Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Lin Qiaole was obviously confused since she didn’t know what was happening!
After checking that there were no enemies in the vicinity and confirming that it was the empress who had kicked her, Lin Qiaole cooled down.
“Go with him, listen to his instructions, and protect him. You aren’t allowed to sleep!” the empress said as she pointed at Gong Zheng.
Lin Qiaole didn’t understand other things, but was crestfallen when she heard that she wasn’t allowed to sleep.
She didn’t want to sleep so much, but it was beyond her control.
Seeing her expression, the empress added, “You can sleep during the journey, but not when he asks you to wake up. Heighten your vigilance and come back with the same number of people. Otherwise, I will skin you!”
Lin Qiaole bowed her head to ponder for a while, kept twisting her two index fingers, and didn’t move for a long time.
“Select a few people, as few as possible, and get ready to move out,” the empress said to Gong Zheng. She ignored Lin Qiaole, who was still twisting her fingers, and went back to sit on the rock before falling into a daze.
Lin Qiaole only woke up when the empress pulled Ren Baqian out of the spring. She stretched out her hand after jumping in front of him.
Ren Baqian could see that Lin Qiaole was asking for candy and threw her a small pack that he took from his bag. She then skipped away to find Gong Zheng.
Since she was going to work, she might as well get paid first.
“You are spoiling her!” the empress said faintly from the side.
In the past, Lin Qiaole didn’t seek rewards.
Now, she stood there for half a day just to wait to receive her reward.
Moral values were declining!
Public morals weren’t like in the past!
“What’s she going to do there?” Ren Baqian asked with a smile.
“It’s a small matter.” The empress waved her hand and refused to say any more.
Ren Baqian understood that it wasn’t a small matter since Gong Zheng couldn’t handle it alone and needed the assistance of Lin Qiaole.
He could sense the situation the empress was in by looking at her eyes. It seemed like matters were thorny.
Although he wanted to ask, she refused to tell him.
Furthermore, the empress was the ruler of the country—if he probed further, it would appear like he didn’t have confidence in her, which would be inappropriate.
The only thing that he could do was to speed up his cultivation and chat with the empress during his rest periods.
Leaning against the side of the rock where the empress was seated, Ren Baqian held her bent leg in his hand and rested his head on the empress’s thigh.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty!” Hong Luan entered the valley with a smile and hurried to the side of the empress.
The signal wasn’t good in the valley, and the radio set worked slightly better on the slopes outside.
Since there wasn’t much happening these days, Hong Luan became the person in charge of the radio set.
Hearing her message, Ren Baqian guessed that this was most likely related to the progress in the Yun Nation.
Earlier, there was a scholar who was persuading a group of warlords to surrender. Then, Zi Donglai postured as if readying to attack while keeping in touch with that scholar.
This occurred about three months ago.
Now, it appeared to be time for the plan to bear fruit.
“Speak!” The empress turned to look at her and loosened up a little.
The recent incidents in the mountains were causing her distress. Good news from the outside world would be gladly welcomed.
Hong Luan didn’t dare to pause for effect and immediately said, “Your Majesty, Wangjing City has been captured.”
The empress smiled upon hearing this.
After more than a year, Zi Donglai had finally delivered the result that she wanted.
“Good news! Very good news!” Ren Baqian clapped and laughed heartily!
“I must congratulate Your Majesty! Expanding the border is the first great achievement of a ruler! Many monarchs dreamed big, but couldn’t achieve this. Xia Baichong plotted for decades and died with deep regret after being killed by the smelly gas.
Your Majesty has easily conquered the Yun Nation. To compare the two of you is like comparing clouds with mud.
With the prosperity of the Yun Nation, it will be more convenient to get things done! With various types of resources, the future will thrive. Your Majesty’s achievements will surpass your father’s, and you will be ‘The First Emperor Of All Times'[1.The First Emperor Of All Times: A Chinese novel]!” Ren Baqain said while laughing.
In his opinion, it was only right for the empress to be given this title. He had brought over so much technology and brought about so many changes to this world that his name would be revered through the generations and the empress would be exalted.
“It’s indeed good news!” The empress nodded and smiled. This news had swept away the gloom clouding her mind.
Hong Luan was relieved to see the empress smile and looked at Ren Baqian with admiration.
Indeed, he was able to please Her Majesty with words that she could never ever think of.
“By the way, have the emperor of the Yun Nation and that Zheng Chengmian been captured?” Ren Baqian suddenly asked when the thought surfaced.
“The outer city has been taken, but there is still resistance in the inner city. Commander Zi said that he will definitely deliver these two people to the empress.”
“Your Majesty, this good news calls for a celebration!” Ren Baqian stood up to say. “Bring out all the wine in the valley.”
The empress glanced at him and said, “We can always celebrate later.”
“Your Majesty, my cultivation will not be affected and will reach the expected level during the allotted time if things go smoothly. Furthermore, I feel like having a drink!” Ren Baqian laughed.
He had slept very little during the past few days because he was devoting most of his time to cultivation.
The progress wasn’t slow.
More importantly, the empress was in a bad mood during this period and everyone was looking solemn.
Ren Baqian felt that the atmosphere was too heavy.
He would take this opportunity to get everyone to lighten up.
No matter what happened, there was no point in being tense all the time.
With their limbs bound, many animals from outside the valley were thrown to one side.
Ren Baqian gave instructions to keep only a small portion. The rest were butchered and cleaned.
Furthermore, all of the wine was brought out.
There was more than enough for the empress and Ren Baqian, but not enough to go around if there were too many people.
Fortunately, there were only around 30 winged cavalry warriors left here. Each pair of them shared a jar, which was somewhat adequate.
Nearing night time, everyone went to get firewood to light bonfires in the valley to roast the food.
In less than an hour, the strong aroma of roasting meat filled the whole valley.
The bonfire that the empress and Ren Baqian used was the centermost one. The two leaned against each other while sipping wine.
Ren Baqian would put pieces of meat on her plate from time to time.
“Ahhhh, open your mouth!” Ren Baqian said to the empress as he cut a small piece of meat.
The empress glanced at him, opened her mouth slightly, and revealed her snowy white teeth.
As Ren Baqian used the tip of his knife to pick up the meat, the lower end of the strip of meat dangled just beside her mouth.
Ren Baqian moved the knife from side to side, up and down, and then up again.
This strip of meat was always near her lips, but didn’t enter her mouth.
The empress snapped up half of the strip of meat in a flash and sent him flying with a palm.
The winged cavalry warriors that were watching from afar burst into laughter.
These were the sounds of laughter that were rarely heard recently.
After wining and dining, the empress said, “Let’s get some fresh air.”
They walked out of the valley with some wine jars in hand.
The thought of those villages filled with zombies was always on her mind, weighing her down.
With this good news and after relaxing for a night, she decided not to continue staying in this lifeless valley any longer.
Initially, the empress didn’t walk at a fast pace as she seemed to be waiting for Ren Baqian, but then, she started walking faster and faster.
In the end, Ren Baqian had to exert all his effort just to keep up with her. They walked this way for two hours before reaching a hilltop.
The sky here wasn’t like the unchanging one in the valley.
Although the sky wasn’t as clear as it was in other places, stars could be seen twinkling above.
As Ren Baqian swept his eyes around, he suddenly looked at a spot and exclaimed, “Your Majesty, look over there!”
A glistening pale green light could be seen in the distance.
“Let’s take a look!”
The empress took a step and was already tens of meters away.
“Your Majesty, wait for me!” Ren Baqian said hastily.
The empress stood there waiting for Ren Baqian to catch up. She deemed him slow and took him by the waist before moving along like the wind.
After another two hours, they arrived at the place that they saw from the hilltop.
It was a forest of strangely shaped trees.
In the middle of this forest, there seemed to be a layer of flashing green lights that were fluorescent and pale.
It was especially outstanding at night.
“It’s very beautiful! I didn’t expect to see such a beautiful place here!” Ren Baqian praised after the empress put him down.
The two of them seemed to disturb something as they moved closer, and the layer of green light floated into the air as if blown by the wind.
They took a closer look and discovered these so-called lights… were a layer of butterflies…
This swarm of butterflies had green fluorescent wings.
When they were resting on the ground, they looked like a layer of shimmering lights.
Now that they were airborne, the whole forest was filled with green lights, making the scene even more gorgeous.
It was extremely beautiful.
However, as they looked at this dreamlike scene, their expressions suddenly changed.
On the heads of the butterflies closest to them, there were distorted human faces.
