Another World: The Failed Magician

As the sun was just setting, a young man and a middle-aged man sat together in an ordinary inn, chatting and laughing as they ate.

The boy was naturally Lu Xuan, and the middle-aged man next to him was the same man who had just returned Lu Xuan's money pouch.

The man breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Lu Xuan was from the Loca Federation.

During his conversation with the man, Lu Xuan learned that the man's name was Zhao Shi. He explained that the man was both the owner and employee of the inn, which rarely saw any customers, usually only one or two people. At this time of day, Lu Xuan was the only guest there.

After a few drinks, Zhao Shi became even more talkative: "Mr. Lu, I've heard storytellers say that the Loca Federation doesn't have officials or landlords, and not even an emperor. Is that true?"

Lu Xuan put down his wine glass: "Mm."

"I can't believe it!" Zhao Shi exclaimed.

After drinking another cup, Zhao Shi said, "Do you know, Mr. Lu, don't be fooled by my small inn. I'm about to go hungry. Those government soldiers come to me every day asking for money, saying there's a rebellion in the north or the south, and they want to suppress it. They're asking us for money everywhere, but where are we ordinary people supposed to get so much money? I'm lucky I still have a bite to eat, but now many people can't even afford to eat."

Lu Xuan glanced at Zhao Shi's gloomy appearance, swallowed back the words he was about to say, and instead said in a comforting tone, "Maybe things will get better by next spring. The emperor is currently ill, but once he recovers and quells the rebellions, things will be easier."

Whether it was Lu Xuan's words or the influence of alcohol, the usually cautious middle-aged man sneered and said in a cold tone, "Mr. Lu! Don't try to fool me. There aren't that many rebellions. We're not stupid. If we took our money, we wouldn't see a couple more people at the military headquarters. All we'd see are those big shots taking a few more concubines. And was life any better before? Do you know why I didn't dare take your money before? I had a moment of madness a couple of years ago. A new official from the county came to my place for dinner, and I went to collect the money normally, which angered him. In the end, I had to spend money to smooth things over before he let me go. Do you know how much that cost? It was almost a gold coin in total. That's all the money I've saved over twenty years, all my life's work, gone just like that. Do you understand that feeling?"

After finishing his story, Zhao Shi poured two more cups of wine into his mouth and continued to recount his hardships. Before long, he was slumped on the table, looking quite drunk.

Looking at Zhao Shi like this, Lu Xuan felt an indescribable sadness in his heart.

Lu Xuan has been in this world for 17 years. For the first half of his life, he focused almost entirely on cultivation. Later, Dean White took him to the Loca Federation. This time, he came to the Eastern Dragon Empire for the first time and saw the lives of ordinary people.

This may be the true nature of ordinary people in this era, and the Loca Federation may just be an anomaly in this era.

Lu Xuan slowly walked out of the inn and closed the door behind him. A cold wind immediately blew up, and even Lu Xuan, who had been promoted to a high-level mage, could clearly feel the chill.

Lu Xuan also turned his gaze to the street.

I saw those figures leaning against these dilapidated buildings, trying to ward off the cold wind, by the inn and in the corners of the street. The sight of those people huddled together, shivering, all spoke of the suffering of this era.