The central square of Xingzhao Town bustled like never before. Banners were hung, temporary booths lined the plaza, and the soft chime of bells signaled the start of something new.
On the elevated platform of the newly constructed Civil Affairs Hall, Song Lian stood, her expression calm, her gaze firm.
Beside her stood Yun Zhen, dressed in dark robes with a jade sigil pinned to his chest, a silent symbol of leadership and solidarity. Today marked the official distribution of the Smart Identity Cards.
Each booth had trained clerks who, under Song Lian's direction, performed identity verification, fingerprint registration, and background review. For most citizens, the process was smooth.
Within minutes, they held a sleek, palm-sized card embedded with a flickering sigil of Xingzhao, a merging of modern ingenuity and subtle Qi patterns. Still, resistance was inevitable.
"I don't trust it," muttered OldMeng, a farmer in his sixties with a limp and a reputation for being difficult. "What's wrong with the old way? We managed just fine without needing to scan a magic tablet for food!"
A few nodded in agreement. Among them were traditionalists from the outer farming district, older refugees who had always valued autonomy over regulation.
"It's not magic," a young shopkeeper, LiWei, explained gently. "It's a system to keep things fair. And safe."
"But why should we have to register everything? What happens when she starts controlling where we can go, what we can buy, or who we can speak to?" Old Meng grumbled.
These concerns found a quiet echo in small corners of the town. But Song Lian had anticipated this. She didn't just come with rules, she came with rewards.
By midday, Song Lian stepped back onto the platform. This time, she held up a shimmering black token no larger than her thumb.
"This," she announced, "is Xingbi, the new currency of Xingzhao."
The crowd murmured in confusion. "With your Smart ID Card," she continued, "each household will receive a monthlycreditallowance in Xingbi. These credits can be used in any shop, food stall, market vendor, or inn inside the town."
She gestured to the bustling plaza around them. New shops with glowing signs and upgraded interiors lined the streets, traders who had volunteered to participate in the card system now had signs reading 'ID Accepted Here' hanging above their doors.
"If you have your card," Song Lian said, "you get access to this system. If you don't… you won't receive monthly rations. You won't be able to buy from registered vendors. You won't get the special housing benefits we're introducing next month."
That got their attention. The murmurs grew louder. She continued, "The ID card is not just a method of control. It's a gateway to opportunity. To protection. To prosperity."
As if on cue, workers began setting up new booths around the square where citizens who had already registered began collecting their first allowance, bags of vegetables, flour, and bundles of textile coupons, all marked with the town's insignia.
That afternoon, OldMeng stood in line. By evening, he walked home carrying a full sack of rice, fresh herbs, a jug of oil, and a voucher to repair the roof of his farmhouse.
"I still don't like it," he muttered. "But damn if that rice isn't fresher than anything I've seen in a year."
The tide had turned. Even those who had whispered resistance now found themselves drawn to the benefits. With the Smart ID cards, citizens could now:
Access subsidized food and medicine.
Attend the new education center for their children.
Enter the public bathhouses and clinic.
Trade with regulated vendors offering guaranteed quality.
Earn bonusXingbi through town services and public works The system was clean. Fair. Efficient. Most importantly, it worked.
Later that night, in a dim-lit room atop the town's new security hall, Song Lian and Yun Zhen reviewed the day's numbers.
"Over two thousand registered," Yun Zhen said, arms crossed. "Only two dozen holdouts remain."
"They'll come around once their neighbors start enjoying indoor heating," Song Lian replied, sipping tea. "No one likes to be left behind."
Yun Zhen looked at her, his tone softer. "You're building a kingdom, Song Lian. One smarter than anything our ancestors dreamed of."
She didn't answer right away. Her eyes scanned the biometric logs on the screen embedded in the table, watching as red dots slowly turned green one by one; each one a registered citizen, a life given structure and security.
"I'm not building a kingdom," she said finally. "I'm building a place where no one has to be afraid."
Yun Zhen studied her. Every day, his admiration for her grew. Not just for her mind, but her heart. Her belief in a future. Her unwavering resolve.
But again, the words refused to come. Instead, he stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone in this."
She looked up, her expression unreadable, but she didn't move away.
From a remote mountainside shrine, the new Black Hall observer watched the recorded footage retrieved by a secret surveillance hawk that had circled above Xingzhao for days. The image of Xingbi and the Smart ID cards flickered in the crystal orb before him.
"A currency system? Identification by magic and logic? Reinforced gates and weapons from another age…" the spy whispered. Behind him, an envoy from the Yun Imperial Court stepped into the room, robes rustling.
"Report?"
The Black Hall operative turned slowly. "They're not just rebelling," he said grimly.
"They're evolving."