Fang Yun stepped off the ship slowly with a warm smile, as though he had no idea that the officials and merchants before him were his enemies.
Everyone facing Fang Yun wore equally amiable smiles. Judging by their expressions alone, one would surely think they regarded Fang Yun as their closest kin.
As he approached, Fang Yun suppressed the disgust in his heart and smiled as he cupped his hands. "Greetings, fellow elders and townspeople of Ning'an County. From today onward, I am one of Ning'an County, just like all of you. I am no longer Void Sage Fang, but this county's magistrate, the leader of this place. In the future, I will need to rely on all of you."
"In our hearts, you will forever be the peerless Void Sage Fang," an elder said with a smile.
"With Void Sage Fang arriving in Ning'an County, Ning'an will surely enjoy everlasting peace. It is we who must rely on you!"
"Indeed! Once you arrive, enlightenment in our Ning'an will surely flourish! I even visited your Book Repository yesterday."
The crowd showered him with praise.
Fang Yun repeatedly humbled himself. At first, he merely exchanged pleasantries, but later he gestured for them to stop praising him. Yet those people were exceedingly enthusiastic and never ceased.
Even after Fang Yun's family and private soldiers had all disembarked, and even the carriages loaded with books and household goods had been brought ashore, they were still talking without pause.
Then a middle-aged man dressed in a Hanlin Academician's robes stepped forward and said with a smile, "Everyone has spoken enough. Allow this official to introduce each of you to Void Sage Fang."
The crowd immediately fell silent, as uniform as a single body.
Fang Yun's smile remained unchanged. Ao Huang merely blinked, while Yang