Chapter 719 - 500: Refuse to Pluck a Hair for the Benefit of the World

As Zheng Yi finished speaking.

The refugee leader was immediately killed by someone beside him, and the corpse was hung on the city wall.

The refugees below, who seemed ready to regroup, scattered like frightened animals at the sight.

From start to finish, Zheng Yi watched as if he were a mere spectator, showing not a hint of empathy.

When Zheng Yi and Wang Xing left, the County Magistrate finally got a chance to walk up to several cultivators and quietly ask, "Does this Immortal Master from Wang Family Village have any extraordinary aspect?

Why are several Immortal Masters showing him such respect?"

Previously, the County Magistrate did not quite understand, but he knew how to assess the current situation.

The other few independent cultivators exchanged glances and smiled mockingly, "That elder could likely kill us all single-handedly.

Such an elder, not only here in this Prefecture City.

Even within that State County, would surely have a place."

"It truly is so!"

The County Magistrate’s pupils contracted, then he was heartbroken, never expecting the second Immortal from Wang Family Village to be so powerful.

However.

He secretly felt relieved, glad there was still an opportunity.

On the return journey, Wang Xing looked conflicted.

Zheng Yi noticed this and said, "Speak if you have something to say."

"Fellow Daoist Zheng Yi, did we go a bit too far just now?

After all, we actually weren’t much different from the refugees before."

Wang Xing hesitated to say.

Strictly speaking.

They weren’t refugees before, just farmers, but indeed faced the risk of becoming refugees.

Wang Xing did not overflow with sympathy, but he saw a reflection of his former self in these refugees.

He actually sympathized with his former self.

Zheng Yi saw through Wang Xing’s thoughts from a human nature perspective, and slowly said, "But it was the most straightforward way to handle it."

He glanced at Wang Xing again.

Lightly gave a suggestion, "If Fellow Daoist Wang feels uneasy, you can return and tell the County Magistrate.

The County Magistrate can then liaise with wealthy households in the city, without needing to report to the State County, and set up a charity kitchen at the city gate, at least ensuring the refugees won’t starve for now."

Wang Xing looked at Zheng Yi, apologetically saying, "Fellow Daoist Zheng Yi, I still feel I should do it so that I feel better inside."

After he finished speaking, Wang Xing’s expression became serious, turning to walk towards Qingshui County.

Soon.

He arrived at the city wall.

Met the County Magistrate and a few other cultivators, and stated his request.

Unexpectedly.

No one refused, instead they praised him: "Fellow Daoist Wang has a benevolent heart, surely blessed with good deeds!"

"Fellow Daoist Wang’s method is excellent, we never thought of it before."

"Setting up a charity kitchen gives the refugees a chance to survive, our Qingshui County can avoid more slaughter, sparing celestial harmony.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, rest assured, not only us cultivators, the wealthy households in the city and the gentlemen, landlords outside the city will also contribute some effort."

The crowd spoke cheerfully, seemingly very willing to donate some gold and silver jewelry to aid the refugees outside the city.

Seeing everyone’s expressions, Wang Xing felt somewhat uneasy, sensing something amiss.

"Thank you."

Wang Xing said softly.

As Wang Xing left.

The surrounding cultivators showed complicated expressions but didn’t care much in the end.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Wang and Fellow Daoist Zheng Yi are both good people."

"Being good is far better than being bad, and we can gain more benefits."

Even the County Magistrate, a mortal, showed less respect to Wang Xing than before.

A person’s level of respect often depends on the extent to which the other can harm them.

When this extent rises, respect turns into fear; when it lowers, respect might turn into disdain.

The complexity of human nature is revealed this way.

However.

They quickly recalled Zheng Yi’s previous actions, realizing inwardly.

The truly benevolent one was Wang Xing.

And the more powerful Zheng Yi.

In their eyes, he wouldn’t do such "foolish" things.

A good deed, just rephrased.

...

Zheng Yi strolled around the village chief’s courtyard.

A drizzle fell lightly, raindrops pooled into a small puddle in his palm.

Zheng Yi’s gaze was serene, muttering to himself: "Pulled a hair to benefit the world, but a gentleman sometimes refrains."

Gradually.

His state of mind became increasingly calm, as if the heavens were indifferent, viewing all beings as mere straw dogs, with little difference in his eyes.

This state of mind is the realm cultivators should aim for, essential to strengthen oneself.

If one only pins hopes on others.

Such a person’s fate is like drifting duckweed, at the mercy of others, quite pitiful.

"Enough, my time at Wang Family Village is almost over."

Zheng Yi said farewell to everyone with Wang Xing, preparing to return to Piaomiao Mountain Wang Family.

...

At this moment.

Outside the County City of Wuling County above Qingshui County, the Young Manor Master Bai Mochen from Nameless Manor returned.

On that night, thunder roared, lightning flashed.

He was drenched in blood, expressionless.

Clutching a short sword in hand, he brutally severed his uncle’s head before everyone present.

Holding the head, he looked at the guests at the banquet, coldly stating, "From today onwards, Nameless Manor belongs to Bai Mochen. Who approves, who opposes?"

Nameless Manor fell into turmoil again, but it didn’t stop there.

In the following days, this Young Manor Master seemed to have gone mad, fully investigating previous cases, gathering evidence and witnesses one by one.

For this.

He offended many forces within the State County.

Originally, these forces planned to join forces to wipe out Nameless Manor, however, after meeting the Young Manor Master, all the minor actions against Nameless Manor and counterattacks from various forces vanished into oblivion.

This naturally alarmed the cultivators in Wuling County.

The County Magistrate from Wuling County came to Taiye Lake, where the lake ripples, backed by a mountain peak, barely retaining some spiritual qi, sufficient for cultivators’ daily cultivation needs.

The County Magistrate bent over respectfully, waiting outside the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, several mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators were scrutinizing a Spirit-attracting Pill, feeling the spiritual power flowing from it.

One suddenly clapped and laughed, already understanding: "This must be something from the Piaomiao Mountain Wang Family.

Their spiritual power floats like clouds, hence the Spirit-attracting Pill with Celestial Cloud Spiritual Power, is considered their family’s external trademark."

Other cultivators nodded in agreement, offering some praise.

The County Magistrate outside heard these words, grasped the situation internally, realizing Nameless Manor likely connected with a cultivator, and this cultivator’s realm seemed akin to these honored guests in Wuling County.

Their words transmitted back and forth.

"Let’s leave this matter as is."

"After all, Piaomiao Mountain Wang Family has a Foundation Establishment Realm powerhouse."

This affair might just be a Wang Family member acting under the family’s name externally.

They were unwilling to provoke them lightly.

"County Magistrate, maintain caution and restraint.

Your nephew being captured doesn’t matter, he wasn’t a close relative anyway."

"If it involved relatives within three generations, we’d intervene, remembering your usual grace with generosity.

The Imperial Court’s regulations and that elder within, we dare not offend easily."

"Understood, esteemed Immortal Masters."

Wuling County’s County Magistrate sighed deeply, slowly turned to leave.

And the many cultivators within the pavilion scarcely cared about his feelings, the gap between mortal and them was far too significant.

...

A month passed, neither more nor less.

The Young Manor Master of Nameless Manor, after resolving internal issues, immediately rushed to the Mountain God Temple, now waiting for six days.

Yet Zheng Yi and Wang Xing remained out of sight.

This inevitably worried the Young Manor Master.

In his mind various thoughts surfacing repeatedly: "Could the two Immortal Masters have already left?

After all, offering them that Divine Techniques book is all I can do for them."

"Impossible, the two Immortal Masters surely aren’t like this.

If they truly wanted to take it, given my realm at the time, I wouldn’t be a match, they’d just take it forcefully, why bother telling me so much?"