Chapter 257: Not Your Fault
Translator: Ninetales Editor: DarkGem
As Qin Mu traveled forward, he saw desolation caused by the disaster. There were starving people everywhere, small and large tragedies sprung up everywhere, and plague ran amuck. When compared to the peaceful territory of Great Thunderclap Monastery, these places were simply hell.
Luckily, there were numerous college and primary school scholars sending medical help to suppress the plague, or else the disaster would have become even more severe.
Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor had constructed many primary schools and colleges to replace private schools, and they revealed their worth at this moment. Even though the power of each and every one of these scholars was weak, they were astonishing together. They were equivalent to numerous small sects.
Qin Mu saw officers with their men wiping out demons and monsters that were taking advantage to create even more chaos. The county magistrate was even guarding the land personally and advising the immigrants to return home since the rations the emperor sent for disaster relief would be transported soon.
There were even some disciples of Dao Sect and buddhism helping disaster victims, but they were more casual. Compared with the power of the empire, their reach was limited, and they would only help wherever they went. Some people took this chance to impart their teachings and give birth to numerous evil cults, but they were all half-baked.
'This level of natural disaster can't wipe out such an empire,' Qin Mu thought to himself. The new crops were already planted, so as long as they waited until the harvest season, the people would be appeased.
The timing of this disaster in Eternal Peace Empire was extremely strange, though. It happened precisely after the entire empire was thrown into chaos and most of the rations had been exhausted by the wars. With this snow disaster added into the fray, it was enough to shake the foundation of the empire.
'I wonder if Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor has returned to the court, if the emperor is still sending disaster relief. Also, where did this natural disaster come from? This is not something that sacred grounds like Dao Sect and Great Thunderclap Monastery can create, but that requires a god's power.'
He raised his head to look up at the sky in suspicion. Why had this happened?
Why did Heaven want a disaster to descend on Eternal Peace?
For the orthodox teachings of gods in the human world?
Before Eternal Peace, it was a world that was ruled by sects which formed countries of all sizes. Some of these sects had ancient inheritances and legends which said that they had been created by gods. In that case, was it because the orthodox teachings of gods in the human world were being wiped out by Eternal Peace Empire which angered the gods into sending such a natural disaster?
Or was there a more profound reason behind this?
Qin Mu found some disciples of Heavenly Devil Cult and made a few inquiries. Heavenly Devil Cult was currently following the authorities to send disaster relief and most of the disciples in the cult had been mobilized, covering all of the lands. The hall masters of every hall had also donated money out of their pockets and were all beyond broke.
The problem was that some merchants were still hoarding to profit and some influential families were not selling.
"The emperor was angered and killed a bunch of them, then found some officials that took bribes and bent the law, coveting the money for disaster relief, and so he killed another bunch of them. There were also some people that took this chance to sell official positions, and the emperor killed one more bunch."
A Heavenly Devil Cult Disciple who had followed the emperor to send disaster relief had seen quite a number of things. When he spoke, his face was wide with a smile full of exultation. "The emperor even faces assassins, most of whom were existences of the cult master level. However, there were civil and military officials in the entourage, and the emperor personally went into battle as well. He was extremely powerful! It's a pity cult master was not there"
Qin Mu asked, "Who are the strong practitioners that had tried to assassinate the emperor?"
"I've heard it was Teacher Poor, True Lord Tian, and those guys. There were also some strong practitioners from beyond the Great Wall."
Qin Mu's expression changed slightly. "Alliance with the cult master level strong practitioners from beyond the Great Wall? Is Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor back?"
"I haven't seen him."
Qin Mu mumbled for a moment, then asked, "Where is the emperor now?"
"He's at Bazhou Prefecture that's five thousand miles away from here." That Heavenly Devil Cult Disciple soon added, "The emperor had gone to the south and cleared the influential families that had refused to sell their rations before going to the north and is now at Bazhou. That place is still considered stable."
Qin Mu composed himself and asked, "What about the capital city? Which of the first ranking high officials are left behind?"
"The crown prince was left behind to supervise the empire and the officials related to him."
Qin Mu's expression became grim. The capital city was supposed to be supervised by the crown prince yet he had run to Great Thunderclap Monastery. Teacher Poor, True Lord Tian, and their friends who had almost died in the hands of Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor had been saved by Old Rulai who had promised they would convert to buddhism and not meddle with the affairs of the secular world. Yet Teacher Poor and the rest had run out again.
When he added the crown prince paying a visit to Old Rulai to that knowledge, things seemed to be getting serious.
"They say that the imperial court is the largest sacred ground in the world. I wonder if it really clashed with Great Thunderclap Monastery, who would come out on top?" Qin Mu muttered to himself irresolutely before shifting his thoughts away. "Can we contact the hall masters?"
"Now that every hall is helping disaster victims, it's quite hard to contact them. If we wanted to gather all the halls, it would probably take a month or two."
Qin Mu shook his head and left without saying anything. Sitting on the back of the dragon qilin, he hurried towards Bazhou.
Bazhou was about five thousand miles away, and the journey was long. Even if the dragon qilin didn't rest, he would only be able to reach there the next day. But rest was necessary, so he reckoned that he would only reach Bazhou on the night of the next day.
"If only my treasure ship was still around, it would be so much easier. What a pity it's ruined."
Qin Mu ordered the dragon qilin to rush forward at full speed and promised him a bucket of food every day. The dragon qilin's spirit was roused and he sprinted towards Bazhou while stepping on his fire clouds.
Night fell in no time, and Qin Mu raised his head to look at the aspects of the celestial bodies to determine the direction before ordering the dragon qilin to continue on his way. When the sun had risen, the dragon qilin couldn't maintain his speed anymore and started foaming from exhaustion. He couldn't run anymore and his speed became slower and slower.
Qin Mu made him stop and looked around to determine his location. Taking out the geographic map of Eternal Peace, he noticed he was only a thousand miles away from Bazhou.
He let out a sigh of relief and fed the dragon qilin. He headed forward at a steady pace, allowing the dragon qilin to rest his feet.
He didn't walk far before he saw a house in the desolate mountains. The place should be a recently built one since everything seemed new. Qin Mu walked over, wanting to knock on the door when it opened and a woman came face to face with him. Both of them were stunned.
"Mu'er?"
The woman with matchless beauty was stunned in place when she saw him. Looking around, she asked bewilderment, "How did you find this place? I spend quite an effort to shake off Blind and Old Ma, yet was actually found by you."
Qin Mu was surprised and delighted. "Granny, why are you here?" He suddenly became alert. "Are you granny or Li Tianxing?"
Granny Si moved aside to let him into the house. "The old devil is temporarily suppressed by me. Even though Old Rulai didn't manage to get rid of him, he was still able to injure his vitality greatly, so we are currently evenly matched and thus we made an agreement. He will only come out at night while I'll come out during the day."
Qin Mu asked suspiciously, "If you are really granny, why did you have to avoid Grandpa Ma and Grandpa Blind? Why do you have to hide here?"
Granny Si rolled her eyes at him. "Rascal, suspecting even granny now? If I was the old devil, why would I have to lie if I wanted to harm you?"
Qin Mu thought about it and felt that it was really the case. Compared to Granny Si, he was pathetically weak. If she was Li Tianxing, she wouldn't need to waste her energy to lie to him. He then walked into the house.
If she was Li Tianxing, she could have charmed him with just a gaze with her seductiveness. He was even more of a woman than a woman.
This house was very simple as it was just constructed. There was little furniture, and looking around, Qin Mu found that the tables were all crooked or slanted. This put him at ease.
Granny Si didn't have deft hands like Grandpa Ma. She could make pieces of clothing but her carpentry was pitiful, so these tables and chairs were definitely made by her.
Qin Mu sat down on one chair to rest and felt uncomfortable as the chair was higher on one side and lower on the other. Because of that, he was absolutely certain that the chair had been made by Granny Si. He asked curiously, "Why does granny not want to return to Great Ruins?"
Granny Si shook her head and walked out of the house. After a moment, a few pieces of wood floated into the house as she planned to make a bed.
Qin Mu didn't care much about resting and immediately went up to help. Granny Si was the saintess of the cult, and even if she had lived in Disabled Elderly Village for over forty years, she had not learned Old Ma's craft at all. On the other hand, Qin Mu was an expert in crafting all kinds of furniture.
Granny Si couldn't help, so she went to fetch water from the riverside and came back to polish the bronze mirror. She said, "I can't go back now, what would be the point? In Great Ruins, there's the darkness blocking the way. If the old devil came out to create a ruckus again, how long could the old bones of Village Chief and the rest last? Wouldn't it be better to just stay here and wear down the old devil's temperament?"
Qin Mu quickly finished making the bed and moved it into the house. He saw the mirror was all bumpy from Granny Si's polishing and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He immediately took the mirror into his hand and transformed his vital qi into White Tiger Vital Qi. After some calculation, his vital qi thread polished it finely and leveled the bronze mirror. He then went to make a dressing table.
Granny Si saw the dragon qilin sprawled out on the ground in deep sleep and Qin Mu's bloodshot eyes that were filled with exhaustion. She said, "You have hurried all night? Go to sleep first."
"You won't leave?"
"I won't."
Qin Mu relaxed and went to sleep on the bed. Even though there was no bedding, he was used to sleeping outdoors and fell asleep quickly.
It was unknown how long had passed when Qin Mu woke up in a daze and saw Granny Si spacing out in front of the bronze mirror on the dressing table. She held scissors, which were pointed at her face, in her hands.
"Granny!" Qin Mu shouted out in a panic.
Granny Si turned around and placed the scissors down. With a smile, she said gently, "Rulai said there's only one way to destroy the heart devil, and it's to remove his infatuation with this face. Mu'er, I don't want to harm you anyone, especially you…"
Qin Mu saw her raising the scissors again, and his tears flowed out uncontrollably. "Granny, it's not your fault… I've never blamed you…"
"I can't do it!" Stunned, Granny Si placed down her scissors with a smile. "Mu'er, help me do it."
Qin Mu got up from the bed and took the scissors from her hand and placed them gently back into her little basket.
"It's not your fault, no one can blame you. You've already hidden for over forty years, never using your appearance to meet anyone."
He squatted down and raised his head to look at the face that was so beautiful that there could be no other like it. This was the true appearance of the closest kin that had raised him up. Qin Mu revealed a smile. "If it was me, I could at most persevere for a day or two, I couldn't last forty years. It's not your fault for growing to be like this. Which beautiful woman would be willing to cover their own face forever and use an old face to meet people?" He stood up and said, "Granny, I will get rid of Li Tianxing. But for now, you stay here. I'll go to Bazhou, something might be happening there."
Granny Si nodded gently.
Qin Mu walked out of the room, then turned back with a smile. "Granny, you should eat and drink when you should, don't torture yourself."
"Rascal, lecturing me again!" she retorted angrily.
Qin Mu laughed and kicked the dragon qilin awake. "Still sleeping? Get up and hurry on!"