Chapter 102

Chapter 102

They had heard before that female workers in the textile factory were learning martial arts, but they thought, how skilled could women really become? They dismissed it as unimportant. Now, looking at this, perhaps they just hadn’t provoked the other side enough—otherwise, the next thing to drop wouldn’t be the stage planks—it’d be them!

Among this anxious crowd, the men who had wives or mothers working in the textile factory were especially torn. Imagining the scene of being beaten down in the future, should they stop them from going? But they couldn’t afford to lose the factory pay. Ah well, they’d just have to toe the line from now on and avoid escalating things to a fight—they were afraid they might not win.

As for the workers from other officially-run factories, watching the dazzling moves onstage, they wondered, why wasn’t anyone teaching them?

Hearing the murmurs from the crowd below, Ning Chan sneered. There was an inherent physical gap between men and women. Teaching the female textile workers was to give them the ability to protect themselves, to stand up and create a protective umbrella for women, piercing through the status quo.

Let the women outside know they weren’t just tools for childbirth, nor just overworked drudges who got no thanks. They were just like men—able to stand tall on their own through their own efforts.

Of course, considering that some men were physically weak and also prone to bullying, they could go to the officially-run academies to learn. Once they’d mastered their skills, they’d receive an official martial arts certificate. If they ever used what they learned to bully others, the punishment would be doubled.

As for those who were already strong and wanted to become even stronger—the military was happy to take them. Whatever they wanted to train in, it was all here.

After one performance after another, the square was jam-packed. Even the trees and rooftops outside the venue were crowded with people. Some weren’t locals of the royal city but had rushed over from neighboring towns after hearing the news.

Seeing the lively scene and the breathtaking performances on stage, they kicked themselves for not coming earlier to catch the earlier acts.

Once Ning Chan had finished eating, Kane asked him about his plans. “Later, how do you want to make your entrance? Should I have someone announce you, and then you go up and say a few words to everyone, or do you have another idea?”

Kane had thrown this whole spectacle just to please Ning Chan, so he didn’t want to burden him with too many formalities. If he had to follow too many procedures, sure, it’d look impressive, but would it be worth tiring Ning Chan out?

Not to mention, Ning Chan had already said he had no patience for pomp and ceremony—just showing up would be enough. Why would Kane go against his wishes and complicate things?

Still, he had to ask. What if Ning Chan changed his mind? There was still time to adjust.

Ning Chan looked at the bustling crowd below and the dazzling performances on stage, his thoughts stirring. “Hmm, you’ve done so much. It wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t contribute at all. Alright, let me handle the meet-and-greet later. I’ll show you something fresh too.”

His gaze lifted from the flagpole on the ceremonial platform to the slightly darkening sky, a smirk tugging at his lips.

To prevent overcrowding and stampedes in the square, the entire area was divided into several fan-shaped sections by narrow walkways. If people wanted to move around, they had to walk sideways to the passage and then exit.

Of course, it wasn’t that they were particularly well-behaved and didn’t try to occupy those single-person lanes—it was just that these paths were blocked off by guards with ropes. Anyone who loitered got hauled off and slapped with a fine.

Troublemakers in the square were also pulled out, fined, and had their credit scores docked. In the future, getting loans or doing business would be harder for them than for others.

When they first entered the square, some people ignored the guards’ loudspeaker announcements about these rules. But after experiencing the punishment firsthand, they could only grope their empty pockets and be dragged out of the square, filled with regret.

Sigh, they should’ve known—the new king didn’t mess around when it came to rules. Their stubborn defiance had only brought them trouble.

Kane had no time to spare for those being led away with long faces. Hearing Ning Chan say he’d handle things himself, he looked at him expectantly. “What are you planning?”

“A surprise. It’s better if I don’t tell you. Here’s what you do—go wait at the ceremonial platform first, then have them give me a signal when it’s time for me to appear.” Ning Chan smiled, eyes crinkling. Back when he ascended to the position of His Holiness, Kane had missed it. This time, he was determined to put on a grand show for him.

Seeing Ning Chan so full of energy, Kane couldn’t help but pull him into a kiss. In the mingling of lips and teeth, he could still taste the lingering mint on his tongue. No matter how formidable this person was, in this moment, he belonged entirely to him. “Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

The seven-story tower wasn’t far from the ceremonial platform, with an empty passage at the entrance leading directly there. However, Kane didn’t take this route. Instead, he went through the underground passage of the tower, slipping into the backstage area of the ceremonial platform without drawing attention from the crowd outside.

Seeing only the king arrive, Ai Mi, the host of the grand ceremony, was puzzled. Was His Holiness running late?

“Your Majesty, where is His Holiness?”

Noticing Ai Mi still peering behind him, Kane waved his hand. “He said he’s got his own way of showing up. Later, just announce his appearance from the stage.”

“What?! This… this…”

Ai Mi wanted to say this wasn’t appropriate. If this backfires, won’t His Holiness end up a laughingstock? After all, every performance today was in service of His Holiness’s meet-and-greet. He could simply walk onstage, say a few casual words, and the people would accept it. But if something went awry, what would everyone think?

However, all these worries subsided when met with Kane's confident gaze.

This man had done so much for His Holiness, holding him dear in his heart—how could he bear to let him suffer any negative consequences? Since the King said so, he must have had it all figured out.

Moreover, she should trust His Holiness. As the messenger of the gods, he possessed extraordinary abilities. A "mere" appearance like this shouldn’t be a challenge for him.

Amidst the ethereal melody of the harp, Ai Mi took the stage. "Next, the star of our sacred ceremony—His Holiness! He taught us to identify medicinal herbs, he brought holy healers to cure our illnesses, he enabled us to grow more crops, he led us to..."

Ai Mi passionately recounted Ning Chan’s achievements on stage, growing more emotional with each word. By the time she was about to step down, her eyes welled up. Compared to her elders, she was undoubtedly fortunate—in this bleak era, she had encountered two reformers with the ability and courage to pierce through the darkness and lead them toward the light.

Thankfully, she was in the bloom of youth. Thankfully, she had the chance to be part of this transformation.

The audience below wasn’t faring much better than Ai Mi. Many burst into loud sobs, tears and snot streaking their faces.

For most of them, their earlier years had been steeped in hardship—constant hunger, cold, fear of injury, fear of illness. Day after day, they toiled like beasts of burden in a mill, their lives monotonous, exhausting, and devoid of hope.

But after the appearance of Saint Ning, good things gradually reached them. Their sour, bitter lives seemed to have gained a hint of sweetness.

The streets grew cleaner, the granaries fuller. They thought this was already a good life—until King Kane marched into the city, overthrowing the old regime. Only then did they realize life could be even more full of flavor.

With the King and His Holiness here, everything was truly wonderful.

Hearing the wails below, Ning Chan nearly toppled over the railing. Enough, enough—if they kept praising him like this, his face would turn red.

Once Ai Mi left the stage, Ning Chan steadied himself. With a nimble leap, he jumped onto the highwire connecting the fifth floor of the seven-story tower to the flagpole atop the ceremonial platform.

Originally used for hanging lanterns to illuminate the square at night, the highwire was still starkly bare since dusk hadn’t fully fallen. Only the iron rings for lanterns dangled at intervals below.

If the highwire could support those large lanterns, it could certainly support Ning Chan.

Testing his footing, Ning Chan mused that without his superpower, he probably wouldn’t dare attempt this. With a soft "tch," vines coiled beneath his feet, carrying him smoothly toward the altar.

After leaving the stage, Ai Mi glanced at the empty platform and the growing unease among the crowd below. Her suppressed worries resurfaced.

Your Holiness, where are you?!

She scanned anxiously out the preparation room’s window, searching for any figure that might resemble His Holiness.

Just as her anxiety peaked, a collective gasp snagged her attention.

"Flowers? Where did these flowers come from?" someone at the edge of the square wondered, staring at the small yellow blossoms landing on people’s heads. With the crowd packed tightly, no one seemed to be carrying flowers.

Rumor had it the fifth floor of the seven-story tower housed a garden—could the flowers have drifted from there?

The person turned toward the tower—and froze in shock.

"What—what is that? Is someone up there?!"

Following the exclamation, others instinctively looked up and froze.

On the smooth iron highwire, streaks of green intertwined like braids, racing forward. Behind them, tiny flowers bloomed and fluttered down.

Above the green trails stood a figure shrouded in a black cloak, its exterior dotted with faint golden specks—too distant for the crowd to discern clearly. The inner lining was a vivid red, and with the front secured by chains, only the hem billowed in the wind, revealing glimpses of pristine white vestments beneath.

As for what he wore on his feet or what he looked like, the shifting green haze obscured the details.

But who else could make such an entrance—if not His Holiness?