Chapter 451 - 450: Set Sail

Yu Zhizhi glanced back at the pool. Bubbles were rising to the surface; it seemed the Little Octopus was listening intently too.

She thought about the Little Octopus’s current condition. Sun Ridge was just too chaotic. If she brought him back to her territory to recuperate, maybe everything would be okay.

The Cat Clan youth waited patiently. He watched the little rabbit before him think for a long time before she finally said slowly, "...Then... I’ll go back with their warship."

He smiled. "Alright."

The situation in the already war-torn Sun Ridge was about to get even more complicated.

The little rabbit didn’t belong here.

Even in the Knight Alliance, she had people she knew.

Zero planned to send her to Buli.

Just as he turned to leave, his sleeve was suddenly gripped. He looked back to see the Rabbit Clan female staring at him with a burning gaze. "...Zero."

"What is it?"

"When... when will you be free?"

Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but ask.

She only knew that Zero was incredibly busy. Sometimes, she couldn’t even see him when she went to the Divine Hall Illusion Realm.

’I thought I could go back to the territory with him.’

’I didn’t expect us to go our separate ways.’

’I have no idea when we’ll see each other again.’

Zero thought for a moment. ’A vacation...’

He didn’t seem to have such a thing.

However, seeing the little female’s face full of expectation, the corners of his lips curved up slightly. "After I’m done with things in Sun Ridge, I’ll take a long vacation. Is there something you need me to do?"

"Then, can you come find me in Sky Star Territory when you’re on vacation?"

"Of course."

Hearing the Cat Clan youth’s promise, Yu Zhizhi was overjoyed. The smile on her face was unconcealed. Zero watched her for a long moment before asking, "Will there be anyone else?"

Uh...

Yu Zhizhi hadn’t thought about that yet.

’I’ll probably invite everyone one by one, but I don’t know exactly when Zero’s vacation will be. Their visits might overlap...’

Seeing the blank look on the Rabbit Clan female’s face, Zero smiled. "It’s alright. I don’t mind."

He had to leave the warship.

’I don’t want to see the little rabbit looking so troubled before I go.’

’A vacation... I’m actually kind of looking forward to it.’

Yu Zhizhi escorted him all the way off the warship.

She relied on Zero a great deal, and seeing him leave made her feel uneasy. In the end, all she could do was watch him walk away into the distance.

As the Divine Hall’s Zero Messenger, the Cat Clan youth was thorough and considerate in many matters. His face was always brimming with a disarming smile. However, Yu Zhizhi gradually sensed a barrier beneath his warmth, like the white masks of the Divine Hall, invisibly keeping everyone at a distance.

Yu Zhizhi stood below the warship for a long time.

The sea breeze lifted her long brown skirt. The guards on the warship all watched this Rabbit Clan female who was staying behind, full of curiosity—

’To choose to travel with a fleet from Sun Ridge... she’s really brave.’

It wasn’t until Buli came down from the warship that Yu Zhizhi boarded the ship with him. Buli gave a simple explanation, "We set sail at sunset tonight. It’ll take about a week to reach the vicinity of Sky Star Territory."

Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly.

"Let’s eat first, Ms. Zhi Zhi." The brown-haired youth pushed open the dining hall door. The freshly cooked food was steaming and fragrant. "After you’ve had your fill, you can go meet our boss."

"Your boss... Is he easy to get along with?" Yu Zhizhi sat down in a chair. She knew nothing about this "new partner" from the Divine Hall.

She knew Buli was currently on a mission; the guards on the warship didn’t know his true identity.

Buli ladled a bowl of soup for Miss Rabbit.

He thought for a moment. "That depends on who he’s dealing with."

’If it’s Miss Rabbit, he should be very easy to get along with.’

The weather over Sun Ridge suddenly turned grim again. In the distance, the sea wind carried thunder and lightning. The crimson-dyed seawater churned into massive waves, followed by a sudden, torrential downpour.

After finishing dinner, Yu Zhizhi carried a tray to the confinement room.

The guards here didn’t dare get too close.

She was bringing food to the Little Octopus.

In the pitch-black confinement room, the Little Octopus’s tentacle swiftly snatched a large piece of roasted meat and quickly sank back to the bottom of the pool.

"Just stay here for a week, and then we can go back to the territory," Yu Zhizhi said softly.

The Little Octopus quickly devoured all the food on the tray.

His tone was a little gloomy. "So many people are going to see me."

Yu Zhizhi thought for a moment. "How about I find a cloak for you?"

The Little Octopus’s eyes lit up. "Okay!"

’I want a cloak, the kind with a hood! That way, I can cover myself up completely!’

The Little Octopus’s worries quickly vanished.

Yu Zhizhi stood up with the empty tray. "You get some rest, okay? I’m going to meet the master of this warship now."

The Little Octopus reminded her, "If anything happens, remember to call me."

Even though he was chained in the pool.

But in just one short day, his spiritual power had surged again...

A restraint like this was nothing to him.

He was only willing to stay obediently in the confinement room because Tutu had come. It was the darkest place, so Tutu wouldn’t see him.

"Mm-hm~"

Yu Zhizhi left the room.

The guard at the door took the tray from her hands, carefully keeping his distance from the mutated Octopus Beast in the confinement room. He had, after all, personally witnessed a comrade die in that pool.

Just as promised, Buli came to find her, holding a large black umbrella.

He escorted Yu Zhizhi to a room’s entrance.

"The boss is inside."

Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly.

Buli pushed the door open for her.

This place...

It looked like a conference room. The curtains were wide open, making the lightning outside starkly visible. Accompanied by explosive claps of thunder, Yu Zhizhi’s heart couldn’t help but beat faster.

Yu Zhizhi stepped inside.

Just as she was about to turn and ask Buli for their boss’s name, the door closed behind her.

Her heart sank. Yu Zhizhi slowly tightened her grip on her skirt. By the light of the thunder outside, she saw a soft chair at the head of the long conference table slowly turn to face her.

CRACK!—

The storm over Sun Ridge grew even more violent. The warship left the coast, gradually sailing into the depths of the sea.

The man in the chair sat with his back to the window, his entire body shrouded in darkness. All Yu Zhizhi could see was a single point of scarlet light.

Shen He held a cigar between his teeth, watching the little rabbit who had delivered herself to his doorstep with a smirk.

She was pressed tightly against a nearby shelf, her rabbit ears perked up nervously, her clear eyes watching him with unease.

’Clearly, the little rabbit can’t see my face.’

Yu Zhizhi heard the sound of the cigar burning. She calmed herself and said in a small voice, "S-Sir, thank you for being willing to take me back to my territory. For the next week... I’ll be in your care."

’Trouble?’

The amusement in Shen He’s gray eyes deepened. His deep voice was laced with mirth. "You certainly are a lot of trouble."

...Huh?

That voice—

The realization dawned on Yu Zhizhi belatedly. Her eyes shot wide open. "Lord Shen He?!"