Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Ji Yanran and Bacho had both heard Fang Zheng introduce his ”school,” but even so, the most they imagined was akin to a large family courtyard.

Yet right now... this is practically a city!

”The residents here mostly came due to escaping the chaos of war and are now living here. The young children attend school here, learning various subjects. We have scheduled classes, and from morning till evening, they must study certain courses. Outside of this, they can form organizations according to circumstances...”

Fang Zheng accompanied the two as he introduced the place. In fact, Fang Zheng basically transplanted an ancient version of the Academy City. The curriculum was largely based on modern schools; besides basic knowledge, students could form clubs to study astronomy, geography, medicine, music, and other interests.

And those who teach are naturally people Fang Zheng invited from various places. Besides scholars like Bacho, there are also women he purchased from various government institutes.

Although society often views official ladies with disdain, to be fair, the women from government institutes can be considered some of the most culturally educated people in this world. First, many of these women are from families of condemned ministers or prominent clans, receiving excellent education from a young age. Secondly, the institute’s clientele is not merchants or commoners, but high officials, dignitaries, and even foreign envoys.

To put it in modern terms, the women from the institute are like hostesses from the Silver Seat; even if their work is in the service industry of entertaining, their clients are presidents of large companies, elite white-collar workers, unlike KTV hostesses who can only mingle with gangsters or nouveau riche.

Hostesses in Silver Seat must not only be proficient in English but also anticipate political and economic news daily, understanding various industry secrets, so they can engage in conversation during social events. Otherwise, even when others brag, if you can’t connect, no one will take to you.

Ancient government institute women were the same; they were not only skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting but also had unique and profound insights into politics, economy, and connections.

This is quite normal, after all, if someone pulls an official lady into their arms and shouts, ”Even if XX were present, I wouldn’t care,” if she’s a clueless natural airhead, it’s like flirting with a blind person, with no effect. Conversely, if she marvels, ”That XX is the cherished protégé of the king’s favorite minister, I’ve heard even our king thinks highly of him. Young Master, are you not afraid of him?”

Then this boast could naturally carry on.

Thus, in any profession, achieving excellence requires much effort to ponder. So, these official ladies became Fang Zheng’s main force in the Carefree Palace, excelling in nurturing poise, reading, writing, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting — all very necessary for the children. After all, nobody knows better than these official ladies how to make a woman appealing or a man noticeable.

Ji Yanran and Bacho were not very familiar with this situation, but seeing these scenes before them, they were quite moved. However, soon Ji Yanran slightly furrowed her brows and looked at Fang Zheng.

”Young Master Fang, please forgive Yanran’s ignorance, why are there no guards or soldiers in this city?”

This question arose in Ji Yanran’s mind upon entering the city. Generally, at a city’s entrance, someone checks the visitors. But here, she saw no armed soldiers, even on the streets, not a trace of any militia was visible, leaving Ji Yanran puzzled and unable to understand.

And Bacho, being a bookworm, evidently did not think so deeply, he simply laughed upon hearing.

”Zhuangzi once said, in the era of supreme virtue, people lived without worry, traveled without concern, hiding neither truth nor lie, good nor evil. Wealth is in excess without knowing its source, food and drink are taken without knowing their origin. Nowadays in this Carefree place, there’s quite a sense of the era of supreme virtue.”

”Young Master Ba, your words are mistaken.”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng chuckled.

”The era of supreme virtue is merely an ideal, Master Ji’s question is quite normal. Young Master Ba may not know, the people here are all refugees displaced by war. Certainly, refugees are pitiable, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t wicked ones among them. These individuals blend in when displaced, but once settled, their ugly sides are exposed, causing headaches for others.”

”Indeed.”

Ji Yanran nodded in agreement.

”So, not seeing any military presence truly perplexed Yanran... Young Master Fang, how many household guards do you have to deal with such issues?”

”Household guards... if you’re talking about household guards, I don’t have a single one.”

”...What?!”

Hearing this, Ji Yanran and Bacho were stunned.

”Such a large city, and no household guards of Young Master Fang?”

”Yes, that’s right. Strictly speaking, this city was built by me alone, so it’s just me; everyone else is refugees and people I’ve brought here.”

”Young Master Fang, don’t joke like that.”

This time, even Bacho couldn’t laugh, though he’s a science nerd, he’s not completely ignorant of human affairs.

”A city with so many affairs, how do you manage without trustworthy household guards?”

”For now, there aren’t so many people. I delegate specific tasks to capable individuals, as for other aspects... I have my arrangements.”

”Have a plan of our own?”

”Someone’s stealing!!!”

Just as the two were puzzled, suddenly, a scream rang out. Everyone looked towards the sound and saw a ragged man clutching a bundle, desperately running down the street. However, at that moment, two youths suddenly emerged from the crowd, blocking his path.

”Stop immediately!”

”Get out of the way, kids!!”

Faced with two half-grown boys, the refugee clearly didn’t take them seriously. He held onto the bundle with one hand and waved his longsword with the other. However, facing him, the two youths lifted their long cudgels and struck hard. They coordinated well, one in front, one behind, simultaneously exerting force. The boy in front hit the refugee’s wrist with his cudgel, causing him to drop his longsword in pain. The other then struck the refugee’s knee, knocking him to the ground.

”What is this...?”

Ji Yanran, being accomplished in both literature and martial arts, naturally wasn’t just boasting. With her keen eye, she quickly realized the two youths were using a very unique staff technique.

”This place is fundamentally for learning, so most of the time, we let the students manage themselves, and they are among those students.”

Since it’s modeled after Academy City, Fang Zheng brought over the entire ”Discipline Committee Member” system too.

At that moment, the two youths, having subdued the thug, cheerfully walked over, attempting to apprehend him. However, Ji Yanran frowned slightly.

”Something’s wrong!”

Before she finished speaking, the man who had been lying on the ground wailing suddenly kicked away the youth approaching to capture him. Then he rolled and leapt up, conveniently grabbing a nearby girl, holding her tight, and pressed a knife against her throat, appearing from nowhere, causing the girl to start crying out in fear.

”After all, children are just children.”

Ji Yanran frowned and shook her head, looking towards Fang Zheng, who merely chuckled.

”Master Ji, there’s no need to worry. I did say that most of the time, students self-manage, but in situations like this... I am indeed prepared.”

”—————!!!”

As Ji Yanran and Bacho were puzzled by Fang Zheng’s words, suddenly, a bird’s cry resounded, followed by a roar, as a giant Golden-Eyed White Tiger leapt out from the bushes beside the street, slapping the unfortunate fool to the ground and then stepping on him. The refugee, upon seeing the large tiger, was so terrified his legs turned to jelly, remaining motionless.

Regarding the surrounding crowd, they seemed accustomed to this, while the girl held captive ran joyfully to the tiger, hugging it. The tiger affectionately rubbed against her face, showing close intimacy.

At this sight, Ji Yanran and Bacho both stood shocked.

Fang Zheng simply chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.

”See, I said there’s no problem.”

After being tackled by the tiger, the guy lost all his strength to resist and was soon dragged away by the two youths—after all, with such a huge tiger before him, he couldn’t stand even if he wanted to!

If not for the tiger showing mercy, that slap would have cracked his skull already.

”What will happen to that man?”

Watching the guy being dragged away while crying and shouting, Bacho couldn’t help but ask, while Fang Zheng pondered momentarily.

”Robbery in broad daylight, sentenced to ten years; he’ll now probably spend his days at the mining site. Of course, good behavior will reduce his sentence; as for the rest, there’s no need to consider it... Oh, and the supervisors are a pack of wolves, so I doubt they’d be stupid enough to deliver themselves as meals for the wolves.”

”Young Master Fang’s actions indeed opened Yanran’s eyes...”

Ji Yanran was speechless and sighed, while Fang Zheng simply chuckled.

”So, does Master Ji understand now? I never expect everyone who comes here to have excellent self-management skills. However, I do have my ways of dealing with things. I previously answered Master Ji, it’s true there’s no one in this city who works directly for me, but the wolves, tigers, and leopards are far more obedient than humans. Not only that, their ears and eyes are much sharper than humans’, so if anyone plans on doing something bad here...”

At this, Fang Zheng blinked.

”Then they’ll surely regret it.”