Chapter 1338

"Th-there's someone flying in the sky!"

Suddenly, Sayo let out a shriek.

Tazmi and Iyias looked up and indeed saw squad after squad of soldiers flying overhead, leaving them stunned.

"Th-this…"

"So many Imperial Tool users?"

Tazmi felt his worldview shatter.

Weren't Imperial Tools supposed to be rare?

Yet there were plenty of soldiers flying through the sky.

If all of them were Imperial Tool users, wouldn't Imperial Tools be far more numerous than imagined?

Sayo was equally stunned, mouth agape, wide enough to swallow an egg.

"Foreigners are so amusing!"

"Yeah, they actually think those my lords are Imperial Tool users!"

"Hehe, what even are Imperial Tool users?"

The locals of the capital, long accustomed to soldiers flying overhead, felt their superiority surge again and began mocking the gaping Tazmi trio.

Tazmi had experienced too many such things to be fazed; instead, he stepped closer to ask.

"Uncle, if they're not Imperial Tool users, how are they flying?"

"Yeah, is everyone in the capital this powerful?"

Though they looked down on these foreigners, their inner sense of superiority couldn't be suppressed.

"Hmph, those my lords are the heavenly troops who overthrew the empire. They're not Imperial Tool users at all—they're beings like gods."

"Hehe, kids, thank those my lords. Without them, people like you from the countryside wouldn't last three days in the capital—you'd be played with until you died."

"Played with until you died?" Tazmi frowned. "Isn't the capital the empire's capital? Is it really this chaotic?"

"What do you know?" At this, the capital's citizens grew furious. "You have no idea how vile those nobles are!"

"Let me tell you…"

And so they poured out the dark truths they had endured.

Tazmi and the others listened, expressionless.

They never imagined such a prosperous capital concealed so many hidden shadows.

Seeing the locals speak in unison, condemning the old nobles' atrocities, the trio had no doubt the stories were true.

Sayo's back turned cold: "I feel like we narrowly escaped a great disaster. If not for those my lords clearing out the capital, we might have been ruined by the nobles."

Iyias nodded: "Yeah, it's terrifying. Thank goodness it's all over. Tazmi, what should we do now—go back, or stay in the capital?"

Tazmi shook off his gloom, his face breaking into a bright smile: "Why go back now? Since the village will soon have a better life, let's stay in the capital—we'll have more opportunities."

Iyias nodded: "That's true. We came out to make a name for ourselves—if we return without achieving anything, we'll be looked down upon. Sayo, what do you think?"

"We came out together, so of course we stick together," Sayo sniffed. "Don't you dare look down on me just because I'm a girl!"

"How could we ever?"

"Let's go find something to do! With the new empire just founded, there must be plenty of chances for us to rise up."

"Oh!"

The friends cheered and followed Tazmi as they wandered through the capital.

Along the way, Tazmi saw many people of the capital.

Merchants and commoners alike, though their wealth varied, all wore smiles, as if celebrating a great joy.

After asking around, they learned many people-friendly policies had already taken effect, bringing real benefits to both commoners and merchants.

"Hey, kid, come here!"

A wealthy merchant, unable to stop grinning, shoved a handful of coins into Tazmi's hand. "I got back my property stolen by ministers—everyone who sees this gets a share."

Before they even found work, Tazmi and the others had acquired a substantial sum of money.

"This…" Sayo felt it was surreal.

She stared at the coins in her hand, unable to snap out of it.

"The capital's merchants are too rich. Even random gifts like this are enough for us to live on for ages."

"Yeah."

Time slipped by like a white horse passing a crevice; in the blink of an eye, a month had passed, and the entire capital had transformed, brimming with vitality.

"Sayo, over here!"

Tazmi and Iyias stood on Changjie, waving at a delicate-looking girl.

Sayo hurried over, jogging quickly.

Though only a month had passed, Tazmi and the others felt as if decades had gone by—they had changed utterly.

When they first arrived, all three had been clueless, dressed in coarse, shabby clothes.

Now their garments were splendid, their manners refined, like nobles.

If one looked closely, one could see their eyes were resolute, radiating an extraordinary aura.

In the past month, the three hadn't just secured decent jobs—they had also begun cultivating the new empire's martial scripture and made great progress.

Even Sayo could now tear apart ordinary dangerous beasts with her bare hands.

"Tazmi, how are you doing?" Sayo's voice rang cheerful, like a skylark.

Tazmi's smile was infectious: "The capital is amazing. I've decided—I'll work here, buy a house, settle down, and become a true citizen of the capital."

Sayo was stunned: "You're not going back?"

Tazmi smiled: "Not that I won't go back—I plan to bring everyone here with me."

Shāyōu stared in shock.

Tāzīmǐ really dares to think such things.

To have everyone settle down in the Imperial Capital—what a mad idea.

But this is very Tāzīmǐ; he always has ideas and passion far beyond ordinary people.

……

On the other side.

Chìtóng accompanied Hēitóng as they walked along Changjie in the Imperial Capital.

At this point, Hēitóng's body had fully recovered, with no more dependence on medication.