Chapter 36: Heading South to the Southern Outskirts

Chapter 36: Heading South to the Southern Outskirts
From the northern outskirts of Fengcheng, Xu Shu and his sister went towards the eastern outskirts, and then continued south towards the southern outskirts. Along the way, they passed through three villages, each of which had dilapidated houses. Please let me know if you need any further assistance.
虽然他们没有看见尸体，但眼前的情景足矣让他们心生恐惧。
“徐庶，这附近不会有鬼吧，”徐小樱紧紧抓住徐庶的衣角，警惕的看着周围。
"What kind of ghosts? There is no one around here," Xu Shu looked around and saw that besides some things that couldn't be taken away, there was nothing left here.
"But how do I hear the sound of digging soil?" Xu Xiaoying clung tighter, hiding behind Xu Shu, burying her entire head in her clothes.
徐庶没有回答，周围的确传来铲土的声音，只是声音在周围环绕，很难分清楚准确的方向。
“好像是那边，我们去看看，”徐庶一把将徐小樱抱起来，跑了十多米就停了下来。
徐小樱也好奇抬头看了看，随着声音传来的方向看去，似乎那边是有什么东西。
“徐庶，你看前面有人，”徐小樱指向前方，那是距离村子不远的地方，被泥石流冲毁的麦田。
“嗯，是有不少人，但是他们好像不是村民，”徐庶眼睛微眯，略微思索后，还是决定先上去看看，“小樱，你先在这里等我。”
说罢，徐庶便将徐小樱放下，可是徐小樱的手依旧抓着不放。
看着徐小樱眼中的恐惧，徐庶只好带着她一起走过去。
“诸位好，你们是这里的村民吗？”徐庶热情的打着招呼，但目光却盯着这些人的举动。
之前太远还未看清，只以为是普通的猎户，现在走近了徐庶才发现，这些人反应敏捷，体格健硕，绝对不是猎户可以比的。
“小兄弟，有什么事吗？”一个壮汉扛着锄头走了过来，身上所散发的气息，竟然是一名筑基修士。
徐庶扯了一下自己的衣角，示意徐小樱不要紧张，随后恭敬的回道：“嗯，我们兄妹路过，想在这里讨口饭吃。”
“喔？你们是从丰城过来的吗？你们只要沿着官道一直往南，就会看见南天门的布施，”壮汉摸掉额头上的汗水，然后指着身后的道路说道。
Xu Shu turned his head and was surprised to see a scene thousands of meters away.
That road was the commercial road leading to Nanping Village, and he could faintly see horse-drawn carriages coming and going. Xu Shu was very confused as he had heard that the southern suburbs were flooded. How could it be more prosperous than the northern suburbs now?
怀着好奇的心情，徐庶很快走到了官道之上，这一路上徐庶看见不少棕石房，还有不少难民生活在这里。
“徐庶，这里真的是南郊吗？以前不是这样的吧。”徐小樱非常好奇，本以为是遇见匪盗掩埋尸体，没想到会是如此情景。
"Most of these craftsmen are from Lingnan, and they all have martial arts skills. I wonder which sect is here to help the refugees," Xu Shu curiously surveyed his surroundings. It is rare for immortal cultivation sects to assist ordinary people, especially on such a large scale.
"Is that Nan Tianmen?" Xu Xiaoying reminded from behind.
The burly man mentioned it just now, and Xu Shu had actually forgotten. Now that he recalled, it seemed like he had heard the name Nan Tianmen somewhere before.
“徐庶，我饿了，”徐小樱扯了下徐庶的衣角，眼神中透露着哀求。
“好了，我知道了，”南天门正好在不远处布施，徐庶正好去问问情况。
“诶，这房屋总算是搭建完成了，比起以前的木房，那可是结实多了。”
“可不是嘛，木房不是发霉就是蛀虫，还是这棕石房好。”
“是呀，现在就差小麦田了，希望能赶上秋天的丰收。”
徐庶在官道上走着，不时就能听见称赞的话语，要不是徐小樱闹着要吃东西，徐庶真想去问问怎么回事。
"Hey, young brother, don't cut in line. You need to go to the back."
Unknowingly, the Xu siblings arrived at the donation point in Nantianmen. Compared to the simplicity of Fengcheng, this place appeared exceptionally luxurious.
不仅有是美观、整齐有序，就连布施的食物，竟然都摆放着肉干。
“一人一碗粥一片肉干，相互监督，不要插队。”
Xu Shu was shocked. They even used law enforcement teams for alms giving. Look at those martial artists flying on their swords, nobody dares to cause trouble here.
"Xu Shu, look at those people, they look so impressive. When will you be able to be like them?" Xu Xiaoying looked extremely excited, and her hand that was originally clutching her clothes directly grabbed onto his flesh, causing Xu Shu to jump up in pain.
“Hey there, what are you guys doing?”
“没，不好意思，没事，”徐庶赶紧拽来了徐小樱的手，捂着疼痛的地方不知道该说些什么。
“对，对不起，”徐小樱委屈的搓着手。
这下好了，所有人都以为是徐庶欺负她，徐庶能跟十岁的小女孩生气吗？当然不能。
转过身，徐庶只能重新站好开始排队。
感受着衣角传来的拉扯，徐庶侧头用眼角看了徐小樱一眼，看着她朝着自己做着鬼脸，徐庶刚才被抓得地方也就不那么疼了。
“小丫头，”徐庶摸了摸徐小樱的头，继续排着队朝前走着。
"Here, this is your porridge and jerky."
接过伙夫递过来的食物，徐庶立马品尝了起来，虽然他也算是个猎户，但地震加上洪水，已经把附近的野兽都吓走了，这个肉干，便是他这个月第一口肉食了。
“徐庶，这肉真好吃，”徐小樱啃着肉干，喝着稀粥，一脸兴奋凑了上来。
“怎么有吃的还堵不住你的嘴，”徐庶看着徐小樱双眼放光，就知道她在打自己肉干的主意。
“嘿，你们兄妹是新来的吧，之前没有见过你们，”一个身穿布衣的男子走了过来，手上还拿着一本名册。
“嗯，”徐庶下意识的点头。
“那你们还没有登记吧，我们这里不是免费提供食宿，你们需要劳动才能换取应得的，”那个人将名册打开，看着徐庶继续说道：“对了，未满十四岁的不需要工作，如果你要养活你妹妹，你必须要做一整天才能足够。”
Looking at the densely packed information on the roster, Xu Shu became extremely worried. It turns out that this is a paid alms-giving! How much have they consumed? It seems like they won't be able to leave for some time.
“额，抱歉，我们不打算住在这里，”徐庶有些尴尬的说道。
“为什么，”似乎徐庶是第一个不愿意留下的。
没错，说起来南郊要确实要比其他地方好上不少，在其他地方还在布施的时候，南郊已经组织重建工作了。
However, Xu Shu is going to Lingnan to spread the teachings, which will not attract the attention of immortal cultivation sects.
"Sorry," Xu Shu bowed to the person, then packed up the unfinished jerky.
见徐庶带着徐小樱转身就要离开，那个人也终于回过神来，“等等，你们吃了今天的食物，不能就这样离开。”
“额，可是我没有钱付给你，”徐庶摊开手掌，一副死猪不怕开水烫的模样。
“我们不需要钱，你只需要做一天工作就行，”那人拦住了徐庶的去路，一本正经的样子。
“可是叔叔，如果我们做了一天的工作，不是又要吃这里的东西，那我们不是永远都无法离开这里，”徐小樱发现了其中的道理，下意识说了出来。
“咦，好像是这个道理，”徐庶惊讶的看着徐小樱，这小丫头什么时候这么聪明了。
“你们做完工可以不吃，可以直接离开，我并不会阻拦，”那人盯着徐小樱淡淡的说道。
“怎么办，你工作是做还是不做呢，”徐庶下意识看向徐小樱，只见徐小樱也看向他。
好吧，徐小樱只是个孩子，怎么可能真的那么聪明。
Thinking about this, Xu Shu said to the person, "What kind of work do I need to do? Isn't there a fixed amount of work for each day?"
"A fixed amount?" The person seemed to have realized something and quickly took out another notebook, which recorded various types of work for different people.
“对，对，就是这样，我怎么没有想到，”那人自言自语的说了一堆，徐庶也不知道他说些什么，只是听见对方让自己等着，随后便跑得不见了踪影。
"Xu Xiaoying, did I say something wrong?" Xu Shu asked in confusion.
"How would I know? Did you say something just now?" Xu Xiaoying looked at Xu Shu with confusion.
"I don't remember, but I think we can leave now," Xu Shu said, holding Xu Xiaoying's hand as they turned around to leave. But before they could take a few steps, a cultivator descended from the sky.
"
'I remember that Clerk Li told you to wait for him here.'
'Um, yes, but she wants to use the restroom,' Xu Shu pointed to Xu Xiaoying next to him.
"The restroom is over there, you can go."
Now it's awkward. The restroom is just nearby, and it's extremely luxurious, made of slate. It's worth noting that in rural areas, restrooms are typically found outdoors, so this completely overturns Xu Shu's imagination.
"Go ahead, I'll wait for you here," Xu Shu urged Xu Xiaoying.
Obviously, this cultivator wouldn't let them leave easily. Instead of sneaking away and getting caught, it would be better to wait here for the outcome.
Seeing Xu Xiaoying turn back every three steps, Xu Shu was uncertain whether this girl was intending to abandon him or worried that he would abandon her.
"This immortal, do you have any idea how long we have to wait here?" Xu Shu asked tentatively. You're welcome! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
"You can also wait there if you want, it doesn't have to be here, just don't go too far," the cultivator replied earnestly.
Was my previous statement implying that? Xu Shu's mind felt a bit fuzzy, the thought process of these cultivators in the sect seemed different.
(End of this chapter)