Ch 365: The Planting Captain! Hope For The Ordinary!
Feeling his own restlessness finally subside, Sun Guoqiang said goodbye and returned to his room.
He didn’t sleep much that night. Almost as soon as he closed his eyes, the image of the Yellow Taisui uncontrollably devouring Linlin would appear.
Then he would immediately wake up.
Although the Yellow Taisui hadn’t stirred at all during the night, he still felt uneasy.
Just as the sky began to lighten, he started to doze off. He had only been asleep for a short while when a loud knocking on the door startled him awake:
“Brother Sun, Brother Sun, quickly! The patrol team wants all Yunzhu Residential Area residents to assemble at the square! Hurry, hurry, hurry!”
“What?”
Sun Guoqiang awoke from his doze, confused. He looked at Li Que’er who had entered, but quickly stood up: “What happened?”
Li Que’er shook her head. Holding Linlin, she quickly finished washing and rushed to the square with Zhao Liru and Yang Wentao, who were already waiting in the dormitory.
Yunzhu Residential Area wasn’t large, but the central square was quite spacious.
And obviously, most people, like Sun Guoqiang, were hazy and didn’t know what was going on.
However, a terrifying clang of metal on metal broke everyone’s confusion and curiosity.
They involuntarily looked forward and up.
Above the square, a dashing figure stood there.
She wore strange golden armor and carried two swords, one long and one short, on her back.
It’s her!
Sun Guoqiang remembered the figure from yesterday. However, today’s ‘Big Sister’ appeared more formal. Her golden armor shimmered brilliantly in the morning light, incredibly imposing.
However, few people present actually knew Zhou Yingzhu.
Looking at the silent crowd, Zhou Yingzhu glanced around and nodded in satisfaction. She could see that most people had arrived:
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Zhou Yingzhu. I am one of the founders of Yunzhu Residential Area and the Head of Operations for the Planting Team, Inspection Team, and Exploration Team. I am also the Head of Operations responsible for all ghostly matters and security in Yunzhu Residential Area, and even in the future, Luo City! An Eighth Rank Yin Official Ghost Hunter!”
As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar erupted throughout the crowd.
An Eighth Rank Yin Official Ghost Hunter!
The Head of Operations for the Inspection Team and Exploration Team—in the small gathering place that was Yunzhu Residential Area, this was enough to prove her identity.
Why would such a person suddenly appear?
Before they could be surprised, Zhou Yingzhu spoke directly:
“I have called you all together today to announce something. Yesterday, during the Planting Team’s land reclamation in Tumen Village, plot number 11, they encountered a ghost—an Eighth-Rank Ghost!”
At these words, everyone looked at Zhou Yingzhu in terror, then quickly turned to the Planting Team members around them.
Sun Guoqiang was undoubtedly one of them.
Meeting the still-confused gazes of Li Que’er, Yang Wentao, and Zhao Liru, Sun Guoqiang nodded, confirming the incident.
Seeing the chaotic scene below, Zhou Yingzhu frowned slightly. A Cheng quickly shouted:
“Silence!”
The Inspection Team Captain, a Corpse Burner who controlled an Eighth-Rank Ghost, had considerable deterrent power in this period. After his shout, the crowd fell silent again.
Zhou Yingzhu continued:
“Planting Team member Wang Wei was killed in action. To honor Wang Wei’s contribution and hard work in the Planting Team, his younger brother, Wang He, will receive five years of Yin Life compensation!”
At these words, everyone looked toward a small boy in the crowd.
The boy’s face darkened, his eyes instantly turning red.
Zhou Yingzhu didn’t pay attention. Scenes like this happened almost daily in the past six months.
She continued:
“Without rules, there can be no order. This was negligence on the part of the Inspection Team. Therefore, this time, including Inspection Team Captain Lin Cheng, all Inspection Team members responsible for patrolling this area will have two years of Yin Life deducted!”
At these words, the expressions of the ordinary people below improved considerably. They looked at Zhou Yingzhu with more respect and approval.
As for the Inspection Team members’ thoughts? Those unwilling to accept punishment would no longer have to.
Inspection Team members enjoyed good treatment: extra Yin Life rewards, continuous supplies, and even opportunities to control ghosts for those who performed well. Naturally, such benefits came with discipline and obedience to orders.
Zhou Yingzhu had anticipated this scene, and she smiled slightly:
“During this ghostly encounter, Sun Guoqiang, the Planting Team instructor, promptly discovered the ghost’s presence and, as an Ordinary Person, understood the ghost’s abilities, preventing further casualties. His performance was outstanding!
For his outstanding performance, he is awarded the special Ninth Rank Yin Official position of Mountain Dweller and successfully completed his advancement. Simultaneously, during the confrontation with the Eighth-Rank Ghost, he received assistance from the upper echelons, leading to successful symbiosis with the ghost!
Starting today, Sun Guoqiang will officially become the Planting Team Captain of Yunzhu Residential Area! He will enjoy Captain’s treatment and can freely build his own separate residence within a designated range.
He will receive 30 days of Yin Life and 30 jin of fine grain, 10 jin of eggs, 10 jin of meat, and various other supplies each month!
As the new Planting Team Captain, possessor of the Ninth Rank Yin Official position of Mountain Dweller, and for his contributions to the long-term development of Yunzhu Residential Area, he will additionally receive the right to choose any Ninth Rank Ghost from the eastern ‘Ghost Apartment’ to control!”
Word by word, the sentences resounded like thunder in everyone’s ears.
Everyone, especially his roommates Yang Wentao, Li Que’er, and Zhao Liru, looked at Sun Guoqiang in disbelief.
Then, their gazes turned to envy, and even some flattery.
Everyone understood what this meant.
Zhou Yingzhu gestured, and Sun Guoqiang, breathing a sigh of relief, walked up the steps to Zhou Yingzhu’s side.
Zhou Yingzhu looked at Sun Guoqiang, who looked almost the same as yesterday, and said with a smile:
“Alright, Captain Sun, is there anything you want to say? Go ahead.”
Meeting those still-unbelievable eyes, Sun Guoqiang seemed to finally come to his senses.
Looking at the smiling Zhou Yingzhu and Lin Cheng, he finally understood:
In this moment, he was no longer ordinary.
So, he looked at everyone before him. After thinking for a moment, he said:
“I don’t have much to say; my current situation speaks for itself. Before, I was like everyone else here—living precariously, barely able to eat. But now, even without becoming Planting Team Captain, I can live a stable and orderly life.
Everyone, in this era, stable order and peace are the most precious things, and I am willing to protect and defend them. I hope more people can understand how hard-won this is.
I believe that those who contribute to this order and stability will naturally receive the rewards they deserve!
After all, hope is the most precious thing in this era, in this world.”
At that moment, everyone looked at Sun Guoqiang speaking in the distance, and for the first time, they felt a sense of reassurance, not just the envy of a lucky survivor in a world of ghosts.
Rather, as Sun Guoqiang said, they saw ‘hope’ in him, something that ordinary people could understand.
