I am a living immortal.

Chapter 557: Strange Corpse

Chengde River, also known as the border, is home to Yujiang Pass. While it's called a "pass," it's actually a massive dock. The Dayan Navy was stationed here, gazing out over neighboring states.

Because of its border location and its proximity to the Chengde River, several of the counties here were prosperous. Whether through cross-border trade or simply relying on the water, they were able to thrive. However, this prosperity was supposed to last. No one would be foolish enough to cross the Chengde River and attack the flourishing Great Yan, at least not in their generation. However, things are unpredictable. Although no one attacked the Yan Dynasty, war broke out next door.

News of Lin's impending demise reached the people of Yujiang Pass, even across a vast river. At first, they dismissed it as a joke. After all, while Lin wasn't as powerful as Dayan, it was still a formidable nation. But as they began to laugh, countless refugees began to arrive across the river.

Many people woke up to find many strangers from other countries on the streets. Some were pale and thin, some looked disheveled, and some brought their families with them. Those from wealthy families were undoubtedly welcomed, as wealth knows no borders. However, the wealthy were ultimately a minority, while the majority wandered the streets in disarray, starving and in disarray.

Those who could enter the city were generally fine. The truly unbearable thing was the throngs of people outside the city gates. Having waded through the mighty river, they were inevitably tainted by its odor. Furthermore, countless people had already perished in the Chengde River. The stench, combined with a hint of decay, was permeable even from several meters away under the scorching sun. Yet, the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, of people stranded outside the city resembled a vast garbage dump. The smell spread throughout the town on the slightest breeze.

This wasn't all. The scorching sun was even more terrifying, and dysentery was even more terrifying. If the government hadn't prepared early, it would have nearly led to a disaster. The arrival of refugees wasn't just about making a living. These scattered incidents combined to exacerbate conflicts with the locals. There was a constant influx of people.

The first to protest were restaurants, teahouses, and snack shops. Who could possibly have an appetite in such an environment? Then came the city's inhabitants. While the government hadn't opened the gates to let anyone in, the smell still wafted through. The authorities didn't dare act rashly; a riot involving tens of thousands of people was no joke.

Distribute porridge, build shelters, apply medicine, reduce the heat, and report to the court. Fortunately, Wei Ming took on this difficult task. He has extensive connections, and the court is now generous. With so much money to spare, he decided to do some charity and accumulate merit. After all, three bowls of thin porridge a day, nothing more, just enough to keep from starving. Even if there are so many people, it won't cost much if it is shared among the counties.

If you want to eat well, then work hard. It's all about labor. Generally speaking, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. After that initial chaotic period, things settled down considerably. The effectiveness of work-for-relief programs was evident. The government did everything it could. Over the past six months, many county towns have been filled with shacks, known as "outer towns" by those within the city. However, these people don't have household registration. The only way to get household registration is to buy land. If there isn't enough land, reclaim wasteland.

But that was only on the surface. Internally, fights and brawls were on the rise. The outsiders outnumbered the locals, and some of the more cunning ones weren't satisfied. They wanted to rally some more people. After Wei Ming's ruthless execution, they became more docile. But the more people there were, the more chaotic the place became, and the more all kinds of people flourished.

Another six months passed. A unique order had developed here, a sense of order amidst chaos. The wealthy moved into the towns or used connections to leave. The talented received preferential treatment from the government. The rest had to wait for the court's arrangements. The court was primarily considering whether to infiltrate these people into the Yan Dynasty or relocate them once the Yan Dynasty had swallowed up some of the neighboring states. If they couldn't decide, they would simply leave them alone and see how the situation developed.

Wei Ming couldn't help but sigh every time he walked down the street. He was flanked by several members of the Demon Slayer Division, all dressed in black and stern-faced. Firstly, they wanted to protect this lord. While the Outer City was much better than it had been at the beginning, it was still a mixed bag, and any surprises were imminent. Secondly, the Demon Slayer Division was helpless this time. They'd heard this lord had extensive connections, so they had no choice but to turn to him for help.

"Get out of the way!" The Demon Slayers waved the crowd aside, leading Wei Ming deeper into the area. The tents were rising higher and higher. Near the city wall, they blocked out the sky. While not eerie, it wasn't quite comfortable either. The people here were also acting strangely, looking at Wei Ming as if he were a commodity.

Of course, they looked at the Demon Slayers with the same gaze, probably assessing their worth. They were all men who lived on the edge of a knife. He could sense that there were many such people in the outer city. They were usually from underworld gangs or assassin organizations.

These people aren't like those described in the novels, who will do anything for you for money. Such people exist, but they don't appear here. They have some skills, but they're not enough in the face of war, so they've ended up here. They're tougher than the average person; after all, they live on the edge of a knife and won't resort to hard labor. So they hide in the outer city, "taking orders." It's true. Wherever there are people, there are grudges. And once a murderer enters the outer city, ordinary people can't really tell who's who. Because it's a mixed bag. Until the imperial court prepares to completely purge it, this is the safest place.

Wei Ming knew about them, of course, but there was nothing he could do. This time, he wasn't here to cause trouble. The Demon Slayer led him through many twists and turns into a room. It was already crowded with onlookers. They were pointing and talking, seemingly discussing something. The Demon Slayer handed him a silk handkerchief. The closer they got, the stronger the unpleasant smell became. It was the smell of a rotting corpse. Fortunately, the onlookers, under such circumstances, were not easy to deal with.

Wei Ming covered his nose and walked into a shed. It was a relatively spacious and elaborate structure for the area. It was a strange structure made of various wooden planks and iron nails. But within this structure, several people gathered around. But they could no longer be considered human. Their bloated bodies exuded a rotten smell. They looked like giants, and beneath their bodies was sewage, a foul stench. Their movements were also strange. Their bloated bodies knelt on their knees, prostrating themselves on the ground in a state of prayer. Other than that, there was nothing unusual.

This was also why the Demon Slayers had no clue what was going on. Besides the swollen, soaked giant corpses and the strange prayer movements, there was nothing else unusual. No demonic energy, no yin energy, not even resentment.