{Ling Yu POV}
The sound of rain echoed throughout the near-empty meeting room, and there was a slight chill in the air.
'The rainy season seemed to have arrived early this year.' I noted.
'The last three months have been exhausting.'
I allowed the thought to cross my mind for a brief second before returning to business.
"Counciler Fu Yun, Could you please hand me this week's list of identification tokens distributed?" Looking up, I questioned the only other person in the meeting room.
"Of course, my friend Ling Yu! With any luck, this will be one of the last reports on ID distribution for a good while." The old man responded with an overly friendly tone while shuffling the papers in front of him around. Eventually, finding the paper he was looking for, he handed it to me.
"Thank you, Councilor Yun. However, I must ask that you refer to me by my title in the future." I kept my tone steady and received the paper being handed to me.
"Right, right, Spymaster Yu. I swear, young people are so stiff nowadays." Fu Yan complained.
I paid him little attention as my eyes gazed over the list of names. Hopefully Fu Yun was correct in this identification token project wrapping up. The last three months have been filled with nothing but trouble. From finding artists who could carve the tokens to documenting the names, age, family ties, and physical descriptors, it has been one hassle after the other.
After a few minutes of reviewing the page and ensuring there were no duplicates, I began recording the information into the large book to my left. The book was at least ten times the size of an average book and had a thick leather cover made of beast hide to protect the information held within. It was an idea I had to keep a record of all citizens of Skyfall City along with their personal information.
With the city lord's encouragement, I proceeded to team up with Fu Yun as he proceeded with distributing the tokens. However, it seemed that I vastly underestimated how many people lived in this city.
Every day, unless there was a meeting, I would sit here and record name after name seemingly without end.
For a while the sounds of rain and pens scratching paper lingered through the room like background music. A twinge of pain in my right hand signaled me to take a break, and I set the pen down.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Fu Yun took that as a sign to continue the conversation.
"Friend Yu, what do you think about these identity tokens anyway?" I resisted the urge to correct him for the fifth time today.
'He has to be doing this on purpose.'
"What do you mean Counciler Yun?" I kept my face and voice purposefully neutral while glancing at the maid positioned in the corner of the room.
"I mean that while the idea is novel, it isn't going over well with the residents. While nothing overt, I'm sure you have heard some of the complaints?" Ignoring the maid, he questioned.
And I had. I was provided a few guards when I obtained my position, whom I had dressed in plain clothing and positioned at various bars, brothels, and taverns gathering information. I was able to collect plenty of information and keep a pulse on any new rumors. While there was no one that was extremely against the tokens, the general consensus has been, "What's the point?"
"Yes, I have heard the rumors. Some are questioning the point of the tokens. The book I'm recording now should already tell you the value of the tokens," I replied.
"What about the new laws that the city lord is planning on introducing? Tokens will be needed for major purchases, to set up shops, and to buy homes. What's next? Will tokens be needed to enter the brothels next?!" Fu Yun shouted with undeserved passion.
'Why do I feel like that's your only real complaint.'
"And not only that. The cost for hiring their stone carvers and starlight stones has been ridiculous. Why do the tokens have to have a strip of colorful rock that shines under direct sunlight? It is just a waste! That could have been my raise!" His impassioned words continued to flow, and I knew that if I didn't cut in, he would go on forever.
"Did Lady Meng say anything about the cost?" Cutting in, I asked him a basic question.
"Err, no?" I replied, confused.
"If the Lady Meng has not said anything regarding the cost, then how are we qualified to complain about it?" I question while staring directly at him.
"Wel—" I cut in before he could finish that thought.
"Furthermore, do you not remember the first thing Assistant Peng said to us on the first day?" I continued.
"Remember, your jobs are simply to help the City Lord bring his ideas to life and provide counsel. Do not overstep." The man stared at us with eyes like cold steel.
Remembering the first day, I still feel a chill down my spine at his expression. The room was silent for a second as the old man finally seemed to recall the words. And with that, he deflated.
"Haah. Yes, yes, you are right, friend Yu." He replied while sighing, his face losing some of its passion.
I felt my eyebrow twitch, and my brows furrowed slightly. Picking up my pen once more, I continued recording the names into the logbook. It was quiet for a while before I could not help but say something.
"Counciler Yun, please refer to me by my title." I ignored the growing smile on his face and continued to write. The room fell back into silence with only the sound of rain disturbing it.
{Meng Tao POV}
Even though I was under the large tree, the occasional drop of rain still hit me. After training for hours, I was soaked to the point that I had already discarded my top.
*Thwak!*
*Thwak!*
*Thwak!*
*Snap!*
Finally, after slamming the staff against my thigh, it finally snapped. The pain that once caused me to drop to my knees simply felt like I fell down some stairs. A vast improvement. Quickly shaking off the pain, I looked at the screen that had been my companion for almost half a year at this point.
[Destroy or break Almighty Rod (Rename?) 10,000 times!]
[Current Progress: 2,425/10,000]
I let out a smile that has become commonplace nowadays after completing my training. While I don't meet my goal every day, I always manage to break my staff at least twenty-five times a day.
The pain is now easily tolerable, and the only downside is that the staff is becoming harder and harder to break. However, even then, I am still finishing training faster than when I first started.
Ignoring the rain, I gathered my discarded top and walked back into the manor. However, while entering, I somehow managed to hit my small toe against the entryway.
"Mother Fu—!" I reflexively swore and grabbed my foot, only to pause after a second.
'It doesnt hurt?'
Legitimately confused, I surveyed my foot. In the past I have hit my little toe countless times and have even broken it before. It had always hurt. But now there wasn't even a twinge of pain.
The confusion left me when I remembered my staff. This was the first time I even had the chance to be hurt since I obtained the skill.
'How durable am I now?'
The thought came to me, and I looked back at the entryway. I momentarily had the urge to slam my foot against it at full strength just to test it. However, I caught myself while I was still winding up.
'No, that's stupid. Don't let the intrusive thoughts win.'
I brought my foot back down and entered the manor to take a bath. When I entered the bathroom, I froze when I saw myself in the mirror. Walking closer, I noticed the changes in my body.
My stomach had slimmed down, and I could see the vague outline of abs. I also noticed some muscle definition in my biceps and forearms. I spent longer than I would like to admit posing in front of the mirror before taking my bath.
...
After getting dressed I headed to where my wife and son stayed. After that morning we shared breakfast; she not so subtly hinted that we eat every meal together. I have a strange feeling that she just likes the faces I make when I eat delicious food.
'It's not like I can help it. That food is literally the best food I have ever eaten! It even seemed to be constantly improving!'
Eventually I came to the door of the room and knocked. After hearing the affirmative to come in, I opened the door.
"Wha—?" My voice stopped when I saw something that took my breath away. My wife was sitting on the couch in the corner of the room watching Feng, who was on the ground. However, what stole my focus was the fact that Feng was on all fours crawling towards me!
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How is it going, guys and gals?
Last night I saw something interesting. I was taking out the trash and saw a frog on its back. I was confused, so I got closer, and that's when I saw it. Another frog had it in what appeared to be a rear-naked choke! Blew my mind!
Anyways, if you see any errors or something doesn't sound right, let me know. It's one of my goals to give you guys the best reading experience possible.
Hello everyone, how was the chapter? Did you love it? Hate it? Or were you just indifferent? Drop a comment and let me know! If you are feeling generous, shoot me some powerstones. They help out a ton!
Have any of you seen the first time a baby that you know crawls? I have seen it happen with my nieces and nephews, and it is always super cute. Especially when they accidentally wind up on their backs.