Chapter 380 - 379: A Small Nation Knows No Awe

Chapter 380: Chapter 379: A Small Nation Knows No Awe

It wasn’t a hard tap, but it was just enough to startle the goldfish inside, which immediately turned to flee.

Just then, Hee Lingchuan’s net entered the water. He positioned it beside the fish and scooped.

The calico goldfish was instantly flicked out of the water. Hee Lingchuan caught it with his jar. A perfect catch!

Of course, the net tore in the process.

But trading one net for a beautiful, lively goldfish was well worth it.

Sun Fuling clapped softly. "Nice!"

The move had been too quick for most to follow, but she had seen it clearly. The nets were flimsy and wouldn’t withstand the force of a darting, struggling fish. That was why he couldn’t just place the net directly in its path.

In that split second, Hee Lingchuan had precisely predicted the fish’s path, scooping from the side to deflect its momentum.

The fish had been flicked into the air, not scooped.

Catching a fish was trivial. His sharp eye and precise prediction—that was what mattered.

The vendor was also a little surprised. "Impressive."

Seeing Hee Lingchuan pick up the last net, he warned, "No more tapping the jar to scare them! My fish can’t handle the stress."

"Alright." Hee Lingchuan was getting the hang of it. He turned to Sun Fuling. "Which one do you want now?"

"I want that Lionhead Dragon-eye!" Sun Fuling pointed. "The pure black one."

"Alright." ’What peculiar taste,’ he thought. ’The fish is just black, with a swollen head and swollen eyes. What’s so great about it?’

Hee Lingchuan took two grains of rice from the vendor and tossed them into the jar. As the fish swarmed to the surface, he lowered his net again.

This time, he inserted it vertically, so the wooden hoop cut through the water without putting pressure on the paper net.

With a twist and a flick of his wrist, the Lionhead Dragon-eye that Sun Fuling wanted was sent flying out of the water.

Flying out along with it was another white fish that had been competing for the food.

A two-for-one deal.

The children watching from the side stared, wide-eyed. How could his hands be so nimble?

Hee Lingchuan was on a roll. He paid another five wens, and wherever Sun Fuling pointed, he’d scoop up the fish. He never missed.

Sun Fuling watched his movements, clapping and grinning.

In just a few moments, the jar was filled with nine trophies, each with different colors and shapes.

A crowd of passersby at the market entrance stopped to watch. The vendor, ever the opportunist, saw the growing crowd and began to hawk his wares. "Look, look! See? He can catch them! Is it my nets that are the problem?"

A little girl with wide, hopeful eyes pleaded with Hee Lingchuan, "Mister, can you help me catch one?"

The vendor’s face hardened. "No, no! You can’t have someone else catch it for you!"

’This kid spent ten wens and took nine of my goldfish—and the prettiest ones at that! I’m already losing a fortune!’

"Is that enough?" Hee Lingchuan asked his companion.

Sun Fuling eyed the jar, beaming. "It’s enough for now. We’ll come back in a few days."

The vendor breathed a sigh of relief. "Need any fish food? I’ve got a special blend. Makes the fish prettier and more active. Much better than feeding them rice grains. Plus, rice grains will foul the water!"

His fish were indeed more vibrant than those at other stalls, so Hee Lingchuan saw no reason to refuse. "I’ll take one."

The vendor stood up and turned to grab an oil-paper packet for him.

Hee Lingchuan then noticed the man was lame and walked with a limp. ’It must be hard for him to carry those buckets to the market.’

The little girl who hadn’t managed to get Hee Lingchuan to catch a fish for her pointed at the vendor’s ankle. "What happened to your leg?"

The vendor’s face darkened instantly. "Mind your own business. Someone broke it!"

The little girl shrank back, not daring to say another word. Her mother shot the vendor a glare and snapped, "You heartless cripple! How dare you frighten my daughter!"

"I lost my leg at Rongshan, so what?" The vendor pocketed the Copper Plate Hee Lingchuan handed him, then slammed the lid of the fish tank. THWACK! "If I hadn’t gotten this leg busted fighting those Xiji sons of bitches, I’d be living the high life right now! Think I’d be stuck in this market arguing with a fat sow like you?"

As soon as he said that, the woman’s bluster seemed to deflate. She muttered a few more curses before leaving with her daughter.

Hee Lingchuan and Sun Fuling paid up and made their escape, eager to get away from the marketplace squabble.

But he had heard the man’s angry shouts. "Is that place, Rongshan, famous?" he asked. "It doesn’t sound like it’s in the Panlong Wasteland."

Sun Fuling’s smile faded. "It’s inside the Xiji Kingdom."

"The kingdom to the east of the Panlong Wasteland?" The Panlong Wasteland was an exclave. He recalled there were a few small kingdoms further east, Xiji being one of them, before one reached the Xiluo Realm.

"Xiji was originally part of Xiluo’s territory. Over a decade ago, the Huyan Family took advantage of turmoil in the motherland to break away and declare their own king." She shook her head. "That’s how all those little kingdoms came to be."

"The native Xiji People have always been xenophobic. After their kingdom was founded, many residents from Xiluo’s Central Region and the Panlong Wasteland were trapped within Xiji’s borders, unable to leave. They were exploited and tormented by the locals." Sun Fuling sighed. "Four years ago, during the Rongshan riots, the Xiji People stormed the stockades built by our residents. They smashed, burned, killed, and violated the women and children. More than two thousand people were killed or wounded. When the news reached Panlong City, everyone was furious. Rongshan isn’t far from the Panlong Wasteland, after all, and many of the victims had friends and family in the city."

"Such arrogance. They’re bullying the motherland because they perceive it as weak." ’No wonder that woman shut up as soon as he mentioned it. This incident is clearly a thorn in everyone’s side.’

"Panlong City has negotiated with them many times, hoping to bring back some of the residents from the Wilderness, but Xiji has refused every time."

"Xiji constantly stirs up trouble on the border. They also take advantage of the fact that they control the only trade route to the southeast, using it to intimidate and extort our merchants."

Sun Fuling glanced at his expression. "Are you wondering why Panlong City doesn’t just teach Xiji a lesson?"

Hee Lingchuan didn’t deny it. "Mm-hm, the thought crossed my mind. But on second thought... do they have a backer?" ’Without support, would a small kingdom bordering the Panlong Wasteland dare to be so brazen and aggressive?’

"Calls to punish Xiji have grown louder over the years, but Panlong City has its own troubles," Sun Fuling said slowly. "Xiji has always been on good terms with Baling. A few years ago, they even hosted an Envoy from the Northern Demon Kingdom and received handsome rewards, which has made them forget their place. But every time they harass our borders, they pick a time when we’re engaged with Baling or Xianyou and can’t spare them any attention. And the trouble they cause at the border is always minor, nothing as outrageous as the Rongshan riots."

’After all, Rongshan is inside Xiji territory; they can do as they please there. Things would be different on the Panlong Wasteland.’

"So they’re like a toad on your instep?"

Sun Fuling froze for a second. Imagining the scene, she couldn’t help but shudder.

"Exactly!"

Hee Lingchuan also understood the deeper meaning behind her words:

The truth was, Panlong City itself was struggling. For the past decade or so, Zhong Shengguang’s sole focus had been on defending the Panlong Wasteland. Then, four years ago, during the internal relocation, the Xiluo Kingdom recalled Panlong City’s forty thousand Elites to the heartland, drastically reducing the city’s strength.

For the past four years, Panlong City had been desperately trying to recover and rebuild. It simply didn’t have the strength to meddle in other people’s business.

To mete out justice, you first need a fist strong enough to back it up.

Crisis lurking around every corner—that had always been the theme of this land.

"One day," Hee Lingchuan said with a shrug.

Sun Fuling nodded. "They show no respect for others. One day, Xiji will meet a terrible end."

Dropping the subject, the two bought some hot food and found a donkey cart to take them home.

Hee Lingchuan offered to carry the fish jar to Sun Fuling’s house, but she insisted they put the fish in his water cistern.

"Your cistern is just sitting there empty. It’s better for raising fish than for breeding mosquitoes."

The ceramic cistern in his small courtyard took up too much space and usually just collected rainwater. It was a waste.

"I’m not home often because of my missions. I’m afraid I’ll starve them." ’In truth, he’d discovered that the time between his entries into the Dream Realm was erratic, sometimes lasting for several days.’

Sun Fuling gave a small smile. "What’s there to fear? I’ll be here."

’Her?’ Hee Lingchuan thought. ’Her movements are even more unpredictable than mine. These fish will be lucky to get their next meal. They’ll be dead in no time.’

But seeing her leaning excitedly over the edge of the cistern, feeding the goldfish, how could Hee Lingchuan bring himself to burst her bubble?

’Worst case, I’ll just go back to the market in a few days and get her a new batch.’

「The next morning」

Hee Lingchuan went for a stroll around Fufeng City.

The inn Shi the Second had chosen was near the cargo market, and it was bustling right outside the door. They had arrived in Fufeng City in the middle of the night, so this was Hee Lingchuan’s first time seeing the prosperity of the Beiga Main City.

The streets of the main urban district were immaculate, cleaned twice a day by dedicated demons. Every street and alley was paved with stone. The main avenues used large blocks of bluestone, while the side streets and alleys were paved with long flagstones or black slate. Despite the constant cart traffic, the roads were surprisingly smooth, a clear sign of diligent maintenance.

Of course, the slums were another story entirely. Every city has its dark underbelly, and Fufeng City made no effort to hide its own.

Hee Lingchuan had often watched his father, Hee Chunhua, handle administrative matters. Sometimes, Hee Chunhua and Hee Yue would discuss politics at home, so he knew that the state of a city’s streets reflected its level of governance and financial health.

Fufeng City, it seemed, was not lacking for funds.

Of course, this might also have to do with the approaching birthday of the King of Treasure Tree. The entire city was being refreshed to present a new face for the occasion.

He followed the Stone Gate Merchant Team’s carriages, passing through thriving markets filled with goods from all over. Some cities separated their commercial and residential districts, but Fufeng City had fewer rules; shops with living quarters in the back were a common sight. Hee Lingchuan often saw families sitting inside their shops, serving customers when they came and sharing meals when they left.

Unlike other places, Fufeng City was full of trees. Ancient trees, two or three hundred years old, grew casually along the roadsides, their trunks so thick it would take two or three people to encircle them with their arms.

Blossoms of every kind peeked out from over courtyard walls, bursting forth in splashes of red, yellow, white, and purple.

A May breeze carried the scent of green trees and fragrant flowers.

Hee Lingchuan had never seen such a clean and beautiful city. Even Shihuan couldn’t compare.

Walking along the tree-lined paths was indescribably pleasant.

Seven or eight man-made lakes were scattered throughout the city, linked by canals that eventually connected to the rivers outside the city walls. However, Hee Lingchuan rarely saw any small ditches or water channels and wondered how the citizens got their water.

After all, a city this vast had to have a proper water supply and drainage system.

Upon asking, he learned that most of Fufeng City’s water channels were covered. The lids were sealed tight, preventing the contamination common with open-air ditches.