I have a city in another world

The fact that Tang Zhen could single-handedly slay a powerful and destructive supernatural monster is enough to demonstrate his formidable strength.

The Corrosive Vine Wild Boar was infamous, and the hunters of the mountain town were terrified of it, avoiding it at all costs.

In the entire mountain city settlement, there are no more than three or four hundred martial artists who can kill this monster on their own.

Each one of them, if picked at random, is a figure worthy of respect.

Facing such a master, trying to curry favor is a low-class act, but if you offend them unintentionally, the consequences are something no one can afford.

Upon hearing the news, the head of the purchasing station rushed over and personally processed Tang Zhen's registration.

He inquired carefully about the details of the hunt, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Tang Zhen, trying to uncover more hidden information.

After rigorous testing, confirming that the group had not been contaminated or mentally corrupted, the person in charge readily paid a thick wad of credits.

The sheer thickness of that stack of coins made the exploration team's eyes light up for a moment, filled with intense envy and longing.

Veteran team member Big Bear swallowed hard and whispered to the young team member Little Bean beside him, "See this? This money is enough for our family to live comfortably for several years..."

Little Bean stared at the coins, nodded subconsciously, his eyes full of longing.

If he were strong enough to kill a superhuman monster with a single strike, he would be the one to claim the bounty.

Everyone knew in their hearts that this windfall had nothing to do with them, and they even owed Tang Zhen their lives.

Tang Zhen not only saved them, but also their families, preventing a tragedy of family destruction and death.

This life-saving grace must be repaid in a way that is truly appreciated.

The exploration team leader, named Baron, was a man whose face was etched with the marks of hardship and resilience. He took a deep breath, suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, stepped forward, and sincerely invited Tang Zhen: "Mr. Tang, thanks to you this time, we had the opportunity to return to the city alive."

There's a restaurant outside the city with decent food. Would you do us the honor of joining us? We could offer our gratitude and consider it a welcome dinner.

Baron understood perfectly well that Tang Zhen was new to the city and knew absolutely nothing about it.

If one can take this opportunity to act as a guide, not only can one repay part of the debt of gratitude, but one may also forge a good relationship.

In this wasteland, establishing connections with powerful individuals undoubtedly provides an extra layer of security for survival. To fail to grasp this basic human decency is truly foolish.

Tang Zhen calmly swept his gaze over the crowd, taking in their anticipation, gratitude, and a hint of barely perceptible unease, and nodded slightly: "Okay."

The two simple words brought a sense of relief to everyone, and they all smiled happily.

Amidst laughter and chatter, the crowd escorted Tang Zhen as he left the purchasing station and embarked on the main road built along the mountainside of the outer city.

On both sides of the road are rugged stone houses, with thick walls and defensive platforms on the roofs that are quite impressive.

“Mr. Tang, look,” Baron took the initiative to explain, pointing to the platform on the roof, “those platforms, and the shooting holes in the dark corners of the street, are all designed to deal with the monster’s attack.”

When the city was first built, a great deal of effort was put into planning, and many places had government offices.

Don't be fooled by its mediocre effectiveness against humans; it's extremely effective against mindless monsters.

Teammate Iron Fist added from the side, his tone tinged with pride: "Our mountain city isn't afraid of flooding. Look at the slope of these streets; even the heaviest rainwater can be drained away quickly."

"And those pools and canals."

He pointed to the clear spring water flowing by the roadside and the fruit trees and vegetables planted along the irrigation ditch: "The water flowing in there is all living water, from the springs in the mountains. It can not only be drunk, but also used to irrigate these gray-soil vegetables and sweet kernel crisp fruits."

After walking uphill for a while, the group arrived at a cable car station.

This is a rudimentary vehicle that runs on a fixed track and is pulled by steel cables, crisscrossing the hillside.

"This is ivy, a great thing that saves you a lot of effort," Baron said as he readily paid the fare.

As you slowly ascend on the ivy-covered mountain, the layers of the mountain city become increasingly distinct.

The houses are scattered up the mountain, and most of them have a simple appearance, but the corners are reinforced with huge rocks, making them look exceptionally sturdy.

"These stones were all quarried from the main peak of the inner city."

Baron pointed to the towering peaks in the distance, his tone filled with awe and longing: "I heard that the mountains have been hollowed out, like a maze, warm and safe. I must go and see it if I have the chance."

In a relatively flat and wide area, everyone got off the bus one after another and continued along the road.

The area was bustling with people, forming a lively market.

Our destination was an open-air restaurant on the edge of the market.

The restaurant's business model has a strong post-apocalyptic feel. In the open kitchen, chefs sweat profusely in front of large woks, cooking large bowls of dishes with heavy oil and salt.

The dining area consisted of rows of semi-open thatched huts with chest-high mud walls and A-frame thatched roofs, but no one seemed to care about that at all.

When Baron ordered, he pointed to the limited amount of meat and asked for two large portions, his facial muscles twitching slightly.

The team members sat down around the simple wooden table. They were a little reserved at first, but seeing that Tang Zhen was approachable, the atmosphere quickly became lively.

They chatted animatedly, mostly about anecdotes from their search and trivial matters from their gathering place, their faces beaming with a rare sense of ease.

When a large bowl of steaming hot mixed vegetables, exuding a rich and greasy aroma, was served, several team members stared wide-eyed and unconsciously swallowed their saliva.

Baron took a clean large bowl, carefully separated a portion of meat and vegetables, and placed it separately in front of Tang Zhen, while the others shared the food in the bowl.

This subtle gesture conveyed respect, but also carried a hint of trepidation at the possibility of being disliked.

Baron went to the kitchen again and brought back a pot of cloudy, light green liquor. He said to Tang Zhen, "Mr. Tang, this is local liquor brewed with Drunken Dragon Grass. Don't be fooled by its appearance; it tastes alright, isn't too strong, and won't give you a headache even if you drink too much. It's a good stuff from here."

He poured the wine while introducing it to the customers.

Baron filled his glass and stood up first, raising it with both hands with a solemn expression: "Mr. Tang, on behalf of my brothers and our families, I toast you! If it weren't for you this time, our team, along with our dozen or so family members, would all be finished!"

His voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying the heaviness of someone who had survived a disaster.

Vice-captain Black Scorpion also stood up and chimed in, "Who would have thought that thing would get so close!"
"The patrol team is definitely going to get punished this time, but... even if they are punished, if we die, it will be a pointless death."

Tang Zhen sat still, his gaze sweeping over the rough food and wine in front of him.

With his experience, what delicacies hasn't he tasted?
The food before them was indeed simple, but it was imbued with the sincerity and heartfelt gratitude of the exploration team. This was more comforting than any delicacy.

His usual indifference seemed to soften slightly. Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, he raised the murky wild grass wine, and without saying a word, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

The spicy and slightly astringent liquid slid smoothly down my throat, and the taste wasn't too bad.

Seeing his straightforwardness, everyone burst into genuine laughter, and their initial restraint eased once again.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, the thatched hut was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Emboldened by the alcohol, the team members became more talkative and began to describe the unique features of different areas of the mountain city to Tang Zhen.

Which area has the most beautiful nighttime lights? Which street has high-quality prostitutes? Where can I buy good quality goods at reasonable prices?

Tang Zhen listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two, appearing to be adapting to local customs.

No one knew that this smiling stranger was actually a visitor from another world, and a powerful ninth-level cultivator at that. (End of Chapter)