Chapter 80: Beating a Man Down

Before Zhou You could ask any further questions, a call suddenly came from the kitchen.

The owner smiled apologetically at Zhou You before turning and leaving.

Only Zhou You remained seated there in silence.

After a long while, his lips finally moved.

“Master, what do you think?”

The old Daoist’s disdainful voice came from inside the pouch.

“What do I think? Honestly, with how grandly this Grand Duke Jupiter Star Lord is conducting things, it’d be stranger if nobody noticed. The problem is...”

“Does noticing mean anyone will speak up about it?”

The old Daoist grinned, his expression becoming even more mocking.

“Take this tavern owner for example. Do you really think he doesn’t know where his waiter disappeared to? Even if he truly doesn’t know, he’s already guessed something. He’s simply choosing not to say it out loud. Right now, the entire county depends on that Grand Duke Jupiter Star Lord for survival. If the Star Lord disappears, what will everyone in the city eat?”

Zhou You nodded.

No emotion could be heard in his voice.

“So everyone who knows the truth gets branded a heretic. Those who tell the truth are condemned by the entire city. Heh. The world really is a circle. Everyone keeps repeating the same scenes.”

The conversation ended there.

Zhou You and the old Daoist fell silent.

Some time later, after the world had become filled with the golden glow of sunset, the owner finally emerged carrying a food box.

“My apologies, my apologies. Even firewood is becoming scarce these days. I had to borrow some from a neighbor before we could light the stove. I hope you’ll forgive the delay, honored guest.”

Zhou You smiled and indicated his understanding before lowering his gaze.

The food box itself was exquisitely crafted.

Carved dragons and phoenixes adorned it, with gold and silver embellishments painted across its surface.

From this item alone, one could tell that this tavern had once been quite prestigious.

Perhaps it had entertained the wealthiest families in the county.

Yet in complete contrast to its luxurious appearance, the contents were pitifully meager.

A bowl of rice.

A plate of stir-fried preserved vegetables.

That was everything.

The owner rubbed his hands together and smiled apologetically.

“I’m truly sorry, guest. Grand Duke Jupiter meat can’t be cooked over fire. The moment it touches heat, it dissolves. As for other kinds of meat... we can’t obtain any. And even if we could, you wouldn’t be able to eat it. So please make do with this.”

Zhou You raised no objections and directly pulled out a handful of broken silver to pay.

To his surprise, the owner’s expression became somewhat troubled.

“Guest, I should inform you that although grain prices here are much better than outside the city, they’re still quite expensive nowadays. What you’ve offered... I’m afraid it isn’t enough.”

Didn’t you just say nobody was buying anything? Why is it suddenly so expensive?

However, Zhou You had no interest in arguing.

He simply took out another handful of silver and paid.

The owner immediately beamed with delight as he accepted the money and retreated.

Picking up his chopsticks, Zhou You lifted some preserved vegetables.

He smelled them first, confirming there was nothing unusual, before finally putting them into his mouth.

As expected of a cook from a grand tavern.

Even with ingredients this poor, the taste was still remarkably good.

The old Daoist seemed somewhat jealous.

From inside the pouch, he complained noisily.

“My good disciple, when you’ve got something tasty, you enjoy it all by yourself? Do you know anything about respecting your elders? Hurry up and give your master some.”

“Master, do you even have digestive organs?”

Although he said that, Zhou You still picked up a portion and slipped it through a seam in the pouch.

At that very moment, a commotion erupted outside.

Zhou You glanced toward the street.

Several yamen constables dressed in black uniforms had surrounded a man.

Judging from their shouts, they appeared to be carrying out official business.

After only a few glances, Zhou You lost interest and returned his attention to the food before him.

After all, this was the first truly normal meal he had eaten since leaving Xue Family Village.

He intended to savor it properly.

Unfortunately.

Even if he wanted peace and quiet, the constables outside refused to allow it.

Some dispute broke out between them and the man they had surrounded.

At first it seemed relatively ordinary.

Soon, however, it escalated into insults and shouting.

Then, following a righteous-sounding rebuke, the constables actually raised their clubs and struck the man together!

The victim initially attempted to resist.

But two fists could not overcome four hands.

Furthermore, he looked more like a frail scholar, while the constables were all robust men as fierce as wolves and tigers.

Very quickly, the man was beaten to the ground and began screaming in agony.

Even stranger, the surrounding crowd showed no sympathy whatsoever.

Instead, they loudly cheered.

Witnessing this scene, Zhou You became interested instead.

He casually dumped half the plate of preserved vegetables into his pouch before raising his head and calling to the owner, who had stepped outside and was now watching the spectacle from the doorway.

“Brother, what’s going on here? Why are the constables beating someone while everyone around them is cheering?”

“Could the man being beaten be some heinous criminal?”

“I’ve only just arrived in town. Could you explain it to me?”

The owner immediately revealed a mocking expression.

Not toward Zhou You.

Toward the man currently being beaten.

“To inform you, honored guest, he may not be a criminal, but he certainly is a wicked sinner.”

Seeing Zhou You’s interest, the owner continued with a smile.

“Didn’t I tell you earlier? Grand Duke Jupiter Star Lord’s birthday is approaching. The entire county is busy preparing for this great joyous occasion.”

“Yet some blind fools insist on appearing and saying that Grand Duke Jupiter Star Lord is actually a monster. They tell everyone not to believe in Him, otherwise death will soon follow.”

“And that fellow is one of them.”

“...Just because of that, he’s being beaten like this?”

The mockery on the owner’s face deepened.

“If he’d only said a few words, it wouldn’t have gone this far. After all, Grand Duke Jupiter Star Lord is a divine immortal descended from heaven. Why would such a being concern Himself with insignificant vermin like this?”

“Most people changed their tune after being taught a few lessons.”

“But that man on the street refused to repent.”

“And more importantly, the bastard actually started a rebellion!”

The owner spat on the ground.

“That son of a bitch used to be a clerk in the county offices. He genuinely managed to fool quite a few people into joining his cause.”

“Fortunately, the County Magistrate was wise and perceptive. He discovered the plot in advance, preventing any major disaster.”

“Ordinarily, a crime like that would warrant execution.”

“But because his family had served as officials for generations, and because Grand Duke Jupiter’s birthday is drawing near and bloodshed would be inauspicious, the magistrate spared his life.”

“He merely ordered the constables to come teach him a lesson every few days.”

“Pah! They’ve been far too lenient with him!”

Zhou You paid no attention to the owner’s words.

Instead, he carefully studied the man among the constables.

At this point, the one-sided beating was nearing its conclusion.

The constables had evidently received instructions beforehand not to inflict fatal injuries.

However, they struck with vicious force, targeting only places that caused immense pain without causing permanent disability.

The screams gradually weakened.

After delivering one final kick, the constables finally ended their work.

The group swaggered away with their bellies thrust forward.

Amid the cheers of the crowd, they departed like returning heroes.

Only the man remained behind, lying in the dirt.

Every so often, passing pedestrians would stop to spit on him.