Chapter 203: Section 203: I’m Not Your Princess


    Zi Di knew the secret of the substitute and was worried and anxious about it.


    The difference between Beastification and a Divine Favored Knight was too vast. Once the secret was exposed, it would surely cause a sensation, and people’s reactions were unpredictable.


    “And there’s Zhenjin involved. He knows the secret too!”


    It couldn’t be denied, Zi Di felt immense pressure with Zhenjin’s involvement.


    Keeping the secret, bearing such worries, made both the substitute and Zi Di extremely troubled.


    Finally, Zi Di made up her mind and used the Beastification Potion given to her by the War Merchant.


    ...


    Zi Di diluted the potion and secretly added it to the stored food and water.


    At first, when people consumed this food and water, they didn’t notice anything unusual. But as they ate more, toxins began to accumulate in their bodies.


    Members of the party started falling ill.


    Initially, no one paid much attention.


    But as time went on, more and more people became sick, and their symptoms were all very similar, even the shipwright fell ill.


    “Cough, cough, cough…” The shipwright lay on the grass mattress, his face flushed red, his breath weak, his skin swollen, seeing everything blur.


    “I am very sorry, lords, for the trouble caused,” the shipwright said weakly.


    “Rest well, don’t think too much. I am here, I won’t give up on anyone,” the substitute comforted the shipwright as best he could.


    Then he and Zi Di, among others, slowly left the tent.


    “How is it?” Hei Juan (Zhenjin) immediately asked, “The shipwright is indispensable, what illness does he have?”


    Zi Di shook her head and sighed, “How many times have I told you, I am just a pharmacist, specializing in perfumery, not a physician.”


    “I can’t find the cause of the illness.”


    “It’s not poisoning, nor is it magic erosion, it’s just sickness.”


    “If it was a common illness, I might have had some confidence. But this disease, likely related to the environment here, is beyond me.”


    Zong Ge said in a low voice, “The disease has affected not only the shipwright but several others too. I suspect it’s contagious.”


    People’s expressions changed slightly.


    “Contagious…” The substitute’s expression grew solemn as he sighed inwardly.


    “These sick people, although their symptoms vary in severity, they all share similarities. Do we abandon them?” Sanda asked the substitute.


    “Abandon?” Hei Juan (Zhenjin) shook his head, “Without the shipwright, how can we build ships?”


    “I am terribly lacking tools,” Zi Di complained to the substitute, “I can’t use magic, my techniques in concocting potions are limited. Now all I can do is make some simple herbal medicine to alleviate their pain a bit.”


    Nobody suspected Zi Di.


    These signs of illness, were actually the effects of Beastification Potion coursing through their bodies, transforming them. Because individuals like the shipwright had relatively weaker constitutions, even though Zi Di had diluted the potion and they’d taken it multiple times, their bodies were still somewhat unable to cope.


    However, outwardly at a loss, Zi Di wasn’t worried at all.


    Everything was under her control.


    These days, she had concocted an antidote for the Beastification Potion.


    She planned to blend this antidote in other potions and give it to some of the people who were about to collapse, thus preserving their lives.


    As the outbreaks of the so-called contagious disease worsened, more people fell ill.


    Zong Ge, Hei Juan (Zhenjin), Cang Xu, and others began advocating for abandoning the sick, but the substitute always insisted on keeping and protecting these comrades. He even visited the sick daily, doing his best to encourage them.


    Only Zi Di supported the substitute, but outwardly she gently advised him: to avoid visiting the sick if possible, as it would be terrible if he caught the disease.


    The substitute did not heed her advice.


    The “disease” subsided, in fact, the Beastification Potion was effective, and Zi Di timely stopped her plot.


    Among them, some individuals with strong constitutions negated the effects of the potion. Others, with weaker constitutions, were given the antidote by Zi Di in secret, which saved their lives.


    “As long as I disperse this potion, it would trigger many people here to suddenly undergo Beastification.”


    “However, after Beastification, these people will lose their sanity, go wildly berserk. After a while, they will explode and die on the spot.”


    “I hope I never have to use this potion.”


    Zi Di didn’t want to target these people; her actions were merely to cover for the substitute.


    Once the secret of the substitute’s Beastification was exposed, she would use the potion, causing others to undergo Beastification, thus making the substitute appear innocent, and then subsequently shifting all the blame to the environmental factors of this island.


    …


    In the rainforest, the rain poured down.


    After setting up camp, Zi Di took advantage of the night and sneaked into the substitute’s tent alone. sea??h thё N??elFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    “My lord, this is the potion I’ve made using toxic mushrooms as the main ingredient. The potion is mildly poisonous, boosting spirit, especially effective in warding off cold and enhancing flavors.”


    In fact, it was the antidote.


    Although the substitute had a very strong constitution, he too had consumed that food and water and had accumulated a good amount of Beastification Potion within him.


    The substitute had no doubts and brightened up, “Can you produce more? Can it be promoted to everyone?”


    Zi Di shook her head, “Only those with strong physical constitutions can ignore this toxicity. They must be at least of the Black Iron level of life.”


    “Thank you, Zi Di,” the substitute said gently.


    Zi Di responded with a radiant smile.


    The entire plan proceeded very smoothly, and except for the girl, no one knew this secret.


    But there were unexpected events.


    Zhenjin confronted Zi Di, “That night, someone saw you sneaking into the substitute’s tent alone. What did you do?”


    Zi Di hurriedly explained.


    Zhenjin’s gaze was scrutinizing, “My fiancée, something is off about you!”


    Zhenjin shook his head, “You just need to know that I am the real Zhenjin, that other one is just an impostor. When he is no longer useful, he will face death. This damned island is not the whole world. Remember, you are Zi Di, the chairman of Purple Vine Chamber of Commerce, and also my fiancée!”


    Zi Di glared slightly, “I know! Lord Zhenjin, what are you doubting about me?”


    “Better watch yourself,” Zhenjin said coldly, quietly withdrawing.


    “Have you noticed something? But I still need to spare your life…” A glimmer flashed in Zi Di’s eyes. Zhenjin had also consumed food and water, but Zi Di had secretly used an antidote.


    …


    After regrouping with the main force and settling in a small valley, the substitute forcefully seized leadership and resolved the threat of the Underground Sand Worm, firmly consolidating his authority.


    The group discussed shipbuilding.


    Shipwright, “The main issue is the nails. We need a lot of iron, and that’s the biggest shortfall.”


    “Our ore isn’t sufficient?” the substitute felt puzzled; he had transformed into a Monkey-tailed Brown Bear many nights for additional mining. Most of the ore they had was mined by the substitute himself.


    Zi Di replied, “We need to thank those Monkey-tailed Brown Bears, the quantity of ore is sufficient. But to extract iron from the ore, we are currently using a potion dissolution method. We are far from having enough of these potions.”


    She looked at the substitute, with a smile in her eyes, but the substitute didn’t notice.


    …


    Zhenjin finally got his chance and witnessed the substitute’s Beastification.


    Fleeing back to the valley in panic, he sought Zi Di’s help, “Now, only you can help me!”


    A chill ran through Zi Di’s heart, “Has the day finally come? Luckily, I had everything arranged. If it comes to it, some sacrifices must be made.”


    But outwardly, she stared at Zhenjin incredulously, “Lord, how could you do such a thing?! It’s too risky, completely unnecessary. Right now, we need to focus all our energy on escaping from here.”


    Zhenjin felt terrified, trying desperately to clear himself of any suspicions and dissolve the substitute’s intention to remove him. He used the letter that documented the truth as a threat against Zi Di.


    Outwardly, Zi Di appeared threatened, settling Zhenjin down, but inwardly, she had already chosen to help him.


    Because she knew very well: exposing the secret would do more harm than good. Her Beastification Potion was just a remedy.


    Zhenjin, filled with panic, questioned Zi Di, “You couldn’t possibly have fallen for him, right?”


    Zi Di, feeling exposed, quickly denied, “Lord, what are you thinking? How could I fall for him? A substitute? A person of Beastification?”


    This time, Zhenjin wasn’t easily fooled. The terrifying emotion sharpened his mind more than usual.


    “Indeed, it’s laughable, falling for a substitute, falling for a Beastification person… It truly isn’t wise, definitely not something a Guild Chairman should do.”


    “But love… that thing, it’s really unpredictable.”


    “When love clouds the mind, even the most rational person can become a hopeless fool!”


    “How dangerous, Zi Di, your current behavior makes me feel you’re very dangerous.”


    “I hope you can see the reality clearly.”


    “Even if you have fallen for him, it could only ever be a tragedy!”


    “Just think, when he learns the whole truth, when he finds out he’s not a Holy Temple Knight, just a lowly substitute, when he finds out the person he loves most, whom he thought was his fiancée, is actually the person who deceived him the most. How would he react? How would he view you?”


    These words struck Zi Di like an arrow, hitting deep inside her.


    She found herself momentarily breathless.


    At this moment, she realized: what she feared most was not the exposure of the substitute’s secret, but worrying how the substitute would regard her once the truth was revealed.


    She knew, in the substitute’s eyes, she was a perfect fiancée, understanding, genuinely caring, a great support.


    If the truth were exposed, how disappointed would the substitute be?


    How would she face him then?


    The substitute is a true Knight, but her?


    She was an accomplice in the War Merchant’s conspiracy, Zhenjin was her disguise, the Captain was killed by her, she indirectly caused the shipwreck, the Beastification Potion was administered by her…


    “How would he view the real me?”


    This question weakened the girl enormously, blowing her courage away.


    “You are a Knight, but in reality… I am not your Princess.”