Chapter 488: Discovering a Super‑Large Salt Mine

"I know."

Yueguang straightened up, guilt flashing in those eyes.

He was wrong—truly wrong beyond reason.

"Nan Qinghuan, you don't know how much effort I put in to defeat Rongdi. I studied hard just so I could one day return and match him, but I didn't expect I was wrong. I thought I could become the tribe's leader, give my people a better life, that I held the largest Salt Mine and could provide the days they wanted. But today I realize that was only my assumption, not what they wanted."

He once thought that once he defeated Rongdi, the people would let him be their leader, and then they could rebuild the tribe. But it was all wishful thinking; he heard that Rongdi had already brought the people of the Mountain Tribe here. When he returned to see the tribe, it was desolate and empty.

It was as if the place had been abandoned, which made him hate Rongdi to death, so he killed a Beastman, cut off its wings to warn Rongdi, still thinking of killing him.

But… he was wrong.

"Yueguang, I can see you truly care for your people, but now you also know that your people live better here than in the Na Shan Tribe. That place is already in the past, do you understand?"

Yes, it's already in the past.

She understood the reluctance to leave one's homeland; the people have a deep‑rooted affection for their land, and she has always known this. When the Tulou were being built, she mobilized all the tribe to leave for a new place to rebuild, but it failed.

The tribe members refused to leave their home no matter what.

She still understood that deep bond.

No one wants to wander away from the place they survive, unless they find a better place to thrive.

Now they have found one, so the people of the Na Shan Tribe naturally won't return.

She can empathize with Yueguang's feelings and still admires him; at least he thought of his people, assuming Rongdi forced them here, which is why he reacted so strongly.

"It's already in the past…"

Yueguang took a deep breath, then lowered his head to glance at Nan Qinghuan, the woman with fair skin and beautiful looks—no wonder Rongdi liked her.

He sneered, "I was wrong from the start. Rest assured, as long as I see the people living well, I won't trouble Rongdi. As for the Salt…"

He paused, "I'll have A Tu lower the Salt price. I won't let my people pay high‑priced Salt. Nan Qinghuan, tell Rongdi and Ying that I misunderstood them; I'll resolve the Salt issue, and I'm leaving."

Dropping those words, Yueguang turned to leave, but Nan Qinghuan called after him.

"Where can you go now? The tribe is gone, and your people are all in the Small Town, right?"

She thought Yueguang was a fine man; if he could stay and help develop the Small Town, wouldn't that be good? Moreover, she wanted to learn more about Dragon City—has a city really been built on Jiuzhou Dadi?

If that's the case, they should have heard the news here—why hasn't anyone? Hearing Nan Qinghuan, Yueguang stopped but did not turn back.

Indeed, Nan Qinghuan was right; where can he go now?

He had planned to return, kill Rongdi, and lead his people to rebuild their home, but now the people no longer need him, and they won't go back with him.

The Mountain Tribe can't return; where else can he go? Nan Qinghuan saw him pause, hurried up, and felt a vague pain in her stomach, but she wanted to keep Yueguang for herself.

"If you don't mind, you can stay."

"Stay?"

Yueguang's brows furrowed. Nan Qinghuan smiled brightly, "Of course, you can stay and become a resident here. The Small Town's development needs many people. You have a Salt Mine, right? You can keep selling your Salt, earn more money, live the life you want. Isn't that good?"

Hearing this, Rongdi and Ying, who were behind, also rushed over.

"Yueguang."

Rongdi and Ying stepped forward in large strides; Rongdi had never harbored any intent to kill Yueguang, and now that he saw Yueguang had realized his mistake, he was naturally willing to give him another chance.

Moreover, Yueguang holds a Salt Mine—a very good opportunity.

With a Salt Mine, Common People won't have to eat overpriced Salt.

That's a good thing.

"Stay then; the people are all in the Small Town—where else could you go?"

Rongdi also let him stay, which left Yueguang astonished, "Don't you hate me? I gave you wings, I cursed you."

"So what? Since you considered the people, I won't hold a grudge, but you must resolve the high‑price Salt issue."

This was the result of his discussion with Ying; Yueguang must agree to lower the price, otherwise the Salt remains pricey, the locals can't afford it, they'll leave, and that's not good for their development.

Rongdi is now far more magnanimous, no longer petty as before, no longer believing that everything must be solved by killing. He now understands that reason must persuade people.

This was what Nan Qinghuan said; he has always been pretentious. Now he's become a general, commands many soldiers, has taken a wife, a small home to shelter from wind and rain, and at night a woman warms his bed and shares pleasures with him. All this makes him feel truly happy.

Therefore, he won't act so impulsively; fighting and killing solve nothing.

Yueguang suddenly smiled, "Don't worry, I'll sort out the Salt issue. Since everything is clear now, I'm not an unreasonable person. Ying, Rongdi, follow me."

Dropping those words, Yueguang strode toward the outside of the Town. Ying and Rongdi exchanged a glance, and Rongdi hurriedly said, "Let's go take a look."

After the two men left with Yueguang, Jiguang had wanted to follow, but Ying asked her to stay and escort Nan Qinghuan back, so Jiguang gave up.

"I tell Nan Qinghuan, you're too good to her, even letting me personally escort you back. The baby in your belly is a precious little lump."

It was teasing; Nan Qinghuan took it as a joke, smiled, patted her belly—her stomach had hurt a bit earlier and she was still a little nervous.

"Ying has always been like this; when you're pregnant I believe Rongdi will treat you the same way."

"Will he?"

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