Chapter 14: The common people make offerings to the immortal, tribute piles up like a mountain!

Xiao Qidi felt his heart throb violently a few times.

But this touched a hidden thorn deep in his heart, and a gloom rose in his eyes.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, "Miss Ning, please show restraint."

Ning Jinli's smile froze.

She had been joking casually in a good mood, but she didn't expect his reaction—the three words "please show restraint" seemed like a warning.

Forget it—after all, he's an ancient person from over two thousand years ago, a monarch; perhaps such teasing would be offensive to him.

She said embarrassedly, "I was just joking; don't take it to heart."

Xiao Qidi's eyes were dark as an abyss, his thin lips moving: "Miss Ning seems to be helping me with all her might; I want to know why."

Ning Jinli furrowed her brows.

She could understand that an ancient monarch's nature is suspicious.

But actually feeling this is really uncomfortable, making it seem as if she harbors ill intentions toward him.

"I admit you're handsome, but rest assured, I have no interest in you!" she said angrily. "I just can't bear to see the common people suffer, and the things you and the people of Lin Xian Village gave me also helped me a lot—let's call it mutual benefit."

Seeing Ning Jinli like a puffed-up little tiger, Xiao Qidi was somewhat taken aback.

From birth he had been a hostage prince in a foreign land, living a life worse than pigs and dogs for nine years; later he returned to Xuan Guo to inherit the throne, though he held no real power, at least outwardly everyone showed him respect and submission.

For him, in his eighteen years of life, he was either stepped on or held aloft.

Only these two extremes existed, with no middle ground.

Now, in front of Ning Jinli, he felt a different kind of treatment.

Neither looking down on him nor being wary of his so-called royal status.

This feeling is actually quite nice…

Xiao Qidi's tense cheeks softened, his eyes showing remorse as he clasped his fists: "Miss Ning, if I have offended you, please forgive me."

Ning Jinli saw his attitude improve and didn't stay angry, waving her hand: "It's fine; I was the one who started joking recklessly, so we're even."

"By the way, how's your injury?"

Ning Jinli couldn't help but worry when she thought of how severely he was injured, having undergone surgery and lost blood, yet he came back without resting.

Xiao Qidi said, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Ning; it's no serious problem. Moreover, with the medicine you gave me, I'll recover soon."

Seeing his calm demeanor, it didn't look like he was forcing himself.

Ning Jinli couldn't help but inwardly sigh, this guy's physique is truly amazing!

This also serves as indirect proof that the Ancestor Emperor of Xuan Dynasty recorded in history was a puppet.

Because that person only lived to fifty, yet he tried every means to seek the elixir of immortality.

With Xiao Qidi's heaven-defying physique, how could he possibly be so short-lived?

If his fate as a Human Stick were changed, he wouldn't be replaced by a puppet, and he would surely achieve something greater than unifying the Six Nations!

Who knows… maybe it could let the Huaxia people unify the world over two thousand years ago? Then who in this world would dare to bully us?!

Just thinking about it makes me feel oddly excited!

Ning Jinli's thoughts exploded, and she couldn't help but hehehe laugh.

After several hesitations, Xiao Qidi still spoke up to interrupt her silly laughter: "Miss Ning, could you please give me more shovels and spades?"

Ning Jinli withdrew her thoughts, puzzled: "You want to farm?"

Logically, given Lin Xian Village's current situation, farming is not suitable.

Although she can continuously supply water, crops take several months to grow and harvest.

Besides, she can also provide Lin Xian Village with sufficient rations.

Shouldn't they first concentrate their forces to withstand the enemy siege?

"It's not for farming," Xiao Qidi explained seriously, "the shovels and spades you gave are exceptionally hard, able to easily break our bronze weapons. I want every soldier to be equipped with one."

"With Miss Ning providing food and water, the seventy thousand soldiers and civilians have temporarily solved their survival crisis, unafraid of the enemy siege, but in just a few days the enemy will realize the siege strategy has failed."

"Then, even if the enemy risks casualties, they will certainly choose to launch an attack. Before that, I must make defensive preparations."

Hearing this analysis, Ning Jinli suddenly understood.

"What are shovels and spades?" she immediately promised, "I'll get you better combat equipment!"

Xiao Qidi exclaimed in surprise, "There's actually something better than that as a weapon?"

Ning Jinli blinked, "Little brother, the industrial manufacturing capacity of modern society exceeds your imagination."

Xiao Qidi was overjoyed, "Thank you, Miss Ning! When can we have it?"

Ning Jinli estimated that those items certainly aren't as easy to buy as food and vegetables; they'd probably take around two days, though the exact time can't be determined.

It's a pity Xiao Qidi's side can't use a phone; otherwise they could stay in touch anytime.

Thinking of this, Ning Jinli had a flash of inspiration, turned around and pulled out two walkie-talkies from the warehouse corner.

These were previously issued to warehouse staff; the two walkie-talkies can directly transmit signals for conversation, with a range of up to five kilometers, needing neither network nor base station!

Xiao Qidi looked at the two rectangular blocks in her hand, completely bewildered: "What is this?"

Ning Jinli turned on the walkie-talkie, set the frequency, handed one to Xiao Qidi, then took the other and stepped back a few meters: "Hello? Hello? Hello?"

Xiao Qidi suddenly heard the block in his hand emit the same sound, and his eyes widened in shock.

In the world there actually exists something that can transmit sound through the air?!

"Come, I'll teach you how to use it." Ning Jinli began giving careful instructions.

The walkie-talkie's function is very simple; Xiao Qidi learned it after one try.

Next came testing whether they could talk, after all they had to go through the spacetime portal.

When Xiao Qidi returned to that cave on the other side, Ning Jinli nervously pressed the talk button: "Hello? Can you hear me?"

From the earpiece came a crackling sound, then Xiao Qidi's voice: "Yes!"

Ning Jinli let out a sigh of relief; at last the communication could be a little more convenient.

When the battle gear is obtained, she can inform Xiao Qidi promptly.

Because the Walkie-Talkie's range is limited, the two of them agreed that Xiao Qidi would place his inside the cave and assign several Lin Xian Village soldiers to take turns guarding it without moving a step.

Whenever Ning Jinli transmits a voice, the soldiers will report to him.

A few soldiers saw the Walkie-Talkie's effect with their own eyes; they could not see the Jinli Fairy herself, yet they could hear her voice.

So they built a small altar with stones inside the cave and solemnly placed the Walkie-Talkie on it.

Afterward they kowtowed a few times, swearing they would risk their lives to protect the Fairy's Communication Artifact.

"His Majesty! A great number of commoners are coming toward the Immortal Cave!"

The Cave Guard responsible for patrolling around the cave reported to Xiao Qidi.

Xiao Qidi hurried out of the cave.

He saw countless commoners forming a long line marching this way, stretching beyond sight.

The blood‑red setting sun stretched the dense crowd of silhouettes into long shadows.

Xiao Qidi's expression grew solemn, "Weren't food and water already assigned to the soldiers for distribution? Could there really be so many who haven't received them?"

More than ten Cave Guards immediately drew their swords and took up defensive positions.

In any case, the Immortal Cave must not suffer any mishap.

When the procession drew near, everyone discovered that the one leading them was the Old Village Chief of Lin Xian Village.

Xiao Qidi stood with his hands behind his back and asked in a deep voice, "What brings you here?"

The Old Village Chief knelt first, and the rest of the procession followed, collapsing to the ground in a clamor of kneeling.

"Your Majesty!" the Old Village Chief kowtowed, "We, the humble villagers, previously brought the people of Lin Xian Village to offer the Jinli Fairy the Golden Silk Nan Ebony Wood that has been kept in our village for generations. The Fairy then bestowed upon us a great amount of Immortal food, so I have called everyone to make further offerings to the Fairy, hoping she will continue to protect us, and when conditions allow, we will even build a temple for the Fairy!"

"I see," Xiao Qidi said, signaling the guards to sheath their swords.

He knew that Ning Jinli was not an Immortal, but the commoners and soldiers needed a powerful spiritual anchor, so he went along with them.

These commoners were villagers from the frontier, most of them poor, yet they still gave everything they had as offerings.

Some offered several yards of hemp cloth they were reluctant to cut into clothing.

Some presented the few remaining dozens of copper coins their whole family possessed.

Some brought over their best‑preserved bronze bowls, Ceramic Jars, and the like…

Although extremely shabby, these were the best things they owned.

However, among the tens of thousands of people who fled to Lin Xian Village, a small portion were merchants, and some were landowning gentry.

They offered silver ingots, gold bars, and even famous calligraphy, jewelry, jade, and heirloom craft collections.

In the current situation, no matter how valuable the treasures are, they are far less important than having food to eat and water to drink.

As people placed their tributes one after another, a small mound gradually piled up on the open ground outside the cave…