In the days that followed, a large number of disaster victims indeed arrived outside Rising Dragon City. In just a few days, two to three hundred thousand refugees had gathered outside the city. The vast sea of people attracted many onlookers.

Rising Dragon Commandery is the administrative center of the Shannan Circuit, and the Commandery Governor is concurrently the Circuit Governor of Shannan. The current Circuit Governor is named Zhou Lü, who happens to be from the Hexi Circuit.

Zhou Lü stood atop the city wall, looking down at the refugees below. His eyes showed not a hint of pity; instead, a faint smile hung on his lips.

A family servant handed a letter to Zhou Lü, wearing a fawning smile as he said, "Master, we've just received a letter from home. The family has acquired quite a bit of good land this time!"

"Did you pay them?"

"Rest assured, Master, the money has been paid. The family knows you value your reputation, so we bought the land from those people. However, grain has become quite precious lately, so we exchanged it for grain. The land was quite cheap!"

"We can buy grain here and send it back, and its value will increase dozens of times. Whether it's silver or fertile land, it's all flowing into our family!"

"Heh!"

Zhou Lü chuckled softly, pointing at the starving masses below, "These ignorant fools are so shortsighted. This drought will pass in a couple of years if they just hold on. Why sell their fertile land and leave their homes?"

The servant's expression froze momentarily, then he quickly nodded and bowed, saying repeatedly, "Master, you're absolutely right. These people are so foolish."

"Is there enough grain stored at home?"

"Master, we haven't spent much silver. The grain storage says there's still some left, but many people are willing to exchange land for grain. The family wants us to send some over."

Zhou Lü pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Talk to the grain merchants in the city, buy more grain and send it back, exchange it for some land."

"Yes, Master!"

...

Below the city wall.

Gu Changge withdrew his gaze slowly under the urging of the young Daoist acolyte, continuing to walk forward with a calm expression.

"Senior Brother, what were you looking at just now?"

Qingfeng caught up from behind, asking curiously.

Gu Changge replied indifferently, "Perhaps people, perhaps something else."

"Huh?"

The young acolyte looked at him, bewildered.

Gu Changge turned to look at him, patted his head, and smiled faintly, "You're still young and don't understand these things. Maybe you'll understand when you grow up."

"Tch!"

Qingfeng pursed his lips, his lively eyes darting around.

"Senior Brother!"

He suddenly clung to Gu Changge's sleeve, calling out in a coquettish and ingratiating voice that made one's skin crawl.

Gu Changge paused, feeling slightly nauseated, and could only look down at Qingfeng helplessly.

Find the original at "pawread.com".

Do you know you're a boy?

If it were a little girl, that would be one thing, but a boy really isn't suited for this kind of behavior.

He naturally understood Qingfeng's intention, so he casually took out a handful of copper coins and tossed them to Qingfeng, saying, "Go explore on your own. I'll come find you later."

Qingfeng happily accepted them, looking up at Gu Changge with a puzzled expression, "Senior Brother, how will you find me later?"

Or rather, can you really find me?

The young acolyte thought to himself.

He didn't quite believe Gu Changge could find him, given how large Rising Dragon City was. Finding someone in this vast sea of people was no easy task.

Gu Changge glanced at him, lightly tapped his head, and said, "How I find you is my concern. Otherwise, you can just keep following me."

"Hehe! No need, I'll explore on my own!"

Qingfeng's eyes twinkled as he turned around with a bright smile, running off joyfully with the coins.

Watching the young acolyte's retreating figure, Gu Changge shook his head.

...

At the blacksmith's shop.

Inside, the atmosphere was bustling, with the sound of metal clashing incessantly.

Gu Changge, dressed in a Daoist robe, visited, and the blacksmith naturally noticed him immediately.

The owner of the blacksmith's shop was a burly man with a bare chest.

He stood up from the anvil, picked up a sweat cloth to wipe his sweat, and smiled at Gu Changge, "Little Daoist Priest, you're right on time. I've prepared everything you asked for."

Gu Changge nodded slightly.

The blacksmith led Gu Changge to a corner, pointing to a pile of ore, "These are the ores you wanted. I've refined them for you."

Other blacksmiths, taking advantage of their downtime, curiously glanced over while hammering away.

A few days ago.

Gu Changge had visited the blacksmith's shop.

But strangely, he wasn't there to buy farming tools or weapons; he wanted to buy some ore.

This request was unusual.

And with Gu Changge's Daoist robe, he left a deep impression on them.

One blacksmith asked, "Little Daoist Priest, don't you want us to forge something for you?"

"Our blacksmith shop's craftsmanship is among the best in Rising Dragon City. Whether you need farming tools or anything else, we can handle it."

"No need."

Gu Changge gently shook his head, glancing at the items in the corner.

These ores were intended for refining tools. When he broke through to the Yuanfu Realm, he acquired several secret techniques, including the "Void Sword Scripture," an offensive secret technique that required a sword to perform.

Although he could buy some swords directly, he also had another refining secret technique, the "Heaven and Earth Furnace Scripture," so he naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to experiment.

Seeing that Gu Changge had no such intention, the blacksmith shop owner had to give up on this business.

But seeing Gu Changge's somewhat slender figure, he couldn't help but laugh, "Little Daoist Priest, these ores weigh several hundred pounds."

"You probably can't carry them back alone. Why not hire a cart, and we'll help you load it?"

"Do you have any straw ropes?"

Gu Changge asked him.

The blacksmith shop owner was taken aback, then nodded and had someone bring out some straw ropes.

Gu Changge took the ropes and casually wove a net, walked over, and tossed all the ores into it. Then he stood up, easily lifting it with a satisfied smile on his face.

The blacksmiths watching this scene were all stunned.

Good heavens!

These ores weighed two to three hundred pounds!

Even though they had been forging for years and many had martial arts skills, they couldn't easily lift two to three hundred pounds with one hand.

The key was that Gu Changge seemed to do it effortlessly!

In an instant!

Their perception of Gu Changge changed.

This little Daoist priest was actually a master!

After feeling the weight, Gu Changge turned and placed several prepared silver ingots on the counter, saying, "This is the remaining balance. I'll take the items now."

The blacksmith shop owner snapped back to reality, hurriedly and respectfully saying, "Daoist Priest, take care!"

At this moment, even his form of address changed.

Dropping the "little" from his earlier words, strength commands respect everywhere.

Once Gu Changge had walked far away, the blacksmiths in the shop began to discuss animatedly, each feeling incredulous.

"Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover. This little Daoist priest seems to have quite the martial arts skills!"

"This might be what they call a genius."

"He's incredible. Judging by his demeanor, he could probably lift five to six hundred pounds with one hand. Boss, what rank do you think this little Daoist priest is?"

A blacksmith asked the shop owner.

In this blacksmith shop, the owner had the highest martial arts rank, at the Middle 3 Ranks.

The shop owner thought for a moment and said solemnly, "At least Upper 3 Ranks, maybe even the Postnatal Realm!"

Postnatal Realm?

The blacksmiths were all taken aback.

Each one looked at the departing figure of Gu Changge with disbelief in their eyes.