Is the beginning of a catastrophe? The little farm cook is raising a family with a full warehouse.

The beggars worked tirelessly to spread the news that the immortal would appear in the dilapidated temple in the east of the city in three days to distribute food. The news spread like weeds in spring and soon spread throughout the streets and alleys of the city.

For a moment, the entire Junhua City was in an uproar, and the people's faces showed long-lost excitement.

In a sheltered corner, several people were huddled together, talking in low but lively voices.

The old man, with white hair and calloused hands, breathed hot air from his hands, trembling. His brows were furrowed, and there was a hint of doubt in his voice: "You say, this story about immortals appearing in this dilapidated temple in the east of the city in three days and distributing relief supplies, can it be true? Is it just a rumor?"

The thin, middle-aged man next to him, his face full of vicissitudes, sighed softly and said hesitantly, "Yes, this story sounds too mysterious. But this cold disaster has disrupted our lives. There is almost no rice left at home. My wife and children cry with hunger every day. I... I hope it's true."

"What if it's not true and we're just happy for nothing? But if an immortal really comes to save us, that would be great. We wouldn't have to suffer from hunger and cold anymore." The elderly woman sat aside, her face haggard and her eyes full of worry.

A young man frowned, scratched his head and said, "I also thought it was unreliable at first, but the news has been spread with such credible facts, and some people even claim to have seen the immortal's traces with their own eyes. Maybe it's true."

"Whether it's true or not, this is our only chance of survival." The middle-aged man straightened his back, a flame of hope burning in his eyes. "If an immortal really comes to distribute food, I'll crawl to the dilapidated temple in the east of the city!"

The gray-haired old man also nodded and said, "God bless us. I hope the immortal can really show up and save us suffering people."

……

The sky gradually darkened and the candlelight flickered in the City Lord's Mansion.

Shen Linfeng was sitting in the study, flipping through the account books, thinking about how to squeeze more money from the people.

At this moment, the sound of hurried footsteps shattered the quiet of the study. A guard hurried in, knelt on one knee, and reported, "City Lord, there's a rumor in the city that an immortal will appear in the dilapidated temple east of the city in three days, and will distribute relief supplies to the people."

When Shen Linfeng heard this, he paused with the account book in his hand, and was stunned for a moment. Then he raised his head and laughed out loud. The laughter was sharp and sarcastic, echoing in the study.

He slammed the account book down on the table with disdain on his face and cursed angrily, "An immortal has appeared in the world? This is absolutely ridiculous! There are no immortals in this world. They are just a bunch of ignorant people who are easily deceived by some rumors."

"I think those thieves who stole my treasures are demonstrating to me. They are deliberately making up these rumors to disturb the people. It's really hateful!" After saying this, he slammed his fist on the table, and the candlesticks on the table shook.

Thinking of this, Shen Linfeng could no longer sit still. He immediately stood up and paced back and forth in the study, taking every step very heavily.

He suddenly stopped and shouted, "Come here, call Zhou Qingxiong over! Hurry up!"

In just a moment, Zhou Qingxiong hurried over.

He stepped into the study and saw Shen Linfeng's face full of anger. He quickly bowed respectfully and said in a cautious voice: "City Lord, are you looking for me?"

Shen Linfeng's face was gloomy, his eyes filled with ferocity and determination. He began pacing again and said coldly, "In three days, there will be a 'celestial being' appearing in the dilapidated temple east of the city. Someone must be behind this. Arrange elite personnel to follow me to investigate in three days."

"I want to see who's so bold as to pull these tricks right under my nose! When the time comes, I'll catch them all in one fell swoop, leaving no one behind! If you let them get away, you won't have an easy time either!"

When Zhou Qingxiong heard this, his heart tightened and he nodded hurriedly in response: "Yes, City Lord, I understand! I will arrange it right away and make sure that no thief can escape!" After that, he did not dare to stay any longer, turned around and hurriedly retreated, and began to prepare for the action three days later.

……

The three-day deadline passed in a flash as the people were eagerly waiting and Shen Linfeng was secretly on guard.

On the day of the apparition, just as the sky was getting light, there were already crowds of people outside the dilapidated temple in the east of the city.

The vermilion doorposts had long faded to a grayish-white, their cracks covered in dark green moss. Half of the chiwen (gargoyles) in the main hall were missing, revealing rotten, blackened beams, resembling a beast with its mouth open devouring the morning mist. The remaining glazed tiles were coated in a layer of bluish-gray, and the copper bells on the eaves had rusted to silence. Only a few faded prayer flags remained, swaying in the wind like paper money to summon spirits.

The Buddha statue in the main hall was intact, though its gilded body was mottled. Its downcast brows and eyes looked even more compassionate in the shadows. The caisson behind the Buddha's head had once been painted with an eight-treasure lotus flower, but now only half a petal remained, making the beam of sunlight filtering through the broken tiles particularly eye-catching.

The dust particles in the light column moved like thousands of tiny gold foils.

Carrying their dreams of a better life, people came from all corners of the city and surrounded the dilapidated temple.

They stood outside the dilapidated temple, their necks stretched out, looking inside curiously, their eyes full of awe and expectation for the immortals.

"How could an immortal with such great powers choose such a shabby little temple as his landing point? Logically, shouldn't he appear in a magnificent temple?"

"The actions of immortals are naturally different from those of us mortals. Perhaps there is something special about this dilapidated temple that allows immortals to display their magical powers."

"Who cares why? As long as the immortal can really show up and bring us relief, what does it matter if the temple is a little dilapidated?"

Amid the noisy crowd, Shen Linfeng also arrived at the scene. He was wearing a black brocade robe, his face was gloomy, his brows were filled with gloom and anger, his thin lips were tightly pursed like a knife, and his jaw was stretched out in a sinister arc.

The people of the city had long been complaining about him. If he showed up rashly, he'd probably get into big trouble before he even caught the so-called "thief." After a moment's deliberation, he decided to hold off, hiding in the shadows until the person, pretending to be a thief, emerged. He would then reveal their true identity before the people and, in doing so, win back their hearts.

The hour of Si soon arrived, but the dilapidated temple was silent, without a trace of movement. The people began to whisper to each other, and the expectations on their faces were gradually replaced by confusion and uneasiness.

"It's already 9 o'clock, why hasn't the immortal appeared yet? Could it be that we have been deceived?" A middle-aged man frowned and said loudly.

There was a sudden echo from the crowd, and everyone's emotions began to get a little agitated.

"If the immortal doesn't come soon, my whole family will starve to death on the streets!"

"Is this news fake and we've been fooled?"

"Perhaps the offerings we prepared were not generous enough, and the immortal was displeased. Everyone, please quickly think of a way to express our sincerity and implore the immortal to appear."