“After conducting research, this thing appears to be a type of organism.” Zhu Yan placed a small vial of soil on the conference hall table. At that moment, a significant number of individuals with real authority were seated in this spacious conference hall. “It bears a strong resemblance to Nightmare Beast Seed. A Nightmare Beast Seed becomes rapidly active upon encountering life, whereas this thing becomes active under sunset, or more specifically, during sunset.”
He Fang frowned as he looked at the small vial. This was the glowing soil that had unexpectedly been brought back yesterday from beneath the feet of the soldiers who were chasing after the mercenaries. Upon discovering the anomaly, everyone immediately became alert and reported it.
Having received the information, Yuan Zhiran quickly used an aircraft to collect all glowing areas before the sun had completely set. Fortunately, all the data was already secured.
“We examined the mercenaries’ vehicles and confirmed through research that the substance was scattered only when the vehicles exceeded a certain speed, likely due to issues occurring during the chase,” Zhu Yan said with an icy expression tinged with rare indignation. “It seems that the mobile city imitated biological information, causing our detection to mistakenly classify it as a beast and overlook it. All data has been retrieved, but this was indeed negligence.”
After all, areas not covered by Nightmare Beast Seed are likely to have insect fungus as long as there’s life. These tiny organisms always possess a remarkably resilient vitality. Some wild animals occasionally roamed nearby, mixing various pieces of information together. Thus, all biological data was overlooked.
“The mercenaries were unaware that their vehicles contained this substance.” Yuan Zhiran rubbed his temples, his expression full of guilt and exhaustion. “From the very beginning, they were exploited to carry and mark information. During the separate interrogation, the mercenaries revealed that they obtained some information about Hope City from the mobile city. Their initial behavior of fleeing was probably anticipated by that unknown city.”
“Which city is it? Do we know?” Qi Jingwei, sitting nearby, frowned deeply. He was clearly displeased with the mistake and, rare for him, revealed his sharp nature in front of He Fang.
“We don’t know. That’s the one thing they absolutely refuse to tell us,” Yuan Zhiran replied, encountering such a frustrating situation for the first time. His entire demeanor was exceedingly downcast.
“Can we see the glow of the organisms? Is it possible to trace it back?” Qi Jingwei continued to press.
This time, Zhu Yan answered him, “I’m sorry, but no. Once this substance starts to glow, it rapidly ages, and the aging process lasts no more than two hours.”
“Indeed, the ones who’ve clawed their way through the apocalypse have some tricks up their sleeves,” Qi Jingwei commented.
“From these traces and information, even though I wasn’t there at the scene, I can still deduce what happened. The exposure we’ve suffered might be far greater than imagined,” Zhu Yan remarked as he carefully examined the minute traces, then tentatively explained, “Three vehicles escaped, and the pursuing vehicles… around thirty of them. First came the chase, then the bombing, then the vehicles stopped midway and someone got out. Judging by the traces, the people who got out were only our soldiers. After that…”
Although Zhu Yan hadn’t witnessed the events firsthand, merely observing the traces enabled him to piece together the entire scenario effortlessly.
“So you’re saying that we might’ve revealed certain attack methods, and also exposed the performance capabilities of our vehicles?” Sitting nearby, Chong Ying raised his hand and said, “But if it’s just exposing a bit of weaponry, it doesn’t matter, does it? I’ve designed plenty of interesting weapons that haven’t been used yet anyway.”
“It’s not about the weapons. We’ve managed to keep this place a secret all along, which is why we used those mercenaries. But now, it’s clear that the secret we’ve been hiding for so long has been exposed,” Qi Jingwei said.
He Fang choked up. This…
The moment He Fang heard about chasing the mercenaries, his first thought was “random task”, which was why he took on this extra little mission. But he never expected that the secret they had kept so well would fail on his very first day.
It was his fault…
At the time, his mind was entirely preoccupied with another game, which caused him to not pay enough attention to the current situation.
“It was my mistake,” He Fang finally said quietly after the tense atmosphere began to ease.
Suddenly, the room fell into a brief silence, but the previously tense atmosphere quickly lightened up.
“Oh, it’s not a big deal! It was bound to happen sooner or later, right? City Lord, don’t blame yourself. Even if we’ve been discovered, our current progress won’t let them take advantage of us,” Chong Ying quickly stepped forward and took He Fang’s arm.
“That’s true,” even Qi Jingwei, who had earlier displayed sharp indignation, softened his tone, returning to his usual demeanor. “City Lord, don’t worry too much. We’re angry because someone dared to try and trick us.”
Around them, everyone began to offer verbal comfort to He Fang. Guo Miaofeng even clumsily went out to pour He Fang a cup of coffee, which Zhu Yan took away and instructed him to replace it with a cup of calming tea.
He Fang sat in his seat and suddenly found it amusing. These intelligent NPCs truly have a way of making players feel immensely pampered and satisfied.
“Forget it,” He Fang sighed helplessly. “I initially wanted to gather some information and test whether we could establish contact with other mobile cities. Now, perhaps this is an opportunity.”
Upon hearing He Fang’s words, Qi Jingwei thought for a moment and said, “We still need those mercenaries to reveal which city sent them.”
Chong Ying glanced at Chong Xiao and suddenly said to He Fang, “City Lord, my brother suggests that you entrust this matter to us. We guarantee we’ll make them spill the truth.”
Chong Ying looked nervously at their creator, sneaking a quick glance to gauge He Fang’s reaction. Despite their creator’s usual magnanimity—willing even to welcome individuals like gatekeepers into the city—they worried he might disapprove.
“Go ahead and handle it,” He Fang replied calmly this time. While he disliked giving up on anyone casually, it didn’t mean he would allow anyone to bully his residents.
Although He Fang yearned for peace, no gamer seeks only peace without combat. In the game, he had killed countless enemies. With foes now approaching, seeking a peaceful resolution was no longer an option.
Chong Ying froze for a moment, seemingly stunned by He Fang’s swift approval. Heaven knows, just one word from their creator left him so dazzled he felt like offering his heart to the creator!
“Once you get the information, organize everything shared during the earlier meetings, particularly the details revealed by the mercenaries, and compile intel on that city,” He Fang instructed. He suspected this behavior might serve as a teaser for a future event.
Many games often start with an event teaser—perhaps a certain clue or a particular phrase. These subtle pieces of information are usually indicators of a forthcoming major event.
Is “Ruins Without Restart” capable of reading minds? He had just been contemplating staging a test-level city battle.
On the day the mercenaries[mfn]Zhou Fang’s group[/mfn] were captured, He Fang had already concluded the mercenary meeting. For the first time, he saw these mercenaries, who should have been an unruly and mismatched bunch, sitting upright in their chairs, listening attentively.
As someone with social anxiety, even in a game, suddenly facing so many pairs of eyes left He Fang feeling intimidated. Thus, Yuan Zhiran handled the meeting entirely.
What surprised him was the mercenaries’ extraordinary obedience—they said whatever they were asked, withholding nothing. Later, He Fang learned that any mercenary who spoke well could make a simple request, as long as it didn’t violate the rules.
Then he witnessed the diverse array of wishes from these mercenaries.
At that moment… he found himself marveling at how these mercenaries seemed to live quite comfortably, even in prison.
The task of collecting information about mobile cities had always been ongoing. Guo Miaofeng had likely already recruited new subordinates, each of whom was engaged in similar statistical work. Initially, the focus was on the residents of Hope City. To He Fang, especially the elderly residents, their memories were invaluable treasures, as he himself knew so little about the city’s past.
At first, the gatekeepers were uncooperative, but the other members of the exploration team managed to fill the gap. Later, probably due to Ye Sheng’s side taking the initiative to loosen up, the gatekeepers began sharing much of what they knew. Besides their knowledge of mobile cities, the gatekeepers were actually more familiar with mercenaries, small groups, and individual wanderers. Consequently, Guo Miaofeng established a dedicated file for this purpose.
He Fang took the opportunity to review the information passed to him by Guo Miaofeng, along with the list of mercenaries detained this time, provided by Yuan Zhiran. Surprisingly, much of the information about the mercenaries aligned perfectly.
“Black Flag Squad.” He Fang squinted slightly as he looked at the details about the Black Flag Squad described by the gatekeepers. This mercenary group was quite famous? Although they seemed completely powerless during the chase, they turned out to be seasoned veterans.
“Among the mercenary squads currently detained in the prison, Black Flag is the most renowned,” Yuan Zhiran said, leaning beside He Fang. Despite his low spirits, he immediately stepped forward and tapped the file in He Fang’s hand with his finger. “But the gatekeepers’ information is likely outdated. Among Black Flag’s ten members, it was supposed to be six men and four women, but now it’s eight men and two women—there’s a discrepancy.”
“Is it a matter of timeliness?” He Fang flipped through the data. “It seems that we’ll need to consider timing when questioning them. After all, the post-apocalypse world is constantly changing.”
“However, the information obtained from the mercenaries does match up, and the timing seems about right,” Yuan Zhiran said as he pulled up the statistics compiled by Guo Miaofeng.
“These files… Sai Gu said other cities have established archives as well.” Guo Miaofeng, eager for a chance to chat with their long-unseen creator, finally found an opening to speak. “But those archives are highly confidential—only their existence is known, but we haven’t seen them. Sai Gu said we can’t push too far for now; otherwise, it’ll raise suspicion.”
“But if it’s archives from other cities, we can’t get our hands on them right now, can we?” Chong Ying spread his hands as he sat nearby.
He Fang silently closed the file, his expression complicated as he looked at the large conference table. “Well, this meeting was just to inform everyone about the possible developments. The meeting is now adjourned.”
He Fang needed to carefully review these materials. His compulsive habit of scrutinizing game information had kicked in again.
“Of course, it’s our duty to ease your burdens, City Lord,” Lu Hu said with a laugh as she leaned beside He Fang. Boldly, she reached out and nudged Yuan Zhiran, who was standing close to He Fang, aside. As the only woman present, she cast a confident smile at the others watching. “After all, this is about preparing for war, and every one of us needs to be involved.”
He Fang glanced around, then looked back at the materials in his hand, pondering for a moment.
“Alright, Lu Hu, organize the funds available for the city battle. Yuan Zhiran, calculate how many soldiers under you can participate in the battle—don’t send too many; we need enough to guard Hope City. Chong Xiao and Chong Ying, handle the interrogations. Chong Ying, submit a detailed list of all available weapons in the city; make it as comprehensive as possible. Qi Jingwei, you’re not participating in the battle—you’re law enforcement, not military; warfare isn’t your responsibility. Also, check if Sai Gu can return soon,” He Fang commanded one task after another. A large-scale event was on its way, and he needed to start preparing.
“Is there anything I should do?” Zhu Yan, noticing that everyone else had been assigned work while he had none, suddenly felt a little unhappy.
He Fang froze for a moment, considering Zhu Yan’s role. Wasn’t Zhu Yan, like Guo Miaofeng, part of the non-combat faction? Could it be that Zhu Yan also wanted to join the battlefield?
“Well, maybe adjust the detectors and see if we can cultivate and utilize these strange little organisms,” He Fang said, pointing to the small vial of soil in front of Zhu Yan. “You don’t have much to do for now, but during the city battle, I’ll need you a lot. I’ll need you to analyze the strength differences during the battle. I want to confirm how our city’s battle capabilities compare, and that’s something only you can assess.”
In truth, He Fang wasn’t entirely sure of their current capabilities. If any abnormal situation arose, he intended to rely on the powers of the Divine Lord and the Rainbow Squad. At the very least, he had unwavering trust in these two trump cards.
Zhu Yan heard He Fang’s words. Although he understood the importance of specialization, he still felt a bit dejected because he couldn’t contribute much at the moment.
“Maybe we could discuss tactics?” Zhu Yan suggested.
“Perhaps, but honestly, this time I want to rely purely on strength rather than tactics,” He Fang replied, eager to see just how far his city’s development could go.
“If we really can’t win, we could consider using…” Zhu Yan seemed to have thought of something. His expression grew slightly somber, but he quickly masked it. “Bacteria and viruses.”
“…?” He Fang stared at Zhu Yan, baffled.
“These could be quite effective,” Zhu Yan explained. “Not necessarily lethal, just enough to temporarily disable them and reduce their combat capability. We could even design it so they’re triggered under certain conditions, like heightened emotions.”
“Where did you learn such horrifying ideas?” He Fang interrupted Zhu Yan immediately. “Have you been experimenting with these things in the lab?”
Zhu Yan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. “No.”
“Then don’t research them,” He Fang said firmly, recalling the biology research facility already established in Hope City. “And make sure the biology lab doesn’t either. These kinds of experiments, if mishandled, could lead to everyone’s demise. We absolutely cannot allow something so dangerous to exist. One Beast Seed is already enough to bring about an apocalypse—creating something like this would be the end of humanity.”
He Fang spoke with evident frustration, his tone much more serious than usual. After finishing his words, he turned and left, showing anger toward Zhu Yan for the first time.
Guo Miaofeng, who hadn’t yet left, was momentarily unsure of what to do. Their creator appeared to be quite upset.
“Zhu Yan, the creator is angry…” Guo Miaofeng said, feeling a bit sad. He couldn’t understand why the topic had suddenly angered the creator. From Zhu Yan’s words, bacteria and viruses seemed like highly useful tools, so why would the creator reject them so vehemently?
“Yes, I know,” Zhu Yan replied.
Guo Miaofeng hesitated before asking, “Shouldn’t you go comfort the creator and apologize? You can’t just let the creator stay angry, right? Besides, aren’t you the one who likes the creator the most? If the creator stays upset and ignores you, wouldn’t that make you feel bad?”
“It would,” Zhu Yan said, his expression calm—completely unlike someone feeling dejected. In fact…
“Why are you smiling?” Guo Miaofeng noticed the smile on Zhu Yan’s face but frowned. “Wait, are you crying?”
“Does my expression look that strange?” Zhu Yan asked.
“Yes, very strange,” Guo Miaofeng nodded.
“Guo Miaofeng,” Zhu Yan leaned casually against the back of his chair, unusually refraining from immediately seeking their creator, “do you know what extinction feels like?”
“Barren land, dried-up rivers, starvation, nakedness, cannibalistic purgatory, and endless deserts,” Guo Miaofeng said without the slightest hesitation in his tone.
“Yes,” Zhu Yan nodded as he looked at Guo Miaofeng. “There’s another possibility: a virus leak, infecting the entire city. Humanity’s frailty means that when faced with an unknown virus, resistance is futile—even gods wouldn’t be able to save us.”
“Really?” Guo Miaofeng seemed to envision such a scene: a cold, desolate city, an empty world, and corpses of the virus-stricken visible in every corner. He shuddered violently. “Then viruses shouldn’t be casually researched, should they?”
“Yes, but appropriate research could aid development. Of course, I would be cautious,” Zhu Yan said, his half-closed eyes hinting at an unusual and rare optimism in his demeanor.
“The creator is so angry, yet you’re still so cheerful. You’re bound to get your comeuppance,” Guo Miaofeng couldn’t help but warn.
“Let me indulge for a moment. I feel like I’ve eaten a poisonous mushroom—I’m completely delirious now,” Zhu Yan said.
“Should I call a doctor for you?” Guo Miaofeng asked, unable to resist.
Zhu Yan laughed, his tone mixed with irritable impatience. He slowly said, “Maybe I should feed you a poisonous mushroom right now.”
Although Guo Miaofeng didn’t know what had happened, he knew better than to provoke Zhu Yan any further. Standing up, he said, “I’ll head out then—I still have files to organize. Ugh, files, files—I really wasn’t made for this.”
As Guo Miaofeng’s frustrated mutterings faded away, Zhu Yan remained seated, his smile lingering far longer than usual in the solitude that followed.
—
On his way to seek out Wei Qixuan, He Fang took a closer look at the current construction of Hope City. He marveled at how, even within just a year, a once-dead city could transform into such a vibrant and thriving place.
The people who used to roam the streets dressed in tattered clothes had now exchanged their patchwork garments for outfits free of holes. The fields were covered in lush green, and farmers working the land would light up with joy and happiness upon seeing He Fang, bowing deeply to him from afar.
At least they weren’t kneeling outright anymore—progress indeed.
Looking at Hope City, He Fang couldn’t help but feel it might be a city completely distinct from Scorching Sun City.
The framework of Hope City had been entirely filled in, but unlike Scorching Sun City’s fortified iron walls, Hope City was designed to be open and well-lit, with numerous spaces intentionally left open for sunlight. Such open spaces would have been unimaginable luxuries in the old Hope City.
And perhaps it was just an illusion, but He Fang felt as though all the residents of Hope City seemed much younger. Upon reflection, individuals in their forties and fifties shouldn’t yet be too old to work—especially men in that age range, who should still have strong labor capabilities. But this only held true when they were properly nourished.
In the old Hope City, people struggled to eat enough, but in the new Hope City, they could enjoy abundant food and clothing. Once their hunger was satisfied, their spirits lifted, and the entire population appeared to have regained at least twenty years of youthfulness.
As he wandered through Hope City, He Fang was struck for the first time by the brilliance of its designers. A considerable amount of intentional landscape planning had gone into the city’s steel framework. Fresh greenery had been deliberately planted throughout the city, creating scenery that was delightful to behold. Combined with the sparse sunlight, the atmosphere felt refreshing and serene—there was none of the oppressive sense of ruin and decay that had dominated before.
When He Fang noticed a room with an open door, as a player, he didn’t even consider whether he was casually intruding into someone else’s home. He simply walked right in through the doorway.
Inside… it looked like the setup of a small household within the main city. Gone were the narrow compartments reminiscent of train cabins. In their place was a spacious two-bedroom, one-living-room layout typical of an ordinary family home, scattered with traces of everyday life and rather messy.
There was also a child staring at him nervously—a girl, who seemed somewhat older. She looked at He Fang shyly. Instead of screaming in fear or panic upon seeing a stranger barge into her home, she simply gazed at him while He Fang gazed back.
Suddenly, He Fang realized—had he just trespassed into someone’s private home?
“Lord…” Just as He Fang was about to turn and leave, the little girl said, “City Lord, are you thirsty? Should I boil some water for you now?”
He Fang: “…” Was there really a need to program NPC dialogue this extensively? If a young girl who hadn’t yet formed her worldview saw such an event and assumed that strangers barging in weren’t bad people, it could lead to trouble.
He Fang turned and walked out of the house.
However, once he was outside, He Fang still felt a bit peculiar. This odd feeling was hard to pin down—he couldn’t help but feel that this family was somehow different from the families in his main city.
But what exactly was the difference?
He Fang kept pondering, reflecting on the layout of the little girl’s house. Suddenly, he paused mid-step—he seemed to understand the source of that peculiar feeling!
It was the messiness!
In the main city, he had once inadvertently entered a small household in another city due to an accident. That home also had a lively, lived-in feel, but the cleanliness was unnaturally pristine, as if it were part of a texture overlay.
However, the little girl’s home was genuinely messy, and the mess didn’t follow any patterns or logic. It felt authentic, like a true ordinary household.
Could it be that the game had automatically updated during the three days he hadn’t logged in? Had it transformed all the elements that once looked like simple overlays into something realistic?
This game was astonishingly detailed.
He Fang truly felt the sincere dedication behind the production of “Ruins Without Restart”, though much of that effort seemed consumed in aspects that weren’t strictly necessary.
While heading in the direction to find Wei Qixuan, he suddenly saw the teacher he had specifically assigned to Wei Qixuan walking toward him. He had deliberately chosen a woman, knowing that Wei Qixuan, having lost both parents, might need some maternal care. Besides, this university professor, exuding intellectual beauty, looked extremely dependable.
He Fang watched the woman walk past him with an unwavering gaze, assuming it was just her NPC programming—unless he initiated a conversation, she would simply proceed with her predetermined route.
He Fang didn’t notice that after he turned to leave, the once confident and intellectually charming female teacher now gazing mournfully at their creator’s indifferent back. Her heart was filled with sadness—why hadn’t he stopped her? He could’ve asked about Wei Qixuan’s studies, about Wei Qixuan’s growth, or about whether Wei Qixuan needed anything. If only their creator had taken the initiative, wouldn’t love naturally bloom?
Ah, wait…
“Ruins Without Restart” doesn’t have love.
The intellectual female teacher stood there, utterly hopeless.
When He Fang saw Wei Qixuan’s figure studying in the classroom, he paused in surprise. He stepped out and surveyed the surroundings, feeling slightly disoriented. Transitioning from a skeletal framework to a fully developed city, He Fang wondered if he might lose his way.
But now it seemed right—this room must be the one.
However, the person sitting inside the room wasn’t Wei Qixuan, at least not his familiar silhouette. Wasn’t Wei Qixuan a frail, nearly emaciated child barely more than skin and bones? While better nourishment might have helped him gain a little weight, it surely couldn’t have caused his height to shoot up as well.
This doesn’t make sense.
He Fang cautiously approached the unfamiliar figure. This silhouette had clearly outgrown the childlike image of Wei Qixuan and now exhibited the fresh and refined appearance of a teenager. Though not particularly tall yet, he was undeniably far removed from the stunted five-year-old-like figure He Fang remembered.
He Fang turned toward the person with eager anticipation, yet upon seeing the face, he was slightly startled and frowned.
It really was Wei Qixuan.
How did he grow so fast?
Had he received enough nutrition to grow this much?
Due to Wei Qixuan’s unique circumstances, even though there was now a teacher providing lessons, He Fang had never considered letting this university professor step down. After all, the professor’s role wasn’t solely about teaching—he was also meant to support Wei Qixuan. Many people regard their teachers as second parents, and a good teacher plays a vital role in a child’s life.
At that moment, Wei Qixuan was working on solving a problem—seriously immersed in his task. He was carefully doing calculations on scratch paper, yet even with such effort, he still couldn’t solve it.
The skeletal appearance of his face had vanished entirely, replaced by refined features. The youthful innocence of a boy now radiated a unique blend of freshness and determination. He Fang hadn’t expected that just one year could allow a child to grow so much.
He Fang curiously observed the problem Wei Qixuan was so deeply engrossed in. Were there strange questions in this world? Come to think of it, were there really questions at all?
Surely no one enjoys playing games while also solving worksheets, right?
He Fang squinted at the desk and suddenly froze in surprise…
This is…
A math problem?
He Fang, being a college graduate, didn’t exactly remember much about such things but knew for sure that this was far beyond what a child in their early teens could handle. The scrap paper on the side was already filled with countless calculations, and He Fang couldn’t help but take a sharp breath.
Why was there a need to study something so complex? Was this preparation to compete nationwide? But did the current state of the nation even allow for educational awards anymore?
He Fang never imagined the day would come when he’d encounter schoolwork in a game.
“Tsk.” At that moment, Wei Qixuan let out the only sound he’d made, biting the tip of his pen. “So complicated.”
He Fang noticed that Wei Qixuan’s desk didn’t hold a full sheet of questions, but rather just this one problem.
“Does solving this problem bring any benefits?” He Fang suddenly asked from behind Wei Qixuan. “It doesn’t seem to have any practical use in real life. Maybe you don’t need to be so serious about it?”
Wei Qixuan froze for a moment. The pen he’d been holding suddenly slipped from his hand and landed on the desk with a clear clatter. He quickly turned his head and saw He Fang.
He looked just the same as always—unchanged, like the hero Wei Qixuan dreamed of every night. Wei Qixuan pressed his lips together slightly before breaking into a wide, carefree smile. “City Lord!”
Wow, he looks so happy, He Fang couldn’t help but think to himself. On a whim, he opened Wei Qixuan’s status panel to check if his happiness level as a resident might have increased. Though it was just a random thought, He Fang saw that Wei Qixuan’s happiness level was indeed steadily rising.
Wow, this aspect actually matches the NPCs in the main city. Have you lost your dignity as a wild NPC?
However, He Fang suddenly noticed something unusual.
The border of Wei Qixuan’s attribute panel seemed a little different.
He Fang immediately opened Wei Qixuan’s attribute panel, and to his astonishment, Wei Qixuan’s panel had gained color!
He Fang was stunned.
In “Ruins Without Restart”, NPCs weren’t ranked into tiers. But to help players distinguish them, there would be markings like “low-grade card”. Back when he first checked the NPCs in Hope City, their panels were all gray and white.
A gray-white panel typically indicated no significant qualities or potential for development. Meanwhile, in his main city, the resident NPC attribute panels featured vibrant, bright colors. If he opened all the attribute panels in his main city, it would look like a field of blooming flowers.
But now!
If Wei Qixuan’s attribute panel had changed, it meant something incredibly significant—gray attribute panel NPCs could also be cultivated to become officially recognized NPCs by “Ruins Without Restart”!
“What have you been up to lately?” He Fang’s heart was overflowing with excitement. The joy and surprise he felt upon witnessing this were almost indescribable, because this symbolized that the thousands of NPCs in Hope City might still hold countless delightful surprises in store for him!
For now, Wei Qixuan’s attribute panel colors were still faint, and there were no tags yet. But even so, this was a massive step forward.
“Recently? Are we talking about this past year?” Wei Qixuan couldn’t help but ask. He thought for a moment before continuing, “During this time, I’ve been studying diligently. Of course, that might not interest you, City Lord, so I’ll talk about the things you might care about.”
He Fang: “?” Was that a line straight out of a socially adept adult’s playbook?
“In recent times, Hope City’s development has gone quite smoothly. We’ve connected the water supply system, and thanks to the blueprints provided by the research institute and financial support from the treasury, we’ve made irrigating the vast farmlands much easier. This has freed up a lot of people to take on other tasks. Regarding land distribution, everything has already been fully reported to Director Guo Miaofeng…”
Even as Wei Qixuan reported these updates, He Fang couldn’t shake the impression that he was genuinely happy to see him—especially given how rapidly the happiness level on his attribute panel was rising.
Listening to him, He Fang suddenly felt something odd. Wei Qixuan reminded him of his own days playing single-player city-building games, where he would handle everything personally.
“Do you have any help? If you’re balancing your studies alongside…” But before He Fang could finish, he realized he might be overthinking it—after all, such reports were likely just strings of coded data within the game.
“Don’t worry, City Lord. You don’t need to concern yourself. This amount of work is nothing compared to what it used to be in the old Hope City,” Wei Qixuan said, his eyes sparkling. The joy he felt from hearing He Fang express concern made it seem like his tail was wagging, though he tried hard to maintain an air of seriousness.
“Is that so?” He Fang felt something was off about the reply. “How old were you when you started working?”
“Five.”
He Fang: “…” Is the outside world really like this?
At this moment, Wei Qixuan smiled faintly, his expression calm. “City Lord, Hope City is thriving now. We have witnessed multiple instances where the Nightmare Beast Seeds could not invade. Every day, we pray, we worship the Divine Lord, and we harbor deep gratitude toward you, City Lord.”
“Is that so?” He Fang looked at Wei Qixuan, sensing that there was more hidden behind his words.
“We are living a very good life here. Over the past year, every morning when we wake up, we wonder if we are dreaming. But no, we are genuinely happy living here,” Wei Qixuan continued.
“That’s good news,” He Fang nodded solemnly.
“Having survived the apocalypse, we understand that peace doesn’t come easily. However, now…” Wei Qixuan lowered his gaze slightly, but his lips carried a faint, enigmatic smile. “If you, City Lord, ask us to go to war, we will not refuse. We understand that we must defend our home with our own hands.”
He Fang froze, staring at the teenager who calmly declared his willingness to go to battle, without a trace of fear in his eyes. “How do you know?”
He Fang was returning to Hope City for the first time due to the meeting. Could it be that the information had already spread while he wasn’t paying attention?
“It might be unfair to you, but this city battle has to be fought,” He Fang said after some thought, deciding it was better to be upfront. “Hope City, located near the Nightmare Beast Forest, has somehow remained uninfected by Nightmare Beast Seeds for such a long time, which is odd in itself. Add to that the newly extended borders, it’s inevitable that other cities will feel wary.”
“My teacher once taught me a phrase: ‘A man of virtue is guiltless, yet holding a treasure makes him guilty’. City Lord, does this phrase fit the situation now?” Wei Qixuan asked.
He Fang blinked, suddenly realizing he might not need to explain any further.
His NPCs weren’t fools.
He looked at the teenager standing before him, smiling. “In just one year, it feels like you’ve grown so much.”
“This should be my normal growth,” Wei Qixuan replied, recalling the height markers he had made on the framework of Hope City. He had grown taller, quickly reaching the height he should have in an environment of ample food and clothing. “If I could grow a bit taller, that’d be even better.”
“How tall do you want to be?” He Fang asked casually.
Wei Qixuan’s lips curved slightly as he silently thought to himself: Taller than the City Lord would be enough.
