Chapter 398: Reform Requires Growing Pains

Hearing that, Ying sat up at once; nevertheless, he gently coaxed Nan Qinghuan, "Qinghuan, you rest first, I'll step out."

Nan Qinghuan remained silent; Ying knew she was angry about the town matter, but he truly didn't know how to agree to it.

So think of another way.

Advanced ideas and the traditional thoughts of the ancient tribe people clash with each other, striving together to merge.

This time Nan Qinghuan said little; she heard Ying let out a deep sigh and leave, and after he departed, she finally sat up and listened to the footsteps outside.

They faded away step by step.

She didn't actually blame Ying; she couldn't accept him forcing the tribe to become a town, so she let the course of events make him accept it. She believed that once trade flourished, this place would inevitably become a town.

Even if Ying refused, there was nothing to be done; no one could stop the wheels of history from turning.

But what the heck are these Lasi Tribe people? How had she never heard of them? No, she must go check.

She always felt it might be related to this One Street? She had just been about to go out, when a panicked voice suddenly came from outside.

"Trouble! The main street is on fire, on fire!"

It's on fire, this is terrible!

Nan Qinghuan sprang up, put on her Shoes, and prepared to go out; outside, Axi and Ashina rushed in, "Qinghuan, something's happened."

No one had expected it, but the bustling main street suddenly burst into flames. When Nan Qinghuan and they arrived, they saw… the street ablaze, many tribe members fighting the fire, even Jingang had come to help. The more people, the easier it is to handle.

Soon the fire here was extinguished.

"Omu, why are you here?"

Dashan hurried over, seeing her swollen belly and still coming here; Li Xiang and his companions had been about to leave, but when they heard something had happened, they rushed over.

"Qinghuan, what's wrong?"

"Senior brother, I don't know either; who did this?"

Rongdi also ran over; when he saw the street nearly reduced to charred earth, his complexion darkened instantly, "Last night I noticed someone came here to cause trouble; it might be this person's doing. Qinghuan, why is it you and Ying?"

"Ying, he went to meet someone from the Lasi Tribe."

"Lasi Tribe?"

Upon hearing this, Rongdi suddenly understood, "I see, it's Luosang who came; he must have done this. Li Xiang, Lone Wolf, bring your people and follow me."

"Sigh…"

Rongdi was about to go settle scores with Luosang, and Nan Qinghuan couldn't stop him. She glanced around; fortunately the fire wasn't too severe and only needed a bit of cleanup.

"Luosang, who is this person?" she looked at Dashan, "Dashan, do you know where Ying and the others went?"

If Luosang came looking for Ying, he shouldn't be burning the street. What's going on? Or perhaps someone else is behind this? Nan Qinghuan usually thinks far ahead, so she felt the matter wasn't that simple.

Dashan didn't know where they went, because Ashu had sent them.

"Goddess"

Behind her, Youchao Xuan and Na Yao arrived; when Na Yao saw the street in this state, he grew a bit worried and stepped forward, looking at her, "Goddess, what's happening here?"

Nan Qinghuan saw the two walking together and asked, "Why are you two walking together?"

Na Yao was a bit embarrassed, but smiled, "Youchao Xuan told me your thoughts; you want this place to become a town, to make us all town residents, right?"

Hearing this, Nan Qinghuan was shocked—how did Youchao Xuan know her plan? "You…"

"Goddess, I have already told Na Yao; he is willing to become a town resident, under Ying's governance."

Hearing this, Nan Qinghuan felt a sting of emotion; Na Yao seemed ready to give up everything. He was willing to abandon the tribe, no longer be its leader, yet Ying could not let go here.

"Indeed, Goddess, I think Youchao Xuan and your plan are excellent. If this place can become the land of my dreams, it doesn't matter that the tribe is gone; our people will live better, don't you think?"

Na Yao had once heard ChaoJi speak of the secret inside the shell, a secret of the Youchao Clan; in the future, this place will become a vast, prosperous locale.

He saw his people living happily; although the tribe was gone, there was new hope. If making the people happy requires losing the tribe, and he no longer serves as leader, what does it matter? Nan Qinghuan was astonished—she hadn't expected Na Yao to be so understanding—but now she had to face Ying and the Rongdi. Even if Na Yao were willing, convincing the Rongdi would be difficult, so perhaps this matter should indeed be delayed.

If he joins the town, there will be no tribal distinction, and he would naturally no longer be the Clan Leader of the Rongdi Tribe.

That amounts to stripping them of authority; it's difficult.

Therefore, we still need to devise a new plan and re‑organize.

"Enough, let's discuss this matter slowly over time. The current problem is that this One Street has angered the Lasi Tribe, and their leader has already come to see Ying."

"What? Lasi Tribe?"

The morning sun was warm; Ying led Ashu and the others up onto the high mountain.

The forest was lush and thriving.

Luosang of the Lasi Tribe, with a dozen or so tribe members, waited here; when he saw Ying arrive, he slowly walked toward him.

The two groups faced each other like that.

The scene seemed ready to erupt into a fight at any moment!

The ancient peoples' ways were simple; they were accustomed to raiding and conquest. Now the Lasi Tribe has come knocking.

Because of this One Street!

"Luosang"

This was Ying's second time meeting Luosang; he missed the last Bolan Conference, but he attended last year and was quite prominent then, because they held jurisdiction over the Shanhai Yishi, and the tribe was prosperous.

He didn't expect Luosang would come looking for him.

It seems to be about the street.

He smiled, "Luosang, are you here for Market Day? What an ill‑timed coincidence; the day hasn't arrived yet."

"Ying, I came to tell you something: close your street immediately. Only the Shanhai Yishi may trade goods across Jiuzhou; others may not. This is the Heavenly God's command."

"What a joke—on what grounds can you do it while we cannot?"

Ashu didn't believe this nonsense!

Luosang, already very old, stepped slowly to Ying's side, stared coldly, "Since ancient times Shanhai Yishi has existed only in our realm; how can you open another Market street here? The Heavenly God will not permit it. Ying, I hope you will act according to the rules and shut this street down at once, or I will summon your Elders to tell you what the rules are. The Heavenly God's rules cannot be broken. You'd better close that street for me, restore Shanhai Yishi, that's what you should do now."

Ying felt the old man was speaking as if joking. The Lasi Tribe had once been a thriving people, but now his tribe was numerous, and he wasn't afraid of Luosang at all.

Elder?

??