Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Many years ago, Zhu Wuyao once gave Li Chengguan a fortune reading.

How could nothing have happened in Changxiao Town?

There are only two possibilities—

Firstly, Zhaixinglou intentionally concealed the truth. This suggests that the disaster in Changxiao Town may have originated from four sources, and Zhaixinglou intended to allow this disaster to occur.

Secondly, Elder Zhaixinglou... truly couldn't figure it out.

Comparing the two, Zhu Wuyao would prefer the former, since it at least involves human planning and leaves traces.

If even the elders of the Star-Picking Tower couldn't figure it out, it can only mean that in recent years, the secrets of heaven have been in chaos and the world has been in turmoil. In such chaos, no one can remain unscathed, and no one can make sense of things.

Zhu Wuyao was silent for a moment, then suddenly said:

“Li, the city management officer, I have a story that I can tell you.”

"When Wu traveled around the world, he once went to a place where earthquakes were frequent. There was an academy there. The academy's headmaster was always mindful of potential dangers and often led his disciples in disaster evacuation drills."

"For this reason, it has been heavily criticized."

"It is said that this dean does not care about the students' studies, and wastes human and material resources on fictitious matters, which further delays the students' studies. Both teachers and students in the college find it extremely annoying."

“Li, the city management officer, your actions are similar to those of this person in the courtyard.”

Li, the city management officer, nodded and stared expectantly at Zhu Wuyao, waiting for her to continue.

Zhu Wuyao didn't keep them in suspense any longer and continued:

"Unfortunately, the earthquake did occur, and many people in the area perished, but all the students in the academy survived."

"what?!"

Li, the city management officer, was a timid man and not particularly intelligent.

But at that moment, she suddenly covered her face with her sleeve and realized the hidden sorrow in the story—

If the world is at peace, then the dean is a sinner.

If disaster really strikes, the dean can protect the students in the academy, but how can he bear to see the common people suffer?

"How could I possibly hope for calamity to befall the world in order to justify myself?!"

"I should be hoping for peace and tranquility, and hoping that I... will become a sinner who wastes people's lives and resources!"

Su Xiao was shocked.

Only then did she truly understand the dilemma Li Chengguan was in.

Zhu Wuyao nodded and said:

“Li, the city management officer, you’re doing this to become a criminal and bear a bad reputation.”

"The safest way is to pretend you don't know and do nothing. If disaster strikes, no one will blame you, and if it doesn't, you will still enjoy peace and tranquility."

"People who do real work are more likely to be criticized."

"No matter which option you choose, it's wrong."

Overwhelmed with grief, Li Chengguan drank more alcohol, which only amplified his melancholy. For the past two years, he had been living in fear and timidity, wanting to do something but also afraid of making mistakes and being criticized.

All the reasons for the predicament and hesitation were revealed by Zhu Wuyao's words, and he felt that he had finally found someone in the world who could understand him.

Even Su Xiao, who was standing to the side, looked ashamed.

Although she did not object, she never considered the plight of Li, the urban management officer.

Su Xiao tilted his head back and drank, using Li Chengguan's crying as a background noise, and asked:

"Miss Wu's words are insightful, but I wonder... how to resolve this situation?"

Zhu Wuyao smiled and stood up to lift the banner.

In the darkness of night, the moonlight revealed two lines of text on it—

"A legendary fortune teller, one coin for each divination."

Zhu Wuyao said, "I am a diviner."

"what?"

Li, the city management officer, raised his head from between his knees, his sleeves stained with tears, his eyes blurred with tears, and heard the girl in the white robe say:

“A disaster will occur in Changxiao Town. This is a divination I made. You believed my divination, so you took precautions and wasted money and resources.”

"If the divination is correct, everyone will be grateful to you; if the divination is wrong, I will bear the blame and infamy for you."

Looking through his drunken eyes, Li, the city management officer, felt a strange sense of familiarity.

It seems that there was another person who, when he was hesitant at the time, took on the possible consequences.

Before she could react, Su Xiao immediately stood up and said:

Absolutely not!

"As the strategist of the city management bureau, how can I let you take on this responsibility?! Even if we have to gamble on this, I should be the one to sacrifice myself!"

Zhu Wuyao shook his head and said:

"I am a cultivator. I came here to live in seclusion. If I am given a bad reputation, I can simply leave."

This is the truth.

There are already enough people who want to kill her. If that day really comes, even if the Star-Picking Tower comes to hold her accountable, she will be burdened with too many debts and will not have to worry about anything. Zhu Wuyao will be able to handle it.

However, it was not advisable to say this to Li Chengguan directly, lest it cause unforeseen complications.

She continued, "If you have a premonition that you cannot protect this place, it means that it is not only a man-made disaster or a natural calamity, but perhaps a cultivator is causing trouble."

"You have passion, so I cannot bear to see your blood run cold."

"Zhu Wuyao! You can only offer a maximum of three thousand spirit stones here! Any more than that, and it won't protect the city, it will invite disaster!"

The timely reminder from the magic pen arrived.

Li Chengguan funded the changes himself and took precautions in advance, which is a necessary change for this place. However, Zhu Wuyao is outside the realm of cause and effect. He can perceive what kind of variables will not be strongly corrected by the Heavenly Dao.

"I have three thousand spirit stones here, you can take them first."

"If you embezzle in secret, I will not forgive you."

After saying this, he took out three thousand spirit stones from his storage bag, which made Li Chengguan's eyes well up with tears.

With these three thousand spirit stones, she could not only easily replenish the silver in the treasury, but also use the vast majority of the remaining amount to buy a magic artifact to protect her people.

She stood up, grabbed the sleeve of the young woman surnamed Wu tightly, and said through gritted teeth:

“I’m really a coward. If you’re willing to take the blame for me, I’m capable of anything. But if public outrage boils over, you can’t go back on your word…”

"I'll pull some strings and let you go quietly, but if the Star-Picking Tower holds us accountable... I... I can't protect you!"

Hearing this, Zhu Wuyao was not surprised at all.

This person has always been like this; she is not a good person, but she is a good urban management officer; she is not very capable of taking responsibility, but she can grit her teeth and do bold things for the peace and tranquility of the people.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

With three thousand spirit stones in hand, half a month passed, but Li Chengguan returned home disappointed.

This number... is just too painful!

You can buy magical artifacts, but you can only buy weak, auxiliary magical artifacts.

Those with wide-area protection or extremely strong attack power cannot be bought with three thousand spirit stones.

These spirit stones are more than enough to buy pills and talismans... but they won't be able to withstand many attacks from a powerful enemy!

She can't just hold off an enemy attack and then carry the whole city away!

Li, the urban management officer, visited the small courtyard at night with a worried expression.

"Xiao Wu...can we talk about something?"

May you remain steadfast and unmoved, without any invitation.

She is no naive young man; now, she is as cold as iron and would never let a moment of weakness invite the power of Heaven's correction.

If the spirit stones given exceed the fluctuation range allowed by fate, perhaps the next day, a lost Nascent Soul stage evil cultivator will happen to pass by and consume the defensive magic artifact that was just prepared.

At that time, not to mention that Changxiao Town will suffer a calamity.

Perhaps Zhu Wuyao himself will be forced to appear in the world.

She immediately shook her head and said:

"No, I won't lend you any more. I can't come up with a single one. I've already given you all my retirement spirit stones. I'll let you bear the stigma, but do you expect me to take on your debts too?"