CHAPTER 604: CHAPTER 602: RECASTING FENGRAO

Within the borders of Yin Country.

Zhao Ling took seven days to rebuild the cauldron-like structure of Fengrao City; now, the abandoned steel skeleton had transformed into a colossal tree. Millions of leafless branches thrust into the deep gray sky.

This tree, like the Cauldron of Fertility, was hollow in the middle and divided into many layers, connected by narrow paths. These roads were dense and labyrinthine, resembling an ant nest, wide enough for just two people to walk side by side. In constructing the Tree of Fertility, Zhao Ling had not considered how cars would be able to ascend.

At this moment, she sat alone on the "Lingxiao Throne" at the crown of the tree, legs crossed, looking out over the empty wooden hall, deep in thought.

She was well aware that, in recent days, the Yin Country’s army had surrounded the area and continuously dispatched numerous short-range drones for reconnaissance.

Zhao Ling hadn’t shot down those drones, nor had the military interfered with her; they had coexisted peacefully until the Tree of Fertility was completed.

Now, another drone flew up to the canopy, wobbling a bit before landing on a wooden platform.

Zhao Ling cocked her head as her four eyes instantly zoomed in, recognizing the model of the drone as the lark produced under the direction of the Foreign Affairs Bureau.

She raised her hand and twirled a finger; a vine wrapped around the drone and lifted it before her.

The camera of the drone was still focusing; on its small mechanical claw hung a note.

Zhao Ling tore off the note and read, "We have heard the Emperor is still alive, longing day and night for the Emperor’s return."

She chuckled, holding the drone, and glanced at its camera before rising and walking to the edge of the tree canopy.

Looking down, Zhao Ling saw the soldiers clustered below, forming little black squares the size of fingernails, countless in number.

She turned to a large, branching limb; that branch was suddenly sliced in half, as if by an invisible force, creating a wide flat surface that then descended like an elevator.

Upon her invitation, the people from the military below had a brief discussion, and more than 20 of them climbed onto this platform, which slowly rose.

Zhao Ling, leaning against her throne, waited for quite some time before these 20 officers arrived at the top, still carrying their weapons.

At first, they were very cautious, aiming their guns at her.

The leading officer, probably in his forties, stepped forward and addressed Zhao Ling, "You look identical to our former Emperor. If the rumors are true, you should have been by Wei Tianyang’s side. Are you really our Emperor?!"

Zhao Ling smiled and replied, "It’s been over twenty years. Judging by your age, you must have been a rookie when I left, right?"

"I joined the army at 19! I’m 42 now! Many of the older commanders in the military were dismissed by Li Lianhua. Some left Yin Country to save themselves. If not for that, someone like me couldn’t have been promoted," the soldier sighed.

"You knew it was a life-or-death risk to come up here but you did it anyway to confirm the situation. Among all the soldiers here, you hold the highest rank. Originally, you were going to come up alone, but these men behind you insisted on joining you. From this, I don’t think you’re mediocre," Zhao Ling said.

Upon hearing this, the soldier was surprised for a moment, his expression unchanged, but he felt a warmth in his heart. He asked again, "If you really are the Emperor, why didn’t you return earlier?"

Zhao Ling responded, "Do you remember the Night of Fertility twenty years ago? Were you there?"

"I was there! I was with the 2nd Company of the field army. That night I saw you... turn into a beast in the darkness," the soldier said.

"Later, Wei Tianyang came, and I fought with him. Then I died," Zhao Ling said with a smile.

"Died... so what about now?!" the soldier exclaimed in shock.

"I came back to life. I guess it wasn’t my time. I’ve been watching the news for a long while. It’s been over twenty years, and I see Yin Country is marching backward in great strides," Zhao Ling stated.

"Damn it!!!" the soldier cursed loudly, his face bitter.

"What happened to Yin Country after I left?" Zhao Ling inquired.

"The Foreign Affairs Bureau was shut down, and all the navy ships were sold for scrap. The foreign bigwigs came and took over many industries. I saw it myself—Li Lianhua flattering the foreign bigwigs one moment and ordering us to seize domestic tech companies and factories the next. We didn’t make money but signed lots of contracts. From time to time, we were sent to rural and urban areas to capture so-called ’progressives.’ When there was still the internet, they started with censorship. Now there’s no internet, which seems to suit him just fine!" The soldier poured out his grievances all at once.

"Traitors to the nation, those dog traitors!" several soldiers behind him also shouted angrily.

"Who is Li Lianhua?" Zhao Ling asked.

"He’s a favorite of Venerable Qin and calls the shots in the country now," the soldier replied.

"I don’t know him. Where’s Venerable Qin?" Zhao Ling asked further.

"Venerable Qin hasn’t been seen for a while. Maybe she’s too old and handed everything over to Li Lianhua before retiring," the soldier suggested.

"That old hag is certainly living it up! Good, good, as long as she’s alive. I was worried she might have died, which would’ve been too lenient for her!" Zhao Ling laughed.

"You truly are our Emperor! That’s wonderful! Lead us in rebellion! Do you know, there’s a small group of progressives within the country, establishing branches in the mountains to overturn Li Lianhua’s rule! When we encounter them, we pretend not to see. If it weren’t for my family’s dependency on my military pay... They understand it’s a difficult endeavor but still, there are some things that are more important to some people," the soldier said.

"Rebellion? What rebellion? You want me to overthrow my own country? No need for such fanfare. Just capture that Li what’s his face and kill him, isn’t that the end of it?" Zhao Ling suggested.

"You’re unaware, all the superpower special forces of Yin Country defer to him now; after all, Li Lianhua controls those drugs. Even if you now possess three-in-one power, you might still be outnumbered..." the soldier explained.

"Tell everyone when you go back that the Emperor awaits in Fengrao City. And pass an order to the Superpower Special Department: within three days, bring Li Lianhua and Venerable Qin to me. If they don’t show up, they will all be treated as traitors," Zhao Ling commanded.

The soldier bowed his head, "Understood!"

He intended to flick his sleeves, but halfway through the motion, he hesitated. A fierce light flashed in his eyes as he proclaimed, "The Emperor has returned, and starting today, Yin Country will abandon all formality!"

With that, he led everyone away from the tree canopy. Zhao Ling sat on her throne, waiting. The great nation had finally welcomed back its Empress.