As Lin Zaozao walked away, a loud farting sound erupted behind her, like firecrackers going off, causing her stride to falter momentarily.
With the thunderous fart, the excess fat that clung to Lin Zaozao's body seemed to vanish into thin air.
Lin Zaozao pinched her slim waist, ah! Her slender waist had returned.
Now that her body had slimmed down, the oppressive sense of lethargy that had weighed upon her was instantly blown away by the explosive fart, leaving her with an overwhelming urge to laugh that she could barely contain.
That damned system, just as she was finally able to indulge in a melancholic moment, this unexpected fart ruined it, leaving her teetering between laughter and tears.
That wretched thing, couldn't she wallow in melancholy for just a little while?
But now the situation had become quite embarrassing. She had walked off with such a gloomy demeanor in front of so many people. To return now would be utterly humiliating.
Oh well, she might as well continue pretending to be alone for a bit longer.
Despite the echoing farts erupting from the Wizard, Lin Zaozao strode forward with a suppressed smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Gu Shan, who had been following Lin Zaozao invisibly, finally let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her smiling expression.
Thank goodness the Wizard's timely farts brought her out of her funk. If Lin Zaozao had remained despondent, stuck in her melancholic thoughts, it would have been disastrous.
While Gu Shan felt relieved, the Wizard clutched his stomach, his beard disheveled, as Little Xibei and Ye Yi looked on, their gazes conveying his embarrassment despite his bearded face.
The Wizard had truly outdone himself with his impeccable timing.
"That dog Xi Luo must have made me embarrass myself just to amuse his older sister!"
"That scoundrel, I must have been enemies with him in my past life, which is why we can never resolve our feud in this lifetime!"
Hearing the Wizard's grumblings, Little Xibei couldn't help but roll his eyes at him.
That farting curse of his was utterly useless!
He had been cursed by Xi Luo not only to give birth every three seconds but also to continuously bear children for the next ten years.
Thinking of the children, Little Xibei rubbed his still flat stomach, feeling utterly dejected.
If he could, he would slaughter that dog Xi Luo right now.
His accursed mouth, always cursing others, was truly abhorrent.
Once Lin Zaozao found herself alone, she looked around cautiously before finally allowing her tense expression to relax.
Kicking off her shoes, she plopped down on the grassy ground. After a moment, finding sitting uncomfortable, she leaned back and lay flat on the grass.
Gazing up through the trees at the glaring sun, Lin Zaozao shielded her eyes with her hand as her mind slowly sank into contemplation.
Her past life seemed so distant!
Yet now, her so-called past life had become inextricably intertwined with her present.
Murong Hai hoped that by recovering her past memories, their shared feelings would compel her to remain in this world.
This implied that her past life had not been a pleasant one.
Or rather, after regaining her past memories, would she even be able to leave this world?
Where could she go if she left this world?
Back to her family, with her parents and younger brother?
But if she truly returned there and could never come back, would she be willing to leave?
Apart from Murong Hai, all her husbands were now pregnant. Especially Gu Shan and Little Xibei, who were both carrying twins.
Most importantly, Gu Shan regarded her as his entire world. If his world left him, would he be able to carry on while raising two children?
Imagining Gu Shan's anguish, Lin Zaozao shook her head vehemently.
No, she couldn't hurt Gu Shan or her other husbands. But if she had the chance to return but chose not to, then her parents would be the ones suffering.
Yet her parents had already prepared for her departure and still had her younger brother by their side.
However, if she left her husbands, they would be left with nothing.
She could not, no, she must not do that.
Alas, there was never a perfect solution!
If she chose one path, she would inevitably have to abandon the other. Although her heart was vast, this dilemma truly pained her!
If only the heavens would open their eyes and allow her to visit her parents and younger brother, how wonderful that would be!
"Gu Shan, Ruo Qiu, Ji Fantian, Xiao Taohua, Ye Yi, Xiao Liuli, Han Ye Brother, Little Xibei and Murong Hai, I truly love you all..."
Lin Zaozao murmured with her eyes closed.
Gu Shan, who had been guarding Lin Zaozao, couldn't help but smile upon hearing her words.
She had called his name first, did that mean he was her most beloved?
Gu Shan crouched down, gazing intently at the reclining Lin Zaozao. This was his little girl, the one who would accompany him for the rest of his life.
In her past life, he had failed to protect her, but in this life, he would definitely safeguard his beloved.
As Gu Shan gazed adoringly at Lin Zaozao, she removed her hand from her eyes and spoke softly in the direction of his hiding spot.
"Gu Shan, come lie with me for a while."
"Lin Zaozao, how did you know I was here?"
Gu Shan emerged from the shadows, puzzled.
"I couldn't see you, but I could smell your scent. It's like the pure snow of the mountains, a little cold but exceptionally sacred."
"Lin Zaozao, I'm an assassin. The word 'sacred' doesn't suit me."
Gu Shan lay beside Lin Zaozao, pulling her into his embrace as he spoke gently.
"Gu Shan, you are indeed an assassin. But as an assassin, you've saved so many lives.
The poisoned and puppet-like people imprisoned on the Eighteen Floors would have perished if not for you.
Lin Zaozao, while I restored their sanity, it was you and your companions who risked everything to rescue them.
So calling you 'sacred' does not tarnish the word in the slightest."
"Silly girl, only you would describe me that way. To outsiders, I'm the demon lord Gu Shan. But in your eyes, I'm merely Gu Shan, your husband."
"Naturally. You're my husband, my beloved. Of course I see you that way."
Lin Zaozao leaned into Gu Shan's embrace, gradually closing her eyes as her breathing became steady.
Gazing at the sleeping girl in his arms, Gu Shan's eyes softened with tenderness.
In the coming days, once the women and children had recovered from their ailments, Lin Zaozao would know that it was time for them to set out for Fengshuo Country.
"What? You want to accompany me to Fengshuo Country?"
"Of course. Did you think High Priest Han Ye stationed us here to wait for you for some other reason?"
The Wizard, donning a black cloak with his beard braided into two small plaits, spoke with feigned profundity.
"Wizard, braiding your beard like that just makes you look ridiculous."
"Shortie, I'm being serious here! Listen carefully."
The Wizard leisurely swung his braided beard, exasperated.
"But if you let these grown men come with me, what about the women and children? Who will protect them if I leave them here?"
"Lin Zaozao, I'll leave some guards behind to escort them to my trading company. My company has ample provisions, and with the elderly assassins Gu Shan sent to work there, safety won't be an issue."
"Ruo Qiu, do you also have businesses in the prosperous Fengshuo Country?"
"Yes, quite a few."
"Since we have now gained control over the Empress of Fengshuo, we might as well bring these women and children to Fengshuo Country. After I deal with the Empress of Fengshuo, the illnesses of the women and children should be cured. I have a great gift for them then."
"Lin Zaozao, what is this great gift?"
"Hehehe! You'll find out when we get there."
The system had indeed given her a reward of replication. When she arrived in Fengshuo Country, she would definitely replicate the granaries of Fengshuo Country. If the national treasury of Fengshuo Country was destitute of food, then she would go to Ruo Qiu's private storehouses. Ruo Qiu was the wealthiest merchant in both Canglan and Fengshuo countries, and by then she would definitely replicate all of Ruo Qiu's assets.
With more food and wealth, she would be better able to aid the common people and become a qualified Empress of Han Country.
"Ruo Qiu, you and Ji Fantian have been busy for several days now. You are all people with physical forms, so you must take care to rest."
"We will, Lin Zaozao."
Ruo Qiu walked up to Lin Zaozao, embracing her and speaking softly.
Because the group had grown with the addition of women and children, and there were not enough carts, their journey to Fengshuo Country had slowed considerably.
Two days later, when this slow caravan finally entered Fengshuo Country, Lin Zaozao was stunned by the scene before her eyes.
What adjective could describe Fengshuo Country?
If in the border city, Lin Zaozao had only witnessed the cold-bloodedness of the Empress of Fengshuo, then at this moment, she truly witnessed her cruelty.
Lin Zaozao looked at the two children hung on a large tree, two young boys, about seven or eight years old.
It was unknown what grave sins they had committed to deserve such punishment, but in their final moments, their hands were bound behind their backs, and their feet were bound behind them in a kneeling position. Then, using a very thin vine, they were hung from the large tree by their chests.
Their feet were not far from the ground, only about five or six centimeters away. If their feet were not bound, they could have touched the ground.
Unfortunately, their feet were bound.
This, however, was not what angered Lin Zaozao the most.
After Gu Shan had people take down the bodies and inspect them, he informed Lin Zaozao that the two children had their arteries in their wrists and ankles cut while alive, causing them to bleed to death.
Lin Zaozao looked at the wind-dried corpses before her, not knowing how long they had been hung there to become dessicated bodies without rot or stench.
This was a main road frequently traveled by people, so she did not believe that passers-by would not have seen the bodies of these two children.
But clearly, not a single person with a conscience had taken the bodies down, allowing them to be exposed to the elements.
"Why did no one collect their bodies for burial?"
