“Yeah, I do know that dead rabbit—why, what’s the matter?” Ouyang said, his tone smooth as still water.

With that solid answer, the little boy bounced like a spring under sunlight. “Big brother, do you think we can let people we knew move here? You’re close with Mr. Jade Rabbit. Help me ask him…” His words tumbled like marbles on stone.

Angus blanched and scooped his son up, like shielding a candle from wind. “Sir, sorry—kids talk nonsense. We already feel blessed living in a place like this…” He paused, his smile tight as a drawn bowstring. “But, well, Miracle City lacks supplies. If more move in, everything inside might get complete.”

“Miracle City?” Ouyang blinked, doubts drifting like mist above a pond. “Miracle City? Where’d you hear that?”

“Everyone in the city calls it that… Is that not allowed?” Angus shrank like grass under frost, afraid he’d broken some rule. From Angus’s words, Ouyang finally got it: the beings dragged here had named the place Miracle City. The thought fell into place like a stone in a well.

Thinking it through, the name sounded gentler than Demon King’s City, like spring rain versus thunder. Maybe they used Miracle City outside, and Demon King’s City inside, like two faces of the same moon.

“Miracle City works. Now, about your little brother’s question. If you’ve got kin or old friends, they can come settle here,” Ouyang said, his words steady as a path of lanterns. “If they’re believers of the Void Church, even better. Church folk enjoy certain benefits here. The details will come later.”

Angus and his family lit up like windows at dusk. Life here felt safe like a walled garden, but it was lonely as a quiet shore. If familiar faces could come, their hearts would be warmer than coals in winter.

“Right—since you became believers through Collin,” Ouyang added, his gaze clear as a mountain stream, “if you go invite old neighbors to settle, send word to Collin. Tell him to come to Miracle City. Say that dead rabbit is looking for him.” Collin had worked clean as a whetted blade, so Ouyang planned to summon him for a reward.

“Big brother, if our old neighbors want to live here, what rules are there?” A little girl ran up and grabbed Ouyang’s hand, her smile bright as a paper kite in blue sky.

“Rules?” He thought, the silence like a leaf falling. “If they’re believers, just check in with the city’s enforcers and they can move in. If not, they’ll likely need some paperwork. A hassle.” His tone was light as wind through reeds.

He couldn’t think of real rules on the spot, but favors for believers would paint Miracle City as a holy city in their eyes, like a shrine glowing at the end of a road.

“Oh, that’s great! Big brother, where do you live? When my neighbor Xiao Pu moves over, we’ll come find you to play!” The boy clung to Ouyang’s hand, hopping like a sparrow on a branch.

“Where I live… ordinary folks can’t just drop by,” Ouyang said, soft as shade. “But if your friends move in, I’ll take you to my castle when I’ve got time.”

“Castle? Big brother, are you a noble of Miracle City?” The boy stared with eyes like stars. Behind him, his parents finally couldn’t stand it; Angus lifted him again, as if lifting a sack of wriggling fish. “Sir, I’m so sorry—he’s bothered you.”

Ouyang didn’t answer, but Angus guessed anyway. People with castles were nobles—old-world logic, simple as stone. Angus had stayed a few days and sensed this city wasn’t what it looked like, like deep water under a glassy surface. He’d seen elves and dwarves here—people out of legend, bright as starlight and stubborn as rock.

Even proud elves held no noble rank here. Even a city enforcer hadn’t earned it. In Miracle City, nobles were towering figures, like mountains on the map. Out there, even a great empire wouldn’t dare slight them.

“It’s fine. My castle’s quiet as an empty hall. A few children would make it lively.” Ouyang held Loyin and walked off, his footsteps light as falling petals. Angus faintly heard his voice carry back like a bell on wind: “Forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ouyang, City Lord of Miracle City…”

City Lord? Angus’s hands shook like leaves, and he nearly dropped his son. Nobles here were giants in rumor; then what was the City Lord? No one in Miracle City dared pretend to be that, like no one dons the sun’s crown.

“The mysterious City Lord is big brother!” The boy’s mouth hung open like a fish, then he wriggled in Angus’s arms, thrilled as fireworks. “Whoa, Dad, I know the City Lord! He said he’ll take me to his castle!”

“I know, I know. Keep your voice down,” Angus hissed, eyes darting like swallows. “If others hear, they’ll want to go too. If it gets crowded, he might not take you.”

“Oh… Right.” The boy froze, thoughts spinning like a top. “Dad, let’s go find Xiao Pu. Then City Lord big brother can take us to his castle. A real castle, like in stories…”

“Quiet, you rascal. Quiet!” Angus hugged his squirming son, one hand clamped over the boy’s mouth like a lid on a boiling pot.

——————————————

The city had few people, so the green spread wide like a sea. Ouyang carried Loyin to a fountain and set her down, then lay on the grass, watching water leap like silver fish. Kanofia followed and sat by him, her back against a tree, like a swan at rest.

“Mr. Ouyang, the letters on the basin… That looks like it came from the capital of the Annan Principality, doesn’t it?” Kanofia’s eyes were sharp as hawks, and the question landed like a pebble in a quiet pool. Ouyang’s face stiffened, awkward as a knot.

He didn’t answer. The little loli perched on his chest answered for him, voice sweet as a windchime. “Easy. Because big brother likes it, it ended up here.” The reason fell blunt as a hammer, and Kanofia had no words.

Ouyang chuckled, dry as sun-baked wood. He stood, jogged to the fountain, and brushed his fingers across the carved line. The letters melted away like frost under dawn.

“All fixed. Miss Kanofia, which country did you say it was from?” He looked back, feigning innocence like a fox with feathers in its mouth.

Kanofia stared, speechless as a stone. This was a Demon King? The one old tales said could end the world, like a storm blotting the sun?

When her elder sister had said they were going to a place where Demon Kings gathered, Kanofia had steeled herself like steel in cold brine. Compared with the Light Church’s extermination, living among legendary Demon Kings held a sliver of dawn. With her sister’s promise, she chose this path. She’d been ready to sacrifice herself to save her kingdom and house, like a lamp burning down to save the room.

“Mr. Ouyang, do you remember our first meeting?” Kanofia’s voice drifted like smoke. “You tricked me. I gave you a whole month’s allowance…” The memory rose like old dust in sun. It wouldn’t stay buried. Xi didn’t know Kanofia, but if Xi visited Irina’s home, they could bump into each other, and the old story would spill like tipped tea.

Back then? Ouyang remembered the scene after he broke his seal, raw as fresh thunder. He hadn’t expected the biggest donor to be the girl before him, bright as a spring crocus.

“Ahem. The past is a muddy road… Let’s not bring it up.” He felt awkward, heat prickling like mid-day glare. The fountain letters or the “money” thing—both stung like nettles.

“Hee-hee, Mr. Ouyang, you tricked me, and you pit Sister Xi so badly,” Kanofia said, smiling like a cat with cream. Ouyang felt weak, as if his sword turned to reed. So she’d held a grudge this whole time—he’d only wanted some living expenses, like a sparrow stealing grain. Was that a crime?

To dodge the thorns, Ouyang turned and wandered deeper into the city, his steps casual as drifting clouds. He wasn’t debating that topic with Kanofia.

“That cedar grove looks nice. Let’s check it out.” A few minutes from the fountain, a stand of pines rose like dark spears. Snow hung on every branch in midsummer, white as fresh salt on green. One glance, and the eye cooled like a sip of spring water. It was a summer refuge, a breath of winter under a blazing sun.

The snow never melted, even under hard sunlight, like a vow etched in ice. Step into the grove, and it felt like crossing from summer into winter, breath puffing like smoke. Ouyang and Loyin were fine, but Kanofia shivered, a fawn in frost.

Seeing her tremble, Ouyang handed over his black cloak, the fabric flowing like a night wave. He could have warmed her with power, a quiet tweak of the air like turning a dial. But he wanted goodwill, the slow warmth of firewood, not instant heat. If he changed the temperature without her noticing, it wouldn’t show his sincerity, like a gift with no card.

Sure enough, when Kanofia took the cloak, her gaze softened like snow under sun. “Mr. Ouyang… If you give me this, won’t you be cold?” Her voice fluttered like a sparrow.

Cold? He snorted inside, amusement flickering like a candle. He was a Demon King—this chill was a breeze on armor. Did this girl ever use her head?

Of course, Ouyang’s EQ wasn’t that low. Say that out loud, and you die faster than a moth in flame.