Mulan City Turned Upside Down

Xia Chujian silently thought about how to help San Zong return to the plantation.

No matter what relationship that plantation manager had with the assassin Feng Qianzhan, San Zong would not give up until he saw the consequences with his own eyes.

She could tell that he still wanted to return to the plantation and farm.

Expressionless, she pulled out a cleaning wipe and began carefully wiping down her Gun Box.

Song Mingqian was still browsing the news.

Suddenly, he cried out again.

"Holy crap! Seven days ago, the Humanoid Slaves at Mulan City Plantation revolted! They were all suppressed by the Mulan City Guard!—Tsk, tsk, it was terrible. Every single Humanoid Slave, including the management staff there, was wiped out..."

"Oh my god! A chemical plant in Mulan City's South District suffered a massive explosion! The pollution is severe! Wuyou Alley No. 404 in the entire South District has been designated a heavily contaminated zone! According to Scientists from the Empire Academy of Sciences, it is no longer suitable for human habitation—no, no living creature can live there! All residents must relocate!"

"Good grief! The Mulan City Guard has set up a Checkpoint on the route from Mulan City to the northern Exotic Beast Forest. They're receiving a batch of Humanoid Slaves shipped over from Da Fu Prefecture. I heard they're meant to replace the batch that got suppressed at the plantation!"

"My god! We were only gone from Mulan City for a little over ten days. How did Mulan City turn upside down?"

Xia Chujian looked up and instinctively refuted him. "Nonsense! There isn't even a workshop in Mulan City's South District. Where would a chemical plant come from? And a massive explosion? What garbage news. They can't even be bothered to put some effort into deceiving the public!"

Ye Shijie and Li Fu exchanged looks.

"Little Chujian, how did you know there were no chemical plants in the South District?"

Xia Chujian fell silent for a while before saying, "When I was little, Aunt and I lived in the South District for ten years."

That was where Humanoid Lowly People gathered...

Everyone knew it had the highest crime rate and the worst living conditions. It was the kind of place where saying, "If you don't behave, I'll throw you into the South District," could stop a child from crying.

Any normal human in Mulan City who had even the slightest choice would never live in Mulan City's South District.

Yet Xia Chujian had said that she and her Aunt had lived there for ten years.

It seemed that the aunt and niece's life back then had truly been beyond impoverished.

They only knew that her family was poor. They had not expected it to be this poor...

Ye Shijie, Li Fu, Song Mingqian, and Ping Qiong all felt even more sympathy for Xia Chujian.

But none of them dared show it, worried that they would embarrass her.

Song Mingqian tossed his long bangs and said thoughtfully, "Little Chujian is right! I think something's wrong with this too!"

At that moment, Xia Chujian thought of San Zong, who was staying with Small Dog in the Storage Room, and immediately changed the subject, Calm and Collected. "Is the Special Security Bureau conducting some special operation at the Checkpoint here? Will we have trouble getting back into the city?"

"From the news, it looks like the Mulan City Guard has sent extra personnel to the Checkpoint between Mulan City and the Exotic Beast Forest. Starting three days ago, they began strictly investigating people heading to the Exotic Beast Forest. Anyway, whether they're Humanoids or humans, basically no one is allowed to go from Mulan City to the Exotic Beast Forest anymore."

Li Fu's Eyes Lit Up. "Excellent! This is great news for our Wild Rhinoceros Pig Meat!"

They had brought back all the Wild Rhinoceros Pig Meat from those two pigs that they had not finished eating.

At the moment, that Wild Rhinoceros Pig Meat was refrigerated in the metal canisters in the Storage Room. "Think about it. Now that no one is allowed into the Exotic Beast Forest, won't there be even less Wild Rhinoceros Pig Meat available? Things are worth more when they're scarce. With less supply, can't we sell our goods for a high price?!"

Li Fu was so excited that his eyes shone. "As soon as I get back to the city, I'm going to find restaurants and contact buyers!"

Xia Chujian swallowed.

She thought the Wild Rhinoceros Pig Meat tasted quite good. Of course, it would be even better if it could make Money.

And if what Li Fu said was true, her two Pig Kidneys and four Big Tooths could fetch an even better price!

Xia Chujian actually felt a little energized.

After thinking for a while, Ye Shijie said, "The sooner, the better. We can't delay any longer. Let's enter the city immediately."

He turned and left without even looking in Xia Chujian's direction.

Only after they had all left did Xia Chujian go to the Storage Room and say to San Zong, who was hiding in the corner, "San Zong, you heard it. Your plantation has already been completely suppressed by the Mulan City Guard. Apparently, from the management staff to the farm workers, not a single one was spared. They're all dead."

Tears were already welling up in San Zong's eyes.

Holding Small Dog, he looked at Xia Chujian with a face full of grief and murmured, "...San Zong has no home anymore... San Zong has no home anymore... San Zong can never go back..."

Xia Chujian sighed. A place that made you farm with your bare hands counts as home too? Your standards really aren't high...

But she did not say it aloud. She merely promised, "My offer still stands. You and Sixi can stay here. For now, people from Mulan City cannot come out, so this place should be safe temporarily."

San Zong Came Back to Senses and immediately looked at Xia Chujian hopefully again. "Female Sire, take San Zong as a slave! San Zong will take good care of Small Si Xi! And..."

Xia Chujian glared at him.

He quickly shut his mouth and did not mention the words "Blood Kirin."

He knew Xia Chujian wanted to grow Blood Kirin herself, and he wanted to grow it for her as well, so they tacitly agreed not to mention those words.

Xia Chujian crossed her arms and paced around the Storage Room. Finally, she said, "Then follow me for now. But not as a slave. I'm only a Commoner. I can't own Slaves."

"A servant is fine too!" San Zong became even more excited. "San Zong knows servants are one rank higher than slaves!"

He even puffed out his chest, looking immensely proud.

Xia Chujian said, "Don't think so far ahead. First, get through this crisis!"

She warned San Zong, "Stay alert normally. If you see anyone coming, hide first. Oh, and take that precious plant with Small Si Xi and hide it too, understand?"

San Zong nodded repeatedly. "San Zong understands! San Zong understands! San Zong will go out and gather branches now to cover this Flying Vehicle!"

But when he jumped out and saw Xia Chujian's teammates, they had already draped a large dark-green net, nearly the same color as the hanging roots of a Banyan Tree, over the Flying Vehicle.

They were also throwing all sorts of weeds and branches over it as camouflage.

San Zong wiped away his tears and hurried off to find branches and weeds as well.

After he left with that milky little Small Dog, Li Fu walked over and spoke to Xia Chujian in a Low Voice. "Chujian, you've already done everything you could for him. From the news, things are very tense in Mulan City right now. You need to be careful. Don't get yourself dragged into this..."

Xia Chujian nodded. "I understand. I can't take my Flying Vehicle with me anyway. I'm just letting him help watch over it."

"Good. As long as you understand." Li Fu patted her shoulder.

Song Mingqian directly jumped into the Flying Vehicle and removed its flight control unit and signal system. "We'll put them among the spare parts in our Flying Vehicle for now. We'll return them to you after we pass the Checkpoint."

He was worried that the Pig-head Humanoid might secretly fly the Flying Vehicle away, and he was also worried that the Flying Vehicle might send out a signal on its own and be detected.

Xia Chujian also felt that one should not let down one's guard. Taking more precautions was better than regretting it afterward.

Besides, her Blood Kirin and her Kongsang were both here...

Xia Chujian sincerely thanked Song Mingqian.

The group disguised Xia Chujian's Flying Vehicle once more, and only after they could no longer tell it was a Flying Vehicle even from close up did they leave with peace of mind.

San Zong stood at the Flying Vehicle's hatch with Small Dog in his arms, watching them leave. His heart was filled with gratitude and unease.

Xia Chujian boarded the Flying Vehicle issued by the Association and flew with her teammates toward Mulan City's Checkpoint.

When they had come through, passing the Checkpoint had been very easy.

Now, there were not many people inside the Checkpoint, but outside it was a long queue stretching as far as the eye could see.

Xia Chujian was stunned. "Why are there so many people? Where did they all come from?"

"I heard they're Humanoid Slaves transported from Da Fu Prefecture!" Li Fu looked at the Flying Vehicle's Display Screen. "At least, that's what the news says. Look at the people in line—they don't look like normal humans."

When they looked at the Checkpoint again, it was completely different from when they had left.

Before, the Checkpoint had only one tall building and a long Enclosure Wall.

The area inside the Enclosure Wall had once resembled a gas station, with many open lanes for Flying Vehicles or pedestrians driving off-road vehicles to pass through.

But now, every lane had been blocked by tall walls. It no longer looked like a gas station, but more like a maze.

Song Mingqian piloted the Flying Vehicle and said in surprise as he watched the Display Screen, "The Radar signal here is incredibly strong! Our Flying Vehicle has already been locked onto. If we don't land, they can probably come after us immediately!"

Li Fu also put away his usual playful smile. Staring seriously at the Checkpoint below, he said in a Low Voice, "Looks like the Mulan City Guard means business. What wouldn't those **s do?!"

A small building with a white Roof had been added at every exit of the Checkpoints.

Many Mulan City Guard Garrison troops in black uniforms stood before the Checkpoint entrances, watching vigilantly as they kept guard.

Punishment Department officials in gray uniforms helped maintain order and monitored the situation inside and outside the Checkpoint.

Each Checkpoint had two iron gates three to four meters tall. Blue arcs of electricity occasionally flashed across them, as if they were electrified barriers.

Beside the iron gates was a small side Door, half open.

Besides the Humanoids lined up on the ground, some people were also returning from the Exotic Beast Forest in Flying Vehicles, just like Xia Chujian's group.

The sky was filled with Flying Vehicles of all kinds.

Only their team had a genuine Combat Aircraft.

Everyone else had Civilian Flying Vehicles.

Of course, Civilian Flying Vehicles were also divided into grades.

The Civilian Flying Vehicle they had seized from Feng Qianzhan was considered above average among civilian models.

However, Xia Chujian could not tell the grades apart and could only judge by color and appearance.

Compared with the others, Feng Qianzhan's Civilian Flying Vehicle looked more high-end.

Xia Chujian withdrew her gaze and noticed that the Civilian Flying Vehicles were entering the Checkpoint very quickly.

Flying Vehicles had their own dedicated lane and did not need to squeeze into the queue with the Humanoids below.

There had originally been around a dozen Flying Vehicles ahead of Xia Chujian, but all of them were verified and allowed through in just ten minutes.

One Civilian Flying Vehicle after another entered Mulan City's Checkpoint, then quickly rose into the air again and flew into the Inner City.

Only then did Xia Chujian's Flying Vehicle land at its designated parking spot to await identity verification.

Second Update delivered. See you tomorrow. (#^.^#)