Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 152 Opening the City and Distributing Grain

"Your Excellency... Your Excellency!" The three leaders were a patrol battalion captain, a constable from the prefectural government, and a garrison commander in armor.

He stepped forward, staring nervously at Qi Yun and the assassin.

Prefect Li took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, and ordered in the most authoritative voice he could muster: "Send...send my order! Open the treasury immediately and take...take the grain!"
Set up soup kitchens outside the city to provide relief to disaster victims!

The order was given, and everyone was shocked!

The patrol captain was the first to change color and exclaimed urgently, "Sir! No!"

"The grain reserves in the government treasury are the foundation for maintaining the city's defenses, and even more so... even more so..." He glanced at Qi Yun, swallowed back the words "needed for bribing superiors and subordinates and enriching oneself," and changed his words to "also for dealing with any unforeseen circumstances! How can we act rashly?"
Outside the city, there are starving people everywhere. If they hear the news and start to riot, how can we suppress them?

This must be the work of thieves who are coercing you! My lord, do not worry, we will fight to the death to save you!

Before he finished speaking, his hand was already on the hilt of his sword, and the soldiers behind him were also eager to attack.

The constable added in a sinister tone, "Yes, Your Excellency, you were controlled by the thieves, and what you said was not your true intention."

How could my brothers obey orders? If we really release the grain, and the imperial court investigates later, the crime... could cost us our heads! You'd better think this through!"

These words, seemingly out of concern, were in fact a threat, implying that if Prefect Li were to actually issue this order, it would be tantamount to cutting himself off from the imperial court and their interest group.

Although the garrison commander did not speak directly, his hand on his sword hilt and his cold eyes clearly indicated that he shared the same thoughts.

Their interests are at stake; how could they be swayed by a single word from the prefect?
They even secretly hoped that Qi Yun would kill the prefect in a fit of rage, so that they could act "justifiably" and then blame everything on the "assassin".

Prefect Li was trembling with anger, but there was nothing he could do.

At that moment, Qi Yun made his move!
Although his internal energy had not fully recovered, he had regained a lot of strength after resting for a while, which was more than enough to deal with these ordinary martial artists!

Just as the captain was about to strike with his sword, Qi Yun moved like lightning, taking a single step that covered several feet and was right in front of him!

The captain was shocked and drew his sword to strike, but he only felt a blur before his eyes and a sharp pain in his wrist. With a "crack", his wrist was snapped off by Qi Yun's iron-like five fingers!

Qi Yun's movements were swift and decisive. He used his left hand to twist the wrist and disarm the knife, while his right hand, with fingers pointing like a sword, swiftly struck the Tanzhong acupoint on the chest!
"Pfft!" The captain was struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His burly body was sent flying backward by the finger, crashing heavily into a pillar. His bones were broken, and he was clearly going to die.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Before everyone could see anything, the captain who had led the opposition was already dead on the spot!

The constable reacted extremely quickly, letting out a strange cry as he drew his sword and slashed at Qi Yun's head from the side and behind. The sword was sharp and fierce, clearly intended to kill!

Qi Yun seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. Without turning his head, he snatched the waist knife from the captain and swung it backward with a backhand motion!
With a crisp clang, the steel waist knife in the constable's hand was knocked away by the back of Qi Yun's blade!
Before the constable could retreat in shock, Qi Yun spun around and kicked out like a steel whip, striking him squarely in the chest and abdomen!

With a muffled thud, the constable's ribs shattered, his internal organs burst, and his body twisted as he knocked over several of the constables behind him before collapsing to the ground dead.

In the blink of an eye, the two ringleaders had been killed!
Qi Yun held a blood-dripping dagger and coldly swept his gaze toward the last garrison commander.

The captain's face turned ashen, and his hand holding the sword trembled slightly. When Qi Yun swept his gaze with the eyes of a god of death, he subconsciously took half a step back. How could he dare to step forward again?
Seeing this, Prefect Li seized the opportunity to take a deep breath and roared sharply, his voice shrill with pain and fear: "You all saw it?! These two are disobeying orders and have treacherous intentions, which is tantamount to rebellion!"

He's already been executed on the spot by the heroes! Who dares to disobey again? They're accomplices! According to the law, their entire family, up to nine generations, will be executed! Hurry up and open the granaries to transport the grain! Do you want your whole family to be beheaded?!

The remaining officials and soldiers were already terrified by Qi Yun's ruthless methods. When they heard that the prefect had accused them of "rebellion" and "exterminating nine generations of their families," they dared not disobey in the slightest.
They immediately sheathed their weapons and replied in unison, "We dare not! We obey your command! We obey your command!"

The gates of the Hongnong Treasury were suddenly flung open in the dead of night.

Under the torchlight, bags of grain were loaded onto carts.

The wheels rumbled through the silent streets, breaking the stillness of the night. The heavy city gates were slowly pushed open, just enough for the convoy to pass through.

With torches in hand and grain carts in hand, the officials and constables walked out of the city gates and stepped into the "hell" they usually avoided at all costs.

The sudden commotion roused the people from the deathly silence of the refugee camp outside the city.

At first, there was fear and numbness, but when they saw the grain sacks on the truck and smelled the long-lost aroma of grain, an incredulous light gradually ignited in their empty eyes.

"Grain...grain?"

"Sir... what is this?"

"Is it grain being distributed? Thank God!"

The whispers gradually turned into excited sobs, and finally into a deafening cheer, tinged with tears!
Countless dark figures struggled to their feet from the dilapidated shacks and the ground, surging towards the grain carts like a tide, only to be barely stopped by the officials with sticks and shouts.

"Step back! Everyone step back! Line up! Everyone gets a share!" shouted a quick-witted head constable, both to maintain order and to carry out the prefect's instructions.

"This grain distribution was initiated by a chivalrous knight named Qi Yun, who took pity on your suffering and righteously forced the prefect to open the granary!"

It was Hero Qi Yun who saved you! If you want to thank someone, thank Hero Qi Yun!

"Hero Qi Yun!"

"Thank you so much, Hero Qi Yun, for saving my life!"

Countless disaster victims knelt and kowtowed towards the city gate, their cries and shouts of gratitude echoing through the night sky.

They used broken bowls, their bare hands, or even their bare hands to scoop up the freshly cooked, piping hot porridge and rice, stuffing it into their mouths and into their clothes without a care, oblivious to the burns on their hands and the tears that welled up in their eyes.

On those gaunt faces, a glimmer of life finally shone through.

On the city wall, Qi Yun, the masked assassin, and the hostage Prefect Li silently watched the scene below, a mixture of joy and sorrow, like a glimmer of light shining through purgatory.

Prefect Li's face was ashen, and he muttered, "It's over...it's all over...after this, how can the court tolerate me?"

This official career has come to an end... He can only abandon his post, flee, and live out his remaining days in anonymity!

Qi Yun ignored his lament and turned to the masked assassin beside him: "You have not yet asked for my guidance."

The assassin took a deep breath, ripped off his mask, revealing a weathered yet angular and righteous face. He cupped his hands and said, "I am Yan Chifeng!"

He was originally a captain in the Zhenwu Army, a border garrison in the north!
He was framed and forced to flee into the underworld simply for reporting his superior for embezzling military funds and exploiting soldiers.

When the Northern Chen invaded, he possessed great martial skills but had no way to serve his country!

Having wandered here and witnessed the devastation in Yongzhou, and discovered that this corrupt official was colluding with bandits to smuggle the already scarce relief grain and profit from the national crisis, he was enraged and sneaked in, intending to kill him! Little did he know… little did he know that the waters here were so deep… that it would uncover the shocking conspiracy of the Imperial Preceptor's corpse-refining!

He looked at Qi Yun, his eyes filled with admiration and gratitude: "If it weren't for you today, not only would I have failed to avenge my great grudge, but I would also have died here in vain!"

What's even more commendable is that you have the well-being of all people in your heart, remain unshaken in the face of such sophistry, and use swift and decisive means to perform acts of compassion!

Yan...is filled with admiration! I will never forget your life-saving grace!

(End of this chapter)