Dragon Tamer

By noon, the decree was issued.

The entire motley Runyu City boiled over because of it.

In the morning, when some idlers mentioned the news of a new City Lord for the city, everyone seemed amused, as if it were a joke. Little did they think that Runyu City would actually be affiliated with anyone.

Of course, the excitement was one thing, but hardly anyone took the decree seriously.

The military forces stationed in Runyu City still occupied their territories, entirely unmoved. As for those who relied on Runyu City for a living, they didn’t care either, dismissing the so-called new City Lord as a naive neophyte, unaware of the situation in Runyu City, daring to issue such a self-destructive decree.

By afternoon, not a single armed force had shifted their encampment, and there really weren’t many original residents in the whole of Runyu City. Some groups who earned clean money did wish for Runyu City to be like other towns, normal. However, every time they saw the never-ending military camps and the varied flags with different insignias, they knew that such a vision was unrealistic.

“Alas, I reckon this new City Lord won’t survive the night. Those domineering warlords won’t take a minor City Lord seriously,” said a hunter, shaking his head.

“I heard that the Hu Family has already returned to the city. I wonder if it was their idea?” another hunter who hunted jackals commented.

“This city was ruined by the Hu Family hands. Back in the day, merchants from outside were willing to pay a fortune just for a small house in Runyu City, desiring to settle here. Now, when people from other places hear ‘Runyu City,’ it’s like hearing about a bandit’s lair or Evil City.”

A few hunters carrying freshly hunted game meat looked at the barbaric troops marching down the streets and couldn’t help but talk amongst themselves.

Now residing in Runyu City, there are very few ordinary citizens. Without some capability, one would be devoured to the bone.

These hunters, providing meat and game to the military, were afforded some protection and remained unharmed. As for the ordinary merchants, it was difficult to say whether they could keep their wealth, let alone their lives.

Runyu City had someone in control.

This was indeed a good thing for those trying to make an honest living.

Unfortunately, Runyu City was overrun by too many forces, like dark clouds obscuring the future.

“Gentlemen, how much for the meat?” Zhu Minglang, strolling around, saw the hunters and asked.

The hunters were pushing a cart with several wild pigs, bison, and wolves on it, skinned, gutted, and somewhat cleaned up.

In Runyu City, where civilian life was virtually non-existent, without even vegetable or rice vendors—where the firewood was chopped by Hao Ye who practiced swordcraft—it was rare to find freshly hunted meat for sale, so Zhu Minglang quickly stepped forward to inquire.

“This meat’s not for sale; it’s meant for the officers in Lucamp,” said the bow and arrow hunter.

“Then there’s no need to send it over,” Zhu Minglang remarked.

“Young man, you must be new to Runyu City?” the bow and arrow hunter asked with a smile.

“Old Huang, how did you know?” Zhu Minglang asked, surprised.

“First of all, there’s no one in Runyu City who buys meat with money. If you were from some powerful force, you’d simply take it without a word, not even mention paying. Keeping the cart itself would be lucky. Secondly, Lucamp is not to be trifffled with. If we don’t deliver the meat for those big shots’ dinner, they might as well go cannibalistic!” the bow and arrow hunter explained.

Zhu Minglang didn’t actually expect that trying to buy some meat would make him an outsider…

“Old Huang, I’m not joking with you. If it’s meant for Lucamp, there really is no need to send it. They colluded with bandits to reap profits and have been ordered by me to be eliminated. Those leaders who might resort to cannibalism without their meat will be publicly executed in the ruins of the marketplace at dusk,” Zhu Minglang said with a smile.

The hunters were all stupefied.

Early in the morning, they had arrogantly stopped a few of their fellow hunters and tossed them some money to go hunting. How could it be that in less than a day, they had been wiped out?

This was no joking matter!

Setting down the wooden handcart, the young man carrying a hunting knife immediately ran forward. After this street corner was Lucamp’s territory. Whether it had been wiped out or not, one look would tell.

“May I ask who you are, young master?” asked the bow and arrow hunter, Old Huang.

“Zhu Minglang, the City Lord of this city. The law I issued at noon was ordered by me,” Zhu Minglang said.

The several hunters all showed surprised looks, scrutinizing Zhu Minglang carefully.

They had never heard of any important person visiting the marketplace and wandering alone like this!

“Old… Old Huang!”

The young hunter ran back from the street corner, tumbling and crawling, his face extremely ugly, as if he had seen the scenes within Ghost Gate.

“Dead, they’re all dead, so many people are dead!!”

The young hunter returned, his expression filled with horror, and when he looked at Zhu Minglang again, his eyes were now tinged with respect and fear.

Lucamp, after all, were the tyrannical military bandits of Runyu City. To think they were wiped out just like that!

“So, it turns out you’re the new City Lord. We rural folks didn’t recognize you. Please don’t blame us, don’t blame us,” Old Huang said, hastily bowing upon realizing the young man before him was truly the City Lord.

Seeing that the other hunters hadn’t reacted yet, Old Huang pulled at them.

When civilians meet an official, they naturally kneel, and even though Runyu City hadn’t seen an official for a long time, Old Huang knew that the proper respects must still be paid.

“Stand up, Old Huang. Can I buy this meat from you now?” Zhu Minglang’s face once again wore a smile.

“Is this your first time as an official, young master?” Old Huang asked quietly.

Zhu Minglang was puzzled. How could the other person tell these things, was it really so obvious that he didn’t carry the air of an important person? Was it just that he was too approachable?

“An official doesn’t buy the meat of the common people. This meat should naturally be given as a small tribute to our new City Lord, representing the sincere intentions of us, the hunting residents.” Old Huang said.

Clever Old Huang, you win!

“Old Huang, the right price is the right price. If you are law-abiding citizens of this city, you should also hope for an early restoration of civil life, to be able to trade by the rules, to be protected by law for your lives and property, and if wrongfully treated, to be able to report to the officials, who will seek justice for you… Therefore, this trade shall mark a new beginning for Runyu City!” Zhu Minglang said spiritedly, his words highlighting the difference between himself and those thugs and evil soldiers.

Heavy clouds parted as if pushed away, and a ray of rightful light shone upon Zhu Minglang’s head, making his figure appear tall and majestic.

The several earnest hunters were truly intimidated by Zhu Minglang’s aura, then they quoted a price that left Zhu Minglang’s expression half sunny, half cloudy!