Chapter 512: Chapter 508: The Old, Weak, Sick, and Disabled

“…Those with inner vision and above cultivation, stand by on the west side of

Camel Hump.”

The crowd was thrown into another commotion. Those who possessed cultivation capacities separated themselves from the crowd and ran towards the west side of the main peak. The group was roughly ten thousand strong.

These were the last capable people among the refugees. Those left behind, in anyone’s eyes, were all similar to odd-shaped melons and split jujubes.

Their physique was undermined due to food scarcity, and their diminished stature caused these small, dark figures to blend together when standing so closely. Even Tang Luo could not tell the men and women apart.

The women, who should display gender characteristics, had chest parts as flat as the men’s. Though unable to distinguish in appearance, Tang Luo knew that the majority of those remaining were females.

This was an apparent fact. The notion of favoring males over females was deeply rooted in this land. Boys had the potential to work and earn money, carry on the family lineage. Some ordinary families would even skimp to afford their children’s Foundation Building, thus changing the fate of their entire household.

The girls were not so fortunate. They had no opportunities to learn to read, and they lacked the conditions to practice martial arts. For poorer households, raising a girl until the age of three or five and then giving her away for a man’s family to raise, or even selling her into a brothel, became customary.

For instance, Miaoyin Square would purchase a large number of young girls each year. These girls were not seized forcibly by the Tang Clan. Rather, the locals would eagerly sell their three-to-five-year-old daughters to Miaoyin Square for only one or two hundred gold, using the money to improve their own lives.

For many local roughnecks, selling their daughters had become a significant component of their income.

As such, aside from women of noble families, few women among the common folk could read, let alone possess the specialties of the Five Elements. However, aptitude was not correlated with one’s birth or experiences.

Even though those currently in front of him were comparable to odd-shaped melons and split jujubes, Tang Luo firmly believed that many with outstanding talents were awaiting his discovery. He spoke loudly to the remaining people. ‘Though you lack specialties of the Five Elements and cannot read or write, I am willing to grant you another opportunity, an opportunity to receive food.

“Those who wish to learn martial arts, lift your left arm!”

“Those who wish to learn to read and write, and master the craft of the Five Elements, lift your right arm!”

At the close of Tang Luo’s words, over ninety percent of the crowd raised either their left or right arm, with their eyes filled with hope.

Tang Luo looked at the scene before him and said to the scholars behind him,

“It seems we have our work cut out for us.”

In comparison to those who had previously left, these people who needed to learn anew were indeed the real purpose of Tang Luos gathering.

Many among this group of Xiling scholars passed down their knowledge in literature throughout their lineage. Though their cultivation levels were not high, their proficiency in the arts made them perfectly suited to teaching.

As for those willing to learn martial arts, he had already requested the Tang Clan for over a dozen instructors a few months ago.

The Tang Clan’s instructors were experienced warriors. Many of them held the role of martial arts hall master. Under their guidance, there should be no issue teaching the common people.

The gathering that began at dawn only concluded as the sun started to set, but it was not entirely finished.

After all the people without any skills had been assigned, there were still numerous people lingering on the platform.

If these people were to be given a label, “elderly, weak, sick, disabled” would be most appropriate.

The elderly leaning on staffs, the sickly thin individuals, children around seven or eight, commoners with either arms or legs severed – these were the ones remaining on the mountaintop.

“Clan master, *cough, cough, cough.*” A frail, old man leaning on a stick asked Tang Luo as he coughed, “How does the Clan master plan to arrange for us?” “Didn’t the old man just hear?” Tang Luo calmly looked at the old man as he spoke, “Learning a craft or martial arts, that is my arrangement for all of you.” The old man started a series of violent coughs that almost made it seem as if he was about to cough out both his lungs. His dark blue veins stood out on the hand clutching the cane. A blind woman quickly supported the old man’s left hand while patting his back. After a while, his breath had finally become somewhat smoother.

The old man shook his head with a tragic expression. He pushed away the woman, turned towards Tang Luo and continued, “clan master, we heard about and understand your orders, but…” The old man turned back to look at the people on the mountaintop, facing Tang Luo and pleaded, “We are a group of weak, elderly, and lonely people without any support. Even though we wish to learn, we simply lack the power. Please look at our miserable state and continue providing us food.”

Following the old man’s plea, the weak and elderly gathered on the mountaintop started sharing their pitiful stories one after another:

“Yes, Clan master, I lost my left hand when I was a child and am blind in my right eye. Even though I want to learn, I simply don’t have the ability. Please show some mercy, clan master.”

Disabled arms, limping legs, blindness, severe illness – everyone was eagerly listing their deficiencies to Tang Luo, trying to indicate they weren’t reluctant to learn, but rather were incapable due to their conditions.

“Everyone, quiet down.” Tang Luo looked at the people in front of him, smiled faintly and said, “I understand your difficulties. The elderly and the weak need to be taken care of. I wonder what type of care the old man thinks is appropriate?”

“Clan master is benevolent, cough, cough, cough.” The old man used a few coughs and said to Tang Luo, “We only hope that the clan master will continue giving us food in the future. That would suffice.

“This request is not too much,” Tang Luo looked at the old man and smiled lightly, “I agree. However, before we give out the food, please answer one question for me.”

“Ask away, clan master. I will certainly answer everything I know!” The old man’s face lit with happiness, and even his coughing seemed to ease up considerably. He responded energetically.

Tang Luo looked at the group of able elderly in front of him and asked while smiling, “I would like to know, how did you survive these past few months with disabilities, no support, and food shortages?”

The old man’s facial expression changed abruptly, quickly dampening the previously joyful atmosphere.

“Let me ask in a different way!” Tang Luo, who was just smiling, had an abruptly stern expression and looked at the group of able elderly. He coldly asked, “During the past two months, who hasn’t eaten human flesh? Raise your hand so I can see.”

The charitable food distribution only began half a month prior, but the flood had already been raging for over two months. To helpless elderly and the weak? If it were true, they would probably not even be able to climb up to Red Cloud Mountain, much less appear so energetically in front of him.

Even the old man who looked like he was about to cough out his lungs had a clear 5682 above his head. Even the blind woman had 4000+ value above hers. In front of him, not one of those claiming to be elderly, weak or sick did not practice cultivation.

This type of group was acting pitiful in front of him, trying to earn sympathy.. Wasn’t there something off here?