In that case, let's call him Lu Mountain Scholar.
Knock, knock.
Liu Shuyue had just put down her pen when she heard the sound of knocking on the talisman pasted on the inside of her door.
That indicated someone was touching her door.
Not the number 201 cave abode in the shop, but the lodging room at the government office.
She put down her pen, left the cave abode through the back door by the pond, and returned to her room in the government office, where the muffled knocking was already clearly audible.
"Immortal Master, are you in there?"
"Sorry to disturb you at this hour, but I have urgent matters to discuss!"
Liu Shuyue tidied her clothes, put on her outer robe, and then opened the door. Standing outside was the second-in-command of Zhangwei City, County Magistrate Tang.
He cupped his hands and said, "General Gong has just arrived in Zhangwei with a large contingent. He carries a decree from the king and is now waiting in the Martial Hall, seeking an immediate meeting with the Immortal Master."
"From the Royal City?" Liu Shuyue's spirits lifted.
"Yes."
"I'll head over right away."
A team from the Royal City could only be escorting relief supplies. The Gong Family's general was no nobody; all the young and old of the Gong Family held positions in the imperial army and had always been favored by the current ruler.
Although the instant noodles were tasty and filling, it was clear that the shop couldn't keep supplying them indefinitely. As long as they got through the toughest initial period, it would be fine once the relief grains from each state came through. Liu Shuyue estimated it would take about half a month initially, but she hadn't expected that the Royal City would arrive within just a week.
Being so quick also meant traveling light, so the supplies on the carriage likely weren't much.
"How much money and grain did they bring?" Liu Shuyue asked. "If the Lord doesn't mind, I can oversee the distribution."
The County Magistrate's gaze flickered slightly. "I don't know about that... you'll have to ask the general yourself when the time comes."
Upon entering the Martial Hall, Liu Shuyue immediately spotted General Gong—specifically, Gong Lingwu, the youngest son of the Gong Family. The last time she had seen him was five years ago in the Royal City. He was the epitome of a prodigal son, fond of patrols and stirring trouble, with a terrible reputation. Who would have thought he now donned armor and cloak, serving the ruler?
Normally, Liu Shuyue wouldn't even give such a person a second look.
But as this was official business, she still took the initiative to salute with clasped fists, saying, "General Gong, you must be tired from the long journey. What business do you have with me?"
"The king has a decree for you."
Gong Lingwu drew a scroll from his backpack.
As a sect disciple, her status was special, so she was not required to kneel unless meeting the king in person. Therefore, Liu Shuyue merely nodded slightly, waiting silently for the decree.
"Immortal Master Liu Shuyue, upon receipt of this decree, proceed immediately to the Royal City without delay." General Gong closed the decree and handed it over with one hand. "That's all there is."
With just a few words, Liu Shuyue felt a shock in her heart.
It wasn't about subduing demons, nor about pacifying the people... Just a simple order to return?
But the ruler couldn't possibly not know that she had been traveling around for years, rarely returning to the center.
"Are you going to take it or not? Refusing means defying the decree," Gong Lingwu said impatiently.
Liu Shuyue could only accept it, even though she thought to herself that she would no longer have the chance to work with Chen Xuan in caring for the refugees. "I understand."
"Good. The higher-ups are pushing for it, so rest for the night, and set out with me in the morning."
Set out with him?
There's not even enough time to unload the goods overnight, is there?
"What about the relief grain money? Aren't you staying to supervise its storage?"
"What grain money? Did you send it?" Gong Lingwu sneered. "The orders I received didn't include disaster relief. I brought so many people to suppress riots. Since you're leaving, it's natural to leave more troops in Zhangwei City without the Immortal Master here..."
Liu Shuyue couldn't hear his words anymore.
Only one phrase kept echoing in her mind.
What grain money?
What grain money?
What grain money?
She looked at the Governor and the County Magistrate standing beside her, both expressionless like stone Buddhas, neither surprised nor angry, just listening quietly to the general's sneering.
"You... you knew all along?"
"Well, I really didn't know beforehand," Shen Fang coughed, "It's just that I've heard that grain is tightening up everywhere, and wanting to spare some for refugees might be difficult—"
"You're not short of food!" Liu Shuyue couldn't help but cut him off loudly. "This year isn't a famine year, except for Qing State being harmed by demons. How could other states and cities not spare relief grains!?"
After all, when refugees sold the instant noodles at high prices, they were able to buy grain with money, which is the best proof!
"Those big noble clans are merely insatiable!"
Shen Fang sighed lightly, "Firstly, it's understandable if they want to sell goods at higher prices, and secondly... that's not the main reason why other states can't spare grain."
"Immortal Master Liu, do you really know nothing?" Gong Lingwu coldly smiled. "At this time of national life and death, you're still only thinking about a few refugees in Qing State. Don't make me laugh."
Life and death? Liu Shuyue looked at him.
What was he talking about?
"The Luo Kingdom now has hundreds of thousands of troops on the border, and camped for a hundred miles. All evidence indicates that within one or two years at most, they will launch a large-scale invasion of our Great Qi! War is about to break out, Liu Shuyue! And the leader on their side is the first disciple of the Lotus Cloud Sect, Immortal Lan Qin!" He pointed at Liu Shuyue fiercely, "Look at what they're doing, then look at you—if Great Qi loses, you'll be the culprit!"
Lan Qin wants to help the Luo Kingdom invade Qi Kingdom?
How could that be?
The duty of a sect disciple is to assist the kingdom, ensuring the world runs orderly and all living creatures thrive, isn't it?
"There must be some misunderstanding!" Liu Shuyue said, disbelief in her eyes, "Let me write a letter to Senior Sister Lan Qin..."
"No need, what you should do is emulate the Immortal Masters of the Luo Kingdom, pass on powerful cultivation techniques and Immortal Techniques to the generals, and better yet, bear some offspring for the king, so when we enter a prolonged war, we'll be able to hold out." Gong Lingwu shrugged flippantly, "I was always puzzled as to why the Immortal Masters of Great Qi were never around. Assisting the ruler and strengthening the royal family should be the duty of an Immortal Master, shouldn't it? It's because the present ruler is lenient, allowing you to indulge until today."
So that's why the Governor of Zhangwei disagreed with large-scale grain distribution... Liu Shuyue glanced at Shen Fang, as he too was waiting, waiting for the ruler's reaction! Once today is over, even that bit of thin porridge might not be available.
Once a state of war preparation begins, every place will need to procure grain for the military, naturally unwilling to spare any for the refugees in Qing State.
"By the way, why is it so calm here? I thought since they've been hungry for so many days, they'd have started something by now," General Gong curiously asked, "Lord Shen, you wouldn't have secretly provided relief to the refugees, would you?"
"I haven't. I've just maintained small-scale porridge distribution, keeping the refugees gathered here so they wouldn't scatter everywhere," Shen Fang replied immediately. "Thanks to Immortal Master's miraculous technique, refugees have been able to share a convenient food called instant noodles, so they haven't gone hungry."
"Ah? There's an Immortal Technique that can turn into food?" Gong Lingwu was momentarily stunned, then delighted, "Good! In this way, the military can have food wherever they go! Do the refugees still have food distributed by the Immortal Master?"
"Yes, they do."
"I trouble you to gather it up; I want to take it all with me."
"This..." Shen Fang was momentarily hesitant.
"What are you afraid of? I give you my soldiers to command; they can't stir up any trouble." General Gong scornfully glanced at Liu Shuyue. "Just kill those who refuse; after all, once the Immortal Master leaves, they'll starve to death anyway, sending them on their way early is a kind of mercy, isn't it?"