LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 501, Receiving Intelligence_1
The major fire that had engulfed the commercial street had subsided by the latter part of the night.
But the aftershock of the fire was still felt deeply.
A great number of people in the city were cleaning up the ruins.
Some dressed like guards were investigating the cause of the incident.
After breakfast, Fang Hao had brought Anjia and a few others to check on the situation.
Upon arrival at the site, they found it swarming with people.
They gathered around discussing things like - someone set the fire, whose family had been reduced to ashes, and so on.
In essence, all chatter revolved around the fire from the previous night.
Fang Hao and his group, who were strong and formidable, pushed through the crowd.
They observed the whole street.
The traces of the fire stretched beyond one or two buildings. At a single glance, one could see an entire row of structures, all blackened from the flame, some still releasing wisps of smoke.
A few individuals clad in yellow were handling the areas that were still smoking.
Thankfully, a mage had summoned a heavy rain last night, or the fire might have destroyed half the city.
Looking at the scene, Fang Hao was suddenly reminded of Li Rong.
He didn't know many people here, but he did know Li Rong.
Her shop was right on this street.
With that thought, he sidled through the crowd, heading towards the Fairy Dream Tower.
The further inside they went, the worse the fire damage appeared.
It seemed that the fire had originated from the Fairy Dream Tower and gradually spread to the other stores.
There was nothing left in its wake.
Naturally, there was no need for a door anymore, they climbed over the collapsed walls and entered.
The inside was a mess. There were no cosmetics, clothing, jewelry left - absolutely nothing.
Just as Fang Hao was about to take out the Book of Lords to inquire after Li Rong's situation...
He faintly heard someone sobbing from within the ruins.
The sobs were not loud, as though the person was struggling to control them.
But from the slightly hoarse and trembling crying, one could perceive the person's sorrow.
Fang Hao and his companions walked over the collapsed walls.
They saw Li Rong, covered head to toe in soot, crouched in a corner.
Her head was buried in her arms, her body quaking uncontrollably.
Hearing someone come in, Li Rong quickly wiped away her tears and looked up.
Her tear-streaked face looked like she had been crying her heart out.
Upon seeing Fang Hao, she who had been suppressing her tears could no longer control herself and started crying again.
Fang Hao could understand her grief.
After striving for such a long time, she thought everything was on the right track.
But one fire had stripped her of everything. Second outlet, business operations - all were lost. Razed to the ground by the fire.
After thinking for a moment, Fang Hao squatted down and gently patted her trembling shoulder.
He softly comforted, "It's okay, everything will get better."
Upon hearing his words, Li Rong turned around and threw herself into Fang Hao's arms, crying even harder.
She wetted Fang Hao's clothes
"Everything is gone... it's all gone ..." Li Rong sobbed.
Li Rong, who had her own territory, did not stay in the city at night.
Last night she had heard the thunder but was unaware of the fire.
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But as soon as she entered the city today, she felt something was amiss.
On seeing the Fairy Dream Tower reduced to rubble, Li Rong was dumbstruck.
Her mind went blank.
She had rushed in alone, digging through the rubble, searching for her goods.
But of course, after such a big fire, nothing could have survived. All she could find was charred remains.
At this moment, she buried herself in Fang Hao's arms.
She was sobbing uncontrollably, mumbling incoherently about everything being gone.
Fang Hao had heard of Li Rong's business dreams, and he knew how heartbreaking it was to see those dreams shatter and lose everything.
He continued to softly pat her shoulder, comforting her, "You still have your factory, your foundation is still there, everything can start again…"
Woohoo...
Li Rong cried for a good while and then gradually quieted down.
She wiped her tears off her face and raised her head from Fang Hao's chest.
Her once pretty face was now a mess of tears and soot, making Li Rong look like she had come out of the fire.
"Wipe your face, you look like a grimy kitten," Fang Hao handed over a handkerchief.
Li Rong took it.
She wiped her face, spreading the soot everywhere.
Seeing her a bit more settled, Fang Hao asked, "Did anyone get hurt?"
Li Rong appeared somewhat dazed, her face was devoid of its previous cheerfulness.
Responding in a low voice, "No, we don't have anyone staying at the shop overnight, it's just that my shop... it's gone."
"It's alright, we can rebuild it later. It's good that no one got hurt," Fang Hao noticed her face becoming increasingly smeared.
He took out some water, wet the handkerchief, and wiped her face, revealing the fair complexion underneath the layer of soot.
Hey!
At this moment, Anjia suddenly gave an exclamation.
He reached his hand into the rubble and pulled out a long iron box.
Li Rong, with tears in her eyes, turned to look at the iron box in Anjia's hand.
Her crying ceased immediately and she ran over hastily.
Taking the box from Anjia, she opened it to reveal neatly stacked piles of Gold Coins.
This was the money earned from the shop's recent sales.
Having money in her territory, Anjia naturally didn't care much for this money.
Anjia's ability to find treasures was something that had always impressed Fang Hao.
She could effortlessly find this money, which was nothing out of ordinary to him.
Li Rong held the money box, taking deep breaths in order to compose herself.