Chapter 229
Just before nightfall, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi arrived at the Jufeng Town Guard Post.
“The Mountain Lord is out,” said the guard at the entrance.
“What about Captain Hei Xiong?”
“He went along as well.”
Tang Yu’an glanced at the map and saw that Hong Li and Hei Xiong were on the mountain path at the first outpost. He had no idea what they were doing there.
“I heard that Sister Hong Li brought back a lot of children. Can we go see them?” Tang Yu’an asked.
The guard hesitated for a moment, glancing at the Mountain Lord’s token hanging from Tang Yu’an’s chest. Eventually, he nodded.
“Please, go ahead.”
“Thank you!”
Once inside the guard post, they quickly encountered a squad of guards who had previously accompanied Hong Li to the Desolate City Haven.
These guards had seen Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi in action, witnessed firsthand how they had dealt with the Fire Lizard, and were far friendlier than the gatekeeper. They eagerly led them to the room where the children were being kept.
“We brought back fifty children today,” the squad leader said.
“We don’t know why the Mountain Lord took them in, but she ordered us to treat them well with good food and shelter. It’s nothing like those nasty rumors going around.”
Hong Li was known for her decisive and forceful actions. She had a strong reputation in Jufeng Town, but naturally, that also meant she had her fair share of enemies.
So when she publicly led a group of guards to gather so many children, it didn’t take long for wild rumors to spread.
“Don’t listen to those people’s nonsense!” the guard insisted. “Our Mountain Lord is a truly good person!”
Even within the guard post, they had heard some of the disgusting rumors—claims that the Mountain Lord had finally revealed her true colors, that she was eating human flesh, and that she specifically targeted children…
The guards were worried that these slanders might make the two esteemed guests misunderstand Hong Li, which could affect the collaboration between Jufeng Town and the Desolate City Haven.
After all, they knew about Tang Yu’an’s connection to the sanctuary, and they also knew that he sold affordable salt in Jufeng Town. He was clearly a kind-hearted person.
Tang Yu’an nodded and smiled. “We know. Sister Hong Li would never do anything bad.”
After all, he had been the one who assigned this task to her. He understood the situation perfectly.
He just hadn’t expected her to act so quickly and so… straightforwardly. The gossip about it was already spreading through town.
This wasn’t good. They needed to do something to protect Hong Li’s reputation.
Soon, they arrived at the room where the children were being housed.
The fifty children varied in age, with the oldest appearing to be around seven or eight, while the youngest were still infants wrapped in swaddling clothes, barely a few days old.
They were all crammed into a single room, packed tightly together. Inside, there was only one Flame Stone to provide warmth, but it was still better than the cold outside.
The children’s living conditions were terrible. No one had cut their hair or nails, let alone given them a proper bath.
As soon as Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi stepped into the room, a strong, foul odor hit them in the face. Fleas and lice crawled visibly in the children’s tangled hair, making the two young men hesitate at the doorway.
At that moment, the sound of scolding came from inside.
A child had wet themselves, and two women were cleaning up the mess.
Though they were cursing under their breath, they didn’t actually lay hands on the child. Still, the harsh words had frightened the children into complete silence.
The guards quickly turned to the two young men. “It’s filthy in there. We should stay outside.”
Tang Yu’an took in the chaotic and unhygienic scene, and his scalp tingled—no, it itched!
Thankfully, since they had planned to go into the wilderness to exterminate dangerous creatures, they had already applied a strong insect repellent. Otherwise, they might have ended up covered in fleas and lice themselves.
Turning to the guards, Tang Yu’an asked, “Can someone cut their hair and nails?”
His Purification Spell could clean dirt and grime, but it wouldn’t get rid of the insects. The only way to reduce their hiding spots was to cut away the children’s overgrown hair and nails.
Seeing the guards hesitate, Tang Yu’an continued, “I remember Jufeng Town has a few barbers. Go find them for me. Here, take this.”
He pulled out five 2-unit Peace Coins and handed them over.
The squad leader’s eyes immediately lit up.
They had spent time in the Desolate City Haven and knew the value of Peace Coins. Even the low-value ones were rare treasures.
“Each barber gets one coin as payment, and the rest is yours,” Tang Yu’an added.
The barbers might not understand the coin’s worth, but Tang Yu’an was confident that this sharp-witted squad leader would explain it to them properly.
“Understood! I’ll take care of it right away!”
Before long, three barbers arrived.
They were the ones who had previously copied Xiao Cao and Shi Tou’s idea of making scissors and had set up shop at the morning market.
However, as the weather had gotten colder, people had stopped coming for haircuts, leaving them out of business. They had kept their scissors, hoping to use them again when the weather warmed up.
Who would have thought that while sitting at home waiting, business would come knocking on their door?
At first, they were skeptical about the thin, palm-sized Peace Coins. But the moment they held them, they instantly realized their value.
Word had spread that these Peace Coins could be exchanged for goods at the Jufeng Grocery Store.
Yet, none of them even considered spending them.
These coins generated warmth in winter! The moment they placed the coins against their chests, they felt a cozy heat spreading through their bodies.
Such a treasure—only a fool would trade it away!
Of course, to truly claim this treasure, they had to complete the task given by the guard post.
So, the three barbers sat in the courtyard, warmed by a nearby bonfire, and got to work.
The guards brought the children out one by one to have their hair and nails cut.
Aside from the infants, nearly every child had scalp wounds with scabbed-over blood, caused by scratching due to severe itching.
Once their hair and nails were trimmed, the guards sent them back inside.
Even the women who had been cursing earlier fell silent. Under Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi’s watchful eyes, they diligently cleaned up the room.
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi didn’t remain idle either.
They pretended to leave for a moment, then returned carrying buckets of milk.
Just as they stepped back into the guard post, a system notification popped up.
[Employee “Hong Li” Completed a Profitable Transaction with a Loyal Customer – Points +6232, EXP +1]
Hong Li had successfully closed another big deal!
Tang Yu’an opened the map and saw that Hong Li and Hei Xiong were already on their way back.
After informing Zhou Qi, he handed the milk to the guards to heat up and took out a nail file to trim the younger children’s nails.
Children born in the wasteland seemed to have an instinct for assessing situations.
No matter how fiercely they fought for food outside, they became exceptionally obedient and well-behaved once they arrived at the garrison.
Even the infants wrapped in swaddling clothes remained quiet. When they were accidentally hurt, they merely pouted without crying, making Tang Yu’an feel a pang of sadness.
They couldn’t protect everyone, but at least these fifty children would now have a safe place to grow up.
Hong Li moved quickly. Just as the guards finished heating the milk, she arrived at the garrison with her team.
After quickly assessing the situation, she walked toward the courtyard where the barbers were cutting the children’s hair.
The three barbers were quite efficient. Aside from the dozen youngest children who only needed their nails trimmed, more than thirty kids had already had their hair cut.
Though the haircuts looked rough and unpolished, at least the lice and fleas had lost their hiding places.
Since new clothes for the fifty children were still being made, they had to temporarily wear old, tattered clothes.
Hong Li observed the bustling scene before her without saying anything. Instead, she approached Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi, who were trimming the children’s nails.
“You two sure got comfortable ordering my guards around, huh?” she teased.
Tang Yu’an brushed off the nail clippings and grinned. “Sister Hong Li, you’re back!”
“Aren’t you going to explain yourselves?” she asked, crossing her arms and eyeing them with suspicion.
“We received a mission,” Tang Yu’an replied.
“What kind of mission?”
“To assist Jufeng Town’s leadership in relocating fifty orphans to Desolate City Haven,” he explained.
“Of course, this mission was triggered on the way here. Our main objective was actually to deliver the Peace Coins to you.”
At the mention of Peace Coins, Hong Li’s eyes gleamed.
“10,000 ten-unit notes?” she confirmed.
Tang Yu’an nodded before glancing toward the room. “But before that, let’s get these kids settled first.”
“Sister Hong Li, did you receive a mission too?”
She nodded and briefly explained her task. Then she added, “I was just worrying about how to send them to Desolate City Haven.”
Who would have thought that the mysterious merchant would be so thoughtful as to issue a mission for these two youngsters to pick them up?
“Leave it to us,” Tang Yu’an assured her. “But the road is still under construction. It’ll take at least five days before we can reach the foot of Jufeng.”
Hearing his slightly regretful tone, Hong Li couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
“That’s already fast,” she remarked. “But that means these kids will have to stay here a few more days?”
“Yes. We’ll hire townsfolk to take care of them, and Desolate City Haven will cover all costs and supplies. You don’t have to worry about that, sister Hong Li.”
That wasn’t really her concern. She more or less understood why Desolate City Haven was setting up an orphanage.
In the Merchant God’s doctrine, population was key. And while Desolate City Haven had many advantages, it severely lacked manpower.
So they were building roads and trying to recruit people from Jufeng Town. But what surprised Hong Li was that their first major effort was to establish an orphanage.
This kind of approach required a huge initial investment. Compared to directly recruiting existing workers, Desolate City Haven’s method seemed a bit naïve.
And yet, precisely because it appeared foolish, Hong Li found herself admiring it.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.
After all, completing this mission would earn her 1,000 points and a fuel-powered motorcycle—she couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.
But Tang Yu’an shook his head.
“Providing them with a temporary safe home is already more than enough. We’ll handle the rest.”
Then, with a mysterious tone, he added, “Besides, the mission from the Divine Emissary has a special requirement.”
“What kind of requirement?”
“He wants us to showcase the Merchant God’s power,” Tang Yu’an said seriously. “It’s time for the name of the Merchant God to spread across the wasteland!”
Hearing this, Hong Li couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of her mouth.
If she had never been to Desolate City Haven—if she had never been recruited as an employee—she would have thought Tang Yu’an was insane for saying something like that in front of her.
But now she knew that, regardless of whether the Merchant God was real, the Merchant God’s church was a very real entity.
Tang Yu’an hadn’t lowered his voice, so the guards accompanying Hong Li had all heard him as well.
Their expressions were filled with confusion and curiosity.
Tang Yu’an, however, remained unfazed.
After enduring countless embarrassing moments, he had trained himself well. As long as he kept reminding himself that he was not the Merchant God, there was no problem at all!
He had even specifically learned this mindset from Old Mo!
By this time, all the children’s hair had been cut, their nails trimmed, and the warm milk had been prepared.
But instead of distributing the milk right away, Tang Yu’an ensured all the children were settled, then walked to the center of the room.
Only after everyone turned their attention to him did he finally start to feel a little nervous.
He couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Qi.
Zhou Qi gave him an encouraging nod and had even prepared a speech for him on the message board.
Taking a deep breath, Tang Yu’an clapped his hands to get the children’s attention before he began speaking.
“Children, do you know why Hong Li brought you here?”
The children stared at him.
In their short lives, they had never seen an older brother as clean and beautiful as Tang Yu’an.
Since his arrival, the fierce and intimidating adults had treated them much better.
And he had even personally helped them trim their nails…
All of these things made them instinctively trust and feel close to him.
Hearing his question, the older children shook their heads first.
Seeing this, the younger ones followed suit, shaking their heads as well.
Tang Yu’an smiled slightly. “Because Lord Hong Li received divine instructions to take you to a new home.”
“There, you will have enough food and warm clothes, and you won’t have to worry about being bullied. As for what it’s like exactly, you’ll know once you get there.”
“Since the road is still under construction, you will need to stay here temporarily for a few days. You must be well-behaved and listen, understood?”
The children stared at Tang Yu’an in confusion. Only those around six or seven years old and older showed expressions of vigilance and wariness.
Clearly, they understood Tang Yu’an’s words but didn’t believe him.
Tang Yu’an wasn’t upset and continued, “Now, I will perform a baptism for you.”
“Remember, we are the Church of the God of Commerce.”
“One day, we will let the radiance of the God of Commerce shine upon this wasteland, so that all the poor and weak may have food and water, and all the diligent and courageous may find shelter…”
As Tang Yu’an recited the lines that Zhou Qi had prepared for him, his palm began to glow.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone, the light in his hand grew brighter and brighter until it enveloped the entire room.
Tang Yu’an had already mastered the Healing Art, and the Purification Art, which was the first light-based skill he acquired, was even easier for him to use.
Now, he was no longer limited in terms of the number of uses or the range of Purification Art.
As long as he had enough energy, he could spread its light over dozens of meters. Right now, he was only illuminating the room, which was more than manageable.
Soon, as the light faded, not only were the children and the guards inside the room cleansed, but even the roof, beams, pillars, and floor became spotless, as if newly made.
Everyone stared at Tang Yu’an in shock—even Hong Li was left slack-jawed.
A…miracle? Was this truly a miracle?
Wait, does this mean… God really exists?
The children gazed blankly at Tang Yu’an. They didn’t understand what this power was, but what had just happened would likely be etched into their memories forever.
Tang Yu’an was quite satisfied with the effect.
He withdrew his hand and spoke his final lines: “The God of Commerce despises those who reap without sowing. Your future must still be built by your own hands.”
“But until that future arrives, while you are still young, you can grow up safely in your new home.”
“Having received this baptism, you are now part of the Church of the God of Commerce.”
Tang Yu’an smiled. “In a few days, we will come to take you there. Until then, you must listen to the guards and behave, understand?”
“Y-yes…”
A few childish voices finally echoed through the room. The older children who had been wary before now looked on with shock and awe.
And, faintly, a trace of longing.
Could it be that they had really met good people? A new home… Could they really grow up safely there?
Tang Yu’an looked at the child closest to him and reached out to pat his freshly shaven head.
The child’s face instantly turned red, and the surrounding children looked on with envy.
“Alright, everyone must be hungry. Come line up for milk.”
Tang Yu’an clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention again. “Don’t push, don’t fight, come one by one—there’s enough for everyone.”
Under his guidance, even the toddlers who had just learned to walk wobbled into the queue.
The guard carrying the heated milk only snapped out of his daze when Tang Yu’an called him.
Quickly following Tang Yu’an’s instructions, he poured the milk into cups, inserted straws, and handed them out to the children one by one.
The youngest ones, of course, couldn’t drink by themselves, so the guards had to help feed them.
But now, none of them dared to complain.
Hong Li hesitated as if wanting to say something, but seeing how busy Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi were with the children, she decided to leave them be and handle her own affairs for now.
As she walked, her mind kept replaying what had just happened.
She knew that Tang Yu’an was winning their trust, but she never expected him to have such abilities and methods!
Those filthy little children, covered in dirt like mud monkeys, had turned spotless under that light—it was an astonishing contrast.
And all of it had happened in mere seconds.
She had been inside the room too, bathed in that light, and for the first time in her life, she had felt true peace of mind.
When the light faded, all the grime on her had disappeared as well.
This kind of power… she had never even heard of such a thing before!
“Boss, just now…”
Hei Xiong’s voice snapped Hong Li out of her thoughts.
“Was that… a divine miracle? Is what An An said about the God of Commerce… actually true?”
At this moment, even Hong Li wasn’t sure anymore.
She looked up at the clouded night sky, thought for a moment, and said, “All I can tell you is that the Church of the God of Commerce is very real.”
And incredibly powerful.
She hesitated for a moment, then sent a private message.
[Chi Long]: Old Xie, have you ever received a baptism from the Church of the God of Commerce?
[Sky Stone]: Hm? What’s that?
[Chi Long]: Look into it for me.
[Sky Stone]: Got it.
Hong Li let out a slow breath.
If this “baptism” wasn’t something unique to Tang Yu’an, but rather a power that all high-ranking members could wield…
Then that would be truly terrifying.
Who could stop the Church of the God of Commerce from flourishing in the wasteland?
With this move, An An had indeed brought the Church’s name into the light.
After Hong Li left, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi helped feed the children warm milk.
Then, they hired some guards to retrieve quilts and bedding from the Jufeng Grocery Store.
The children lay down in warm, soft blankets, feeling their clean and refreshed bodies.
Before they could even process whether they were dreaming, they drifted off into sleep.
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi finally left.
It was only then that they noticed the way the guards were looking at them had changed—there was now a clear sense of wariness in their gazes and even some hesitation in their movements.
Tang Yu’an had expected this but maintained his usual friendly demeanor, which helped the guards relax a little.
When they found Hong Li, they noticed that even she was looking at Tang Yu’an with a strange expression.
He quickly said, “Sister Hong Li, don’t look at me like that! I’m just following the instructions of the divine envoys.”
“You… aren’t divine envoys?” Hong Li hesitated.
“Of course not! The divine envoys are Lord Siverlight and Lord Dark Moon. We’re nowhere near that level,” Tang Yu’an replied without changing his expression.
Zhou Qi also nodded in agreement.
“However, as long as someone is recruited as an employee, they become a core member of the Church of the God of Commerce. It’s fine for them to call themselves apostles.”
Hong Li studied them with suspicion but ultimately accepted their explanation.
After all, based on the information she had gathered from Chi Hao, these two young men had likely been employees for many years.
They were probably like those fifty children—raised by the Church of the God of Commerce from a young age.
Thinking about this, she suddenly felt a bit envious of those fifty kids.
Being raised from childhood meant earning more trust, which was very different from people like her who had joined from other factions.
Shaking her head, she changed the subject. “Alright, back to business. Did you bring the 10,000 Peace notes?”
Tang Yu’an nodded and took the coins out from his personal storage.
Hong Li already knew they had spatial storage, so there was no need to hide it from her.
After counting the coins, she nodded. “How do you want to trade them? Soybeans or something else?”
“Can we choose something else?” Tang Yu’an’s eyes lit up.
“What do you want?”
“A cultivator!”
Hong Li: “…”
She scrutinized Tang Yu’an for a moment before beckoning him closer with a curl of her finger.
Tang Yu’an hesitated before cautiously stepping forward…
Then—
The moment he saw Hong Li raising her hand, clearly intending to flick his forehead, he quickly retreated and hid behind Zhou Qi.
Hong Li was so amused that she let out a sharp laugh, gritting her teeth. “You sure have some wild ideas!”
Tang Yu’an chuckled shamelessly. “Don’t be so quick to refuse! What if I trade you potatoes and sweet potatoes for one?”
Hong Li froze, a conflicted expression flashing across her face.
