Chapter 2

Wu Fang walked along the long river embankment with his hands behind his back and his head held high, stepping over the numerous stones underfoot. Faintly, a chant could be heard carried by the wind; the lead line was quite long, while the refrain was slightly shorter, with a vigorous momentum of "Haiya Haiya".

The overseer let out a sound, "The slaves sold from Middle-earth, having changed hands several times, who knows their origins? What does the little historian inquire about him?"

A person and a bird paused to observe; the upstream water flowed rapidly, while the boatmen advanced very slowly. In the short distance of merely two zhang, that person endured more than a dozen blows.

In fact, one should live a happy life, and so should the enchanting beings. After much contemplation, I decided against it. Later, I went to the Yue Liang Palace to seek enlightenment from Master Lian. Over the years, I have accumulated some cultivation to treat the spirits and demons of both the Yin and Yang realms. When I have nothing to do, I take on an inconspicuous appearance and work part-time as a tower keeper in Tianji City.

Without a proper direction, she responded with a sound, lowering her head to look at the person kneeling on the ground. The injury was too severe; it was likely that he would not be able to stand up again. However, he raised his eyes, and a faint light still shone through his swollen eyelids. Unable to discern the content of that gaze, she had no interest in probing further, for the bloodied and disfigured face was truly terrifying, and she quickly averted her gaze.

This statement sounds strange, why save? There are so many trivial matters in the world, how can one manage them all

Under the moonlight, a group of shadows moved closer, the boatmen straining as they pulled the ropes, their bodies pressed low, forming a slanted line that almost touched the ground. Such scenes could be seen every day; life was like this, each fulfilling their role, nothing extraordinary. She plucked a leaf and held it in her mouth, improvising a tune of "Ten Black Paths," the melodious notes drifting from between the leaves, echoing in the heavy night sky.

One is a demon, the other is a monster, both have turned from darkness to light, Amitabha, a great transformation. Living in poverty is merely an outsider's perspective; while guarding the tower, one wears official attire, planting sweet potatoes, and during consultations, one is a charming yet unpretentious spiritual healer. The constant switching between these two identities adds some interest to this pale life

As Qu fell to the ground and transformed into a human form, she understood her master's temperament; it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. It was impossible to expect her to step forward and intervene. Thus, she had no choice but to conjure herself, planning to act in a critical moment to offer assistance, for she was flesh and blood, possessing a compassionate heart

"Has a strong character." Qu Ruo said, "Looks quite young."

As the economy becomes more developed, the disparity between the rich and the poor becomes increasingly pronounced. While the wealthy are leisurely boating on flower-laden boats in the lake, the poor are digging for sweet potatoes in the fields along the shore

Bored and restless, Qu Rudong looked around and suddenly exclaimed, "Master, look at that person!"

Wufang's vision is particularly good at night, able to see clearly even two li away. After hearing Qu Ru's words, he turned his gaze in that direction and saw a person standing among a group of crouching boatmen. The river wind lifted the tattered white clothing, which was soaked with blood in the damaged areas, yet the person's back remained very straight, refusing to yield even slightly despite the whip striking their body

She sighed with her hands tucked into her sleeves, and that person finally knelt down. The night concealed the bloodshed, yet she saw everything clearly.

Having just experienced a rain shower, the mountains appear hazy, and naturally, the hem of the skirt is also soiled. Standing on the muddy ridge of the field, the embroidered shoes can no longer be distinguished from their original color. Suddenly, I hear someone in the distance calling out "Xiao Shi"; the person at the edge of the field straightens up while holding a vine, and in the blink of an eye, they have run up to me.

She lightly tugged at the corners of her lips, "What use is pride? It can be defiant for a moment, but can it remain defiant for a lifetime?"

Tungsten Gold Land is a vast expanse of territory, horizontally divided into sixteen regions, each belonging to one of the sixteen cities. Vertically, it is quite simple, similar to other places; the uppermost layer is inhabited by Bodhisattvas, with the Three Realms coexisting alongside demons and humans. Below that is the Underworld, where malevolent spirits and demons coexist, representing the darkest place in the world

As soon as it touches, it connects effortlessly, silently soaring to the rooftop, replacing all the broken tiles.

I still have a bunch of Chinese toon here, let Xiao Shi take it home to stir-fry with eggs

In the past, she was merely a malevolent spirit. The war transformed the small city in the East into a dead town, and she was born from the accumulation of sinister energy. Her arrival was sudden, as if she had simply burped into existence. At that time, corpses lay scattered everywhere, and she wandered alone, feeling utterly desolate; the world was completely silent, not even a mouse could be heard. On nights of the full moon, she often sat on the city wall gazing at the moon. Once, she encountered a peculiar Taoist who, with hands and eyes like hooks, attempted to use her to feed his sword. Fortunately, Master Lian happened to pass by and saved her. Due to her origins, she was always filled with resentment, plotting to commit some misdeeds befitting her identity. However, committing evil deeds was not so simple. Practicing in front of the mirror, her beautiful face suddenly opened into a gaping maw, which ended up frightening herself...

Is Xiao Shi going out to buy groceries

Xiao Shi is busy. A person in official uniform, with a face full of flesh and a rough voice, managed to speak in a gentle tone, saying, "It's time for the salary distribution again. I was worried that Xiao Shi might not have time to collect it, so the village head asked me to bring it to him."

The crisp sound of the whip striking flesh reached here, clear and unambiguous. The person was on the verge of collapse, about to fall, when Qu Ruwen asked: "Master, have you firmly decided not to save me even if it means death?"

In this realm, if you do not possess more than two identities, you would feel embarrassed to live. Wu Fang attends to patients at the foot of Shizhang Mountain on the first and fifteenth of each month, while usually guarding the tower in Tianji City. The pagoda by the Liyu River enshrines the bones of the Buddha; the salary of the tower guardian is not particularly high, but it is considered a public position, holding a very esteemed status. Having guarded the tower for over fifty years, she has almost become a symbol of the pagoda, and everyone in the city respects her greatly.

Her master's ordinary face revealed a smile, and his slender figure resembled a green bamboo, both straight and upright

Most of the people who do this kind of work are fierce and intimidating. Just as the foreman was about to scold, he grabbed the torch and shone it on her face. His anger immediately transformed into a smile, "Why is Xiao Shi here? Did you come out for a stroll after dinner?"

Two figures, one tall and one short, walked along the riverside market. They appeared impoverished, yet were treated with considerable respect, as passersby approached them to engage in conversation.

It is not easy for Wu Fang to speak up, so Qu Ru, who is nearby, interjects, "My master thinks this person resembles her cousin very much and cannot bear to see him suffer, so she specifically came to ask Sun Li for a favor.

"I dare not give orders," said Wufang. "I would like to inquire about the background of that person."

"Bang," another sound. This time it was even louder, the person's scalp was split open, blood gushed down along the temples, staining the clothes on their chest red

No matter how good Tianji City is, it is still not the upper realm. Here, apart from the mingling of humans and demons, it is not much different from the Central Land. On the Liyu River, there are boatmen who transport timber year-round. The boats have a deep draft and are going upstream against the current, making this arduous work undesirable for most people. Therefore, the majority of those serving as boatmen are prisoners and slaves.

Everyone knows her secret thoughts, yet there are rules that apply in different situations. The methods used to save people do not work on demons, and the methods for saving demons cannot be imposed on people, as they cannot bear it. She had studied the herbs of the Central Plains before, but in the past hundred years, she had never treated a single person. Even if she were to save him, she would have no confidence in her heart

When the days of the demons are devoid of any pursuits, indulging in food and drink, they sleep until the evening. As the moon rises, they stroll along the banks of the Carp River, where the river is wide, and the valleys are deep and the gorges perilous. It is said that this is the first place where a carp transformed into a dragon. However, the ages have passed, and since the arrival of humans, the ethereal aura has completely vanished.

It is unclear whether he is young or old, as he has no beard, so he should not be too old! In any case, his face is covered in scars, making it difficult to discern his features. I cannot help but recall the scene when I first met Qu Ru; of course, this person is far worse off than Qu Ru, with a swollen and deformed face, his eyes resembling peaches, and he has basically become unrecognizable.

She pointed to the side, signaling the overseer to step aside for a moment to speak. The tower guard had merits in Tianji City, and the overseer gave her some face, complying and stepping aside. He cupped his hands and asked, "What instructions do you have, Xiao Shi?"

Qu was circling above her head, seemingly feeling drowsy again, persistently urging her to return. However, she was not in a hurry; the night was deepening, and she was willing to stay here to enjoy the breeze and dissipate some of the negative energy.

The supervisor was left speechless, hardly believing that such coincidences could exist in this world. However, since the tower guardian had a request, one should not fear retribution. After all, there were plenty of slaves, and a few would die from time to time; when that happened, one could easily cover it up. Of course, one had to exaggerate their own difficulties, weaving a subtle narrative to smoothly exchange for the privilege of front-row blessings next time. This kid, who had been beaten into a bloody mess, was then offered to her.

Qu Runi, a creature despised by people, has three claws and a human face. When Wu Fang first encountered her, she was catching field mice in a millet field, and the mice struggled, scratching her face. At that time, Wu Fang was chasing a wandering soul and happened to arrive there, seeing her with a field mouse in her mouth, her face covered in blood, looking quite terrifying. Healers, to some extent, always possess a sense of compassion; he applied some medicine to her, a mere act of kindness, yet without a second thought, she decided to take him as her master.

After the tolerance was mentioned, he quickly ran away. The people at the village head smacked their lips and said, "Qu Ru, buy a piece of meat to take home and braise it."

Ultimately, a healer has the heart of a parent. She hesitated for a moment, but still walked over and, at the instant the overseer raised his hand again, she intercepted his whip, saying, "Please show mercy; if this continues, he will die."

The local people did not speak, and the child standing by the water channel took the string of money, weighed it with disdain, and said, "Last time it was mentioned that the monthly salary would be increased, yet this month remains the same."

Tolerance and compensation for laughter, "I have been shouting for over twenty years, just listen and be happy, do not take it seriously." After saying this, he clasped his hands together, "Xiao Shi, you have worked hard. The village chief received news that there will be a heavy rain in a couple of days. I kindly ask you to pay attention to the spirit tower. Once the funds for repairing the tower are allocated after the rain, we will also repair your house at that time. I ask you to bear with it for a few more days."

Carrying Qu Ru home, she rolled up her sleeves to prepare soup. Her once rudimentary cooking skills, which only aimed to cook the food thoroughly, gradually began to focus on color, aroma, and flavor. Approaching noon, sunlight streamed in through the hole in the roof, illuminating the salt on the stove. She moved the salt container aside and said, "They say they will only come to repair the house after the heavy rain, and it will rain again tonight."

After walking for a while, half a basket of radishes and winter melons was collected. The butcher sold and gave away two pounds of meat, symbolically charging ten coins for it. Qu Ru was very pleased, saying, "Master, reputation can really be a source of sustenance."

Wherever there are people, there is liveliness. Tianji City is the largest city in the realm, and it even engages in trade with the Middle Earth. During the day, as you walk through the city, the crowds flow like a woven fabric, and there are countless merchants on the streets selling various trinkets.