Chapter 32: The Lonely Sovereign

Yu sat on his throne, eyes half-closed, completely devoid of the excitement he once felt after battling gods for seven days and seven nights straight.

I miss Ei… I miss Mother.

He couldn't help but envy Zhongli, who still had so many companions on his path as a god.

What Yu didn't realize was that his current state was entirely self-inflicted. As a man whose mind alternated between farming and warfare, he never sought entertainment on his own. He didn't enjoy socializing and preferred interacting with non-humans over humans. Most days, he passed the time strolling with birds or teasing Little Blue and Little Green. If he had spent more time watching young maidens dance, he might not have ended up like this. But, knowing himself all too well, he refrained from indulging, much like uninstalling a distracting app, bottling up his desires until it wore him down.

Yu thought he was old—well, a few hundred years old, at least—but what he didn't know was that the long-eared maiden who once danced for him was still alive. In fact, she was older than him and seemed far happier.

Like a machine, Yu used his knowledge to enrich his nation: improving crop yields, breeding stronger livestock, and building sturdier houses. His efforts earned him unwavering respect from his people. Yet deep down, Yu…

Only remembered it was his birthday when his citizens threw him a celebration.

July 7th—the day of the harvest festival.

Yu noticed that although it was his birthday, he didn't feel particularly joyful. Seeing the people celebrate with such happiness, however, gave him a faint sense of contentment.

Sitting on his throne, Yu gradually drifted off to sleep, only to suddenly awaken.

"This is for you, Hercules."

Yu blinked and saw a dignified woman with long white hair standing before him. She handed him a jade-green object that resembled a chess piece.

"Wisdom brings prosperity and strength. From now on, as the Archon of Wisdom and Strength, Hercules, you are the sovereign of the Dendro element and one of the Seven."

With that, the figure disappeared.

Yu opened his eyes, finding the jade-green chess piece in his hand.

"Does this mean… I've officially become a god? Just like that? It feels like we were handed this title as charity. But… what's the point of being a god? Mother, I miss you so much…"

---

Meanwhile, the Scarlet King felt utterly confused.

"Where… where did my vast desert go???"

Following his instincts, he tried to find his kingdom. To his astonishment, the once barren desert had transformed into lush farmland, crisscrossed by canals. The desolate land had become a land of plenty.

Walking through his former capital, he noticed that no one recognized him. He stopped a passerby.

"Who is the Scarlet King?"

"No idea. I only know the Overlord."

Standing in the middle of endless fields, the Scarlet King felt a twinge of loneliness. He glanced towards a massive statue, where a man reclined lazily on a throne woven from grass and wood.

"It's over. I've become a mere figurehead…"

Greater Lord Rukkhadevata gazed at the transformed city of Sumeru, barely recognizing it.

"Looks like Yu did an impressive job. But… why are the citizens behaving so strangely? And why are they posing like that?"

She noticed a sign nearby:

'Performance art is strictly prohibited outside the plaza. Violators will have their performance licenses revoked.'

A few steps later, another sign caught her eye:

'No public urination. Offenders will have their tools confiscated.'

Yet another read:

'No Drunk Riding. One drink for the rider, two streams of tears for the family.'

Other slogans adorned the streets:

'Protect sandworms—everyone's responsibility. Smuggling is strictly forbidden.'

'No trade, no slaughter.'

'Animals are humanity's best friends.'

"Sandworms?" Rukkhadevata muttered, puzzled.

Just then, she spotted a group of people with bamboo baskets, sprinting out of the city as if their lives depended on it.

Curious, Rukkhadevata read their thoughts.

'It's the season for wild mushrooms—time to gather before they're all gone! Finally, they're ripe!'

'I heard these mushrooms can make you see fairies.'

'Fairy sister, here I come!'

Rukkhadevata sighed, realizing her people had developed an obsession with mushrooms.

She continued walking.

Ahead, a loud announcement rang out:

"The Most Beautiful Pet Contest is now underway!"

Rukkhadevata felt increasingly out of touch. When did raising Shroom Beasts become a trend?

Little did she know that Sumeru now hosted Shroom Beast battles regularly. In fact, within a few years, every child turning ten would be eligible to receive their own Shroom Beast.

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