Chapter 42: No Refund
Translator Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Whether it was seeking revenge for Ling Hanjun or retrieving the piece of leather paper, Ling Hanjun was determined to find and eliminate the responsible individual.
“Disguise? That does complicate matters,” Zhao Chengji acknowledged, pondering the situation. After a moment, he suggested, “However, I can recommend someone to you, Ling Hanjun. He possesses extensive knowledge in disguising techniques. Perhaps he can be of assistance.”
Intrigued, Ling Hanjun asked, “Who is this person?”
“It is Xing Wenxiang, the former constable of Pingyin County,” Zhao Chengji replied with a smile.
With the Zhao family’s banquet swiftly coming to an end, everyone began to disperse.
Chen Fei’s position as the deputy steward of the North City medical center remained unchanged. It seemed that the Zhao family did not have a suitable candidate to replace him, so they decided to maintain the current management structure.
Given the circumstances, the Zhao family believed that nobody would dare to cause trouble. The consequences faced by the Zhang family served as a stark warning to others.
As time passed, it surprised everyone that the rebel army did not withdraw from Pingyin County despite acquiring sufficient supplies. Instead, they chose to stay behind.
The county government had effectively dissolved, and the rebel forces had assumed control over Pingyin County. The person in charge of the county now belonged to the rebel faction.
The various aristocratic families in Pingyin County found themselves in a state of distress. Initially, they had anticipated that the rebel army would eventually depart from the county. After all, the rebel forces stationed in Pingyin County were just a smaller contingent, with the main force operating elsewhere. It seemed that this rebel army was primarily focused on looting supplies, which they would then deliver to the main army. If the imperial forces had chosen another location as their base, it would have been relatively simple to handle a rebel force of Pingyin County’s scale.
However, to their surprise, the rebel army chose to remain in Pingyin County and assert control over everything. This unexpected development left the aristocratic families in a state of uncertainty and unease.
The city gates swung open, and the flow of supplies resumed. The shops in Pingyin County reopened for business, giving the illusion that everything was back to normal. However, everyone was acutely aware that everything had changed.
While the frequency of killings and pillaging had reduced compared to the initial chaos, such incidents still occurred sporadically. Unfortunately, it was the rebel soldiers themselves who often committed these crimes. Despite Tan Zhen’an’s attempts to maintain discipline among his subordinates, the structure of the rebel army was complex and decentralized. Orders and prohibitions were difficult to enforce effectively. Even when rebel soldiers committed wrongdoings, the punishment was often carried out by their fellow comrades.
The situation remained unpredictable and volatile, leaving the people of Pingyin County on edge, knowing that safety and stability were far from assured.
Fair punishment would indeed be a rarity in such circumstances. Those who dared to engage in acts of arson, murder, and plunder were swiftly executed without trial.
All the pills in Pingyin County, particularly those used for cultivation, had been confiscated and collected by the rebel army. The various aristocratic families were required to deliver a specified quantity of pills every month, while the remainder would be retained by the rebel forces. Similarly, other resources, though not as exaggerated as pills, had to be surrendered to the rebel army’as well.
In return, the rebel army offered only a small amount of silver taels as a form of compensation. The people from the aristocratic families were left astounded by this turn of events. They never expected to be held captive and forced to toil for the benefit of the rebel army. Their autonomy and freedom had been completely stripped away.
The outcome that unfolded was beyond anyone’s expectations. With the annexation of other aristocratic families, Pingyin County, which was already relatively weak, became even more vulnerable. Any thoughts of resistance were quickly dismissed, as it seemed futile against the overwhelming rebel forces.
The notion of moving their entire families out of Pingyin County was too perilous for any aristocratic family to consider. It would be akin to a slave attempting to escape-if caught, the consequences would be dire. The same applied to the aristocratic families; if they were to dare leave Pingyin County during this time, the repercussions would be severe if they were apprehended.
The rebel soldiers had replaced the guards at all four city gates, making it virtually impossible for anyone with valuable skills or connections to leave Pmgyin County. Only ordinary people without any particular expertise or influence were allowed to enter and exit the county with relative ease.
The rebel army appeared to be utilizing Pingyin County as a logistical hub or a testing ground. They seemed to understand that complete destruction would hinder their own growth and ambitions. Therefore, the county remained intact to some extent.
The Zhao family began to exert their influence over the medical hall, pressuring them to provide pills. Chen Fei found himself burdened with numerous tasks and responsibilities, but his compensation was reduced to a basic salary. The aristocratic families, already facing financial strain, struggled to meet the demands imposed upon them. It became a cycle of oppression-the rebel army oppressing the aristocratic families, and the aristocratic families, in turn, oppressing others.
Chen Fei did not resist this arrangement and instead cooperated. Whenever someone from the Zhao family approached him, he feigned exhaustion, reflecting the weight of his responsibilities and the toll it took on him.
Chen Fei portrayed a pale complexion and unsteady footsteps as if he were on the verge of collapsing at any moment. However, he consistently delivered the required quantities of medicinal pills without any sign of shirking his responsibilities.
The members of the Zhao family couldn’t help but feel a sense of sympathy towards Chen Fei. Their concern primarily stemmed from the fear that if Chen Fei were to collapse, there would be a shortfall in the pill deliveries each month, ultimately leading to their own misfortune.
In response, they increased the amount of money provided to Chen Fei. Additionally, they offered him better quality food and beverages, hoping that these provisions would help sustain Chen Fei amidst the intensity of his pill refinement tasks.
Simultaneously, the Zhao family instructed Chen Fei to refrain from working at the medical hall and instead conduct his pill refinement within his own courtyard. They would provide him with the necessary medicinal herbs and collect the completed pills on a daily basis.
At night, once the Zhao family members had left, Chen Fei would wearily close the door, straightening his back as the fatigue vanished from his face. In reality, his pill refinement skills far surpassed the public perception. Although his displayed level of Qi Rejuvenation Pill refining was only at the master level, and the quantity of pills produced seemed average, Chen Fei completed the day’s tasks in a mere two hours. He would then use the remaining herbs to refine pills for his personal use.
Having refined a substantial number of herbal pills and honed his proficiency in the Light Spirit Pill to perfection, Chen Fei estimated that he would be able to break through to the level of Great Completion in a short period of time.
This kind of life seemed pretty good?
Despite the apparent stability, Chen Fei remained determined to find a way to leave Pingyin County and explore other cities. However, the recent heightened activity of the gangrene on his arm raised concerns. This had previously occurred during his pursuit of Sun Shu, indicating that something unusual or potentially dangerous was happening in the vicinity.
Although there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary in Pingyin County itself, the recurrence of the gangrene left Chen Fei feeling a sense of unease and caution.
Chen Fei had even contemplated changing his appearance and infiltrating the rebel army in order to make his escape from Pingyin County. However, the unexpected decision of the rebel army to remain in the county had disrupted his plans, leaving him with limited options and increasing his sense of urgency.
‘In recent times, have there been any unusual occurrences outside the city?” Chen Fei asked Chi Defeng as they met in the black market.
“Yes, the situation has been rather abnormal lately,” Chi Defeng responded, nodding. He explained that they were facing difficulties in hiring refugees to venture outside the city. Many people were too fearful to travel to Pingyin Mountain, despite the increased payments from the aristocratic families.
Although the rebel army had attempted to enter Pingyin Mountain multiple times, they had yet to achieve any significant gains.
“If this situation continues, something is bound to happen, isn’t it?” Chen Fei remarked with a grave tone, expressing his concern over the escalating circumstances.
”Recently, there is a group being organized to leave Pingyin County. If you’re interested in leaving, I’ll notify you when the time comes,” Chi Defeng suggested after considering the situation.
“What will be the price?” Chen Fei inquired.
“It won’t be cheap, and you’ll likely be charged a high fee on the spot,” Chi Defeng warned.
“Very well,” Chen Fei nodded, feeling a sense of relief. As long as he could secure a means of departure, he was willing to pay the price. The specific amount of money was a concern, but Chen Fei believed he could manage the necessary travel expenses.
With a significant stash of Qi Rejuvenation Pills, Chen Fei had been contemplating selling them in the black market. The current market price for medicinal pills had reached a relatively high level, and Chen Fei’s anticipation grew. He couldn’t afford to wait any longer.
Moreover, he recently discovered a peculiar feature on the interface. It allowed him to save real money, but he couldn’t withdraw it. Once he topped up, there would be no possibility of a refund. The funds could only be utilized for’ simplification transactions.
He was really using his money to create happiness in that sense!