Is a Beggar Human? (Let more people see the popularity)

"Uncle Di Tian, why aren't we flying? Did something happen?"

Fang Yuan leaned against the car window, looking at the endless traffic jam ahead as he casually asked.

"Young Master, Eastsea City is electing a new deputy mayor soon. The entire city has temporarily banned air travel for seven days."

Di Tian kept his eyes on the road, his tone steady.

"Electing a deputy mayor?"

Fang Yuan's gaze shifted slightly.

He immediately recalled what he had seen at the hospital earlier.

The previous deputy mayor had inexplicably fallen from a great height and died on the spot.

He was not native to this world and did not understand the twists and turns of Federation politics.

But he could tell that the Evil Soul Masters' frequent assassinations of officials were definitely not just meant to cause trouble.

They clearly wanted to take advantage of the chaos surrounding the changing of office to quietly meddle with Eastsea City's power structure.

While he was lost in thought, Xie Xie beside him instantly perked up, looking smug.

"Speaking of that! One of the candidates this time is my uncle!"

"Oh."

Fang Yuan nodded blandly, without the slightest reaction.

Xie Xie instantly choked up.

Seriously, not even a hint of surprise?

He had finally found something he could show off, yet he could not get even the tiniest bit of emotional validation.

Tang Wulin, however, spoke seriously. "The Evil Soul Masters are so rampant. With so many people gathering this time, they'll definitely take the chance to cause trouble."

Fang Yuan turned to look at him. "Brother Wulin, do you want to go maintain order?"

"Not really." Tang Wulin scratched his head with a bitter smile. "I'm too weak. I wouldn't be able to help at all."

"Then don't think too much about it, Brother Wulin. You have neither power nor influence, so this has little to do with you," Fang Yuan said calmly.

At that moment, Di Tian turned back and spoke. "Miss, the traffic ahead is completely blocked. The cars can't move at all."

Gu Yuena raised her eyes. "How far are we from Drunken Immortal Tower?"

"About two or three kilometers."

"Gu Yue, let's walk there." Fang Yuan immediately suggested, "We can take a look around the city center while we're at it. It's too stuffy staying in the car the whole time."

Gu Yuena's eyes were full of concern as she reached out and gently stroked the top of his head.

"The noon sun is at its harshest. What if walking two or three kilometers damages your skin or gives you heatstroke?"

"It's fine, Gu Yue." Fang Yuan shook her hand with a grin. "You'll hold an umbrella and protect me, so I won't get sunburned."

"You really know how to sweet-talk."

Gu Yuena smiled helplessly, her eyes filled with affection.

"Then we'll get out and walk."

She turned and instructed Di Tian to drive ahead and wait downstairs at the restaurant. Then she took Fang Yuan's little hand and got out first.

"Xie Xie, Wulin, let's go."

"OK!"

The two hurriedly followed them out of the car.

The moment they stepped outside, a scorching wave of heat hit them head-on.

The noon sunlight was vicious, making their skin sting with heat.

"The sun really is intense." Fang Yuan narrowed his eyes.

Gu Yuena opened her parasol patterned with goose-feather flowers. Most of it was steadily held over Fang Yuan's head, while half of her own body remained exposed to the sunlight.

Her five fingers tightly clasped the little one's hand, and she slowed her pace considerably.

"There are a lot of people. Hold my hand tightly and don't run around."

"You're young and short. It'll be troublesome if the crowd squeezes you away from me."

"Got it." Fang Yuan obediently agreed.

Tang Wulin looked at Xie Xie walking under the blazing sun and asked, "Xie Xie, didn't you bring an umbrella?"

Xie Xie curled his lip and lifted his chin slightly. With a young boy's concern for his pride, his words came out stiff.

"Why would a grown man carry an umbrella? That's way too delicate! Hurry up, hurry up. Don't dawdle and fall behind!"

His tone was somewhat flamboyant, but he unconsciously lowered his voice, restraining some of his usual recklessness in front of Gu Yuena.

"Alright, alright!"

Tang Wulin nodded helplessly and quickly caught up with the two ahead.

Eastsea City's streets were absurdly lively at noon.

The deputy mayoral campaign speech was about to begin. The entire street was packed with people, filled with noisy voices, vendors, and onlooking residents crowded so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Gu Yuena shielded Fang Yuan with every step, always keeping him at her side and not letting the crushing crowd so much as brush against him.

Xie Xie and Tang Wulin behind them received no such treatment.

They faced the blazing sun the entire way. After only a few minutes of walking, both were drenched in sweat, their shirts soaked through down their backs.

"Boss Gu Yue, little brother Fang Yuan! Slow down! We can't keep up!" Xie Xie panted in exhaustion.

The two ahead slowed their pace and waited briefly.

After walking a little farther, as they neared Drunken Immortal Tower, thunderous applause and cheers suddenly erupted from the neighboring commercial plaza.

A massive campaign stage had been set up in the center of the plaza.

Xie Xie's eyes lit up at once. He pointed toward the backstage area, shouting excitedly, "Wulin! Look at that potbellied middle-aged man! That's my uncle—he's about to go onstage and give his speech!"

Tang Wulin sincerely praised him, "Your uncle is incredible. He's actually running for deputy mayor."

Xie Xie felt himself floating with pride, though he still pretended to be modest. "It's nothing. All Federation citizens are eligible to run. It's not that big a deal."

Fang Yuan curled his lips into a smile and teased, "Brother Xie Xie, if everyone has the right to run for office, then why aren't there any beggars among these candidates?"

"Aren't beggars Federation citizens?"

For a moment, Xie Xie did not know how to answer.

But he knew perfectly well inside.

Running for office was nowhere near as simple as he had made it sound.

The requirements to become a candidate for Eastsea City's deputy mayor were frighteningly high.

One had to have local residency, be an adult with no criminal record, pass a mental evaluation, gather joint recommendations from a huge number of residents, and pass layer after layer of verification, public disclosure, and preliminary review before earning the right to take the stage as a candidate.

Ordinary people could never even touch that threshold in their lifetimes.

This so-called public election was, in the end, merely internal selection within elite circles.

Rumors had long circulated among the public that the election was only for show, and that the final candidate had already been decided by those at the top.

Gu Yuena glanced at the two who were fooling around, her tone calm and detached.

"Enough. Stop chatting."

"Are you two still going to eat? If you're so curious about the election, then stay here and listen."

After saying that, she lowered her head to look at Fang Yuan. The coolness in her brows and eyes instantly melted into boundless gentleness.

"Little Fang Yuan, ignore them. Let's go inside and eat first."

"I booked a quiet, soundproof private room. I ordered all your favorite dishes."

"Let's eat, eat, eat! Right now!" Hearing that, Tang Wulin quickly grabbed Xie Xie's arm and dragged him toward the restaurant.

"Wait! Don't pull me!"

Xie Xie shook free in one motion, his gaze glued to the stage.

"My uncle is about to go onstage! I'll watch for a few more seconds before going in!"

"Isn't watching the broadcast the same?"

"How could it be the same? This is my actual uncle giving a speech live!"

"Stop dragging your feet! They've already gone into the restaurant!"

Tang Wulin forcefully hauled him forward.

At that very moment—

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion suddenly erupted!

Flames surged violently from the center of the campaign stage!

The fierce blast instantly overturned the entire stage!

Wood splinters, shattered stones, and flames flew wildly through the sky!

The plaza, which had been roaring with noise moments before, fell utterly silent in an instant.

Xie Xie stood frozen in place, his pupils contracting violently.

He watched helplessly as his uncle, who had just been standing backstage preparing to take the stage, was instantly blown to pieces amid the raging flames and explosive shockwave!