The First Order

The news of Stronghold 176’s fall quickly spread throughout the entire Alliance of Strongholds.

This matter had even temporarily overshadowed the war between the Pyro Company and the Kong Consortium. That was because it was the first time the Northern Plains’ people had taken down a stronghold in the Central Plains after The Cataclysm. Moreover, it was even reported that the residents of Stronghold 176 were nearly massacred.

Fortunately, the nomads withdrew in time even though nobody knew why they stopped.

What shocked people the most about this disaster was the appearance of a mysterious superhuman, who was also the current lord of the steppe.

Some people said the nomads were able to take down Stronghold 176 only because that person was powerful enough to destroy the stronghold walls.

As for how he did it, no one really knew.

Every time one of these supernatural beings capable of destroying a stronghold appeared, it would cause a stir in the entire supernatural world.

Therefore, someone suggested that the Pyro Company and the Kong Consortium, who were part of the Alliance of Strongholds, should put aside their grudges for the time being to defend against external enemies.

But which of them would stop now? The moment either of them stopped attacking, their entire organization would be done for if the other party were to continue attacking relentlessly!

As such, they both made a decision at the same time and turned a blind eye to the matter.

Just as Yan Liuyuan had said to Shen Yin, who would want to save Stronghold 176 and avenge the Shen clan? No one.

On the contrary, it was the Wang Consortium that immediately deployed a rebuilding team to Stronghold 176. They would be responsible for supporting the post-disaster rebuilding effort in Stronghold 176 and take over its management at the same time.

This turned out to be an unexpectedly good thing for the Wang Consortium. For no reason, they had suddenly gained control of a stronghold!

As all of the officials in Stronghold 176 had been killed by Yan Liuyuan, the Wang Consortium’s takeover of the stronghold went extremely smoothly.

This was a free lunch..

Moreover, the Wang Consortium filled the streets with surveillance cameras during the reconstruction process and let the artificial intelligence take over the running of the entire stronghold.

The residents of Stronghold 176 were unable to resist and could only submit to the Wang Consortium.

…

“Master, I wish to discuss something with you.” Zhou Yingxue looked at Ren Xiaosu and said in a serious tone, “You see, the Northwest is in need of manpower right now. I’ve long heard that they do not have enough food there, but my powers should be able to help them with that. I’ve also asked the Great Hoodwinker about it before. He said there’s still a lot of wasteland there, so their crop yield is not high. Sometimes, even the stronghold residents experience a shortage of supplies, so not to mention the refugees…”

Ren Xiaosu, who was sitting next to the campfire, asked in wonder, “What are you trying to say?”

Zhou Yingxue said firmly, “I want to go and support the development of the Northwest!”

Ever since Zhou Yingxue met Ren Xiaosu and Yang Xiaojin in the Sacred Mountains, she had been made aware of Yang Xiaojin’s plan for her. She was no longer as content as before when she was traveling alone with her master.

Zhou Yingxue was not really a maidservant to begin with. She was also a woman who sought independence in this era of the wastelands. It was fine since she used to admire her master, but she was starting to find it a little unbearable if she had to serve him every day.

In her opinion, she could totally play a more important role in a much bigger place. For example, she could head to the Northwest and start planning for her master to seize the leadership or something!

It really was a waste of her talent to be doing chores here!

That was right, Zhou Yingxue felt that her talents were being wasted!

Ren Xiaosu gave it some thought before saying, “I guess you can go, but let’s agree on something beforehand. After you arrive in the Northwest, you are to behave properly. Don’t keep trying to throw your weight around.”

“Of course!” Zhou Yingxue promised.

Ren Xiaosu looked at Zhou Yingxue suspiciously. He somehow felt that with her character, wouldn’t she be extremely arrogant if she went to the Northwest? She might even use her status as the commander’s maidservant to bully others every day. After all, this was a woman who used to wear ten rings on her fingers.

Most people would not do something like that!

Before Ren Xiaosu could say anything more to Zhou Yingxue, the maidservant had already packed her belongings and ran off. To Zhou Yingxue, this was not about going to the Northwest to support its development but more like a sprint for freedom!

The Great Hoodwinker also bade farewell to Ren Xiaosu. “I’m leaving too. I’ve received intel that Wang Yun is being detained in a secret prison. It’s said that Kong Erdong is extremely unhappy with the losses on the front lines and wants to make an example out of Wang Yun to the others. He’ll be court martialed next month, and I’m afraid that he’ll be sentenced to death.”

“What happens after you rescue him?” Ren Xiaosu asked, “What are your plans?”

“I’ll bring him back to participate in the development of the Northwest, of course,” the Great Hoodwinker said with a smile.

Ren Xiaosu was stunned. He kept feeling that something was a little off somewhere. It seemed that everyone around him was just going to end up supporting the development of the Northwest. What exactly was going on?

Li Shentan, who was off to the side, looked at Ren Xiaosu, then at the Great Hoodwinker and the others. “Why don’t I go and support the development of the Northwest as well? Otherwise, it would make me seem a little antisocial….”

Ren Xiaosu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Make you seem antisocial? Should a mental patient like you even be considering something like that?”

“Alright then.” Li Shentan felt a little disappointed. “In that case, I’ll go to the South and wait for the typhoons. I can also get to enjoy the different scenery there.”

“What’ll you do after you’re done typhoon watching?” Ren Xiaosu asked.

“I will make another trip to Luoyang City.” Li Shentan said, “There’s still some children waiting for me to do magic for them.”

Ren Xiaosu was silent for a while. A mental patient’s train of thought was indeed quite different.

Luo Lan also got up to say goodbye. “I have to hurry over to the Zhou Consortium right away. Our Qing Consortium’s informant said the Zhou Consortium has also started a new military deployment. I need to go and have a chat with Zhou Shiji before they complete their military deployment and battle plans.”

Zhou Shiji was the current head of the Zhou Consortium.

Ren Xiaosu looked at Luo Lan and said, “Why do I get the feeling that you’re always running around? Don’t you take any time to stop and rest?”

Ever since Stronghold 113 was destroyed, Fatty Luo had been traveling nonstop, going from the Li Consortium’s stronghold to the Yang Consortium’s stronghold.

After the entire Southwest was unified, he came to the Central Plains again. It was as though he could never take an idle moment.

Luo Lan chuckled and said, “The world does not give anyone a chance to catch a breather. The world is constantly changing, so people have to change with it as well. Take the Shen clan of Stronghold 176, for example. They did not seek to improve themselves, and look what happened in the end. Can any of us really get comfortable in this chaotic world?”

Ren Xiaosu fell silent. His greatest dream was to make a utopia where he could lead a peaceful life with no worries. But when Luo Lan said that, Ren Xiaosu was reminded of those bandits in the valley again.

When the matter with the Anjing House was settled, he might have to make a trip to the valley.

Luo Lan looked at Ren Xiaosu and said in a serious tone, “Go back to the Northwest as soon as possible. That’s where you belong. Qing Zhen and I also hope you’ll be the one to succeed Zhang Jinglin in the future. That way, the Qing Consortium and the Northwest will be able to continue getting along peacefully.”

“It’s too early to talk about that.” Ren Xiaosu shook his head, refusing to continue the conversation.

Luo Lan looked into the distance and sighed emotionally. “Qing Zhen said that if he’d been given more free rein previously, he might not have become the head of the Qing Consortium now. I sometimes think that if I hadn’t been born in the Qing Consortium, I’d’ve opened a small business, married a beautiful wife, and had a younger brother who’s an official. I’d be happy enough to lead such a life and not be tired like this.”

Listening to Luo Lan’s description of his dreams, Ren Xiaosu thought it sounded like a familiar story. He pondered for a moment before exclaiming, “Wu Dalang?!”¹

Luo Lan was confused.