Chapter 177: Section 178: I Don’t Mind the Mistakes You’ve Made
“Stop, stop, stop!” Zi Di extended her hand in a halting motion, “Lord, please put an end to these persecuted fantasies! I’ve had enough!”
Zi Di brushed the hair from her forehead behind her ears, took a deep breath, and tried to stabilize her emotions. A few breaths later, she spoke, “I have a way, I’ve thought of a solution, Lord Zhenjin, you must calm down first and listen to me carefully…”
“Only reveal a part of it? Make him think I haven’t seen clearly? That is indeed a method.” Zhenjin nodded, acknowledging Zi Di’s plan.
After a meeting, both the substitute’s and Zhenjin’s crises were temporarily resolved.
The next day, Zhenjin led another survey of the battlefield, only to discover that it had been cleaned.
Information was relayed back, and the higher-ups discussed the matter again.
...
Zi Di looked worriedly at the substitute, “Lord, you still went on night patrols last night. Please don’t do this anymore, okay? A large Demon Beast Army could be lurking around us, and that Blue Dog Fox Wolf might have learned its lesson, subduing a whole new type of terrifying magical beast this time. Lord, even though you have the power of the mind, you are, after all, alone at night.”
The substitute was heavy-hearted. He, of course, was the one who had cleaned up the battlefield!
“This woman…” Zhenjin lowered his head, hiding his gloomy expression.
“Lady Zi Di makes a lot of sense. Master, your personal safety is of great importance. It is because of you that we have regrouped, worked together to build ships, and strive side by side for our common escape. Without you leading us, we would become scattered. Your high status means you should not take such risks,” Lan Zao also advised.
Cang Xu and others all nodded in agreement.
Even Zong Ge spoke up, “Holy Temple Knight, we can all understand your feelings and know of your bravery, never shying away from your responsibility as a leader. But it is precisely for this reason that we need to be more careful. If you’re attacked by the Demon Beast Army or that mysterious magical beast at night, it would be a huge blow to us. In a battle between two armies, the Commander can’t just run around recklessly.”
“How ridiculous, how pitiful! What would their expressions be if they knew the true identity of the substitute?” Zhenjin sneered inwardly.
The ship construction had made much progress, however, the Big guy went mad, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurred, and an increasing number of Demon Beast Armies kept attacking the valley camp.
In such difficult circumstances, the new ship was finally built.
During the celebration, the substitute quietly left.
“Where is he going?” Zhenjin secretly followed and soon discovered Zhenjin and the Big guy sitting on a hillside.
“Humph, birds of a feather flock together, one a Beastification Person, the other a half-giant, both monsters!” Zhenjin scoffed and returned to the feast.
However, under the double attack of the earthquake and the Demon Beast Army, the new ship was still destroyed.
In a critical moment had it not been for many individuals suddenly undergoing Beastification and counterattacking fiercely, Zhenjin would have died at the hands of the beasts.
The old shipwright, at death’s door, still could not let go of the Big guy, pleading with the substitute with his eyes.
“Don’t agree! With such a fool, what nobility and honor do I have!” Zhenjin vehemently opposed, but he was helpless.
He watched helplessly as the substitute agreed, successfully deceiving the Big guy.
“The mutual sympathy of two monsters, truly disgusting!” Zhenjin spat to himself.
The dissected Beastification companions led Zi Di to suspect, “The Island Master’s arrangements might have the power to subtly change all life on the island; the reason for our companions’ Beastification might be due to this.”
“Could I have been affected too? I have been on this island for so long; perhaps I also am being transformed in secret!” Zhenjin felt a surge of fear.
Cang Xu’s hypothesis that the strange magical beasts might have been human before sent chills down everyone’s spine.
Zhenjin grabbed his curly hair, gnashing his teeth and cursed, “I’ve had enough of this damn place! What’s the use of guessing so much? We should hurry up and repair the ship and leave here as soon as possible.”
Reality was brutal—the new ship was destroyed, unable to sail.
Another huge earthquake struck, the ground split open, and a new river appeared before everyone.
Zi Di suggested heading to the volcanic region to attack the Central Tower.
“No,” Zhenjin shook his head, “We can wait for rescue. Attacking the center of the island is madness! The volcanoes are erupting there, and along the way, the Demon Beast Army might even kill us midway.”
“We’ll use a boat,” said the substitute, “This will save us a lot of travel and time.”
Zhenjin was taken aback.
“Just now, the Holy Emperor conveyed a revelation to me!” the substitute pointed at the river.
The others were stunned.
Zhenjin was so angry he almost slapped him—what was the substitute’s background? How could he keep deceiving people to death!
“Are you saying that this river was created by the Holy Emperor?”
“No wonder none of us died.”
“It’s impossible to fathom the will of the gods!”
“Divine Favored Knight…” Cang Xu bowed deeply to Zhenjin, full of admiration, “This might just be your heroic path. My Lord Zhenjin!”
Almost everyone present felt a tingling on their scalps.
It seemed like they were witnessing history!
If the epic of the hero was sung in the future, would they also play a part in it?
“It’s over! You bunch of fools!!” Zhenjin was filled with despair, “He’s not any hero; he can mutate into a beast, he is the greatest threat!”
The substitute looked around, assuring himself that the people’s hearts had changed, and he firmly ordered in a loud voice, “That settles it then, let’s fully repair the ship, cremate our companions, and collect as much food, water, and weapons as possible. We will set sail, we will head to… the very center of the island!”
No one objected.
Zhenjin roared inside, “Madness! The substitute is mad, Zi Di is mad, all these people are mad, all on a path to their own destruction!”
…
Everyone marched on, forced to disembark and encountered an attack from the Demon Beast Army.
Jia Sha appeared: “Zhenjin, you’ve finally arrived.”
“Jia Sha?! He’s still alive!” Zhenjin was secretly thrilled beyond measure.
“My lord, we’re going to succeed!” Zi Di quietly found Zhenjin, “With Lord Jia Sha’s Divine Arts, our hopes have greatly increased. Jia Sha has already reached an agreement with the substitute, and he will support you fully in becoming the White Sand City Lord. And if we make great achievements this time, it won’t just be a single city! The shipwreck was an accident, but it was filled with opportunities. The substitute is fighting for us, and as long as we keep going, we will reap great rewards.”
“Yes, you’re absolutely right,” Zhenjin said, but he was full of worry, “With the substitute out front, we can be a bit safer. Sigh, I hope we can succeed in the end.”
“We have no choice, my lord. Waiting here for rescue, hope is very slim,” Zi Di said.
“I understand.”
After conversing a bit more and watching Zi Di’s departing figure, Zhenjin’s gaze became profound.
The journey was filled with opportunities and Zhenjin finally waited for his chance, finding Jia Sha alone: “Priest, I crave a confession.”
In the confession, Zhenjin revealed everything that had happened.
“How interesting!” Jia Sha couldn’t hide his shock, “Whether it’s your substitute or your fiancée, both are very interesting.”
“Zhenjin, you have made the wisest choice.”
“But for now, let’s pretend this conversation between you and me never happened. You understand what I mean, right?”
“I understand, Father!” Zhenjin bowed deeply.
…
Under Jia Sha’s leadership, everyone broke through to the underground alchemy factory, and marched all the way to the Central Tower.
A lightning bolt struck and killed the rashly charging substitute, and Zhenjin, holding onto Zi Di tightly, confessed everything to the others.
The man-made magical beasts fell into great chaos, fighting each other, and with the narrow staircase entrance, very few could break through.
“Don’t panic, everyone. The revelation of the truth is beneficial to all of us. Now, only a substitute has died, I am still alive!” Zhenjin began to persuade the other survivors.
“Lan Zao, you should understand by now that I am your master,” Zhenjin looked towards Lan Zao.
Lan Zao was still holding onto the substitute’s body, his face filled with confusion; the truth had completely overturned his understanding.
Zhenjin then turned and smiled at Bai Ya and others: “I’m glad you’re willing to follow me. I guarantee with my honor as a Holy Temple Knight and as a noble, loyalty will be rewarded. Follow me, and you will obtain the wealth and glory you desire.”
“My God, what on earth is going on?!” Bai Ya held her head, her thoughts utterly in turmoil.
Cang Xu remained silent.
Half-Beastman was repelling the charging magical beasts while snorting coldly, “Shut up! You coward, what right do you have to lead us? Your substitute was more of a Holy Temple Knight than you ever were!”
Zong Ge believed in the words of Jia Sha and Zhenjin because a priest would not joke about faith, but he couldn’t accept this Zhenjin.
“No, no matter if you are Lord Zhenjin or not, please let go of my Chairman,” Fat Tongue said sternly. Sёar?h the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Zhenjin shook his head, gripping Zi Di’s arm tightly, and refused, “She is your Chairman, but she is also my fiancée.”
Zi Di was in a daze, her eyes fixated on the substitute’s body.
Seeing his fiancée like this, Zhenjin lost his composure and yelled, “Enough, snap out of it.”
Just then, several Flying Squirrels rushed in.
“Watch out!” Zong Ge shouted a warning.
The minds of the people were already in disarray, and morale had hit rock bottom; the surprise attack by the Flying Squirrels immediately caused panic.
Zhenjin, dragging Zi Di, shot crossbow arrows at the Flying Squirrels while retreating.
Zi Di had no intention to move; she even wanted to rush to the substitute’s body, but Zhenjin quickly noticed and promptly stopped her.
“Enough!” Zhenjin growled.
“Zi Di, it’s normal for young people to make mistakes.”
“I’ve looked into your records; I know you have no experience with love. Don’t think that it’s the end of the world.”
“Think about your Guild, think about the many years of youth you still have.”
“I don’t mind the mistakes you’ve made, come with me! We are the most suitable pair; we need each other!”
Zi Di still struggled.
Zhenjin had no choice but to plead in a low voice in her ear: “We’re going to the upper level right now.”
“I don’t trust him; he’s been blinded by the prospect of great achievements. Of course, if I were him, I would do the same! Who would like to share the credit?”
“Jia Sha doesn’t dare to kill me, but he certainly won’t mind if you die! Follow me if you want to live!”
“Besides, Jia Sha is the murderer who killed the substitute. Don’t you want to stay alive to take revenge for the one you loved?!”
In his urgency, Zhenjin could only use such words to persuade her.
Zi Di shuddered, finally ceasing to resist, and followed Zhenjin to the highest floor of the Central Tower.
The other survivors watched wide-eyed; some wanted to follow, but a lightning strike fell right in front of them.