Chapter 406: "Freedom Is So Good.

Along the way, there was nothing to be heard but the sound of hooves and the wind.

When Yu Zhizhi woke up, she found herself still clutching the corner of the clothes of the man beside her. She looked up; the man leaning next to her seemed to be resting.

After waking up, Yu Zhizhi didn’t make a sound.

She lay there for a while with her eyes open and couldn’t help but start to play with Louis’s pale, slender fingers.

The sky outside the carriage window was beginning to lighten.

Spider wasn’t actually sleeping.

He was aware of the little rabbit’s every move.

After playing for a moment, her hand was suddenly caught in his. She looked up, meeting the mismatched eyes of the Lord of Paradise, and only then did she realize her mistake.

"Lord Leader..."

Perhaps because her last impression before falling asleep was of Louis, she had immediately mistaken the person before her for him.

Yu Zhizhi rarely saw the Lord of Paradise with short black hair.

In her memory, the Lord of Paradise’s hair was very long.

He seemed a little less gloomy like this.

The man’s obsidian-like left eye and emerald-like right eye held an exotic charm that was breathtakingly beautiful. It felt as if one could get lost in them with just a few more glances.

Yu Zhizhi wasn’t as afraid of him as she used to be.

Having slept for a long time in the carriage, she felt completely languid.

Yu Zhizhi curled up, letting the Lord of Paradise hold her hand. She rested her forehead gently against his arm.

Spider watched her nestle against him like a kitten, even more docile than usual.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

The Little Octopus had been playing outside for a long time. It crawled in through the window.

Its tentacles were holding a piece of mango pastry.

It was a gift for the little rabbit.

Yu Zhizhi smelled something sweet and immediately looked over.

She happened to be hungry.

She sat up, took the pastry from the Little Octopus, and began to eat it slowly.

"We’re really far from the palace now," the Little Octopus said, perched by the window as the wind whistled outside.

Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly as she ate her pastry.

"Want to go play outside?" the Little Octopus invited.

Yu Zhizhi’s cheeks puffed out slightly, and a flicker of a smile passed through her eyes. Swallowing the food in her mouth, she said, "Lord Leader, I’d like to go have a look outside. May I?"

Spider nodded slightly.

Yu Zhizhi left the carriage.

The knight driving the carriage slowed down upon seeing her emerge.

From the side, Wild Dog rode over on his black horse.

Yu Zhizhi had traveled this road once before; the scenery was familiar. Back then, she had been with a convoy traveling from the Moon Rising Imperial City all the way to the Extreme Ice Domain.

The atmosphere in the convoy back then had been oppressive.

It was completely different from now.

Yu Zhizhi sat outside in the wind but didn’t feel cold at all. Just the thought of getting closer and closer to her own territory filled her with an indescribable sense of anticipation and satisfaction.

Wild Dog noticed that Ms. Zhi Zhi was in a very good mood.

’...Is it because of the territory?’

This time, the Rabbit Clan Lady hadn’t chosen any empire, but had instead resolutely chosen to head to an unknown territory. Such a decision required great courage.

"Ping’an."

"Hm?"

"Can the Knight Alliance accept long-term commissions?" Yu Zhizhi asked, looking at the helmeted knight riding beside the carriage. "My territory might need a Guard Team."

"We can," Wild Dog answered directly.

"That’s great!"

"How many people do you need?"

Yu Zhizhi thought for a moment. "About... twenty?"

’In the early stages, my territory will be very small. Twenty guards should be enough, right?’

Wild Dog fell silent for a moment. "...Alright."

That number of guards was a bit too small for a territory.

’But if it’s long-term, I’ll pick an elite squad.’

After watching the scenery outside for a while, Yu Zhizhi returned to the carriage.

The Lord of Paradise looked up. "You want guards?"

Yu Zhizhi sat back in her original spot. "Yes~"

’Even though having my own territory feels new and exciting, it’s a rather desolate place. It doesn’t seem very safe without guards.’

At the very beginning, she could have flown the flag of the Valoran Empire.

But even that probably wouldn’t be enough to completely ward off Mercenary Thieves.

The Lord of Paradise asked, "Besides the guards you’re recruiting yourself, how about I give you a squad of twenty men as well?"

"I can?" Yu Zhizhi hadn’t considered this at all. ’I can borrow people from others!’

"If you agree, you can take them with you directly when you leave Paradise."

Spider couldn’t wait to plant his own Guard Team in the little rabbit’s territory.

For one, he could keep track of her movements, and for another, he could protect her. Besides, he felt that Louis had probably planned this all along.

"Thank you, I really need them." Yu Zhizhi thanked him from the bottom of her heart, her rabbit-like eyes sparkling as she knelt on the floor.

The Lord of Paradise’s gaze fell on her face, slowly sliding from her eyes to her lips. "How will you thank me?"

Yu Zhizhi froze.

She saw the Lord of Paradise gently tap his own cheek.

Yu Zhizhi understood his meaning in an instant.

She slowly straightened her upper body, leaned toward his face, and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

Yu Zhizhi was a little shy.

But then she heard the man in front of her say, "Not enough."

He wanted more.

The next second, she was lifted up, her lips invaded by his scorching breath. Her body trembled slightly as she gradually went limp in Spider’s arms.

...

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

Spider had been occupying the body the entire time. Yu Zhizhi hadn’t seen Louis or Lou.

They reached the borders of Paradise.

Spider quickly gathered the guards he had in mind and had them follow the convoy.

Paradise was very close to the Divine City.

This time, they didn’t stay for long.

Yu Zhizhi returned to the familiar Seaport. She knew that just ahead lay Pro Bay, beyond the territory of the Moon Rising Empire.

That was their point of departure.

The Knight Alliance had prepared four sea vessels.

It was here that she had to say goodbye to the Lord of Paradise.

By the sea, although Yu Zhizhi was a little disappointed not to have seen Louis, she still took the initiative to hug the Lord of Paradise.

"You all take care, okay? Tell them for me."

"Mm," Spider said, holding her gently. "If the first invitation is sent to the Deep Sea Empire... you just wait."

The last few words were filled with threat.

Yu Zhizhi didn’t dare.

She whispered, "I’ll send it to Paradise."

This was a promise she had made to Louis a long time ago—that once she had her own territory, she would definitely invite him to visit.

The Lord of Paradise patted her head.

In the end, he watched as the little rabbit boarded the sea vessel.

Sailing on the open sea made the Little Octopus especially excited, and it jumped right into the water.

Yu Zhizhi thought of the Deep Sea Mission that had departed earlier. They would surely travel directly through the undersea realm after entering the ocean. They had probably already reached the Deep Sea Empire by now.

She stood at the ship’s bow, facing into the wind, and couldn’t help but sigh with feeling, "This is so nice..."

Wild Dog, who was standing beside her, glanced at her.

He heard the Rabbit Clan Lady’s murmur.

"Freedom feels so good~"

In the distance, a fog was rolling in.