Chương 90: Free Publicity

While Fang Cheng and Li Shuyan were still talking, Li Sanshui and Wang Hu were already escorting Tang Yue toward White Flower City's north gate. They planned to personally see this idiot out of the city before he caused any more trouble. At the gate, they went to the guard room and woke up a soldier who was slumped over the table, drooling, and told him to open the gate. The soldier yawned, stretched, and replied, "Magistrate Li, we have to follow the principle of harmony with nature.

The gate stays closed at night." Li Sanshui gritted his teeth at the soldier's indifferent attitude, but he couldn't do anything about it. This man was Squad Leader Zhang's brother and didn't answer to him. This was the worst part about Fang Cheng. Ever since that bastard became City God, Li Sanshui's authority had been steadily eroded.

Now the entire city's economy was run by Qin Hao, public security was handled by Squad Leader Zhang, and he, the rightful magistrate, had been reduced to a clerk managing population records. What made it worse was that the people all supported Fang Cheng, not him. It was infuriating.

"This is the City God's order," Li Sanshui told the soldier. Hearing it was the City God's command, the soldier's expression turned serious. He stood at attention, bowed, and after confirming the situation, turned and opened the gate. A few minutes later, the gate slowly swung open. Li Sanshui had Wang Hu untie the ropes, then pushed Tang Yue out of the city.

"Idiot, while our wise and great City God hasn't changed his mind, you'd better run. If you wait until morning, once he comes to his senses, you won't be able to leave!" Tang Yue looked up at Li Sanshui and spat on the ground in contempt.

"Shameless, numb mortal. Do you think I'd believe you? It's all a facade. Back at the Yamen, I trusted you, and you deceived me..." His voice grew hoarse with grief and despair. He wanted to wail, but his strong will held it back.

"Li, you mortal. You think you're clever? No. You've been bewitched by those evil cultivators. You're a slave to demons. I truly pity you. I pity you, and I despise you!"

"Yes, yes. I'm pitiful. Now stop pitying me and get out of my sight." Li Sanshui couldn't be bothered to argue with this fool. He just wanted to get back to the Yamen and finish his plan. Wang Hu suddenly slapped his forehead.

"Magistrate, I remember the City God said we should give him some silver. Did you forget?" I forgot on purpose, you idiot! Li Sanshui shot Wang Hu a glare. He wanted to spit on his face. You're usually so forgetful, but now you remember? And Fang Cheng won't reimburse us. Why should we give him anything? Tang Yue heard their exchange and snorted.

"Ridiculous mortals. Do you think I'd accept your sugar-coated bullets? Never. Just wait. I will return with awakened humans and overthrow the cultivators' evil rule. I will save you ignorant fools." Wang Hu was furious.

"You'd dare come back and cause trouble? You're asking for death. I'll lock you up right now and send you to the southern wasteland to work and experience the hardships of the laboring people!" The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He raised his fist to strike, but Li Sanshui quickly stopped him and whispered:"Bringing people back is good! White Flower City needs more people! Haha, let this idiot go out and bring them in for us. Saves us the trouble..."

The more Li Sanshui thought about it, the more brilliant it seemed. The people Tang Yue brought back wouldn't be loyal to Fang Cheng. That meant Li Sanshui could win them over, use them to secretly oppose Fang Cheng, and take back his power. Haha! Perfect! He started laughing to himself, grinning like a fool. Wang Hu listened to Li Sanshui and suddenly understood. But his thoughts were different from the magistrate's.

He figured that once those people came to White Flower City and saw its prosperity and the generous treatment from the City God, they wouldn't cause trouble like this idiot. They'd stay willingly and throw themselves into production and daily life, contributing to White Flower City. So Wang Hu pulled out his own silver and tried to force it on Tang Yue. Tang Yue, of course, refused with righteous indignation. The two went back and forth, nearly coming to blows.

Wang Hu said, "How are you going to recruit people without money?" Tang Yue replied, "I don't need to recruit the numb and ignorant. The awakened will join the organization on their own." Wang Hu said, "You still need money to buy food." Tang Yue replied, "I never go hungry. In the mountains and forests, there are wild chickens and rabbits to eat. In towns and villages, though the mortals are ignorant, they are kind, and they give me food.

Whenever that happens, I mourn their numbness, yet I'm moved by their kindness. It reminds me of how difficult the road ahead is, and how heavy the burden on my shoulders. As an awakened one, I must protect these pitiful mortals and free them from the corruption of the demonic cultivators..." Wang Hu couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. This was the first time he'd heard anyone describe begging in such an elegant and convincing way. It was as if it were the noblest of acts. Truly impressive.

Li Sanshui, meanwhile, was practically dancing with joy. This was free propaganda for labor!

"Perfect, Tang Yue! Stick to your beliefs. Money is just a sugar-coated bullet. Don't take it. Go out there and do your thing. I hope that when you return to White Flower City, you'll have thousands or even tens of thousands of hardworking, brave, and kind idiot soldiers behind you, and like you, they won't want any money..." Tang Yue saw Li Sanshui's disgusting grin and felt even more revulsion. No. This mortal was trying to manipulate him. He wouldn't let him have his way. You said not to take money? Fine.

Then I'll take it.

"Hmph. In that case, I'll accept your sugar-coated bullets." Tang Yue took the silver from Wang Hu. That wasn't enough. He walked up to Li Sanshui and, using his brute strength, searched him. Sure enough, Li Sanshui had a bulging money pouch tucked in his robes. Tang Yue snatched it, opened it, and pulled out over a thousand taels in banknotes plus two large gold ingots. Li Sanshui panicked and tried to grab it back, but his scrawny frame was no match for the martial-arts-trained Tang Yue. He turned to Wang Hu.

"Get it back!" Wang Hu shook his head.

"Magistrate, the idiot needs money to recruit his army. I trust he won't waste it. You should trust him too."

"Are you insane?! That's my life savings! He's a beggar! He doesn't need that much money just to recruit people!" Li Sanshui screamed, nearly coughing up blood. Wang Hu still wouldn't budge. Li Sanshui had no choice but to turn to the soldier at the gate. The soldier shrugged.

"From what I can tell, this idiot's your new public relations guy. Giving him money makes sense. No money, no work." Seeing Li Sanshui's furious, helpless expression, Tang Yue felt an inexplicable satisfaction. He stuffed the money into his robes and said to Li Sanshui, "I'll take your sugar-coated bullets. And I'll prove to you that my heart is just, my spirit is bright, and I won't be corrupted by anyone's temptations..." With that, he turned and strode off toward the west.

At the last moment, he looked back and said, "Just wait. In the near future, I will lead countless awakened ones back to save White Flower City from demonic rule!"

"No, no, no! Come back! That's my money! I worked so hard for it!" Li Sanshui screamed hysterically, his eyes wide with rage. If Wang Hu hadn't been holding him back, he might have run off with Tang Yue, far away from this cursed White Flower City and its even more cursed City God. Oh, my money...