Chapter 123: Sins Beneath the Splendor

The story of Journey to the West was inherently magnificent; even on Earth, it would be considered a classic. In this world, however, there were very few works worth mentioning. Everyone was accustomed to adapting real-life events, and the most one could hope for was the addition of a few fabricated subplots. In such an environment, the sudden appearance of a masterpiece like Journey to the West exerted an immense attraction on those who had rarely encountered such literature.

At first, perhaps the nobles only took an interest in the book because they saw Empress Wu Zhao reading it every day. But once they actually obtained a copy and read the content, every single noble who purchased the book became a devoted fan of Zhou Tian.

When a small group of people shares a common interest, it is enough to pique the curiosity of those around them. When everyone in one's social circle becomes obsessed with the same thing, a phenomenon is born. Regardless of whether they truly liked it, once people realized that everyone around them was captivated by it, they felt compelled to learn to like it too, simply to avoid being excluded from the group.

What could be achieved on Earth through a blockbuster film or television series could be accomplished in Zhou Tian’s current world by a brilliance that had never been seen before. As Journey to the West became a cultural phenomenon, almost every noble household purchased at least one copy. Once the aristocracy of the Yanhuang Empire was entirely engrossed in the book, the neighboring nations naturally became curious as well.

What kind of book could possibly bewitch the nobles of the Yanhuang Empire to such an extent?

Driven by this question, nobles from other countries bought copies of their own. Once they started reading, they too were hooked. Following the Yanhuang Empire, the aristocracy of one nation after another across the continent became enthralled by Journey to the West. This curiosity led them to develop a favorable impression of the Church of Light, and they also learned that in the north of the Yanhuang Empire, near the Magical Beast Forest, there existed a miraculous city called the Capital.

The effect Zhou Tian desired was finally achieved.

Because of Journey to the West, the influence of the Church of Light expanded across the entire continent. Already a top-tier institution, it now surpassed all other churches to become the universally recognized premier faith of the land. As the author of the book, Zhou Tian naturally became the Church’s greatest contributor. No one dared to criticize the Pope for granting Zhou Tian the position of bishop so quickly; in fact, some radical believers argued that someone capable of writing such a story deserved far more—perhaps even the papacy itself.

Beyond stabilizing Zhou Tian's previously precarious position within the Church of Light, the book also propelled the Capital into a period of rapid development.

After reading the book, people were eager to visit the city. This influx of tourists boosted the Capital’s economy, and with the city's current administrators being more adept at seizing opportunities than their predecessors, countless merchant guilds followed the crowds, establishing themselves within the city walls. With a massive influx of trade and tourism, and the periodic integration of homeless refugees, the scale of the Capital doubled almost every month.

Seeing the city transform day by day, Zhou Tian was delighted. With a wave of his hand, he distributed generous bonuses to his subordinates. Then, in a moment of inspiration, he took his next step.

The Capital was currently booming thanks to Journey to the West, and as long as the book remained popular, the city would continue to attract tourists. However, while the book was an effective lure, relying solely on it would not be sustainable in the long run. Even with all the merchandise and models of the buildings and landscapes described in the book, people would eventually lose interest after visiting once or twice.

Therefore, Zhou Tian decided to introduce new entertainment. An amusement park was the latest idea he planned to build.

While an amusement park might not hold much appeal for adults, its attraction for children was staggering. In reality, most adults avoided such places only due to busy schedules or social perceptions; given the chance, many of the attractions were just as captivating for them. In a place as devoid of entertainment as the Capital, Zhou Tian was certain it would be a success. By using the book to draw fans to the city and the park to keep them spending, he would increase the city's fame and prosperity. He believed that even situated next to the Magical Beast Forest, people would eventually be eager to settle there.

He acted immediately. Though there was no electricity, this world possessed magic. By using magic cores as a power source and having clear principles to follow, building an amusement park was not as difficult as imagined. With ten dwarf craftsmen and hundreds of human apprentices, the project was completed in less than half a month. After verifying that the "otherworldly" version was just as good as the ones on Earth, he opened the park on a vacant lot near the statues of the Journey to the West characters.

At first, business was slow, but the nobles were wealthy. Once a bored nobleman tried it and found it amusing, the park gradually filled with people.

With two consecutive successes, Zhou Tian’s confidence swelled. Had he not maintained a shred of rationality, he would have been tempted to invent cinema next.

While Zhou Tian took pride in his achievements, two young women were mingling in the crowd, wandering through the Capital.

"Look, it's the statue of Sun Wukong! So that's what he looks like. He really does look like a monkey."

"Sun Wukong is a monkey-type divine beast, isn't he?"

"But how can a divine beast be a Paladin?"

"Why couldn't he be?"

"Uh..."

Princess Li Xuexin and Lei Yuelin, the young lady of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, had originally come to cause trouble for Zhou Tian. However, having bought a copy of Journey to the West out of boredom on the road, they had become complete fans. Not only did they abandon their plans to lecture him, but upon arriving in the city, they were immediately captivated by the statues and replicas. They spent their time playing in the amusement park, completely unaware that their beauty had already attracted the attention of predators lurking in the shadows.

"Bang!" Zhou Tian slammed his hand onto the table. With a grim expression, he stared at the guard kneeling before him and asked in a voice filled with fury, "Is what you're saying true?"

"Reporting to the City Lord, my report is entirely accurate. However, those people operate with great secrecy, and we have yet to discover their hideout, so..."

"Understood." Zhou Tian nodded, not pressing for details. He waved his hand and said, "You may withdraw."

"Yes, City Lord." Though the guard was puzzled by his reaction, he complied and retreated.

"Those bastards!" Zhou Tian had been focused solely on the city’s growth, failing to realize that prosperity had inadvertently birthed a dark underbelly.

Though the Capital technically belonged to the Yanhuang Empire, its proximity to the Magical Beast Forest led many to treat it as a lawless zone. Consequently, the imperial laws lacked real deterrent power. Because the area attracted mercenaries and outlaws, there were far more people willing to break the law than there were those who followed it.

While the popularity of Journey to the West brought in many tourists—a fact that delighted Zhou Tian—it also attracted a group of criminals who saw an opportunity. Kidnapping nobles for ransom and capturing beautiful girls for trafficking had already occurred several times, all unbeknownst to the City Lord.