OFTLHFRO C180
by berryChapter 180: A Bold and Spirited People
Because everyone wanted to witness the spectacular sunrise, many people rose before dawn.
However, those early risers were usually visitors from outside.
Very few natives of Wolf King Fortress deliberately woke up to watch the sunrise.
Although it only appeared once every three years, after seeing it often enough, it simply became another ordinary sight.
If it happened only once every hundred years, that would be worth making a special effort for.
Most of the shopkeepers, meanwhile, were locals of Wolf King Fortress.
After strolling through the streets for a while, Luo Mingchen noticed that no one seemed to be showering them with gold.
The aroma of all kinds of delicious food drifted through the air.
In the end, he chose a lamb noodle shop and ordered several meat-filled flatbreads as well.
He preferred beginning the morning with a bowl of hot soup.
Huo Yan ordered steamed soup dumplings along with an enormous bowl of tiger-skin chicken feet.
As they ate, Luo Mingchen soon sensed that something was off.
The proprietress appeared to be chatting with someone while repeatedly glancing in their direction.
Lowering his voice, Luo Mingchen asked Huo Yan,
“This isn’t some kind of black shop, is it?”
“Probably not.”
As he spoke, Huo Yan glanced toward Lan Fei, who was quietly eating.
As for Huo Xinyue…
For some unknown reason, she had her shoulders hunched while eating.
Whenever someone approached carrying something, she instinctively covered her face.
After finishing breakfast, Huo Yan went to settle the bill.
As they stepped out of the shop, the proprietress suddenly called after them.
“Hey! Big-Eyed Young Master!”
Among everyone present, Luo Mingchen had the largest eyes by far.
With remarkable self-awareness, he turned around.
Something flew toward him.
His reflexes were swift enough to catch it.
Looking down—
It was an entire gold ingot.
The proprietress beamed.
“Remember to come back often!”
“…Alright. Thank you.”
That seemed to be only the beginning.
From then on…
No matter where they went, people constantly tossed gold, silver, jewels…
And flowers…
Roughly thirty percent were thrown toward Luo Mingchen.
Forty percent were aimed at Huo Yan.
The remaining thirty percent were divided among everyone else—
Even Da Bai received gifts.
Those gold and jewels flew through the air almost like concealed weapons.
Behind them, the three shadow guards worked nonstop collecting everything.
Lan Fei devoted most of his attention to protecting Huo Xinyue.
Some enthusiastic townspeople would run over to pinch her cheeks while handing her flowers or gifts.
After yesterday’s experience, she had become thoroughly traumatized.
It wasn’t painful.
She was simply afraid that if too many people pinched her cheeks…
They would eventually flatten into pancakes.
That particular idea had been planted in her head by Hua Yaoyue…
After personally witnessing the overwhelming enthusiasm of Wolf King Fortress’s residents, Luo Mingchen finally understood why everyone else had refused to come out for breakfast.
They hadn’t even wandered the streets for very long before every basket was completely full.
They had no choice but to return first.
Only after arriving back at the City Lord’s residence did Luo Mingchen finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“My goodness… Are the people of Wolf King Fortress always this… enthusiastic?”
The question was directed at Lan Fei.
“Uncle Luo,” Lan Fei replied matter-of-factly, “if you and Uncle Huo were unmarried, you would have received even more.”
The couple: “……”
Xiao Chen added,
“The appearances of both Masters are especially popular here. Many unmarried women in Wolf King Fortress either prefer someone adorable like Master Luo… or someone tall and exceptionally handsome like Master Huo.”
Zi Yuan laughed.
“That’s why Xiao Chen and Zhu Qing aren’t very popular. They’re too thin… and not handsome enough.”
To be fair…
Placed among ordinary people, both men were undoubtedly handsome.
They simply didn’t fit the local standard of beauty.
Being called adorable left Luo Mingchen utterly incapable of feeling happy.
He glanced at the piles of gold and jewels before asking,
“What do we do with all of this?”
Lan Fei answered,
“Leave it in your room. When Uncle Luo wishes to return home, simply take it with you.”
Luo Mingchen’s eyes widened.
“All of it? We can keep everything?”
“Mhm. We don’t lack these things.”
Lan Fei spoke so naturally that Luo Mingchen couldn’t even bring himself to express envy.
He could only think…
As expected of a family that uses luminous pearls as lanterns.
Terrifying.
Even so…
Luo Mingchen still wanted to continue exploring.
“Is there any way to stop people from throwing things at us?”
Lan Fei answered,
“A cloak and a mask.”
Seeing Luo Mingchen’s confused expression, he elaborated,
“If you stay here for ten days or half a month, their enthusiasm will naturally fade, and you won’t need a disguise anymore.”
He paused before adding,
“…However, I recommend that Uncle Huo keep wearing the mask.”
Luo Mingchen looked up at Huo Yan.
That face…
Really wasn’t something people grew tired of looking at.
After carrying the baskets of gold and jewels back to their room, Luo Mingchen asked Lan Fei to fetch two cloaks and two masks.
They still intended to continue exploring the streets.
After all, they needed to learn local prices.
Otherwise, they might suffer losses later when setting prices themselves.
As for the three children…
They obediently remained inside the City Lord’s residence.
Otherwise, they might accidentally be struck by flying gold.
Once they changed clothes and headed out again, things indeed became much safer.
Though…
People still threw gold at them.
Apparently…
Huo Yan’s back alone was beautiful enough to attract admirers.
Luo Mingchen secretly shot Huo Yan a resentful glare.
Huo Yan merely hooked one finger around Luo Mingchen’s hand with an innocent expression.
Wolf King Fortress was divided into three concentric districts.
The outermost district was mostly inhabited by outsiders or families formed through marriages with people from elsewhere.
The middle district belonged entirely to the Sand Tribe—
Families who each seemed to own an enormous gold mine and whose preferred method of expressing affection was throwing gold at people they liked.
The innermost district was occupied by the City Lord’s residence.
Its grounds were no smaller than the Imperial Palace itself.
Walking from the City Lord’s residence all the way to the city’s outer district took the couple quite a long time.
Along the way, Luo Mingchen noticed something fascinating.
Among those who permanently lived in Wolf King Fortress…
There wasn’t a single unattractive person.
It wasn’t because everyone fit one rigid beauty standard.
They didn’t all have to be tall.
Or slender.
Rather…
Every person radiated confidence.
Even those with otherwise ordinary features seemed to possess an unmistakable aura.
Bright smiles.
Optimism.
An infectious sense of vitality.
Then again…
Living in what seemed like paradise on earth…
Remaining gloomy would indeed be rather difficult.
The people of Wolf King Fortress loved everything beautiful.
Magnificent flowers bloomed everywhere throughout the streets.
Every decoration surrounding them was adorned with elegant patterns and precious gemstones.
In short…
It was a city unlike any other.
Merchant caravans coming to trade generally remained in the outer district, where designated commercial streets had been established.
Anyone who failed to obey the city’s rules would not only be thrown out…
They would be permanently barred from entering again.
“There seems to be a shop selling yogurt over there.”
As he spoke, Luo Mingchen tugged gently on Huo Yan’s hand.
The two approached the stall.
Judging from the shopkeeper’s attire, he was from Glass City.
Glass City was likewise an independent city.
Its name didn’t come from producing glass itself.
Rather, it was said to originate from one of the city’s ancient legends.
The city was famous for its vast pastures.
Even the dairy cattle Luo Mingchen had previously purchased had come from Glass City.
Walking up to the stall, Luo Mingchen asked,
“Shopkeeper, how much is a bowl of yogurt?”
The man looked them over before smiling.
“Ten copper coins a bowl. If you’d like raisins or other toppings, it’s another two coins for each.”
The price wasn’t particularly cheap.
Neither was it expensive.
It seemed perfectly reasonable.
Luo Mingchen bought one bowl and requested two wooden spoons.
The shopkeeper chuckled.
“You two aren’t locals, are you?”
Anyone familiar with Wolf King Fortress could tell at a glance.
The locals paid with gemstones or gold nuggets.
No one carried copper coins.
And no local ever asked for prices.
Naturally, Luo Mingchen had no intention of hiding it.
“We’re just here sightseeing.”
The shopkeeper clearly didn’t believe that explanation.
The city was currently sealed.
He had never seen the two of them before.
They were undoubtedly guests secretly brought in through the hidden passage by the City Lord’s residence.
Still…
He politely chose not to expose them.
Instead, he smiled.
“If you’re looking for information about merchant caravans, the City Lord knows the most. If you can’t meet him, asking the city guards is also fine. It’ll be much more useful than wandering around blindly.”
“…Thank you.”
After leaving the stall, Luo Mingchen tilted his head toward Huo Yan.
“Is our purpose really that obvious?”
Huo Yan looked into those large expressive eyes.
“A little.”
Luo Mingchen: “……”
After wandering through several more streets, the couple truly gained very little useful information.
It seemed…
When it came to merchant caravans…
They really would have to ask Lan Yiheng.
If that proved impossible…
Even asking Lan Fei would likely be more reliable than aimlessly roaming the city.