Chapter 597: At Night, City Lord Qiuyue Comes Knocking
“Why are you just standing outside for so long? Are you being punished?”
A slightly lazy voice came from inside the office, and at that moment, Liliana, who was standing at the door, finally placed her trembling hand on the doorknob and pushed the door open.
“Look at you, you look just like a betta fish that failed to mate, down in the dumps. What’s the trouble you got into this time?”
“I’m sorry… Teacher, this time… this time I…”
“Hey, don’t move yet, let me see what the situation is.” Faced with her teaching assistant, she felt a bit helpless.
At this moment, she was also wondering why she took her in back then.
Perhaps it was because she appeared before her at her proudest moment, allowing her to see her former self.
This is the tolerance of a teaching assistant; a witch can choose her teaching assistant for any reason.
Witches generally do not hold a high opinion of a student; this reflects the overarching life perspective.
But there are always exceptions, and choosing a teaching assistant from another perspective is akin to giving that student a backhanded endorsement.
However, people always change, and a person’s shining points can also be temporary. Perhaps she will become a brilliant genius later on, or maybe the fleeting brilliance will extinguish the next moment.
This witch looked at Liliana standing there and took out a small toy she recently acquired, the Great Knowledge Seed.
Indeed, many witches regard the Great Knowledge Seed as something akin to a small toy.
However, the Great Knowledge Seed is a somewhat famous “high-end toy” with considerable technical content.
Witches sometimes create small toys from new techniques after achieving accomplishments to share their skills; this serves both as a skill-sharing mechanism and a means of spreading fame.
Witches who do not understand this technique can treat it as a bit of fun, thereby promoting recognition, while those who do have research on it will spontaneously seek out discussions about the toy.
This has become a tradition among the extraordinary witches in the Witch Academy.
She unfolded the Great Knowledge Tree and operated the Earth Vein Identification Technique using the method she learned while gossiping with other witches earlier. After searching for a bit, she found a segment of imagery.
“This is much more convenient than that Earth Vein Imaging System,” she muttered to herself, and the image started playing.
Through the imaging, Liliana looked at the familiar scene and suddenly trembled, instinctively clenching her fingers.
It was an image she most dreaded to have anyone see again, but now it was playing again in front of her teacher…
“Come over, sit next to me and watch,” the witch lifted her head to look at Liliana, waving her hand inviting her to join.
“Yes…”
Liliana lowered her head and walked over to her teacher’s side. Seeing her smile and pat the edge of the half-exposed bench, she walked over.
“It’s okay, it’s just one loss. You haven’t talked to me like this in a long time since you stopped failing, right? Let’s analyze your long-awaited first failure together.”
“It’s… the second time…”
“What?”
…
After leaving Ninglan Township Fort, I didn’t rush out of the city. After all, I had said that before deciding whether to help those people with translations, I wanted to stroll around this new Ninglan New City.
As for those outside the city, do they not need immediate assistance?
That’s a good question, but what good would it do if I went to help?
That would mean the population of an entire small world; I couldn’t k*ll them all, let alone save them.
Forcing myself to take on such responsibilities, developing compassion for every pitiful person I see… that would be exhausting.
At least I have not yet lived to the stage where I can freely sacrifice my time to help others without any compensation.
When I really reach that stage and develop that mindset, it won’t be too late; the Void is not lacking in worlds that are in distress.
And my so-called stroll in Ninglan New City isn’t about experiencing the newly built skyscrapers, iconic buildings, hotels, and the like.
Instead, it’s about diving deep into the ends of the streets and alleys to experience the real lives of the people in Ninglan New City.
The buildings constructed by the Witch Academy in Ninglan New City and the expanded territories are not what I anticipated; they feel more like a “show project,” a lavish place for the affluent classes in Ninglan New City to indulge, and basic facilities to serve visitors and students of the Witch Academy.
Gaining insights is not solely about seeing those skyscrapers and celebrity venues; that’s merely a superficial boost to one’s cognitive limits. The richness of one’s understanding can only be accumulated through those trivial small matters.
Perhaps it’s about chatting with an old lady sitting on a small stool at the door, experiencing the intangible cultural heritage of Ninglan New City that isn’t widely promoted.
Or helping a child crying by the roadside after a fall, giving her a sweet candy, feeling her innocent gratitude.
Or even aiding a bullied child by driving away a few bullies, only to discover that the child I helped is actually the one who normally plays tricks on others.
These are the real facets of life that are lesser-known—experiencing the diversity of people and events, understanding, and accepting it; that is what it means to have seen the world.
To this, I could only smile and let go. I didn’t go back to lecture that child; after all, from my perspective, such a child would eventually pay the price for his childhood mistakes if he doesn’t correct his ways.
So… many small matters really prompt personal growth; one can gain experience from small things, even if they are lessons, and that’s a good thing.
After all, it’s always more worthwhile to understand a small truth from experiencing a great failure than the other way around, isn’t it?
Watching the gradually darkening sky, I realized today should end here.
I returned to the hotel.
After a simple wash, I lay on my bed to review the day’s events.
I came to Ninglan New City in a rush today, and many things were planned out for after I understood the situation.
However, I also handled numerous other matters today, for instance… temporarily resolving translation issues for the Literature Association and the City Defense Army.
The Knowledge Shadow technique was a response to the immediate trouble, while translation teaching was aimed at preventing them from bothering me in the future.
Furthermore, I obtained information from conversations with those two teaching assistants. Although I hadn’t left the city yet, I already had some understanding of the outside.
Originally, they wanted to exchange the terrain maps they had surveyed of the surrounding areas of Ninglan New City for some useful information from me, but I refused; as soon as I step out of the city, the Earth Vein Identification Technique can complete that, so why let them take advantage of me?
After understanding this intelligence, I also formulated a brief plan of my own, such as earlier mentioned Wanlian Main Network Tree.
As for what benefits the Wanlian Main Network Tree could bring to those people, in truth, those benefits are incidental; the main point is what I can gain from that Wanlian Main Network Tree now.
In the past, I gained inspiration from the Wanlian Main Network Tree, which led to the birth of the Knowledge Tree.
But back then, I was well aware that I had not fully understood the Wanlian Main Network Tree until I left the small world.
After all, it’s a technological crystallization that has been accumulated over a long time by a civilization. Yet… I still remember I had “absolute” control over it.
Just as I was pondering my next plan, there was a knock on my door.
I suddenly sat up on the bed, glancing toward the door. Even without opening it, I recognized who was outside.
It was Ninglan Qiuyue.
“I’m coming.”
I responded simply, then got up and walked to the door.
As the door opened, her figure finally appeared before me.
“Why, if it isn’t City Lord Qiuyue? Coming over at this late hour, a solitary lady, what brings you here?”
“Just call me Qiuyue, City Lord Qiuyue sounds a bit too stiff. Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“Sure, come in; this is also your territory. However, my address for you will depend on what identity you’re going to converse with me as later.” I stepped aside to make way.
I didn’t believe Ninglan Qiuyue would come over at night just to chat with me.
Upon hearing my words, Ninglan Qiuyue’s footsteps slowed slightly, clearly her inner thoughts were something she couldn’t say directly.
“Alright…” Ninglan Qiuyue sighed softly, her tone becoming somewhat heavy, “During the day, do you remember what you talked about with those two teaching assistants?”
“Um… I don’t quite remember. After all, they were just some boring small talk, it was annoying to listen to.” I closed the door and noticed that Ninglan Qiuyue was alone. “Make yourself comfortable; it’s a suite, well decorated.”
“Mm.” Ninglan Qiuyue was not polite and sat down, directly across from me. “I wonder how you view the current situation in Ninglan New City, Miss Xiao Han?”
“Watching and waiting.”
“Miss Xiao Han still loves to joke. I know those two teaching assistants might have left you with some negative impressions during the day, but this time I’m not standing in their position.”
“Oh? You’re going to make a separation from their standpoint?”
“No, I also need their strength, just as you mentioned to Mo Le earlier, Ninglan New City is facing significant challenges right now, so I naturally need to leverage various strengths. I know you are different from those assistants…”
“You really don’t need to sweet-talk. You should understand my temperament; I don’t like trouble. Although I am adapting to various troubles, it’s still better to be straightforward about things.”
“Okay…” Hearing what I said, Ninglan Qiuyue was organizing her words, “I hope you can stand from the perspective of Ninglan New City. I don’t ask for you to bring us anything extra, but please protect Ninglan New City during its most critical moment.”
“I won’t stand for anyone to work for anyone else, but I understand what you mean. You want a safety net for Ninglan New City?” I looked directly at Ninglan Qiuyue and asked with a smile.
Her saying this already revealed that she knew quite a bit.
For example… she knows my strength, etc.
Otherwise, given the two powerful assistants standing behind her, she should have relied on them first.
Unless… she also finds them unreliable.
“Yes.” Ninglan Qiuyue nodded sincerely.
She naturally understood what level Xiao Han was at. She had heard some rumors from those two assistants and was told that Xiao Han had accomplished something significant before coming here, which scared those two.
That’s why she approached Xiao Han for a safety net for Ninglan New City, as Ninglan Qiuyue believed Xiao Han truly had the power to protect Ninglan New City.
In fact, she had the Witch Academy backing her; she didn’t need to worry about the net for Ninglan New City. However, causing trouble for the extraordinary mentor and the student assistants is two entirely different concepts.
She had to acknowledge that although she hadn’t fully taken charge of Ninglan New City during this time, she was learning how to become a qualified city lord. Her own management and decision-making abilities for Ninglan New City would reflect her value, and this value might even be more important than her own strength!
“What’s the cost then? What do you plan to use to impress me? Or are you relying on the friendship between us?”
“Of course not.” Ninglan Qiuyue immediately denied.
While she felt that she had little friendship with Xiao Han, this shallow connection was enough to let her meet with the other and even communicate to this extent, which reflects some form of friendship. Once this friendship is exhausted, meeting again will become difficult.
“I don’t know what you need, but if it’s within my capabilities, I’ll certainly do my best.”
“Are you making empty promises? You should understand that those who desire nothing are the hardest to bargain with. I suggest you don’t ask me what I want until you have thought it through. Instead, look at what you have. Once you articulate that, I’ll understand what I don’t need.”
“Is that so?” Ninglan Qiuyue was hesitant to speak further because she understood that she shouldn’t continue talking. She wasn’t prepared enough.
At the same time, she had not obtained any information; at least she understood that Xiao Han herself did not know what she wanted.
And faced with this situation, she needed to actively learn what the other intended to do next. Since the other didn’t have a clear need, she should take the initiative to discover it for the other.
As long as the other does specific things, they will encounter troubles or trivial matters, and that is the demand created.
“Well then… that’s my misunderstanding. Tonight I presumptuously came to trouble you, Miss Xiao Han. If I don’t return soon, Lanke will probably start looking for me everywhere. Before I leave, I’m also curious to ask, what are your plans in Ninglan New City next?”
“Um… nothing within Ninglan New City. Tomorrow, I plan to go outside the city to see that gigantic tree you all discovered.” I stated.
“That tree? What’s special about that tree?” Upon hearing my response, Ninglan Qiuyue quietly took note.
She had also heard about the “Plant Technology System” of that world, so it was natural for her to connect that Xiao Han might think the tree had some unusual characteristics.
“Surely there are some differences that would attract me, right? But I can’t be too certain; I’ll know when I take a look myself tomorrow.”
“Hope you gain something. However… I need to remind you, once you leave the city, you may encounter various types of people at any time. Never harbor sympathy or pity for them; they will do anything to survive, and even in perilous situations, the evil of humanity accompanies them until d*ath.”
“Thank you for the reminder; I will be careful.” I smiled and accepted her advice, realizing that Ninglan New City must have overlooked these aspects, which is probably why she reminded me.
However, I was already familiar with the evil of humanity…
After sending off Ninglan Qiuyue, I was left alone in the suite. I casually set up a teleportation marker in the bedroom, then lay on the bed, waiting to see if there would be any surprises tonight.
However, until late at night, I didn’t feel Sister Bai using the Reverse Summoning Spell in the bed, probably because it was the first night, and Sister Bai didn’t disturb me.
After sighing, I decided not to wait any longer and prepared to close my eyes and rest.
Soon, I fell asleep, and nothing further happened that night.
