After she passed through the red-walled section of the Outer City, the snow gradually grew heavier again.
Without the towering walls blocking her view, however, the magnificent Crystal Ring Mother Tree in the distant Inner City came into clearer view.
Its enormous crown spread a broad silhouette amid the drifting snowflakes. Several rings of light hovered among its branches, countless tiny motes shimmering across them as they slowly revolved beneath the gloomy sky. They resembled a river of stars that would never fall, breathtakingly beautiful.
The Greenbud Deer gazed at it curiously for a long while. Finally, its two long ears twitched a few times, and it gave a short, clear cry.
"Looks like you think Longwind City is wonderful, too."
Having observed the Greenbud Deer herd for so long, You Qing naturally knew they made these joyful sounds when they felt safe and sensed a stronger, benevolent presence.
She stroked the Greenbud Deer's fluffy head, introducing Longwind City while reminding it which places were off-limits.
Certain restricted areas in both the Inner City and Outer City were inaccessible even to Formal Subjects without approval from the Governing Hall. Entering them would violate the Longwind Code and incur punishment.
You Qing lived in the Inner City, where she owned a Mushroom House.
It was rather small, but more than enough for her alone.
The ground floor covered just over fifty square meters, and she had added a second floor herself. She could grow plants up there and hang her laundry out when the weather was good.
Once inside, she changed her clothes and left her field equipment and materials at home, then took the Greenbud Deer to the Mutant Organism Investigation Bureau.
The Mutant Organism Investigation Bureau consisted of a headquarters and a branch office.
The headquarters was in the