Runzhou City is a land with four rivers and three corridors. It is adjacent to Yangzhou and has extremely convenient waterways and land official roads.

Theoretically speaking, this can also be regarded as a transportation artery for Yangzhou to communicate with the outside world, and a storage place for the transfer and transportation of various materials.

But since the Nandu embankment burst last year, the place has no longer been as prosperous as before.

When Pei Wende walked outside Runzhou City with doubts, the place was as desolate as a deserted city. Only the two city guards guarding the city gate showed that the place was not completely deserted.

"This scene... doesn't look like it's just a famine situation."

After all, Pei Wende had experienced famine and had taken in hungry people. Naturally, he could see something was wrong with Runcheng at a glance.

Famine can indeed drive people from their homes, but only if there is a large-scale famine.

However, the Nandu embankment bursting obviously did not affect the entire Yangzhou. It is impossible for the people of Runzhou City to leave their hometowns and leave here on a large scale.

Because even if there are profiteers driving up prices, only the people at the bottom will not be able to survive.

However, Runzhou City is so desolate at the moment. Not only the people at the bottom have left in large numbers, but even most of the gentry living here have disappeared.

Or to be more precise, it was the nobles and nobles here who left here first, taking a large number of people with them.

Thanks to the Iron Gu who were exploring separately, Pei Wende quickly confirmed this.

"Amitabha!"

Walking to the city gate in three steps and two steps at a time, Pei Wende saluted the two guards guarding the city gate.

"I would like to ask you two officials, it seems that the young monk didn't see many people traveling along the way?"

"And why is the city gate so deserted?"

I saw Pei Wende speaking and handing over his certificate.

This was proof of Pei Wende's identity and the means he used to win the trust of the two guards.

"Fahai?"

Reaching out to take the certificate from Pei Wende, one of the guards frowned and glanced at the inscription on it, but did not answer his question directly.

On the contrary, another guard who looked kinder smiled bitterly, unable to hide the tiredness and helplessness on his face.

"Master, I don't know. Runzhou City is inviting disaster."

"Everyone who can run has already run away, and the rest are those like us who can't run..."

Before the guard here could finish his words, the guard who first checked Pei Wende's ultimatum began to scold him.

"Third brother, stop talking nonsense!"

Although the guard tried his best to hide the expression on his face, Pei Wende still saw a bit of fear in it.

"Master, please don't pay attention to my brother's nonsense. You can go in."

Without giving Pei Wende a chance to continue questioning, the guard thrust the ultimatum into his hand and decisively signaled the other party to pass quickly.

"Thank you, sir."

With a slight chin gesture, Pei Wende was too sensible and did not continue to ask further questions.

It wasn't until Pei Wende's back disappeared at the top of the city that the guard who had previously stopped his companions turned around and cursed in a low voice.

"Lao San, do you want your life?"

"We are just two little guards, just responsible for guarding the city gate."

"Don't forget how the prison boss died last month. Do you want your old mother to live alone for the rest of her life?"

Hearing this, the other guard suddenly widened his eyes.

"You mean, that monk might be..."

Covering his mouth in time, the other guard stopped talking, but his eyes showed deep fear.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

[It seems like they mistook you for something else?]

Xiao Qing's voice suddenly echoed in Pei Wende's mind, and at the same time, the whispering conversation of the two guards also sounded.

[No need to ‘seem’, they did treat me as some kind of monster.]

Pei Wende looked around in silence, but did not see any pedestrians, so Pei Wende replied.

In Pei Wende's eyes at this moment, in this empty and ghost-like Runzhou City, one could vaguely see some kind of dark evil spirit spreading.

[What happened here must have involved monsters.]

Whether it was the Nandu embankment bursting last year, or the price hikes that followed, or even the bullying of local officials...

There seems to be some signs of evil spirits being involved in this, and everyone who is still in the city seems to be aware of this.

【You are really a bad guy, you can run into messy things wherever you go.】

[Also, where are the Qintian Prisons here? What are they doing? 】

Although Xiao Qing's expression could not be clearly seen, Pei Wende easily figured out her anger at the moment.

In fact, what Xiaoqing is annoyed about is not Pei Wende's fate of running into trouble wherever he goes, but what she is annoyed about is Pei Wende's character who knows he is in trouble but still runs into it.

To Xiaoqing, the various evil spirits he encountered along the way were actually not that big of a deal.

Even if Pei Wende doesn't take care of it, the local Qintian Supervisor will send someone to deal with it after noticing it.

[Qin Tian Jian? I’m also curious about what they did? 】

With a habitual smile on his lips, Pei Wende didn't force himself on Xiaoqing's thoughts at all.

Although Pei Wende wanted Xiao Qing to be more humane, he did not turn him into a soft-hearted monster with no bottom line.

Just like Pei Wende himself knows in his heart that his character is actually not likeable.

Just like Runzhou City at this moment, he believed that from the moment he stepped into the city gate, many people inside and outside the city expressed disgust at his arrival.

There are demons among them, but there must also be people.

【Then what are you going to do next?】

Quietly putting her body close to Pei Wende's skin, Xiao Qing suddenly raised her head under the clothes, and a faint evil aura also emanated.

Feeling Xiao Qing's unabashed intimidation, those who were secretly spying on Pei Wende immediately averted their eyes.

[What else can I do? Of course, let’s go to the government office here first!]

Pei Wende is not the kind of person who likes to beat around the bush, and his solutions to problems are usually very direct and crude.

Now that it has been determined that the embankment has burst, and that the price gouging and deception are all related to officials, Pei Wende naturally plans to go to the top official of this place, the Governor of Runzhou.

After all, as the highest-ranking official in Runzhou City, Pei Wende would not believe a word that the governor of Runzhou knew nothing about what was happening in his territory.

What is happening in Runzhou City now, even if there is someone behind the scenes, is probably inseparable from the current governor of Runzhou.
Chapter completed!