Chapter 11

The security level of the Spirit Item Room is clearly much higher than that of the armory.

In addition to the fully armed Night Watchmen, there are also traps and magical arrays set up here.

They are not only used to guard against external enemies but also to guard against the spirit items stored here.

After carefully checking the order presented by Qin Shaoyou, a Night Watchman led him into the Spirit Item Room and introduced the various spirit items stored there.

After listening to the introduction, Qin Shaoyou learned that spirit items can be roughly divided into two categories based on their origin.

One type is refined by experts.

These spirit items often have fewer side effects, but the downside is that their power is relatively weak, or their activation and cooldown times are longer.

The other type is the remnants left behind by powerful individuals, those with great karma, and evil spirits or great demons after their deaths.

This type of spirit item is either very powerful or has very peculiar and bizarre uses.

The downside is that they have significant side effects and often harm the user.

For example, the bronze bell used in the prison to counter the ugly flesh tree's chanting of the killing scripture belongs to this type.

Although it has the divine ability to suppress evil thoughts, the sound of the bell, if heard for too long, can not only rupture the eardrums but also crack the skull.

After hearing the introduction of the bronze bell, Qin Shaoyou felt a bit scared.

Fortunately, they quickly killed the ugly flesh tree after suppressing its killing scripture.

Otherwise, even if they were not torn apart and eaten by the ugly flesh tree, they would have been crippled or killed by the bronze bell.

After the Night Watchman introduced the bronze bell, he pointed to a translucent pearl on a sheepskin and said:

"This is a mirage pearl."

"Twenty years ago, a mirage demon came inland through the river and caused chaos. Our Luo City Demon Suppression Bureau dispatched a large number of experts to kill it in the Min River. Later, we found this mirage pearl in the demon's body. When soaked in blood, it can release a mist to obscure vision..."

Mist? Obscure vision?

Isn't this just a smoke bomb!

Qin Shaoyou's eyes lit up.

As a qualified old schemer, how could he not know the benefits of a smoke bomb?

It is very useful for isolating vision and diverting attention.

Although this mirage pearl has the drawback of needing blood, its flaws do not overshadow its merits.

After all, it doesn't require his own blood.

After thoroughly understanding the mirage pearl, Qin Shaoyou decided on the first spirit item: "I want to take this mirage pearl."

Next, he selected a few more spirit items in the Spirit Item Room that were easy to carry, practical, and had side effects that were not likely to cause serious harm or death, or even had exploitable bugs.

After 'purchasing' the items, Qin Shaoyou hummed a tune contentedly as he walked out of the Spirit Item Room.

The Night Watchman who accompanied him looked at Qin Shaoyou and then at the list in his hand, with an expression of being thoroughly drained.

He hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately did not speak.

Qin Shaoyou returned to the office, where Zhu Xiuzai, Ma Heshang, and the others had already returned. They had brought several good horses and were placing the equipment they had received on the horses' backs.

In addition to the armor they were wearing and the knives and sleeve arrows they carried, the rest of the weapons and equipment were wrapped in cloth and placed on the horses' backs.

At a glance, they looked like goods.

Qin Shaoyou and the others wore the Demon Suppression Bureau uniforms underneath and were covered with large robes, making them look like traveling merchants.

Although they carried knives, it was normal. In this era, it would be strange not to carry weapons for self-defense when traveling.

"Sir."

Seeing Qin Shaoyou return, his subordinates all saluted and looked at him curiously, wondering which spirit items he had selected.

Unfortunately, Qin Shaoyou did not introduce them. After nodding in acknowledgment, he asked seriously: "Are you all ready?"

The strongmen tightened the straps on the horses' backs, pulled them firmly, and replied: "We are ready."

"Let's go!"

Qin Shaoyou took the reins from Zhu Xiuzai and mounted the horse.

Fortunately, he retained the memories of his previous body and had practiced riding after recovering, otherwise, he would have made a fool of himself today.

The group rode out of the city.

Once outside, Qin Shaoyou asked Zhu Xiuzai to lead the way.

In his previous life, he always relied on navigation, so relying on him to lead the way to Mianyuan County would be as unreliable as buying a lottery ticket and winning a big prize.

After Zhu Xiuzai took the lead, Qin Shaoyou looked around.

This was the first time he had left the city since he had been transported to this world.

Although he had some understanding of the world outside the city from the original host's memories and others' descriptions, his mood became heavy when he saw the scene outside the city.

Inside and outside the city, separated only by a wall and a few gates, seemed like two completely different worlds.

As soon as they left the city, they saw several already rotten corpses in the distance, attracting a large swarm of bloodthirsty flies, as well as wild dogs and crows feeding on them.

Even when they saw people passing by, these wild dogs and crows did not hide.

They were not afraid of people and even looked at the passersby with greedy, red eyes, seemingly considering whether to pounce and eat some fresh flesh and blood.

In addition to the corpses and wild dogs and crows, there were some emaciated, yellow-faced people kneeling by the roadside.

Although they were alive, they were like walking dead, having lost all vitality and hope.

Some of them were selling their children, while others were selling themselves.

Whenever they saw someone coming out of the city, they would vie to 'recruit business':

"Sir, please be kind and buy my child..."

"Please buy me. I can endure hardship and work hard. I can do any job and eat very little."

"Buy my child. I don't want money or food, I just want him to have a chance to live... Please be kind, the Buddha will bless you."

Qin Shaoyou, who had grown up in a peaceful era, had never seen such a scene.

He sat on the horse for a long time before murmuring: "This is selling children and oneself..."

In history books, he had often read about people selling their children and themselves during famine years.

To be honest, the simple four characters in the books did not evoke much feeling at the time.

But at this moment, after witnessing the tragic scene of people selling their children and themselves, Qin Shaoyou realized the despair and helplessness hidden behind those simple four characters.

Not to mention, there were even more cruel acts like cannibalism during such times.

Qin Shaoyou shuddered and dared not think further. He turned his head and asked Zhu Xiuzai and Ma Heshang: "What's going on with these people?"

Zhu Xiuzai sighed: "They can't survive for various reasons and can only sell their children and themselves. Especially in the past two years, with natural disasters and human misfortunes, more and more people can't survive."

Ma Heshang clasped his hands and said solemnly: "Our situation here is still relatively good. I've heard that in Qin Prefecture, due to years of drought, the land is filled with starving people, and the situation is like a living hell..."

"Does the court not care?"

"They do, but the current world is plagued by bandits, famine, and demons. The court simply can't handle everything. Moreover, some corrupt officials are making money from the disasters, creating even more human misfortunes."

This time, Qin Shaoyou did not stop Zhu Xiuzai from complaining.

He sighed deeply, feeling even heavier.

In times of chaos, people are worse off than dogs, let alone in such a chaotic era with both famine and demons.

People are truly like ants, and life is as insignificant as grass.