At some point, a dozen or so plump figures in luxurious clothing squeezed into the line of disaster victims. Every single one of them had fat heads, big ears, and oily faces, clearly not disaster victims, yet they were collecting relief funds from the line.
And they weren't collecting the relief funds from the soldiers distributing silver coins, but from the disaster victims!
These people were collecting taxes!
Damn it, disaster victims have to pay taxes even when receiving relief funds? Where's the sense in that? Du Cheng (杜承 - protagonist's name) felt a surge of anger.
Just then, one of the fat men shouted, "Hey, you, take out the silver coin you're hiding in your pocket, that's my tax payment!"
The disaster victim he called out to was a young woman, holding a baby. She bowed and pleaded, "My Lord Count, my home is gone, and my man died in the flood. I beg you, please allow me to keep this silver coin to buy some food for my child. You know, a child so small can't eat dry, hard black bread every day!"
As she spoke, she knelt down, and the baby in her arms let out a muffled sob.
"No, I need the tax money!" The fat Count's cold eyes stared at the woman. He had seen plenty of these commoners pretending to be pitiful. It was heaven's principle and earth's righteousness (天经地义 - implying something natural and right) for commoners to pay taxes to nobles. Besides, his own manor was destroyed in the flood, and he needed this tax money to compensate for his losses!
He "hmph"ed, urging the woman, "Do you intend to resist taxation?"
"I wouldn't dare, but..."
The surrounding disaster victims couldn't stand it anymore. Someone said indignantly, "My Lord Count, this money is for us to rebuild our homes!"
"I also need this money to rebuild my home!" the fat Count roared.
Do you still need to rebuild your home? Your tents on the southern beach have frames made of gold! The disaster victims were instantly enraged. Those who had just paid taxes out of obedience to the nobles also began shouting, "My Lord, we need to rebuild our homes!"
The anger of the masses was difficult to offend. The disaster victims surrounded him, cornering the fat man in the middle!
"Do you want to rebel?!" The Count retreated a few steps in fear, but after glancing at the soldiers near the refugee camp, he let out a cold laugh.
Dong! Dong! The soldiers cooperatively stamped their long spears on the ground. Seeing this, the disaster victims lowered their heads dejectedly and dispersed. They were just commoners; dared they defy the orders of nobles?
A few bolder disaster victims glanced at the huge cooking stoves, and a thought suddenly arose in their minds. Perhaps, just perhaps, if they didn't get black bread every day, they might dare to fight this damned Count to the death.
But since they still had black bread to eat every day, they couldn't bear to risk their lives.
Seeing all this, Du Cheng gritted his teeth. These rich but unkind (为富不仁 - implying wealthy yet lacking compassion) bastards! In his previous life, when Du Cheng begged on the streets as a child, he was often bullied by people like this. Seeing this now, he felt an urge to slap them.
Coming up beside Norton (诺顿 - a character's name), Du Cheng asked in a low voice, "Uncle, who are these people?"
Norton had also seen this, but he wore a look of indifference. Even Steve (史蒂夫 - a character's name), who was beside him, felt some discomfort but wasn't overly indignant. They were all nobles; such things were natural and right (天经地义) in their eyes. "They are also disaster victims!"
"They are disaster victims?"
"Yes, their manors were all washed away by the flood. Uh, you could say they're 'noble disaster victims'!" Norton said with a hint of mockery.
"Are you asking about them collecting taxes? Third Young Master, this is permitted by imperial law. They can dictate the taxes of the commoners in their territory. Although I don't approve of their actions either, legally speaking, if they declare that the tax rate for commoners within their territory is raised to one hundred percent—meaning everything is surrendered—they can completely take away the relief funds you gave to the disaster victims under the protection of the law."
A wicked fire surged in Du Cheng's heart. Weren't these bastards essentially discounting his good deeds? But legally, they had every right to do so! Du Cheng had no standing to interfere!
Du Cheng was unwilling to accept this. In his previous life, ever since he had mastered his thieving skills, he had never let go of any rich person who dared to bully him!
Now, these disaster victims were equivalent to the alchemical vessel (鼎炉 - here used metaphorically to mean a source or necessary element) for Du Cheng's cultivation of The Lotus Scripture (《莲花宝鉴》- the name of a cultivation technique). If they were being bullied, wasn't that interrupting Du Cheng from doing good deeds?!
After thinking for a moment, Du Cheng suddenly smiled. If the law couldn't punish these bastards, then non-legal means would do.
He quickly walked over to the tax-collecting Count and smiled slightly, "Oh, esteemed Count, may I inquire your name? Also, do you live in a place like this?"
"Blessings of the God of Combat (斗神 - a deity in this world), you are a God-descendant (神裔 - a special status/identity), you don't need to call me Count, just call me Abudu." As soon as Abudu (阿布杜 - the tax-collecting Count's name) saw Du Cheng, this God-descendant, a noble among nobles, he immediately put on a smiling face.
"Oh, no, we don't live in such a filthy place. My friends and I live on the beach about five li (五里 - a traditional Chinese unit of distance, approx. 2.5 km or 1.5 miles) to the south, see, over there!" He pointed in a direction. "Just now my servant told me you were distributing relief funds, so I came to take a look!"
Du Cheng looked south. About five or six li away was the beach. On the beach, a luxurious camp was faintly visible. Compared to the refugee camp here, that camp looked like a beach resort!
It seemed that although these nobles had suffered great losses, they weren't at the point where they couldn't survive and had to exploit the disaster victims!
Du Cheng's anger intensified. At this moment, the lotus on his butt (屁股上的莲花 - a literal translation of a unique element related to the protagonist's cultivation method, The Lotus Scripture; its activity/sensation is tied to his progress or actions) also stirred, ready to move. The third lotus was about to bloom, and heaven knew what strange phenomenon it would produce.
Suppressing the lotus on his butt with his inner energy (内劲 - internal power/energy, a common concept in martial arts/cultivation novels), Du Cheng smiled, "Oh dear, that was my oversight. I should have called upon all of you esteemed lords first. Is now a convenient time? Could you introduce me to the other lords?"
"Oh, certainly! My friends will be absolutely delighted, as they are about to meet a God-descendant. Please follow me!"
After instructing Steve and Norton briefly, Du Cheng followed Abudu, chatting and laughing all the way, to the "resort" on the beach. Seeing them leave, the disaster victims' gazes towards Du Cheng changed from gratitude to bewilderment.
Alas, it turned out all nobles were the same.
However, it's still quite good that Lord Francis (弗朗西斯勋爵 - a character's title and name) can help us rebuild our homes... At least he's much better than the vampires on the beach.
Upon arriving at Abudu's luxurious temporary tent, Du Cheng only needed a single glance to feel overjoyed in his heart. Compared to the treasure hiding places in noble manors, these tents were far too simple. For a master thief like Du Cheng, they were practically undefended!
Damn it, aren't you rich but unkind? I'll steal everything from you!
If the law can't punish them, then use illegal means!
Punishing evil is also promoting good!
After strolling around the tents on the beach and getting acquainted with many of the noble disaster victims, Du Cheng emerged from the "resort" with a grin.
On this trip, Du Cheng didn't touch the large items but stole countless small ones—pearls, agate, diamonds, and so on...
"Oh gods, where is my diamond necklace? That jewelry was worth fifty gold coins!"
"Blessings of the God of Combat, where's my cat's eye gem!?"
He hadn't gotten far before wails of lament rose from the "resort." Hearing them filled Du Cheng with immense satisfaction. This particular good deed was the most gratifying he had ever performed. Damn it, not only did his butt feel good (referring to the sensation related to his cultivation benefiting from this action), but his heart felt great too!
Although done in a fit of anger, this good deed was full of holes. But Du Cheng wasn't afraid. He was a God-descendant. Though the stolen goods were hidden all over his body, who would dare search a God-descendant without evidence!? Weren't they afraid of the Holy Church's stake?
He had over thirty pieces of precious jewelry hidden on his person, yet Du Cheng's appearance showed no abnormality—hiding stolen goods was also one of a thief's essential skills.
For example, a diamond the size of a quail's egg was hidden in his crotch without affecting his walk. This move was called "Three Eggs" (三颗蛋 - the name of a thieving technique), also known as "Crotch Concealment" (胯下藏宝 - another name for the technique). Du Cheng had relied on this move to hide the sacred artifact, the Horned War Hammer (圣器羊角战锤 - a specific artifact), in its metal ball form inside the Great Cathedral.
Another example: a necklace was wrapped around his arm with several rings threaded onto it. Hidden beneath his wide robe, no one would discover it unless they lifted his sleeve. This move was called "Golden Snake Coil" (金蛇缠身 - the name of a thieving technique)...
"Fuck me, these jewels add up to over a thousand gold coins! These bastards are rolling in wealth yet they still go and exploit the disaster victims' money. They truly deserve a beating!"
Du Cheng cursed angrily all the way, turning back occasionally, waiting for the noble disaster victims who realized something was wrong to catch up. He had already prepared his excuses.
Suddenly, the wails from inside the "resort" disappeared, as if Du Cheng had suddenly gone deaf. He couldn't hear any sound at all.
No, there was still sound, a very strange "shasha" (沙沙 - an onomatopoeic sound) sound.
Following that, waves churned in the distant ocean, and the tide suddenly became much larger.
A brain-piercing fishy smell drifted over. Even if Du Cheng didn't have a nose as sensitive as a Xuebi (雪比人 - the name of a race or type of creature known for a sensitive nose), he could still smell it distinctly.
The atmosphere was very strange.
The tingling and itching sensation from the lotus on his butt grew stronger and stronger. Du Cheng used all his inner energy to suppress this feeling he both loved and hated, then turned back to gaze at the "resort."
Suddenly, a miserable shriek came from the "resort," "Help!!"
A giant monstrous beast emerged from beneath the "resort." Its greenish-blue head was oval-shaped, with golden eyes and green scales. It was as large as a fierce bull, and its dark red forked tongue, when extended, was over two meters long.
And this was just the head...
What a giant python!
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