Looking back, it was all like a fairyland.

The autumn wind blew, and the weather quickly turned cooler after a few rains.

However, there were still shirtless men on the docks carrying supplies back and forth, sweating profusely, with steam rising from their bodies. For those who were used to it year-round, this was much more comfortable than in summer.

Don't underestimate these porters, as they work tirelessly. They're the envy of others. Especially on merchant ships carrying grain, it's practically impossible for ordinary people to get a ride without connections. After all, these ships can buy cheap grain with their wages, albeit with a cap. But what's the most in-demand commodity right now? Food.

In spring and summer, even if you went hungry, you could still get something to eat. At worst, you could dig up some grass roots or scrape some tree bark from the forest. If you were a good swimmer, you could catch some fish in the river. At worst, you could still survive.

But it's completely different when winter comes.

You couldn't even dig up grass roots, and not all tree bark could satisfy your hunger, let alone catch a fish. If you dared to go into the water, you'd freeze to death. So the docks were filled with people eagerly waiting for work.

Nowadays, there's no discrimination between hard labor and no hard work. One day's work could potentially provide several days' worth of food for a family. One extra day's work could help one more day through the winter. There were too many monks and too little meat, and Wei Ming had no real solution for this problem.

He has done everything he can, and what he cannot do is left to fate.

Fortunately, this outer city is close to the city, and the crowds of people have dissipated some of the chill. It doesn't feel cold now, and even in winter it might be a little warmer than in the neighboring country.

There are advantages and disadvantages. The outer city next to it is mostly made of wood, and after being filled with straw, a spark can easily catch fire.

But we can’t do without fire.

There are pros and cons, and ultimately all we can do is take preventative measures, like digging a pit and building a stove. And then there's firewood. Fortunately, Yujiang Pass is backed by a mountain forest, with plenty of dead branches, so we can hold out for a while. If all else fails, we can just chop down some trees.

Wei Ming hopes this will not be a cold winter.

If it were a cold winter, many more people would have died. Sometimes Shenlong felt that Wei Ming was meddling too much.

"You can't save everyone." Although the mirage dragon wasn't cold, it still put on a brocade robe and a mink cloak, as if it were dressing up a doll.

A pot of hot tea was poured into the cup, and delicate pastries and dried fruits were placed on the table. Over the time they had spent together, they had become quite familiar with each other. Shenlong felt that Wei Ming was a contradictory person.

Perhaps it's the feeling of having the world at heart, yet feeling powerless. Perhaps only those who have both ideals and clarity of thought find life tiring.

The mirage dragon saw everything clearly. Just like now, they drank hot tea, wearing fur coats even when they didn't need them. And this room was warm; even if it was windy and snowy outside, it wouldn't reach the room at all, creating a stark contrast to the people struggling to survive in the outer city.

But what can be done about it? This is the flaw of the times. They can't make sure everyone wears a robe, drinks hot tea, and eats a full meal. It's simply unrealistic.

The Shenlong-controlled Shenzi Merchants Guild is incredibly wealthy, supposedly rivaling a nation. But what's the reality? Even if they spent all their wealth, they still couldn't feed the millions of impoverished people in the world. If they can't do it, they might as well not do it.

It is difficult to satisfy human desires; this is the root of human nature.

Even when doing good things, you must do it within your ability, otherwise it will backfire and allow these people to become more and more demanding.

What do the poor know? They may eat one meal today, but not tomorrow. A little incitement could lead to a riot. Ultimately, the people are being fooled, not because they are truly dull, but because they lack perspective. They clearly understand what's in their best interest, but their dullness stems from focusing solely on the present moment.

How could Wei Ming not understand? He understood it too well.

So I sat in this warm house and chatted with the mirage dragon, instead of setting an example by going to the outer city to share the suffering.

This is Wei Ming’s contradiction and also what makes him uncomfortable.

He possessed advanced knowledge, but it was ill-suited to the times, unsuitable for them. Even if he had done so, he wouldn't have received gratitude, but instead would have been called a fool behind his back. He gained neither benefit nor dignity. It was like being a slave. While modern people would find it offensive and incomprehensible, back then, it was perfectly normal, and no one would have considered it wrong.

"Of course I know." Wei Ming's face showed no bitterness.

He had done everything he could, something most people couldn't possibly do. Therefore, he had a clear conscience and felt at ease in this warm room. If saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, then wouldn't what he had done be enough to make him a Buddha instantly?

He is entitled to it, and the people think so too.

"What are you thinking about?" the Mirage Dragon asked curiously.

What was he worried about? The people of the world? How could that be possible? He couldn't change the situation. All this was just adding to his troubles.

"What do you think? We can't leave here anytime soon, and if a war really breaks out, this will be the front line, and we won't be able to leave then. I estimate I'll have to stay here for two or three years, unable to reunite with my family, you understand?" Wei understood and glanced at Shenlong.

Well, Shenlong really didn't quite understand. After all, he had been alone since the beginning of time, with no ties of family or blood, so he didn't understand Wei Ming's sorrow.

"I thought Lord Wei was concerned about the well-being of the people."

"The nation comes first, so of course I care about the world; but the family comes second, so I care about my own family just as much. These two things don't conflict," Wei Ming said.

"Alright, I'll tell you, but you wouldn't understand. Being all alone is like playing music to a cow."

"Should we bring them over? Xuanmo's been quite free lately; he'd definitely be happy to make the trip for you." The Mirage Dragon wasn't annoyed, and said with a smile. Actually, the Mirage Dragon was also changing. If it were the old self, and Wei Ming had said that, he would have certainly blasted him away with a breath of dragon's breath. He, the Mirage Dragon, was a primordial deity; how could a mere mortal judge him?

However, if we have to say something, that's not possible. After all, based on the previous Mirage Dragon, it probably wouldn't even give Wei Ming a second glance, since speaking a single word to a mortal would be an insult to the noble status of a primordial deity.

How high-spirited he was when he confronted Su Mu.

So there is a saying that goes, "He who keeps company with vermilion becomes red, and he who keeps company with ink becomes black." The current Mirage Dragon can also say that it is no longer the Mirage Dragon of the past.

Now I have grown up.

Wei Ming laughed: "Why not you? I see you're quite free too."

The Mirage Dragon grumbled indignantly, "I'm very busy, okay? This is called stealing a moment of leisure. That brat Xuanmo went to mediate a fight and brought back a magical treasure, asking me to refine a puppet for him. He wants the puppet to get a minor official position in the Heavenly Court; I don't know what Su Mu said to him, but he's been doing it tirelessly."