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Sun Jinfang was taken aback and cried out in despair, “The heroic Sect Head of the Cao Family has unexpectedly become the messenger for the Mi Clan today Is it worth it?”

Cao Xiong’s face was numb, and he made a bow of the hands: “Master Sun, you overpraise, I’m just trying to carve out a survival path for my clan. Wouldn’t you do the same?”

Sweet talk of friendship and enmity was easy, but what about the elderly and the weak of their clans, left behind? The casual demeanor of warriors was likely just a story from a picture book. The greater the power in this world, the greater the responsibility. That’s why sometimes they could only bow.

“I cannot leave Red Cloud Mountain.” Sun Jinfang said with a dry voice, “Please thank Mr. Mi for his kindness on my behalf.”

Under normal circumstances, he would just wave his sleeve and leave What did he have to do with the mighty Mi Family? But right now, countless refugees are languishing on top of Red Cloud Mountain, waiting for the life-saving spiritual grass. Even though he knows the supplies from the Mi Clan will not come easily, he can only humbly accept.

“Alas!” sighed Cao Xiong, “Why must Master Sun be so obstinate…” Without finishing his sentence, he shook his head helplessly. Having known Sun Jinfang for over twenty years, Cao Xiong naturally knew how high-minded this doctor was. Nevertheless, given the current situation, even if Sun Jinfang didn’t surrender to the Mi Clan now, he would have to eventually.

“Please do me the favor of transporting the supplies to the Du Clan on Red Cloud Mountain.” Although Sun Jinfang hadn’t obtained a full quota of spiritual grass from the Cao Family, hundreds of grass portions, along with a hundred thousand rations, could alleviate the immediate crisis on Red Cloud Mountain. If all the influential families could contribute an equal share like this, that plague would be eased. Sun Jinfang, who had put personal honor and disgrace aside, was already acting like a merchant, planning to go to each family and beg for spiritual medicine.

Seeing Sun Jinfang’s hurried departure, Cao Xiong knew the intention of this noble doctor, and advised, “Master Sun, don’t go looking anymore. Mi Shen has already dictated that, from today onward, all clans within the South Ridge are closed to visitors. The esteemed scholars of Xiling are expected by him at the Cloud House on South Ridge. By meeting you today, I am already breaking the order of the Mi Family. Please think twice.”

Sun Jinfang was indebted to the Cao Family, and even if the Cao Family were under the Mi Family’s command, they wouldn’t refuse to see him. However other powerful families wouldn’t afford a scholar without any power or family heritage any face.

What is a renowned scholar? It is someone who has achieved fame, but hasn’t yet aligned with a power or established a clan.

Every era has its heroes and champions, unnoticed at first. They are the brightest stars of the night sky, capable of rising again even after suffering setbacks.

Regardless of the standards, the famous ‘Healing Hand of the Apricot Forest’ in Xiling would be considered a renowned scholar. Naturally, in order to win over Sun Jinfang, Mi Shen wouldn’t begrudge certain measures.

These people were the top talents in their fields. Despite their humble origins, they were all famous. The Five Elements and Eight Works all had outstanding’ people, which is the point.

The so-called Five Elements (hang) includes carriage, boat, medicine, business, and escort.

The Eight Works are: blacksmith, armor maker, carpenter, stone mason, tile maker, farmer, worker, and animal rearer.

The elites of these Five Elements and Eight Works are the targets for powerful families to extend their olive branches; they were not those burdensome commoners.

Ridiculous!” Sun Jinfang clenched his fists tightly, veins appearing on the back of his hand: “Mi Shen’s practice is clearly disregard for the lives of millions of citizens in Xiling. Can’t Sect Head Cao see that?”

In the face of the elderly man’s question, Cao Xiong could only chuckle and shake his head. It didn’t matter whether he saw it or not.

Right now, the Mi Family and the Cao Family were in the same boat. Even if he couldn’t bear it, he had to follow orders.

This was how it worked for powerful families, none of their orders could satisfy everyone. But everyone should understand that these orders are currently the best solution possible. Unless you had a better suggestion, you had to execute them diligently.

“Mr. Shen has his own difficulties,” said Cao Xiong with a sigh. Over the past two years, the Tang Clan had been crazily purchasing new grain, and they also issued the Five Acre Farm Law, which made the Mi Clan believe that there was no profit in the grain of Xiling. Therefore, they turned the original land that was to be used for grain into fruit and vegetable fields.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that the Mi Clan had large birds that could fly to cities unaffected by the flood to buy grain, the leftover food in the South Ridge Beast Valley wouldn’ t be able to satisfy the demands of hundreds of thousands of warriors.

“What trouble does the Mi Clan have? The amount of food consumed by the tens of thousands of warriors in South Ridge is astronomical, while what the civilians on Red Cloud Mountain need is just one- tenth of this. But the Mi Clan is still watching, wanting to see the common people starve to death. Isn’t there a chill in your heart from close association with such a tyrannical family, Sect Head Cao?” There was anger in Sun Jinfang’s eyes as he questioned Cao Xiong. Even though what Sun Jinfang said was true, Cao Xiong still found it harsh to hear. In a stiff voice he said: “If the Tang Clan hadn’t only been buying up the new grain over these two years, then the Mi Clan might not have been so stingy with the grain. Since Tang Luo spread the word for millions of people to go to Red Cloud Mountain, he ought to be responsible for their lives. If he cannot bear this responsibility, he shouldn’t have made such an announcement in the first place!”

He and Sun Jinfang had been close friends for twenty years and seeing him involved in the plague due to these lowly commoners, while also throwing aside his pride and dignity to go begging, Cao Xiong blamed it all on that ‘brilliant’Tang Luo.

From the moment Xu Lao won and severed the head of Cao Yi, Cao Xiong hated everything related to the Xu Clan. Tang Luo was a cousin of Xu Lao; so that was his biggest sin.

Upon hearing this, Sun Jinfang was shocked. Looking at Cao Xiong, he could hardly recognize him.

His gaze was too sharp; Cao Xiong didn’t dare to meet it, but he continued: “Am I wrong? In the past two years, not only the branch of the Tang Clan has been buying grain, even the Steward from Mount Tang secretly bought quite a lot. The person who laid down such a trap that left the esteemed scholars of Xiling in a predicament was none other than that Buddha of Ten Thousand Families of Xiling!”

Tang Luo’s actions left all the families of Xiling puzzled. However, the wonder of the world is that when you stand at a different angle, the same thing will shine differently. In the eyes of Mi Shen, he had already figured out Tang Luo’s true intention behind these actions and it didn’t worry him in the least.

“He prides himself on his wit, but forgets that if he allows 1.6 million people to starve to death on Red Cloud Mountain, the sign of the Buddha of Ten Thousand Families will not only be discarded but he will also be cursed by millions of angry souls.”

Cao Xiong had a satisfied look on his face, as if having derived pleasure from picturing Tang Luo cursing his own cunning while being cursed by millions of commoners. His expression was eerie indeed.

After decades of friendship, it was the first time Sun Jinfang had seen such an expression on Cao Xiong’s face. It was so chilling that he couldn’t stay in this gloomy Cao Family residence any longer.

Sect Head Cao, I take my leave!”

“Take care, Master Sun.”

Cloud House, Cloud Terrace

Although the Cloud House perched atop South Ridge has only five floors, due to its location, it stands tall among the clouds. Especially when standing on the Cloud Terrace on the fifth floor, with white clouds surrounding you, it feels like being in a fairyland.

Each time the Cloud Terrace was activated, it was for receiving strong warriors from the Fierce Realm. This time, it was even personally hosted by the First Head of the Martial Hall of the Mi Family, Mi Hai.

Du Sha, who should have been in Red Cloud Mountain, was stood opposite Mi Hai. Despite his modest attire, his heroic demeanor was unmistakable, likened to a towering mountain erupting from flat land.