Soldiers, Thugs

Chapter 90 Soldiers, Thugs

After meeting Chi Ping once and giving him a papal decree, Qian Daoliu disappeared without a trace and never appeared again.

Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu had a deep-seated grudge. She had suspected that Qian Daoliu would go to see Chi Ping, but she did not ask Chi Ping for confirmation because it was pointless.

Ikehira is not someone that Sendou Ryu can win over.

Bibi Dong was very confident about this.

Indeed, after the Treaty of Peaceful Coexistence was signed, Ikehira produced the papal decree and asked Bibi Dong about Sendoru's identity, attempting to return it.

Angel Douluo, Grand Elder of the Elder Hall, Level 99 Peerless Douluo.

Bibi Dong provided this information and instructed Chi Ping to keep the papal decree safe.

As long as a future god who cannot be easily touched remains neutral, the Spirit Hall is willing to show sufficient goodwill.

Half a month later, Chi Ping used the Spirit Hall's channels to send a letter to the Heaven Dou Crown Prince's Mansion, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and Shrek Academy, and then set off for the Star Luo Empire.

-

The Star Luo Empire is a nation brimming with martial virtue, but also a cruel and ruthless country.

The Star Luo royal family's tradition of fierce competition for succession has lasted for hundreds of years. Every emperor chosen has been above average in both strength and character, which has ensured the strength of the Star Luo Empire.

However, this also sowed the seeds of future problems.

The emperors of Xingluo often develop a personality that leans towards the survival of the fittest and is cruel and ruthless due to fratricide.

Following the example set by those above, the overall atmosphere of the Star Luo Empire is similar to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak.

Everything in excess is as bad as deficiency.

A nation needs not only conquest through force, but also peace and recuperation.

Moral character is also one of the essential elements of governing a country.

Even if this is a supernatural world!

……

The Star Luo Empire, northern border, bordering the Dragon Flame Province and its Hadrian Kingdom, Carthus City.

The Heavenly Dou Empire had 10 provinces, and the Star Luo Empire had 11 provinces. However, due to various reasons, including but not limited to internal conflicts, the decline of the royal family, and the instigation of the Spirit Hall, half of the provinces of each of the two empires split off, forming more than a dozen kingdoms and duchies, which separated the two empires to the north and south with the Spirit Hall as the center.

As the Spirit Hall developed, it began to rival the two great empires, and these kingdoms and duchies grew increasingly closer to the Spirit Hall.

The two empires became increasingly vigilant, with the Star Luo Empire even deploying more troops to key border cities.

Casas City is one of them.

"You bastard, I'm doing you a favor by eating your food! And you dare ask me for money?"

The patrolling soldier threw a half-eaten piece of fruit at the fruit stall owner, then pulled out a knife and snarled menacingly.

The blade was white, and the gleaming cold light seemed capable of piercing the heart.

The fruit stall owner was a boy of thirteen or fourteen. He was young, naive, and stubborn, believing that if you took something from the stall, you had to pay for it.

The surrounding vendors continued their business as if it were normal, while those who hadn't gotten used to it turned their heads away or simply buried their heads and pretended not to see anything.

"Sir! Sir! Please calm down!"

A middle-aged man with a smooth demeanor walked up from the side, hunched over, and said in a low, obsequious tone, "This lad is here on behalf of his father. It's his first time in the city, and he doesn't know the rules."

As he spoke, the man kicked the boy twice. The first kick landed on his shin, causing the boy to kneel down. The second kick sent the boy flying behind the fruit stand, obscuring his expression.

The man was perhaps someone of status, and he spoke eloquently, so the bandit lowered his knife in his humble manner.

The market administrator, surnamed Zhang, breathed a sigh of relief. The gleaming knife had long been terrifying to him.

"Old Zhang? Fine, I'll give you face."

The soldier kicked the boy, "Kid, next time you see your grandpa, you'd better watch your eyes!"

The bandits left, taking a few more fruits and a lot of other things from other stalls before they left.

"Take care, sir!"

The market administrator, surnamed Zhang, saw the bandits off and only relaxed his tense nerves after they left.

Only then did I realize that my back was completely soaked; when I touched it, it was covered in sweat.

I sat down on a stone bench by the roadside and let out a long sigh of relief.

"What the hell is this?!"

Administrator Zhang cursed under his breath.

Before the army was stationed in the city, he was just an idle loafer who made a living by relying on his quick wit.

Later, when the imperial army from outside entered the city, those soldiers, having nothing better to do, would wander around the city under the guise of patrolling.

The hoodlum Xiao Zhang became the market manager Lao Zhang.

Responsible for managing the market and resolving conflicts.

His main task was to use his words to rescue locals who had accidentally offended the soldiers, just like today.

An old vendor offered him a handkerchief, which Old Zhang accepted without hesitation.

Who knows when some thugs might come into the market? He can't meet people looking like this; if someone gets annoyed and slashes him, it won't be worth it.

To be honest, he didn't want to do this job either, but it seemed like no one else could do it.

Not everyone has the courage to face a drawn blade. Old Zhang is self-sufficient and quick-witted. He used to be idle and caused a lot of trouble for those around him; is this compensation?

"Damn it! If these guys die, who am I going to eat from now on?!" Old Zhang muttered viciously to himself, putting his towel behind his back.

He needs to take care of his health; he can't be absent from work for such a foolish reason as catching a cold. Those honest, simple folks in the market are no match for the thugs and soldiers in the city!

……

At the tea stall near the market entrance, Chi Ping casually drank a cup of bland tea, using a copper soul coin as a side dish.

The protector and the bully have now switched roles.

Despite having traveled the Star Luo Empire for a year and witnessed countless similar incidents, he still found it somewhat comical, somewhat pathetic, but mostly powerless.

Not all armies can be like the army of the country in Chi Ping's previous life, truly serving the people wholeheartedly and thus gaining their wholehearted support and love.

Society in the Douluo Continent is still in the feudal period.

Having spent a year in the Star Luo Empire, Chi Ping had long since come to understand the true nature of the army in the feudal era.

The phrase "indistinguishable between soldiers and bandits" is by no means an empty claim!

It makes you want to make a move!

But no, even though Chi Ping has reached level 70, he is only one soul ring away from becoming a Soul Saint.

He has power, but that power is not enough to govern a person for a lifetime!

If Chi Ping were to stand up when the bandits were bullying people, given what they had done, all he could do was punch them a few times and say a few harsh words.

The behavior of these scoundrels is really nothing special in this era.

Chi Ping cannot impose his moral standards on them.

Once he leaves, the bandits who have been taught a lesson will retaliate against the locals even more severely.

This is a tragedy of our time.

This cannot be solved by simple violence.

Chi Ping became even more determined to remain neutral. There are some things that can only be done with absolute neutrality.

(End of this chapter)