"Chang Li, you're here too! It's just a single Martial Soul Awakening—there's no need to make such a big fuss. You're already busy enough with your daily duties," Lu Jingming said with a hint of embarrassment.
In truth, Lu Jingming was more of a figurehead as the city lord. The one who truly kept Haiyuan City running smoothly was the charming woman before him.
She was also a game character summoned by Lu Jingming's use of the True Power, originating from the mobile game Mingchao. Serving as the advisor to Jiangzhou's Kōryū Council, she was a brilliant and quick-witted strategist—undeniably a top-tier tactician.
Six years ago, Lu Jingming had summoned Jingliu. Relying on her extraordinary strength, she swiftly eliminated the rebellious forces and restored order to the chaotic Haiyuan City.
At that time, Haiyuan City had just suffered a devastating invasion by Sea Soul Beasts, leaving its defenses severely weakened and the city's vitality drained.
To make matters worse, several noble families rebelled, plunging the city into even deeper chaos.
Though Jingliu quelled all opposition with overwhelming force, the disorder proved difficult to completely control. With no other options, she had to use brute strength to maintain a fragile peace.
Two years later, after Lu Jingming accumulated more True Power, he chose to summon someone capable of resolving this crisis once and for all—Chang Li.
In truth, many candidates were available in his mind, including those with even greater abilities.
But when the moment came to decide, Lu Jingming followed his heart.
After all, Chang Li's stunning figure—and especially her impossible-to-ignore "assets"—were impossible for his youthful, inexperienced self to resist.
After successfully summoning Chang Li, new plans formed in Lu Jingming's mind. Managing Haiyuan City's affairs was overwhelming for one person alone.
He intended to summon one more character, someone to oversee the internal matters of the city lord's mansion, creating a clear division of labor: one handling external city affairs, the other managing internal administration.
After much consideration, Lu Jingming set his sights on Yae Miko. In his vision, her cunning and intelligence would ensure the mansion was run with flawless order.
However, when he invoked the True Authority, he overlooked a critical issue—the amount of True Power needed to materialize the summoned being fully.
As the summoning light faded, the elegant and enchanting Yae Miko appeared before him, but before she could utter a word, she transformed into a tiny pink-furred fox.
Faced with this helpless situation, Lu Jingming had no choice but to entrust both the city lord's mansion and the entire Haiyuan City's management to Chang Li's capable shoulders.
At first, Lu Jingming worried this dual responsibility would overwhelm her, as both roles were exceedingly demanding.
Yet Chang Li demonstrated astonishing talent. She seemed born with extraordinary leadership and administrative wisdom. Amid the complex, tangled affairs, she remained calm and confident, steadily organizing Haiyuan City into a well-ordered domain.
The once unruly and scheming noble families were swiftly brought to heel under her tactful yet firm measures, no longer daring to act recklessly.
Even amidst her busy daily duties, Chang Li managed to find time to help plan the mansion's internal affairs.
With her careful strategies and Jingliu's powerful martial presence deterring trouble, Lu Jingming was able to firmly hold onto his position as city lord.
It must be noted that according to the strict laws of the Xingluo Empire, Lu Jingming, still a minor, was technically ineligible to inherit the title of Count of Haiyuan, much less the city lordship.
Haiyuan City, as a coastal regional capital, attracted many covetous eyes.
Currently, the Lu family's only remaining bloodline was Lu Jingming, the first in line to inherit. Sooner or later, the city would fall into his hands.
However, during this sensitive period before his coming of age, the Xingluo Empire might appoint another official as a temporary city lord, transferring control to Lu Jingming only when he reached adulthood.
But, as the saying goes, "inviting the gods is easy; sending them away is hard." No one could predict whether the temporary city lord who had ruled Haiyuan City for years would willingly relinquish control once Lu Jingming came of age.
When that time comes, the situation will likely become even more complicated, with too many variables at play.
Fortunately, Chang Li was far-sighted and strategic. When officials sent by the Xingluo Empire arrived, she decisively proposed to temporarily assume the duties of city lord herself, firmly refusing any outsiders to interfere in Haiyuan City's affairs.
With Chang Li's masterful political maneuvering, coupled with Jingliu's formidable martial strength as a solid backing, after intense negotiations and strategic wrangling, Lu Jingming ultimately secured his position as city lord and was able to maintain his firm grip on Haiyuan City.
Without a capable and meticulous strategist like Chang Li, relying solely on Jingliu would have made the situation extremely difficult.
The options would have been either to rely on sheer force to intimidate all factions—which would have meant openly defying the entire Xingluo Empire, a decidedly unwise move—or to helplessly abandon Haiyuan City, taking Lu Jingming away from this troubled land to seek refuge elsewhere.
In fact, the Jingliu Lu Jingming summoned was no longer in her prime. She had lost the terrifying power she once wielded in her original world—the power capable of cutting down stars—and no longer possessed the Fate Energy or Imaginary Energy support.
Arriving on this completely unfamiliar Douluo Continent, the only power Jingliu could tap into was the unique soul power of this world.
Though still formidable, she was clearly not invincible against the vast machinery of the empire and did not hold absolute supremacy.
Hearing Lu Jingming's concerned words, a gentle smile blossomed on Chang Li's lips, tender and enchanting.
Her voice was soft, like a spring breeze brushing past the ear: "It's alright, you don't need to worry. Ever since Lady Black Tower joined, the affairs of Haiyuan City have gradually fallen into place. And during this time, I've also been training several trusted confidantes. With them sharing the workload, I'm indeed much more relaxed now and have more free time to myself."
Lu Jingming nodded lightly, secretly relieved in his heart that Chang Li had not been overwhelmed by the heavy burdens.