Watching her master in such a miserable state, Chen Jinshu couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
But in truth, the life she had endured in the Chen family hadn't been much better. She had lived as an outcast, scorned as an ugly girl for sixteen years.
If not for awakening the wisdom from her past life, she might have followed her family's marriage arrangement, wedded into the Lin family, and become the shunned and ridiculed wife everyone pitied.
At that moment, Chen Jinshu seemed to understand what her master had meant by the "Karmic Tribulation." It was not some mystical punishment, but a confrontation with one's past. If a person could walk through it, they would survive. If they could not, they would be trapped in it for the rest of their days.
"No wonder the sect's legacy spans thousands of years, yet fewer than ten Nascent Soul cultivators have survived. This tribulation isn't something easily passed."
A thought occurred to Chen Jinshu. What if the ordinary passersby they'd encountered along the way were actually Golden Core cultivators undergoing their own karmic trials, stripped of memory and cultivation?
The village chief noticed where Chen Jinshu was looking. Following her gaze toward Shui Huanmeng, who was busy washing clothes, he sighed and said in a low voice, "That's the Liu family's eldest daughter. She's been doing chores since she was little. Her father's a drunk who beats his wife and daughter and even tried to sell them. If it weren't for the villagers stepping in, someone might've died by now.
In times like these, when famine spreads and the emperor turns a blind eye, even looking after your own family is hard enough. Who can worry about others?" The village chief gave a small sigh, then turned away and led the group toward the edge of the village.
Chen Jinshu followed without another word.
Before long, they arrived at several run-down thatched huts. They were low-built, piled high with firewood, and barely looked livable. One roof even had a large gaping hole.
"This used to be the home of a woodcutter," the village chief explained. "But the family met misfortune in the mountains, and the house was abandoned. No one's lived in it since, and it's fallen into disrepair."
"You can stay here temporarily. Once you've built your own homes, you can move out."
"Thank you, Village Chief."
"But with this many people, we can't all squeeze into one tiny shack."
"I'll ask around and see if any villagers are willing to take you in for a few days."
Once the chief left, the group began discussing their options.
Staying in villagers' homes would surely require payment, but the refugees who had come with Chen Jinshu and the others had no money left.
In the end, Chen Jinshu covered their costs herself. The huts were simply too broken down to house everyone anyway.
That evening, Chen Jinshu rented a small storage room at a villager's house for five copper coins, one coin per day. For villagers living through famine, that was already a considerable sum. The room was barely wide enough to turn around in, but it was enough for her needs.
When night fell, she lit a small incense of mind-numbing fragrance to lull the villagers into a deep sleep, then slipped away toward the forest behind the village. She and her fellow disciples needed to discuss the plan ahead. They had to support their master through her tribulation without interfering or causing any disruption.
"Junior Sister, what do you think after seeing Master today?"
"What she's going through now is exactly what she lived through as a child. If this continues, she might even end up sold to a brothel. The karmic tribulation is a test—a chance to relive and make peace with the past," Chen Jinshu said thoughtfully.
"We thought the same. But how can we help her now?"
Hua Jingyi fell silent for a moment, then said, "We need to remember the identities we prepared. Settle into the village, then slowly influence her thinking. If we can awaken her sense of self early, she'll likely pass the trial."
"Do you all know your roles?"
"Yes. I'm posing as a female healer. In this era, female doctors are rare. Most physicians are men, and many women are reluctant to seek treatment because of that. If I save enough lives in the village, perhaps it'll spark something in Master."
"Fifth Senior Brother, you're staying in the house next to hers. Have you learned anything?" Chen Jinshu asked Pan Zhuoqun.
"She's going by the name Hua Meng'er now. Her birth name was Liu Huameng, but it used to be something even worse—'Rotten Sass.' The village chief made her change it, saying it brought shame to the village. If her life began under that kind of name, it's no wonder this trial is so difficult."
"The Liu family is disgusting," Chen Jinshu said, her face darkening with anger.
"I'm planning to suggest building a small school in five days," Hua Jingyi said. "Boys and girls both would be welcome."
"It's a good way to blend in, but in a time of famine, few people will be eager to study. The challenge is huge."
"That's why I plan to sponsor the school myself. Call it a gift to the village."
"I'm not sure that's wise," someone said. "If you're poor and still offering to fund a school, won't that raise suspicion?"
"Then maybe we trade instead. Offer schooling in exchange for grain or tools made by the villagers."
"That's a good idea," Chen Jinshu said.
"And what about you, Junior Sister? What's your plan?"
"I'll wait until someone gets sick before stepping in to help. That way, I don't seem like I'm forcing my skills on them. Let my actions speak for themselves. If I go around proclaiming I'm a healer, it'll seem insincere."
Her approach was different from the others. She needed the right moment—an opportunity to make the villagers truly believe in her skills.
To prepare for that, she would head into the mountains to gather herbs and attract attention. When a real illness struck, she would be the first person they remembered.
They had done their research. The nearest town, Anyuan, was more than ten kilometers away. For the villagers, that was practically unreachable. In a famine like this, most wouldn't even make it there before collapsing from hunger.
The others also began putting their plans into motion, starting with securing steady housing. Chen Jinshu found the ideal spot on the edge of the forest, just far enough for privacy and herb gathering, yet close enough to remain part of the village.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. With a small payment, Chen Jinshu and her companions had some village men help them build a simple dwelling.
On the second day, Hua Jingyi revealed his identity to the village chief. To his surprise, the chief showed genuine interest in education.
The village had little contact with the outside world, and most people had never been given the chance to study. Now, with a rare opportunity to earn status through learning, Clear Spring Village wasn't about to miss out.
The chief even gathered others to discuss the school, and, following Chen Jinshu's advice, agreed to use bartering—tools and grain exchanged for the chance to learn.
On the second day after her house was built, Chen Jinshu began heading into the mountains to gather herbs.