«Who doesn’t want a Creator sticker?»
Even though He Fang was meeting Yuan Zhiran for the first time, just one look was enough to confirm that the young man before him was indeed as outstanding as described in the records.
The young man had a slender figure and delicate features, with large eyes and red lips, looking almost like a meticulously crafted doll. Especially those beautiful eyes, reminiscent of ink jade illuminated by sunlight—bright and unique.
Having just graduated from university and having started school early, Yuan Zhiran was more youthful than his peers, still carrying traces of a student’s innocence. His voice was clear and melodious, with an androgynous quality to it. He was slightly taller than He Fang, yet there was nothing effeminate about him—his beauty was purely masculine, displayed in exquisite perfection.
Yuan Zhiran leaped out of the cockpit, standing straight before He Fang, and saluted crisply. “City Lord, I am Yuan Zhiran, the newly appointed Minister of the Armed Forces.”
He Fang blinked. “Hello.”
The young man stood directly in front of He Fang, his delicate eyebrows and eyes fixed intently on him. He Fang wasn’t used to being stared at so directly. If Yuan Zhiran were a normal person instead of an NPC, He Fang might have already fled by now.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable, He Fang was suddenly caught off guard by a strange sight.
Yuan Zhiran’s cheeks started turning red. His naturally fair skin made the flush even more striking. The moment he noticed He Fang looking at him, his entire face flushed uncontrollably. Compared to the socially anxious He Fang, Yuan Zhiran seemed even more embarrassed, growing increasingly shy and unable to keep his gaze steady, his eyes darting to other directions.
He Fang was shocked.
When feeling uneasy in a social situation, if the other party appeared even more uneasy, it actually made it harder for He Fang to feel embarrassed.
The two stood there, face to face, neither daring to look directly at the other. It resulted in an awkward deadlock.
Feeling a bit self-conscious, He Fang scratched his cheek. Yuan Zhiran had countless labels attached to him, but none of them included “easily embarrassed”. The way his face flushed made it seem as if He Fang had done something inappropriate.
“You just now… why did you say no?” This was the first time He Fang had proactively started a conversation like this.
Remembering his original reason for coming, Yuan Zhiran quickly cleared his throat.
“City Lord, regarding your proposal to conduct the first manned flight experiment yourself, I believe it is inappropriate.”
Though his face remained red, his speech was smooth and unhesitant.
Despite his almost unreal beauty, Yuan Zhiran’s tone and behavior were utterly proper and serious. At this moment, He Fang noticed that Yuan Zhiran was wearing a uniform, but not a military one. He made a guess. “Are you the pilot for this manned flight experiment?”
“Yes, City Lord.” Yuan Zhiran nodded. “I specifically participated in flight simulation tests in order to better understand aircraft development and construction. If aircraft can be further refined in the research institute, I believe that while training ground forces, we should also begin training an air force.”
He Fang gave him a strange look. “You’re already thinking about an air force?”
“The outside world is unknown. We must consider all possibilities. If the enemy excels in aerial combat, relying solely on ground forces would put us at a disadvantage.” Seeing that He Fang was actually listening to him, Yuan Zhiran raised a hand slightly to cover part of his flushed face. He still looked shy, yet remained serious in his discussion. “So this is an important opportunity for us. If you, City Lord, personally conduct the experiment, you, as a non-military personnel, may not be able to achieve the level of precision required of a soldier.”
He Fang’s eyes widened slightly. Was Yuan Zhiran… subtly looking down on him just now?
“City Lord,” came Zhu Yan’s voice from beside him. “As the backbone of this city, your safety is of utmost importance to us. Every experiment carries potential risks, no matter how well-prepared. Unforeseen accidents are inevitable. In such cases, we need you, our highest leader, to remain stable and serve as our pillar of confidence.”
“City Lord.” Yuan Zhiran’s beautiful, ink-jade-like eyes reflected He Fang’s figure. “Please don’t treat this as a mere game. Your stubbornness is only making things more difficult for us as we carry out your request.”
He Fang choked.
The boy and Zhu Yan were clearly working together, completely aligned in their rejection of his participation in the experiment.
Unlike others who might try to be tactful, the strikingly beautiful young man before him showed no courtesy at all. Even though his face was red and his gaze unsteady, his words were far from pleasant, as if directly stamping the label of “willful” on He Fang’s forehead.
“Yuan Zhiran, watch your tone and attitude,” Zhu Yan warned, his expression turning cold.
“I’m sorry, Researcher Zhu Yan, but we cannot allow the City Lord to willingly put himself in danger. Ensuring his safety should be our highest priority. Rejecting his recklessness is precisely what a leader should do.” Yuan Zhiran showed no fear of Zhu Yan’s darkened expression, though when speaking to him, he was noticeably less shy.
He Fang was stunned. No, he had been wrong—this young man was actually full of energy and confidence.
Otherwise, how could he so effortlessly rebut Zhu Yan, someone who was both his senior and a respected figure? It was just like a fresh graduate joining a well-established company and boldly challenging their seasoned superiors.
He Fang also felt a bit troubled. This matter wasn’t easy to resolve. How was he supposed to explain to these NPCs that he couldn’t die?
And how was he supposed to tell them that, in other games, whether it was racing or flying, he had extensive experience and excellent skills? That in every major real-world simulation, he had earned impressive scores? That his past racing records remained unbroken even now?
He had never expected to be looked down upon by the very NPCs he had chosen.
“Even so, you should be mindful of your tone and attitude when speaking to the City Lord.” Zhu Yan’s long, white robe rippled as his arm dropped sharply, a clear sign of his anger.
A hint of unwillingness flashed across Yuan Zhiran’s delicate face, but he held his ground and said firmly, “If my attitude made the City Lord uncomfortable, I will sincerely apologize. But I do not believe my rejection was wrong.”
“Do you have a reason why you must personally pilot it?”
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Min Zhizhou’s gentle voice broke through, steering the conversation away from conflict and directing the question straight at He Fang.
As expected, both of them turned their attention toward He Fang.
He Fang thought for a moment. As a responsible city lord, he needed to reason with them. He explained, “In the future, I will inevitably need to venture beyond the Nightmare Beast Forest to determine a site for the new city and draft its blueprint. I need to see the terrain with my own eyes to make the most precise decisions. If I can fly myself, it will be much more convenient than constantly relying on others.”
Min Zhizhou nodded. “That makes sense. If you truly encounter danger and there’s no one around, having the ability to protect yourself would be an advantage.”
“Preventing such situations from occurring in the first place is our duty as soldiers,” Yuan Zhiran countered.
Min Zhizhou, however, remained calm. “We prepare for the worst, even if we hope it never happens.”
Yuan Zhiran pressed his lips together but didn’t continue arguing.
He Fang realized that Min Zhizhou was quite emotionally intelligent. By stepping in, he had managed to get the other two to seriously listen to his reasoning.
“I’m actually quite confident in my piloting skills,” He Fang said without hesitation. Especially in simulations—though, in reality, he hadn’t even taken his driver’s license test yet. He had never actually flown a real aircraft before.
But this was a game.
And at least in games, He Fang had never backed down.
Min Zhizhou seemed a little surprised. “You know how to fly?”
“Not really, but I think I can pick it up quickly.” He Fang had spent countless hours flying through maps in flight simulators, encountering extreme weather and emergencies, and had always managed to handle them effectively.
“But there’s no reason you have to be the one to conduct the first manned flight experiment,” Min Zhizhou said, immediately deflating He Fang’s growing sense of pride. “Someone else can do it first. Once it’s fully completed, you can learn later. There’s no rush.”
“Then why don’t we test it out?” He Fang, unwilling to admit defeat, looked at Zhu Yan. “Using the simulator, I can surpass your existing test data. If I prove my skills with results, you won’t have any reason to object, right?”
“This doesn’t achieve anything for us,” Zhu Yan frowned but suddenly found himself meeting He Fang’s gaze.
The son of the research institute director, the institute’s most capable and promising researcher—yet even he couldn’t withstand the request of their revered City Lord. With just a single look, Zhu Yan found himself unable to refuse.
Yuan Zhiran wanted to argue further but ultimately shut his mouth. He knew it was pointless to block He Fang outright. Rather than letting the city lord remain fixated and resentful, it would be better to let reality show him his limitations. That way, he might voluntarily give up the idea.
Yuan Zhiran was acutely aware that He Fang’s body was fragile. Their creator needed protection.
He needed to establish his own distinctive approach to leadership—maintaining his importance in the eyes of their creator. Unlike the rest of the city, who showered their creator with adoration, he should remain rational and steadfast. Even though he truly disliked seeing their creator look displeased because of his words.
Due to He Fang’s interference, the manned flight experiment was suspended.
Especially after finding out that the designated pilot was actually Yuan Zhiran, He Fang felt immensely relieved that he had stopped the experiment.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the research institute’s safety measures, but considering Yuan Zhiran was an NPC with absolutely no flight experience, He Fang’s concerns were anything but simple.
He Fang needed some time to familiarize himself with the simulator. However, before he left, he overheard Zhu Yan speaking to a researcher beside him.
“Delaying a little isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Research funding has been tight lately and we’re still salvaging resources from the ruins. If we wait a bit longer, the government might approve a new grant.”
He Fang froze—he had just heard something that gave him a headache. Feeling a little awkward, he spoke up from the side.
“Uh… sorry, but I don’t have much money right now.”
His small treasury had already been nearly drained by the construction of roads and two new facilities. Hearing Zhu Yan talk about funding issues made his expression turn sour. At this point, his only source of income was the daily tax revenue from the residents. He was really on the verge of running out of money.
Zhu Yan was momentarily stunned and turned to look at He Fang. After a brief moment, he smiled and said a few comforting words. He even had the urge to ruffle He Fang’s hair in consolation, but in the end, he only mustered the courage to give his shoulder a stiff, somewhat restrained pat.
“City Lord, would you like to return to the research institute with me?” Zhu Yan asked. The test flight had been called off and the aircraft had been returned to its original position. The researchers from the weapons development facility had already gone back to their department, while Zhu Yan belonged to the main research institute.
He Fang thought about it for a moment and decided to decline. “I’ll pass for now.”
A hint of disappointment flashed through Zhu Yan’s eyes, but he tried again, testing the waters. “Are you not going to run the flight simulation?”
“Oh, that…” He Fang’s expression was somewhat complicated. “It can wait a little longer, right?”
Zhu Yan immediately sensed something unusual and asked, “Then is there anything I can help you with?”
“No.” He Fang instinctively refused, but then he felt guilty for turning down the NPC so bluntly. After a pause, he explained, “I’m planning to do some investigations and find Lu Hu. Didn’t you just say that funding is tight?”
Zhu Yan nodded. “Yes.”
“As the city lord, it’s my responsibility to make sure your research isn’t hindered by financial concerns.” He Fang thought about his role—wasn’t he supposed to deal with all these trivial yet essential matters? “You just focus on your research. Leave the rest to me.”
Seeing He Fang’s troubled and exasperated expression, Zhu Yan’s usual cool demeanor softened a little. “You’re really going through a lot, City Lord.”
This rare moment of warmth from Zhu Yan, along with the slightly intimate yet still somewhat reserved way he interacted with He Fang, did not go unnoticed by Yuan Zhiran, who had been secretly observing from the sidelines.
The way Zhu Yan and He Fang spoke to each other seemed like the effortless familiarity of old friends. Meanwhile, he—
Yuan Zhiran thought back to his own actions just now and felt like a reprimanded, oversized dog that had done something wrong. His head drooped, his ears practically flattening in dejection—he looked utterly pitiful.
“What’s wrong?” Min Zhizhou had quietly moved closer, noticing Yuan Zhiran’s low spirits.
“Mr. Min…” Yuan Zhiran unconsciously clenched and then relaxed his hands. His knuckles were pale from the tension. “Was I too forceful earlier? Did I make the City Lord unhappy?”
Min Zhizhou considered it for a moment, quickly understanding that he was referring to stopping He Fang from participating in the experiment.
“You had your reasons. From what I saw, the City Lord didn’t seem upset,” Min Zhizhou answered honestly.
Yuan Zhiran still looked disappointed. His soft, delicate hair fell slightly, partially covering his strikingly beautiful eyes.
The moment he had heard the Creator’s voice and watched him as he[mfn]YZR[/mfn] step out of the cockpit, he had seen, in the flesh, the very being that had appeared so many times in his dreams.
The city wasn’t too big or too small, but in reality, running into the Creator wasn’t easy. Before today, he had only ever caught fleeting glimpses from afar. He had never expected to be this close.
“The City Lord looks so soft… and beautiful,” Yuan Zhiran murmured, covering his face with his hands. Thinking about his own clumsy behavior in front of the Creator made him feel utterly embarrassed. “Standing in front of him, I completely forgot what I was supposed to do or say… This is the first time I’ve been this close since that day.”
The last sentence was spoken too softly for Min Zhizhou to catch. Instead, he simply responded to the earlier part.
“Honestly, if we’re talking about looks, I’d say you’re much more attractive than the City Lord.”
“You just don’t know how to appreciate true beauty,” Yuan Zhiran retorted immediately. He had never thought that their artificially generated and mathematically perfect appearances were anything worth praising. If anything, they were just standardized and algorithmically optimized faces. They couldn’t compare to the uniqueness of the Creator.
“I think you all just have too strong of a filter when it comes to the City Lord,” Min Zhizhou replied bluntly, showing no hesitation in stating the truth.
“You just don’t understand.”
Min Zhizhou was an outsider, so naturally, he had no idea what He Fang meant to them. Yuan Zhiran didn’t intend to explain further. Instead, he just kept staring at He Fang’s troubled expression.
“What should I do… what can I do to help the Creator?”
Min Zhizhou had no answer for Yuan Zhiran’s confusion. He wasn’t He Fang and couldn’t speak on his behalf or give Yuan Zhiran an answer.
Yuan Zhiran was deeply reflecting on himself. Why couldn’t he have been more tactful in his persuasion? Why had he spoken in such a rigid tone, making the Creator unhappy and prompting a rebuttal?
He was drowning in self-doubt.
“Yuan Zhiran.”
Suddenly, the Creator’s voice sounded right beside him. Yuan Zhiran froze, suspecting he was hallucinating. But then the Creator called his name again, in that beloved voice of his. Only then did Yuan Zhiran finally react, slowly lifting his head. From the Creator’s slender legs, his gaze traced upward until he met the face that had been etched into the depths of his memory.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Yuan Zhiran’s cheeks instantly turned as red as a heated kettle. Every time he saw the Creator, he couldn’t stop himself from blushing—it was a reflex as if all the emotions he hadn’t dared to express as a child were now spilling out all at once.
He had been crouching in sorrow. Now, looking up at the Creator, it felt just like that time long ago when the Creator had yet to descend.
He Fang seemed a little hesitant as well, averting his gaze. Yuan Zhiran’s heart skipped a beat—was this a sign that the Creator disliked him?
A wave of panic surged within him. He immediately stood up, eager to explain something, but then, for some reason, he suddenly realized…
The Creator was actually shorter than him.
He looked somewhat fragile… small.
He Fang glanced at Yuan Zhiran several times before hesitatingly saying, “Starting from scratch as the Minister of Armed Forces… it must have been tough for you.”
Yuan Zhiran was taken aback.
“I heard you even managed to recruit the brothers Chong Xiao and Chong Ying as your subordinates. That’s impressive,” He Fang continued.
Yuan Zhiran pressed his lips together. In truth, he hadn’t done much. He had simply told those two brothers that the Creator had recommended them. They had immediately agreed to follow him.
“As for the recruitment process, you must have also put a lot of thought into it. At first, I thought you forgot to set an age limit, but later, I realized you were screening based on overall data. You personally processed tens of thousands of applications—quite the feat.”
“This is my duty,” Yuan Zhiran murmured softly, a little embarrassed.
The Creator’s voice lingered in his ears. He recalled all those nights spent meticulously organizing and reviewing each document, pushing himself to the point of exhaustion.
And the Creator knew.
“You’ve done an excellent job. Choosing you was the right decision. I look forward to seeing how you’ll build the Armed Forces Department.”
Encouraging words.
The voice from the depths of his memory.
Yuan Zhiran clutched his face, trying not to let his overwhelming emotions show. But he was too excited, too happy—just from these few words from the Creator.
“It might be difficult at times, but if you ever find yourself completely unsure of what to do, come ask me. Don’t be too shy—I won’t eat you.” He Fang turned away. “Good luck.”
Yuan Zhiran kept his hands on his burning cheeks, feeling the warmth between his skin and palms intensify as if they were about to ignite.
Any sadness he had felt earlier—gone.
The Creator had seen his efforts. Acknowledged them.
He wasn’t struggling in vain.
He was truly helping the Creator.
The Creator hadn’t ignored him.
“You’re this happy just from that?”
Min Zhizhou had been standing nearby the entire time and finally spoke.
Yuan Zhiran, whose face always burned whenever he saw the Creator, suddenly remembered that Min Zhizhou was still there. He was instantly overwhelmed with embarrassment.
“I really don’t know what the Creator is thinking,” Yuan Zhiran admitted. “I can’t guide him like others do. But even so… I still really want to talk to him. Just being able to talk to him makes me really happy.”
“Hm.” Min Zhizhou’s gaze turned complicated.
He truly couldn’t comprehend the sheer depth of the city’s blind reverence for He Fang.
Just a few words, and they were already overflowing with gratitude.
How was he supposed to make sense of that?
His eyes shifted away. “As long as you’re happy.”
Meanwhile, He Fang, having finished offering his words of encouragement, fled the scene as if his pants were on fire.
God knows how bad he was at saying this kind of stuff.
He sincerely acknowledged Yuan Zhiran’s hard work and felt he deserved some praise.
But if rewards were involved, verbal praise alone probably didn’t count.
Yet, right now, he was truly broke. The treasury was empty. There was no way to offer a material reward.
He could only hope that when Yuan Zhiran finally realized he had only been given words of encouragement with no actual reward, he wouldn’t get upset.
Yuan Zhiran had actually been working incredibly hard, which was very much in line with his personality. He had gone through over ten thousand documents in just a few days, something He Fang knew he couldn’t possibly manage himself.
Just thinking about not having money made He Fang feel extremely depressed.
He Fang was truly in despair. He had already started considering whether to take out a city loan. While it was possible to secure the necessary funds for operations, the interest rates on city loans were very high. Unless absolutely necessary, loans should be avoided as much as possible. Once a loan is taken out, the entire city’s economy would go through a downturn period. It was a much worse option than waiting for future tax revenue to fill the treasury.
His cautious development strategy had gradually led to the city’s economic prosperity, but the apocalyptic setting after the relaunch of city’s network meant that a lot of funds had to be used for research. There would also be future expansion. Now, the city’s financial chain was beginning to face a crisis. The initial investment had been too high.
He Fang had no choice but to find another way to increase tax revenue.
City taxes had always been very low, mainly for the development of the residents. Even with inflation, he hadn’t changed the tax rates.
So this time, He Fang planned to take a stroll through the streets, mainly to check if poverty had been eradicated. After investigating, he intended to discuss with Lu Hu about raising taxes. For low-income households, additional subsidies would need to be introduced to avoid putting too much pressure on them with higher taxes.
This was a measure that would decrease the residents’ happiness. But once the research institute’s costs were covered, he would definitely adjust things back.
Clearly, making money was urgent. Once the military was established, soldiers’ salaries would have to come from the treasury. If they couldn’t pay the soldiers’ wages for an extended period, the military would likely fall apart—discontent would spread and it would be impossible to maintain any cohesion. People die for money and birds die for food—no one could blame anyone for that.
Most of the financial statistics were handled by the Finance Department. He Fang had been surveying the situation around the city in preparation for the tax increase.
Before the relaunch of the city’s network, those who had made strategies suggested that tax rates could be raised temporarily for a quick profit, then adjusted back down afterward. But He Fang wasn’t willing to do that. If the residents’ happiness declined, it would be a losing trade. A higher happiness rate also contributed to higher tax revenue because, when people were happier, they spent more—there was less of a need to be frugal and more potential for economic activity.
And having witnessed such a real NPC, He Fang was even more reluctant to risk it.
Leaning against the landmark, He Fang sighed deeply. A city-building game was literally draining his brain cells.
He lifted his head, intending to switch his mood with some daily tasks. In addition to his regular duties, He Fang suddenly saw a special task.
Since the last time he used the landmark to test the Rainbow Squad’s combat abilities, he hadn’t interacted with the landmark again. He didn’t expect to see such a task now.
After opening the task, He Fang was stunned.
The special task read: “After the respected City Lord gave the command to attack the city’s defenses, to avoid damaging the city’s defenses, please have the respected City Lord treat the wounds of the iconic building.”
The landmark was injured?
The task required He Fang to repair the wounds of the landmark. The white statue, under the sunlight, would show any slight flaw clearly. He Fang walked around the statue twice but didn’t find any visible injury.
He still remembered when the landmark had fought with the Rainbow Squad Xiao Hong. The landmark hadn’t shown the slightest sign of panic. The only sound had been from his symbiote beast growling. The Rainbow Squad hadn’t even managed to harm the landmark in the slightest.
Could it be that the landmark had been injured but was too proud to let anyone know?
He Fang, originally thinking about asking the hospital if they could check the sculpture for injuries, gave up on the idea. If the landmark was truly that prideful, confronting it over this injury might cause a lot of anger. He might even end up angering it further.
How could he tell where it was injured? He Fang reopened the task page and clicked on it. Suddenly, a window popped up showing a full-scale model of the iconic building, with a red highlight marking a specific area.
It was the arm.
The landmark was quite large, with its arm raised high. He Fang hadn’t been able to see the injury earlier because the injury was on the upper part of the arm. From below, looking up, it was impossible to spot.
It looked like he would need to climb up.
He Fang sighed in frustration. After making the landmark work so hard in a battle with the Rainbow Squad, it ended up getting injured. He also lost money in the process. The only thing he gained was information that couldn’t be used in the short term. He was unsure whether the whole experience was a gain or a loss.
He lifted his head high, his expression was quite complicated. How was he supposed to treat the injury on a landmark?
In the end, He Fang decided to go to the hospital. Wasn’t treatment more important than pride?
He registered for an appointment.
He went to see the specialist.
The elderly specialist kindly asked, “City Lord, is something bothering you?”
“I’m quite comfortable,” He Fang replied.
“Then, is there something you need from me?” The old specialist showed no sign of displeasure.
He Fang scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Well, I came to ask about the landmark of the man and beast in the city center. It’s been injured and I was wondering how to treat it.” In He Fang’s mind, although it was a landmark, it could clearly understand commands. It seemed more like a living entity that just appeared to be a sculpture.
The old specialist’s smile didn’t change, but his pen paused for a brief moment as he wrote. Then, he gave He Fang a very kind smile, casually tore off a piece of paper, and sketched a simple map.
He Fang’s eyes lit up. “Thank you.”
He Fang happily left with the strange map in hand.
Although the map was very simple, the simplicity made it easy to read. The final destination was straightforward: leave the hospital, turn left, turn left again, and walk 700 meters to a place marked with a hammer symbol.
However, as He Fang walked, he couldn’t help raising an eyebrow. What hammer? Was the final destination supposed to be an alley shaped like a hammer?
Curious, He Fang raised his head and looked around, examining the billboards along the road. Suddenly, his steps halted.
He took two steps back.
He looked up again.
Above his head was a glaring hammer symbol.
He Fang thought, If I’m not mistaken, isn’t this a shop for interior renovations?
So, the doctor’s advice wasn’t for a doctor but for a construction worker.
He Fang pondered for a moment. Even though the landmark was a living being, its external appearance was still that of a landmark. It didn’t bleed when injured, so it was likely that some stones had fallen off. What it needed was maintenance and repairs for the iconic building.
When He Fang brought a small two-person renovation team to the landmark, passing NPCs couldn’t help but show strange smiles.
“Three years… Three years,” He Fang murmured, “Although I don’t know how long it’s been in the game, three years have passed in my world. I’ve never maintained you since I placed you here. You’ve been exposed to the wind and sun every day. It must have been hard on you.” He Fang spoke with deep regret about his neglect. “Last time, I let you get bullied in the gunfire and explosions, not daring to fight back. That was my fault. I apologize. I specially hired this renovation team to clean you up and give you proper sculpture care.”
Heaven knew He Fang had used the money that Min Zhizhou had given him back then to hire these workers. He was really too poor now.
“Thank you for your hard work,” He Fang said respectfully to the two workers he had brought along.
That old specialist was really nice. The store he had recommended even offered a discount.
He Fang sat on a bench in the park surrounding the landmark, watching as the workers put on anti-slip shoe covers and began tugging at the holy beast’s tail, stepping on its head, and walking along the deep ridges of the Divine Lord’s firm, muscular body, all while working busily on the large sculpture. The two workers, dressed simply, were completely engrossed in their tasks, moving up and down the giant statue with great enthusiasm.
For some inexplicable reason, He Fang felt a sudden chill around him, causing him to involuntarily shiver.
“Wow, it really looks a lot cleaner now. Did you guys properly fill in the wound?” He Fang glanced at the sculpture, which appeared unchanged before and after the maintenance, and after giving a reluctant compliment, he asked.
“Don’t worry, it’s been filled in properly. It looks exactly like it did in the beginning. There will be no issues,” the two workers said, giving a “job well done” gesture.
He Fang, still skeptical, opened the task list and stared at it, seeing that the task hadn’t been completed. He muttered, “I feel like it still hasn’t been filled properly.”
The two workers exchanged glances, then looked up at the towering sculpture. Suddenly, they grinned. “Well, customer, let us redo it for you.”
Saying that, the two workers began to put on their anti-slip shoe covers again and were about to start climbing up the sculpture.
Just then, He Fang heard the familiar sound of a task completion notification. He was pleasantly surprised and opened it. Sure enough, the task had been completed. But…
He Fang stared longingly at the measly “1” in the faith point, feeling disheartened. After all that effort, it was still less efficient than just doing his daily tasks.
“No need, thank you. I trust your skills,” He Fang quickly stopped the two workers who were about to go back to the sculpture. He smiled and said, “It’s fine now, thank you.”
The workers smiled and nodded, their smiles looking strangely similar. He Fang wondered if it was because they were modeled similarly.
But once the workers turned their backs to He Fang, they couldn’t help but exchange suppressed laughter.
He Fang stood with his hands on his hips in front of the massive sculpture and said, “You’ve worked hard. If it’s still tough next time, I’ll hire workers to help you with the maintenance. That way, you’ll always stay clean and tidy.”
Content, He Fang left, disappearing from view.
Suddenly, laughter erupted from all around the park.
“Hahahahaha, I can’t take it anymore, I can’t! Our creator is just too cute!”
“I can’t breathe, family! He specially hired a renovation team to maintain it! Oh my god, did they put paint on the Divine Lord’s wound? Hahahaha!”
“It serves him right! That tiny injury would’ve been fine if he hadn’t insisted on keeping it. Sneaking around, trying to get close to the creator. Now look, he made two workers crawl all over him and still had to pay them. Then he asks if the Divine Lord likes it. He’ll come back next time too!”
Amidst the laughter, the giant sculpture seemed deeply upset. A cold aura rose around it, indicating its displeasure. The surrounding people who were laughing were suddenly chilled, their bodies shaking from the cold as they continued to laugh nervously.
Hiring renovation workers, hahahaha, why is our creator so cute? I just can’t handle it—ah, it’s freezing.
Meanwhile, He Fang was also deep in thought. He wondered what kind of consolation gift he could give Xiao Hong from the Rainbow Squad. Last time, Xiao Hong had worked hard in a battle, only for the Divine Lord to run off midway.
So, if the landmark needed a renovation team, then Xiao Hong from the Rainbow Squad probably needed an electrician, right?
He Fang looked around, scanning the various shops by the roadside, trying to find an electrician.
After asking around, he found out that all the electricity for the Rainbow Squad was directly connected to the power plant, so the electricians couldn’t help.
He Fang stood in front of a large streetlight pole.
Then, what should he do?
He decided to personally clean the light pole for Xiao Hong, as a gesture of goodwill as the city lord.
As He Fang was wiping the light pole, he heard Xiao Hong’s voice again.
“Warning: Danger detected, unable to detect the source of danger. Defense activated, defense deactivated, defense activated, defense deactivated.”
He Fang: Bugged!
