Chapter 185: The Leader Selection of New Green Isle

(Preface: I don't know if everyone has seen the remarks made by the chief editor of Genshin Impact's storyline during the recruitment event at Fudan University, but after watching it I was left with just one thought: from now on I won't dwell on being criticized, I won't waste effort reworking criticized content, and I won't keep obsessing over illogical plot points as I do now. Interested friends can search on Bilibili to see why I think this way. Hmm, the video should still be up.)

When Kantisi received the news that Nadixa, the current Dendro Archon, had appeared in A Ru Cun, she, who had been busy, immediately put down what she was doing and rushed over.

How many years has it been since the desert last saw a deity descend?

Kantisi couldn't remember.

Anyway, ever since the Red King passed away, even if the whole desert had fallen into chaos, no deity had ever come to govern it.

The rumor that the Great Merciful Tree King had plotted against the Red King also grew fiercer and spread more at that time.

Nobody knew whether that rumor was true or not.

But more and more people were saying it.

And so it became accepted as true.

Furthermore, the various targeted bans issued later by the Academy only added fuel to the fire of this rumor.

By now,

Apart from a few desert folk without inheritance, most people living in the desert firmly believed that back then the Great Merciful Tree King killed the Red King, reducing them to their current plight.

This included the tribes that worshipped the Flower God, as well as the moderate Red King believers who advocated reconciliation with the rainforest region.

Even Kantisi held this view.

After all, the education these Red King subjects received from childhood was precisely this piece of history whose truth nobody can ascertain.

However, the moderate faction led by Kantisi believed that the killer of the Red King was the Great Merciful Tree King, not the Little Auspicious Grass King who had not yet revealed himself at that time.

Therefore they devoted themselves to letting go of hatred, advocating reconciliation with the rainforest region, focusing on real life, and exchanging reconciliation for a better quality of life.

The radical faction remained as they were.

Even after Nadixa ascended and bestowed many special favors on the desert, and even though Luo De, as the Red King's divine envoy and guardian of A Ru Cun, was still seen by them as a follower of the Grass God.

The radicals still refused to accept the olive branch extended by Nadixa.

These people were the faction Luo De called the stubborn ones.

Fortunately,

Although these radicals were obstinately bent on self-destruction, under the overall trend of A Ru Cun's development and Kantisi's personal authority, no matter how much dissatisfaction they had, they could only shrink back obediently.

However, when Luo De brought back the news of A Ru Cun's self-governance,

These radicals, who originally held deep prejudices against him, celebrated as if it were a festival.

They first celebrated for several days that the Red King's faith would soon be restored in the desert, then they went to Kantisi to demand funds and land, and also went to Ka Wei for help with design, all intent on quickly building an unprecedented Red King temple that would be remembered for ages.

When Luo De and Nadixa arrived,

Kantisi had just had an argument with the radical faction's representative.

Saying they 'argued' isn't quite accurate.

In fact, it was just a couple of sentences of disagreement.

The village is short on funds right now; it's simply not the time to build a temple.

Kantisi also promised.

Once Mr. Shazaman's and Mr. Sanggemahabai's orders are completed and the village's finances have a surplus, we will definitely construct the Red King Temple, so please don't be impatient.

As it turned out, that guy had some screw loose in his head, insisting with a stiff neck that Kantisi allocate funds and land right now, otherwise she would be faithless and betray the Red King's bloodline.

And then there was no afterwards.

No matter how nicely one spoke, he wouldn't listen, and Kantisi didn't have the bad habit of indulging people's flaws; she simply gave him a death stare, letting him say whatever he wanted while she fixed her gaze on him unmoving.

Such intangible pressure,

finally frightened that addle-brained radical representative into a start; after he realized what he had just said in his momentary excitement, he turned and ran without hesitation, fearing that if he slowed even a step his life would be forfeit.

Just thinking about this incident,

Kantisi's face darkened.

Using force to suppress the radicals is ultimately not a long-term solution.

"Huh? What's wrong? You look grim."

Upon meeting again, seeing Kantisi always looking preoccupied, Luo De curiously asked: "Is there anything in A Ru Cun you can't resolve?"

"."

Kantisi shook her head, gave no answer, turned, and bowed to Nadixa, saying: "First meeting, Little Auspicious Grass King, I am Kantisi."

Her attitude differed from that of the rainforest people when they saw Nadixa.

Kantisi was indeed performing the salute, but her face showed not a shred of respect.

However, this attitude did not provoke Nadixa's displeasure; speaking of her mood, it was more a sense of helplessness.

The Dendro Archon killed the Red King.

This notion is deeply rooted in the minds of every desert dweller.

Even if Nadixa released ample goodwill,

in the eyes of desert folk like Kantisi, such goodwill was still regarded as the compensation the Dendro Archon ought to provide.

"We descendants of Ahema'er are able to survive here in safety to this day, perhaps thanks to the mercy of the Dendro Archon."

Luo De still clearly remembered the words Kantisi had once said.

That 'perhaps'

perfectly expresses the central idea of the moderate Red King believers.

Even the moderate faction willing to cooperate with the rainforest still thinks the Dendro Archon owes them, let alone the radicals.

Luo De and Nadixa exchanged a glance.

Luo De then changed the subject: "Has the village stirred up any trouble again? Dixiya and Tader haven't returned yet, have they?"

"The word 'again' is quite essential."

Saying this made Kantisi frown involuntarily.

This time she no longer concealed it, and spoke out the demands of the radical faction.

After listening.

Luo De raised an eyebrow: "Not just the radical faction, right? Didn't some elders of the moderate faction also tell you this?"

Luo De naturally still understood Kantisi's personality well.

If it were just the radical faction causing trouble, she wouldn't be so worried.

Sigh—

I knew I couldn't hide it from you.

Kantisi sighed, admitting this: "Yes, the elders of the moderate faction also came to me and said this."

She said.

She glanced at Nadixa, then turned and said: "For the elderly, building the Scarlet King's shrine, letting descendants restore their faith in the Scarlet King, is an urgent matter that must be done, its importance even surpassing the village's interests."

Who would have thought.

Kantisi had just finished saying this when Luo De let out a "Heh" laugh: "That's great, you don't need to worry, I'll take these people, let them pack their bags and follow me; you'll also be able to relax."

Ah?

Kantisi stared for a moment, then asked: "Follow you? Where to?"

To the depths of the desert.

Nadixa decided to open up a patch of oasis there.

Before coming, they had already discussed that the matter of using the oasis source would be placed on Nadixa.

No matter how you say it.

Under the overall anti-Dendro Archon sentiment in the desert, since we cannot dispel the rumor that the Great Merciful Tree King killed the Scarlet King, let the facts speak.

Sincerity is a killer skill.

Luo De has always firmly believed this.

So whenever discussing any desert-related plan, he would always sign the name of the Little Auspicious Grass King at the top of the proposal.

Speaking of which.

Fortunately, Nadixa did not inherit the identity of the Great Merciful Tree King.

Otherwise.

If the rumor among the desert populace that the Great Merciful Tree King killed the Scarlet King turned into the Little Auspicious Grass King killed the Scarlet King, then no matter what Nadixa does would be useless, there would be absolutely no chance to ease relations between the desert and rainforest regions.

Open up an oasis?

Little Auspicious Grass King?

This news left Kantisi somewhat dazed.

She wasn't startled by the Dendro Archon's demand to build an oasis in the desert.

In fact.

Back when the Scarlet King was still around.

Under his might, the desert people's settlements all had oases sufficient for survival.

The flower god believed by the tribespeople, and its attendant spirits, also have the ability to transform yellow sand into an oasis.

As for the Dendro Archon who governs the rainforest, that goes without saying.

Therefore, in the desert people's understanding.

That is, the three deities of the desert all possess the power to turn barren yellow sand into an oasis.

Put in more colloquial terms.

This is called a divine trace.

What surprised Kantisi was that, despite knowing the desert people's hostility toward her, Nadixa actually still wished to open up an oasis for them in the desert.

Hmm.

After coming to her senses, Kantisi gave Nadixa a deep look and only asked: "Where is the location?"

The Dendro Archon is using concrete actions to win over the desert people.

This is a good thing.

There's no need to put on any boring airs about this.

Whether they feel grateful or not, that's a separate matter.

The respect that is due, Kantisi still knows what it is.

The old site of the Tanit tribe.

Luo De said with a smile: "You've been there."

Kantisi nodded.

She remembered the location of that ruin.

Indeed, it's a good place.

Most of the structures left there are intact, and the water source is readily available.

When she previously went there to accept the Tanit remnants, Kantisi felt the place was not bad, a suitable settlement.

If it weren't too far from A Ru Cun.

She also had the idea of developing that place.

Originally it was a place with top-tier natural conditions in the desert; now, with the Dendro Archon personally opening an oasis there, it might become a place whose living conditions are no worse than A Ru Cun.

A very good choice.

Kantisi gave praise.

Next.

She raised another question: "Who are you planning to take?"

This is a very important question.

According to what Luo De just said, he intends to take all those restless moderates and the already dishonest radicals.

To be honest.

Packing them all up and sending them away would indeed reduce A Ru Cun's burden considerably, and things would be much easier for Kantisi's side—at least there wouldn't be so many people buzzing around her ears like flies every day.

But Kantisi still felt it wasn't right.

"If no one oversees them,"

"If they develop, they might well become the next legacy of the God King."

The personalities of these faith‑fanatics in the village are something Kantisi knows all too well.

If we let them develop freely out there,

then in the future they will surely become a sharp blade that destroys the bridge of relations between A Ru Cun and the Rainforest Area.

Speaking of this,

A hint of hesitation appeared on Kantisi's face.

She was hesitating over two things.

One was whether to agree to Luo De's plan to take people to develop a new oasis.

The other was, if following Luo De's suggestion and sending these people to the new oasis, whether she should go over to help manage them for a while—but once she left, Kantisi feared that something might happen back in A Ru Cun.

This dilemma left Kantisi momentarily unable to make up her mind.

At that moment.

Luo De's words interrupted her train of thought.

"You don't need to go there; I've already picked someone."

"Huh?"

Kantisi lifted her head and blurted, "Who?"

Soon she thought of a person: "Dixiya?"

When it comes to who is most trusted among the Desert Folk,

there is no doubt.

it must be Dixiya, who once rescued Luo De from the brink of death.

What's more, when Luo De went to Mondstadt on official business, Dixiya had even given him a bold confession at the Lanbard Tavern.

So Kantisi immediately thought of Dixiya.

And the more she thought about it, the more she felt Dixiya was truly suited for this task.

The title Blazing Mane Lion carries great weight in the desert.

She also has the backing of a Red King Divine Envoy.

Whether in strength or status,

she has sufficient influence over the restless Desert Folk in the village.

To Kantisi's surprise,

"No."

"Not Dixiya."

Luo De uttered a somewhat unfamiliar name: "The person I'm looking for is Lahman."

It's a somewhat familiar name.

Kantisi gave it a little thought.

and recalled where she had heard that name before.

Wasn't that the mercenary whom Luo De had detained in the village when he plotted to rescue the Dendro Archon?

Kantisi and Lahman have had virtually no interaction.

That is, they had only met twice when discussing matters with Luo De, and never exchanged a word.

However, there is one thing Kantisi still remembers clearly.

"He isn't a radical follower of the Red King, is he?"

Kantisi's brows, which had just relaxed, knit together again.

She had originally been worried that the village's faith‑fanatics would cause trouble in the new oasis.

But Luo De ended up finding someone even more radical than the village's radicals—a radical among radicals!

Just what is he planning?

Kantisi realized she could not fathom Luo De's thoughts at all.

Even choosing a moderate as leader would be better than putting a radical in charge.

Failing that,

choosing a Rainforest Person would also work.

For example, the clerk from the Academy earlier would be fine.

"Don't always judge people with pedantic thoughts."

Luo De chuckled: "Lahman's faith in the Red King is indeed a bit fanatical, but he's still a normal person—at least he can keep his head straight."

Luo De's impression of Lahman remains quite good.

Although that guy had previously scolded Luo De plenty, when it comes to major principles he is still quite responsible, possessing a sense of duty—unlike those other faith‑fanatics, who, when they go mad, completely disregard everything.

"But."

Kantisi still felt somewhat uneasy.

"It's fine, I'll stay there for a while first."

"We'll talk about it after things settle down there."

Luo De gave a hehe laugh: "You don't trust him, do you not trust me either? I, after all, am also a divine envoy of the Red King; in this Sumeru, aside from the Dendro Archon, my words carry weight."

Nadixa, who had been silent all along, glanced at him, but she said nothing and turned her head, which counted as tacit approval of Luo De's words.

This also let Kantisi feel much more at ease in her heart.

With the Dendro Archon's support and the Red King's divine envoy holding the line, even those faith‑crazed lot, no matter how dissatisfied, will have to honestly go develop the oasis.

By then we'll see just how well this Lahman can manage the new oasis.

Resolve the biggest problem at hand.

What Luo De and Kantisi will discuss next is confirming the list and what supplies are needed.

Wanting to go develop an uninhabited place isn't something just any random cat or dog can qualify for.

Guards, reclamation workers, laborers, teachers, doctors, plus architects like Ka Wei, and necessary supplies such as seeds and medical equipment—Luo De will bring all of these.

(End of chapter)