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

Chapter 153 Confiscating the house
Qi Yun shook his head slightly: "Commander Yan is a man of justice, who never forgets his country and its people even in adversity. He is a true hero. There is no need for thanks."

Prefect Li, who was listening nearby, seemed to want to defend himself again, and quickly interjected, "Hero, Yan... brave man, that so-called reselling of grain... in fact... in fact, it was out of helplessness."

The wealthy households and gentry of Yongzhou were often involved with officials in the imperial court. They would seize land, conceal their population, pay very little tax, and enrich themselves at the expense of the public.

When the country is in crisis, even if they want to donate, they are afraid that showing off their wealth will bring trouble and lead to the confiscation of their property, so they can only tightly cover up their granaries and treasuries.

With the treasury empty and the need to appease officials at all levels to maintain order, taking some money from them is... a compromise, to fill the empty treasury.

Qi Yun listened to the various twists and turns of this mortal world and felt extremely weary. He said indifferently, "In that case, it has reminded me."

Tomorrow, we will confiscate the property of those who are rich but unscrupulous and hoard goods for profit.

Their food should be taken from the people and used for the people.

Upon hearing this, Prefect Li's facial muscles twitched, finally giving a bitter laugh: "Everything... is up to the hero to decide."

Just then, the anxious shouts of the old Taoist priest Songfeng came from below the city.

Qi Yun asked him to come up.

The old Taoist priest climbed up the city wall and was once again surprised by the scene before him.

Qi Yun briefly recounted the events of the night, especially the shocking conspiracy of the Imperial Preceptor's corpse refining.

The old Taoist priest Songfeng was stunned and it took him a long time to recover. He chanted the Taoist incantation repeatedly: "Amitabha! What a sin! What a sin! Such a shocking and perverse act!"

He immediately looked worried and said urgently, "Master, I was walking among the refugees when I discovered... I discovered that there are signs of an outbreak of epidemic!"

"In my younger days, I learned some medical skills, and in the half-volume of the inheritance I obtained, there are also a few methods for drawing 'plague-expelling talismans,' which may...may do my bit to try and stop the spread of the plague!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun's eyes lit up with joy: "Excellent! Excellent!"
Therefore, we will stay in Hongnong City for a few more days!
Fellow Daoist, please do as you please! If you need anything, just say the word! I will do everything in my power to help you!

As night deepened, people continued to stream down the city walls to collect their grain rations, their cries of gratitude, shouts of rebuke, and the clatter of bowls and chopsticks mingling together.

On the city wall, several people gazed at the bleak and faint signs of life, each with a heavy heart.

More than thirty dan of grain flowed like a trickle into the desolate "scorched earth" outside the city.

Each choked cry of "Great Hero Qi Yun" was like an invisible thread, tugging at the hearts of those on the city wall.

Although the severed finger of Prefect Li had been bandaged, it still caused him excruciating pain.

He looked at the rapidly deflated grain stack, his facial muscles twitching, and finally he let out a long sigh, saying to Qi Yun in an almost professional tone: "Hero Qi...Hero Qi, providing relief solely with rice and grain is too extravagant and unsustainable."

There are many elm and locust trees in the city. Their bark, ground into powder and mixed into porridge, though coarse and hard to swallow, can fill the stomach... If a small amount of rice is added and cooked into a thick porridge, it might... might sustain us for another four days.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun's gaze shifted slightly.

Although this person is dishonest, his practical ability to manage affairs as a shepherd is indeed the skill of a seasoned official who has been immersed in the bureaucracy for many years.

He nodded slightly: "Alright!"

He then returned to the now-chaotic prefectural residence, and went straight into Prefect Li's bedroom. He sat cross-legged on the brocade couch and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

He was overcome by waves of weakness as his vital energy nearly depleted, and he needed to recover as quickly as possible.

Prefect Li endured the excruciating pain, daring not to utter a word, and silently spread out the bedding on the cold floor beneath the bed, lying down fully clothed.

Yan Chifeng, on the other hand, was willing to stay and assist Qi Yun. He and Songfeng Laodao each moved into the left and right wing rooms respectively, forming a subtle protective arrangement.

In the dead of night, only the heavy, suppressed breathing of Prefect Li and the occasional gasp of pain could be heard.

He stared wide-eyed at the dark rafters, his heart churning with a mix of fear, resentment, humiliation, and a desperate glimmer of survival. Only now did he have time to process these emotions.

He kept thinking to himself: This person's Taoist magic and martial arts are all strange and powerful, and his methods are cruel, yet he is doing this disaster relief work in the name of "a common man's anger".

He has already stated that the eunuch Wang and the imperial guard must have fled to Qingwei Temple, and that Xuan Yin Zhenren is a master of the Tui Zhuo realm!

Why is this person still so fearless and lingering here?

Could it be... that his cultivation has reached the stage of refining the physical form?

Unlike before, when he had a slight advantage over that imperial guard, it was by no means a crushing defeat.

That means... they have something else backing them?

Is it one of the princes in the court? Is he trying to take advantage of the chaos in Yongzhou to overthrow the Grand Preceptor?
Thinking of this, Prefect Li felt a burning hope arise in his heart.

If that's the case, and if I can skillfully maneuver, I might be able to turn misfortune into fortune, and even keep my official position!
But... he subconsciously touched his left hand, which was wrapped in layers of gauze. The excruciating pain shattered his illusions instantly, and boundless resentment surged into his heart again, but he suppressed it tightly, not daring to show it in the slightest.

Qi Yun, sitting cross-legged on the bed, was not worried about this at all.

His original purpose for this trip was to go to Qingwei Temple, where he would eventually meet Xuan Yin, who had occupied the temple.

It would be much better if the other party came down the mountain to Hongnong Prefecture than if I went to Qingwei Temple.

As for being too weak to defeat Xuan Yin?
Under the Great Black Law, there is no fear of delusion, so Qi Yun could not help but feel fear before the battle even began!
Ultimately, we'll have to face them first!
The next morning, the sky was dim.

Qi Yun opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them. After a night of arduous cultivation, nine strands of true qi had been re-condensed within his dantian, and his strength had recovered by more than half.

He stood up.

Almost simultaneously, Prefect Li, who was on his makeshift bed on the floor, also struggled to get up. His eyes were dark and his face was pale. The pain from his severed finger and the torment in his heart had kept him awake all night.

"Let's go," Qi Yun said calmly, "to meet the 'Family of Good Deeds' in the city."

The yamen runners cleared the way, with Qi Yun and Yan Chifeng "accompanying" Prefect Li on the left and right, respectively, and the old Taoist priest Songfeng following behind.

The convoy drove straight to the eastern part of the city, where wealthy families lived.

The first house was a grand and imposing one, adorned with vermilion lacquer and copper nails.

Upon hearing that the prefect had arrived in person, the head of the family greeted him with a beaming smile, but his smile froze when he saw Qi Yun, Yan Chifeng, and the soldiers glaring at him.

“Master Wang.” Prefect Li spoke weakly, but following Qi Yun’s instructions from yesterday, he forced himself to speak, “Yongzhou is suffering from a major disaster, and the people are living in misery. I have come here to borrow grain for relief.”

The wealthy man's face changed, and he forced a smile, saying, "Your Excellency, please understand, but this humble man has no surplus grain at home..."

Before he finished speaking, a dozen burly guards behind him stepped forward, sticks in hand, their expressions hostile.

Yan Chifeng snorted coldly, and before Qi Yun could make a move, his longsword was already drawn!
He came from a military background, and his swordsmanship was bold and ruthless. His sword flashed like a bolt of lightning, and the two guards in the lead fell to the ground dead without even uttering a sound, their throats spurting blood.

Qi Yun moved at the same time, his figure approaching the wealthy man Wang like a ghost. Without drawing his sword, he only used the end of the scabbard to lightly touch Wang's chest.

Master Wang felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. The sound of his ribs shattering could be clearly heard. He spat out blood and flew backward, crashing into the screen wall and sliding down. It was clear that he was going to die.

"Who else is trying to obstruct disaster relief?"

Qi Yun's gaze was cold as he swept over the remaining pale-faced guards and their families.

Instantly, cries of "I can't breathe!" and "I can't resist anymore!" filled the air.

(End of this chapter)