Chen Yu, his eyes full of smiles, gazed at the petite figure on the video.
In the projected image, despite the significant changes, Chen Yu could still recognize the location as Freedom Town. Standing before the camera was Su Beibei, whom Chen Yu had rescued from the slavers.
In the span of several months, Su Beibei had shed the fear that once resided in her eyes when she was with the slavers.
Her bright eyes now brimmed with youthful exuberance.
"Brother Chen Yu~"
A sweet call emanated from Su Beibei, causing Chen Yu's smile to deepen and filling his heart with relief.
From the moment he brought Su Beibei to the camp, he had treated her as a sister.
He could vaguely recall the inhuman treatment Su Beibei had suffered at the slavers' hands, the emaciated girl pushing a cart full of fruit.
A moment's carelessness and the whip would lash out at her.
When they brought her back, Nuoya had cried tears as she treated her wounds and emerged from the room.
It was from that moment that Chen Yu found his first objective in the underground realm: to do what he could, to rescue the slaves in the city, to own a city, and to create a safe haven for the slaves, refugees, and survivors in the underground realm.
Judging by the current situation, he had succeeded.
And he had done very well.
The citizens of Freedom Town lived in peace and contentment. The slaves who once trusted no one had integrated into the big family of Freedom Town. Homeless refugees had found homes, and survivors living in constant fear in the wilderness had a stable environment to utilize their skills.
Although Chen Yu did not wish to boast, no one could deny that this was a grand achievement.
"Little Beibei, Brother Chen Yu thought you had forgotten me. I've been out of the city for so long and you haven't sent me a message." Chen Yu feigned anger, frowning. Su Bei grinned, revealing her white teeth. "I really wanted to talk to Brother Chen Yu, but older sister said Brother Chen Yu was very busy outside and told me not to disturb you. I also have to study every day, and older sister always watches me, so this video is me secretly sending it to you."
"Is that so? What have you learned in the city during this time, little Beibei?"
"I just learned the Three Character Classic a few days ago."
"Oh?"
"Man at birth is naturally good..."
In the projection, Su Beibei recited the familiar sacred words clearly, her hands behind her back. The words fell into Chen Yu's ears, causing him to become somewhat lost in thought, as if he were back outside the underground realm.
The little demon had said there was no going back.
He couldn't find his way back to his homeland, but thankfully, he had found continuation in the underground realm.
A few minutes later, Su Beibei finished reciting the Three Character Classic, her face radiating a bright smile as she proudly tilted her chin. Though she said nothing, her face clearly conveyed two words.
Praise me!
"Beibei recited it so well."
Chen Yu said with a gentle smile. Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a medal on Su Beibei's chest.
He recognized this medal.
It was the medal of the Freedom Town Adventurer Group, personally designed by Chen Yu and made from his first acquired piece of equipment, the Swift Wind Sword of Adventure.
The medal was light green, with a wind pattern etched inside.
"Did Beibei join the Adventurer Group?" Chen Yu whispered, his brow furrowed in suspicion. Although his tone remained unchanged, his eyes held a hint of concern.
Cave exploration was a dangerous undertaking.
Su Beibei was still very young. If she genuinely wanted to join the Adventurer Group after she grew up, Chen Yu would not obstruct her, but for now, it was too early for her.
"Hee hee hee, I wanted to tell Brother Chen Yu about this."
Su Beibei, her eyes full of smiles, looked down at the medal on her chest and said with a smile.
"I just passed the examination for the youth division of the Adventurer Group and am now an official reserve member. Once I come of age, I will be able to join the city's Adventurer Association and explore outside the city. By then, perhaps I can find a divine artifact for Brother Chen Yu from a treasure chest."
Reserve member.
Hearing this, Chen Yu nodded in realization.
Kaelin had mentioned this to Chen Yu before, suggesting that adolescents undergo simple training in addition to their studies before they came of age, as it would be beneficial for their growth.
The underground realm, unlike the world outside, was fraught with danger.
Chen Yu thought it was a good idea and agreed to Kaelin's suggestion.
He recalled Kaelin saying that reserve members had to be at least Bronze realm. If little Beibei could pass the assessment, it meant she was already a skilled Bronze realm cultivator.
"Good job, Beibei. Then I'll wait for you to find me a divine artifact."
"Hee hee hee, but Brother will have to wait a few more years." Su Beibei smiled sweetly, and Chen Yu shrugged nonchalantly. "No rush, we have plenty of time."
"Su Beibei!"
Suddenly, a shout that sounded like a lion's roar erupted from the projection. Su Beibei's eyes widened, and she glanced behind her with a look of terror.
"Oh no, my sister is here."
Muttering this, Su Beibei frantically tried to find a hiding place. However, before she could find one, Su Ni had already approached her menacingly.
"Hiding?!"
"I told you to do your math homework at home, and you're not doing it properly and secretly running out when I'm not here. How many times has this happened this week?"
Su Ni glared, showing none of the gentleness she displayed in front of Chen Yu.
"Sister, I... I've already finished it." The caught Su Beibei frowned and wriggled. "I just came out to talk to Brother Chen Yu and show him my medal. I didn't want to sneak out to play."
"Camp Master?"
Su Ni murmured subconsciously. Then, she leaned forward and saw Chen Yu's smiling face in the projection, her face instantly flushing red.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Su Ni pursed her lips, flustered, tidied her hair, placed her hands in front of her abdomen, and said gently, "Camp Master, I sincerely apologize for making you laugh."
"An elder sister is like a mother. You have worked hard."
Su Ni, who had rushed over to catch Su Beibei, seemed to have forgotten her original intention upon seeing Chen Yu in the projection.
At Chen Yu's inquiry, Su Ni, holding Beibei's little hand, began to talk to Chen Yu about the changes in the city. Chen Yu silently watched the rows of houses in the projection, the two- and three-story buildings, the prosperity of the commercial district and the tranquility of the residential areas, the wide roads, and the green willows swaying in the breeze.
If it weren't for the orcs everywhere in the city, it would have felt like returning to the 1970s outside the underground realm.
"I can't believe the city has changed so much in the few months I've been out of it," Chen Yu said with a sigh. Su Ni smiled gently. "The city has indeed developed very quickly. Even for us who live in the city, sometimes when we open our eyes and step out of our homes, we feel like the city is a bit unfamiliar. We don't know when a new building has been added somewhere. The city is almost fully developed, and Lord Mayor Kaelin is planning to expand the city."
"With you all in Freedom Town, I feel very at ease."
Chen Yu nodded with a smile, but he noticed that Su Ni's gentle eyes seemed to hold something she wanted to say but hesitated. Noticing this, Chen Yu was about to ask when urgent footsteps sounded from a distance.
"City Lord!"
The person who arrived was a general under Black Donkey. Seeing that Chen Yu was busy, he stood to the side without speaking. Su Ni, seeing this on her wristband projection, quickly said,
"Camp Master, please go ahead with your business."
Chen Yu nodded slightly, ending the video, and then looked up at the general in front of him.
"What happened!"