Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Good and Evil
In the mountain forest, Yu Zhizhi encountered the servant of a nobleman.
He stated his purpose: "My master has invited you."
The sounds of battle echoed incessantly through the forest. A great fire raged in the distance. Yu Zhizhi looked back at the crimson glow, her expression dazed.
The servant tried to persuade her. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, it will be dark soon. It’s dangerous for you to be alone in the forest. Where might you be heading?"
"The supply station."
"That’s still quite a long way off."
"..."
"Why not meet our master first? You should have seen him at the last wolf cub hatching ceremony."
At the mention of the "hatching ceremony," Yu Zhizhi felt a little more at ease.
’So he was a distinguished guest of the K family?’
She looked at the darkening sky and nodded lightly. "Please, lead the way."
The Duke’s attendant smiled and led the way.
They passed through a rugged trail and came to a wider mountain path.
A carriage was parked there.
The carriage was magnificent, carved with exquisite, delicate patterns. The front was inlaid with glittering jewels that shone more brilliantly as the sky grew darker.
"Master," the attendant said in a low voice, standing by the carriage. "She is here."
"Good evening, Ms. Zhi Zhi." The man’s voice was deep and mellow, tinged with a lazy smile. "At night, beasts that lack intelligence often roam the forest. Why not get in the carriage? I’ll give you a ride back."
"You are..."
The attendant beside her quickly interjected, "Our master is the most esteemed Duke of the Valoran Empire—Lord Bo Lan."
The sun gradually disappeared, and the distant fire didn’t illuminate the path at their feet.
Yu Zhizhi felt a little uneasy.
During the day, as she moved through the forest, she had only noticed that the trees were abnormally tall, many of them tens of meters high.
Looking at them again at night, they were dense and particularly terrifying.
Occasionally, she could hear the low growls of unknown beasts...
"Are... are you really a Duke?" Yu Zhizhi asked softly.
The young female’s voice was soft and sweet, clear and pure, with a hint of nervousness that was tantalizing to hear.
Yu Zhizhi saw a long-stemmed pipe lift the carriage curtain.
Bolun glanced at the young woman standing outside the carriage. Her light-orange, poofy formal dress was torn at the hem by branches. She was barefoot, and her fair, delicate little face was smudged with dust. She looked quite wretched and forlorn, like a Little Princess who had escaped from a picture book.
"Let her see it." The man slowly lowered the curtain.
The servant replied, "Yes, sir."
He took a crest from his coat, held it with both hands, and presented it to the female of the Rabbit Clan.
Yu Zhizhi took it.
She had seen the crests of different families in the Book Collection Pavilion. The one in her hand, a golden crest carved with an antique and noble pattern, did indeed symbolize an imperial Duke.
She vaguely remembered that when this Duke Bolan had come for the hatching ceremony, Donner had made a point of receiving him personally.
There had been too many guests at the time, and Yu Zhizhi couldn’t recall his face.
"Do you believe me now?" the man’s voice asked, deep, mellow, and gentle.
"Greetings, Your Grace."
"There’s no need to be so formal, Ms. Zhi Zhi. It’s late. Get in, I’ll take you back."
"Thank you..."
Yu Zhizhi stepped on the small stool and climbed into the carriage.
The carriage doors were covered in dense golden embroidery. The spacious interior was opulently decorated with silk curtains, a picture of wealth and luxury.
The soft cushions laid out directly ahead were like a bed.
A slender figure was leaning back lazily. He wore a deep blue, vintage-style robe, and his face was obscured.
After getting in, Yu Zhizhi felt a bit reserved.
She sat on the very edge.
With her hands on her knees, she sat stiffly upright, her gaze lowered introspectively.
Seeing the young woman’s soft figure, a smile formed on the man’s lips.
’This little female is a bit cautious, but not much.’
Although she had confirmed his identity, she hadn’t considered what a person’s good or evil nature had to do with their status.
CLICK.
The sound of a lighter echoed inside the carriage.
Yu Zhizhi, who had been lost in a daze, caught the faint scent of tobacco.
This tobacco was much lighter than any she had smelled in the real world, and it even carried a hint of the astringent fragrance of lotus seeds.
For some reason, the scent made her instinctively think of Dracula.
The man, leaning back lazily on the cushions, glanced over and saw the little female’s two rabbit ears drooping, the corners of her eyes red. It was a sight that couldn’t help but evoke pity.
But he was no kind soul.
Seeing the little female’s appearance, the corners of the man’s mouth lifted in a smile.
’Don’t be in such a hurry to cry.’
The time for her real tears hadn’t come yet.
Leaning against the side of the carriage, Yu Zhizhi gradually grew sleepy. She hadn’t wanted to sleep, planning to wait until she was back in the K family’s territory, which was at least a place she knew.
But later...
Her consciousness slowly blurred, and her head grew heavier and heavier...
When she woke up, she found herself lying on a bed. As she moved her body slightly, she realized her hands were tied behind her back with something, and her eyes were blindfolded, preventing her from seeing where she was.
"Is anyone there...?" Yu Zhizhi called out in a small voice.
She hadn’t had water in a long time. Her throat was dry, and her voice had become hoarse.
’What’s happening?’
’I fell asleep in the Duke’s carriage, so why am I tied up in this strange place?’
’Did we run into bandits on the road?’
’Have I been kidnapped?’
Yu Zhizhi called out a few more times, but perhaps her voice was too soft, as no one responded.
Helpless, she could only call out to the system in her mind.
[’I... Where am I?’]
System: "For questions unrelated to the mission, the host is requested to explore on her own."
[’Then let me see my inventory. I want to know the reward from the last mission. Ah, I can’t see anything right now, so please read it to me.’]
The system read out the rewards from the last mission.
Besides the usual Postpartum Care Gift Bag and the Nutrient Liquid for sustenance, there was something else Yu Zhizhi had never seen before—
[Truth Serum]
"What about the main quest?" she asked softly.
[System: I told you while you were in the carriage, but you were in a semi-conscious state at the time and didn’t confirm the use of the ’choose one of two’ benefit voucher.]
Yu Zhizhi’s toes curled slightly. She asked nervously, "The voucher hasn’t disappeared, has it?"
[System: It has not. Host, would you like to use it now?]
Phew...
Yu Zhizhi let out a long sigh of relief.
’That’s good.’
’I get to see two missions at once, so I can at least pick the one that’s relatively less difficult.’
"Yes, I do." Yu Zhizhi pressed her lips together and listened quietly.
[System: Benefit voucher has been used. Two main quests unlocked—]
[Main Quest 1: Seduce an adult male of the Snake Clan.]
[Main Quest 2: Seduce the leader of the Fox Clan.]
[Please make your choice, Host.]
’An adult male of the Snake Clan, and the leader of the Fox Clan...’
’It seems, based on the description, that the Snake Clan quest has no requirement for status or position. He just needs to be an adult, which should be simpler.’
Yu Zhizhi’s heart leaned toward the first option.
But she had to ask to be sure.
"What is this place? Are there... many snakes?"
[System: Quite a few.]
’In that case!’
Yu Zhizhi made her decision. "I choose the first one!"
[System: DING! Congratulations to the Host for unlocking the 3rd main quest. Requirement: Seduce an adult male of the Snake Clan (status unlimited) within one month. Success is defined as becoming pregnant and giving birth. Failure or exceeding the time limit will result in annihilation! Host, please hurry. The countdown begins now—]
Yu Zhizhi struggled for a moment, only to find the bonds on her hands behind her back grew even tighter.
Footsteps approached from outside the door.
More than ten seconds later, the door was pushed open.
"CREAK—"
She heard a familiar voice.
"Ms. Zhi Zhi, please don’t struggle. The thing wrapped around your wrists is alive. The more you move, the tighter it gets. If you don’t want your wrists broken, lie still like a good girl."
