Chapter 34: A Sinful Mess

Large families migrating north mostly take the official roads; unfamiliar with the terrain and lacking local guides to provide regional information, they naturally feel more secure on the official roads.

Therefore, routes like this one, which deviate from the main thoroughfare and are completely unknown to outsiders, have a low probability of being traversed. The cost of trial and error is too high; they cannot afford the losses.

Even if there were any, they would only be small groups, and they would retreat quickly upon discovering trouble. Small groups can only carry limited supplies, which means Wen Gu and his companions might be able to scavenge some usable items here.

The two small groups, the He family and the Yu family, were already eager to try, their eyes practically glowing green.

These people are quick-witted, but their methods are too wild, and they do not consider others. If they were just let loose to scavenge for supplies, they might stir up trouble or even cause friction within the team.

Not efficient, not united.

Wen Gu had Xiao Liu and County Lieutenant Zhou go ahead to scout the road ahead.

These two had already developed some tacit understanding. Xiao Liu waved his arm, directing Matuan in the air to scout ahead, while he and County Lieutenant Zhou kept an eye out for hidden dangers on the ground.

Wen Gu then called He Da and Yu Er over.

These two were already restless; seeing Zhou Shan and Xiao Liu head forward, they wanted to follow as well.

Wen Gu said, "County Lieutenant Zhou and Xiao Liu are only getting close to scout, not entering the Town. We don't know how many evil things are hidden inside. We are unfamiliar with the place, and there are children in our team, as well as carts carrying supplies. We need to make a plan before pushing forward."

The two had no choice but to suppress the impatience in their hearts. Indeed, they still had to consider their own younger brother and niece.

Wen Gu continued, "The small town ahead likely contains supplies. This operation is very important. Our team is already small, so we need to join forces and cooperate."

The two thought about it and nodded.

It just meant not splitting up after entering the Town, and everyone working together. They understood.

They hadn't relied solely on themselves to get a cow and a cart from right under the noses of the yamen runners and local factions.

"Wen Scholar, you are well-read; what you say must be reasonable. We will listen to you," He Da stated.

If what he said wasn't reasonable, that would be a different matter.

Wen Gu smiled tolerantly and said to He Da, "Since everyone agrees, now, some things need to be assigned. Your younger brother can write and calculate; would he be willing to handle the accounts?"

He Da opened his mouth: "... Ah?"

Wen Gu explained patiently, "It means being responsible for the team's inventory and accounts, recording income and expenditures. After we act in unison, when the scavenged supplies are distributed according to merit, he will record the details of everyone's allocation for review."

He Da certainly knew what that was!

Just like the accountant in a large restaurant or the steward in charge of finances for a wealthy family.

He just hadn't expected that Wen Scholar would actually let his own younger brother take on such an important job!

Back in the County Town, when summoned by the yamen, his younger brother only handled copying some unimportant documents and letters, but now...

He didn't think his younger brother couldn't handle this bit of work; he was just surprised by Wen Gu's trust in them.

He Da was overjoyed, feeling that this scholar surnamed Wen truly had a good eye to be able to see his younger brother's talent.

In this team, besides the scholar surnamed Wen, who else could write and calculate?

There was no third person!

In this way, not only would his younger brother's status in the team rise, but doing this kind of work would naturally come with compensation!

He Da grinned.

But he was also a little disappointed. If they found supplies on their side, they couldn't hide too much, or it would put his younger brother in a difficult position.

Of course, by comparison, his younger brother's side was more important. As for supplies, it was great if they could find them; they were all in the team anyway.

Yu Er, standing nearby, had no objections to this.

They really didn't have anyone on their side who could shoulder this heavy responsibility, and besides, He Xiaodi was different from He Da; he wasn't as cunning as He Da. Furthermore, Wen Scholar had stated that the accounts could be checked.

He Da hurriedly called his younger brother over.

Wen Gu pried another Charcoal Pencil from Qingyi Daozhang and taught He Xiaodi the posture for holding the pen and the techniques for using it.

"It doesn't matter if your writing isn't neat at first; just practice more and it will be fine."

From his observations over the past few days, this He Xiaodi's ability to learn and adapt was quite decent.

"First, organize a roster to get used to it. Once we officially enter the Town to scavenge for supplies, we'll do other records."

He Xiaodi looked solemn as he accepted this heavy responsibility. Turning around, he couldn't help but grin.

His years of study had found a use, he was trusted by others, and he could even earn compensation. The fatigue from days of travel had dissipated; now he was full of energy!

Wen Gu watched the spirited little figure and also revealed a gratified smile.

It was truly great to have offloaded another task; even if the number of people increased several times in the future, he would only need to move his mouth.

There were others to do the work.

Before long, Zhou Shan and Xiao Liu returned.

They hadn't entered the small town, only observed from nearby. In this season of withered grass and trees, various signs were easier to distinguish.

"There shouldn't be many living people or evil things."

Since that was the case, they drove the carts and approached the small town.

But they didn't enter directly either.

Subsequently, the three small groups each sent two people to form a six-person scouting squad.

County Lieutenant Zhou led the team to scout the edge of the small town first.

The Yu family had previously obtained a bow; Yu Er's archery certainly couldn't compare to Xiao Liu the hunter, but it barely counted as a long-range combat force.

Zhou Shan led the scouting squad and quietly stepped into the Town.

The town was quiet at this moment, not much different from many small towns they had seen along the way; the various traces left on the streets and buildings looked like a long time had passed.

However, they did not lower their guard.

"First, look for the pharmacy and the grain store..."

Before Zhou Shan finished speaking, he heard a roar that was a bit more shrill and fierce than that of a wild beast. It was clearly the roar of an evil thing.

Not only that, there were also the shouts of living people, though it was unclear what they were shouting.

The six people's expressions changed abruptly; they hid behind a shop and looked toward the sound. Not having figured out the situation, they dared not act rashly.

A figure was running ahead, carrying a cloth bag in their hand.

As the person ran, they grabbed a handful of something from the bag and threw it backward, while loudly chanting:

"Between heaven and earth, there is a righteous Qi, manifesting in various forms!"

Another handful of white granules was scattered out.

"Below, it becomes rivers and mountains; above, it becomes the sun and stars!"

Yet another handful of granules flew out, with such speed and force that their trajectory was as sharp as a peerless hidden weapon.

However, it was of absolutely no use.

Although the pursuing evil entities were slowed down by the low temperature, the person running in front clearly had poor physical stamina, and the distance between the two sides was still shrinking.

The person running in front was shouting until their voice cracked, yet they remained impassioned:

"In man, it is called the vast, overflowing Qi, filling the vast void!"

After a bout of chasing and fleeing, the person and the evil entities had already approached the side where Zhou Shan and the others were.

At this moment, the six of them also saw clearly what the person was scattering.

The color was snow-white, and the grains were plump.

It seemed, appeared, and was likely... sticky rice!!!

The moment they saw clearly, the six of them were shocked while simultaneously feeling a brief moment of bewilderment.

What kind of maneuver was this?

In the few blinks of an eye they spent stunned, more handfuls of sticky rice were scattered out over there.

Scattered onto the bodies of those evil entities...

Falling onto the filth-covered ground...

The six of them only felt their blood pressure soar violently.

"Damn it!"

"Stop, stop, stop, stop it!"

"Kill them, kill them! Hurry up and loose the Arrow to shoot them all together!"

"What a sin!!!"

Yu Er held his bow and Arrow, so angry he wanted to fire blindly in that direction, an indiscriminate attack.

At this time, Xiao Liu demonstrated his excellent hunter qualities, employing a true family-inherited technique; his hand did not shake.

The Arrow flew out, piercing the throat of the evil entity in front, but it did not die immediately.

Eager to show off, Yu Wushu poked forward with a long spear modified from a farm tool, ending the evil entity's life.

The person carrying the sticky rice bag, now panting from running, arrived before the six of them and even performed a scholar's bow.

Only then was it visible that this person seemed to be a Confucian scholar; life in this world was not easy, his cheeks were sunken, and his constitution was weak.

"Th... thank you all... for the rescue!"

However, the six of them looked at him with anger, as if he were a mortal enemy.

He Da's eyes were spitting fire. We are already competing with livestock for feed, yet this idiot is still scattering sticky rice!

Wasting food is a crime deserving of being sliced into a thousand pieces; he is not worth pitying even in death!

Zhou Shan had at least served as a County Lieutenant, so he forced himself to suppress his rage and asked in a stiff tone: "What were you blabbering about just now?"

Could it be a secret code for his accomplices?

The scholar caught his breath and replied: "It is the 'Song of Righteousness' for Exorcism and dispelling filth!"

He Da could not help but say: "I don't care what song it is, is it useful? Just tell me, is it useful? So much sticky rice, all wasted!"

As he spoke, he went to grab the rice bag, but failed to pull it away.

The scholar's face flushed red, he gripped the sticky rice bag tightly with both hands, and stammered:

"I once saw in a book that sticky rice can perform Exorcism. Today, I was lucky enough to find a bag of sticky rice used for sacrifices, and in my desperation... yet I do not know why it was ineffective..."

Xiao Liu immediately "educated" him: "You don't know a damn thing! Sticky rice requires the reinforcement of arts for Exorcism, and you have no arts! It's pure waste!"

The scholar lowered his head in shame.

Yu Er, who was standing close by, twitched his nose: "What is that smell?"

It was a bit strange, yet somewhat familiar.

Hearing that there was an odor on his body, the scholar lowered his head even further, his ears turning bright red. He didn't notice at all that the others in front of him smelled even stronger.

County Lieutenant Zhou said at this time: "Let's retreat first and talk later."

Since there was a local survivor, he could provide more information; it would be better to make a plan first before entering the Town to search with a purpose.

They brought this scholar out of the Town. The other party wanted to run, but was surrounded by the six of them.

This scholar was also quite something.

Just now, when facing the evil entities, he had scattered the sticky rice with such a flourish, as if he were incredibly wealthy. Now, however, he clutched the rice bag tightly. He Da tried to snatch it several times but failed, and only restrained himself after receiving a warning glance from Zhou Shan.

Zhou Shan was worried that this scholar was plotting something and didn't know if there were any accomplices nearby, so he remained cautious along the way, letting Xiao Liu keep watch on the sky.

However, no one actually followed.

Returning to the group, Zhou Shan briefly explained the situation.

Upon learning that the other party had found a bag of premium sticky rice used for sacrifices today, and now only a small bag remained—less than a third of the original amount—and that the missing two-thirds had all been scattered,

not to mention the others in the group whose blood pressure soared, even Qingyi Daozhang felt a lump of heart-blood choke him.

Gritting his teeth, he cursed: "Wastrel! Of all things, the most useless is..."

Catching a glimpse of Wen Gu nearby, he swallowed the words back down.

(End of chapter)