Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 166 - 140: The Strange Shengshan County (Part 2)

Chapter 166: Chapter 140: The Strange Shengshan County (Part 2)

"Xu Yuan...."

Ran Qingmo suddenly spoke up.

Xu Yuan snapped back to reality, slightly turned his eyes, and replied in a low voice:

"What’s wrong?"

Ran Qingmo gazed at the refugees on both sides under her veil, fell silent for a moment, then still shook her head:

"Nothing."

Xu Yuan glanced at her, sighed softly, and said:

"The emergence of refugee camps like this is actually an inevitable outcome of the current situation."

"Inevitable?" Ran Qingmo’s eyes filled with confusion.

Xu Yuan didn’t speak, but quietly asked:

"Haven’t you seen places like this before?"

Ran Qingmo pondered for a short while, then shook her head:

"I’ve seen them. Before I went out to travel, my master took me to see many things, including places like this one."

Xu Yuan raised his eyebrows and asked:

"What... did he say to you about it?"

Ran Qingmo pondered again, then said in a low voice:

"Master told me that I shouldn’t interfere with humans fighting each other, but if demonic beasts harry the common folk, I must help if it’s within my power, otherwise, there will be more and more of these pitiable people."

Xu Yuan was silent for a moment, shook his head, and said:

"I wasn’t asking you about that. I mean did he tell you why there are refugees in this world?"

"...."

Ran Qingmo’s eyes flickered, and she nodded:

"He did."

"What did he tell you?"

"Master said, on one hand, it’s because officials of the Imperial Court are corrupt, and on the other, the Imperial Court only allows us, the disciples of the sects, to operate within the initial boundaries set and are powerless to control these areas themselves. Even if the common folk are victimized by demonic beasts, the Imperial Court won’t allow us to help."

"....."

Xu Yuan felt somewhat at a loss upon hearing this.

The words of Ran Qingmo’s master were true, but they were also false.

The Imperial Court does not allow sects to be stationed in areas permanently, not that they forbid them from venturing out to eliminate demonic beasts.

As for the corruption of officials... indeed it exists, but it is not the main reason.

Ran Qingmo noticed the expression in Xu Yuan’s eyes, hesitated slightly, and asked in a low voice:

"Did I... say something wrong?"

Xu Yuan, looking at the mud on the ground of the refugee camp formed of blood and icy water, sighed:

"You’re wrong, but also not wrong."

"Huh?" Ran Qingmo’s eyes showed confusion.

Xu Yuan looked at her, untainted by dust, was silent for a few breaths, and said softly:

"Ran Qingmo, what do you think sects are?"

"They are family," Ran Qingmo replied as a matter of course.

"No, I mean in terms of the Dayan Empire."

"Aiding forces that co-govern the world."

"....."

Xu Yuan, hearing this, suddenly felt a desire to laugh, a genuine desire to laugh.

Because Ran Qingmo’s answer was exactly what the official histories written by the Imperial Court said.

"Why are you laughing?" Big Ice Lump seemed somewhat displeased.

Xu Yuan cleared his throat, shook his head and said:

"It might have been true at the beginning, but not anymore."

"Why not?" Ran Qingmo asked.

The wind moved her veil, revealing the fair skin beneath it.

Xu Yuan, walking alongside her, said softly:

"Because the Imperial Court is almost unable to suppress the sects.

"In other words, the Imperial Court and the sects have essentially taken up opposing sides, and for the Imperial Court, the sects are no longer a supporting force but parasites."

"....."

Under the veil, Ran Qingmo’s lips tightened.

Xu Yuan, pointing toward the slum area, said:

"Ran Qingmo, your master was right, the Imperial Court indeed does not allow sects to venture out, but what your master probably meant was that they don’t allow sects to establish their own enclaves."

"Why not?" Ran Qingmo asked.

"Why what?" Xu Yuan asked.

"Why won’t the Imperial Court allow sects to establish branch locations?"

Ran Qingmo asked earnestly, "Master said that if disciples of the sect leave Tianyuan Mountain to eliminate demonic beasts, the journey there and back is too far and time-consuming. We must establish outposts in other places to eliminate those harmful demonic beasts rapidly. If outposts are established, our sect’s disciples could reside there permanently, and the common folk could directly seek our aid in times of trouble."

Xu Yuan, looking at Ran Qingmo, rubbed his brow and spoke with a note of helplessness:

"Indeed that would be convenient, but a precedent cannot be set. Now the sects already do not pay taxes. If this precedent is set, and the sects establish outposts, it would be difficult for the Imperial Court to reclaim control over those areas. Ten years... ten years is too short, I suppose after a hundred years, perhaps this vast Dayan land will be devoured by the sects and become the Sect’s domain.

"So,

"The Imperial Court would rather neglect their life or death than let your sects take over."

"....."

Ran Qingmo, upon hearing this, showed a flicker of understanding in her beautiful eyes:

"Isn’t there a solution to this?"

Xu Yuan smiled at this, his tone leisurely:

"Actually, it’s quite simple to solve the issue of these homeless people.

"As long as either the sects or the Imperial Court yields, if the sects are willing to pay taxes, or the Imperial Court agrees to let you establish outposts, either of these two solutions would make it possible for these homeless individuals to live and work in peace and contentment. After all, the current strength of the Dayan really is quite formidable."

But saying this,

Xu Yuan shook his head, a bizarre and mocking smile playing at the corner of his lips:

"However, this is impossible. The Emperor will never cede power, and the sects will not give in either. This is also why my father has chosen to destroy your Tianyuan Sword Sect."

"...."

As the words fell, during the silence, there was a hint of sadness in Ran Qingmo’s beautiful eyes:

"It seems... there’s no room for turning back."

She sensed the insurmountable barrier in communication between the sects and the Imperial Court.

Xu Yuan raised his hand and patted her arm.

Ran Qingmo looked up, her gaze passing through the veil toward him.

He smiled at her with a bend in his eyes:

"Don’t worry, I will try my best to create an opportunity for you."

She bit her lip and nodded lightly:

"Okay..."

...

...

The two did not speak again, advancing quietly together.