Chapter 2654: Farewell Dream City

Yong Country is just an occasional stop on Jiang Anan’s life path.

Traveling south from the snowy lands, this route was inevitable.

She detests the emperor of Chen Country, known as Chen Zhao. He resided in a corner of the evil blood of humans and demons, aware of its sin yet benefiting from it. Finally, with a shake of his hands, he declared his innocence. In a situation where her morally upright brother failed, he brazenly exploited the reputation, claiming "taking virtue as teacher" and saying that Zhenhe True Monarch pitied the people of Chen Country, grateful for the lord of Chen Country's sudden repentance, leaving behind Zhen Guo's true words... In short, he tried every means to entangle himself with Zhenhe True Monarch, attempting to hang a tiger skin to avoid external invasion.

If you want to know exactly what Zhen Guo's true words were... just ask if Jiang Wang ever chatted with Chen Zhao! Every sentence was a head stick drink, every sentence a true word to stabilize the country.

But Jiang Anan thought for a long time and ultimately did not expose him.

She saw that Chen Zhao, besides being hypocritical and cunning, had a tenacious side. Whether it was solely for personal glory and wealth, or for other schemes, he was after all striving to govern the country. "Taking virtue as teacher," even if just a slogan, he had to make the people of Chen Country see substantial benevolent governance.

In this way, too many people's lives brushed past Jiang Anan, making her see the difficulty of survival for people in small countries.

She also thought, why didn't her brother expose him?

She felt she shouldn't make decisions for her brother; Jiang Anan should only decide Jiang Anan's affairs, and Jiang Wang already had his own path in life. She thought she needed to consider the reasons behind this, to discuss it with her brother after her journey ended.

Furthermore, there were some small countries, so small that one could unintentionally walk out of their borders.

For example, Wan Country in front of Yujing Mountain. This country was full of Taoist temples. It is said that it was initially established to ride on the coattails of the national system, but ultimately, it couldn't sustain itself. It almost devolved into a guest hall of Yujing Mountain... especially after Zong Dezhen took office. If even Sui couldn't be achieved, how could Wan be sought? By the time Zong Dezhen died, this land saw no new developments.

Jiang Anan strolled around and found that the local customs were pure and good, the atmosphere harmonious, and ordinary people lived relatively relaxed lives. Taxes were all exempted, officials barely managed affairs, and everyone cultivated Dao whether they had matters or not. It wasn't a bad ideal life, but unfortunately, it couldn't be achieved in a corner and couldn't spread throughout the world.

Then there was Luo Country. The "country on water"'s water race slave trade was completely prohibited. Gambling houses, brothels, etc., that accompanied the slave trade, also saw their business plummet. Now, with fishing, salt industry, and tourism as the pillars of the national economy, life wasn't great.

Compared to the once deformed era of prosperity, there was inevitably a huge gap.

The famous Zhenhe True Monarch was a name hated by many here – it was precisely this person who re-established the status of the water race, reaffirmed the old covenant of the Human Emperor, and brought the water race slave trade into the light.

Of course, if you ask them if they learned Taixu Xuan Chapter, if they took the Taixu Academy exams... Hate is hate, progress is progress.

Jiang Anan was initially indignant, but gradually she came to understand. So-called public reason and morality were ultimately distant matters. What to eat tonight, how much loose silver is in the pocket, that is what people personally care about!

You cannot expect everyone to think about life from the same angle, and many people in Luo Country were born seeing this, not feeling that the enslavement of the water race was wrong, only feeling that their golden bowl was smashed day by day. If that person hadn't been truly too powerful, the hatred would certainly not have stopped at words.

She wrote in her travel journal, "People are different in the south and north of the world, right and wrong are sometimes not right and wrong themselves."

She then went to He Country.

The people of He Country are now perhaps proud, claiming to be "god's people," their eyes glaring towards the sky, even higher than the glare of Jing Country people. Stirring up such protectiveness, good face, and a present-day deity who can descend at any time... In He Country's small patch of land, Ji Fengzhou's name is not easy to use.

Instead, the spirit of chivalry is very prosperous. Walking on the street, seven out of ten are dressed as chivalrous guests. As long as there's a slight argument or something, a crowd of people rushes out to uphold justice.

It's a bit chaotic, and evil people indeed don't do well here.

Furthermore, there are Jiao Country and so on, nothing commendable. People run to Yong Country in droves, without seeing swords and soldiers, but the flag has almost changed. Jiao Wu, the Wei Ning Marquis of Yong Country stationed at the border, mostly opens the gates and lets people through, then feigns deafness and dumbness to the inquiries of the Jiao Country court.

After this journey, Jiang Anan finally reached the interior of the western border—

Now, it's vaguely a huge vortex, siphoning in talents from all over the western border... The thriving Great Yong Empire, which is changing day by day and flourishing.

Jiang Anan was relatively familiar with Yong Country. After all, she lived in Yun Country for a long time, which was not far away, and she could feel the influence of Yong Country up close.

But truly stepping into this country, she only saw the huge difference that had already integrated into the clothing, food, housing, and transportation of ordinary people.

It was not just the manned iron kites flying horizontally in the air, not just the mechanical giants guarding the city gates, loudly proclaiming "Welcome to Dream Capital," and not just the "Ming Que" that shone on the long streets, broadcasting new laws repeatedly... but the vigorous people walking on the main streets, one by one.

Jiang Anan had seen the noble spirit of Jing Country people, who saw ten thousand countries come to court. She had also seen the pious and carefree He Country people, who believed in gods and had no worries for the rest of their lives. The confidence of Yong Country people was different from all of them.

To say where this difference came from... thinking carefully, it seems that the confidence of the vast people of Yong Country comes from themselves. Ordinary people in this country don't seem to possess that awe of mortals towards extraordinary people. They vaguely have a sense of equality that "talent cannot cultivate, wisdom can also be proven in other ways, diligence can also achieve."

This confidence has not yet fully formed, but its outline is already visible.

Right, the capital of Yong Country is now named "Dream Capital."

As the Son of Heaven Han Xu said—the history of the past is already over, and everything afterwards is the realization of dreams.

Of course, Ye Xiaoyun is just a passerby.

Just like the person before her asked—

"Good! Good, Ye Xiaoyun! Ye Great Hero!! I can admit defeat today, but have you ever thought... after you leave, what will they do?"

The rich and noble young master who was stepped on the ground straightened his body on the ground, his face full of ferocious hatred.

The process of the matter was very simple, anyone with eyes and ears could know the truth.

A very classic scenario of forcibly robbing a common girl.

A young master of a rich family took a fancy to a pretty girl from a tailor shop.

Repeated rejections instead aroused his competitive spirit.

He came to buy clothes every three or five days, spending large sums, but was always unable to get a kiss of fragrance. Today, he happened to encounter a poor scholar who came to place an order.

Suddenly, he felt that all his silver had been used to support the scholar's studies.

In great anger, he called people to smash the shop and beat up the entire family. Especially the poor scholar who knew nothing, who was beaten into serious injury. If Jiang Anan hadn't intervened in time, he would already be dead.

The old tailor who protected his wife and daughter also fainted and hadn't woken up. The neighbor next door who helped was beaten with a broken head.

This Young Master Zhou still dragged the tailor family's girl towards his home, saying that the money he had spent earlier was the betrothal gift he had given!

Aunt Wang only knew how to cry and scold, repeatedly asking her ancestors.

Instead, that girl still had some reason: "You didn't have to buy clothes, you said you were also a guest, my family didn't dare to refuse. But the silver is all with your store, you can exchange for intact clothes at any time. Why did you say it yourself, assume it yourself, and still want to hit people? I never promised you anything!"

What does silver count for? What Young Master Zhou hated was losing face!

Facing the rowdy dragon who upheld justice, Young Master Zhou was not in a hurry to use his background. Cultivators come and go, preserving qi and pulling whoever is behind.

He was only temporarily consumed by anger, handling things so roughly, even personally using his fists and feet to make a show. Dealing with this broken tailor family and poor scholar, there were many civilized methods.

Now he only wanted to find out the background of this Ye Xiaoyun, see which school she was from, and if she could be dealt with. Or wait for this person to leave, and then come back to vent his hatred.

Jiang Anan didn't say any harsh words. Having traveled south and north for so long, Young Master Zhou's badness was not new. She only blocked the pretty girl behind her and looked towards the door. Outside the door was a bustling and crowded yet timid crowd, blocking into a wall, surrounding half the street.

She raised her voice and asked: "Just now I asked various neighbors to help report to the officials, is there any news?"

This is not a wilderness, a disordered place.

Facing similar evil deeds, how should a person who upholds justice act?

Jiang Anan's answer was—

Stop the invasion, preserve evidence, wait for the law.

No one taught her this question. Her brother said, the answer of a xia, you have to figure out yourself. Win brother said, just do it, our family has people. Fifth brother said, as long as you are happy, everything is right.

Therefore, along this path, she summarized her own answer.

Because she, Jiang Anan, can come and go as she pleases, but the people before her want to stay here and live a lifetime. If order can protect the ordinary people who strive to live, she should abide by and even maintain this order.

Ye Xiaoyun coming with a sword is only a fleeting step of snow in life. The rule of law and justice in Yong Country is only the day and night of the tailor shop.

Of course, the meaning of "xia" exists independently, not submitting to old rules.

There is still one thing she has to do—

When the law has lost fairness and cannot protect the good... intervene to correct the wrong!

As Gu Shiyi expressed, xia is a kind of immortal will, coming from the shout of people's hearts against injustice, a supervision and supplement to the present order.

Xia is a sword independent of the law, willing to never unsheath itself.

Outside the tailor shop, there was an awkward silence.

No one went to report to the officials.

Because the neighbor who dared to stand out had already been beaten down. And Young Master Zhou's father was precisely the "official" to whom this trip should have been reported—the security chief of Dream Capital's East Market. Under the jurisdiction of the Capital Patrol Office, he was a high-ranking official of the third rank. The "heaven" that ordinary people could see.

Young Master Zhou, who was stepped on the ground, just grinned and laughed.

Jiang Anan didn't want to laugh, but she also grinned.

It seems that the changes in life only change life itself.

Problems arising from human nature will still repeat themselves.

No one reporting to the officials means that this matter will not be officially noticed for now, so bringing this Young Master Zhou out of the city is actually not too difficult. The difficulty is how to leave Yong...

Making a fuss at the Golden Luan Hall is something Jiang Anan can consider. But she is now Ye Xiaoyun.

She hopes that Ye Xiaoyun can properly handle this matter, can use Ye Xiaoyun's way, and maintain Ye Xiaoyun's correctness. Her brother said, this means true strength.

And this Young Master Zhou still doesn't know what his good news is.

"I have already reported to the officials!" At this time, a voice on the street said.

The crowd parted to make a path.

Amidst the various discussions, Jiang Anan heard the respectful voice of "Physician Feng!"

Feng Ming walked over with big strides: "When things get complicated, the public says public reason and the wife says wife reason, it's difficult for us outsiders to distinguish. The right and wrong in this matter, then please let the officials judge!"

The Wang family on the front street were all honest people. Being beaten like this, they came out to seek a doctor, yet it was a stranger.

Feng Ming had experienced wind and rain these years. With a little calculation, he could guess most of it.

Ye Great Hero sent the silver note but didn't come in person, obviously the matter was not yet finished. Saying "he is responsible for everything" was clearly provoking a big figure, afraid that the medical hall wouldn't dare to treat him.

Opening a medical hall is just for treating people, patients have no identity, where is there dare and not dare?

He didn't dare to rush up to face the human-demon, but didn't he dare to stand up and save those who were still breathing when someone faced a human-demon?

"Physician Feng!" Young Master Zhou twisted his head around, grinning with bloody teeth and asked: "Thank you for upholding justice, facing evil, and daring to speak! One more question, which yamen did you report to?"

"The Court Front Day Proclamation is now known, the newly established Ming Que Platform. Common people who intend to report, who have grievances to present, can all transmit through the Ming Que. Perhaps many neighbors still don't know—"

Feng Ming looked around, then looked back at Young Master Zhou: "Considering that this case involves you, your father should avoid suspicion, so I reported to the Ming Que."

"Good!" Young Master Zhou's voice came from between clenched teeth: "It should be so!"

He had already faced this result, understanding that the case was transferred to the Ming Que Platform. He would have to shed a hundred times more blood than before to escape, and he would also be mocked by those fair-weather friends. His heart was even more hateful for the moment.

"Ye Great Hero!" He looked at Jiang Anan, but said with a smile: "It's time to see the officials. Officials have two mouths, knocking on the door is easy, getting out the door is difficult! Relying on fists can't solve the problem. If you know anyone, just hurry up and make a call."

If you really called, you wouldn't be happy again.

Jiang Anan moved her boot away from his body. She also had a mind to take a look at the so-called Ming Que Platform, whether it was just for show, then laughed: "Alright."

Among the onlookers, there was a woman covered in a long robe. Clearly mixed in the crowd, yet keeping a distance from everyone.

People's anger, fear, worry, and unease were all tightly grasped by her within their rising and falling heartbeats.

The oppression of powerful forces had already scorched their endurance. Only a few sparks of anger were needed to ignite the great fire spreading in people's hearts.

Yong Country has indeed welcomed unprecedented development under Han Xu's rule these years. But in a somewhat disjointed society appearing under high-speed development, there are certainly huge hidden dangers.

The people abandoned by the era and the people who hold the power of the old era are sometimes actually the same batch of people, so conflict will inevitably arise.

Riot... Suppression... Revolution... Overthrow Yong.

In her mind, there was a clear line of national extermination.

The Li Country king teacher's move south, also supporting Mohism to change society, soothe riots, and rebuild order, could be said to be logical.

The Yong Court might not have what's terribly wrong, but weakness is the biggest sin.

In a situation where Mohism doesn't intervene, a contemporary true person is enough to wreak havoc in this country.

Hearing that Beigong Yu and Qi Maoxian both have signs of breakthrough, they haven't broken through after all. Han Xu has methods to govern the country, and the whole country might have the might of a strong true person... At most, they only have the combat power of Cave True, and cannot hold back Absolute Peak.

But the spark in her eyes seemed to have been extinguished.

Compared to Jiang Anan, Meiyue was clearer about the meaning of the Ming Que Platform. The Yong Court indeed had capable people. On the one hand, they rapidly developed national strength, and on the other hand, they constantly covered up contradictions. The development of the country could cover many problems, and many conflicts were resolved in one go. As long as they steadily entered a new era, they could leisurely solve old problems.

She quietly looked at Jiang Anan for a while, then turned and left.

Like a drop of water melting into the sea of people, like a flower blooming in the crowd.

She bloomed badly, growing wantonly, freely gorgeous and fragrant!

Then at some point, she stopped.

The world seemed quiet, the prosperous Dream Capital was just a huge background painting.

The sea of people before her actually diverted, one by one, unknown people bidding farewell in silent noise. Groundless past scenes flowed on both sides of the street, seeming to brush past her in the process of high-speed travel!

Clearly stopped, yet moving forward. Clearly misplaced, yet meeting.

And she looked forward, raised her head and looked forward...

A man in a green shirt wielding a sword, just walking towards her.