The child stared at the jar of water, with an uncontrollable look of longing in his eyes.
But the child's mother obviously saw more.
"Ahem..."
"This immortal, what are you..."
I could see the worry in my mother's words, but Nanhua Taoist smiled and said:
"Don't worry, I just want to know something from you."
"So, this water can be considered as repayment."
Hearing this, the child's mother breathed a sigh of relief.
There was a hint of reluctance in Taoist Nanhua's brows.
The world is so hot and cold, and it has reached the point where we dare not accept the kindness of others at will.
Only transactions can make them feel at ease.
The mother and son carefully filled a bowl of water.
The two of them drank a little cautiously, and then couldn't help but start drinking in large gulps.
"Huh...huh..."
The child was breathing heavily, but there was a hint of aura in his eyes.
Nanhua Taoist took advantage of the situation and sat aside:
"A poor Taoist from Nanhua."
"Come here with your apprentice."
"Looking at the appearance of this place, this drought must have lasted for a long time."
"But along the way, why can't we see bureaucrats helping us and opening warehouses to release grain?"
Mother smiled bitterly and said:
"Where is the food?"
"Since the severe drought, the wealthy businessmen in this city have begun to raise food prices. Poor families like us will soon be unable to afford food."
"Forget it, poor people like us can survive anyway."
"But... the only water source in the city was also surrounded by the county magistrate and his men."
"On weekdays, it is provided to the rich families first."
"If we want to get water, we have to buy it."
"But... where do we have the money..."
1 time, my mother choked with sobs:
"Immortals don't know."
"Just a few days ago, people died of thirst near us!"
"I still have some water at home. Thanks to my son's cleverness, he quietly stole 1 point."
"Those who really have no choice but to sell their sons to the county government in order to survive."
"I don't know... what I did."
"It's just...those children never saw their parents again!"
Nanhua Taoist's eyes were slightly closed.
Children were sold.
As for its use, I'm afraid it has something to do with the immortality magic that is currently popular in the capital.
Children have the strongest vitality, and since they are not the capital of the country, they are not easy to be caught.
It seems...the key still lies in the issue of water!
As long as the water source is solved first, these poor families will have hope of survival.
At this time, the boy who had never spoken could not help but say:
"This world! It simply doesn't allow people to live!"
"I don't know...such a country and such dog officials, why do they keep them alive!"
In an instant, an unspeakable destiny burst out from the child's body!
Taoist Nanhua, who was the only one who could see all this, took a surprised look, and secretly calculated in his heart that he actually found that the other party was qualified to be called a general!
It's just...this destiny seems a bit unstable.
The child’s mother also suddenly panicked:
"What nonsense are you talking about in front of the immortal!"
"Shut up now!"
The child suddenly felt a little aggrieved.
Taoist Nanhua smiled and waved his hand:
"Child, what is your name?"
"My name is Zhang Rao."
Taoist Nanhua nodded slightly.
"Zhang...please forgive me?"
"I see."
"Okay, it's not too early to delay. You should have a good rest."
"The day when there is water will not be too far away."
Zhang Rao, mother and son were slightly stunned.
…
After leaving Zhang Rao's home, Taoist Nanhua's brows moved.
Um?
murderous look?
Immediately, with a sway of his steps, Nanhua Taoist transformed into a bamboo leaf and disappeared from the spot.
In an instant, we came to a well.
Here, Zhang Jiao and Zhang Ping'an were having a fierce conflict with several government officials.
Many government officials had been knocked to the ground, with four limbs fractured, and they were in unbearable pain.
The remaining people, holding knives, looked nervously at the unarmed two people.
"You... you outsiders are so brave!"
"These wells were confiscated by the government, so naturally they have other uses!"
"Since you are not from here, get out of here!"
The stern words made Zhang Jiao laugh angrily.
"This is the first time I've heard that the government expropriated water wells!"
"During the severe drought, you didn't think about how to help the people, but you spent all your time on these crooked ways!"
With that said, Zhang Jiao was about to take action again.
Just when Zhang Jiao took action, a female figure suddenly appeared in the distance.
"Bang!"
As the two of them faced each other, Zhang Jiao took a few steps back.
Zhang Ping'an's pupils shrank.
Over the years, Zhang Jiao's skills have also improved significantly.
Although he is still young, there are not many people who can hurt him.
This is……
"Who are you!" Zhang Jiao stared at the woman in front of him: "Could it be...that you are the demon who protects the county government as rumored by the people!"
"My name is Hua Wuchang."
"I'm not a monster, I practice orthodoxy."
"Brother Taoist, you broke these people's limbs indiscriminately. Isn't that a little cruel?"
Zhang Jiao sneered:
"These people help the tyrants commit evil and deserve to die!"
Hua Wuchang shook his head:
"The matter of life and death is a matter of destiny and destiny."
"They were in their positions and pursuing their duties without any fault."
"If you still complain, you should see who forced them to do such a thing."
"Who is it that forced the county government to do this?"
"You failed to see the key point. You just hurt innocent people. This behavior has damaged the day."
Zhang Jiao sneered:
"Do they have any trouble to speak of?"
"Why didn't I see it?"
"Just now, most of them were still talking harshly to each other."
"You said they were not at fault?"
"They are helping the evildoers, and this is their fault!"
"They don't care about the life and death of the people and bear an official position. This is their fault!"
"You are a Taoist who is prone to arrogance. You are not very young, and your mouth is open and closed."
"What, how long does it take to be indifferent to everything?!"
Hua Wuchang shook his head, without the slightest hint of anger:
"It's not indifference. Life and death are impermanent, just like my name. Flowers bloom and fade, but it only happens overnight."
"Ordinary life and death are predetermined, there is no need to..."
Before he finished speaking, Zhang Jue lost his patience.
He drew out the peach wood sword on his back, pinched a spell, and stabbed towards Hua Wuchang with a touch of thunder.
1 puff of Hua Wuchang whisk, the same method.
The two attacks are instantly canceled out.
Zhang Ping'an, who was standing next to him, could clearly see that the methods used by this woman named Hua Wuchang were somewhat similar to those of his master, Taoist Nanhua.
Unexpectedly, all this was clearly seen by the Nanhua Taoist who was hiding in the dark.
"Such a method..."
"There is also this discussion about respecting heaven..."
"Flowers are impermanent..."
"I see."
Taoist Nanhua understood that this was one of the two disciples accepted by Taoist Ziyang.
Now it seems that this flower is indeed in a great state of mind.
Immediately after appearing, he blocked the two people with a nine-section staff.
Hua Wuchang looked at the Nanhua Taoist priest who appeared slowly and bowed:
"Uncle Master."
Nanhua Taoist shook his head:
"Your master, Taoist Ziyang, and I are old friends, but we can't be considered brothers."
"You are very polite when you call me uncle."
"The way you cultivate is quite respectful of God and forgets your emotions."
"It's just that respecting heaven and forgetting emotion is forgetting emotion after tasting all the emotions in the world."
"You are young and have never experienced this process, so you are a little cold and heartless."
Hua Wuchang didn't argue about anything.
Nanhua Taoist frowned slightly.
This verbal stimulation could not arouse her anger?
It seems that the other party has reached great success in cultivating his mind.
What a strong talent.
"Zhang Jiao, Ping An, let's go."
Nanhua Taoist shook his head:
"Oh, right."
"If your master is here, you can speak to him."
"I will never change my original intention."
"Nowadays, the ruler of the country is unjust, but he has attracted the wrath of heaven, causing disasters one after another, and hurting innocent people, but it is not appropriate."
"I will open an altar tomorrow to pray for heavy rain for this city."
"If he wants to stop it, let him do it."
"I want to see, according to what he said, my move is going against heaven. Is it a blessing or retribution?"
…
"Master, do you really want to start a forum?"
Zhang Jiao couldn't help but reveal a hint of worry in his brows.
Nanhua Taoist smiled slightly, but said nothing.
Zhang Jiao continued:
"Master once said."
"Praying for rain may seem simple, but in fact it is much more difficult than subduing demons and using talisman water to save people."
"Moreover, the implications are very serious."
Taoist Nanhua slowed down and asked:
"Today, if you were a teacher, would you ask for rain?"
Zhang Jiao was slightly stunned, but nodded heavily.
"Yes, you can pray for rain."
"It is precisely because your character is very similar to that of my master that my master will accept you as his disciple."
At this time, Zhang Jiao looked at Zhang Pingan again:
"Ping'an, how do you feel when you see these government officials today?"
Zhang Ping'an was silent for a moment, his expression seemed to have mixed feelings.
Finally, the message came:
"I... saw myself as I was before."
"Actually... I agree with Zhang Jiao's point of view."
"There is no need to force me. Sometimes...sometimes I can be condescending and punish ordinary people. I still feel..."
As if it was difficult to speak, Zhang Ping'an half said it.
Nanhua Taoist smiled softly:
"You'll feel inexplicably arrogant and cheerful, right?"
"This is the human heart."
"When people's hearts gain power and wealth, they will gradually begin to deviate from their original intentions."
"Definite number?"
"Oh……"
"If everything is determined by fate, what is the reason why we are always lonely and lonely in this world?"
"I'm very happy with your actions today."
"A compassionate heart is never something that can be discarded like worn-out shoes without knowing the future."
"The legal platform is to be built."
"Pray for rain to do."
"I want to see what kind of disturbance this place can create."
Taoist Nanhua said quietly, suddenly paused and looked at Zhang Jiao:
"By the way, there is a young man here named Zhang Rao."
"You are destined to have a destiny with him, so let's remember 12 first."
[Author's digression]: Little popular science:
The Zhang Rao mentioned in this article was one of the 36 Fangqu commanders during the Taiping Road Yellow Turban Uprising, who was in charge of the Qingzhou Yellow Turban Army.