Immortality: Starts with seeking good fortune and avoiding disaster!

**Chapter 25: The Number of Refugees Increases Sharply and Food Prices Rise**

This time, Xiao Fan traveled to Tonghe County twice as fast as before.

Thanks to his promotion to the Flesh Refining Realm, not only had his strength increased dramatically, but so had his speed.

He ran like a horse.

So it didn't take long for him to arrive in Tonghe County.

Of course, before that, Xiao Fan used his disguise technique to change his appearance.

Originally a young man of seventeen or eighteen, he altered his facial features to resemble a weathered middle-aged man in his thirties or forties.

In this way, even if he encountered villagers from Osmanthus Village, they would be unable to recognize him.

"Huh? Why are there so many more people in Tonghe County?"

Xiao Fan soon noticed a larger crowd lining up at the gate of Tonghe County than before.

Many of them appeared to be outsiders.

Each looked exhausted, with a sallow complexion and thin limbs.

He remained calm and stepped forward to inquire about the news.

"There seem to be more and more refugees from the north, even reaching our Tonghe County."

"There's no choice; the Red Eyebrow Army has grown stronger. It's said that this rebel army has conquered more than a dozen cities recently and already has hundreds of thousands of troops."

"No, if that's true, wouldn't that mean the imperial court could be overthrown?"

"That's impossible. The imperial court is powerful; how can a mere rebel army overthrow it?"

"You're right. Once the imperial army arrives, the Red Eyebrow Army will definitely be wiped out."

"The question is, when will the imperial army arrive?"

"Yes, perhaps our Tonghe County will be attacked by the Red Eyebrow Army before that, and then they will kill everyone."

"Bah, don't say such unlucky things."

Many people also expressed their worries.

Although life in Tonghe County was very difficult, it was at least relatively safe.

Once the Red Eyebrow Army arrived, war would break out, and no one could predict how many lives would be lost.

At least for the common people, it would undoubtedly be a disaster.

"Red Eyebrow Army?"

Xiao Fan hadn't expected to learn such important news upon arriving in Tonghe County. The Red Eyebrow Army was a rebel group composed of many bandits and so-called green forest heroes.

They dyed their eyebrows red, hence the name "Red Eyebrow Army."

Since they emerged, they seemed unstoppable, growing stronger and posing a potential threat to the entire region.

More than a dozen cities had fallen to the Red Eyebrow Army.

This had made the imperial court very anxious.

If the Red Eyebrow Army drew near Tonghe County, it would certainly cause a bloody storm.

Osmanthus Village wouldn't be spared.

Even though the Red Eyebrow Army was a rebel contingent, they began their rise as bandits, employing extremely ruthless and greedy methods.

Wherever they went, they consumed everything in their path, leaving devastation behind.

Of course, what concerned him more than the Red Eyebrow Army was the influx of refugees from the north.

After all, the Red Eyebrow Army couldn't vanquish them all at once.

However, the arrival of these refugees was a stark reality.

These refugees lacked jobs and food; they might do anything to survive.

There's no doubt that the security situation would deteriorate significantly.

Perhaps these refugees would turn into bandits and plunder the surrounding areas.

"Sure enough, food prices have increased by 10%."

After entering Tonghe County, Xiao Fan headed straight to buy food. He quickly noticed that the price of provisions had risen by 10% compared to his last visit, and it was still climbing.

If a large number of refugees were truly coming to Tonghe County, or if the Red Eyebrow Army came to attack, it was normal for food prices to soar several times.

Even with money, purchasing food would become a challenge.

Therefore, he needed to accelerate his food purchases and convert the silver he had on hand into provisions.

In this situation, even if food prices soared, it wouldn't matter to him.

"I can first transport the food to a cave on a hill near Osmanthus Village."

"I will bring the food home in the evening."

"If I make several trips, I can store enough food for at least a year or two."

Xiao Fan's eyes gleamed as he devised his plan to transport grain.

Initially, he considered hiring horse-drawn carriages and donkey carts, but the noise would attract too much attention.

If his identity were exposed, it would create problems.

So it was better to put in more effort and make multiple trips.

Thus, he could keep his operation discreet.

...…

In the next three or four days, Xiao Fan frequently traveled between Tonghe County and Osmanthus Village.

He spent most of his silver on purchasing grain.

During the day, he carried the grain to the hills near Osmanthus Village.

Then, at night, the grains were moved to his home and stored in the cellar.

After several days of hard work, he had finally accumulated a significant stockpile of food.

At the very least, this would satisfy the family's food needs for over a year.

Due to his cautious approach and the use of disguise techniques, he left no trace and avoided attracting the attention of any gangsters. Everything progressed smoothly.

This was to be expected.

For ordinary people, more than one hundred taels was a considerable amount, almost astronomical.

But for the hundreds of thousands living in Tonghe County, it was a drop in the bucket.

Such a small quantity of food would draw little attention, especially since he acted carefully.

"Husband, you really bought so much food?!"

"Will we even be able to finish all of it?"

Mu Qingyao was taken aback. This was the first time in her life she had seen so much food in their home. It was truly remarkable.

She had no idea how long it would take to consume it all.

Xiao Fan didn't just buy rice; he also purchased lots of bacon, vegetables, soybeans, salt, lard, and more.

In short, they had a diverse array of food.

"There may be chaos in the near future."

"So we need to prepare in advance."

"With these supplies, we won't need to make frequent trips to Tonghe County anymore."

Xiao Fan explained.

"That makes sense; the road to Tonghe County is indeed too dangerous."

"Although my husband has managed to avoid any mishaps before, as the saying goes you can walk by the river without getting your shoes wet indefinitely."

"It's safer for you to go less often."

Mu Qingyao nodded in agreement.

Every time Xiao Fan went to Tonghe County, she was always on edge, fearing that something might happen to him. It was definitely a relief to reduce those trips for his safety.

"Don't worry; we'll be fine."

Xiao Fan embraced Mu Qingyao, feeling a deeper yearning for power. In these troubled times, only strength could protect him and ensure their safety.

Mu Qingyao looked up at Xiao Fan with her enchanting eyes, radiating endless charm.

Seeing this, Xiao Fan couldn't control himself. He embraced her and led her into the bedroom.

Suddenly, passion filled the space, and the bed began to sway.

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