Poison God's Heritage

"So, how are you going to proceed from now on regarding the region you just obtained?" the Blue Sun asked, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"Oh, about that, my plan is already in motion," I replied, a confident smile playing on my lips.

"Is that so? Care to explain?" the Dusking Sun inquired, his attention piqued despite the seemingly mundane nature of the topic to someone of his stature.

"To better advance a country, one needs to ensure three things are in order," I began, my tone measured and deliberate. As I spoke, the councilor diligently took notes, capturing every detail of my plan.

"First and foremost, the safety of the people and the strength to protect one's property," I said, emphasizing the importance of security.

"And how are you planning on achieving that?" the Dusking Sun asked, leaning forward slightly.

"I already spread sixty thousand troops I brought with me, five thousand in each of the major cities, to stand guard at the roads and gates, replacing the guards and soldiers who died. Though the number isn't sufficient for now, in a few days' time it will be more than enough to keep the entire city in check.

Flight remains prohibited, and I'll construct towers in each city that will serve as deployment points for puppets to guard, protect, and also punish," I explained, my voice unwavering.

"I see. What about the other two factors you mentioned?" he pressed.

"The second one is economic wealth. This land has an abundance of natural treasures that haven't been mined or accessed due to the difficulty and Qi seal limitations. I already have puppets with the ability to greatly reduce the Qi seal on them. They'll be tirelessly mining and extracting any of the resources to develop a wealth base.

I'll also create safe roads between the cities, protected by puppets, where cultivators can travel safely. The Red Sun shouldn't have too much trouble managing this affair," I said confidently.

"Sounds about right, but what is the third thing?" he asked, his interest clearly piqued.

"Earned loyalty," I said, pausing for effect. "No one right now is faithful to the crown. I have mingled among the people for the past few days and realized a few things. They never liked the dead emperor, but no one could say anything. They were oppressed and ruled with an iron fist."

"And how are you going to change that? I doubt going out to the public and saying 'I'll be a different emperor' will change much. Not to mention, when is your coronation happening?" he asked, skepticism clear in his tone.

"That would be a pointless waste of money and resources. For now, the people need to find safety and stability. They're unsure of their future and have no idea how the new taxes will be imposed. Like I said, send a decree to reduce taxes by two-thirds and make sure that outer trade is tax-free. This will help the people develop and enhance trade."

The councilor noted everything down, ensuring that each directive was followed to the letter. Meanwhile, my mind was divided into several portions, each one focused on my copies that existed in each of the cities I just obtained.

***

Shen Bao wasn't all just talk. As of the moment, all of his copies were doing the exact same thing. He managed to arrive at the center of each of the twelve cities with his copies, unknown to everyone in the area by face as he had his camouflaged behind a mask. Twelve different masks, all portraying the zodiac—from snake, monkey, rat, rooster, dragon, and so on.

He haggled his way into buying property, however, the cost of it in the center of the city was less than expected as the owners took whatever was offered. Several of them even thought Shen Bao was a madman for buying property during such times. One should only purchase land or property after the political acquisition was complete.

Otherwise, one might stand to lose everything if the emperor claimed that property.

Two puppets stood at the gate of the properties Shen Bao had bought, ranging from restaurants to simple huts, to even massive pagodas or inns. In those properties, a wooden plank was hung: "Mystic Apothecary."

It was simple, yet grand at the same time. Finding an apothecary wasn't hard nowadays, especially with so many cultivators able to cultivate and practice alchemy. However, not everyone was able to do that, and a lot of cultivators had illnesses and diseases that they couldn't cure or were unable to even identify.

Shen Bao sat at the gate in each of the twelve cities, waiting patiently for someone to show up. Several people walked by the newly opened apothecary, mocking it as being shady. After all, who would open an apothecary in such times? Not to mention inside inns and in random sheds or even pagodas that had nothing to do with healing a person.

However, Shen Bao waited. And soon, a woman arrived carrying a small child. "Please! Help me!" she said, dropping to her knees.

Shen Bao's clone took a look at her, grabbed the child, and said, "Wait here."

The child's skin was paler than death, and the cause was poison from something he ate. It didn't look too serious for Shen Bao, but he still carried the child inside and treated him with simple medication and a few pills to nourish the boy.

Less than an incense stick's worth of time later, he came out with the child and handed him over to his mother. "Give him something warm to drink. He should be good as new. Also, are you married?" he asked.

The woman was flustered by the sudden and strange question. "Yes..." she replied hesitantly.

"What's your husband's job?" Shen Bao asked.

"He makes mirrors and glass," she said.

"I see. Ask your husband to use gloves while he works. He is spreading mercury poisoning to you and your child. You managed to survive it because you're older and have a better constitution, but your child would have died if you were a day late. Take these; they should lower the headaches and joint pain," Shen Bao said, handing her a few pills wrapped in a piece of paper.

She didn't understand how Shen Bao even knew she had headaches or pain in her joints, but she realized he was the real deal. She had her worries at first that this place was shady, but now she confirmed it was a real Mystical Apothecary. "Thank you! How much do I owe you?" she asked.

"It's free. Just go," he said, motioning with his hand for her to leave. Then he sat back down, waiting for another client.

This story, or something of the sort, repeated itself in each city. People in need, unable to find anyone open or asking for too high a price, would find Shen Bao's apothecary and enter it. Not only would they receive an immediate cure, but they wouldn't be asked to pay a single spirit stone.

This news spread like wildfire, and people soon realized there wasn't just one of these apothecaries, but twelve—one in each city.

Shen Bao's goal was known only to him. The Blue Sun and Dusking Sun were at a loss trying to figure out why he was wasting so many of his resources to cure people. But the answer to that question wouldn't be revealed soon.

Shen Bao wasn't only focusing on this task. He was also ensuring that puppet production didn't stop and was pumping out thousands of puppets a day for a dark day to come. He would immediately send a batch of puppets to spread alongside the cities and inside them. Several puppets began building towers in the center of each of the twelve cities, right above his own apothecary.

The Blue Sun had sent the needed money for the death gratuity, and it began circulating in the cities. The money given by the state was now in the hands of the people. Seeing the new emperor lowering the taxes also helped increase the financial productivity of the city. People moved about, and although saddened by the massive death toll, they still were alive and had to survive regardless.

They bought and spent and purchased materials and housing.

In a mere three weeks, the entire area began thriving. The towers were completed, and Shen Bao's puppet army was firmly stationed around and inside the city. The people knew well that the new emperor was Shen Bao. It wasn't too hard to figure out. They knew that the puppets all belonged to him. Although they had their doubts about him withdrawing the tax reduction, he never did.

They skeptically began believing in him as a decent ruler—not a good one, as he hadn't done anything worthy of note to proclaim him as such, but a decent one because he had yet to cause any real issues for the people.

The puppets never intervened in any matters of the people. Simple fights were, however, broken up by the puppets, and anyone who tried to commit any sort of crime was immediately dealt with. The puppets would either incarcerate or eliminate anyone who disturbed the order of the city. There were a ton of them.

There was no bribing the puppets to do illicit deals, which caused several merchants who jumped on the opportunity of low taxes to come and invest in the Sea of Demons. Yet finding no official to bribe forced them to do trade the right and proper way. The crime rate dropped to an unprecedented level.

Fights between cultivators were immediately answered, either by the intervention of the puppets to stop them or by leading them to a Death and Life arena where they needed to solve a death grudge.

By the third week, the sun high in the sky seemed to dim. The Dusking Sun appeared to one of Shen Bao's clones and said, "We don't have much time left. The Endless

Night is soon to start."

Shen Bao had yet to fully explore the lands of the Sea of Demons. All the materials and puppets he was making were not ready for the invasion of the Rakshasa. They didn't know when they would come, but they did know that they would come during the Endless Night. A new sense of urgency began pressing down on Shen Bao's neck. The cities still needed more time to finish.

The roads were not fully safe due to the incredible number of walkers.

But as they say, the wind does not blow as the ship desires.

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