CHAPTER 174: CHAPTER 174:NEW HOME

The early morning mist lingered over the plains outside Heaven Gate Fortress, turning the rising sun into a hazy sphere of pale gold. Dew sparkled faintly on the grass, and the crisp air carried the scent of damp earth and fresh beginnings. Along the broad path leading to the fortress, a long line of people waited quietly—men, women, and children gathered in small family groups, clutching what little they owned.

They were the relatives and followers of Liyi Yi’s retainers—families who had chosen to leave the crumbling city of Amestris behind to join the growing settlement of Black Tortoise City. Today, they were to be officially received, registered, and assigned new homes under the city’s reorganized system.

At first, the air was filled with low murmurs and uneasy glances. People talked softly to one another, unsure of what awaited them on the other side of the towering fortress walls.

"I don’t know if this Black Tortoise City is really as good as they say," one man muttered, shifting the weight of the sack on his shoulder. "We’ve moved so many times already. I don’t want to drag my family around again once we finally settle."

Another man sighed and rubbed his hands together for warmth. "It shouldn’t be that bad. Did you see the commercial street yesterday? It was bustling, clean... like something from another world."

But an older woman beside him shook her head skeptically. "That’s the commercial street. Everything there is so expensive! Ordinary folk like us can’t afford half of it. What use is a fine street if we still struggle to eat?"

Their words faded into the cold morning air. There was a kind of fear beneath their skepticism—the quiet fear of people who had already lost too much, afraid that another dream might turn to dust. They had once longed to live inside the city of Amestris, believing it to be a place of order and opportunity. But that dream had been shattered by the harsh lessons of reality. What they had faced there—the violence, the hunger, the cruelty of "Leading Lessons"—had left invisible scars.

Now, standing before the gates of Black Tortoise, they carried that same cautious hope once more.

"Everyone, please don’t worry."

A calm, familiar voice drifted over the murmuring crowd. Liyi Yi had changed into a simple but dignified dress, her hair neatly tied back, her posture as composed as ever. She stood before the gate with a group of assistants, her expression gentle yet firm. She was in charge of organizing and comforting the new arrivals today.

When the crowd saw her, a ripple of recognition moved through them. Faces that had been tight with worry softened; some even managed faint smiles.

"It’s the young mistress!" someone whispered with relief.

Liyi Yi nodded at them kindly. "Black Tortoise City is better than you imagine," she said with quiet conviction.

Her voice carried easily in the open air—steady and reassuring. Though she herself had not yet been formally assigned a home or begun her new life within the city, she had spent the past few mornings walking through its streets. What she had seen there gave her confidence.

The wide avenues were clean and orderly. The rows of houses were neat, strong, and well-built. Even the temporary quarters she had stayed in had been comfortable enough. Compared to the crowded, filthy slums of Amestris, Black Tortoise was another world altogether.

"Really?" a doubtful voice called out from somewhere in the line.

"You’ll see for yourselves soon enough," Liyi Yi replied, smiling faintly. She stepped aside and gestured for the line to move forward. "Go ahead—enter through the gate. The city will be open shortly, and we don’t want to block the flow of people heading to the commercial district."

As the crowd began to stir, a man with a sharp voice called out from the front. Cao, one of the fortress officers, stood tall with a clipboard in hand. "Attention, everyone! To prevent unauthorized entry, please make sure you know the people around you. Families, stand together! We’ll begin registration and assign housing based on family size."

A wave of confusion spread through the crowd.

"Assign housing? Did he say they’re giving out houses?" someone gasped.

People began to murmur louder now, disbelief quickly overtaking their weariness. In all their years, none of them had ever heard of such a thing—being given a home simply for joining a city.

"Yes," Cao confirmed, his voice firm but carrying a hint of pride. "Every family who joins Black Tortoise City will be assigned a house. Of course, furniture and decorations are your own responsibility—you can earn contribution points to exchange for those later."

The shock quickly turned to wonder.

"A house... really?"

"It doesn’t matter how small, as long as it’s a place of our own," said a middle-aged woman, her eyes glistening.

A murmur of hope rippled through the line. Even if the house was bare, it meant safety. It meant walls that would not leak, doors that would lock, and a home that belonged to them.

Near the front, Carson—formerly known as Cheng Mao—stood with his wife Yuzi and their seven-year-old daughter, Cheng Xiao. His wife leaned close to him and asked softly, "Brother Cheng, is it true? They’re really giving us a house?"

Carson nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "It’s true. I saw the houses yesterday—they’re neat, well-built. If we’re assigned one of those, we’ll be more than lucky."

He didn’t want to raise her hopes too high, but even the thought of a roof like that filled him with gratitude.

Yuzi exhaled in relief, a faint tremor in her breath. She reached down and brushed her daughter’s hair away from her face. "As long as it’s a safe place for Xiao to grow up," she murmured, "that’s all I ask."

"Next family, step forward!" Gao Cao called again.

Carson led his family up to the registration desk. The clerk looked up with a polite nod. "Name, number of family members, and ages, please."

"Carson," he answered. "My wife, Yuzi, and our daughter, leaf—seven years old this year."

The clerk wrote quickly, then flipped through a thick book of city regulations. "Carson’s family of three—eligible for one main room and a separate child’s room," he muttered, jotting down notes. After a few moments, he tore out a small slip of paper and placed a set of keys on top of it. "You’ve been assigned to a house with three bedrooms, two living rooms, one kitchen, and one bathroom."

Carson blinked in astonishment. "That’s... for us?"

"Yes," the clerk said simply. "The address is written here—Room 3, Building 6, Jiayi Street. You can follow the passage up ahead to reach your district."

For a moment, Carson just stood there, staring at the paper in his hand. Then he nodded deeply. "Thank you," he said, voice trembling slightly.

He led his wife and daughter toward the passageway. As they passed, Liyi Yi stopped them gently. She crouched to brush her fingers across leaf’s cheek, her smile warm and maternal. "Go on," she said softly. "Find your home. Once everyone is settled, Lord City Lord will see you."

Carson’s heart tightened. He bowed his head slightly. "Understood, my lady."

He knew very well how much effort Liyi Yi had poured into this moment—into ensuring that every one of her people found safety and belonging. She had done everything possible for them. Now, it was time for her to step forward and build her own life as well.

As he led his family through the gate, Carson whispered to himself, "It’s time to start again."

The stairs leading up the fortress wall were long, but the climb felt lighter with every step. When they reached the top and walked along the hanging pavilion, leaf peeked through the railings and gasped. "Father, it’s so high!"

"Careful," Yuzi said quickly, pulling her daughter back. "Don’t lean too far."

They passed through the Wengcheng gate and into the outer city. Ahead of them stretched rows upon rows of identical, clean buildings—each one solid, whitewashed, and neatly aligned along wide stone-paved streets.

"It’s so neat," Yuzi breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. "Look at them—all the houses are the same."

"Father, which one is ours?" Leaf asked eagerly, tugging his sleeve.

Carson unfolded the slip of paper again. "Room 3, Building 6, Jiayi Street," he read aloud.

"Jiayi Street?" Yuzi repeated, puzzled.

Just then, a cheerful voice called out nearby. Sophia—who had just finished her breakfast and was on her way to the farmland—paused as she overheard them. "You’re looking for Jiayi Street? It’s the first street just ahead," she said helpfully, pointing the way. "Jia’er Street and Jiasan Street are over there."

"Thank you," Yuzi replied quickly, smiling.

"No problem," Sophia waved before continuing down the road.

Yuzi watched her go, a gentle expression softening her face. "The people here seem kind," she said quietly. "It feels... different from anywhere else."

"They’ve probably all gone to work," Carson said with a small smile. "That’s why it seems quiet."

They turned onto Jiayi Street and walked slowly along it, counting the house numbers. Each building looked the same—strong, clean, and bright—but the numbers etched into metal plates on the doors helped them find their way.

"There—Building Six," Yuzi said, pointing.

Carson nodded, noticing how the odd numbers were lined up on one side and the even ones on the other. "Makes sense. Here’s number six. Let’s go see what our new home looks like."

They climbed the stairs to the third floor. Carson fumbled with the key for a moment before turning it in the lock. The latch clicked softly.

When the door swung open, sunlight spilled into the empty room, revealing smooth white walls and a spotless floor.

Yuzi’s breath caught. "It’s... beautiful."

There was nothing extravagant about it—no furniture, no decorations—but it was clean, solid, and new. The windows gleamed faintly in the morning light. The air smelled of fresh plaster and wood.

Leaf ran from room to room, laughing. "Father! This house is bigger than our old one! Look—there’s no holes in the walls!"

Carson stood silently by the doorway, his gaze tracing the lines of the ceiling and the bright light filtering through the glass. His chest felt heavy and light at the same time.

"Yes," he said quietly. "It’s better. Much better."

For the first time in years, he felt something warm rise within him—a sense of peace, of security. A sense of belonging.

As the sound of his daughter’s laughter echoed softly through the rooms, Carson closed the door behind them and let out a long breath.

This was home.