I am a living immortal.

Chapter 523 Paving the way for a prosperous era

Cang Lin laughed, he felt that he had asked a stupid question.

The two of them looked at Kyoto until the moon rose and the sun set, and then Cang Lin said goodbye and left. He still had a lot of things to do, and with Su Mu's answer, his confusion about the future had completely disappeared.

In reality, he wasn't overly confused about the future. The dragon race was proud, possessing unwavering courage and unwavering resolve. Nothing could shake their resolve, not even the unknown future or the uncertainty of war.

Su Mu was no different. He always did more than he said. It had been like this since he first encountered the Innate God: he lifted the veil, adjusted his plans, and then lifted the next veil.

When the night deepened and Kyoto fell silent, when the morning light once again illuminated the earth, when the hawking sounds could be heard once more, when the smell of fireworks and the popularity of people once again rose, Su Mu fell back to the ground from the sky. Because he knew that this scene would continue to repeat itself - the sun would rise, people would fall asleep and wake up.

Su Mu stretched and walked into the crowd. He had been exhausted from the constant running around for a while and had originally planned to take a break, but things kept coming up and prevented him from doing so. Now, he could finally do it.

He couldn't remember how many days it had been since he'd had breakfast. He wondered if the meat buns in Kyoto were as delicious as those in Yuannan. They were, however, much more expensive. He remembered that meat buns in Yuannan were only two cents each, with thin wrappers, generous fillings, and a delicious flavor. But this was Kyoto, the imperial city, worthy of being the emperor's home. The price of this meat bun was more than double, costing him four cents.

Su Mu handed the vendor her change and received two meat buns. She took a bite and found they were less fresh but more greasy and fragrant, leaving a lingering aroma in her mouth. It was different from the ones in Yuannan, with a unique flavor that was quite good.

The vendor smiled when he saw Su Mu's praise. "Although these Qijia buns are a bit expensive, they are a delicacy you can't get anywhere else. Boss, give me four!" someone said.

Su Mu nodded in agreement. But at the foot of the emperor, a higher price was understandable. He finished his bun in a few bites and continued walking with the crowd. As the capital of the Yan Dynasty, the prosperity here was evident. The crowds were already thronging the city at dawn. And that's not all. Setting up a stall here made even ordinary noodles seem less ordinary, not to mention the dazzling array of snacks.

From Hu Bing to You Gao, from Fuling Bing to Pea Cake, mutton and mutton offal soup, wontons, and noodles, everything is available, the streets are filled with fragrance, and it is extremely lively.

Su Mu ate as he walked, occasionally commenting on the food. If the food was good, the vendor would smile; if the food was bad, he would smirk at the vendor and quickly leave, causing everyone to laugh. Having unburdened himself, he felt a great deal more relaxed.

Su Mu had originally intended to bring some food to Wei Ming, but unfortunately, Wei Ming hadn't returned from the morning court session. There was so much going on right now: matters in the north needed to be dealt with, and the emperor, taking this opportunity, seemed to have become more focused on governing the country. He looked from north to south, from east to west, finding nothing satisfactory and demanding change.

The Yan Dynasty's prosperity, which lasted for a century, certainly couldn't have been achieved overnight; it required gradual overhauls. The existing problems still exist, and the malignant tumors hidden beneath the prosperity are still rampant. They need to be rectified and rectified, and this will take decades. These things need to be done and raised by someone.

If it were the previous emperor, he might not have thought about these things. He just wanted peace. But after overcoming the life-or-death barrier, everything changed. After all, in the face of life and death, do other things still matter? No.

However, as mentioned before, there were many problems, and various forces were deeply intertwined. The emperor, however, pretended not to see them. Now that he had seen them, he wanted to rectify them, but he couldn't change them as he pleased. The Yan Dynasty was a royal family, but checks and balances remained. Even the most virtuous emperor couldn't have the final say, and couldn't have it all. Hence the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, and hence the Cabinet. This was an inevitable development, but as with everything, there are pros and cons.

The imperial court is too complicated. A group of the smartest people are performing Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio. Who is more capable than whom?

So Wei Ming was busy. The next century of prosperity wasn't guaranteed; it needed people like Wei Ming to bring about incremental innovation. Of course, this wasn't just Wei Ming's work. The hallmark of a prosperous era was the emergence of individuals who could turn the tide, and there were more than one. In the final years of a dynasty, one or two exceptional individuals could sustain its existence, but a prosperous era was different. It required the dedicated efforts of millions.

The flourishing of humanity doesn't guarantee prosperity. Just like cause and effect, only with the continued success of causes can a flourishing era last for centuries. It depends on people, not the ethereal power of fate. Luck simply foretells the future; otherwise, why is it so erratic, fluctuating? Nothing is certain.

Wei Ming is destined to be a hard worker. It’s a pity that he can’t eat this delicious pastry today.

Su Mu carried the cakes and left leisurely. Speaking of which, it seems that the Wei family kid has already joined the Fuling Sect, right? I'll ask him when the time comes. With this thought, Su Mu took a step forward and disappeared into the bustling streets. The streets were still bustling, and I hoped they would always be bustling.

While Su Mu was enjoying herself, the old goat was furious. He had been living well in Yuannan when trouble came knocking on his door. The Mirage Dragon had just left to go north to see what was happening there. Cao Chen had told him about the drought demon, and he was the only one left in the courtyard. Even if he didn't want to, he had to go. This broken country was going to end sooner or later, with fires everywhere, and it was the drought demon! The old goat hated it from the bottom of his heart, so he went anyway with a face full of resentment.

When he arrived, the drought demon was already wreaking havoc, but fortunately, the area wasn't wide, likely having just emerged from its coffin. The old goat, furious, vented his anger on the drought demon, beating it to a pulp before stuffing it back into the coffin. He had originally intended to dispose of the coffin, but then discovered that the coffin was truly remarkable: made of cold iron, it could actually block the drought demon's devastation. It was truly remarkable. So, the old goat carried the coffin back home.

On the way back, I saw Su Mu who was enjoying himself.

Su Mu was drinking tea and enjoying delicious food in the restaurant when she felt an eager gaze. She turned around and saw an old goat, looking exhausted and carrying a coffin.

"I'm fighting for my life outside, and you have the leisure to eat and drink tea here?" The look in his eyes was so resentful.

Su Mu waved helplessly. The old goat was only angry for a moment, then tried to walk into the restaurant. But his attire was too eye-catching, and the waiter had no choice but to stop him.