Chapter 00028: Plaza Event
# Plaza Event
Chapter 28
Novel: AFK Game: Portal to Another World
Chapter 28: Plaza Event
“Brother Li, got any more popsicles?”
The neighbor’s kid from the hardware shop next door walked in shouting:
“What the hell is up with this weather? It rained for days, and now it’s hot enough to kill!”
The kid’s name was Xue Wenshu.
Li Chengxi had known him for over ten years—practically watched him grow up.
The way they talked to each other was no different than two real brothers.
“In the freezer, bottom layer—I saved a few for you.”
Li Chengxi kept his eyes fixed on the computer screen.
Soon enough, he heard the sound of the freezer being opened and rummaged through.
“Ahh! Nothing beats icy cold stuff in this kind of heat!”
Xue Wenshu, munching on his popsicle, leaned over curiously.
“What are you playing that’s got you so hooked?”
Li Chengxi turned the laptop towards him.
Wenshu blinked, confused.
“Minesweeper? That’s it?”
That made Li Chengxi pause too—he’d shown him a scene from the game AAI.
It definitely wasn’t Minesweeper.
Maybe, in the eyes of ordinary people, it really just looked like Minesweeper?
Knowing Wenshu, the guy just said whatever popped into his head.
Blunt as a shovel and twice as sharp.
Though it sounded ridiculous, the fact that he could actually pull objects out of the game was already absurd beyond belief.
Li Chengxi didn’t let it show and replied as casually as ever:
“Ever read Jin Yong’s novels? Know Dugu Qiubai? This is called 'returning to simplicity.' You wouldn't understand even if I explained it.”
Xue Wenshu instantly gave him a look of disdain.
It was the look that said, “Are you seriously using a headset to play Minesweeper?”
It’s kind of like wearing a dead rat on your belt and pretending you're a hunter.
“Wanna try it?”
“No thanks, I’ll leave you to it. I’m heading back to play Honor of Kings.”
Tossing a one-yuan coin on the counter, Xue Wenshu turned and left.
Just as he stepped out, he heard Li Chengxi say casually:
“It’s almost 4 o’clock already, and you’re still biking out? Got a date, huh? Don’t come back too late, or your mom’s definitely gonna beat you.”
Wenshu practically teleported back, lowering his voice:
“Brother Li, how did you know?”
“I saw you. Yesterday, when I was closing up shop, I saw you at the street corner with some girl—pretty close too, sharing an umbrella. Your girlfriend?”
Xue Wenshu got all shy and mumbled:
“Met her at tutoring class, she’s not my girlfriend…”
“Why are you being all embarrassed? At your age, it’s totally normal to be interested in someone. Heck, you’re already a late bloomer. I see middle school kids walking around in couples all the time. You’re in high school.”
Li Chengxi kept his eyes on the screen, not even glancing over.
“Normal’s normal. But I still gotta say this as your bro—some things are okay to do, and some things aren’t. Know where the line is. Don’t go creating a mess that your folks have to clean up later.”
“I know, we’re just pure friends.”
“Sure, let’s go with that.”
“Don’t tell my mom—I gotta run, gonna be late!”
Waving him off without even lifting his head, Li Chengxi kept his eyes glued to the screen.
Seeing that kid all love-struck reminded Li Chengxi of his own youthful days.
Back then, there was someone he liked too.
And he also received love letters from others.
But in the end, he firmly turned them all down.
Because he always thought girls would just get in the way of gaming.
How could having a girlfriend compare to the thrill of gaming?
Thinking back now...
Yeah, he totally regretted it.
Anyway, forget that.
Li Chengxi moved the mouse and shifted the camera angle to the central plaza of Leon Stronghold.
A huge crowd of commoners had gathered there, and in the center stood a Holy Emblem.
Yes, his Holy Emblem.
— – – — – – —
Demon Lord Calendar Year 648
April 9th, Noon
In the plaza of Leon Stronghold, a few Royal Guards, all dressed in ceremonial robes, were shouting passionately:
“Have faith in the Demon God! He will be your savior!”
“The Divine will soothe all pain!”
“The Demon God will protect His people from all harm!”
As they shouted, they gestured toward the nearby street where several bandits, captured just yesterday, were parading in chains under the watchful eyes of soldiers.
Some of them were even queued up for execution at the gallows.
The propaganda effect couldn’t be better.
No matter the place, people have a natural curiosity—especially when it’s about watching scoundrels who threaten their families and livelihoods being marched toward execution.
It greatly boosted the prestige of the Demon God among commoners.
As more and more people gathered, Viola was quite pleased.
This was a perfect opportunity to spread the faith in the Demon God.
The only thing she wasn’t satisfied with was the Holy Emblem in the plaza’s center.
It was just too small.
It was merely a stone pillar, a little over a person’s height, with a stone-carved handprint Holy Emblem placed on top.
In Viola’s mind, it should’ve been at least a five-meter-tall statue.
And the base should be surrounded by fresh flowers and offerings—that’s the minimum standard.
But the stonemason told her, “Your Highness, even if you slaughter my whole family, I still can’t make something that big appear out of thin air…”
The large statue was still under construction, so they had to make do with this little one for now.
She’d picked a few Royal Guards with loud and pleasant voices to deliver the message.
Viola wasn’t there to just watch the show.
Once the crowd had thickened around the emblem, she stepped forward and raised both hands.
A burst of divine radiance blanketed the noon sun for a moment, and the commoners were startled to find their minor aches and ailments had eased noticeably.
The Royal Guards immediately followed up:
“My Lord says: ‘The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao.’ It means anything done with focus and heart is worthy of praise. No matter what job you have, you deserve respect.”
“My Lord says: ‘The name that can be named is not the eternal name.’ All names are impermanent. No one should feel ashamed of their origins. As long as you strive to improve, you will gain recognition. On the other hand, even those of noble birth who become complacent are nothing but useless nobodies.”
Let’s not even go into their… interpretation of the Tao Te Ching.
In this strictly feudal society, things were very rigid.
A blacksmith’s son would always be a blacksmith.
A carpenter’s son would always be a carpenter.
Climbing the social ladder was almost impossible.
But according to the teachings preached by the Royal Guards, anyone could rise, and no one should feel ashamed of their birth.
To modern ears, it sounded ordinary.
But to those living under feudal oppression, it was revolutionary.
Such slogans would’ve been silenced immediately in any traditional feudal kingdom.
But Viola was royalty herself.
Seeing the princess approve these words, many commoners hesitated.
And that’s fine.
The more they hesitate, the more they'll listen.
Nobody converts overnight.
That wouldn’t be preaching anymore—it’d be hypnosis.
The kind you often see in those certain books from certain gentlemen's shelves...
With a public spectacle to enjoy, a little physical rejuvenation, and a taste of these mind-blowing concepts, the plaza grew ever more crowded.
The more, the better.
Viola planned to preach for a few days, then take a short break.
If people came looking for her during the break, that meant it had worked.
Then repeat, until everyone in the city became a follower.
Once that happened, she could rally the people to help build that grand temple she had always dreamed of.
“Move aside! Move!”
“You filthy peasants—what do you think you’re gathering here for?”
From within the crowd, a few soldiers forced a path open.
Lord Leon strode forward, a foul expression on his face.
And then he saw Viola standing beneath the Holy Emblem.
Still, displeased or not, even Lord Leon had to put on a show of humility in front of a princess.
He quickly stepped forward and bowed with forced elegance.
“Your Highness…”
“Count Leon, have you come to hear the teachings of my Lord too?”
Lord Leon waved his hand signaling the soldiers to disperse the crowd a bit.
“Your Highness, I’m not trying to hinder your preaching… but going directly against national policy like this, it puts me in a very difficult position…”
(To be continued)