Dong!
Dong!
Dong!
Heavy bell chimes echoed throughout Fengqi City, dispelling the darkness. The city’s inhabitants opened their doors and windows, welcoming the dawn of a new day.
"Hoo!"
Chen Yu stretched lazily with the ringing of the bells. After a simple wash, he sat cross-legged in the courtyard, refining his control over the elements.
This was one of the few habits he diligently maintained.
Ever since he learned magic from the little demon, magic refinement had become a part of his daily routine. wΑp.kanshu伍.net
“So diligent, for a mere Saint to be this hardworking, we who haven’t even touched the Saint realm should really reflect on ourselves.”
The little demon, floating in the air without her feet touching the ground, chuckled mockingly.
“You’re right about that, you should indeed reflect.” Chen Yu slowly opened his eyes, dispersing the gathered elements around him. A faint flame burned deep within his pupils.
He twisted his arms and took out another bottle of canned fruit, tossing it towards the little demon.
“Since I met you, I’ve never seen you cultivate. I can now casually cast forbidden spells, do you think you still wouldn’t be able to defeat me?”
“With you?”
The little demon curled her lips in disdain, taking small bites of the fruit can.
“Seriously, I’m not bragging. If you want to defeat me, you’ll need to cultivate for a few hundred more years. You’re still too green. My peak self could crush you with a single finger.”
“So scary.” Chen Yu feigned a shrink of his neck, teasing.
“I can’t be bothered to bicker with you here.” Having finished a bottle of canned fruit in a few gulps, the little demon lightly lifted her finger, and the glass jar landed on the stone table beside Chen Yu. “Let’s go, isn’t it time for the City Lord to inspect the people’s affairs?”
In the blink of an eye, Chen Yu had been in Fengqi City for several days.
The implementation of the salary system and tax policies had won the heartfelt support of the refugees, who threw themselves into the construction of Fengqi City. Regardless of their origins, they were now proud to be citizens of Fengqi City. Although they had joined the city for a short time, if anyone dared to act against Fengqi City, they would grab their weapons and don their armor, ready to fight to the death with any opposition.
A daily income of 30 copper coins, with a fair tax rate.
This was enough for them to risk their lives in a desperate struggle against scoundrels for their own future happiness and that of their descendants.
Not only that, but the original inhabitants of Fengqi City also joined in after learning of the contents of the announcement board. Chen Yu’s requirement for Klei was to treat everyone equally.
Chen Yu didn’t care if they joined for money or for the genuine desire to build the city.
As long as they wanted to contribute to the city’s construction, they would be accepted.
No one could have imagined that in just a few short days, the once fragmented Hurricane City, with its dozen factions, would gain such vitality after being renamed Fengqi City.
“City Lord.”
“City Lord, good morning.”
“City Lord!!”
As he strolled through the city, Chen Yu could hear the cheers of the citizens everywhere. They greeted him with beaming smiles. Even though they carried heavy loads on their shoulders, pushing carts laden with stone and other resources, or with bare chests, covered in sweat, they all wore radiant smiles of happiness.
Unlike other cities, their faces were filled with joyful smiles.
Were they afraid of hardship?
No!
The common people of the underground, those struggling on the edge of survival, never feared hard work. What they feared was that even if they gave their lives to work, they still couldn’t earn enough food to fill their stomachs.
Now, in Fengqi City, they had achieved that.
Not only did they receive compensation that allowed them to eat their fill, but they could also save a considerable amount of copper coins after covering their daily expenses.
Listening to the jingle of copper coins in their pockets, they worked with even more vigor.
“These people truly adore you.”
Standing beside Chen Yu, the little demon, although she had witnessed such scenes in Free Town, couldn’t help but sigh with genuine admiration.
“Perhaps.”
Chen Yu smiled and nodded in return to those who greeted him, murmuring softly with a smile on his face.
“It’s possible that what they cherish isn’t me, but the salary and policies I’ve provided them. Anyone in my position would receive the same treatment.”
“Not necessarily.” The little demon shook her head.
Chen Yu glanced at her, and then heard her shrug.
“If others were in your position, they wouldn’t be able to implement policies like yours. The nobles in the underground only want to get richer and couldn't care less about how the common people below live. When I was in Demon King’s Castle, I heard a particularly stinging, yet undeniable, saying from the humans.”
“What saying?”
“A bunch of lowlifes, why bother with their lives? The people are as insignificant as grass, have you ever seen a shortage of grass in the underground?”
“Where did you hear that?”
Chen Yu’s heart trembled slightly as he looked at the little demon with surprise.
“It was from an official under the Emperor of the Human Empire in the underground. I was preparing to declare war on the empire at the time, and he used the common people as leverage.” The little demon smiled and shook her head. “Unexpectedly, they didn’t take those people seriously at all. They even told me they were willing to cooperate with me and satisfy my demon race’s bloodlust, offering me hundreds of millions of people to kill for fun.”
“What?”
Instantly, Chen Yu’s eyes darkened.
“The empire said that?”
Although the initial ‘lowlife’ theory sounded harsh, in this underground where the common people’s minds were not enlightened, the weight of the populace was indeed very cheap.
It was acceptable for the officials sitting high above in their temples to look down upon the people.
But—
To offer hundreds of millions of people to die, even someone with a modicum of conscience wouldn’t do such a thing.
“What’s with that? Don’t be so uptight, I was just saying it casually.” Sensing Chen Yu’s anger, the little demon quickly patted his shoulder. “Besides, that Emperor is long dead, and his officials have all been reshuffled. The human empire that exists in the Tatu Kingdom now is not the same empire I knew.”
“Then what’s your purpose in mentioning this to me?”
Chen Yu furrowed his brow slightly. “Are you trying to tell me that the exploitation of the people by the underground human empire is a tradition as old as time, or are you trying to praise me?”
Chen Yu, with a wide, playful grin, chuckled. The little demon scoffed in disdain.
“You think you’re worthy!”
Giving Chen Yu a look of contempt, the little demon then focused her gaze seriously.
“I just wanted to say, perhaps I understand the reason for inviting outsiders like you into the underground.” The little demon slightly raised her eyebrows. “Perhaps, the underground now needs outsiders like you, bringing in foreign cultures to bring about some changes. I haven’t interacted with many outsiders, and I don’t know about others, but if they are all like you, then the future of the underground might be very bright.”
“You might be disappointed.”
Meeting the little demon’s deep gaze, Chen Yu shrugged.
“Actually, outside the underground, there are very few like me who are so conscientious.”
“Gotcha?!” The little demon rolled her eyes furiously. “Chen Yu, you really don’t miss any opportunity to praise yourself. It’s all you, brilliant and mighty, you, compassionate, while I think you’re just shameless.”
Chen Yu grinned playfully, raising an eyebrow. Suddenly, a scene before him caused Chen Yu to stop, his brow furrowed.
“Hey, it looks like you have something to do.”
The little demon, also noticing the situation ahead, pursed her lips. Chen Yu also gazed intently for a moment.
“Let’s go see.”