Chapter 177

A Ru Cun is self-governing.

This is actually something Luo De had discussed with Nadixa before leaving Sumeru.

The hostility of the Red King's followers toward the Dendro Archon is truly too great.

So great that, unless they played the message left by that ancient Red King priest for them, they would not accept that the Red King and the Dendro Archon were originally friends.

Even some people, even if they saw that message, might not believe it's true.

Nothing else to say.

Just the phrase 'lackey of the Dendro Archon'.

Since Luo De publicly revealed his identity as the Envoy of the Red King, he has heard it countless times.

Since we can't ease tensions, let's simply let A Ru Cun, which is close to the Dendro Archon, become a legal gathering place for Red King's followers, using time and reality to crush these people's fanatical faith, just as Kantisi and Uncle An Pu used reality to slap those old villagers in the face.

Although the Academy originally did not prohibit desert people from worshiping the Red King or the Flower God.

But it is an undisputed fact that those who worship the Red King and the Flower God do not receive fair treatment in the rainforest area.

Moreover, after hundreds of years of operation, the Academy's antagonism between the two sides has become so severe that it is almost impossible to resolve.

For example, when Luo De returned to A Ru Cun, he saw on the notice board at Kawanyi that someone was openly insulting desert people, and in Nadixa's administrative work there were also daily suggestions from various parts of the rainforest area to strengthen control over desert people.

Moreover, some desert people, especially those mercenaries who used to be bandits, have indeed gone too far.

They really took advantage of the opportunity at Kawanyi to lift travel restrictions to run amok and plunder throughout the rainforest area, then after pulling off a few heists they hurriedly fled back to the desert, forcing the Academy to dispatch large numbers of personnel to maintain peace.

Fortunately, Luo De had predicted that such things would happen before he went to Mondstadt.

So he gave Nadixa a proposal.

That is, let A Ru Cun, which also occupies a strategic pass, enforce the Red King's law.

You don't accept the Dendro Archon, do you?

Then I will directly, in the name of the Red King, judge you Red King's followers who are like mad dogs.

However, Nadixa did not immediately agree to this at the time, but considered it for a long time.

Only when Luo De returned and raised the matter again did she nod.

The desert and rainforest districts are autonomous; everyone is Sumeru territory under the Dendro Archon, taxes remain as before, nominally unchanged, the rainforest district shares its welfare with the desert district, while the rainforest district completely relinquishes control over the desert, fully entrusting integrated management to A Ru Cun, including the authority over life and death, all executed by A Ru Cun.

To speak frankly.

No country has ever left all governance entirely to its own deity.

In Teyvat, this is actually quite a shocking thing.

But in Luo De's view.

This fits well with Sumeru's current severe division and mutual hostility.

With A Ru Cun's military deterrence, at least remnants like the God King's legacy could no longer exist in the desert; as for maintaining order, A Ru Cun, which has long been scraping by in the desert, is far more professional than the Academy's thirty lazy good-for-nothings.

As for those desert mercenaries blocking the road at the village entrance.

Luo De doesn't care whether they came to cause trouble because they were bewitched by the God King's legacy.

You weren't looking for an explanation from the Scarlet King's envoy, were you?

Now the explanation has come.

I have secured for the desert a plot of land that can wholly belong to the Scarlet King's followers; since you so devoutly follow the Scarlet King, stay here and farm.

Those mercenaries naturally were unwilling to accept this sudden compulsory invitation.

But it was useless.

With A Ru Cun's current military strength, unless they don't want to act, otherwise this rabble, no matter how numerous, cannot do anything.

Of course.

It's impossible to round them all up and bring them back to the village.

Although A Ru Cun's military is strong, its manpower is still insufficient; facing the masses of mercenaries fleeing into the desert, it's utterly unrealistic to try to capture them all.

But that's fine.

These fleeing people are the best messengers; they will spread the news of A Ru Cun becoming the Scarlet King's autonomous territory as quickly as possible.

But merely having the mercenary circles know this is not enough.

After Kantisi had gathered all the captured people into the village, Luo De and she went together to find the young eagles who had already joined the guard ranks.

The current young eagles are still led by Tadelia.

They all come from the Tanit tribe, and they call each other brothers and sisters.

Usually they are just like ordinary village orphans: they go to school during the day, return to the village orphanage at night, and sometimes go to Luo De's home to seek tutoring from A De Ba Yi or Heluoshan.

Originally, according to A Ru Cun's rules.

The village would bear all living expenses for the orphanage children until they come of age.

But the young eagles felt that such free room and board was not good.

So after some discussion, the young eagles led by Tadelia went to Kantisi, firmly demanding to join the guard, to study while also contributing strength to the village.

During these years in the Tanit tribe.

The only thing they learned was how to kill.

Although Luo De hoped they could let go of the past and live a new life properly.

But Tadelia and they said, in order to protect this new life, they are willing to take up the knife again.

In the end.

Kantisi was persuaded.

This is also why, when Luo De previously returned to A Ru Cun, he would see Tadelia on duty at the village gate.

Don't look down on Tadelia and them just because they are young.

The falconry training they have undergone since childhood is genuinely a method for cultivating warriors passed down from the Blazing Sun lineage.

Furthermore, Kantisi did not monopolize Tanite's evil spirit weapons, but returned them all to them.

This also gave the young hawks' combat power far beyond that of most adults in the village.

Luo De and Kantisi have now found Tadeira for one purpose.

"Send the news of establishing A Ru Cun as an autonomous territory to the desert tribes."

Luo De said, handing over the custom-made Void Terminal that had always followed him to Tadeira, and temporarily transferring the usage rights to her.

"This is a creation of the Little Auspicious Grass King."

"With it, any danger will be warned in advance, and when you face unavoidable danger, it will also grant protection from the Dendro Archon."

This is Luo De's protective measure for the young hawks.

With this, Tadeira and company can travel unhindered in the desert—not to mention the small desert tribes, even those perilous ancient ruins can be guaranteed safe.

"Yes, Luo, Luo De."

Tadeira hesitated, then changed her address to: "Mr. Luo De."

"Just call me teacher."

Luo De saw through Tadeira's thoughts, smiling and saying: "You've always wanted to be my disciple, haven't you? What's there to be shy about? Just call me teacher."

"Hmm—"

Tadeira pressed her lips, nodded heavily, and called out again: "Luo De, teacher."

"What are you crying for?"

Seeing tears in Tadeira's eyes, Luo De patted her shoulder.

After living in A Ru Cun with plenty of food and drink, Tadeira grew tall quickly, unknowingly reaching adult height, making the old head‑pat encouragement no longer suitable.

"Remember, you represent A Ru Cun when you go to those tribes—don't lose face for A Ru Cun, fight when you should, kill when you should, and let them know our stance."

Luo De finished speaking, and Kantisi immediately followed up.

Then she also took out A Ru Cun's Crimson King Insignia, identical to the one she had given Luo De before.

This is the mark of the Crimson King lineage.

It is not only an acknowledgment of identity, but also a display of A Ru Cun's military deterrence to the outside.

At the same time, she also handed Tadeira a document.

This is a pacification letter she drafted overnight for the desert tribes, um.

Anyway, that's what Luo De calls it.

Kantisi also didn't know what a pacification letter meant, so she just wrote that name following his lead.

This pacification letter lists the benefits A Ru Cun will give to the tribe members, as well as various matters they need to pay attention to after accepting A Ru Cun's administration.

It is also to be handed over to those tribe members by Tadeira and company.

As for whether they will agree to this form of pacification,

it's still that saying.

In the desert, faith can bow to reality.

Whether it's a life of going hungry nine times every three days or a life of meat at every meal, as long as one isn't a faith‑fanatic, it's clear which is truly needed.

Besides Tadeira's side sending out the pacification letter to the desert tribes,

Dixiya's side also took action.

Her target is the desert mercenary corps.

However, the first thing she needs to do is not to recruit, but to kill.

God King's Legacy.

It is the largest and most vicious mercenary group in the desert.

Luo De needs a sample to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys.

Coincidentally, the God King's Legacy, which already had a grudge against Kuserla, showed up at the door, so old and new grudges must be settled together.

Setting out together with Dixiya's Blazing Light Beast Hunters.

And also the people of Ahemaer's Beard.

After learning what the God King's Legacy had done to Kuserla in the past, these veteran mercenaries had already rolled up their sleeves, waiting for a day to take revenge.

Likewise, Luo De also gave Dixiya a good thing.

It was something he obtained from Nadixa.

A new‑style weapon produced by the Academy that can emit silent sound waves to instantly stun a person; it works especially well in enclosed spaces, and unless one is prepared beforehand, there is basically no way to block such a surprise attack.

Luo De also gave Dixiya many alchemical concoctions produced by the Su Lun Pai.

They're all nasty stuff.

Such as potions that make the whole body itch unbearably with just a touch, or those that cause diarrhea the next day after a tiny dose—all are discarded schemes previously abandoned.

Luo De retrieved all these formulas.

Now it's just right for Dixiya to take them and test their efficacy.

After arranging these matters, Luo De set off back to Xu Mi Cheng.

The follow‑up matters were left to Kantisi and Uncle Anpu to handle, while he now has more important things to do.

When Luo De returned to Xu Mi Cheng, it was still before the appointed time with Nadixa.

Just like Nadixa.

Taking advantage of the remaining rest time, he also began to nurture his essence and energy, preparing himself for entering the Great Merciful Tree King's consciousness later.

During this period.

He only went to the Academy once, visiting the newly appointed Great Sage Nafisi and Juleshi, who was preparing for retirement.

Being scolded was inevitable.

After that, there was endless nagging.

Anyway, it's just that even when with the Dendro Archon, one must mind safety and such, and return early to continue the degree evaluation and such.

After a long scolding, Luo De was finally driven out by them.

Speaking of which.

During Luo De's absence, the Academy had also been turned upside down.

Nobody had expected that.

Among the Five Great Sages, three submitted applications for the Great Sage position, and also rallied many scholars to vie for the post, giving many speeches.

The person who ended up taking the Great Sage position was Nafisi, who had not participated at all from start to finish.

Such a result was truly shocking.

Meanwhile.

The Original Knowledge faction sage Kawajia was also found to have participated in the blasphemy incident, and thus faced post-event settlement; per Nadixa's judgment, he was sent to Dao Cheng Lin to accompany Azhaer.

Thus, in Xu Mi Cheng, the punching dolls gained another new face.

On the Thirty-Person Corps side, Nadixa also carried out a series of reforms.

In short, they expelled many mercenaries who had previously left bad records, and tightened the discipline of the Thirty-Person Corps.

And realizing that mercenaries were unreliable, Nadixa was also planning to form a genuine army, similar to Liyue's Thousand Rock Army and Mondstadt's West Wind Knight Brigade.

Although she hasn't publicly announced this yet, many people are already eager to sign up.

Aside from these major events.

Under Nadixa's call, a group of scholars led by Saitalei chose to go to the desert to support education efforts.

These scholars originally planned to scatter to some tribes deeper in the desert, but after arriving at A Ru Cun for some unknown reason, they never left and all stayed in A Ru Cun.

Without a doubt.

The instigator was Luo De.

It was he who told Kantisi that if any Academy scholars came, they must all be kept and not allowed to go to the more dangerous desert.

Kantisi accomplished this very well.

After resting well in the Jing Shan Gong for a day, Luo De met Nadixa.

Unlike Luo De, who can rest wherever he leans.

Nadixa was resting in the cage that had previously imprisoned her.

That place was originally where the Great Merciful Tree King meditated.

Nadixa redesigned that door to reopen as the previous two-way opening structure, and made that place her resting chamber.

"Are you ready?"

Nadixa did not rush to urge Luo De, but first asked solicitously about his condition.

"No problem."

Luo De nodded.

Nadixa said nothing more, raised both hands, and a green and a cyan Gnosis appeared in her palms.

She closed her eyes tightly.

Between her hands, the verdant grass elemental energy and the gentle wind elemental energy rose from the Gnosis, intertwining; after about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, a brilliant green light suddenly burst from the convergence of the two elemental energies.

Luo De raised his hand and slightly shielded his eyes.

Immediately he saw a golden-yellow canned knowledge appear.

"This is."

Nadixa paused, then said: "This is the last memory of the Great Merciful Tree King."

"Let's go."

"Hmm."

As the words fell, Luo De and Nadixa simultaneously placed their hands on that canned knowledge.

(End of chapter)