way to live...”
The man leading the group, an official-looking middle-aged man wearing the same uniform as Wang Wei, did not hide his disgust.
He covered his nose and mouth with a silk handkerchief, as if the surrounding stench would defile him. He barked at the guards in a shrill voice.
“What are you all standing around for? Maintain order! We don’t want the old, weak, sick, or disabled. Only the able-bodied! Move faster!”
The guards obeyed, rudely shoving the crowd as if they were driving livestock.
An elderly man who was a step too slow and moved with a limp was impatiently grabbed by a guard and shoved hard out of the line.
The old man stumbled several steps and fell heavily to the ground, lying still. It was unknown if he was dead or alive, but no one dared to help him.
“Old bag of bones, getting in the way!” the guard cursed, as if he had simply thrown away a piece of trash.
Soon, about a hundred relatively fit young and middle-aged men were selected. Their faces showed a mix of confusion and a glimmer of joy at their impending new life.
The official scanned them and seemed satisfied, waving his hand. “Take them away!”
Chen Zhou remained hidden within his Ghost Domain, accompanied by the Plague Rat.
He recalled Hong Ling’s previous report: 'Master, a large number of refugees have gathered outside White Jade City. They have all fled here after their homes were destroyed by demons.
'They lack food and clothing, living day to day in uncertainty. If Master needs manpower, you only need to provide a little food, and they would be willing to risk their lives for you.'
Hong Ling was clever and possessed a kind heart; she had used that method to tactfully suggest taking in the refugees.
Chen Zhou had planned to have Hong Ling and Shitou start on this soon, but he hadn't expected the White Jade City Lord’s Mansion to act first—and in such a manner.
“Follow them,” Chen Zhou whispered to the Plague Rat, and the Ghost Domain expanded.
The group did not enter through the towering walls of White Jade City. Instead, they followed the wall halfway around to a relatively secluded riverbank.
A medium-sized cargo ship was already moored there. The hull looked somewhat old, and it sat deep in the water, appearing to be heavily loaded.
“Quick! Everyone get on the boat! What are you dawdling for!” the guards urged the refugees impatiently.
Looking at the vessel and the murky river water, some refugees showed signs of unease. However, driven by the guards’ shouting and their own desire for status as new city residents, they stepped onto the gangplank one by one.
At that moment, Steward Wang produced a thick stack of blank papers and had every refugee who boarded press their thumbprint onto them.
“What... what is this for?” a bold refugee asked timidly.
“Why are you asking so much? This is the rule! Once you’ve pressed your print, you belong to the new city. There will be benefits for you later!”
Steward Wang explained impatiently, his eyes flickering with a shifty light.
Most of the refugees were illiterate. Hearing this, they stopped asking questions and obediently pressed their fingerprints onto the blank papers.
“There’s death energy,” the Plague Rat sniffed, covering his nose in disgust. “Though it’s faint, there is definitely the aura of an evil spirit attached to those papers.”
“Yes.”
Chen Zhou nodded. As an evil spirit himself, he had sensed the anomaly long ago.
“I didn't expect the evil spirit in the river to be connected to White Jade City.”
He just didn't know if this was the personal doing of the City Lord or an order from the sword sect behind him.
Chen Zhou’s initial impression of the White Jade Sword Sect hadn't been too bad. After all, they protected a city of people and had produced an upright figure like Jian Huaishuang.
Judging by actions rather than intentions, someone who accomplishes something in these chaotic times deserves some respect.
But looking at it today, the other disciples of the sword sect acted outrageously, White Jade City was secretly nurturing an evil spirit, and even their subordinates treated ordinary refugees as less than human.
Once all the refugees were on board, Steward Wang carefully tucked away the stack of thumbprinted contracts. He exchanged a few low-voiced words with the guard captain and watched as the cargo ship slowly left the shore, sailing toward the middle of the river.
“There’s quite a lot of fishy business going on. Follow them; we’re going to meet this evil spirit in the river.”
“Can’t you evil spirits just handle your own business? Don’t drag Lord Rat into this!”
“Don't worry. I just leveled up; I’m terrifyingly strong now. It’s no match for me.”
“???”
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