Who Are You Kneeling To?

Lu Zeming reached the village entrance and found the road packed with people.

Some pushed wheelbarrows, some carried bundles, some held children, and elderly people supported one another.

Every one of them stared nervously at Flower Village, like believers awaiting a sign from the gods.

The moment Lu Zeming appeared, their eyes lit up. Before he could approach, they all dropped to their knees.

"The God of Flight! It's the God of Flight!"

"The God of Flight didn't lie to us! Flower Village really exists!"

"God of Flight, please take us in!"

"We have nowhere else to turn! Please take us in!"

Lu Zeming's mouth twitched. All he had done was help a few refugees while flying and tell them to come to Flower Village. How had so many people shown up? And why were they calling him the God of Flight?

At a glance, there were probably one or two thousand of them. Lu Zeming worried whether the village could handle so many people at once.

After a moment's thought, he made his decision: he would take them in!

Lu Zeming flew into the air so everyone could see him. Then he channeled his Spiritual Power and called out.

"Who are you kneeling to?"

The crowd exchanged puzzled looks. They did not know why the God of Flight would ask that.

Then Lu Zeming continued, "You kneel to heaven, to earth, to ghosts and gods. But who can save you? Year after year, you pay your taxes and hand over your grain. Has the Daimyo, high above you, ever cared whether you lived or died?"

"You kneel to me, hoping I'll save you. But I'm telling you now: I can't. No one can save a person who places all their hopes in someone else!"

The crowd erupted. Some looked despairing, some buried their faces in their hands and wept, and some shouted that they would work themselves to the bone for Lu Zeming if he would save them.

Lu Zeming ignored them all and raised his voice again.

"The only people who can save you are yourselves! You braved the ravages of war to reach this place. That alone proves it. Some of you can build houses, some can farm, and some can weave. With your own hardworking hands, you can make a good life!"

"So why have you been reduced to this?"

Lu Zeming swept his gaze over the people below, as though searching for an answer.

"The ninja! It's their fault, always killing each other! We haven't had a single year of peace!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and it was as if a floodgate had opened. People began calling out their own answers.

Some blamed the bandits and gangs that ran rampant, doing evil wherever they went;

Some blamed the nobles' stranglehold, which had left ordinary people struggling to survive;

Some blamed the Daimyo, who did nothing and treated the people as prey;

Some blamed interference from the great nations for the Land of Grass's endless wars.

Their answers varied, and Lu Zeming denied none of them.

"Good. If you can still think about why, there's hope for you. Remember your answers!"

"I can take you in. You can build houses here, grow food, weave cloth, and make this place your home again."

"But have you thought about what happens if someone comes to smash your houses and steal your food and cloth? Will you let them do as they please, then wander from place to place again, begging someone to take you in?"

The refugees' emotions flared.

"No! We won't stand for it this time!"

"If anyone dares come, I'll sink my teeth into them even if it costs this old man his life!"

"That's right! We'll fight them!"

The crowd surged with anger and resolve.

Lu Zeming nodded in satisfaction.

"That's why I said only you can save yourselves. I'm one person. I can't protect everyone. But if you dare to resist, you need fear no person or power."

"One person's strength is limited. But if all of us set our minds on the same goal and put our strength behind it, we can wield enough power to change the world.

"We'll level mountains and clear fields so our children never go hungry again;

"We'll fill ravines and lay smooth roads so merchant caravans can travel freely;

"We'll build walls around our homes so no family's hearth is destroyed again;

"We'll take up swords, gather the fury in our hearts, and make even the strongest enemies think twice before attacking.

"So stand up! No one deserves to have you kneel before them. This is a future we must build together!"

At that moment, everyone inside and outside the village felt their hearts surge as they imagined the grand future Lu Zeming had described.

Tears glistened in Kumi Uzumaki's eyes, and her whole body trembled.

Yuka gazed at the figure in the sky, her cheeks flushed. She made up her mind: she would follow him wherever he went.

Ikeda and the other two were shaken to the core. They rubbed their hands together, eager to get to work.

Young Rin and Kusakai Naoto bounded around behind Rofu, shouting, "Long live Flower Village!"

Even the members of the Mind-Listening Clan who had come to discuss joining the village were stirred.

Listening Yulong made up his mind. Whatever conditions Lu Zeming proposed, he would accept them.

Next came the work of taking the refugees in. With so many people, they could not all enter the village at once, nor were there enough empty rooms to house them.

Lu Zeming first reassured the refugees, then had people set up large pots outside the village to cook porridge.

He also found refugees who could read and write, organized them, and began registering the newcomers.

Those who could forge metal, build houses, do carpentry, or had other useful skills were given priority for housing inside the village. The rest would stay in tents outside for now.

Back in the village office, Lu Zeming wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"With this many people, we need to look after their morale too. Yuka, you're now the head of the Resident Resettlement Office!"

Yuka pointed at herself in disbelief.

"Me? I'm afraid I won't do a good job!"

Lu Zeming encouraged her. "For now, the Resettlement Office's work is simple: listen. Let them tell you about their misfortunes and what they've been through. You just need patience. While you're listening, you can recruit people to help you. I'll give you thirty positions!"

Yuka immediately took out a small notebook and began writing.

Lu Zeming continued, "Be careful when you recruit. Choose people who are thoughtful, kind, and good at empathizing with others. Once you've assembled your team, you can gradually take on practical work, such as assigning houses and land!"

Yuka wrote it all down carefully.

Lu Zeming turned to Kumi Uzumaki. "How long will the grain in the warehouse last?"

"The large wheat crop we ripened early would have lasted until next year's harvest came in. But with so many people arriving at once, I'd say we have half a month."

Lu Zeming took out the twenty million in Land of Fire currency he had just received in exchange.

"Take this and buy grain and other necessities. Winter's almost here, so we'll need padded clothes and quilts too. I'll ripen another batch of wheat over the next few days. We'll do our best to make it last until next year!"

"Yes!"

Lu Zeming glanced at Kumi Uzumaki's heavily rounded belly.

"You should find someone to help share the work."

Kumi Uzumaki tucked her hair behind her ear. "I do have someone in mind. Listening Yulong was the chief of the Mind-Listening Clan, so he has experience managing people. He should be up to it!"

"It is time I spoke with him. Go ask him to come over!"