Strange Tales: You're an Official, but you're raising a bunch of Demonessess? - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Immortals cross the catastrophe. Mortals suffer

The stout guy passed out, and the three brothers grabbed the stolen money, facing Bai Yu. There was a moment of silence, unsure what to say.

Should we split the loot with this gentleman?

He’s not too interested in it.

“Speak up. Why are you engaged in such activities?”

After kicking Fatty twice, Bai Yu broke the silence.

The three men, inexperienced and uncertain, wouldn’t survive long as bandits or robbers. They would have starved by now. This statement caused the youngest of the three to pause for a moment.

He clenched the silver pieces in his hand, eyes turning red.

“Father… Mother…”

Lowering his gaze, he couldn’t help but sob quietly. The other two also wore expressions of sorrow. After a pause, the eldest spoke, addressing Bai Yu, “Brother, to be honest, eight days ago, our family faced a calamity. Out of nowhere, the heavens sent thunder, causing landslides and torrents of water…”

“Ah!”

The second brother angrily pounded the tree, growling low, lowering his head in grief and said, “Our home was submerged because of the low terrain.”

“Poor parents…”

Towards the end, the nine-foot giant’s voice faded, tears uncontrollably streaming down.

“My son is incapable, unable to borrow money to bury our parents.”

“Now, we can only resort to such activities to raise funds…”

The three brothers’ story was simple and easily understandable in this era. The ancients valued loyalty filial piety, and believed in gods and spirits.

With parents dead and the family in poverty, they couldn’t arrange proper burials, akin to wandering souls without peace. Besides their strength, the three brothers lacked quick ways to earn money. So, they resorted to becoming bandits, robbing passersby to gather funds.

However, their lack of experience and the remote location brought them little luck. Most passersby were poor scholars, farmers, or woodcutters, not the intended targets. After encountering the stout man, they found he had little money. As time passed, their desperation and sorrow grew.

Bai Yu fell silent upon hearing their story.

Eight days ago?

Thunder and landslides?

He paused, asking them, “Where are you from? Where do you live?”

“Li Family Village at Guanyue Mountain in the neighbouring county,” one of the three brothers replied.

“Is it the Li family estate below the Leaping Dragon River?” Bai Yu asked.

“Yes!”

Bai Yu: …

It’s somewhat related to him. The gods’ trials, a minor issue for immortals, become a matter of life and death for ordinary people.

After a moment of contemplation, Bai Yu seemed to be considering something. The atmosphere became sombre. After a while, he patted his chest and sighed.

Sister Snake Demon, I owe you.

“Give me.”

“Huh? What?”

The three were confused.

“His money.”

Bai Yu pointed at the unconscious Liu Song.

“Ah… oh!”

Although confused, the three were obedient. Despite their imposing appearance, they were obedient and straightforward. They handed over the hard-earned broken silver to Bai Yu.

“Swoosh!”

Bai Yu took the money, then casually threw it onto the unconscious Liu Song not far away.

“Ah?! Brother, what are you doing?!!!!”

The three of them immediately widened their eyes in shock, exclaiming at Bai Yu. The third brother knelt down to pick up the money.

“Is it not dirty to use money obtained this way to bury your parents?” Bai Yu asked.

“Can your parents rest in peace?” He added.

However, the next two sentences from Bai Yu left the three brothers stunned, standing there motionless, ceasing all their actions.

“Puff!”

The boss knelt down on the ground as if struck by lightning, his knees sinking into the dust.

“Ah!!!!”

“Father… Mother…”

“The child is incompetent. The child is not filial!!!”

He wailed, mourning with a long cry. Although their days were hard, the parents of the three brothers were wise and kind. They instilled generosity, honesty, and proper conduct in their children since childhood.

Now, forced into a corner, they had to use stolen money to bury their parents. But how could people like their parents find peace with such means?

Yet, they were truly powerless and truly broke.

“King Yumin, just make sure they’re well-fed!”

As members of the lower class in ancient society, lacking knowledge and high-class ideals, they knew only hard work and struggle for basic sustenance. Repaying parents with a decent burial was the least they could do.

Feeling a sense of powerlessness like a festering sore on their souls, they were deeply mournful. Bai Yu broke the sombre atmosphere, offering the kneeling strong man money.

“You guys aren’t skilled, don’t do this job! It’s embarrassing and won’t get you enough to eat…”

Bai Yu’s casual and wise demeanour showed his advanced knowledge and ideals.

“Take it, take it~ Few people can deduct money from me! Consider yourselves lucky. This should be enough unless you want a luxurious one.”

With a nonchalant attitude, Bai Yu handed them some money. The boss was shocked, accepting the money. His face turned red with shock.

This was a significant sum, enough to cover their family’s yearly expenses and more than sufficient for their parents’ burial.

The second and third brothers were overwhelmed with gratitude and knelt before Bai Yu, expressing their heartfelt thanks.

Being carefree and enjoying life, Bai Yu took some money from home when he left. Making money along the way was not too difficult, and he had lived quite comfortably.

Bai Yu gently waved his hand, not expecting anything in return. It was simply settling a piece of karma.

“If it weren’t for your parents dying due to the Sealed Dragon Thunderstorm, I wouldn’t have said a word, let alone take out money to repay you,” Bai Yu thought.

He was just an onlooker in the ups and downs of life and death. It wasn’t his concern.

The three brothers insisted on repaying the favour, and Bai Yu revealed his name.

“Fine, my name is Bai Yu,” he said with a shrug.

The three brothers, grateful for the favour, wanted to know where Bai Yu lived and how to find him after everything was settled.

Bai Yu thought for a moment, then, with a sudden change in demeanour, he smiled confidently.

“Come to the capital. The golden paper will be released in September, and the whole city will know my name! I am Ling Yunzhi, self-proclaimed the best in the world!”