The Peerless Emperor-Chapter 345 - 346 Repaying Kindness

Chapter 345: Chapter 346 Repaying Kindness

Shunshui State, neighboring Liujiang State which aligns under the Double Pole Palace, among the closest three cities, Yushui City was the largest.

After all, in the Emperor Qin Dynasty, even the border’s Yushui City could be compared to the Sect cities near the sea in Coastal State, styled like a fortress, emanating an aura of war.

At the city gate, crowds were lining up to enter, each one undergoing rigorous checks. Those who couldn’t provide proof of being residents had to pay a city entrance fee.

Among this crowd, a handsome young man dressed in a coarse linen robe was also slowly advancing with the queue, this person was none other than Lin Qian.

At this moment, Lin Qian looked at the long line ahead of him and turned to ask an old man behind him, “Old man, do you live in this city?”

“Of course, young man. I’ve grown up in this city since I was a child,” the old man responded with a grin, nodding his head.

“Old man, I have a rather presumptuous request. Could you let me have a look at your proof of residency?” Lin Qian, rubbing his hands together, asked with an awkward smile.

The old man was a straightforward person. Since the proof couldn’t be falsified and would be useless if stolen, he generously took it out of his pocket.

The proof was a seemingly crude piece of paper that was actually made using Artifact Refining techniques, infused with the old man’s essence.

After Lin Qian took the proof, he examined it carefully. After sensibly using his Soul Power, he gratefully returned it to the old man, “Thank you, old man. I am very grateful.”

“Don’t mention it, young man,” the old man said with a smile, looking at Lin Qian, and asked, “You don’t seem to be from Yushui City, are you from somewhere else?”

“Yes, I’ve been in Bishui Town and wanted to come to Yushui City to try my luck to see if I could join the city guard,” Lin Qian nodded and explained to the old man.

However, upon hearing Lin Qian’s words, the originally smiling old man’s expression changed, and he stepped back a couple of steps, looking at him with some disgust.

The old man’s previous warmth disappeared, and he simply looked at him indifferently.

This sudden change surprised Lin Qian. Why would the friendly old man detest him so much? Was it just because he said he intended to join the city guard in Yushui City?

“This is getting interesting,” Lin Qian turned around, stroking his chin thoughtfully, “The old man is a city dweller and yet, he abhors the city guard immensely…”

As the queue to enter the city moved on, Lin Qian soon reached the city gate.

The city guard stationed at the gate, seeing Lin Qian approach, waved impatiently, “Proof.”

Seeing this, Lin Qian quickly took out a proof and handed it to the city guard.

After the city guard checked the proof against a Soul Device he held, he said to Lin Qian, “Ten low-grade Soul Crystals, quick!”

After receiving the Soul Crystals, the city guard grabbed Lin Qian’s shoulder and yanked him forward, attempting to push him through.

Seeing the city guard’s action, Lin Qian quickly exerted some hidden strength, making it appear as if he was being pushed by the other.

Without such a trick, it would have been a pipe dream for the city guard with his strength to move Lin Qian.

After passing the city guards, Lin Qian couldn’t help but look back and noticed that the old man also paid five low-grade Soul Crystals to get through the city gates, which puzzled him.

Shouldn’t the common folk of Yushui City be able to enter the city without paying?

However, when he saw the city guards stash the Soul Crystals into their own pouches instead of placing them into the Array behind them, Lin Qian instantly understood what was happening.

At that moment, the old man also entered the city, passing by Lin Qian with a somewhat scornful expression.

Regarding this, Lin Qian simply shrugged his shoulders indifferently. After all, the old man had helped him successfully enter Yushui City, so he decided not to hold it against the elder.

Had it not been for using the old man’s identification as a reference, allowing the Fire Department to forge one, Lin Qian wouldn’t have been able to enter Yushui City so smoothly.

After entering Yushui City, Lin Qian wasn’t in a hurry to settle down but instead strolled leisurely, occasionally sending insects flying around him.

In Yushui City, Lin Qian couldn’t use his Soul Power to move quickly. Everything had to be low-key, so he had to rely on a Reconnaissance Beast to quickly grasp the layout of Yushui City.

As he walked through the city, Lin Qian also observed the city’s residents, slowly discerning some issues—people in the city seemed to have gloomy, spiritless expressions, as if lacking vitality.

Upon closer inspection, Lin Qian could see that there was no sparkle in people’s eyes, only a numbness to their actions.

Not everyone in this world used their Talent to cultivate. Many ordinary folks, probably lingered in the Entering Yuan Realm within the Basic Three Realms for their whole lives until they were old.

Slightly better off commoners might just step into the Gathering Yuan Realm in their middle age or later years, only to live a few years longer.

Yet, such commoners were the foundation. Soul Martial Artists cultivated and fought to become stronger, acquiring more resources and clearing wastelands to ensure a broader living space for the Human Clan, preventing them from becoming slaves to other races.

Ordinary commoners provided the labor, allowing the Soul Martial Artists to cultivate better—the foundation of home-building also depended entirely on them.

By reason, ordinary commoners were supposed to be protected and shouldn’t have such expressions.

Two hours after entering Yushui City, Lin Qian suddenly felt something and looked in a certain direction, then quickened his pace towards it.

In Yushui City, the area where the commoners lived was filthy and chaotic. Narrow alleys were filled with sewage, and small houses were crammed together, emitting a pungent odor.

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In this area, the old man who had entered the city gate with Lin Qian was squatting at the doorway of a small house, holding his head in his hands and crying, muttering, “I’m sorry, I didn’t take good care of Yan’er, I failed to protect Yan’er!”

Just as the old man was sobbing uncontrollably, he suddenly noticed a shadow blocking his view. Looking up, he was shocked to find the young man he had encountered when entering the city.

“You…” Seeing this young man before him, the old man was quite surprised, clearly not expecting the other to find him here.

“What are you doing here?” Seeing Lin Qian appear, the old man’s face, full of wrinkles and tear stains, asked in an unfriendly tone, especially thinking of his grandson, his fists clenched tightly.

Lin Qian looked at the old man’s eyes, filled with a resigned determination, and sighed solemnly, “Elder, you helped me enter the city, and I’m here to repay that favor by saving your grandson.”