Don't Blame You

Chapter 257 I Don’t Blame You

As Qin Mu walked along, he saw devastation everywhere, starving people running around, disasters happening everywhere, and plagues running rampant. Compared to the relatively stable territory of the Great Leiyin Temple, this place was simply hell.

Fortunately, there were many university and elementary school scholars who practiced medicine everywhere and suppressed the epidemic, otherwise the disaster would have been even worse.

The Imperial Master Yankang built a large number of primary schools and universities to replace private schools, which came in handy at this time. Although the power of each of these scholars was very weak, they were amazing when combined together, equivalent to a small sect.

Qin Mu saw that soldiers were clearing out the demons and monsters who were taking the opportunity to cause chaos, and the county magistrate was personally guarding the farmland to protect the crops and persuading the refugees to return home. The emperor's disaster relief grain would soon be transported here.

He also saw some Taoist and Buddhist disciples also doing disaster relief, but they were somewhat casual, their abilities were limited compared to the power of the country, and they only helped wherever they could. Some also took advantage of the national disaster to spread their religions, giving rise to many evil cults, but none of them became successful.

"This natural disaster cannot destroy a country like this." Qin Mu thought to himself.

The new crops have been planted, and as long as the harvest season comes, the people can settle down. The timing of this disaster in Yankang State is extremely strange. It happened just after a major turmoil that swept the country. Because of years of war, food and grass consumption is extremely high, and this snowstorm is enough to cause serious damage.

"I wonder if Imperial Master Yankang has returned to the court, and if the emperor is still providing disaster relief. And where did this natural disaster come from? This is not a disaster that can be created by holy places like the Taoist sect or the Great Leiyin Temple. It can only be caused by gods."

He looked up at the sky, wondering, why?

Why did heaven bring disaster to Yankang?

Is it for the sake of God’s tradition in the world?

Before Yankang, sects ruled the world, forming large and small countries. Some sects had ancient traditions, and some were said to be sects left by gods. So was it because the gods' tradition in the world was destroyed by Yankang Kingdom, and the gods were angry, so they sent down this natural disaster?

Or are there other deeper reasons behind this?

Qin Mu found the disciples of the Heavenly Demon Sect and asked them about it. They learned that the Heavenly Demon Sect had almost all gone out to help with the government's disaster relief, and the leaders of each hall had donated their money. They were already very poor. However, some merchants were hoarding goods, and some aristocratic families were hoarding grain and not selling it.

"The emperor was furious and executed a number of them. He also found many officials who were corrupt and had embezzled disaster relief funds, and executed a number of them. He also executed some who had taken advantage of the opportunity to sell official positions and titles."

A disciple of the Heavenly Demon Sect followed the emperor in disaster relief and saw a lot of the world. He said with great joy, "The emperor has been repeatedly assassinated, mostly by sect leaders. Fortunately, he was accompanied by civil and military officials from the court. The emperor also fought in person, and he was extremely powerful. It's a pity that the sect leader didn't go."

Qin Mu asked: "Which powerful people have assassinated the emperor?"

"I heard that it was Mr. Qiong, Tian Zhenjun and others, and some strong men from outside the Great Wall."

Qin Mu's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Have you joined forces with the leader-level strongman outside the Great Wall? Has Imperial Master Yan Kang returned?"

“Never.”

Qin Mu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Where is the emperor?"

"It's in Bazhou Prefecture, five thousand miles away."

The disciple of the Demon Cult said, "The emperor went to the south first and wiped out the noble families in the south who refused to release grain and sell it. Then he went to the north and has just arrived in Bazhou. Bazhou is relatively stable."

Qin Mu calmed down and asked, "What about the capital? How many first-rank officials are left behind?"

"Leave the crown prince as regent, and the officials of his line."

Qin Mu had a solemn expression on his face. There was a crown prince governing the country in the capital, but he had fled to the Great Leiyin Temple. The poor scholar Tian Zhenjun and others had nearly died at the hands of State Master Yankang, but were rescued by Old Tathagata, who told them that they had entered the monastery and would no longer concern themselves with worldly affairs. But now the poor scholar and others had escaped.

Add to that the fact that the prince went to see old Tathagata, and the matter became serious.

"It is said that the imperial court is the greatest holy place in the world. I wonder who will come out on top if it really collides with the Great Leiyin Temple?"

Qin Mu pondered for a moment and said, "Can you contact the heads of the various halls?"

"Now all the churches are doing disaster relief in different places, so it is difficult to contact each other. If we want to gather all the churches together, I am afraid it will take one or two months."

Qin Mu waved his hand, left, and rode on the back of the dragon unicorn to Bazhou.

Bazhou is 5,000 miles away from here, which is quite a long journey. Even with Long Qilin's strength, it would take until the next day to get there without rest. In addition, if he has to rest on the way, it is estimated that he will not be able to arrive in Bazhou until the next night.

"If my treasure ship was still there, it would be much easier. But it's a pity that it was destroyed."

Qin Mu ordered Long Qilin to hurry on his journey and promised him a bucket of food every day. Long Qilin cheered up and ran towards Bazhou on the fire cloud.

Before he knew it, it was night. Qin Mu looked up at the stars to identify the direction and ordered Long Qilin to continue on his journey. By the time the sun rose, Long Qilin was already exhausted and foaming at the mouth. He could no longer run and his steps were getting slower and slower.

Qin Mu asked him to stop, look around, identify the location, take out the Yankang geographical map and examine it carefully, only to find that the distance to Bazhou was less than a thousand miles.

Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief, fed Long Qilin, and walked forward slowly to let Long Qilin rest.

Not long after walking out, they saw a house appearing in this remote mountain area. It should be a newly built house, and everything was new. Qin Mu walked over and was about to knock on the door when it opened and a woman walked out to meet him. Both of them were startled.

"Mu'er?"

The woman had an unparalleled beauty. She was startled when she saw him. She looked around and wondered, "How did you find yourself here? I finally managed to get rid of the blind man and Master Ma, but you found me."

Qin Mu was surprised and delighted: "Grandma, why are you here?" He immediately became alert: "Are you Grandma or Li Tianxing?"

Granny Si stepped aside to let him in, saying, "I have temporarily suppressed the old devil. Although Old Tathagata failed to get rid of him, he was severely injured. I am now evenly matched with him, so I made an agreement with him. He comes out at night, and I come out during the day."

Qin Mu asked suspiciously, "If you are really the mother-in-law, why do you deliberately avoid Master Ma and Blind Grandpa? Why do you hide here?"

Granny Si rolled her eyes at him and said, "You little brat, you even dare to doubt me? If I were an old devil, would I need to make up lies to deceive you if I wanted to harm you?"

Qin Mu thought to himself that this was indeed the case. Compared to Granny Si, he was indeed very weak. If she were Li Tianxing, he wouldn't have to worry too much, so he walked into the yard.

If it was Li Tianxing, that kind of charm, just one glance from him would be enough to make her crazy, he is more feminine than any woman.

This house was very simple. After all, it had just been built and there were few pieces of furniture. Qin Mu looked around and saw that the tables and chairs were all crooked, so he felt relieved.

Granny Si is not as skilled as Grandpa Ma. She is okay at making clothes, but her carpentry skills are terrible. These tables and chairs are definitely made by Granny Si.

Qin Mu sat on the chair to rest. The chair was high on one side and low on the other, which was very awkward. He felt more relieved that it was indeed made by Granny Si. He asked curiously, "Why didn't Granny go back to Daxu?"

Granny Si shook her head and walked out of the yard. After a while, some firewood floated into the yard. She planned to make a bed.

Qin Mu did not even have time to rest and hurried forward to help. Granny Si was the saint of the religion. Even though she had lived in the Disabled Old Village for forty years, she had not learned Master Ma's craft. However, Qin Mu was proficient in making all kinds of furniture.

Granny Si couldn't help, so she went to the river to get some water, came back to polish the bronze mirror, and said, "I can't go back now. What can I do if I go back? The big market is dark at night. If the old devil comes out to make trouble again, how many days can the village chief and his old bones withstand it? It's better to stay here for a while to temper the old devil's character."

Qin Mu quickly made a large bed and moved it into the room. Seeing that she had polished the mirror so much that it had bumps and dents all over it, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He quickly took over, transformed his energy into White Tiger energy, and then after some calculations, he polished the energy thread carefully, polished the bronze mirror smooth, and then went on to make a dressing table.

Granny Si saw Long Qilin lying on the ground and snoring, and also saw Qin Mu's bloodshot eyes and exhausted, so she said, "You've been traveling all night? Go get some sleep first."

"You're not leaving?"

“No.”

Qin Mu felt relieved and fell asleep on the bed. There was no bedding here, but he was used to sleeping in the open air, so he fell into a deep sleep soon.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Mu woke up half asleep and saw Granny Si staring at the bronze mirror on the dressing table, holding a pair of scissors in her hand, pointing them at her face.

"Mother-in-law!" Qin Mu said hurriedly.

Granny Si turned around, put down the scissors, smiled, and said softly: "The Tathagata said that there is only one way to get rid of the inner demon, and that is to make him no longer be attached to this face. Mu'er, I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to hurt you..."

Qin Mu saw her picking up the scissors again, and tears rolled down his cheeks: "Mother-in-law, I don't blame you... I have never blamed you..."

"I can't do it!"

Granny Si was dejected, put down the scissors, and said with a smile: "Mu'er, come and help me."

Qin Mu got up from the bed, took the scissors from her hand, and gently placed them in her small basket.

"It's not your fault. No one can blame you. You have been hiding for more than 40 years. You haven't shown your true face to anyone for more than 40 years."

He squatted down and looked up at the face that was so beautiful that there was no other face like it. It was the true face of the person who raised him. Qin Mu smiled and said, "If it were me, I could hold on for a day or two, but I can't hold on for more than 40 years. It's not your fault how you look. What beautiful woman is willing to cover her face forever and meet people with an old face?"

He stood up and said, "Mother-in-law, I will get rid of Li Tianxing. You stay here, I will go to Bazhou, something might happen there."

Granny Si nodded slightly.

Qin Mu walked out of the room, turned around and smiled, "Mother-in-law, eat and drink as you should, don't abuse yourself."

"You little rascal, you're here to teach me a lesson again!" Granny Si said angrily.

Qin Mu laughed, kicked Long Qilin awake, and shouted, "Still sleeping? Get up and get going!"