I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

After traveling for another three days, with escorts and a larger force, they encountered no more bandits. However, the scenery along the way became increasingly desolate. Abandoned villages and ruined hamlets were everywhere, with bones exposed in the wilderness. The few surviving villagers were pale and listless. The further south they went, the denser the population became, but the air also carried the grim atmosphere unique to chaotic times.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, after crossing a mountain ridge, the view suddenly opened up. In the distance, a town nestled against the mountain and beside the water appeared on the horizon. The town was not large, but its perimeter was surrounded by a wall nearly two zhang high, built of yellow earth and rubble, with watchtowers and sparse guards on top. A faded flag fluttered in the wind on the watchtower at the town gate, and the words "Qingmu" could be faintly seen.

"We're here! Qingmu Town is just ahead!" Li Gang pointed to the town, his tone filled with relief. Everyone in the group, from the镖师 (bodyguards) to the refugees, breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing a hint of joy.

As you approach the town, you can feel a stark contrast to the desolation along the way, with a bustling atmosphere. At the town gate, a dozen or so local militiamen, dressed in simple leather armor and carrying spears, guard the entrance, vigilantly checking people and livestock entering and leaving. There are quite a few people and vehicles queuing to enter the town, mostly ragged refugees, but also a few merchants, hunters, and even a few well-dressed warriors with an aura that is quite different from ordinary people.

"It's Chief Escort Li back!"

"Open the side door quickly, it's our men!"

The local militia guards clearly recognized Li Gang, their expressions relaxing as they quickly ordered the barricades to be moved aside and a small side gate opened to let the group pass. Li Gang exchanged a few pleasantries with the militia leader, slipped him a small piece of silver, then pointed to Lu Zhao and the others behind him and whispered something. The leader glanced at Lu Zhao and the others, then at Li Gang, nodded, and waved for them to pass.

"Brother Lu, Master Zhao, come with me. I'll take you to the garrison headquarters to register and get a place to stay." Li Gang called out, handing over the bodyguards, goods, and the remains of the fallen bodyguards to the other members of the escort agency. He then led Lu Zhao, Master Zhao, and several core refugees into the town.

The town was much more bustling inside than it appeared from the outside. The streets were rammed earth, fairly smooth, lined with wooden houses and tiled roofs of varying heights. Pedestrians thronged the streets, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and haggling filled the air. The air was thick with the mingled smells of sweat, livestock, cheap spices, and cooking. Compared to the desolate countryside, it was full of life, yet also possessed a crowded, noisy, and bustling atmosphere.

Along the streets, simple vendors sold coarse flatbread and wild vegetable soup, while shops sold furs, herbs, ironware, and cloth. Many pedestrians carried knives and swords, their expressions wary. Refugees were everywhere, some squatting in corners begging, others staring blankly into the distance. Occasionally, a strong man on horseback, carrying a knife, would gallop past, and passersby would quickly give way, as if it were a common occurrence.

This is a microcosm of a world where order and chaos coexist, and survival and competition are intertwined.

"This is South Street, where refugees gather, mostly living in dilapidated houses or thatched huts. The west side of town is the market, and the east side is where wealthy families and several martial arts schools and security escort agencies are located. The garrison headquarters is in the north, and it's the most impressive place in town," Li Gang explained briefly as they walked.

The garrison headquarters was indeed impressive, a sprawling mansion guarded by armored local militia, far more capable than those at the town gate. Li Gang was clearly a regular here; the guards recognized him and quickly let him through after announcing his presence.

They were received by a middle-aged scholar who looked like a clerk. His surname was Wang, and he had a thin face and shrewd eyes. Li Gang explained his purpose, emphasizing that Lu Zhao and his group had been attacked by evil sorcerers, and that they had been ambushed thanks to Lu Zhao's help, which allowed them to escape.

Master Wang stroked his goatee, sized up Lu Zhao a few times, and saw that although he was young, he was tall and straight with a steady gaze, unlike the timid commoners. He nodded and recorded in the register: "Zhao Bingwen, a student of the Imperial Academy, native of... Lu Zhao, sixteen years old, a vagrant, once assisted the Changfeng Escort Agency... Hmm, since Chief Escort Li is his guarantor and he has made some contributions to the town, he can temporarily live in two unclaimed old houses on South Street. But he must know the rules, not cause trouble, and pay thirty wen of 'settlement money' per month or pay for the town's labor service, otherwise he will be expelled from the town."

"Thank you, Master Zhao. Thank you, Chief Escort Li." Master Zhao quickly bowed and expressed his gratitude. Lu Zhao also clasped his hands in greeting. Having a place to stay was already a great achievement.

After leaving the garrison headquarters, Li Gang led them to South Street. South Street was indeed dilapidated, filled with mostly crumbling old houses. The two rooms assigned to them were right next to each other, barely enough to shelter them from the wind and rain. After settling in, Li Gang took his leave and returned to the escort agency.

"Brother Lu, please settle in first. Take a good rest these next two days and familiarize yourself with the town. If you want to find work or inquire about bounties, you can come to the escort agency to find me, or check the 'bulletin board' in the town center. It's right at the market entrance, easy to find." Li Gang patted Lu Zhao on the shoulder, then cupped his hands to Master Zhao before leaving with his men.

After seeing Li Gang off, everyone busied themselves tidying up the dilapidated house. Lu Zhao then said to Master Zhao, "Master, I'm going out to take a look around and familiarize myself with the surroundings."

"Young friend Lu, please be careful in everything you do," Master Zhao instructed.

Lu Zhao nodded, left South Street, and headed towards the market. He needed to understand the situation in this "newbie town" as soon as possible.

The market entrance was indeed very conspicuous, with a thick wooden board nailed to a large wooden pole, covered with many papers, and a lot of people were gathered there pointing and talking. This was the "notice board," or rather, the "bounty board."

Lu Zhao leaned closer to take a look. The notices on them were all over the place:

"Buying 10-year-old 'Bloodline Grass' at a high price, 50 coins per plant."

"We are hiring two guards. The monthly salary is one tael. They must be skilled in martial arts."

"A 'carnivorous wolf' is suspected to have appeared at Black Wind Ridge outside the West Gate, injuring several people. Anyone who can eliminate it will be rewarded with ten taels of silver."

"A tiger with 'slanted eyes and a white forehead' is causing trouble in the old forest to the south. A reward of fifty taels of silver is offered for the tiger's skin, bones, and gallbladder to be intact."

"Children have recently gone missing without a trace in Lijia Village. It is suspected that evil spirits are at work. Anyone who can find out the truth or exorcise the demon will be rewarded with thirty taels of silver. For details, please consult Master Wang of the Garrison Command."

Lu Zhao's gaze fell on the last one, a slight tremor running through his heart. "Evil spirits at work"? This seemed to be the type of task he could currently access that was most relevant to his own abilities (spiritual refinement techniques, basic talismans). Thirty taels of silver—that should have considerable purchasing power. More importantly, this might be an opportunity to come into contact with, understand, and even deal with evil cultivators like "Black Fiend Master."

As he pondered, a one-eyed man with his arms crossed next to him sneered, "Another one who doesn't know his place, eyeing the bounty on Li Family Village, huh? Three groups of people have gone there already, and they haven't found a thing, plus two of them lost inside. That money's hot potato!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhao glanced at the one-eyed man without saying a word, silently memorizing the information on the bulletin board. What he needed was not just the bounty, but also experience, information, and... the opportunity to become stronger.