Favorite of the Beast-world: I Got Rich Through Farming-Chapter 386 - 259: Leaving Here and Repayment
A week had passed by the time all the sick and the dead in the city had been dealt with.
But every night, some of the weaker patients would still develop high fevers, diarrhea, and other symptoms. An Jin assigned some of the Beastmen to take turns caring for them and distributed a number of resistance-boosting pills.
Fortunately, after this period of adjustment, the epidemic in the city began to slow. The city’s reconstruction and other projects were gradually added to the agenda as well.
And An Jin could finally spare some mental energy to plan the city’s future development.
Re-refining City was vast, but it was located in a desolate desert with a sparse population. It was unlike Sheng’an City, which occupied a fertile plain ideal for developing animal husbandry and agriculture, or Beast Gathering City, which was a strategic fortress convenient for trade.
Its disadvantages were clear, but its advantages were too significant to ignore—it was exceptionally rich in heavy metal mineral resources.
It was a natural base for smelters.
An Jin had already formulated a preliminary blueprint in her mind for the city, which was waiting to be rebuilt from nothing.
The small, hastily tidied stone house had no furnishings or decorations—just a few beds and tables. Its only virtue was its size; at over 100 square meters, it was where An Jin and the others had been staying.
"The City Lord’s Castle is already being repaired. You’ll be able to move in within half a month at most, Lord City Lord..." The Beastman who had come to report couldn’t help but feel ashamed as he looked at the crumbling stone house. But given the circumstances, they simply couldn’t provide a better home for the New City Lord.
"It’s fine." An Jin shook her head. She set down the charcoal stick and wooden board she was holding and nodded at him. "I won’t be staying here long-term. Most of the manpower and resources should remain focused on two things: managing the epidemic and repairing the city."
"You’re leaving?" The Beastman was horrified, having understood her implication.
’Is the New City Lord abandoning us?!’
"I have three other cities under my command that I need to manage. Besides, I’ve been away from my main city for too long and need to go back and take care of some matters." She stroked the small white bird on the table, rolled up a thumb-sized scroll of paper, and tucked it into the red string tied to its leg before releasing it out the window.
The Beastman was even more stunned and stood speechless for a long moment. They had originally thought the City Lord and her companions were sent by the Beast God to save them. They never imagined the Lord City Lord commanded other cities as well!
If at first there were whispers of doubt mixed in with the countless cheers of admiration—all because their Lord City Lord was a female—now, all that remained was utter reverence.
"Then, City Lord, do you have any other orders? We will do our utmost to carry out every task!"
"For now, continue with the tasks according to the original plan. If the plan changes, I’ll send a Messenger Bird to relay the new instructions."
"Yes!"
After giving a few more instructions, the Beastman respectfully withdrew.
With the CREAK of the closing door, the room grew a few shades darker.
Ling Hong emerged from the inner room with a beast-hide cloak and draped it over her shoulders. "Are we leaving this afternoon? You haven’t been sleeping well these past few nights. Don’t you need to rest for another day or two?"
The window wasn’t shut tight, letting in a draft of cold air. An Jin wrapped the cloak tighter around herself, her breath fogging as she shook her head. "We can’t delay any longer. We’ve been away from Sheng’an City for over half a month. Even though I left the city’s affairs to Chi Li and the others, if I, the City Lord, disappear for this long without a word, it’s bound to make the people uneasy."
’And wouldn’t you know it, after being away for over half a month, the system just notified me that public morale is already starting to drop.’
"Also, I just received a letter from Song Yi. He said the city has received several large orders that I need to go take a look at." An Jin rested a hand on his arm and looked around. "Where’s Mi Yin? I haven’t seen him all morning, and it’s almost time to eat. Why isn’t he back yet?"
’That’s not like that greedy snake at all.’
"Who knows what he’s off doing?" Ling Hong huffed, his expression indifferent. "He’s not stupid enough to let himself starve," he said coolly. "Taking care of you is enough for me..."
He put an arm around her waist, guiding her toward the inner room. "We don’t have many ingredients and the conditions are poor, so I just made some roasted meat. Let’s see if you like it."
The conditions were primitive. There was no clear division between a kitchen and a dining area, and the smell of greasy smoke lingered in the inner room, slightly stinging the nose.
But after a few days, An Jin had grown accustomed to it. She wasn’t having any trouble adjusting from a life of luxury to one of austerity.
Mi Yin didn’t return until after the two of them had finished their meal.
His expression was grim and somber.
"What’s wrong?" An Jin had saved a few pieces of rare wild beef for him, knowing he liked it bloody. She pushed the plate toward him. "Why the long face the moment you get back?"
For the normally lazy and aloof Mi Yin to wear such an expression was not a good sign.
"I sensed a dangerous presence. I chased after it just now but couldn’t find anything. Maybe... it was just my imagination." He rubbed his temples, inwardly sighing. ’Have I been too on edge lately? This really isn’t like me.’
’It’s all that damned male’s fault, saying Jin’er would be in danger.’
He instinctively pulled her into a hug, seeking comfort.
As he expected, only by keeping her safe by his side, never letting her out of his sight, could his heart—the heart of a natural-born Wandering Beast, always prone to roaming—find a moment of peace.
"Let’s get out of here. As soon as possible." Even though that disgusting black spider had been killed, this place still felt dangerous to him.
To her surprise, Mi Yin was on the exact same page. An Jin smiled and nodded, her soft, pale fingers gently stroking his face. "Ling Hong and I just discussed it. We’re leaving this afternoon. You should pack up and see if there’s anything you want to bring."
Mi Yin instinctively nuzzled against her touch and shook his head. "There’s nothing I want to bring."
He just wanted to leave this place he instinctively loathed as soon as possible.
When they finished packing that afternoon and passed through the city gates, many of the Beastmen who were in relatively good health came to see them off.
An Jin glanced at the crumbling, dilapidated city gate and instructed the guard before her, "This gate needs to be properly repaired too." As she had passed through it just moments before, she’d thought for a second that a cracked stone in the upper part of the gate was about to fall.
"Rest assured, City Lord. By the time you return, this city will be completely transformed. So... when will you be back?" a few of the Beastman Elders asked, looking at An Jin with hopeful eyes.
"I haven’t set a date, but I’ll definitely be back sometime in the second half of the year. While I’m away, don’t you dare slack off on the construction. I’ll be sending Beastmen to supervise."
"Yes! Rest assured, Lord City Lord!"
Amidst the desert and wind-swept plains, with yellow sand filling the sky, the Beastmen stood at the city gate, watching as their City Lord and her champions gradually vanished from sight.
...
「Unicorn King City」
The magnificent Stone Castle towered over the landscape. Its unique spires, shaped like sharp beast fangs, pierced the heavens, while ethereal clouds drifted between the structures.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Beast Servants bustled in and out of the castle, their arms laden with precious fragrant fruits, cuts of beast meat, bolts of cloth, and other fine materials.
Leaning against a large, floor-to-ceiling window, Lin Shaoxue was propping up her chin and staring down below, bored out of her mind. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a tall, handsome figure robed in white.
Her eyes instantly lit up, and she dashed down the stairs.
