Chapter 71: An Overnight Uproar

“That doesn’t sound convincing at all. If that person were truly content, why would they take Shen Qingjin as a personal disciple? Clearly, they’re seeking action after too much stillness.” The Lord of Plum Mountain remarked.

“Well, there’s no point worrying so much about it now. We’ll just take things as they come.” Wei Dongting replied. With such a powerful figure looming over his head, nothing tasted right anymore.

“Very well, then. I’ll notify them that they can change the name.” The Lord of Plum Mountain said.

Wei Dongting nodded.

The small city wasn’t even finished yet, but the name was already chosen. Upon the main gate’s archway, three grand, ancient-style characters were carved: Coiling Dragon City. With the new city, the Serpent Domain was also renamed to Coiling Dragon Domain, and even the Serpent Lake became Coiling Dragon Lake.

Perhaps there truly was some disharmony between dragons and serpents.

The name of the domain had only just changed. While the small Coiling Dragon City still stood incomplete, the first group of wandering cultivators arrived with their horses.

“Are there any inns already open?” the dusty leader asked.

“Yes, three inns are ready. What price range are you interested in?” The young man at the gate, responsible for guiding newcomers, asked eagerly.

“What are the price ranges?”

“All our buildings are made of stone, the furniture of ironwood—nothing fancy. So the most expensive rooms are only thirty red gold coins for a spacious suite. The beds inside are built-in heated platforms—kang beds. You can book for yourself or share with three or four sturdy men.”

“Kang beds?” The visitor was amused. “Do you actually light kang beds in winter out here?”

“We do! Winters in the Eastern Wilds are especially cold, so we built kang beds. Heating them just uses a bit of wood or charcoal, which is far cheaper than installing warming talismans. The inn rooms are large and plentiful, and we can’t afford talismans everywhere.” The young man explained enthusiastically.

The visitor chuckled. “Your boss really thought this through. What about the cheaper rooms?”

“A step down is twenty red gold coins a room. The cheapest is three red gold coins per person, for a large shared room. Each side of the dorm has a big kang bed, fitting ten people in total.”

“Do the inns provide hot water and meals?” the visitor asked.

“Of course, we have hot water—ten large kettles for one red gold coin. A hot bath is one red gold coin. Meals are ordered separately—simple, affordable dishes cooked in big pots.”

“All three inns are this cheap?” The guest nodded repeatedly in satisfaction.

“Yes, all of them.”

“That’s quite nice. Take me to the most expensive one. We’ve brought about thirty brothers—will there be enough room?”

“There’s plenty of space here.”

When the group stopped outside the newly built inn, even the guests admitted there was ample room. High walls and broad courtyards made the place resemble a small fortress, with scattered buildings and a few trees for greenery but no ornamental gardens.

The horses and other livestock were led to the stables, where attendants took care of them. Close friends shared rooms, while those who preferred solitude paid for private quarters. Though the setup was simple, it was remarkably comfortable.

Even the middle-aged leader changed clothes and ordered hot water for a bath. When he emerged, he found that most of his men were already bathing, with some sitting in the courtyard, cooling off at stone tables and chairs.

A large pot of iced tea and several earthenware cups were set out.

“So you even ordered tea?” he asked.

“Brother Zhu, you’re done bathing? Come have some tea—the inn provided the iced tea for free. If you want more, just call for it.” The freshly bathed men, who had been joking among themselves, greeted him warmly and pulled him into the stone pavilion.

The pavilion itself was solid and spacious, furnished with a round stone table and stone seats.

“The only thing rough about this place is the finish, but otherwise, it’s great,” Leader Zhu laughed.

“If the furnishings were too refined, we wouldn’t dare use them. This is perfect for us,” another old comrade replied. “When we first heard a new city was being built here, we didn’t believe it. Good thing you brought us here. If we spend this winter here, it’ll be a comfortable season.”

Zhu nodded. “If we were in Plum Mountain, we’d still be living in those old, cramped, damp huts. But I wonder if this place can withstand a beast tide?”

“I heard there’s a water palace and a cultivator’s sanctuary beneath the lake. Since the city was built, not a single ferocious beast or wild animal has come near,” another comrade chimed in. “I asked about the construction, and they said since there’s been no outside interference, the main structures were finished in just half a month. Another two weeks and the city will be complete.”

“Really? That fast?” Zhu was astonished.

“That’s right. Several building teams came to construct houses and city walls. They say the last thing to be redone is the lord’s stone fortress—it’s going to be rebuilt into a grand lord’s mansion.”

Zhu was truly amazed.

“If they really succeed, we might settle here for good.”

Indeed, everyone thought the same.

Before the first group of wandering cultivators had even stayed half a day, a second group arrived late at night. On the road, they’d been attacked by a pack of vicious wolves, losing some carts and horses while fleeing. Once they reached the foothills of Coiling Serpent Mountain, the wolves gave up the chase.

Following the mountain road, they stumbled upon this newly built city.

Having narrowly escaped death, the group decided to stay. After all, safety lies where people gather. Only after settling in did they learn of the sanctuary beneath the lake and the absence of beast tides.

Naturally, some began to plot and scheme...

The next day brought more arrivals. By the afternoon, not just large groups but even lone cultivators, hearing rumors, sought the place out.

Within a few days, the city’s construction was still unfinished, yet the new inns were nearly full.

With so many people, shops began to open as well. As one shop after another started business, the city came alive almost overnight, buzzing with activity, a true bustling town—though the clang of construction still echoed in some corners.

Standing on the balcony of her newly built street-side house, Qinghu gazed in astonishment at the bustling crowds below. “The change is simply unbelievable.”