Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Great Purge

In the early morning, after yesterday’s chaos and strife, the wasteland lay in utter ruin. Only after a whole night did the flames of war subside.

“Ah… what a beautiful day! What should I do today?” At dawn, Ye Qiu stretched lazily as he opened the doors of his tavern. The moment he stepped out, his eyes fell upon the Devouring Sparrow perched on the mulberry tree at the entrance.

“Good morning, Little Red!”

The Devouring Sparrow shot him a disdainful look, grumbling inwardly. Morning? What morning! You all sleep comfortably inside while I’m out here freezing in the wind—how can you say that with a straight face?

“Good morning, Master…” Despite his reluctance, the Devouring Sparrow greeted him. After all, a mouth to feed relies on following the rules under someone else’s roof.

“Here, a reward for you! From now on, the job of watching the door is all yours. You’ve done well—keep it up…” Ye Qiu said with satisfaction, tossing over a bunch of grapes. He actually had other things, but he thought the Devouring Sparrow seemed to enjoy these the most.

If the Devouring Sparrow knew that there was a heap of immortal fruits and herbs in the courtyard, it would probably die of indignation. To think a mere bunch of grapes was enough to appease him—does he think I’m a beggar?

“Mmm, delicious. Thank you, Master!” The Devouring Sparrow accepted the grapes contentedly. Only a fool would refuse immortal fruit.

In these times, where could one find such a comfortable position? Every meal comes with immortal fruit—this isn’t work, it’s sheer enjoyment.

Just then, the Devouring Sparrow saw Cao He ambling out, holding a peach in his mouth and a few more in his hands.

When the Devouring Sparrow noticed the immortal peaches in Cao He’s grasp and then glanced at his own measly bunch of grapes, he felt deeply slighted.

What terrifying power—was that the legendary immortal peach? Judging from its aura, it was far superior to his own grapes…

Damn it, you’re eating immortal peaches for breakfast? We’re both hired hands—why is there such a vast difference between us?

For a moment, the Devouring Sparrow was at a loss for words to express his feelings. Both of them worked here, yet Cao He had a peach in each hand while he had but a few grapes. Isn’t this just discouraging? No—humiliating, even, for a bird…

What kind of divine tavern is this? Even the errand boys eat immortal peaches for breakfast—my goodness…

The Devouring Sparrow was completely stunned as he watched Cao He stroll out, leisurely surveying the scenery.

“Boss! I just picked some fresh fruit from the backyard—the taste is pretty good! There’s a huge harvest this year; I doubt the two of us could finish it all…”

The Devouring Sparrow thought, Hear that? Is this even human talk? If you can’t finish them, give them to me! I live for this stuff…

He was thunderstruck. Such supreme immortal fruit, and you can’t even finish it?

Unbelievable, he’d never seen such ostentatious displays of wealth! Out there, people fight to the death over even the smallest immortal fruit, and here you are, saying you can’t eat them all?

Sorry, but that’s just offensive.

Ye Qiu glanced over, sneering, “Look at you—you live for nothing but food. Can’t you be more disciplined, like me? Don’t you know how terrifying a disciplined man can be? From today, you’ll train with me. If you slack off, I’ll dock your pay…”

“Come on, you’re already making so much money and you still want to dock my wages? Please, have some decency! Ever since I started working here, I’ve never received a full month’s wage—not even once. Even capitalists would weep at your methods; it’s too much…” Cao He complained.

Ye Qiu shot him a look. “What, you don’t want to work anymore?”

“Of course I do. As soon as I finish breakfast, I’ll start right away…”

Well, wage or no wage, it hardly matters. One must be a good, obedient worker—after all, where else could you find such a great job?

“By the way, Boss, things seem pretty peaceful today. There won’t be any more trouble, will there?” Cao He said, finishing his last fruit, fully satisfied.

Ye Qiu looked up at the sky, shaking his head. “I don’t know. I have a feeling something bigger is coming. We mustn’t let our guard down. Based on my deductions, this seems to be a cyclical cleansing—a great purge.”

“Cleansing!” At Ye Qiu’s words, the disgruntled Devouring Sparrow suddenly fell silent, staring at Ye Qiu in fear.

Does this guy know something? Could the great purge really be coming?

The Devouring Sparrow was deeply unsettled. If the cleansing truly arrived, even he would not escape it. The best way to survive would be to stay at the tavern, close to Ye Qiu.

Here was the safest place.

Cao He was puzzled. “What’s a cyclical cleansing…?”

“It’s simple. Let’s deduce: Since the Immortal Age, every time an era ends, there is a great purge. Some ancient texts record that at the end of the Immortal Age, a great cleansing occurred, and the same happened at the end of the Chaotic Age. It’s become a pattern—or perhaps, someone wishes to rewrite the world and set new laws…

When the cleansing ends, new life emerges, and the cycle continues, slowly developing. But when you reach the peak again, it’s all destroyed, and everything is rebuilt from scratch.

Now, with the end of the Desolate Age upon us and chaos erupting at this moment, isn’t the message obvious?”

Ye Qiu’s words left everyone stunned. Even Fufeng, who had just stepped out for some fresh air, was baffled.

Really? First thing in the morning, can’t you say something uplifting? I was in such a good mood, and now you’ve ruined my whole day…

Fufeng stood there dumbly, suddenly at a loss for what he’d intended to do. He was utterly lost.

The Devouring Sparrow was dazed as well. They couldn’t find a single argument against Ye Qiu’s reasoning—this seemed to be fate.

Suddenly, Ye Qiu cried out in alarm, startling everyone.

Cao He protested, “Boss, what are you on about now?”

Ye Qiu looked terrified. “Did I just reveal a heavenly secret? I’m done for! I was just speaking offhand, but it seems I’ve really uncovered the truth. Heaven’s will is coming for me…”

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He’d only meant to speak casually, but the more he said, the more it sounded true.

“Senior, if the cleansing does come, what should we do?” Fufeng hurried forward, asking anxiously.

Ye Qiu was taken aback. When did this old fellow show up? Did he overhear everything just now?

It’s over—heaven’s secret has been exposed! Maybe I should silence him?

Uh… probably couldn’t manage it.

On second thought, forget it. What’s said is said, and it might not even be true.

One must keep a positive mindset—no need to see the worst in everything. What if it’s all false?

Ye Qiu regained his composure and said calmly, “Just go with the flow…”

Go with the flow?

Fufeng’s heart sank as he pondered these words, then said, “Senior, do you mean to say that with unchanging stillness, we counter all changes? To remain unmoved?”

“Huh?” Is that what I meant?

“Uh, yes! You’re quite perceptive…” Ye Qiu looked at Fufeng with satisfaction. This fellow really gets it—he understood even when I didn’t.