"Do you think you're so clever? In fact, we've been fully aware of your every move. We didn't act before to see if you had any intentions of repentance. After all, surviving is not easy in these turbulent times, and we wanted to see if you would cherish your opportunities.
Unexpectedly, you've chosen not to be human. Ungrateful wretches, since you've chosen this path, don't blame us for being ruthless.
Brothers, kill them all!"
As Dai Fa gave the order, the refugees who had knelt and begged for mercy were shot down by a hail of arrows.
Meanwhile, those in the observation area trembled, internally celebrating that they had not participated in the action.
Having swiftly dealt with the rebellious refugees, Dai Fa did not forget to appease those in the isolation area.
Dai Fa said, "We are well aware that you did not participate in this activity. As long as you behave yourselves, pass the observation period, and remain healthy, you can come into the village to live, become villagers of Phoenix Village, and enjoy the same treatment as other Phoenix Village residents."
For a moment, everyone was filled with gratitude, thankful that even after this incident, Phoenix Village was still willing to trust and accept them.
At this moment, no one noticed that a man in a makeshift shelter had a ashen face and was shivering uncontrollably. However, he forced himself to endure it and not reveal his condition.
He knew that if he showed any signs of illness, he would not be allowed into Phoenix Village.
If he were driven out of Phoenix Village and forced to wander outside again, his life would likely be forfeit.
He took a jet-black pill from his pocket. After a moment's hesitation, he put it into his mouth and resolutely swallowed it.
He knew the pill was potent. If he wasn't careful after it entered his stomach, it could instantly take his life.
But if he was lucky, it could suppress his current symptoms.
Fortunately, he gambled correctly this time.
After taking the pill, his shivering gradually subsided, and even the color in his face returned somewhat.
"Brother Ge, did you catch a chill just now? I saw you shivering."
As dawn approached, a woman living in a nearby shelter asked him with concern, "Brother Ge, did you catch a chill just now? I saw you shivering."
"Ha, I didn't catch a chill. I was just feeling too cold and shivered a bit. I'm fine now."
"Brother Ge, you must take good care of yourself. It's easy to catch a cold if you get chilled by the wind."
The woman's words carried a hint of genuine concern.
Seeing that the woman seemed to care about him and was willing to strike up a conversation, and noticing her attractiveness, Ge Hong's heart stirred. He began to chat casually with the woman.
As they talked, he learned that her name was Lu Xiu. She was from a well-off merchant family in Wangchun City, but after the flood, her entire family had perished.
She had managed to survive by clinging to a large piece of wood floating on the water.
Later, she heard that Phoenix Village was accepting people and followed the crowd.
Ge Hong felt that this woman's background was not too complicated, and she had no close relatives. She was also quite adept at navigating social situations, which stirred his desires. He became a bit more enthusiastic towards her.
In these turbulent times, it was not easy for a woman to survive. Therefore, Lu Xiu also had intentions of getting closer to Ge Hong.
In any case, the current era no longer had the constraints of past etiquette and rules. She had witnessed firsthand in the shelter area many men and women, strangers before, indulging in drunken revelry. After only two or three days together, they had found opportunities to sleep together, engaging in shy activities and living a life of uninhibited passion.
Humans were like this. Once pushed to the brink, with nothing left to lose, if there was even a hint of pleasure, they would pursue it with all their might.
Ge Hong and this woman shared this mindset, and they immediately hit it off, ending up together that very night.
After their intimate exchange, Ge Hong discovered that this woman was the daughter of a scholar, with a basic education, and was quite sharp-witted.
However, to be fair, Lu Xiu treated Ge Hong quite well. Perhaps she was looking for a sense of security in these chaotic times, and she was always accommodating to his needs.
One evening, after they had both caught their breath, Lu Xiu said to Ge Hong,
"Brother Ge, if we can get into Phoenix Village and our lives stabilize, let's get married, shall we?"
Ge Hong's heart stirred. "Of course, if you don't find me lacking."
Upon hearing Ge Hong's agreement, Lu Xiu's eyes sparkled, and she chuckled charmingly,
"How could I? We are both driftwood floating in this chaotic world. It's not easy for us to have found each other. Who would look down on whom!"
Ge Hong smiled.
He did not reveal his own background.
Lu Xiu had a feeling he was not simple, but in this chaotic world, who among the survivors didn't have a story?
Perhaps everyone had spilled someone else's blood.
Thinking of everyone's complex past, Lu Xiu abandoned the idea of prying further. As long as they could get along now and stick together for warmth and survival, that was enough.
Lu Xiu did not notice that there was a scarlet mark on Ge Hong's sclera.
Finally, they endured the observation period, and Ge Hong and Lu Xiu were allowed to enter Phoenix Village.
It was also on this day that Gu Qingcheng's family returned to Phoenix Village.
On their first day back, Gu Qingcheng's family stayed home to rest.
Ge Hong, Lu Xiu, and all the newcomers ate noodles, took deworming medication, bathed, and waited for the village to assign them living quarters.
Like them, these new refugees had to temporarily reside in communal dormitories.
Previously, each family could be allocated an entire house, but due to the rapid influx of people, even a family now could only be assigned a few rooms within a house to squeeze into.
Single individuals could only stay in the communal dormitories.
However, Phoenix Village had promised to assign houses based on a first-come, first-served basis. Carpenters were working day and night to build houses, ensuring everyone would have a place to live.
The new villagers were also assigned to different work teams based on their skills.
Although they had to work every day, the peaceful environment of Phoenix Village was far better than the outside world.
Everyone was grateful to be taken in and accepted by Phoenix Village, having food, clothing, and shelter.
As for what they offered in return, it was merely their labor, which was only right. No one had too many complaints.
After gathering information about the village, Ge Hong actively went to the village clinic and found the head of the clinic, Zhu Liang. He claimed to be skilled in identifying herbs and wanted to work there.
Zhu Liang was overjoyed.
Labor was easy to find in the village, but people with knowledge of medicine were scarce. He immediately hired Ge Hong.
Ge Hong rarely interacted with his colleagues in the clinic, appearing dull and withdrawn. However, no one dared to bully him.
This was because he displayed a special talent in identifying medicinal herbs.
For instance, he knew almost every herb in the clinic and could recall the properties of each one, quickly making him a favorite of Zhu Liang.
In truth, these were all deliberate actions by Ge Hong.
He was constantly scheming; he was a shrewd Daoist.