24: change

When Lin Yue returned home, a young staff member with a smart robot was waiting for him outside the door. After a brief inquiry, Lin Yue opened the door.

"Sir, where would you like it installed?" the staff member asked.

"By the bed," Lin Yue pointed to the empty space beside his bed. The staff member nodded, made a few simple settings, and the robot behind him began the installation.

In less than two minutes, the task was complete. A pure white, technologically advanced game pod, 2.5 meters long and 1.3 meters wide, stood by the bed!

"Sir, the installation is complete. If you wish to move the game pod in the future, you can call us," the staff member smiled and then said, "I wish you a pleasant game!"

"Thank you, goodbye." Lin Yue closed the door, returned to the bed, poured the nutrient solution into the game pod, and then lay inside.

The game pod could atomize the stored nutrient solution for the player inside to absorb, which was very convenient.

Lin Yue moved around, and the experience was very good; he could still move his body left and right. You get what you pay for; it was indeed much better than a game helmet.

He then pressed the game start button. The game pod automatically pulled down its glass cover, then began identity binding and game login. After a familiar process, the game started!

After a brief darkness, Lin Yue opened his eyes, and a wooden ceiling came into view.

He got up to stretch his muscles and bones, then walked to the top floor, but the scene before him greatly surprised him!

Who am I? Where am I?

When he had exited the game, the village only had a hundred dilapidated houses, and the surroundings were desolate as far as the eye could see.

But now, around the main building, thousands of elegant, exquisite, and orderly arranged residential houses stood. To the east, a cluster of buildings had already formed, and to the west, fertile fields were regularly distributed, truly a picture of a paradise!

Lin Yue checked the village status and was greatly astonished!

"Village: Houjia Village

Level: 3 / 3

Population: 3876 / 10000

Area: 20 square kilometers

Public Support: 90

Buildings: Level 2 Residential Houses: 2000 units

Lord's Manor (Village Level) LV2

Council Hall (Village Level) LV2

School LV1

Blacksmith Shop LV1

Training Ground LV1

Militia Camp LV1

Tailor Shop LV1

…"

How did so many buildings appear! And the residential houses upgraded from 100 Level 1 to 2000 Level 2 residential houses!

At this speed, if Lin Yue hadn't checked the time, he would have mistakenly thought a year had passed!

Lin Yue went downstairs to look for Feng Cai and Pan Feng, but unexpectedly, two female Servants knelt and bowed to him.

"Servants greet master."

"Who are you?" Lin Yue asked, looking at the two beautiful and graceful women in front of him, puzzled.

"We were sent by Village Chief Feng to take care of master's daily life," the two said simultaneously, their voices as melodious as orioles.

Most importantly, their appearances were nine-tenths similar!

"Servant Xia Qing."

"Servant Xia Lian."

The two spoke at the same time. After Lin Yue asked a few casual questions, he learned that the one with a beauty mark between her eyebrows was the elder sister, Xia Qing, and the other was the younger sister, Xia Lian.

Feng Cai was thoughtful!

"Where is Feng Cai?"

"The Village Chief and Commander Pan are at the farmlands west of the village. As it's getting late, they should be back soon," Xia Lian said.

"Does master need this Servant to summon him?" Xia Qing asked.

"No need, I'll go myself. You two should rest first."

Lin Yue said, then walked towards the west of the village.

He walked all the way west.

From afar, he could hear cheers and applause!

Upon closer inspection, many people were standing by the fields, cheering.

"My Lord!" Feng Cai quickly saluted when he saw Lin Yue.

"Master." Seeing Feng Cai salute, everyone followed suit, kneeling and saluting, their voices echoing across the fields.

"What's going on here?" Lin Yue motioned for everyone to rise, then looked towards a burly man in the fields who was rapidly pulling dozens of curved-shaft plows.

"Commander Pan saw that the villagers' plowing speed was too slow, so he demonstrated how to plow for them," Feng Cai said with a smile.

Lin Yue was a bit speechless. Pan Feng was a Third-rate Military General; his strength was far greater than ordinary people's. Was this something that could be learned just by demonstration?

Perhaps noticing that the cheering had significantly diminished, Pan Feng couldn't help but stop and look over. Upon realizing his Lord had returned, he immediately put down his farming tools and ran to Lin Yue in a few breaths.

"Your Subordinate Pan Feng greets My Lord." Pan Feng stopped in front of Lin Yue, and the immense impact kicked up a cloud of dust.

"Get up. How did the village undergo such a drastic change in just a few days?" Lin Yue asked curiously, looking at the two.

"This old man took the liberty of absorbing some vagrants into the village. Please punish this Lord," Feng Cai and Pan Feng immediately knelt to apologize.

"Vagrants? Aren't all vagrants conscripted by the Government?" Lin Yue asked after helping them both up.

Vagrants were people without household registration, including players and villagers who were fleeing during times of disaster or war.

But now, besides players, how many vagrants were left in Great Qin? Could there be some players in the village?

Lin Yue scanned the surroundings, finding it increasingly suspicious. He didn't want a bunch of 'old sixes' in his village, lest the village change allegiance one day!

"My Lord, recently, 'Otherworlders' have frequently established villages, but they have all been suppressed by the Government. Over time, the number of vagrants has increased."

"Some vagrants, unwilling to perform labor, wander outside," Feng Cai said.

Lin Yue finally understood; it was due to the players. Just like him, after establishing a village with a golden village building token, 1000 villagers were refreshed, and with the passage of time, more and more NPCs would be refreshed.

Other players were roughly the same: when their villages were besieged, players died or fled, and the villagers became vagrants!

"How many people are in the village now?" Lin Yue asked.

"There are 3876 villagers, and many more vagrants are waiting at the village entrance. We select only the best," Feng Cai said.

"Are there any 'Otherworlders' among them?" Lin Yue asked.

"There shouldn't be. Previously, this Subordinate and General Pan tested every vagrant who entered the village one by one."

"Some 'Otherworlders' also tried to sneak in, but General Pan caught them and sent them to the Government," Feng Cai said.

"Hmm, once discovered, send them to the Government immediately. Our village absolutely cannot have 'Otherworlders'."

Lin Yue's expression was serious. This was no small matter; he knew exactly what those 'old sixes' were like. He didn't want to go out to clear a wild area only to have his village stolen!

"Have the villagers' situations been thoroughly assessed now?" Lin Yue asked.

"The village currently has over two hundred special talents, with craftsmen and blacksmiths accounting for more than half," Feng Cai said.

"What about the combat strength?" Lin Yue asked. This was his most pressing concern. With rebels rampant outside, the village absolutely needed the ability to defend itself.

"Currently, the village has three Half-step Military Generals, twenty-six Special-grade Soldiers, forty-five High-grade Soldiers, seventy-six Mid-grade Soldiers, and a thousand Low-grade Soldiers," Feng Cai reported, listing them off like family treasures.

Lin Yue was surprised to hear these numbers. No wonder players were so tirelessly building villages; the temptation was truly too great!

Currently, the main combat strength among players consisted of Low-grade Soldiers, or even farmers wielding farming tools.

Mid-grade Soldiers could be important combat power, and High-grade Soldiers could be considered great generals, whom one would rather abandon the village than leave behind.

And Special-grade Soldiers could even become leaders in a Mountain Bandit camp!

When players were annihilated, most would flee with two or three High-grade Soldiers, and the rest would become vagrants.

Now, to have these Low-grade Soldiers without needing to cultivate or train them was quite a bargain for him.

"Gather the villagers who are Mid-grade Soldiers or higher and form a Guard, led by Pan Feng, to protect the village's safety," Lin Yue said.

Most of the Crane Field City garrison were only Low-grade Soldiers, merely better equipped. With Pan Feng and such a hundred-strong elite Soldier force, it would be enough to protect the village's safety.

"Understood! This Subordinate will not fail My Lord's trust and will protect the village's safety!" Pan Feng cupped his hands.

"In the future, the village will primarily attract vagrants with high Martial Power or special talents, which will greatly accelerate the village's development," Feng Cai said with a smile.

"Good, good, good! I truly didn't misjudge you! With the village in your hands, I have no worries!" Lin Yue praised him sincerely.

"Not at all, not at all. This old man merely did his best. If there were a little more time, there would be even more buildings," Feng Cai said, his face full of smiles, the wrinkles on his face crinkling together like old tree bark.

"Hmm, gradual progress is fine," Lin Yue said.

"Most of it relies on Captain Pan. Captain Pan alone is worth a hundred ordinary villagers, which is why it was so fast," Feng Cai added, praising Pan Feng, who had put in a lot of effort these past few days!

"Good, you two work together. If you need anything, just tell me," Lin Yue said. With the two of them getting along so well, he could worry a little less.

"Yes!" the two said simultaneously, cupping their hands.

"Oh, and My Lord, I have already inquired about the matter you entrusted to me. There is a family in Crane Field City that is somewhat similar. I have already brought them over, and they are now settled in the village," Feng Cai said.

"You two, come with me to see them," Lin Yue said without question. It would be best to settle this matter before returning to the Military Camp. Then, he, Pan Feng, and Feng Cai walked towards the village.

Halfway there, a Soldier ran up and reported to the three.

"Bandits?" Lin Yue asked in surprise.

I haven't even thought about you guys yet, and someone is already thinking about me?

He then had Feng Cai find a few High-grade Soldiers to protect Han Tan's family, and he and Pan Feng walked towards the watchtower.

Pan Feng also frowned, wanting to see who was so audacious!