Chapter 300: The City Gates Open
“Father, you do it,” Yu Luo’s voice softly reached Yu Haojie’s ears.
Hearing this, Yu Haojie stepped forward and swept his gaze across the faces of the gathered crowd.
“Never mind, I won’t say anything. Wang Xiao, put up the notice at the city gate and let them read it themselves.”
Yu Luo…
She truly hadn’t expected her father to have prepared something as formal as a notice.
She had thought he would enjoy playing the role of city lord for the day, but instead, he had come up with something even more proper.
So, many times when he let her take charge, it wasn’t because he was incapable but because he was deliberately allowing her to gain experience. In reality, her father was far more competent than she had imagined.
As soon as the notice was posted, the people waiting at the city gates exchanged looks of doubt and slight wariness.
It wasn’t until a man who looked like a martial artist stepped out from the crowd and walked up to the notice. His eyes scanned the words, and his expression shifted from serious to gradually relaxed. Finally, his gaze landed on the guards at the gate.
“I am from Xi Mo Country. Here is my identification. I have passed through here multiple times but have never seen this city before, so I would like to enter and take a look.”
Saying this, the martial artist handed over his identification to Liu Can.
Liu Can carefully examined it before handing it back, his expression solemn.
“Our city of Luo is still under construction, but we have a few inns and restaurants open for travelers.”
After speaking, Liu Can waved his arm and called out loudly, “Let him in!”
His powerful voice made the corners of Yu Luo and Yu Haojie’s mouths lift into a smile. After months of hard work preparing for this moment, father and daughter finally witnessed their efforts come to fruition. Their emotions surged with excitement.
Retrieving his pass, the martial artist showed a hint of delight on his face.
After all, based on Liu Can’s words, he was the first person officially allowed to enter Luo City. His patience in waiting outside all day had not been in vain.
With a sense of fortune, he strode confidently through the city gate. As he stepped inside, the towering gate bore silent witness to this historic moment alongside Yu Luo and her father.
Luo City, desolate today, was about to embrace its future prosperity—under the moonlight and the hopeful gazes of Yu Luo and her father.
As the martial artist’s figure disappeared beyond the gates, the crowd that had been waiting outside for who knew how long began to stir restlessly.
One by one, other martial artists eagerly pulled out their identification papers, vying to have them inspected by the guards.
Liu Can’s stern “Line up!” rang out, and these men immediately complied, forming an orderly queue.
After a thorough round of inspections, they were all allowed entry without issue.
Meanwhile, those dressed in prison garb—the exiled criminals—and the impoverished refugees hesitated at the city gate, their faces filled with fear and uncertainty, unable to step forward.
Finally, a woman clutching a child in her arms forced herself through the crowd. Her eyes carried a flicker of hesitation, but she mustered the courage to speak to the guards in a timid voice.
“I… I am a refugee from Lan Yue Dynasty. This year, the Lan Yue Dynasty suffered severe floods. My family and I fled through many hardships, traveling from Lan Yue to Xi Mo, only to be driven out. That is how we arrived here. But… but we lost our travel documents long ago. Could you… could you please grant us entry? My child has been running a fever for a whole day. If I can’t find medicine soon, he… he might not make it!”
As she spoke, tears streamed down the woman’s face. Overcome with emotion, she clutched her child tightly and, along with her family, knelt before the guards at the gate.
As soon as her family knelt, more people followed suit.
One after another, refugees and exiled criminals from Xi Mo and Dongfeng countries also fell to their knees, bowing toward Yu Luo and the guards in desperate plea.
Yu Haojie stepped out from behind the guards, facing the group.
“If you wish to enter, you may, but Luo City has its own rules. Once inside, there is to be no fighting, no deception, no robbery, no assault, no murder, and no theft. Do you agree to these terms?”
“We do! We swear to abide by Luo City’s rules! We just want to survive. We still have some food and money left, but the nights outside are too cold. We’ve already plucked every blade of grass nearby for fuel. If we don’t find shelter tonight, the elderly and children among us won’t make it.”
The mention of the grass surprised Yu Luo. She had sown some plant seeds in the area to help with soil retention, and now they had grown enough for people to collect and use as firewood.
“In that case, if anyone violates these rules, the city guards will throw you out immediately. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
Liu Can followed up with a stern reminder. After confirming each person’s background, the guards began allowing them entry.
In anticipation of their arrival, lanterns had been lit along the main street.
As the nearly three hundred people entered the city, they walked hesitantly down the dimly lit roads, their eyes filled with curiosity yet clouded with uncertainty about their future.
“Father, Mother, look! These houses are all brand new! The walls are painted white! Are we really going to live here?”
A young girl of about eight or nine clung excitedly to her parents’ clothing, her nervous eyes gradually filling with delight.
After traveling so far, seeing the sturdy buildings standing on either side of the street filled her with wonder. She tugged on her parents’ sleeves, her face brimming with anticipation.
“Yes, this will be our new home. I hope we can settle here.”
Her mother gently pinched her nose with a loving smile. But as she lifted her gaze, the joy faded from her eyes, and when she met her husband’s glance, both held a deep-seated fear of the unknown.
The little girl, oblivious to her parents’ worries, ran ahead joyfully, eager to share the news with her traveling companions.
“Husband, this may be the wasteland, but there’s no land for farming inside the city. Our savings will run out quickly. Can we really settle down here?”
“Don’t worry, as long as we’re together, anywhere can be our home. Once we find a place to stay, I’ll find work. You can stay home and take care of the children. In a city this big, there will surely be plenty of work to do.”
Their conversation drifted to Yu Luo and Yu Haojie, who stood quietly by the roadside.
Meeting each other’s gaze, father and daughter exchanged a knowing smile.
