21: Chapter 21 A Triumphant Return: Domestic Policy Blueprint

The night had not yet fully faded, and through the thin mist of the sea off Blue Moon Island, the returning spirit boat had already cut through the waves, slowly sailing toward the newly constructed makeshift Pier.

Rows of torches lined the harbor, illuminating the salty air carried by the sea breeze.

Shi Jian had long been waiting there with the remaining Mortal laborers and a squad of Dao soldiers. Ever since he was promoted by Lu Changyuan in front of everyone, this young man from the lowest social strata had become significantly more composed. Clad in a dark grey martial outfit, his waist saber was old, but his posture already carried a hint of a commander.

Before the spirit boat had fully docked, he stepped forward and saluted with cupped hands. "Welcome back to the island, Young Lord."

Lu Changyuan stepped off the boat via the gangway, his gaze sweeping first over the harbor, then toward Qingyuan Terrace behind the highlands.

He had only been away from the island for a few days, yet Blue Moon Island was already different from when he had left.

Two new wooden Piers had been added to the outer side of the harbor, allowing three medium-sized spirit boats to dock simultaneously. Cut reef stones and un-transported spirit wood were piled along the shore. The previously barren tidal flat below the highlands had been divided into neat, orderly fields, with light green rice seedlings gently swaying in the sea breeze. Looking further into the distance, several newly dug irrigation channels flowed down from the highlands, connecting the fields and the Workshop. Although still crude, the outline of a budding foundation was already visible.

Seeing Lu Changyuan scanning the surroundings, Shi Jian immediately reported in a low voice, "In the few days since you left the island, the rotation of the remaining Dao soldiers has remained orderly. The stone wall around Qingyuan Terrace has been raised by another one and a half zhang, two hundred and seventy mu of Spiritual Vein fields have been opened on the west side, and the first batch of spirit rice is growing steadily. Following the method left by Lady Su, the most saline-alkali areas have also been treated."

Lu Changyuan paused. "She had only just arrived on the island, and you were already following her methods?"

Shi Jian's expression tightened slightly, and he lowered his head. "I did not dare to act without authorization. It was just that a few days before the return voyage, Lady Su looked at the old maps of the island on the boat and casually adjusted a few water routes and field channel layouts. I felt it made sense, so I tried implementing two sections according to the protocols you had previously established. If there are any errors, please punish me, Master."

Lu Changyuan glanced at her. The Jade Slip never lies—the golden text in the black market stated she was a Tier 3 Formation Master, so she was a Tier 3. There was no one on the island capable of presiding over the Great Formation. And this woman before him, the way she had proactively adjusted the water channel layout on the boat, proved she was not someone who could only draw Array Patterns on paper.

One should not doubt the people they employ. There was no time to slowly vet her now. "Acting according to protocol does not count as acting without authorization."

With those words spoken, Shi Jian's tense shoulders finally relaxed slightly.

Following behind, Su Qingli wore a newly changed cyan robe. Her complexion was still pale, but her steps were much steadier than during the return voyage. As soon as she looked up, she saw the mountain of ordnance piled at the harbor, the Mortal laborers moving in an orderly fashion, and that patch of Spiritual Vein fields whose outline was already discernible, causing her gaze to narrow slightly.

She had originally thought that the Blue Moon Island Lu Changyuan spoke of was at most just a run-down island that had just been conquered, with everything still confined to paper. But upon actually stepping onto it, she realized that there were already people, fields, city walls, and military orders here. One could even tell where the future inner city should be located just by looking at the layout of the stone walls and irrigation channels. This was a foundation that had already begun to grow its bones.

Lu Changyuan did not linger at the harbor and led the group directly toward the Lords Mansion. On the way, many Mortal laborers who were transporting ordnance and spiritual materials stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads in salute. Some had awe in their eyes, some had the stability that comes only after a full meal, and others, upon seeing the carts of newly unloaded armor-piercing crossbows and Formation Plates, could not suppress the glimmer of excitement in their eyes.

They might not understand exactly how many Spirit Stones these armaments were worth, but they understood one thing. On this trip, the Young Lord had brought back the means for Blue Moon Island to survive.

Once they entered the meeting hall of the Lords Mansion, Lu Changyuan had Lu Hu spread out the list of newly purchased items.

Six heavy armor-piercing crossbows, three hundred spiritual arrows, fifty Tier 2 Flame Talismans, twenty sets of cold iron anti-cavalry obstacles, three secondary Formation Plates, hundreds of pieces of city-defense ordnance, and one living Tier 3 Formation Master. The candlelight in the hall reflected the cold glint of the armaments, and even Lu Hu, who had followed the Young Lord and seen many grand expenditures, found his throat going dry as he finished reading.

This was the first time since the founding of Blue Moon Island that it truly possessed the framework for city defense.

Yet, after reading the ledger, Lu Changyuan's expression did not lighten in the slightest. Instead, he raised his hand and pushed the three secondary Formation Plates and the topographical map of Blue Moon Island toward Su Qingli. "From today on, you will be in charge of the island's Formations, agricultural affairs, water routes, and Workshop allocations."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell into sudden silence. Lu Hu looked up first, and Shi Jian was visibly stunned. Su Qingli's gaze narrowed even further.

She had been bought from the black market less than a day ago; her Meridians had not yet recovered, and even her Qi and blood were still unstable. By common logic, Lu Changyuan giving her a chance to survive and having her show loyalty by working on some minor Array Diagrams would already be a favor. Yet, what this Young Lord handed her at this moment was the most core authority of Blue Moon Island.

"Is the Master not afraid that I might ruin things?" She looked at the topographical map on the table, her voice very soft, but she did not evade his gaze.

Lu Changyuan's expression was indifferent. "If you were truly a good-for-nothing who could only talk, those few glances in the Tianxing Black Market would not have escaped my notice."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed at the topographical map. "Blue Moon Island has shoals to the south, jagged reefs to the west, and a return flow of the Inner Sea to the north, with a micro-Spiritual Vein buried beneath the highlands. Now, I have the foundation of a Tier 3 island-protecting Great Formation, the Spirit Gathering Array flag, secondary Formation Plates, a Profound Ice Jade mine, and a beast tide arriving in less than half a year. Tell me, how should these things be connected?"

With these words spoken, the last bit of testing in Su Qingli's eyes finally completely vanished.

What Lu Changyuan gave her was not just a few incomplete diagrams and empty promises, but the most critical matter currently facing Blue Moon Island. If she could handle it, the island's Formations, storehouses, fields, and water channels would all be in her hands; if she could not, she would be the first to be dragged down.

Su Qingli was silent for a moment, then slowly reached out, spread open the topographical map of Blue Moon Island, and moved the three secondary Formation Plates and the old Array Diagrams aside one by one. Her movements were fast, but her questions were even faster.

"How long has the boundary suppression stele been driven into the Spiritual Vein?" "Three days." "Is the main eye of the micro-water vein under the highlands or on the north slope?" "Under the highlands, two zhang to the north." "Is the Profound Ice Jade currently sealed in the mine, or has a batch of cut material been taken out?" "A batch of rough material has been cut, but it hasn't been moved yet." "Among the Mortals on the island, how many are literate, can calculate accounts, and can supervise construction schedules?" "Thirty-seven." "What about Artifact Refining apprentices who can work night shifts?" "Seven."

Between the questions and answers, the others in the hall didn't even have time to interrupt, and the Array Diagrams and topographical map on the table had already been rearranged by her into a new order.

Su Qingli suddenly reached out and pointed at a low-lying area in the southwest corner of the topographical map. "This cannot be used for the outer storehouse."

Lu Hu frowned. "That place is closest to the harbor, making it the most convenient for transporting ordnance."

"Convenient, but you will die."

Su Qingli's tone was calm, and her fingertip turned, tracing two lines between the northern Inner Sea and the area below the highlands.

"Although the Spiritual Vein of Blue Moon Island is in the highlands, the tidal return flow will push the moisture from the north side into the southwest lowlands. There are no problems under normal circumstances, but once a beast tide strikes and the Great Formation is fully activated, the Spiritual Pressure will rise, and this low-lying area will first accumulate cold, then accumulate baleful Qi. If the outer storehouse is placed here, the Talismans and crossbow strings getting damp is a minor matter; the real fear is that enemy beasts will follow the return flow's Qi and find the Array Pattern's foundation, destroying your stored food and ordnance in the very first wave."

After speaking, she raised her hand and pointed at three locations below the highlands. "The main Array eye should not just be on the mountain peak. The highlands, the northern mouth, and the Inner Sea return flow line—at least these three points must be connected in parallel to withstand the prolonged onslaught of a beast tide."

"And these water channels." She looked at Shi Jian. "Who dug them?" Shi Jian stiffened. "I led the men to dig them."

"You got half of it right." Su Qingli's expression softened for a rare moment. "The direction is correct, but the bottom of the channels is too straight. If the Qi suddenly rushes in when the Formation is activated, it will collapse after three surges. I will draw up an arc-shaped diagram for you later. By adding three layers of crushed reef and spiritual mud along the channel walls, it will not only protect the fields but also serve as an underground channel. When the time comes for battle, outsiders may not necessarily understand it."

Shi Jian felt his heart warm, and he immediately cupped his hands. "Understood."

Only then did everyone in the hall truly understand that this woman, bought at a low price from the black market, was not just someone who knew about Formation Plates. The charcoal pencil in her hand could truly reorganize the very bones of the entire island.

Lu Changyuan sat in the main seat, watching the light in Su Qingli's eyes brighten bit by bit, and suddenly spoke. "Lu Hu." "Here." "Remove the slave shackles from her."

The hall fell silent again. Lu Hu did not hesitate for a second. He immediately stepped forward, took out the locking jade seal left over from the black market transaction, and channeled a burst of spiritual power into it. With a click, the thin shackles bound around Su Qingli's wrists and neck simultaneously loosened and fell to the ground, emitting a series of faint metallic sounds.

Su Qingli lowered her head and looked at the fallen chains, remaining motionless for a long time. From the moment she was sold into the black market, she had thought that she would spend the rest of her life living in chains and price tags. But now, these shackles had been unlocked in public in this meeting hall, and so decisively at that.

"From today on, you are not a slave." Lu Changyuan looked at her, his tone steady but unquestionable. "You are the General Manager of Formations and Internal Affairs for Blue Moon Island. The island's manpower, blueprints, materials, Workshop, and field channels—as long as they are within your duties, you may mobilize them. Anyone who dares to feign compliance while acting differently, report them directly to me."

At this moment, let alone Su Qingli, even Shi Jian and Lu Hu instinctively straightened their backs. Because they all understood. What Lu Changyuan had given her was real authority that could be applied directly to every process on the island.

Su Qingli slowly looked up, and for the first time, a clear ripple appeared in those eyes that had always suppressed coldness and defensiveness. "Master." Her voice was still hoarse, but steadier than before. "If we truly want to block that beast tide, I must map out the Ultimate Array Diagram tonight."

"The treasury, Workshop, and manpower are all open to you."

"I also need the old Array Diagrams, the Spiritual Vein map, the mine shaft map, the tidal records of the northern mouth, as well as the agricultural tax and labor rotation records for the island over the last month."

"Shi Jian, go get them." "Yes."

As the words fell, the entire meeting hall suddenly sprang into action. Lu Hu went to fetch the ordnance and secondary Formation Plates, Shi Jian went to bring the ledgers and labor rosters, and the remaining clerks delivered all the water route records from the last few days. Su Qingli, as if she had completely forgotten that she was a severely injured person with severed Meridians, stood directly at the long table, flipping through maps while quickly sketching lines with a charcoal pencil, occasionally raising her hand to ask about the depth of the mineral veins, the number of Formation Flags, and the strength of the winds and waves at the northern mouth.

The candle flames burned shorter and shorter, and the night outside the hall grew deeper. Lu Changyuan did not rush her; he simply sat in the main seat and watched quietly. He knew very well that what Blue Moon Island lacked most was never an extra wall or a few more crossbows, but someone who could truly knit the soldiers, Formations, fields, channels, and Workshop together. With this brain, the soldiers, Formations, fields, channels, storehouses, and walls on the island would no longer be scattered.

By the time the night deepened to the hour of the Rat, most of the people in the hall were already suffering from eye strain, and Su Qingli finally put down the charcoal pencil and took half a step back. On the table, a new Array Diagram had been spread out. The main Array eye was placed on the highlands, the secondary Array eyes locked the northern mouth, the Inner Sea return flow line, and the western jagged reefs. The Spirit Gathering Array, the island-protecting Formation, the underground channel lines, the placement points for anti-cavalry obstacles, the reserved positions for heavy crossbow mounts, and even whether the future expansion of the Spiritual Vein fields would collide with the Array foundation—everything had been factored in by her.

This was no longer a simple island-protecting Formation. When this Array Diagram was spread on the table, it was no longer just a few Array Patterns for defending the island; it was more like she had first erected a skeleton for Blue Moon Island from the inside out. Although Lu Hu and Shi Jian could not understand it all, they could feel an overwhelming weight from the dense Array Patterns and markings on the diagram.

Su Qingli, however, showed no joy; she simply raised her head, her eyes bloodshot. "Master, I have mapped out the diagram." "And then?" She was silent for a breath, her voice dry. "And then, we might go bankrupt."