Chapter 43

Nan Yuan was curious about what the old steward wanted to do, so she let him drug her and tie her up tightly.

However, she didn’t expect the old steward to secretly collude with the Zhuang family.

The person before her bore some resemblance to Zhuang Monan from years ago, with even more striking features and a colder demeanor.

Thinking about the bloody incident two years ago, Nan Yuan remained calm.

Zhuang Monan and the servants he brought were all dead. A surviving servant said that the one who went on a killing spree was Ah Qing.

At first, she couldn’t believe it.

Although Ah Qing had good potential, he had only recently joined, and his skills were not high. How could he alone have killed Zhuang Monan and so many others?

However, even if it was Ah Qing who did the killing, it must have been the Zhuang family’s fault.

For Ah Qing, who was usually so obedient and docile, to be driven to such brutality, the detestable young master Zhuang must have done something truly heinous to provoke him.

As a result, Ah Qing fell into the hands of demon cultivators, was taken to the demon realm, and was then thrown into the Demon Abyss.

From the beginning, it was the Zhuang family’s fault that Ah Qing got into trouble.

Nan Yuan hadn’t even gone to settle accounts with the Zhuang family, but they had already sent assassins after her several times.

Such despicable behavior!

Seeking revenge on her was one thing, but to take it out on the entire Snow City?

For the past two years, due to pressure from the Zhuang family, fewer merchants came to Snow City, and nearby cities began to isolate it.

If it were in the past, Snow City’s own guards would never withstand the fierce beast tide alone in such an isolated and helpless state.

No wonder the old steward secretly accepted the Zhuang family’s “kindness.”

Sacrificing her life in exchange for the safety of the entire Snow City was a worthwhile deal.

In fact, the old steward’s audacity had long been evident. Ever since Ah Qing’s massacre turned the Zhuang family from in-laws to enemies, the old steward has grown increasingly dissatisfied with her.

It seemed his loyalty was never to the Pei family, but to the Lord of Snow City.

If the old city lord governed well, he was loyal. But her inaction had thoroughly angered the old steward.

Now, perhaps he wanted to change the city’s lordship?

To others, the old steward sacrificing the city lord for the people of Snow City was an act of righteousness, sacrificing his family for the greater good.

But why should he use someone else’s life for his so-called righteousness?

“Young Master Zhuang, the person has been brought. I hope you keep your word,” the old steward said, unable to hide his worry.

In just a quarter of an hour, the beast tide would arrive. If the Zhuang family didn’t help, Snow City would be destroyed.

He had no choice.

Young Master Zhuang stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of supreme arrogance—at least, that’s how it seemed to Nan Yuan and Xiao Tang.

“The protective array was set up three days ago. Now it only needs a living being to activate it. City Lord Pei is the perfect candidate. For the safety of Snow City, I’m sure the city lord has no objections.”

The bound-up Xiao Tang suddenly squeaked to Nan Yuan in beast language, “Yuan Yuan, I remember now. This guy is Zhuang Huaiyin, the third brother of that young master Zhuang. He will become a lifelong friend of the Qi Yunzi and the most distinguished and powerful junior in the future!”

Nan Yuan sneered coldly in her heart.

Damn Qi Yunzi, damn Qi Yunzi’s junior.

If it weren’t for her hoping to follow Qi Yunzi to gain benefits in the future, why would she have ever treated Zhuang Monan kindly?

Had she known Ah Qing would confront him, she would have killed him directly, saving a lot of trouble.

Seeing her unrest, Xiao Tang immediately reminded her, “Yuan Yuan, stay calm! This person is crucial to the world’s main storyline. You can’t harm him!”

Nan Yuan glanced at it lightly.

Xiao Tang, bound like a rice dumpling, shivered and fell silent.

“I heard that your brother met a tragic end, and someone saw that it was my Ah Qing who did it,” Nan Yuan began, speaking calmly and composedly.

Zhuang Huaiyin’s face darkened instantly, his anger surging.

His brother, young and full of potential, had met a gruesome end in such a backwater place.

The killer had been brutal, ripping out his heart and flaying his skin—a true act of savagery!

Yet he couldn’t figure out the background of this Pei Yueying. Every assassin he sent ended up dead.

If covert methods didn’t work, it was time to be overt.

Since his brother had fled and couldn’t be found, he would use the sister’s life to settle the score!

Nan Yuan looked at the furious Zhuang Huaiyin without expression and said, “If Ah Qing did kill him, I think it was well done. Someone with a dirty mind deserves to die.”

Zhuang Huaiyin laughed angrily.

“The beast tide is almost here. What are you waiting for? Throw her down to activate the formation.”

“Wait a moment,” Nan Yuan said calmly, not looking at the old steward but at the city guards behind her.

Because of the ferocity of this beast tide, the city lord’s mansion had conscripted many volunteer soldiers, all of whom were ordinary citizens who had received the city lord’s generosity in one way or another.

Ah Qing, under her name, did good deeds every year. Although they didn’t accumulate much merit, they raised quite a few ingrates.

“Do you also want me to sacrifice myself for the city?” Nan Yuan asked calmly, without any fear of her impending doom.

Some of the volunteer soldiers showed guilty expressions but said nothing, tacitly agreeing with the old steward’s decision.

The city lord had indeed done many good deeds over the years, but if Snow City couldn’t be saved, their lives couldn’t be saved either. What use were these small favors then?

Should they let the beast tide sweep through Snow City and die with their families?

Nan Yuan nodded, understanding.

Xiao Tang consoled her softly, “Yuan Yuan, don’t be sad. They actually appreciate you in their hearts. Doing good deeds is useful.”

Nan Yuan wasn’t sad, just a little disappointed, so she decided to let go.

Initially, she wanted to protect the entire city’s residents. Whether it was the beast tide or the demon lord who wanted to massacre the city, with her there, it wouldn’t be a problem, even if it meant revealing her extraordinary strength.

But now—

Why should she care whether these people lived or died?

Wouldn’t it be more enjoyable to roam the world freely?

“Xiao Tang, let’s go die for a bit.”

Xiao Tang: “Squeak?”

Looking out, the ground was covered in flying snow and mist everywhere, and the earth trembled as the beast tide grew louder and closer, soon reaching the city walls.

“It’s time; do it!” Zhuang Huaiyin ordered in a low voice.

As soon as he spoke, without needing anyone else’s help, the city lord and her beast leaped down, disappearing into the beast tide in an instant.

In such a scenario, nine times out of ten, they would be trampled into meat paste by the beast tide.

Everyone: …

Wasn’t this city lord a bit too sensible?

～

Pei Yueying was dead, trampled into meat paste by the beast tide. This outcome was similar to what Nan Yuan had envisioned, and she thought it was a pretty good way to die.

Oh, there were also two unexpected joys.

The first joy was that, in dying this way, she suddenly received a lot of merit points.

Nan Yuan thought human nature was truly complex. She did many good deeds while alive and received only a few merit points. But by dying, merit points came flooding in.

This method was viable. Maybe she should die more often?

The second joy was that Xiao Tang had an epiphany from this event and was about to advance.

Nan Yuan yawned lazily, “Last time I ate too much and felt sleepy. Time for a nap. Xiao Tang, remember to wake me up. Don’t let me oversleep.”

Xiao Tang puffed out its little chest and promised, “Don’t worry, Yuan Yuan. I’ll wake you up as soon as I finish advancing.”

Nan Yuan found a cave, sealed the entrance, then took out the glittering, plush, soft couch that Ah Qing had modified for her from her natal space, laid down on it, and closed her eyes contentedly.