136: Chapter 136 Recruiting People to Join?

Lei Lie glared at him: "The City Lord hasn't even said what the specific matter is, so why are you blindly supporting it?"

Minister Wang Fugui snorted, sounding righteous and confident: "Whatever the City Lord decides, I support it!"

"Then what if the City Lord decides to have you lead the charge?"

"Then I'll consider it!!"

A wave of low laughter immediately broke out in the Council Hall.

Zhou Yun shook his head, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Once the laughter died down, he straightened his expression again.

"From today on, Little White and its White Tiger Clan are officially joining Flower City, becoming a member of Flower City."

His hand rested gently on the Little White Tiger's shoulder.

The Little White Tiger was stunned for a moment, its ears instantly perking up.

"But there is one thing I must make clear first."

The Council Hall quickly fell silent.

Even Minister Wang Fugui stopped chewing his beans.

"The White Tiger Clan belongs to the Metal element, and Metal governs Killing Intent. Their Bloodline carries a special Aura that suppresses the growth of surrounding spiritual plants."

Zhou Yun's gaze swept across everyone's faces: "Little White and its kin suspect that the withering of nearby crops is caused by them staying in Flower City."

He paused.

The Little White Tiger lowered its head, its ears slowly drooping.

"So last night, they left."

"Because they didn't want to drag Flower City down."

The Council Hall was silent for a few moments.

Many people's gazes fell on the Little White Tiger, their expressions complicated.

Zhou Yun continued:

"Now, I have brought them back."

"And I promised them that Flower City would find a way to solve this matter."

His voice was not loud, and his speaking pace was not fast, but it carried weight.

"Now, what I need everyone to do is to first investigate the problem thoroughly."

"Whether it is indeed the White Tiger Clan's Bloodline affecting plant growth. If it is, we will find a solution together; if not, we will find the real cause and resolve it."

Having said this, he paused.

Then he looked down at the Little White Tiger, then looked up at the people in the hall.

"In short, one thing."

"From today on, Little White and its kin are part of Flower City."

"Their business is the business of all of Flower City."

The Council Hall was silent for a few moments.

The Little White Tiger tucked its tail tighter and shrank slightly toward Zhou Yun.

Then, Tie Shan spoke first.

He walked out from beside a pillar and slapped his apron, causing a cloud of dust to fall.

"Check the soil first."

The words landed heavily.

"If there's a problem with the crops, checking the soil is always the right first step. Dig up some soil from the White Tiger Clan's area and some from outside, then compare them."

Wan'er had already opened her booklet, her pen tip descending without her raising her head.

"Soil, water, scope—check all three."

"Whether the White Tiger Clan's area and the spirit rice area share the same underground water vein needs to be confirmed by the Summoner and the Agricultural Department."

While speaking, she was quickly jotting something down on the paper.

"Also, map out the White Tiger Clan's usual activity range and compare it with the withered areas. If it really is the Bloodline affecting it, the boundaries and changes wouldn't be without a trace."

Tie Shan nodded and added:

"We also have to check the roots. If the leaves are withered, it doesn't necessarily mean the problem is on top; we need to dig them up to see if the roots have rotted."

Strategist Zhu Ge fanned himself, his gaze falling on the Little White Tiger, his tone as gentle as ever.

"If Little White is willing, we can also take a little blood."

"How strong the Killing Intent is, how far it spreads, and how fast it dissipates—we must figure these out first to prescribe the right medicine later."

The Little White Tiger looked up at Strategist Zhu Ge.

It wasn't used to people speaking to it in such a tone.

It wasn't fear, it wasn't politeness, and it wasn't perfunctory.

It was earnestness.

It was treating its problem as something that truly needed to be solved.

"Brother Little White!"

Minister Wang's voice suddenly exploded.

The Little White Tiger jumped in fright, its fur standing on end again.

Minister Wang walked over in large strides, squatted in front of it, and smiled broadly.

"If it won't grow, then it won't grow! Big deal, we just won't plant it!"

The Little White Tiger looked at him blankly.

"Come run trade with me!" Minister Wang grew more enthusiastic as he spoke.

"Look at you White Tiger Clan, born majestic and awe-inspiring. Standing at the front of a caravan, which blind bandit would dare block the road? We'll combine our strengths—I provide the brains, you provide the Aura. A one-stop service for bodyguards and business, guaranteed to make a fortune!"

"Minister Wang."

Lei Lie's voice came from the side.

"What?"

"They are discussing how to solve the Bloodline problem, and you're here recruiting them to join your business?"

"Isn't this also a solution?" Minister Wang argued righteously. "In case it can't be solved for a while, the White Tiger Clan still needs a livelihood, right? I'm just preparing for a rainy day!"

Laughter rang out in the Council Hall again.

Even the corners of Wan'er's mouth curled up slightly, though that hint of a smile was quickly pursed back.

The Little White Tiger stood in place, its ears turning this way and that.

Checking soil, water, blood, roots, scope.

Some of these words it understood, others it didn't quite understand.

But it understood the tone everyone used when they spoke.

No one frowned.

No one said the White Tiger Clan would kill the crops and should be driven away.

And no one looked at it as if it were a nuisance.

It had felt this kind of thing from Zhou Yun.

That person had chased it three times, squatted down under the moonlight, and said to it, "Trust me."

It had originally thought that was just the uniqueness of this human.

But now, it realized it wasn't just him.

The person checking the soil was already calculating where to dig the first shovel.

The person recording in the booklet had already started listing the division of labor.

The person fanning himself was seriously considering how to measure the Killing Intent in its blood.

Even the person who squatted in front of it, slapping his thigh and saying "Come run trade with me"—although what he said sounded a bit unreliable, the smile in his eyes was real.

It wasn't pity.

It wasn't forced.

It was, "You are already a person of Flower City, so your business is Flower City's business."

The tip of the Little White Tiger's nose twitched slightly.

It lowered its head, pretending to look at its paws.

But its ears were pricked straight up.

It didn't want to miss a single word.

...

The notice was posted on the bulletin board inside the East City Gate, the ink not yet dry.

General Zhang Tie stood beside the notice, his back straight, hands behind his back, chin slightly raised.

He was a squad leader of the City Guard, usually responsible for patrols.

Today, he received a task personally assigned by the City Lord: to stand by the notice, explain the situation of the White Tiger Clan to the passing city residents, and help speak well of them so that everyone would find them easier to accept.

This was the first time he had received a job directly assigned by the City Lord.

He was so nervous that he barely slept last night, tossing and turning in bed while reciting his lines.

First, say that the White Tiger Clan helped Hua City Guard the fields...

Hmm!

Then say they know how to plant crops, and then emphasize that the City Lord personally vouches for them.

Hmm, hmm!

Finally, say, "They are just like us, they are all Flower City people!"

Hmm, hmm, hmm!

He had memorized the set of lines until he knew them by heart.

City residents gradually gathered around.

...