Xi Ning thought for a moment, then greeted: "Uncle Qi."
Qi ger was both flattered and overwhelmed: "City Lord, this... you..."
"If you are Uncle Qi to Yao’er, then naturally you are Uncle Qi to me as well." Xi Ning smiled at Qi ger, and Qi ger’s expression softened in response.
Yuan Heng had indeed found an extraordinary ger. His whole family was so good. No wonder he hadn't taken a liking to any ger in the Danmu tribe back then.
"Brother, come in and sit." Wang Jin invited.
Xi Ning shook his head: "No need. There are many matters in the city. I came this time to take you to see Yuan Heng. He has invited you and me to the new city."
"Really?!" Wang Jin was surprised: "Why didn't he tell me?"
The man had been gone for months without returning. Although message birds came daily, most of the messages talked about the city's progress.
The letter received last night mentioned that many houses in the city had been completed... but it didn't say it was finished...
He was still thinking that the three-month deadline had arrived, and he needed to find some reason to delay Xi Ning.
So how could he have invited his brother to the new city himself?
Wang Jin was full of confusion but didn't dare reveal the actual progress.
Xi Ning said: "Really. The three-month period is up. He invited me to take you to see it. He said if I find it acceptable, we can proceed with the marriage."
"!" Wang Jin's heart jumped violently. Being able to proceed with the marriage was good news... but...
"Let's go. I'll take you over." Xi Ning said.
"Just the two of us?" Wang Jin asked.
"Yes. We'll be back later. Everyone else in the city is busy."
Hearing this, Wang Jin turned to Mu ger and Qi ger: "Then, Uncle Qi, Mu ger, please wait at home for me to return."
"Alright."
Beast-drawn carriages are slow. Xi Ning directly transformed into his beast form and carried Wang Jin on his back.
This was the third beastman's back Wang Jin had ridden on.
Xi Ning's white fox beast form was even larger than Cheng Bai's... the fur was much softer, pure white without a single impurity... the ears were pointy, looking extremely cute.
Wang Jin wanted to reach out and touch those pointy ears but didn't dare.
Following the Celestial Fox tribe's speed, it took a full day for Wang Jin and Xi Ning to arrive, eating prepared dry rations along the way.
By now, Wang Jin's belly was slightly showing. Afraid Wang Jin might be uncomfortable, Xi Ning also brought medicine.
Fortunately, apart from feeling nauseous, Wang Jin didn't have any other particular discomforts.
When they reached the new city site, beastmen were already waiting there. As soon as they saw Xi Ning and Wang Jin arrive, they immediately roared towards the sky. Instantly, a large number of fireworks exploded in the air.
Apart from the huge noise, they lit up half the sky.
And the city stood where there had been empty land before. Calling it a city was perhaps an overstatement—it was actually just a few pavilions and several buildings.
There were no city walls, the roads were not fully constructed, and apart from the houses, many things were missing.
But those houses...
There were pavilions and towers similar to those in Ning'an City, some never-before-seen low buildings with brick and tile red walls, and even tall buildings resembling pagodas... each with a vastly different style, yet when combined, they looked extremely harmonious.
Xi Ning frowned, transformed into human form, and escorted Wang Jin as they walked over.
They walked and looked along the way. Part of the road was built, but not finished. The interiors of the houses were very empty, clearly not furnished yet.
Although the layout was good, and every plot of land seemed to have a planned purpose, it was far from complete. Calling it a city was too early; calling it a settlement would be more accurate.
Moreover, building such tall houses so early—when the beast horde comes, how will they resist and protect them?
Xi Ning shook his head slightly. Watching this, Wang Jin's heart rose to his throat.
These buildings were all ones he had drawn for Yuan Heng. He hadn't expected Yuan Heng to use them all. The planning was also quite similar to the blueprints he drew. Every plot of land seemed intended for a specific purpose. If built according to this, it would undoubtedly be an excellent city. But now, after three months... it couldn't even be called a half-finished product. Wang Jin felt uneasy inside.
Everyone came to welcome them. Unlike the worry on Wang Jin and Xi Ning's faces, each of them wore a smile, confident as if they could finish building the city in the next instant.
This positive energy influenced Xi Ning. He had originally not intended to go any further in, but following the guidance of the beastmen, he proceeded into the central area.
The roads here were actually built. There was a very majestic palace. Upon entering, there was a marble floor and a spacious hall, following the design of Ning'an City's council hall. At the innermost end of the hall was a long table with several chairs... clearly, this was the council hall, the place for the various tribe leaders and Yuan Heng to discuss matters.
Outside this room ran a covered walkway. This corridor circled the entire council hall, allowing one to go around it and reach the rear courtyard. Naturally, it was also possible to exit directly to the rear courtyard through the council hall’s own back door.
The rear courtyard was an independent garden. The garden even had a man-made lake dug, with some aquatic plants planted on the water's surface, and even the glowing grass considered essential in Ning'an City for proposals and marriage...
There was still plenty of empty space in the garden waiting to be developed, but the overall layout was already apparent.
There was a small bridge over the man-made lake. Crossing that bridge, there was an arched gate. Behind this arched gate were the residential quarters. The design of this arched gate was extremely clever, not only aesthetically pleasing but also effectively separating the public council hall area from the private quarters.
Even Xi Ning's living quarters in Ning'an City didn't have such good separation. Xi Ning thought he could put up an arched gate in front of his own quarters when he returned.
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