Chapter 8: Walking Toward the Sun
Tang Ping was a bit perplexed.
For some reason, the moment Qing Lan entered the dining room, she shot him a sharp glare. Her face seemed flushed with a hint of bashful modesty, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Tanoxi, walking at the very back, was grinning ear to ear with her usual carefree, lightheaded demeanor.
Inside the spacious conference room, the group stared at the food before them in utter wonder.
"How is this possible? There was no Fireball spell, no ripple of mana, yet the food inside became cooked?!" One of the beast-eared youths looked on in disbelief as Tang Ping pulled a steaming plate of tomato pasta out of the microwave.
"I don't know what's inside this iron container, but it stinks!" Another youth pointed at a strange device—a portable butane stove consisting of a tin box and a metal canister. He tried to lean in for a closer look but was hit by a peculiar chemical scent. He pinched his nose and retreated hastily.
"An incredible aroma... I've never smelled cargo like this in human caravans. This truly is another world!" A third youth sniffed the sausage fried rice in his bowl. It was a microwaveable meal containing onions, carrots, sausages, and mushrooms, emitting a pungent, savory fragrance. They would later learn that this was caused by a spice called "garlic."
About twenty minutes later, once everyone had a meal in hand, Tanoxi finally gave the order to eat. As they enjoyed their lunch, the group began to introduce themselves to Tang Ping. While it felt a bit informal, Tang Ping didn't mind, considering their non-human identities.
First was the woman who had appeared earlier—the green-haired Dragon Princess.
"Master Husband, allow me to introduce myself once more. I am one of Lady Tanoxi's kin and her childhood friend. You may call me Qing Lan."
"She is a descendant of the Azure Dragon," Tanoxi added in a whisper, causing Tang Ping's eyes to widen. *Azure Dragon? As in THE Azure Dragon of legend?*
"I am Brenno, also of Lady Tanoxi's kin. I am the current Alpha of the Permafrost Magic Wolves. These three are my sons." The old man placed a hand over his chest and bowed respectfully.
"I am Broad. If Master Husband has any tasks, please do not hesitate to command me. I will complete them even if it costs me my life!" The eldest and most composed of the brothers echoed his father's gesture.
"Broad is the candidate for our clan's next Alpha. He has much to learn, so please, guide him well, Master Husband!" Brenno said humbly.
"This is Breakes. His only flaw is that he speaks without thinking. If he accidentally offends you, please do not take it to heart!"
"I'm Breakes! Nice to meet ya, Master Husband!" The most boisterous of the three hammered his chest with a confident grin.
"And finally, my youngest child—Black." Brenno gave the youth a meaningful look.
"My name is Black. I look forward to working with you, Master Husband!" The youngest brother looked bashful and gave a deep, formal bow.
"Hello!" Tang Ping nodded with a smile. Although there were twenty other beast-eared clansmen sitting at the back tables, Brenno showed no intention of introducing them. Even Tanoxi remained indifferent, focused entirely on her pudding. Tang Ping guessed that those clansmen weren't part of the inner power circle.
Finally, his gaze landed on the little boy sitting next to Tanoxi, who was currently playing with the kernels in his corn chowder with a spoon.
"I'm Helios, a Solar Falcon. Let's play together sometime, Big Brother!" The boy raised his hands high with innocent cheer.
"Hello, Helios. It's a pleasure to meet you."
After the greetings, Tang Ping stood up. "Since the introductions are finished, let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Tang Ping. Not long ago, I signed a contract with Lady Tanoxi. Currently, I am in charge of her nation-building plans and daily well-being. If anyone has problems or feels I am lacking in my duties, please don't hesitate to give me feedback. Thank you."
Tang Ping gave a deep bow. Aside from Tanoxi, everyone looked surprised. *This 'Master Husband' has excellent emotional intelligence. We thought he'd be another self-centered, capricious type; looks like we might actually have good days ahead.* This thought was clearly exchanged through their silent glances.
Except for Qing Lan. She seemed preoccupied. She twirled a bundle of pasta with her fork, occasionally stealing glances at Tang Ping out of the corner of her eye. Finally, she put the red-sauce-covered noodles into her mouth. *Sour and sweet... strange flavor... but... delicious!*
---
Once everyone was full, Tanoxi signaled Tang Ping to begin his presentation. "Loyal servant, explain your plan."
"Certainly. Everyone, please look this way."
Tang Ping dimmed the lights and turned on the projector. A PowerPoint title slide appeared on the white screen.
"First, let me give you a general overview of this place—or rather, this planet, Earth. What kind of world is it?"
Tang Ping had heard from Tanoxi that these people (monsters) came from the same place as her: the "Sea of White Sands." He wasn't sure if that was a planet or a region, but he used the name for now.
"The Age of Gods on this planet has ended. Known deities exist only in myths. Our competitors are a race that has abandoned reliance on gods and conquered the planet through a powerful force called 'Technology'—Humans!"
The audience felt a jolt of tension. Tang Ping began covering the basics: population, the United Nations, geography, and modern weaponry. He kept it brief to give them a general impression, as their focus was on building a nation, not destroying one.
However, not everyone was interested. From the podium, Tang Ping could see clearly: only the clan leaders were listening intently. The little boy and Tanoxi had already fallen asleep on the table.
*Heh! Who was it that just whispered in my ear telling me to perform well and not embarrass her? And yet you're out cold three minutes into the speech!* Tang Ping complained inwardly.
But there was something else bothering him. He felt Qing Lan's eyes on him constantly. It was normal for an audience to look at a speaker, but why did she panic and look down every time their eyes met? *Did I say something wrong that she's too embarrassed to correct?*
"To attract more people to join us, we must build massive infrastructure and create a territorial development report! First, I've divided the land into five sectors: North, South, East, West, and Central. And now... Lady Tanoxi, it's your turn!"
Tang Ping shook Tanoxi's shoulder. The loli Evil God opened her eyes groggily. "Ugh... is it dinner time?"
Tang Ping's mouth twitched. "Show them the thing."
"The thing... oh, right! That thing!" Tanoxi rubbed her temples and focused. She opened her storage space and poured out a heap of materials.
"Is this... dirt?" Brenno asked, confused.
Tang Ping didn't answer, letting Tanoxi continue. She tapped into the divine power she had anchored beneath the island. As she slowly reshaped the landscape, she received waves of feedback from the earth itself. Moments later, a perfect 360-degree 3D structural map manifested in her mind.
Tanoxi snapped her fingers.
The dirt on the table seemed to come alive, wriggling like earthworms. Some soil piled up to form mountains; others changed color, transforming into different types of earth. In a flash, a miniature model of the island appeared. It vividly displayed the volcano, the coastline, and the plains. To top it off, Tang Ping and Tanoxi appeared as "Chibi" clay figures on the model.
"This... this is?" Brenno and the others were stunned.
The craftsmanship was exquisite. The figures' expressions were full of life, and details like their clothing and hair were rendered perfectly. Most incredible was the natural scenery: water materialized to form the surrounding ocean with rolling waves, and at the peak of the miniature volcano, actual smoke was rising.
"These are the five planned administrative districts," Tang Ping said, pulling out a small flag made from a toothpick featuring a Cthulhu emblem. "First is the central capital—**God-Fall (神臨)**!"
"This will be the political heart of the nation, the home of the deity, and the headquarters of the Church of Tanoxi." With that, Tang Ping planted the flag firmly into the central plateau of the model.
"The south will be designed to evoke tropical vibes—beaches and bikinis. We'll plan it as a vacation resort, transforming the coast into white sandy beaches, building hotels and water parks, and planting tropical fruits. Let's call it **South Seas**!"
Tang Ping pulled out another flag, this one adorned with a bikini icon, and planted it in the southern sands of the model.
"The west will be our primary agricultural zone for grains—rice, wheat, vegetables. All our main crops go here. We'll call it **West Granary**!"
"The north can be turned into vast prairies and numerous lakes for livestock and aquaculture, providing a rich protein source for the nation. Oh! Maybe we can even pivot to leisure farms—making money from both ranching and tourism. Let's name it **North Pasture**!"
"For the volcano in the east, we can install geothermal power plants and utilize the cold mountain air to develop a hot spring tourism culture. We'll call it **East Sulfur**!"
Tang Ping rattled off his plans, planting small flags in every sector. The group listened until their brains felt like they were overheating. Some had completely blank expressions; it seemed their souls had already left their bodies. Even if they didn't fully grasp what he was saying, they couldn't help but feel... *Wow, this guy is amazing!* Truly worthy of being Lady Tanoxi's fiancé.
"For **God-Fall**, I want to design it as a low-altitude plateau—elevated but relatively flat. The rivers flowing from East Sulfur will pass through here, serving as a hub before reaching the three lower regions. We don't need a specific cultural theme here because this is the site of the Evil God Temple, the home of the deity, and our political and religious base. Modern infrastructure should be enough. And then, maybe we can..."
Tang Ping grew more excited as he spoke, his voice laced with a fervor as if his internal limiter had been ripped out. He felt like breaking into song to express the fire in his chest. His goal was the sea of stars, the magnificent peaks piercing the clouds; no obstacle could stop him. If one appeared, he'd simply leap over it. Reality, feasibility, logic—those boring things didn't matter anymore. He was a free bird, and against the storm, his only defiance was to flap his wings until he reached the heavens!
What Tang Ping didn't realize was that someone's expression below had completely changed. Those large, golden pupils were now filled entirely with his silhouette.
Qing Lan touched her chest.
*Thump, thump...* It was beating so fast. *What's wrong with me? Am I sick?*
She had seen humans in finery, riding horses with their heads held high. She had seen humans in rags, huddling in corners waiting for scraps. She had seen so many humans, but none who spoke with such eloquence and excitement, as if they held infinite expectations for the future.
As a noble and powerful dragon, she knew better than anyone the importance of one's birth. Some things were just decided the moment you were born. It wasn't a matter of effort; it was a cruel reality. Not just humans, but many sea beasts dreamed of breaking their chains and evolving into something stronger. But it was impossible.
The **Sea of White Sands** was named as such because it was an ocean of white grit. Countless sea beasts, stimulated by the mana-rich black seawater, evolved every moment toward perfection. They fought and preyed upon one another. Endless skeletons washed ashore, ground down by nature into the vast white beaches. That was their fate: struggle, then die.
*If everyone just accepted their fate, wouldn't life be less exhausting?* Qing Lan had once thought.
But... what was with this human? He was so weak, so lowly. Why could he wear such a happy expression for the sake of others? It was as if *he* would be the greatest beneficiary once the Kingdom of God was established. But that wasn't true. Once the kingdom was built, Tanoxi would take over, and the citizens attracted by the welfare policies would live their own lives. It had nothing to do with him, right?
*Does he feel happy just seeing others happy?*
Incredibly, Qing Lan truly sensed those emotional markers from him. *Why does he carry such feelings?* The question echoed in her mind. Qing Lan felt like a fish leaping out of the water, catching the sun's brilliance; the moment the chill was dispelled, she saw a new world.
Subconsciously, the seed planted by Tanoxi's careless words began to sprout. Whether the trigger was a ray of sunlight or a drop of rain no longer mattered. She wanted to keep moving forward until she was completely enveloped by the light.
"That's the gist of it. What do you think... Lady Tanoxi?"
Seeing the Evil God lady asleep for the second time, Tang Ping rolled his eyes. He leaned in and whispered into her ear: "Dinner is ready."
---
The first National Development Meeting finally ended as evening approached. Since Tang Ping was the only one who knew how to use appliances and daily necessities, the task of preparing dinner fell to him again. Anyway, the warehouse downstairs was packed with ingredients.
As Tang Ping was clearing boxes of pasta from the shelves, a delicate hand reached out and placed the last box into his cart.
"...Eh? Miss Qing Lan, what are you doing here?"
The sudden appearance of the beauty gave Tang Ping a start. *Does this woman make no sound when she walks?* He wanted to ask why she was there, given that everyone else was so dazed by the meeting they had fallen asleep at the table. To his surprise, she shot him another glare.
"T-Tonight..."
"?"
"I have something... to tell you."
With that, Qing Lan ignored his reaction and bolted.
*???* Tang Ping found it bizarre but didn't overthink it. He assumed she needed some specific "daily necessities" that a girl might be too shy to mention out loud. He had a fair idea of what that might be. So, while picking out ingredients, he stopped by the feminine hygiene aisle and grabbed seven or eight popular items. He thought about putting them in the cart but decided to hide them in his storage space instead.
Tang Ping had no idea that from the moment he started picking out sanitary pads until he finished cooking dinner, a pair of golden eyes watched him constantly, never looking away.
---
Dinner ended, and Qing Lan never approached him. In fact, she didn't meet his gaze once. Tang Ping wasn't in a hurry; she'd speak up when she needed something.
That night, to provide housing for everyone, Tanoxi summoned a luxury hotel complete with a swimming pool. Tang Ping was numb to it by now. He asked if the building looked familiar—was it another one snatched from Rookie City? And why TOSTTO? How did she even do it?
Tanoxi seemed annoyed. She waved him off, saying, "You're so noisy! A mere servant dares to pry into his master's business? Just do as you're told. These things solve our needs, don't they?"
Tang Ping was speechless. He suspected she was hiding something, but he was already on this "pirate ship" and it was too late to jump off. Besides, there were no casualties so far; everyone had a roof and food. Wasn't that good?
Resigned to his role as the Grand Steward, Tang Ping began distributing rooms and keys, teaching everyone how to use light switches and bathroom fixtures. While the group marveled at modern civilization, they seemed somewhat indifferent. Tang Ping realized they were magical beasts at heart; forcing them to adapt to and love this environment after spending their lives in the wild was bound to be difficult.
Except for one person: Qing Lan.
She seemed intensely focused on the bathing facilities and the softness of the beds. For some reason, she insisted Tang Ping teach her the "correct" way to brush teeth and the specific "cleaning range" for body wash and shampoo. Finally, she even made him go to the room next door while she stayed behind and let out a loud draconic roar, seemingly to test the soundproofing.
Tang Ping was slightly speechless. *Does this dragon beauty have a snoring problem?* His impression of her dropped a few notches. Nevertheless, he finished the tutorial and headed to his own room. After a long day, he was exhausted.
Suddenly, there was a knock at his door. Tang Ping opened it to find Qing Lan.
"...Won't you let me in?"
The green-haired Dragon Princess stood at the threshold wearing a snow-white bathrobe. She fiddled with a strand of hair on her shoulder, her face flushed crimson.