Chapter140

Inside the Valley of Divine Medicine, as soon as Elara stepped in, she felt a familiar disturbance coming from the entire mountain area.

It was the sensation of puppets.

It seemed that since the "Poison Root" was one of the four hall masters who first tested the Plumera Kingdom's border, many of the Gu people who had entered the valley were his subordinates. The creatures they had controlled in the valley were implanted with child Gu worms originating from the Poison Root's mother Gu. The disciples in the valley had killed off the Gu people completely but did not harm the controlled animals. So when Elara, now the possessor of the Poison Root's mother Gu, entered the valley, she instantly felt a familiar hunger from all the creatures spread across the mountains.

The creatures once controlled by the Puppet Sect now all belonged to her.

That worked out well. Since the Valley of Divine Medicine was located along the border between the Plumera Kingdom and Youtan, she could use those creatures to watch over this part of the border.

According to the plan, Elara and her group rested in the valley for one night, planning to continue their return the next day.

But that night after dinner, the always gentle, smiling white-haired master waved her over and invited her to his alchemy room.

Elara went in and saw him take a jade bottle, glowing green, from the topmost shelf of the alchemy table. Holding the bottle, he walked over and started gesturing.

[Princess, you cut off the karmic ties between me and the Puppet Sect. That karma now lies with you. Though I do not know what effects it may bring in the future, I can sense that you are already deeply connected with my valley by many layers of karma, large and small. With this new tie added, our fates will remain linked for a long time. You saved our valley this time, so this Awakening Pill is both a token of gratitude and a blessing from us. Please accept it.]

Elara looked at the little green bottle in his hand but hadn't spoken yet when he gestured again.

[I can sense that your body is... unusual. There is severe decay, but also an immense power hidden within. It hasn't awakened yet. This pill will help awaken part of that power and slowly merge it into your body in a way you can withstand. It will nourish your body gently, and once it settles in, that inner power will no longer be so easily shaken by outside forces.]

As soon as the white-robed master finished gesturing, System 92 started shouting in her mind.

[Master! Master! This pill is an incredible treasure! It's perfect for your current state! Haven't you been suffering because you can't control the Saint Spirit Blood Soul inside you? With this pill, it can finally awaken within your body! And it'll do so gently, without causing any harm!]

[With this pill and the awakening of the Saint Spirit Blood Soul, your physical condition will improve greatly. You'll also gain much better control over the blood contract!]

[After that, even if you face the Puppet Sect again, even someone at the level of the cult leader, they'll have no way to compete with you over the control of the blood contract. That means they won't be able to influence the Wei Clan anymore! They won't be able to threaten you again!]

It really did seem like this Awakening Pill was exactly what Elara needed right now.

With it, she would no longer need to worry about the Puppet Sect interfering with the Wei Clan. Since it was highly likely she would face the Puppet Sect in war soon, she had originally planned to hide the Wei Clan's power just to avoid risk.

But now, if System 92 was right, with the Awakening Pill, she wouldn't have to worry at all. The Wei Clan's strength could be used freely in future battles and would be a great help.

Elara looked at the man in front of her, his skin as white and clear as crystal, and thought of what he said about her power never again being affected by others.

Did he somehow guess what she and the Wei Clan had experienced under the mines?

No wonder. He had lived more than 300 years. Sharp-eyed and full of secrets.

Still, no matter what, she really needed this item.

Elara accepted the jade bottle from the white-haired master without hesitation and smiled. "Then... thank you, Master. Please be at ease. I don't know exactly what kind of karma you mentioned, but since your valley lies within the borders of my kingdom, I will protect it always."

The master's smile grew even warmer. His snow-like face looked more elegant than ever, and his slender fingers moved again.

[Princess, with your noble status, you don't need to call me Master. My surname is Wan Yi, and my given name is Tan. Just call me by name. Oswyn is my disciple, and he shares deep ties with you as well. He's not very experienced with worldly matters and has a rough temper, but he's kind at heart. Until his training is complete, I hope you'll guide and tolerate him.]

She could understand being asked to tolerate him, but being told to guide him?

Thinking of how Oswyn would react if he heard his master say that, probably getting red-faced with anger, Elara smiled to herself. Out loud, she accepted the task. "Of course, Valley Master Wan Yi. Don't worry."

But in truth, she still preferred calling him the white-haired master.

After resting for one night, Elara had breakfast the next day and arranged the animals in the mountain forest before leading the group back on the road.

On the way back, they continued to eliminate rebels where they could, and took any money, food, or supplies available.

But now they were too far from Anqu Town to send prisoners back there. So she brought them to Marigold County, planning to use them for road construction, military drills, and other labor.

By the time they formally returned to Marigold County, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

The time Elara spent outside was roughly what she had expected, about 17 days in total.

And in seventeen days, a fast-growing city had enough time to show some changes.

Before leaving, Elara had assigned Scholar Fu and Kristof the task of overseeing the city's development.

Now that she was back, even before reaching the city gate, she could see craftsmen tied with ropes working on the walls. Each held bricks in their hands, patching up the old damaged walls of the city.

Clearly, they had been working for quite some time. Most of the damaged parts of the city wall had already been rebuilt.

There were even new structures added above the wall like arrow towers, watch platforms, hooks, and chains. The whole place now looked vastly better than before. Finally, it had the basic look of a real county defense wall.

Elara saw the familiar bricks in their hands and felt her mood improve.

This meant the refinery had not slacked off while she was away. Instead, they followed her plan and successfully fired a large batch of bricks and stones.

Most parts of the city wall had already been reinforced. People working on the wall, helping to hoist bricks and pass mortar, saw their returning group and immediately sent someone down to inform the others.

Before long, Scholar Fu and Kristof rushed out on horseback from inside the city to greet them.

"Welcome back, Princess," Scholar Fu said, as calm as ever.

"Welcome back, Princess~ You finally returned. Scholar Fu and I waited for you so long~" Kristof added, still looking as unruly and playful as ever. He even winked at Elara.

Elara got off her horse and saw the lively scene at the city gate wall.

She wanted to walk into the city with them and see how Marigold County had changed in the half month she was away.

Workers busy on the city wall noticed her and immediately wanted to stop their work and salute her.

Elara raised her hand to stop them. "Don't mind me. Keep working."

Maybe her expression looked too pleasant, with no sign of anger, so the people took up their tools again.

They watched her cautiously while continuing their tasks.

Elara walked a circle along the outer city wall and saw that the entire structure had been repaired and reinforced.

Thinking about the possibility of future war, she rubbed her chin and looked at the dry dirt around the outer wall.

She said to Scholar Fu and Kristof beside her, "Go and tell the construction division to dig a moat around the city wall. Build drawbridges at the east, south, west, and north. The moat should be at least seven meters deep and over twenty meters wide. Once filled, only let water in, not out."

A moat normally has flowing water, but Elara's plan had another purpose.

She was also preparing for a future attack from the puppet cult of Youdan.

They used puppet beasts in war, and these could sneak in through any small gap. If poisonous, they would be even more deadly.

So Elara wanted to dig a moat. If war really came, she would have Oswyn put special medicine into the water to counteract those puppet creatures.

She would see how they dared attack again.

Scholar Fu and Kristof carefully noted all her instructions.

After inspecting the outer wall, Elara entered the city to continue checking.

She had to admit their work was impressive.

It even exceeded her expectations.

Besides the well-repaired walls, the inside of the city was developing even faster than she imagined.

Because the ironworks produced a large amount of bricks and stones, they weren't only used for the wall.

Scholar Fu and Kristof also arranged for artisans to repair the damaged houses inside the city.

This allowed citizens to have homes and made the whole city look renewed.

The formerly ruined buildings had become rows of neat, proper houses.

Especially the commercial and tavern areas, which now looked much cleaner and more pleasant.

Yes, clean.

Marigold County had become clean.

As Elara walked with Scholar Fu and Kristof, Kristof pointed at two newly built small houses by the roadside.

In front of those small houses were two simple stick figures.

One clearly marked as female on the left, male on the right.

Public toilets.

This familiar building had finally reappeared before Elara.

"Princess, these were built according to your drawings. The craftsmen figured them out in the end," Kristof said.

"Most commoners can't read, so I had them use pictures. Now the streets are cleaner, and the toilets are connected to ditches leading to the fertilizer pool. Once farmland is restored, we won't worry about manure. Just collect it from the pool."

Kristof walked beside her, looking very pleased.

Though he was well-read since childhood and knew many things, this practical new structure made him excited.

And not just this.

In the past half month, they had seen many new things under the Princess's plans.

Each part was developed as instructed.

"Princess, the muddy roads were paved with tiles just like you said."

"The market has been divided into proper sections according to your plan."

"General Egbert and General Hector led troops to eliminate rebels and brought back supplies and people.

Marigold County now has many more residents. The craft factories you planned have also been set up."

"Many kinds of goods are already being produced."

"Shops in the commercial district that were once empty are now open again.

The artisans you promoted have made many interesting products, now sold in the shops under government control."

"Also, many artisans who missed the last exam are asking about the next one.

They are renting shops together using the co-renting system you mentioned to sell their goods."

"In short, the city's condition is getting better and better."

"Some people are even earning enough to buy extra goods after work."

"Oh right, there's another important thing," Kristof said.

His fox-like grin deepened. "You made a deal before with the Bluebell State's Zhaiyun Pavilion, remember?"

"In the past half month, they delivered three batches of goods.

Most were urgently needed by Marigold County.

Scholar Fu and I bought them all."

"When they found out we were with the government, they gave us a discount.

We paid only seventy percent for most items, and just sixty percent for salt."

Kristof couldn't hold back a laugh.

"This kind of good deal is the first we've ever seen.

So we didn't refuse. We just gave Zhaiyun Pavilion a few shop spaces at a low price and invited them to settle here."

"Their manager gladly accepted. It was like he was waiting for us to ask, haha."

"Now with Zhaiyun Pavilion here, the commercial district is more lively.

Goods are more abundant, and they're very interested in our new products too.

They came three times and left with full loads each time, almost cleaning out the whole district."

"This helped the artisans earn a lot, and the government also got good income.

Princess, do you want to go have a look now?"

Elara smiled more and more as she listened to Kristof.

Of course, she wanted to see Zhaiyun Pavilion.

But not now. She had just returned and was covered in dust.

It wouldn't be polite to meet visitors like this.

Right now, she was more interested in inspecting Marigold County.

She looked up at the sun still hanging in the sky.

"No rush. I'll keep looking around. I'll visit Zhaiyun Pavilion this afternoon."

"Kristof, go check whether the pavilion's young master is here.

If he is, help me arrange a small meeting with him at the tavern this evening.

I have another deal to discuss."

Kristof smiled again.

He was already thinking about what benefits the next deal could bring Marigold County.

He bowed and agreed.

Just as he was about to leave, something seemed to come to his mind.

He stepped closer to Elara and spoke in a low voice, "Princess, when I saw the young master from the Bluebell State last time, I noticed someone close to him.

He was a man in green clothes. I looked at him carefully and he reminded me of someone I once heard about while wandering."

"Who?"

Kristof lowered his voice even more and leaned closer.

"Prince of Acorus, Acorus Yu."

Elara's eyebrows shot up.

Acorus Yu? The same one that System 92 had highlighted as the crown prince of the most powerful third-class nation in the southwest corner of the continent?

Elara turned to look at Kristof, but he had already stepped back.

Still wearing his usual fox-like smile, he cupped his hands and said,

"Of course, this is just my guess.

It could be wrong or right, but I thought I should mention the possibility."

"In case you meet them again while discussing business, you'll be more prepared."