Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

No one cares what we did to get into jail; people only know that we are a group of "criminals".

"Sinners" are all bad people and the most dangerous.

The people petitioned, and the government responded to the people's wishes by designating us as a "criminal village" and strictly controlling us. What could we have done wrong?

What the Wenchang Temple actually did was simply spend a large sum of money to improve the lives of the people in Wencun.

In conclusion, Qin Xiucai smiled and shook his head, "In this gamble concerning people's hearts, Wenchang Hall has won a great victory."

"Can……"

Looking at the stunned Mu Ling'er, Qin Xiucai bowed to her and said softly.

"It's not scarcity that's the problem, but inequality. If everyone is struggling, then things are still relatively easy to manage."

No matter what, life is much better now than when I was in prison. I have food and drink, and I don't have to suffer torture. It's quite comfortable.

Kewen Village is right next door, and everyone can see the people of Wen Village and their lives every day.

Putting everything else aside, just look at the people in our village. Every day they see the people of Wen Village living in brick and tile houses, playing and laughing with their children. How many of them wouldn't feel longing for that?

……

Mu Ling'er didn't know how long she had been in a daze, she only knew that Qin Xiucai had said a lot, and she was powerless to refute them.

She stood there with her head down, looking at her toes, her thoughts churning.

"Master Zhuangzi said that people's hearts are inclined to goodness. As long as we are willing to teach and educate them, even 'sinners' can become good people, and the people will accept us 'sinners'..."

The Wenchang Temple believed that once someone was marked as a "sinner," they would be a "sinner" for life, regardless of their original good or evil, and would be hated by the people.

In your opinion, which side is correct?

After a long, long time, Liuyun was drawn from its scabbard, reflecting a rainbow of colors in the sunlight.

Clutching the Flowing Cloud, Mu Ling'er, in a fit of desperation, uttered a vicious snarl.

"This won't work, that won't work! If we can't think of anything, let's stop thinking about it! Let's just take action, kill everyone who needs to be killed, and the problem will be solved!"

Qin Xiucai was stunned by her somewhat exasperated appearance. It took him a while to react. Su Xiaoyu, who was already frightened, trembled and hid behind him.

Looking at Mu Ling'er like this, Qin Xiucai suddenly asked.

"Who do you want to kill?"

……

Mu Ling'er remained silent throughout the day.

Villagers? City dwellers? Officials from Pingluo County? Soldiers from outside? Those people at the Wenchang Temple?

After thinking for a long time, Mu Ling'er still had no answer. She vaguely realized that this was not a problem that could be solved by killing people.

Everyone seems to be wrong, yet everyone seems to be right.

She had no idea which side was wrong or which side should be killed.

Seeing that Mu Ling'er had calmed down, Qin Xiucai secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He was genuinely afraid that this seemingly invincible young lady might suddenly go berserk and go on a killing spree.

If that's the case, the conflict will only intensify. In the end, the young lady herself will be unharmed, with the Five Elements True Lord covering for her, while the entire Ping Le County may become a living hell.

He coughed lightly, looked at Mu Ling'er, and tried to persuade her in the most tactful way possible.

"Since you don't have an answer, why don't you go and take a look at Wencun, or the county town, or even talk to Master Zhuang? That way you can understand the whole picture..."

Mu Ling'er remained silent. She sheathed Liuyun back into the hilt of her sword and nodded to Qin Xiucai.

"I will go see it. I will come to see you again tomorrow afternoon."

"I'm ready to serve you anytime."

……

……

A full moon hung high in the sky, its cool light illuminating the neat stone path.

The faint candlelight shone through the windows on both sides, bringing some warmth to those walking on the street.

Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, blending into the night.

Every now and then you can hear children crying and adults frantically trying to soothe them.

Walking on the streets of Wencun and looking at the village, Mu Ling'er suddenly realized that this might be a better place to live.

Even if everything here is just a facade deliberately created by the Wenchang Temple, one has to admit that "Wen Village" is far better than "Zui Village".

"Have you heard? This afternoon, another person from the village across the street tried to come over, but was taken away by the soldiers. I'm afraid he's in grave danger..."

"Sigh...they're a pitiful bunch, they've really suffered following that Master Zhuang..."

"Just look at that 'sin' on their faces, that Master Zhuang deserves to die! Isn't this harming people? How can they live with that 'sin' on their faces..."

"You can't say that, since we were already in jail anyway. We were just lucky."

"Ha—they were in jail anyway? There are plenty of people in their village who won't be locked up for long. They were just minor offenders, they'd be fine once they got out. Now, they all have the word 'criminal' on their faces, and they can't go anywhere."

"I'm not going to talk about it anymore. The little one at home is so noisy; she cries as soon as I leave. I finally finished my work, so I have to go and be with her and her mother."

"Who isn't? My kid is adorable too..."

In the shadows of the house, Mu Ling'er quietly watched all of this.

She exhaled two breaths of hot air, looked up at the sky, and then quietly left Wencun.

Judging solely from the betting odds, the outcome is clear, and there's no need to watch any further.

Based on what she saw at the moment, Mu Ling'er felt that Zhuang Sheng's defeat was not unjust.

More importantly, if what these people said is true, she also has things she wants to ask Zhuang Sheng.

So many people's futures were ruined for a nonsensical bet.

If this is what Zhuangzi called the Great Harmony, then Mu Ling'er wouldn't mind destroying the magic weapon crafted by Mu An herself.

As for the future path, her Qishan Road is enough!

……

Pingluo County, Yuelai Inn.

"Miss, your hot water has been brought to you. Is there anything else you need?"

"Please wait a moment, shopkeeper. I have some questions about Pingluo County that I'd like to ask you."

"You've come to the right person. I've lived in Pingluo County my whole life, and there's nothing I don't know."

"That's great! I have a pot of good wine here. Shopkeeper, just sit down and we can drink and talk."

"Just ask, and I will tell you everything I know."

In the top-tier suite, Mu Ling'er coaxed the innkeeper into drinking two small glasses of wine without changing her expression.

Seeing that the old shopkeeper was dazed and confused, and seemed to be answering every question, she finally got to the point.

"When I came to Pingluo County, I saw two villages to the west. Do you know anything about them, shopkeeper?"

"Wen Village and Sin Village? No problem, no problem. What do you want to know, young lady? This old man will tell you right away."

"What do the people in the county think of the two villages?"

"Opinion? What opinion could there be? That Wen Village was built by big shots, and the villagers are all business people. They can make money by following them, so it's naturally a happy thing."

As for that village of sin, I'm not trying to scare you, but a beauty like you, young lady, is best kept away from there. It's full of ruthless killers...