94: Wish to Return Home

To take money but not want to work—where in this world is there such a good thing?

As for Pei Yunchuan, the reason Lin Chuping gave him the Amulet initially, allowing him to survive until now, was because he still possessed some masculine vigor.

If Pei Yunchuan had simply stayed in Prefecture City back then, doing nothing, he would now be nothing more than one of the dry bones beneath his feet.

Hmph!

To still want to lie flat here, waiting for him to save him—it would be easier to just Enter Dream.

***

At this moment, Pei Yunchuan was busy collecting bones and some fragmented Magical Artifacts left behind by the Qingyun Sect.

Lin Chuping, hidden in mid-air, narrowed his eyes.

He had heard it clearly just now: several survivors had suggested building a temple for him.

Building a temple... hehe~

Lin Chuping might not be interested in other matters, but when it came to building a temple, Lin Chuping was in full agreement, raising both hands and feet in support. If the System didn't forbid it, he would have personally joined in to move bricks and build walls.

A formal temple meant a stable source of incense value, which meant his Foundation in Yan Province would become even more solid.

But building a temple was easy; choosing a Temple Official was difficult.

The Temple Official was the bridge between the deities and the believers. If the wrong person was chosen, no matter how magnificent the temple, it would be in vain.

Who to choose?

It was clearly inappropriate to select someone from Chang Sheng Village.

Lin Chuping's gaze moved back and forth among the several survivors, finally settling on two people—Pei Yunchuan and the old woman who had remained silent.

The reason he noticed this old woman was because Lin Chuping immediately saw the aura of a shamaness about her.

The old woman's back was hunched, and from beneath her gray cloth headscarf, half a face, covered in wrinkles, was revealed.

Her fingertips were wrapped with faded red string, and she unconsciously rubbed the copper bell at her waist from time to time, though the bell never made a sound.

It was the most normal attire, yet on her, this simple outfit somehow gained a touch of mystery.

Her Luck, white mixed with gold, was very good, Lin Chuping nodded to himself.

As for Pei Yunchuan!

Lin Chuping frowned as he gently laid down a headless corpse.

The fire of revenge burning in the young man's eyes was too intense, almost solidifying.

Would such a Temple Official truly not turn the temple into a stronghold for revenge against the Yao Race?

Furthermore, there was another point that bothered Lin Chuping.

It was the black spiderweb mixed in Pei Yunchuan's Luck; he found it annoying just to look at it. If he chose Pei Yunchuan as the Temple Official, and this guy was constantly around him every day, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

Alright, Granny Chen, it's you!

***

The night was as dark as ink, and the last glimmer of light on the ruins of Prefecture City was extinguished.

The survivors huddled together in a barely intact side hall, wrapped in tattered robes, and fell into a deep sleep.

Only Granny Chen in the corner was still awake. Her back was hunched, and from beneath her gray cloth headscarf, half a face, covered in wrinkles, was revealed, appearing especially aged in the dim light of the oil lamp.

“System, prepare Enter Dream art.”

He murmured in his heart.

【Ding! Enter Dream art ready. Target: Granny Chen】

***

—Within the dream, heaven and earth were first created.

Granny Chen stood in a realm of Chaos, with a surging sea of clouds beneath her feet and a swirling galaxy above her head.

She looked down at her hands—the wrinkles were gone, her skin as smooth as a young girl's.

“Is this a dream?”

She murmured to herself, her voice clear, unlike that of an old woman.

“It is a dream, and it is not a dream.”

Lin Chuping's voice, like the thunder of Nine Heavens, echoed through the chaotic dreamscape.

His true form was tall and majestic, enveloped in golden light, illuminating the entire dream space as if a divine realm had descended.

Granny Chen hurriedly looked up, and only then did she clearly see that the person before her was none other than the white-robed Immortal from earlier in the day!

In the panic of the day, she hadn't dared to look closely, but now in the dream, this Immortal had an ethereal quality, yet was also very approachable.

“This old woman greets Benefactor!”

“Immortal who saves from suffering and hardship, this old woman has recited scriptures daily, and finally, I have awaited your arrival.”

Lin Chuping: “...”

“Granny Chen,”

Lin Chuping shrunk his true form and landed in front of the old woman, “I wish to build a temple in Qingzhou Prefecture City, and I need a Temple Official.”

He deliberately paused, waiting for the old woman's ecstatic reaction.

According to common sense, a Mortal chosen personally by a deity should be overflowing with gratitude.

However, Granny Chen merely lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the silent copper bell at her waist, and after a long moment, she softly said, “Your Excellency's kindness is immense, but this old woman... I fear I cannot fulfill the role.”

Lin Chuping raised an eyebrow.

Refusing? That was unexpected.

“Oh? Why?”

His voice held a hint of imperceptible curiosity.

To some extent, Lin Chuping was also an ambitious young man with stable emotions; in this situation, he showed no displeasure at all.

He was merely very curious: how could someone push away such a heaven-sent opportunity?

Granny Chen looked up, her cloudy eyes appearing remarkably clear in the dream.

“To tell the truth, Divine Lord, this old woman... is not from Qingzhou.”

She slowly began to recount her story.

It turned out that half a month ago, there was a severe drought in Yan Province. She, alone, set out to find a water source, and then she was forcibly abducted here by a group of demons, imprisoned in this place, never seeing the light of day.

“This old woman's son, daughter-in-law, and little granddaughter are still in Yan Province...”

Granny Chen's voice choked, “This old woman thinks of them day and night, hoping and longing, only wishing that one day I can return to see them...”

Lin Chuping narrowed his eyes.

This was an unexpected situation.

He had originally thought Granny Chen was a native of a village affiliated with the Qingyun Sect, but he hadn't expected such a past.

“Are all the survivors in the city now those who were forcibly abducted?”

Granny Chen's answer forced Lin Chuping to pay attention, and at the same time, he realized a serious problem—if these survivors were not all natives of Qingzhou, once they gained freedom, they would inevitably return to their respective hometowns.

Then wouldn't his plan to build a temple and collect incense value fall through?

Granny Chen lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then replied:

“To answer Your Excellency, there are currently fifty-seven people in Prefecture City, all abducted from various parts of Yan Province. This old woman recognizes some of them, like Zhao the Blacksmith from Baixi Village, and Peddler Zhou from Heishui Town...”

Lin Chuping instantly realized that it was true: Qingzhou could no longer find people, which was why the Blood Fiend had risked going to Chang Sheng Village to abduct people.

“Your Excellency, I have no way to repay your life-saving kindness. After this old woman returns to Yan Province to visit and fulfill my wish, I will definitely return to serve you for the rest of my life!”

Seeing Lin Chuping remain silent for a long time, Granny Chen hurriedly added.

The sincerity twinkling in her cloudy old eyes touched Lin Chuping's heart.

Ancient people often valued promises; this old woman was indeed a trustworthy person.

Lin Chuping's true form glowed slightly, his thoughts racing.

Fifty-seven Yan Province refugees: if they were all released, his temple-building plan would definitely be shelved; if he forcibly kept them, resentment would inevitably arise, and the incense value would not be pure in the future.

“Granny Chen,”

Lin Chuping suddenly spoke, “I permit you all to return to your hometowns to visit relatives, and you may bring your relatives to settle in Qingzhou. Are you willing to lead in persuading the others?”

The old woman trembled all over, and an unbelievable light burst forth from her eyes: “Is Your Excellency's word true?”

“Naturally.”

Lin Chuping lightly tapped his fingertip, and a miniature scene of Qingzhou City appeared in the dream, “Qingzhou is vast and sparsely populated, and it needs to increase its population. You may bring your relatives here, and I guarantee you will have fields to cultivate and houses to live in.”

Granny Chen's hands trembled with excitement.

“Your Excellency is benevolent!”