"The Yang Family has always been hospitable, what about our Family Head?"

"You... forget it, this person’s speed is even slower than ours, he doesn’t have any abilities, there’s nothing useful to gain from him."

Seeing Yang Minke’s team looking so weak, these people lost interest.

And clearly, the outside situation was caused by Yang Qiangjing, having nothing to do with this Yang Family junior, so it would be pointless to argue with him.

"However... Brother Shan mentioned that this grain is key to the White Grain Warehouse. This man must have some of it since he came all this way..."

"Hey! Kid! Put down all the grain you have on you, then you can leave."

Yang Minke’s face instantly turned bitter.

"Honored seniors, if I lose my grain... how will I continue on this journey? If I reach Beijing without any grain, it could mean life or death..."

"I don’t care about that. It’s your Yang Family that acts without consideration. Why... hmph~ if you survive, go ask your aunt, the Family Head. Hand it over!"

A Golden Core cultivator extended his hand, looking domineering.

After a moment of hesitation, Yang Minke finally took out 2000 pounds of grain from his storage ring.

"I ask the seniors to let us leave..."

"That’s it? Impossible! Do you want us to use force? Hand over all of it!"

After much pushing and shoving, Yang Minke and his group eventually handed over 5000 pounds of grain to these people and ’hastily’ fled the city.

This caused the Golden Core cultivators behind them to burst into laughter.

"This Yang Family kid will definitely have a tough time in the second half."

"Just in time to make up for the grain I was cheated out of by the gate official..."

"Alas, I thought by not killing or robbing along the way I would pass safely, but now I’m out of grain... what should I do next?"

Some people’s strategies left them with no grain at all, and now they’re worried.

But Yang Minke, already ’squeezed dry’, snorted coldly once outside the city.

"These petty scums, neither united nor wise, think they can compete with my Yang Family for opportunities?"

"Let’s go!"

Yang Minke was safe in the end, for none of them expected his lateness was not due to weakness, but because he had planted a large batch of fresh grain.

After hurrying for two more days, Yang Minke finally reached the location of the main group.

"Big brother, I’m here!"

Seeing Yang Min’s figure, Yang Minke exhaled a sigh of relief.

Ever since they were young, as long as their big brother was there, no matter what trouble his brothers got into, he would take care of it.

Even if it meant being harshly reprimanded later, it was reassuring.

"Aunt."

Yang Qiangjin nodded slightly.

"Let’s go, there are still things we need to do in Beijing... it won’t end this easily."

This was the conclusion they came to after days of gathering information around Beijing.

Yang Minke was not quite sure and asked as they walked:

"What do you mean by that, aunt?"

"From what we have learned so far... the Danai Dynasty in this story is on the verge of collapse, the court has no money, lost all authority, with corrupt officials running rampant, even daring to embezzle the grain meant for feeding the army... Armies everywhere are revolting; flowing corpses fill the land, the dynasty teeters on the brink."

"Recently, the number of refugees around the capital has been increasing, and with the capital refusing to open its gates to let them in, they are quickly turned into flowing corpses after being attacked by the flowing corpse units... Initially, we could fight the flowing corpses, but now we must be cautious not to get surrounded."

"It’s getting more dangerous outside the city. If you hadn’t arrived today, we’d probably have to go in ahead of schedule..."

Yang Minke was thoughtful after hearing this.

"We understand the background is more or less falling into place, but what else awaits us in Beijing..."

This uncertainty worries most of the Yang Family.

The unknown is the most terrifying.

On the contrary, no matter how many flowing corpse units there are, there are ways to counter them.

After Yang Minke’s group rejoined, their total number reached 398 people.

"Let’s move, to the capital!"

They used the deregistration documents provided by the hungry officials and displayed the grain outside with carts pulling it into the city, allowing them direct passage through the gates.

"Come, follow Guard Li, he will take you to the capital’s inn to rest."

A blue-robed martial officer, meticulous and menacing, led them to the inn.

Though everyone attempted to engage him in conversation, he ignored them, remaining aloof.

The inn was guarded by muscular government officials, each appearing fierce and far stronger than those outside.

After only a short walk, Yang Min and Yang Qiangjin frequently exchanged glances.

"The people in the capital... are really strong." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"This place is truly filled with hidden talents. I think that official we just passed also has extraordinary cultivation, probably not inferior to Zhong Yi."

"There’s something familiar about Guard Li’s aura... Ancestor, are you there? Can you help us identify Guard Li’s background?"

Yang Genshuo, who was speeding up, paused upon hearing Yang Min’s request.

"Let me take a look..."

Just one glance and Yang Genshuo was confused.

"This person... how could he be a flowing corpse?"

"What?"

The Yang Family was startled!

In this proper capital, Guard Li was no minor official; he was a solidly ranked sixth-grade official, outranking even a county head. He was a notable figure.

And he was a flowing corpse???

Yang Genshuo couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

"Could it be that others can’t see it?"

The Yang Family: "Completely invisible..."

Yang Genshuo scrutinized again... indeed, hardly anything seemed unusual; Guard Li seemed normal.

But the Character Card doesn’t lie.

"Could it be that the flowing corpse people have infiltrated the capital... this dynasty might truly be doomed?"

Throughout their journey, it felt as though the mountains and rivers were crumbling, with wind and rain looming uneasily.

Refugees were engulfed by the flowing corpses and turned into more flowing corpses, driven to attack various cities.

The front inns demanded tribute, while the back inns were deserted...

As they continued, the landscape grew increasingly desolate.

"This dynasty is finished... we must quickly complete our mission and leave here, or we risk getting caught up in the destruction."

Yang Min remarked.

But Yang Zhu was contemplating other possibilities.

"Remember how many flowing corpse units tried to recruit us along the way? If we joined the flowing corpse side and toppled this dynasty... would it change the story’s course?"

Yang Min: "It’s possible... but we can’t verify it because we must all remain unified to advance or retreat. Now that we’ve entered the city and bear the mark from fighting the flowing corpses, we should continue resolutely."

Yang Genshuo: "I agree with Yang Min. Now we have to hurry; Minke is back, and those Golden Core cultivators are catching up. If we don’t finish soon... clashes are inevitable."

Those folks are all at the Golden Core Stage, with several infamous half-step Nascent Soul cultivators among them. In a real fight... the Yang Family wouldn’t have the upper hand.

"Yes, tonight we must quickly gather information, complete the grain transport mission, and then leave."

While they communicated via Divine Sense, Guard Li had already led them into the inn.

"Deregistration officials, today you may rest here for the night. Leave the grain with me, and my men will add it to the national treasury shortly."

Yang Qiangjin’s eyes sharpened upon hearing this.

"Thank you, sir, but no need for the trouble, we can submit the grain ourselves."

"Hmm?"

Guard Li’s face suddenly darkened, releasing the aura of a Martial Artist, causing the air around them to thicken as hundreds of Imperial Army soldiers emerged, encircling them.

One moment of anger, and phenomena abound!

Yet Yang Min and the others were not intimidated.

"Sir, this is the capital. We are deregistration officials escorting grain to the capital for the court, noble contributors to the dynasty. Would you really harm us, what is according to Danai law?"

"I would like to see if this capital has no law!"

"An official is bullying the common people!!! Help!!!"

The Yang Family immediately cried out in unison, and perhaps recalling something, Guard Li quickly withdrew his aura, and the phenomena dissipated.

Then, with a fake smile, he said:

"You’ve got guts... we’ll see about that."