On Heaven Dou City, the sun shone brightly, yet carried a chill that seemed to seep into the bone.
Gu Tian, accompanied by a group of beautiful women, enjoyed a rare moment of leisure without special training. Moreover, Bi Ji, Zi JI, Chiyan, Tide, and Aria also went out to play with them. They strolled through the bustling Silk Pedestrian Street in the south of the city and then went to the west of the city to taste the famous Ice Crystal Fruit Tea. Their laughter echoed on the clean bluestone pavement, attracting frequent glances from passersby.
After all, the young men and women in this group were simply too outstanding in terms of their demeanor.
However, Gu Tian soon discovered a strange phenomenon: whenever the carriage passed the fork in the road leading to the north of the city, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan, who were responsible for giving directions, would tacitly change the subject and signal the driver to take a detour.
"Speaking of which, we've explored the south and west sides this afternoon, just like every time we've gone out." Gu Tian lifted the carriage curtain, looking at the magnificent buildings receding outside the window, and asked with some curiosity, "Why did you specifically avoid the north of the city? I remember there seem to be quite a few famous sites in the north of Heaven Dou City. Apart from that time we went to Prince Xue Xing's mansion, I don't really know what's there."
Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance, their previously cheerful expressions turning somewhat serious.
" Gu Tian, we're not going to the north of the city for everyone's sake." Ning Rongrong put away her usual Little Demoness and innocent demeanor and explained seriously, "As the capital of the empire, Heaven Dou City offers extremely high salaries and benefits for Soul Master, but at the same time, the prices and cost of living here are also outrageously high. Beneath those seemingly magnificent high walls lies the darkest corner of the entire empire."
Dugu Yan continued, "That area in the north of the city is known as the Forsaken Land. In his early years, Prince Xue Xing built dozens of huge slums there to demonstrate the benevolence of the royal family, providing them free of charge to refugees who had lost their land or fled during the war."
"Free accommodation? That sounds like Prince Xue Xing is quite the philanthropist." Xiao Wu blinked her big eyes, her rabbit ears twitching slightly. "Didn't he personally lead the rescue of Zhuqing last time? I feel like even though he looks a bit fierce, he's probably not a bad person at heart."
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling sneered, "Kindness? Xiao Wu, you're still too naive. Tens of thousands of poor people live in the north of the city, yet there's virtually no law enforcement. It's rife with exorbitant profits, drugs, black market transactions, and all sorts of unspeakable crimes. Prince Xue Xing simply confines them there, letting them fend for themselves, calling it a favor, but in reality, it's to isolate unstable elements from the wealthy areas."
"Moreover, under the influence of that environment, many children learn to steal and kill from a young age. If a person's 'goodness' is only to build a reputation for themselves, or even to gain leverage in political struggles, then this kind of hypocrisy is more terrifying than pure evil." Dugu Yan paused, her tone Youyou, "Of course, if he can be hypocritical for a lifetime, and those people actually survive because of it, then perhaps we can't distinguish between truth and falsehood. But this doesn't change the current chaotic state of affairs in the north of the city."
A brief silence fell over the carriage. Zhu Zhuqing listened quietly, seemingly empathetic to the power struggles of the royal family. It seemed that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Star Luo Imperial Family were quite similar in this regard.
"Etc!"
Xiao Wu suddenly seemed to remember something and slapped her knee. "I remember! When Prince Xue Qinghe first took us to the Great Soul Arena and the auction house, didn't Brother Gu Tian personally save a cat girl? I remember that girl said her home was in the slums in the north of the city!"
Reminded by Xiao Wu, Gu Tian instantly recalled the girl with white cat ears. It was said that her Martial Soul Awakening, causing her Martial Soul to be permanently attached to her body. This made her an anomaly in the eyes of some, but also a pet in the hands of the powerful and wealthy.
"That's right." Gu Tian nodded, looking at Ning Rongrong. "After I bought her, I specifically asked Uncle Ning to help me settle things. Rongrong, do you know how Uncle Ning handled things afterward?"
Ning Rongrong quickly replied, "Dad gave the orders right away. He not only treated the catwoman's injuries but also found a clean, independent courtyard for her family on the northern edge of the city and even allocated a settlement allowance. However... there have been too many things happening lately, and I haven't been able to check on the follow-up situation."
Gu Tian stroked his chin, a resolute glint in his eyes. "Since everyone's out today, let's go check it out on the way. In that kind of environment, without the sect's continued protection, it would be difficult for a weak woman to safeguard that blessing."
Ning Rongrong nodded in agreement. As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she also wanted to see how well her father had carried out the tasks assigned to her.
"Driver, turn around and head to the north of the city."
The carriage traveled north, and the bustling street scene gradually disappeared.
What appeared before everyone was a long, gray granite wall stretching for miles. The wall was completely devoid of any decoration, not even a single relief, Bingbing separating the prosperity of Heaven Dou City from this land.
"This wall..." Xiao Wu lifted the carriage curtain, her brows furrowing slightly, "Is it to protect the people inside, or to cover up something unsightly?"
"Most likely the latter." Gu Tian sneered. The royal family actually built such a long wall to cover their shame, so that those ragged refugees would not disturb the nobles' refined tastes.
The carriage arrived at a heavy iron gate. The two soldiers on guard initially looked impatient, but when they saw the dual emblems of the royal family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School hanging on the carriage, and felt the powerful pressure emanating from inside, they immediately put on humble smiles, hurriedly opened the city gate, and politely let the carriage through.
The moment I stepped through the door, the air seemed to grow heavy.
This place truly lived up to its reputation. It was astonishingly large, with almost everywhere you looked consisting of makeshift tents supported by tattered canvas, and only a few low mud houses in a few places. Due to the lack of a drainage system, the streets were filled with black puddles, and a nauseating stench emanated from them from time to time.
When the luxurious carriage entered this area, and the faces of a group of stunning beauties appeared inside the window, countless complex gazes were instantly cast upon both sides of the muddy path.
Greed, drooling, and even undisguised desire. Some of the filthy hooligans even unconsciously moved closer to the carriage, their eyes lingering on Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Snort."
Sitting on the outside of the carriage, Chiyan snorted coldly. The Fire Dragon King's violent pressure was like an invisible hammer, instantly slamming into the chests of those with ill intentions. The ruffians screamed and scrambled back into the shadows, not daring to look again.
According to Ning Rongrong's memory, the carriage stopped in front of a relatively clean brick house with a separate courtyard. This was the only decent house in the area.
Gu Tian got out of the car and gently knocked on the wooden door.
"Squeak--"
The door opened a crack, and a pair of large, wary eyes with an unusual gleam peeked out. When they recognized Gu Tian as the visitor, their eyes lit up with wild joy.
"Lord Gu Tian!"
The door was flung open, and there stood the catwoman. Her white cat ears trembled excitedly, and thanks to her recent recuperation, her complexion was much rosier, and the air of despair had faded considerably. She hurriedly invited everyone into the house.
"Hello, Catwoman! We've come to see how you've been doing lately," Na'er said with a friendly smile as she walked over.
Catwoman nervously rubbed her apron, then explained in a low voice, somewhat embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself to all my benefactors yet... My nickname is Maomao, but of course, you can call me Kitty."
"Hehe, Kitty," Na'er called out sweetly.
Gu Tian looked around the room; the furnishings were simple, but they were neatly arranged. He asked gently, "Is anyone else living here? How have you been lately?"