“You are quite lucky, Young Master Wei,” the physician remarked, mixing herbs in a bowl with a practiced hand. “Since you believed you were on the verge of a breakthrough and were consuming Mount Hua's Qi pills like candy, the Chomug parasite was overwhelmed and unable to fully take hold.”
Wei nodded, relief evident in his tired eyes. Aunt Li Mei, still by his side, gave a small nod of gratitude to the physician. “I should go and deliver this good news to the sect leader,” the physician continued, standing up and gathering his things. With a final reassuring glance at Wei, he turned and left the room.
Outskirts of Dao City, Capital City of Haiso Province, Central Plains,
A small, rickety carriage trundled along the rough road, carrying a group of passengers huddled together for warmth. Most of them wore tattered clothes, patched and worn thin by time and hardship, inadequate for the biting cold that had begun to seep into the region. Among the passengers were the elderly, some frail and sickly, and a few disabled individuals, all squeezed into the cramped space, each with their own story of struggle etched into their faces.
The wind outside howled softly, carrying with it the first flakes of snow, which swirled in the air before settling on the ground. Inside the carriage, a young boy, dressed in the same patched and threadbare clothing as the others, peeked out through a small opening in the curtain, his eyes wide as he caught sight of the distant glow of lights from Dao City.
“Close that curtain, boy! It’s freezing out there!” an old man grumbled, his voice thick with the weight of years and the cold. The boy quickly pulled his head back inside, obediently shutting the curtain to keep out the chill. He then squeezed through the cramped space, maneuvering past the other passengers until he found a seat opposite the old man. Beside him, a younger girl lay curled up under a thin, patchwork cloth, her small body shivering slightly from the cold.
“Are you from the Beggar Sect, child?” the old man asked, his tone slightly softened now. “You should be more mindful of your elders.”
The boy smiled, his expression bright despite their grim circumstances. “Yes, Mister. I’m a lower-ranked member of the Beggar Sect. My sister and I used to beg in Gunghua Province, but we’re traveling to Dao City now, hoping for better pay!”
The old man chuckled, his face cracking into a rare smile. “I see, so you and I are both traveling for a better life. The Beggar Sect’s main headquarters is in Haiso Province, after all. Every beggar dreams of getting there one day, but it’s not easy to gather the money for such a journey.”
The boy nodded eagerly. “True! My sister and I were the same. We never had enough money to make the trip. But a few days ago, the Thousand Pavilion called out to all the orphaned beggars in Gunghua Province and gave us money to travel for a better opportunity!”
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The old man’s eyes widened in surprise at the boy’s words. “The Thousand Pavilion? That private information network actually handed out money? Why would they do that?”
The boy’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he explained, “Apparently, there’s a sect in the Dongu Region of Gunghua Province—what was its name again? Ah, the Eternal Will Sect! They recently had a change in leadership, and the new leaders want to make the sect well-known. So, they gave donations to various private organizations to help the poor have a better life. In return, they’re spreading the sect’s name far and wide!”
The old man nodded, clearly impressed. “What a generous sect! I spent years saving enough to make this journey, scraping by as a young man. But you young ones have a better future ahead! Dao City is known as a haven for beggars—you’ll do well there.” He paused, glancing at the boy thoughtfully. “Is that why I’ve seen so many beggars at the carriage stands lately, all heading to Haiso Province?”
The carriage driver chimed in from his seat, a broad grin on his weathered face. “The boy speaks the truth. I’ve been doing multiple trips these past few weeks, taking advantage of the situation. So many beggars are looking to move to Dao City, thanks to the Eternal Will Sect’s donations. Business has been booming for me!” He chuckled, his laughter soon joined by the old man.
As the carriage continued its slow journey toward Dao City, the passengers inside found a small measure of warmth, not just from their shared body heat, but from the sense of hope that the journey brought with it. The snow continued to fall lightly outside, covering the landscape in a thin, white blanket, as the city lights drew ever closer.
More of the beggars began to chime in, sharing their own stories of how they, too, had received the unexpected donation to travel to Dao City. Voices overlapped as they recounted their astonishment and gratitude, each story adding to the collective sense of hope that filled the cramped space. Some spoke of long journeys from distant provinces, while others recounted how they had once despaired of ever leaving their old lives behind.
The ride continued for another fifteen minutes, and soon the towering gates of Dao City came into view, their imposing presence a symbol of the wealth and opportunity that awaited within. The carriage slowed to a halt as it approached the gate, where city guards conducted routine checks on the incoming travelers. The beggars inside the carriage held their breath, but the guards, seeing the ragged state of the passengers, quickly waved them through with little more than a cursory glance.
Once inside the city, the carriage came to a stop in a busy square teeming with life. The beggars began to disembark, each one stepping out into a world that promised a new beginning. The young boy and his sister waited until everyone else had exited before they climbed down themselves. As their feet touched the cobblestone street, they were greeted by a scene that took their breath away.
All around them, dozens of carriages, just like the one they had arrived in, were parked in neat rows. Beggars of all ages and from all walks of life were spilling out into the square, their faces alight with a mixture of wonder and apprehension. The square buzzed with the hum of conversation and the shuffle of feet, as more and more beggars continued to pour into the city from all directions.
The carriage driver, having secured his horses, took a moment to look around at the bustling scene. He shook his head in amazement, his weathered face creasing into a thoughtful frown. "My, my," he muttered to himself, "this is the most beggars I’ve seen arriving in Dao City in years. It looks like the Eternal Will Sect's donations are bringing more and more people every day. I reckon the city will be overflowing with new arrivals before long."
The young boy, overhearing the driver’s words, glanced at his sister, who was clutching his hand tightly. Her eyes were wide with both fear and excitement as she took in the sight of so many fellow travelers. The boy gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and looked around the square, where the lights of Dao City glowed like beacons of hope amidst the encroaching night. For the first time in his life, he felt a glimmer of optimism that their fortunes might finally change in this city of opportunity.