Dragon Tamer

It was very comfortable, the climate here. Just thinking about owning a city on this very land, where soil, rainwater, and forests nurtured many blossoming young girls, even a fleeting glimpse of them picking tea, planting flowers, or strolling through the streets, effortlessly brightened one’s mood!

Humming a tune, Zhu Minglang returned to Runyu City. After some days away, the city had blossomed like a young girl reaching maturity, suddenly seeming quite imposing, from the city towers to the streets laid with stones of just the right hue, and the shops that were gradually opening up on either side.

With order established, the city quickly filled with vitality – merchants, farmers, rangers, scholars, cultivators, laborers, private armies…

In Runyu City, they could all find a suitable livelihood, and if they seized an opportunity, they could really strike it rich!

Runyu City itself was positioned on a Dragon Nest Spirit Vein, and with the additional four Great Spiritual Veins nearby, it became an important factor in attracting powerful factions to establish a presence.

Now, the Godly Mortal Academy had become incredibly approachable, and even the gasping Dean Yan Guang brought many conveniences to Runyu City in his invisible way, having found suitable buyers for the city’s other spirit veins.

The Spirit Veins were leased out on a yearly basis, renting for even more than gold mines.

This money had become Runyu City’s largest source of income.

Trade routes were also developing, prodded along by the Monarch of Slaughter Country himself. Although the route connected to Neon Sea, which greatly benefited him too, making money together was the best-case scenario.

As the saying goes, “When one monk will drink, two monks will carry water, three monks will have no water to drink…”

In the tea-colored ground vicinity, there were more than just one monk, but with a strong abbot among them, the temple prospered, and everything moved in a positive direction.

…

Zhu Minglang didn’t lack money for the moment; Runyu City was his own. The more he invested now, the more he would gain in the future.

Thus, at this initial stage, although various parties were already generating revenue, Zhu Minglang did not plan on squandering money recklessly…

It wouldn’t be long before he might become the Dragon Shepherd to several Dragon Kings.

Dragon Kings probably ate through treasuries, he hoped by then Runyu City’s earnings would help him pay for these Dragon Kings’ “milk powder.”

Just arriving at the city gate, he saw the imposing figure of the army leader Su Tai standing at the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning the private military forces entering and leaving the city.

“If you Blood Tide Army want to enter the city, you’d better behave yourselves. If I find out a girl is missing a pair of shoes, or a Hu family has lost a sheep, I’ll take your heads off for the lads to play kickball with!” Su Tai sternly, with a hint of intimidation, pointed at a group of soldiers wearing uniform attire.

The soldiers of the Blood Tide Army all gave sheepish grins, well aware of what sort of man Su Tai was, and didn’t dare to object.

Yet the members of the Blood Tide Army couldn’t understand why a leader of one hundred thousand troops, the vanguard general of Slaughter Country, had ended up guarding gates in the modest Runyu City??

“Ah, City Lord, Zhu Benefactor, you’re back!” Su Tai saw Zhu Minglang, and his previous fierce and menacing appearance softened instantly, as if he had just seen his own dear grandfather.

The people of the Blood Tide Army were dumbfounded.

They were all human, but why was Su Tai’s attitude so different? With just a tail to wag, he was nothing short of a house dog eagerly greeting its owner!

“Has there been any trouble?” Zhu Minglang casually asked.

“How could anyone dare to act so rashly? Even if they don’t respect me, Su Tai, the Azure Wolf Cavalry and the Copper Knife Army are not vegetarian either. City Lord, please feel free to travel around. A celestial being like you should wander through the Swinging Heavenly Boundary Cloud End more often. We will certainly take good care of all these mundane matters for you!”, the smile on Su Tai’s face seemed so wide that it almost dripped with oil.

“That’s reassuring,” Zhu Minglang said with satisfaction, nodding his head.

“My Lord, Governor Hu seems to have something important to discuss with you. Please return to the Autumn Nanyi Courtyard we’ve meticulously prepared for you and the ladies… your companions,” Su Tai said.

As Zhu Minglang walked down the streets, he wanted to see the changes in Runyu City over the past days; he estimated it had been about half a month since he had left his home. Thanks to the efforts of craftsmen and builders rushing the work, the ruins of the walls had been completely cleared away, and many new and beautiful buildings had already been constructed. They stood amongst the winter poplars and willows, their beauty magnificent, and they exuded an air of classical elegance.

Upon arriving at the Autumn Nanyi Courtyard, this was where the Hu Family Siblings had specifically instructed the craftsmen to create an elegant residence for Zhu Minglang and his wives… his companions.

Zhu Minglang did not like grand mansions with large gates; he preferred small buildings and private courtyards. Combining the residence of Li Yunzi back in the Li Imperial Palace, blue-barked Autumn Nanyi Trees with their azure skin and textures were planted both inside and outside the courtyard.

The Autumn Nanyi Tree was beloved by both Li Yunzi and Li Xinghua, so a lot of thought had gone into this courtyard.

Just as he arrived at the gate, Hu Bailing had already heard the news and was waiting at the entrance.

“You’re back at last. There are two things I need to discuss with you,” Hu Bailing now spoke with added respect.

Although Hu Bailing was already an acquaintance, considering the dignity of the City Lord and the status of the King Level, subordinates still needed to maintain a respectful attitude in public.

“Where have they gone?” Zhu Minglang inquired.

“Ah? You knew they weren’t here?”

“If Xinghua were here, these potted plants at the front wouldn’t be in such disarray,” Zhu Minglang remarked.

“This is a letter. Please read it first. The incident happened quite suddenly. They had intended to wait for your return and then set out together, but the old grandmother may not have long to live,” Hu Bailing conveyed.

Zhu Minglang opened the letter, which appeared to be in Li Yunzi’s handwriting. He had seen her writing before in the Li Family Deliberation Hall—strong and vigorous, determined, and sharp, just like her personality.

“Minglang, Grandmother is gravely ill. In her letter, she said she has extremely important matters to entrust us with. We waited three days, planning to wait for your return so we could travel back to Li Chuan together…”

Zhu Minglang read quickly, grasping the situation.

On their way back to Li Chuan, the Li Family’s Old Grandmother seemed to be at the end of her life…

The Nan Family of the Li House, the only ones Li Yunzi and her sisters probably cared for, was this old grandmother.

Important matters to entrust?

Was it about the celestial visitors? Previously, when Zhu Minglang and Nan Yuso speculated, they felt that the old grandmother must be hiding many secrets, including the Ancient Ruins on the Li Chuan Continent, and the identities of the Sisters Li Nan.

“Grandmother doesn’t have much time left, so we had to proceed first. We hope you can meet us in the Eastern Region as soon as possible.”

As Zhu Minglang read the last line, he could sense that Li Yunzi was worried the grandmother would not last until their return, and she hoped to set out on the journey back together with him.

Sigh, it’s all because of the Reincarnation Transformation.

The Heavenly Slaughter Dragon wouldn’t carry him, so he had to ride an ordinary mount. This delay took up way too many days on his return journey.

When he set out, Zhu Minglang had ridden the Heavenly Slaughter Dragon to Guanglin. The Dragon King could fly thousands of miles in a day, whereas an ordinary mount would take a dozen days’ time.