Chapter 545
"Then you can show them the emblem of Mo City."
The members of the Catching Knife team had a new task.
With the right timing and favorable conditions, their responsibility was to handle the people.
After discussing with the folks in Ren City, Li Mo drafted a report, which everyone revised together. Once they confirmed there were no issues, he had Feng Zhi take it back to the Tian Clan.
The next day.
The confidential report arrived in Tian City.
When Jiang Yu saw it, his eyebrows raised, and he remarked meaningfully, "Li Mo is indeed a talent."
"So, what about this matter…?"
"Go ahead and take care of it."
The Tian Clan members were unaware of Jiang Yu's specific thoughts or the reasons he chose not to elaborate. They proceeded according to the plan, each fulfilling their respective tasks.
For the first time, Tian City experienced such harmony, with the three cities working together.
A month later, the Spring Breeze initiative reached the entirety of Ren City.
"The miasma that plagued our town has finally been blown away. The Tian Clan is truly powerful."
"Ever since the Spring Mang clan visited, our crops have been thriving."
"Why would they come to help us?"
"I saw the emblem of Mo City. Do you think if I report to Mo City now and join the Catching Knife team, I could bring prosperity back to my hometown?"
"I just returned from there. The people are prosperous and well-spoken."
...
By the end of the year, the land that had been touched by the Spring Breeze, though still only a single great tree in Mo City, had already scattered many vibrant seeds.
The brilliance of the Tianren Divine Sword grew ever more dazzling.
Its power had undoubtedly increased significantly, but how much exactly, only its current master, Jiang Yu, would know.
Given this trajectory, it seemed that Tian City would have no trouble weathering the next natural disaster.
...
Outside, as they watched the passage of time in the Jiangshan Sheji map, everyone exchanged glances, their faces filled with astonishment.
"Is it really possible?"
"How is Li Mo managing to develop things, one after another, first bringing prosperity and then more prosperity?"
"In past trials, the participants either focused solely on becoming stronger or established their own power in the Earth City. This is the first time someone is developing the entire Tian City together, and it seems to be working quite well..."
"The plan was proposed by him, but it's Jiang Yu who's getting stronger."
"Doesn't that mean he's reaping the rewards of overcoming the natural disasters?"
Days passed, and the Tianren trial, this 'drama,' attracted even more attention.
...
"With a treasure of a disciple, what’s there to worry about in achieving great things?" Shang Wu stood in the Wanchun Hall, hands on her hips, speaking boldly.
"I'll just bribe the eunuchs around Emperor Jingtai and suggest he abdicate."
Shang Qin Qing frowned, "Why put the old general's image on Jiang Yu? He’s not interesting at all."
No sooner had she spoken than another three years passed in the Jiangshan Sheji map, and changes occurred once more.
"Hey, it seems Jiang Yu is about to make a move."
"What?"
"He plans to take the initiative before the natural disaster strikes!"
"??"
---
Chapter 619: People and Things Change, Yet the Good Times Remain
P.S.: The missing part from yesterday has been added to the previous chapter.
---
The copper coin was wedged perfectly between the stone bricks.
The Catching Wind Hall fell silent for a moment.
"Oh dear, it seems there's no way around this. It must be fate," Li Mo exclaimed, slapping his thigh with a look of resignation. "If it came to this, I guess I have to go."
Po Jun furrowed his brow as he looked at Li Mo, surprised that this could happen. He turned to the others nearby, "Do any of you have objections?"
The group exchanged glances, and it was Dong Changtian who spoke first, "Well, it’s come to this. We can only do our part."
Po Jun felt a surge of joy but then heard Dong Changtian add, "Bring everything up."
A large box was brought in by a Catching Knife member, filled with a hodgepodge of items: carefully prepared rations, stirrups, fine wine, and even a meticulously crafted urn...
"Don’t worry, Little Li. Just go."
"Woo woo woo..."
"When you come back alive, we’ll go climb trees and gather bird eggs together..."
The group bid a tearful farewell to Little Li.
"What are you all getting so emotional about? Do you want me to come back or not?" Li Mo's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Looking at the box of supplies, he felt that just returning alive would be a bit rude.
"Alright, stop passing the buck."
Po Jun rubbed his forehead. They always said the people of Mo City were united and fearless in the face of death.
But now, it seemed that, after all, mortals were still mortals, and fundamentally, there was no difference.
He walked to the door, impatiently saying, "Tomorrow at noon, report to me."
---
The bright moon hung high.
On the evening of the year-end, light snow began to fall. After leaving the Catching Wind Hall, everyone suggested going to Li Mo's house for hot pot since he was leaving early the next day.
Li Mo had a few things to discuss with them, so he agreed to their request for a meal.
After all, who knew when he would return? Dong Changtian and Qi Tiezhu were getting older. Though they seemed energetic now, the boundaries between the Tianren were still unbroken, and their vitality would fade quickly.
"Hey, that candy shop is gone?"
"That was Wang Mazi's shop when he returned from Earth City. Back then, many people lined up to buy. The first time I had candy was when Little Li bought it for me."
"Now it’s turned into a shop selling fried snacks, run by Wang Mazi's grandson."
As Li Mo walked with the group of old men through this changed land, listening to their nostalgic reminiscing, he discovered they still spoke of another Little Li.
Perhaps it was someone with the same surname as him?
He had previously asked the old village chief what his name was, but at that time, Dong Changtian would wave his hand, indicating that the old village chief had said he didn’t want to be remembered after he was gone.
But it was clear that they had a strong bond.
"Where did that river go? And the fields...?"
Dong Changtian had initially excitedly suggested catching some fish for the hot pot.
However, when Li Mo took him to the place of his memories, they found that the river and the fields had been replaced by a brand-new street, bustling with people.
"Now they use water carts from outside the city. Who still fetches water?" Dong Ge Yu shook his head.
"The changes are so great..." Dong Changtian suddenly looked a bit forlorn.
"Everything is changing for the better. It will only get better from here," Li Mo smiled, casually picking up a stick from the ground and waving it a couple of times. "I've written out the next plans. You can handle them as you see fit. The future will only get brighter."
"It should get better, indeed."
Dong Changtian nodded, then smacked his lips, "Little Li, the stick you picked up is really straight."
"Here, you can have it."
"Hmph, I’m already old. If it weren’t for how straight this stick is, I wouldn’t be interested."
Everyone laughed. In the end, they didn’t catch any fish, didn’t gather any bird eggs, and didn’t dig up any potatoes. They could only buy vegetables from the market to take home.
They say that things change and people are different.
But conversely, if things are different and people remain the same, it still reflects the good times of yesteryear.
However, while everything else had changed, one place remained just as it was.
The blacksmith shop where Li Mo was born.
This shop had been preserved in its original form by Dong Changtian and the others, untouched by time.
After returning, Little Li the swordsman occasionally indulged in his hobbies, forging iron and such, working at sunrise and resting at sunset.
Ying Bing accompanied him, day after day, year after year, living in peace.
It seemed untouched by the passage of time.
The others had often wondered how an ordinary blacksmith could be connected to the Tianren, a subject so taboo for the Tian Clan. Yet, they had lived together for so long without any sense of incongruity.
What was his secret?
But gradually, they began to understand.
Little Li had a kind of brilliance that took years to discover, growing ever more radiant with time.
Creak—
The heavy wooden door swung open, and as soon as they entered, the aroma of hot pot wafted through the thin snow.
"I'm back."
"Okay, you can start preparing the food."
Ying Bing had her hair styled in a braid, cascading down one shoulder, dressed in a simple indigo outfit.
Her lips were tinted with a layer of red, likely from tasting the hot pot base. Although the base was left by Li Mo, she just heated it up, still unsure of her own cooking skills...
Seeing the group enter, Ying Bing nodded and welcomed them inside.
When she saw Li Mo rubbing his hands and reaching for the peanuts, her chopsticks tapped sharply on the back of his hand.
"Go wash your hands first."
"Oh..."
Little Li sheepishly made his way to the water tub.
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