Shen Feng’s own title was “Tough Grass in the Wind,” which he found quite cool. However, a title was one thing, and a nickname was another. Just like among the heroes of Liangshan, both Wu Song and Li Kui fought tigers, but the one called the Tiger Slayer was actually Li Zhong. This showed that nicknames were something that had to be recognized by everyone.
No matter how cool a title was, the people below wouldn't care about such things. They would give nicknames to others according to their own wishes, and these nicknames would be simple and easy to understand.
In the eyes of the common folk, Shen Feng was simply called “Wind God,” simple and clear, and easy to remember.
As for Xiao Sheng, people called him the Fire God, and for Jin Ziju, they called him the Thunder God. In short, whatever ability they had, they just added the word “God” after it.
When Shen Feng appeared, hundreds of people knelt and bowed to him, all hoping that Shen Feng could save them. At this moment, “Wind God” was no longer just a title for Shen Feng; he truly seemed to have become a god.
Shen Feng felt embarrassed to accept their kowtows. After asking everyone to rise, he found a way to kill many fish in the water and gave the food to these people. Everyone found a piece of oilcloth to set up tents, lit bonfires, and began to roast fish. After so many days, they could finally eat some decent food.
While eating fish, everyone asked Shen Feng what they should do next. To these ordinary people, Shen Feng could only vaguely say, “Someone will come to pick you up later and send you to Yuzhou. Then, you won’t have to worry about the floods anymore.”
“When will they pick us up?”
“In a few days. The rescue personnel are on their way.”
Shen Feng couldn't give these people an accurate answer. He could only try to comfort them. However, at this moment, Shen Feng was also thinking that the battle in Yuzhou seemed to have come to an end. The soldiers had rested for more than a week, and it seemed they could be brought to help with disaster relief.
But, upon careful consideration, Shen Feng felt it was inappropriate. Many soldiers had been fighting with him everywhere for more than half a year without proper rest. They should be allowed to recuperate now. How could he bring soldiers to disaster relief just because of his kindness? What if the soldiers resented it?
Thinking of this, Shen Feng didn't know what to do.
While Shen Feng was contemplating these matters, a little boy sat beside him, holding an umbrella, and asked innocently, “Lord Wind God, can you use your powers to blow away all the dark clouds in the sky? Then it won’t rain!”
Shen Feng heard this and immediately gave a bitter smile. He felt that the little boy’s question was too naive, yet very sharp.
Currently, the most far-reaching move among Shen Feng’s abilities was “Vast East Wind,” but its diameter was only within one to two kilometers. The air currents above Jingxiang had a diameter of at least several hundred kilometers. Shen Feng couldn't influence such a large area.
“If I could do that, I would truly be a god!” Shen Feng patted the little boy’s head, not explaining too much, but his answer was clear enough: he couldn't.
The little boy asked curiously, “They all call you Wind God, aren’t you really a god?”
Shen Feng shrugged and said, “I am not a god. Besides, you should also know something: if God truly descended upon the world, he would no longer be God! Because God is always high above, and God doesn’t care about the good or bad of mortals.”
The little boy didn’t understand why and continued to ask, “If God doesn’t care about mortals, whether good or bad, then why do we still believe in these gods?”
“Who can say for sure? Perhaps it’s for psychological comfort,” Shen Feng shrugged, unable to give an accurate answer.
At this moment, the little boy looked up at the rain falling from the sky, his eyes full of confusion. He didn’t know where he should go in the future, what his future would be like, whether it would be good or bad.
The rain fell into the accumulated water on the ground, creating ripples. It fell on the small hills, constantly washing away the soil. Under such circumstances, even the bonfire in the tent flickered unsteadily. Seeing the current scene, anyone would feel that this was an era of turmoil.
“If only someone could blow away the dark clouds above. Then we wouldn’t have to suffer!” the little boy said naively.
Hearing this, Shen Feng felt deeply moved. Even a child looked forward to someone dispelling the dark clouds, while he, an ability user, had started to retreat. This kind of faith was inferior to that of a child. Perhaps, without trying, one would never know the outcome.
Shen Feng stood up, bid farewell to everyone, and said, “You wait for rescue. In a few days, I will also bring people to save you. Then, those who are willing to follow me can go to Yuzhou. Perhaps there are more mountains, but you will basically be free from floods!”
After speaking, Shen Feng reopened his glider, summoned a strong wind, and soared into the sky again, heading towards Yuzhou.
Previously, Shen Feng felt he needed to observe for several days to truly figure things out. However, when Shen Feng arrived at a small mountain and truly witnessed the tragic fate of ordinary people, he instantly understood what he should do in the future.
Should he contend for supremacy in the world? No!
Should he live a life of debauchery? No!
Shen Feng saw the path clearly. He had to protect the common people. Since he was called “Wind God” by others, he should do what he could.
Shen Feng returned to Yuzhou. It was already late at night, but he eagerly found Professor Chu and said earnestly, “Teacher, I’m ready to bring the soldiers to help with disaster relief. It’s midsummer now, and the typhoons can’t be stopped in a short period. We can’t expect the heavens to suddenly stop raining, but we can do our best to save people!”
Professor Chu was very pleased with Shen Feng’s answer. He nodded and said seriously, “You have now learned to help others, and I am very happy. Compared to a year ago when you were so stubborn, you now have much more empathy.”
Shen Feng gave a helpless bitter smile and sat down, sighing, “That’s because I was a bit narrow-minded before. My eyes were only focused on the small gains in front of me. Now I realize that the world is vast, but there are thousands upon thousands of suffering people. I also understand why it’s said that the poor should cultivate themselves, and the rich should help the world.”
Shen Feng’s current status and power were all achieved according to others’ suggestions. When he first woke up in the apocalypse, Shen Feng just wanted to take his senior classmate out of the zombie-infested city. After getting out, he needed to save people with his senior classmate. After saving Chang Haojie, he was instigated by Professor Chu to recapture Luzhou, and then he had to recapture Yuzhou. Now, only a year has passed, and Shen Feng has become famous throughout the land, transforming from a young boy into a great hero. Recalling all this, Shen Feng felt it was like a dream.
It wasn't until Shen Feng went near Xiangyang and saw people hiding from floods on various small hills that he finally understood that his own self-satisfaction with achievements was meaningless. If his abilities couldn't protect others, then his reputation and power were merely undeserved.
Professor Chu looked at Shen Feng’s serious face and thought to himself, “It seems that Shen Feng will also be a good person in the future. I should also make arrangements for my final affairs.”
With this thought, Professor Chu immediately said to Shen Feng, “Shen Feng, my health is not good, and I may not have the chance to speak my mind to you like this again. Now, listen carefully. With the arrival of the apocalypse, the most terrifying thing is not the external zombies and mutated beasts, but the internal situation! Clearing zombies and mutated beasts can be done with force, but for humans, if you use force, it’s unrealistic. I have arranged a corresponding strategy for you.”
Shen Feng quickly nodded and said, “I am all ears.”
Professor Chu slowly took a sip of tea and said, “Once a strategy is formulated, it cannot be changed casually. And the strategy I have formulated for you consists of nine characters: Build high walls, store grain widely…”
Upon hearing this, Shen Feng immediately understood. Although he wasn’t a good student, this saying was so famous that he had heard of it. So, he quickly finished the sentence, saying, “I know, and the rest is to temporarily claim kingship! Right, teacher?”
Professor Chu shook his head and slapped Shen Feng on the head, saying helplessly, “What nonsense are you talking about? Do you perhaps want to restore feudalism? A hundred years ago, there were no emperors and kings. If you claim kingship now, aren’t you going backward in history?”
Shen Feng gave an awkward laugh, scratched his disheveled hair, and said, “I thought you wanted me to seize opportunities in crisis. Anyway, the world is in chaos now, and it’s not impossible to become king amidst the chaos. It’s just a title, isn’t it?”
Shen Feng realized that he might have misunderstood. How could Professor Chu, such an upright person, teach him to go astray?
Professor Chu shook his head and said to Shen Feng, “Perhaps the world is in chaos now, and you can temporarily claim kingship, but what about in the future? When the external crisis is resolved, how will you position yourself? You will be nailed to the pillar of historical shame!”
Shen Feng smiled and continued to ask, “Alright, alright, I know I was wrong. Then what is the last sentence?”
Professor Chu said solemnly, “Save the common people.”
Shen Feng frowned and muttered, “Save the common people? Are you telling me to do more good deeds?”
Professor Chu nodded and explained to Shen Feng, “If it were two hundred years ago, it wouldn’t matter if you wanted to be king or a hegemon, because no one would resist. But not now. You might be able to achieve temporary dominance through force, but you will inevitably fall in the future. Because you will stand on the opposite side of the people. How can you avoid being overthrown? That is by standing with the people.”
Shen Feng vaguely understood. Wasn't Professor Chu conveying his beliefs to him?
At this moment, Shen Feng hesitated and voiced his concern, “Teacher, but it seems the authorities don’t consider me one of their own. This doesn’t seem right.”
Professor Chu smiled and said, “As long as you choose to save people, you are already one of us!”
Shen Feng scratched his head. He had many concerns about what his teacher said and didn't know how to respond.
At this moment, Professor Chu continued, “Building high walls means improving basic infrastructure. Besides building city walls, you also need to build bridges and roads, restart train stations, build ships, and also build more hydropower stations. As for storing grain widely, it means exactly what it says: improve the cultivation of land. There can never be too much grain. With grain, no matter what natural disasters occur, you can resist them!”
Shen Feng continued to ask, “What about saving the common people?”
Professor Chu didn’t answer directly but recited a poem: “The four seas surge with clouds and water’s fury, the five continents tremble with wind and thunder’s roar. We must sweep away all harmful insects, and be invincible.”
Hearing this, Shen Feng felt a bit lost. Sweep away harmful insects? If you don’t tell me how to do it, how can I sweep them away?
“Don’t look at me like that. I’ve already told you the methods. Who can you blame if you don’t read books carefully?” Professor Chu said helplessly.
Shen Feng quickly nodded. Now that he had received Professor Chu’s guidance, his confidence surged. Knowing that what he was about to do would not be opposed was enough.
Shen Feng then took his leave from Professor Chu and prepared to discuss the matter with Chang Jianyi. Mobilizing the soldiers under his command for disaster relief was not easy. In any case, he had to negotiate with his subordinates in the coming days and strive for their agreement.
After Shen Feng walked out of the City Lord’s mansion, he headed in the direction of his home. The palace that Chang Jianyi was planning to build was still not completed. If the weather had been better, the palace would have been completed. However, since summer began, it had been raining frequently in Yuzhou, which naturally slowed down the construction progress.
Professor Chu watched Shen Feng’s receding back and suddenly couldn’t help but start coughing violently, his breathing becoming more rapid. He quickly found his fast-acting heart medication and placed it under his tongue. After a while, he finally calmed down.
“It seems my time is running out. I won’t be able to see the end of the apocalypse,” Professor Chu thought to himself.