173: This is not called laziness, this is called strategic laxity

Ten-odd days later, Infinite City.

Inside a room in the City Lord’s Mansion, Li Yi’s forehead veins throbbed.

Looking at the progress reports of various projects displayed on the virtual light screen in front of him, and the material coordination list just sent from Youfeng Valley, he felt overwhelmed.

“We’re still short three thousand tons of Obsidian for expanding the barracks and training grounds. The application for the ‘Adamantine Conduction Shafts’ for Factory No. 3 hasn’t been approved yet. The Spirit Healing Sanctuary said their stock of ‘Moonlight Grass’ for high-tier healing potions is critically low…”

He rubbed his temples and picked up his communicator.

Taking a deep breath, he dialed a number he had already called eight times.

The call connected, and a noisy, lively sound came from the background, mixed with the strumming of some peculiar instrument.

“Lord!”

Li Yi’s voice held an uncontrollable mix of grief and indignation.

“Where exactly are you? The expansion approval for the Hundred Battles Infantry Camp’s training grounds is still waiting for your signature.”

“If you don’t sign it soon, Commander Mu Yang will come looking for me with his Thousand-Edged Halberd.”

On the light screen, Su Jin’s face flashed by.

He was holding a string of peculiar meat skewers, sizzling with oil and resembling roasted scorpions.

His other hand held a coconut shell filled with a blue drink, emitting a faint chill.

“What’s the rush, Li Yi.”

Su Jin’s voice was relaxed and carefree.

“The sky won’t fall.”

“Am I not currently investigating the economic and civilian life of our allies’ rear, and experiencing their local customs?”

“This is important work. You can keep an eye on the approval documents for now, and I’ll sign them all when I get back.”

“Hmm? That old man selling ‘Wind Listening Stones’ up ahead has very sharp eyes. There might be a problem. I’m going to probe him. That’s it, I’m hanging up.”

With that, before Li Yi could speak again, the communication screen went dark.

Li Yi stood frozen, holding his communicator. After a long moment, a roar echoed through the City Lord’s Mansion.

“Investigating my ass! You just want to be lazy!”

…

Crimson Flame Dynasty, Linhai County, Cloud City.

This was a city built on gigantic floating rock formations.

The rock formations were connected by hundreds of thick vine suspension bridges, and beneath the bridges lay a bottomless sea of clouds.

Most of the buildings here were constructed from a combination of faintly glowing white rock and enormous fungal plants.

Dried ‘Singing Flowers’ hung from the eaves, emitting crisp and pleasant chimes with every breeze.

The streets were bustling with people, lively and vibrant.

Dynasty nobles in silk robes brushed shoulders with martial artists carrying long sabers.

Professionals in Blue Star Alliance uniforms gathered in groups of three or five, curiously observing everything around them.

Su Jin was savoring the “Blaze Crystal Scorpion” meat skewer in his hand.

The meat was charred, crispy, and infused with a peculiar spiciness, leaving him quite satisfied.

“Mmm… Jin, try this, it tastes good.”

He offered another skewer to the woman beside him.

Jin wore an elegant white warrior's uniform, with a slender longsword at her waist, accentuating her tall figure and cool demeanor.

She looked at the item in Su Jin’s hand, then at her Lord’s expectant expression, silently pleading “come and try it.” She sighed helplessly and bowed slightly.

“Lord, your subordinate is on a mission.”

Her tone was respectful, yet tinged with resignation.

“Ah, missions are rigid, but people are flexible.”

Su Jin was unconcerned.

“Understanding local delicacies is also a crucial part of deeply understanding an ally’s culture.”

He used this excuse with increasing proficiency, directly stuffing the skewer into Jin’s hand.

“Try it, it’s good for a swordswoman’s state of mind.”

Jin: “…”

She looked at the skewer in her hand.

Then she glanced at her fellow Ling Shu Sword Guard colleagues, who were all looking down, studying the patterns on their sword hilts.

Finally, she resignedly took a small bite.

Spiciness and savory flavors exploded on her taste buds instantly, and the unique texture made her cool eyes light up.

Seeing this, Su Jin revealed a triumphant smile.

He had heard from Tong a long time ago.

Beneath the gentle exterior of this Captain of the 4th team of the Ling Shu Sword Guard, there was actually a soul completely defenseless against delicious food.

The group continued to stroll through the city.

It was less of an inspection and more of a sightseeing trip.

Su Jin was interested in everything here.

At one stall, the vendor was drawing runes on animal hides with glowing moss, which were said to repel insects and refresh the mind when worn.

Su Jin, intrigued, bought a few, planning to give them to Li Yi to stick on his forehead when he worked overtime.

Passing a pet shop, they saw “Glimmer Thunder Salamanders” for sale, about the size of a fist, semi-transparent, with faint electric sparks flickering inside.

There were also “Golden Finch Chickens” that could mimic human speech, but only said “get rich.”

Jin followed behind Su Jin, watching her Lord act like a curious child.

Looking here, touching there.

He bought a pile of trinkets that, in her opinion, were completely useless.

She felt her temples begin to throb faintly.

Ever since the battle at Changfeng Plain.

After the Lord, in his “Heaven’s Mandate” posture, pointed a finger and killed the legendary expert Erosion of Darkness.

His image in the hearts of everyone in Infinite City had been elevated to an almost divine level.

But who would have thought.

This “divine being” who could make words law and judge legends.

Was, in private, so… unreliable.

“Lord,”

Jin finally couldn’t help but speak, her voice tinged with worry.

“Although the Youfeng Valley battle has temporarily ceased, both sides are accumulating strength, and a major conflict could erupt at any time. Are we… perhaps too relaxed here?”

“Relaxed?”

Su Jin turned his head. He had just bought a palm-sized “Wind Listening Stone” from an old man, which was said to predict the weather.

He toyed with the stone and asked with a smile.

“Jin, what do you think war is?”

Jin was slightly taken aback; this question was somewhat unexpected.

She pondered for a moment and answered seriously.

“It is a clash of forces, a confrontation of wills, the withering and rebirth of countless lives.”

“Well said.”

Su Jin nodded, but then changed the subject.

“But for me, war is, first and foremost, a gamble of intelligence.”

“Why did the Dark Star Empire lose the first battle of Youfeng Valley? Because they didn’t know we had Bai Xiao.”

“Why did the Seventh Fleet almost get wiped out? Because we didn’t know they had the Erosion Domain.”

“Why did Erosion of Darkness die? Because he didn’t know I had awakened my true name.”

He looked at Jin, his eyes smiling.

“What we are doing now is to keep the Dark Star Empire in the dark.”

“They think I’ve played all my trump cards, that we are reckless fools who only know how to clash head-on. The more they think this, the more disastrously they will lose when the real war begins.”

Su Jin’s gaze swept across the prosperous Cloud City, his voice profound.

“Let them prepare, let them gather. The more fully they prepare, the more troops they commit, the richer the spoils I will reap in the future. As for us…”

He weighed the Wind Listening Stone in his hand.

“We should eat and drink. Let everyone think we are immersed in the joy of victory and lax in our defenses. This is called ‘strategic relaxation.’”

Jin listened, completely dumbfounded.

It was clearly the Lord wanting to slack off, yet he could make it sound so grand, even elevating it to a strategic level.

She looked at Su Jin’s earnest expression.

For a moment, she couldn’t tell if this was his true thought or just a glib, twisted logic.

A Ling Shu Sword Guard beside them stifled a laugh, his shoulders twitching.

“Pfft…”

Jin looked in the direction of the sound.

The Sword Guard immediately resumed his expressionless standing posture, as if nothing had happened.

Jin sighed helplessly; she gave up trying to persuade him.

Perhaps, the Lord truly had his own considerations.

She could only comfort herself with that thought.

Just then, a commotion erupted not far ahead, and people rushed towards one direction.

It was a three-story pavilion built entirely of black giant wood.

Three large characters, written in flowing, elegant script, adorned the plaque: “Wind Listening Tower.”