387: Chapter 387 Xiaowan Town

The Xiaowan Village of over a decade ago has become the Xiaowan Town of today, with a population nearing ten thousand. Many are people from other places who have come to settle in Xiaowan Town.

Compared to those small and large settlements, Xiaowan Town is much safer because it is home to a powerful Beast Tamer who possesses a formidable Fourth-Level water beast.

Compared to those large settlements, the so-called Second-Level Gene-Enhanced Humans and Mutants are far inferior in strength.

Furthermore, Xiaowan Town was built at Sanshui Bay. With that powerful water beast present, all residents can make a living by fishing.

This is the reason Xiaowan Village has developed into a population of nearly ten thousand in just over a decade.

Due to a unique contract, although Song Yi did not awaken a talent, he gained a portion of the power to manipulate water. His strength has reached the level of a second level Talent User, and combined with his powerful physique, he is a renowned expert in this region.

Outside Xiaowan Town, over a hundred fishing boats drift on the wide river; some are harvesting fish and shrimp, while others are crossing the river.

This tributary, originating from Yunmeng Lake, splits into three branches at this bay. The smallest branch is the one that used to flow toward the original Xiaowan Village.

The largest river is over a hundred meters wide and dozens of meters deep. In the past, ordinary people didn't dare to approach it, let alone sail boats to fish on it.

It was filled with giant, ferocious creatures that could easily destroy a boat and kill everyone on board.

But things are different now. The Blue-Horned Catfish is now the undisputed overlord of this stretch of the river, and no other large fish dare to challenge it. With the Blue-Horned Catfish's intentional clearing of the area, these waters have naturally become much safer.

This is what led to the prosperity of Xiaowan Town.

There are even vast stretches of rice fields behind the river bend. Fishing and farming are two very ordinary industries, but in this Wasteland, they are incredibly precious.

As for the opposite bank of the large river, a valuable iron mine was discovered, so there are quite a few people who go there to make a living by mining ore.

Relying on these three industries, Xiaowan Town has truly established a firm foothold here.

Despite many people coveting it in secret, no one dares to take action or plunder it.

Perhaps the iron mine could be seized, but the fishing and rice fields are entirely dependent on the protection of Song Yi's Fourth-Level Blue-Horned Catfish. If Song Yi died, everything would naturally vanish.

Rather than wishing for Song Yi's death, more people hope he stays alive, because as long as he lives, Xiaowan Town will continue to develop steadily.

Tang Ping was riding a Canopy Boat, heading from the opposite bank toward Xiaowan Town on the river bend.

From here, one can already see the majestic city walls of Xiaowan Town. Although built on a river bend, the walls are twenty meters high and over five meters thick, making the town as sturdy as a fortress. The river itself is a natural moat, and with such a wall, just a single glance is enough to put many people at ease.

"You look like a new face, young man. Is this your first time in Xiaowan Town?"

The old boatman asked with a smile.

"Yeah, I just came out of my village to see the world."

"Hahaha, then you've come to the right place! Not to brag, but among all the villages and towns within a few hundred kilometers, the only one that can truly be called a town is our Xiaowan Town!" the old man said with pride.

"It is indeed impressive. Punting this boat must be hard work, old-timer."

"Sigh, what's so hard about it? Back when I was in my village, I wanted to work hard but had nowhere to do it. It's safe to say that if it weren't for Xiaowan Town, at my age... well, you understand, young man." A look of melancholy crossed the old man's face, as if he were remembering things from long ago.

Tang Ping nodded. He naturally knew about these things. In the food-scarce Wasteland, once someone grew old and lost their ability to work, they would naturally be abandoned.

"Things are better now. Although the income isn't stable, it's more than enough to support myself and my old lady, and I can even earn a little extra to buy some treats for my grandson."

The old man was very satisfied with his current life.

"Alright, we've reached the shore. That'll be one Large Coin, or half a jin of grain."

The "Large Coin" the old man mentioned was an Iron Coin minted by Xiaowan Town itself. One Large Coin was equal to five Small Coins. Although Xiaowan Town wasn't large and didn't have a huge population, it was the only place within hundreds of miles that could truly be called a town. Coupled with the presence of a water beast equivalent to a Fourth-Level Talent User, it was very stable, and thus had the capital and credibility to mint its own currency.

The iron wasn't ordinary iron either; it was a special kind of Hundred-Refined Steel that had been kept in the Blue-Horned Catfish's mouth for a month. Once the process was complete, the steel took on a faint blue luster, felt cool to the touch, and emitted a crisp, vibrating ring when struck. It was very difficult to counterfeit, and the special iron material itself possessed a certain value.

On the opposite bank where Tang Ping had come from, there were small merchants who specialized in exchanging currency, so he had exchanged for some.

Song Family Villa