Chapter 396: Volume 1, Chapter 396: Evil Dragon x Slave x Witch (16)

Jiang Zhi, who had rested and recovered, released all the slaves she had rescued from the Pinminku, expanded the shelter, and occupied half of Chendi.

Having learned from last time, Jiang Zhi screened every slave and found over a dozen spies sent by the Zhucheng elders; she tied them together, planning to return these hidden agents to those elders when she went to Zhucheng in the afternoon.

Changing the soil was easy, but building new houses took time; fortunately, the Half-beasts helped, and everyone pitched in to build homes.

This also helped improve relations between the Half-beasts and ordinary humans.

After settling the shelter, Jiang Zhi bade them farewell and headed to Zhucheng to rescue the last batch of slaves.

To prevent a repeat of last time, Jiang Zhi gave the communication talisman to the Half-beasts responsible for the shelter's safety.

"If anything important comes up, just speak into the talisman—I'll hear it."

The residents all stood at the door to see her off, shouting, "Master, stay safe!!"

A loud, earth-shaking voice echoed across the whole sky.

During the cape flight.

Seeing her master's worried face, Xiaohei handed her a bottle of water and asked, "Master, are you worried about them?"

Jiang Zhi didn't want to come back and see dead people again.

They merely wanted to live, yet they were to become the whetstone of those greedy, heartless people.

She didn't answer Xiaohei's question, but instead asked, "Xiaohei, if you could choose, would you reincarnate as a slave or as a noble living in Zhucheng?"

For many people, this question is already predetermined.

Nobody wants to suffer hardship from birth; even having enough food and warmth is a problem.

Xiaohei hesitated not: "Slave."

Jiang Zhi stared for a moment, "Why?"

Xiaohei lowered his head and whispered, "I want to see the master."

Even if he experienced it again, he would still choose to be a slave, for only then could he meet the master and stay by her side.

Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "But I hope your next life will be better."

Xiaohei, in a corner she couldn't see, slowly raised his brows and gazed at her profile.

He thought silently in his heart.

He has already lived well in this life.

…

As the cape flew through the air approaching Zhucheng, far off she saw rising thick black smoke, like heavy dark clouds blanketing the entire city; sparks flared, buildings collapsed layer upon layer, and war was imminent.

Jiang Zhi frowned at the sight and asked 777, "What happened?"

777 went to investigate and returned, saying, "The male lead started the war; he wants to abolish the slave and noble systems, and aside from his confidants, no one agrees. He has gathered his forces, intending to completely eradicate the elders who control people's hearts."

Jiang Zhi was stunned for a long time.

The Twelve Elders were like pillars supporting half the sky in Zhucheng; the civilians and nobles residing in the city revered and feared them as if worshiping heavenly gods.

The male lead Gu He wanted to uproot those elders, which would certainly lose him the people's hearts.

Once the king loses the people's hearts, it equals losing supreme authority.

Jiang Zhi didn't expect that Gu He's return would be to resolutely oppose the nobles.

…

During these years in the king's position, Gu He was not without resources; he had cultivated many confidant emissaries.

But to get rid of those elders, he still needed a scheme.

Back in the Wangong, Gu He outwardly claimed to be gravely ill and summoned the Grand Elder into the palace.

As the most authoritative and strongest of the elders, Grand Elder Wang Tong became entangled in combat with Gu He's confidants.

In one strike, he broke dozens of Gu He's confidants before severely wounding him.

Gu He immediately sent people to eradicate two of the Five Great Families.

Overnight, Zhucheng changed hands.

The remaining nobles and elders quickly realized that the two forces were opposed, and the war continued without cease.

The residents hid, and the slaves in Zhucheng, aided by Gu He's people, also hid in safe places.

At this moment, Gu He inside the Wangong faced a dead end; when he returned, he had not expected to survive.

He knew Jiang Zhi's plan: after rescuing all the slaves from the Pinminku, the next step was Zhucheng.

Gu He strove to make amends, even if it meant sacrificing his life.

The chief confidant who rushed in hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, they have already broken in; they are right before the palace's main gate. I will escort you out…"

Gu He's wounds were severe; exhausted, he struggled to his feet, draining all his strength.

"I can't go."

I fear the Wangong is now completely surrounded; they will surely not let him go.

Gu He's trembling fingers tidied his clothes; he took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the blood from his cheeks.

Proud and fastidious as he was, he refused to die in such a miserable state.

Seeing this, his confidants' eyes reddened; they stood aside, also preparing to take their own lives.

Outside the palace.

The Fourth Elder, sinister and crafty, was also the first to sense something amiss, quickly contacting the other elders to respond,

he could not contain his anger: "Is Gu He mad? To abandon a perfectly good king and instead oppose us."

This king Gu He, thoughtful and deep‑schemed; in less than a day he had severed his two sects, which amounted to destroying his left and right arms.

How could the Fourth Elder not be furious, wishing to drink his blood and eat his flesh!

The Second Elder was the most composed among them, a mage by profession, with a shaved head and monk's robes; yet upon closer look, his complexion was also unusually cold.

There were twelve elders in total; the Grand Elder's life or death is unknown; the Sixth Elder who went to Pinminku died at the hands of an unknown person, while the Tenth, Ninth, Fifth, and Seventh Elders all died at the hands of the confidants sent by Guhe.

The Third Elder is seriously ill and confined to bed.

Only he, the Fourth Elder, the Eighth Elder, the Eleventh Elder, and the Twelfth Elder remain.

The Twelfth Elder guards the East Gate, the Eighth Elder went to the West Gate, and the Eleventh Elder is at the South Gate.

He and the Fourth Elder are guarding the North Gate, heading straight for the Wangong's Main Hall.

「He has been severely wounded by the Eleventh Elder; he can't escape and can only wait to die. 」the Second Elder in monk's robes said coldly,

「The Fourth Elder is unwilling: 'The Eleventh's poison probably won't kill him outright, right? I still want to refine him into a puppet.'」

The Second Elder glanced at him: 'Even dead he can be refined.'

The Fourth Elder scratched his head, smiling sinisterly: 'That's different; refining a living person looks better.'

He is a Puppet Master, having refined many puppets, taking pleasure in tormenting people, and likes to watch the puppets die bit by bit.

Guhe is the ruler of a country; the Fourth Elder has never refined a king's puppet, just thinking about it makes him excited.

The Wangong's palace maids and slaves were seized by the people they brought; the corpses of the slaves cruelly killed lie scattered on the marble walkway, blood flowing like a river, seeping into the pond through the cracks.

These people have long been indifferent to human life; killing a person is as easy as killing an ant.

The blood only breeds their inner darkness and malice.

The prosperous and splendid Zhucheng appears bright and beautiful on the outside, but inside it is already rotten and decayed.

Hahaha~

Laughter echoes within the Wangong.