However, the citizens of the City of the Wrongfully Dead had long since grown accustomed to such sights.
A few children even ran to the Dream Demon's feet, tilting their heads back to count how many eyes were on its body.
“Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen...”
“No, no, you counted that one twice! You already counted it!”
“I did not! That eye was closed just now, but now it’s open, so I have to count it again!”
The Dream Demon looked down at the children and let out a low, rumbling purr from its throat, sounding as if it were chuckling.
Chen Zhou set Tao Tuantuan down and said to Tuoba Feng, “This is Tao Tuantuan, possessor of the Wenchang destiny and a talented disciple of Duke Wen. Henceforth, she will be the acting provincial lord of Cangzhou. I appoint her to manage all affairs in Cangzhou on my behalf.”
Tuoba Feng glanced at Tao Tuantuan and nodded. “Understood.”
Tao Tuantuan raised her hand. “Sovereign, may I ask a question?”
Chen Zhou looked toward her.
Tao Tuantuan took a deep breath, trying to make her tone sound as tactful as possible. “Sovereign, did you just say... that you want me to be the acting provincial lord of Cangzhou?”
Chen Zhou nodded. “Correct.”
“Wasn't I just supposed to go there to build the new city?”
“Building the new city is only the first step. Once it's complete, you'll need to use it as a base to gradually reorganize and govern the entirety of Cangzhou.”
Tao Tuantuan fell silent. Not only did she have to reclaim wasteland, but she also had to manage an entire province?
Would she ever be able to come back?
Tao Tuantuan forced herself to maintain a smile, carefully weighing her words. “Sovereign, this humble girl has one small request.”
“Speak.”
“This humble girl's Wenchang destiny... the truth is, I don't really like it that much.”
“I want to have more time to relax and spend more time with my master. I was stuck in the underground city for eight hundred years and separated from him for over a millennium. Now that we've finally reunited, I want to...”
She didn't finish her sentence.
But her meaning was already crystal clear.
After listening, Chen Zhou remained silent for a moment before a look of realization dawned on him.
“I almost forgot.”
Tao Tuantuan's eyes lit up.
Has the Sovereign changed his mind?
Chen Zhou said, “I almost forgot that you are Wenchang.”
“I truly do need a Wenchang Noble to stay and watch over the new buildings in the City of the Wrongfully Dead.”
Chen Zhou looked at her and asked seriously, “By the way, is your corpse still of any use?”
Tao Tuantuan didn't react immediately.
Corpse?
What corpse?
Chen Zhou explained, “Back in the underground of Tianchi Province, when Qing Lu snapped your neck, Jian Huaishuang caught your body and brought it back. See if your corpse is still useful.”
As he spoke, Chen Zhou retrieved a withered peach tree from his system space.
It was about the height of a person, with roots that had been torn apart in the middle, the jagged breaks still clinging to dried soil.
The upper half of the tree slightly resembled a human silhouette. Its branches were twisted, looking like a person with disheveled hair struggling desperately before death, and the faint outlines of facial features were visible.
The eyes were wide open, the mouth agape, and the expression was one of resentment and ferocity.
The foliage on the crown had long since withered, curling and turning black. A few shriveled flat peaches hung from the branches, their skins wrinkled.
Tao Tuantuan looked at her own corpse and fell silent once more.
So she had been this ugly when she died—mouth wide open, eyes bulging, and a facial expression like a malevolent ghost.
She struggled to keep her smile, saying in as calm a tone as possible, “It's... probably not of much use.”
But internally, Tao Tuantuan was screaming.
What kind of bizarre question was that? Who asks a person if their own corpse is still useful!
And her body was way too ugly! Couldn't she have died a bit more peacefully?
She clearly remembered being quite composed when she died; her vengeance had been taken, and her obsession had faded. Why was her expression so hideous?
While Tao Tuantuan was frantically complaining in her head, her face remained perfectly composed with a proper smile.
Chen Zhou didn't notice the change in her expression. He nodded with satisfaction, then reached out and plucked the shriveled flat peaches from the branches.
Seeing this, Tao Tuantuan quickly said, “Sovereign, those peaches aren't of any use either. My true form is dead, and the spiritual rhythm in these fruits dissipated long ago. Eating them won't do anything.”
Chen Zhou looked at her. “They're not edible?”
Tao Tuantuan choked up.
They were edible.
But eating them wouldn't do anything.
She explained tactfully, “Sovereign, although these flat peaches were produced by my true form, I am already dead, and the vitality of my body has been severed. The spiritual rhythm in these fruits has vanished, leaving only a mass of death qi. Eating them won't bring any benefit and might even harm the body.”
Chen Zhou said calmly, “Don't underestimate yourself.”
Tao Tuantuan: “?”
“As long as they're edible, it's fine.” Chen Zhou stowed the flat peaches away.
“I happen to have a Heavenly Chef in my household. If I have him incorporate your flat peaches into a meal, perhaps I can create another person with the Wenchang Noble trait.”
Tao Tuantuan's eyes lit up.
Then she wouldn't have to be Wenchang anymore?
Chen Zhou glanced at her, seemingly seeing through her thoughts, and said flatly, “That's likely not possible.”
“Nie Chaoxi fused with the Golden Buddha's traits, but the Golden Buddha itself still possesses its purification trait. Therefore, no one can take your destiny away; I simply wish to replicate it.”
“Don't worry. Duke Wen places great expectations on you, and I, of course, have full confidence in your abilities. Cangzhou will still be under your management in the future.”
Tao Tuantuan: “...”
Who's worried?!
Was the Sovereign not listening to a single word she just said?
Tao Tuantuan could already foresee her future life.
Getting up before dawn to review documents, calculating accounts in the middle of the night, and on the rare occasion she finally got a rest day, she and her master would be separated by a realm barrier, unable to see each other at all.
The mere thought of such a life was suffocating.
She thought death would bring liberation, but why was she even more exhausted after dying than when she was alive?
Chen Zhou looked at her expression and smiled. “There's no need to be so pessimistic.”
“Duke Wen will be staying in the City of the Wrongfully Dead for the time being to teach Hong Ling while waiting for Purity and Filth to grow.”
“Cangzhou is different from Tianchi. Tianchi Province was overflowing with filth energy and required rebuilding from scratch, making governance incredibly complex.”
“But the situation in Cangzhou is relatively simple. It's mainly about clearing out the remaining evil spirit forces, reassuring the populace, and restoring production.”
“If you finish your administrative and logistical duties early, you can return to the City of the Wrongfully Dead every day. You don't need to worry about the realm barrier.”
Tao Tuantuan suddenly snapped her head up, her face filled with shock.
No need to worry about the realm barrier?
What did that mean?
It was common knowledge that realm barriers separated the provinces, and crossing them was no simple feat. Even a thousand years ago, Purity and Filth, who was at the half-step Siming stage, found it difficult to cross. Could a little flat peach at the third transformation of Eerification really travel back and forth every day?
Chen Zhou didn't offer further explanation, simply saying, “You'll know once you get there. I wouldn't lie to you.”
Then he said to Tuoba Feng, “Take her with you.”
Tuoba Feng complied, reaching out to grab the back of Tao Tuantuan's collar, hoisting her up like a little chick.
Dangling in mid-air, Tao Tuantuan struggled for a moment, but realizing she couldn't break free, she gave up.
She sighed and said to Chen Zhou, “Sovereign, then this humble girl shall take her leave.”
Chen Zhou nodded. “Go on.”
Tuoba Feng, carrying Tao Tuantuan, strode into the secret realm entrance.
The Dream Demon moved to follow, but Chen Zhou called out to stop it.
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