Dragon Tamer

Chapter 296: Chapter 297 Counting Stars

The climate in Runyu City was indeed very comfortable.

Even in winter, one only needed to wear a close-fitting undershirt and casually throw on a good-looking long robe to avoid feeling cold without looking bulky or compromising one’s appearance.

It was that time of year again when worrying about dragon food became inevitable.

Little White’s Star Fragment Crystals were almost consumed, and Zhu Minglang had to drag people to nearby countries to collect more.

The meat for Big Black Tooth was easy to solve. Hao Ye had hunted enough demon beast fine meat to last Big Black Tooth a month, and Fang Niannian even sold the surplus meat that couldn’t be stored properly in exchange for some dragon meat biscuits, ensuring that the big eater wouldn’t go hungry this winter.

The sap for the Divine Green Holy Dragon also cost money to purchase, and Demon Awakening Fruit wasn’t something one could live off of.

The main issue was still the cost of Little White’s food.

Zhu Minglang felt that no matter how many gemstones he gathered, it was never enough.

“The Di Clan people took everything away, totaling seven hundred thousand gold. We made a pretty good profit this time!” Fang Niannian said with a smile. Seeing a large sum of money come in made her especially happy, and she would feel insecure whenever their treasury was empty.

Having a house full of gold provided more peace of mind than a powerful dragon, at least that’s what Fang Niannian had always believed.

“The Mourning Dragon Soul Orb should also be quite valuable. We should auction it off later.” Zhu Minglang said.

“Mhm, Little White’s food will cost about one hundred and fifty thousand gold, enough for two months. This time I exchanged it for Moonlight Crystals, you know. After the bloodline reshaping, the Moonlight Crystal Fragments seem to be more suitable for Little White.” Fang Niannian said earnestly as she handed the accounts to Zhu Minglang for his review.

“Seventy-five thousand per month??” Zhu Minglang’s eyes widened upon seeing the amount.

Keeping a Dragon King meant a fixed monthly expenditure of seventy-five thousand!

Fortunately, they had made a big profit this time; otherwise, his own little treasury would have deflated again.

“It’s actually because of the closure of the Runyu City Commercial Road. If trade in Runyu City were to develop, many resources could be transported directly here, reducing the price by thirty to forty percent. Right now, not only do we have to spend a lot of money on dragon food, but the Hu Family’s Dragon Trainer Army, the Azure Wolf Cavalry’s Dragon Trainers, and those raising dragons in Runyu City all have to pay high prices to buy from elsewhere…” Fang Niannian explained.

“Not just a few percent less, as the City Lord, I’ll also have to collect taxes on these sales!” Zhu Minglang added.

“Right! I heard the Azure Wolf Cavalry has actually reformed recently. They have not only swept through the nearby bandits, but they’re also taking on convoy escort commissions for the Tea-colored Ground trade caravans. Maybe we should open up commerce in Runyu City soon,” Fang Niannian suggested.

For such a large city, it was full of people everywhere.

Yet, there were hardly any decent marketplaces, no workshops, no shops; there were no restaurants, street stalls, or even vegetable sellers.

It appeared bustling, but it was actually incredibly desolate.

“We’ve already applied to the Godly Mortal Academy for the City Lord’s Seal. With the seal, many things can be implemented smoothly and logically.” Zhu Minglang said.

A month flew by quickly.

Zhu Minglang had already applied for the City Lord’s Seal to the Godly Mortal Academy. Considering the seal was crafted from the Ancient Lantern Jade, Zhu Minglang was even more eager to get his hands on it.

When the time came, Zhu Minglang planned to head to the academy’s station.

But on the day before his departure, a few people outside Runyu City claimed to be administrative staff from the Godly Mortal Academy.

“Who is the City Lord??”

A thundering call rang out, and at the stone-paved square outside the city gate, a man stood there, head adorned with a Feather Crown, body cloaked in a colorful gown, followed by others similarly wearing red crowns and long robes, with a proud and imposing air, dressed lavishly, exuding an aura of arrogance!

Zhu Minglang approached, observing these five from the Godly Mortal Academy.

Why come all this way just to stand at the city gate in such a haughty manner, as though issuing a challenge to Runyu City?

After all, should the local authority not be on equal footing with the ruler? But the way they were behaving suggested they descended from the Heaven realm to the mortal world!

“Are you here to return the City Lord’s Seal? A month ago, I applied to the Godly Mortal Academy, and for over a month now, Runyu City has been under my jurisdiction,” Zhu Minglang said.

“What City Lord’s Seal? We are envoys of the Orderer here for inspection,” stated the leader of the group, the man in the colorful gown.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the man was dressed in a lavish Peacock Gown, and his Feather Crown also seemed to be peacock-related.

“Orderer’s inspection?” Zhu Minglang replied, his face a mask of puzzled incomprehension.

“Not long ago, you announced Runyu City’s allegiance to Li Chuan Kingdom. We suspect you used loopholes in imperial law to seek protection under the name of our Godly Mortal Academy, to avoid a national war, as well as to maliciously take over an ownerless city. We are here to investigate these matters,” the man in the Peacock Gown announced.

Upon hearing this, both Hu Chongming and Hu Bailing’s expressions changed.

Why would such issues arise?

Even if they had exploited imperial laws to avoid a national war, all their actions accorded with those laws and did not violate the protocols of local authority, so why were they subject to inspection??

Could it be that they would be accused of using false identities?

“Oh, so you’re here to pick a fight,” Zhu Minglang said with a laugh, responding nonchalantly.

“What ‘picking a fight’? What are you implying with that statement? We are here under orders!” one of the Godly Mortal Academy women snapped, pointing her finger at Zhu Minglang.

“Do you have the City Lord’s Seal then, or is it in your hands?” Zhu Minglang inquired.

“If we find any issues during our inspection, we will not hand the City Lord’s Seal over to you,” the man in the Peacock Gown retorted.

“If you refuse to hand over the City Lord’s Seal to me, its rightful, legitimate master, then to whom do you prefer to deliver it? To Su Tai of Slaughter Country?” Zhu Minglang countered.

That man who commanded Slaughter Country’s one hundred thousand Brown Banner Army!

Zhu Minglang still remembered him standing atop the shoulders of the Giant Spirit Killing Dragon, looking so arrogantly self-assured!

Driven back by the protection against national warfare, daring not to challenge imperial law, but now using the Godly Mortal Academy to cause Runyu City trouble.

Truly, taking full control of Runyu City was not an easy task. This barren land was contested by four countries, with all major armed forces and powers unwilling to relent, enticed by the promising prospects of Runyu City!

“We have some questions we wish to ask the State Preceptor of Li Chuan Kingdom directly,” said the man in the Peacock Gown with a haughty tone.

“She’s still asleep.”

“It’s daytime!” proclaimed the woman with knitted brows.

“Last night on the eaves, my spouse and I leisurely counted stars in the sky while savoring wine, up until dawn,” Zhu Minglang blurted out without a second thought.

“Nonsense, who counts stars the entire night? Do you think we’re three-year-olds?” the woman with knitted brows said angrily.

“Haha, lass, if you believe Master Zhu’s tale of counting stars, then you really are as naive as a three-year-old. Two grown adults, up all night without sleep, what else could they be doing?” At this moment, an old man watching at the city gate exclaimed with a laugh.

At this comment, the surrounding crowd burst into laughter, causing the woman’s cheeks to flush with anger as she pointed her finger at Zhu Minglang and shouted, “You filthy man!”