Chapter 164: Progress

Chapter 164: Progress

The Demon Clan did not worry about the betrayal of their vassals, especially when facing the Northlanders. Because encountering them at least left a path to survive, while encountering the latter basically meant certain death. So, the Demon Clan felt safe placing their vassals between the two.

This time, the situation changed. Those vassals who were attacked did not dare to come and report to them at all. Except for the Northlanders, would the Demon Clan care if they were attacked by something else?

If they reported an attack by Northlanders, they could receive a nice reward; if they only reported suffering a strange insect disaster, they would mostly get a whipping instead. So, the vassals ran away on their own…

If they had been a bit friendlier to these vassals, could they have avoided the current situation?

But what was the use of understanding this now?

Rio wanted to try hard to stand firm, but as the girl kept approaching, his courage and strength rapidly faded. His body gradually hunched over, and he finally knelt down on the ground.

Lily looked at the Demon Clan member before her. Four arms, elite?

“Can you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes…” Rio’s voice trembled a little.

Finally catching one who could understand human speech made Lily very happy. A cowardly Demon Clan member, this would be a good guide.

…

Now, Rio was like a humble, unwanted but loyal dog, guiding the way for Lily. From time to time, he stole glances with a flattering expression, afraid of inviting punishment from his master.

Legends of man-eaters had always circulated among the Demon Clan, but they were mostly stories to scare children. When he was little and refused to sleep quietly, his father would hold up his own severed arm and scare him—saying the Northlanders would eat disobedient children.

Then he would curl up and pull the blanket over his head, not daring to breathe loudly until he drifted off to sleep. As he grew older, these childhood stories became memories and then jokes. He even planned to get married and have children someday to tell these stories to his own kids.

But what if the story really happened?

That girl just stood there quietly, watching the Insect Swarm devour his clansmen. Screams, groans, and pleas for mercy did not earn any pity. She didn’t even have an extra expression—no bloodlust, no triumphant look after revenge. The living people before her were merely insignificant food in her eyes.

The childhood nightmare surfaced from his memory again, but this time he could no longer find a place to hide.

He did not want to become food eaten alive, nor did he want to be left with nowhere to hide in fear, so Rio found a new blanket to cover his head—he had a master.

…

Fairy Whisper emerged directly from Bran’s side. Looking at the Little Fairies Rando and Langa, who were held listlessly beside him, Whisper nodded with satisfaction.

Then Whisper handed a seed in front of Bran. “As you wished.”

This answer made Bran’s eyes light up. “Thank you.”

Whisper looked around and sighed. “The environment here is really nice!”

Bran let out a rather proud “Mm-hmm.”

“Why not give this city to your sister?”

“Would she accept it? With Sister’s example, she probably wouldn’t accept other people’s arrangements either.”

“How would you know without trying?”

“I don’t want to try again. Actually, it doesn’t matter who comes. I just need to lay the foundation. The hub of this city is here, with me, Huahua, and the Ancient Tree. And now, there’s also him.”

Bran tossed the seed in his hand. “When we leave in the future, he will be the one to maintain this place. With your help, I believe it will be hard for outsiders to threaten it.”

The Fairy pointed outside the door and changed the subject. “Many Ancient Trees have developed a desire to travel around. Who knows if this change is good or bad?”

“Who can say for sure about such things?” Bran looked up at the swaying tree crowns outside the City Manor. “We just have to try to find out. We can afford these risks now.”

After seeing Whisper off, Bran called the Ancient Tree back and gestured with the seed in his hand. “You need to choose a name for yourself.”

“No hurry. Let me think a bit more.”

“How should I distinguish you two in terms of address?”

The Ancient Tree naturally suggested a solution. “I’ll be called Big Tree, and he can be called Little Tree.”

Bran took a deep breath. “You must give yourself a name. No more delays.”

“Alright, how about Orchid?” The Ancient Tree felt rather pleased, as he had pieced this together from the sounds of his two friends’ names.

“Uh… you better think again…”

When Bran stopped arguing with the Ancient Tree about the naming issue and prepared to plant the seed in the Ancient Tree’s original spot, he met strong opposition.

“That’s my bed!”

Bran…

“I can’t sleep if I leave that spot!”

In the end, Bran compromised and planted Little Tree on the other side. Once settled, the Ancient Tree found a more interesting game—he started giving lessons to Little Tree every day, speaking from the perspective of an experienced elder.

This made Bran breathe a sigh of relief. As long as he wasn’t swinging a big hammer at Little Tree, everything else could be left to him. And judging from the changes in Little Tree, the Ancient Tree seemed to be a good guide.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.