Chapter 205: Manor Arrangement

Zuo Zhicheng always believed that the matter of transplanting Life Grove needed to be handled very carefully.

If others found out that Zuo Zhicheng possessed the method and knowledge to transplant Life Grove, he would clearly become a target. Not to mention hostile forces like Dìyù Gate, even the Shadow Corps might immediately betray him and turn their swords against him.

So regarding this matter, Zuo Zhicheng did not plan to let anyone help. He intended to complete it entirely by himself.

Unless his future strength became sufficiently powerful, he would not tell anyone about transplanting Life Grove.

…

The mountain villa that originally belonged to Duan Suling suffered greatly during the battle with the Tiger Wolf Army. Over twenty civilians died in the war. More than a hundred people, due to their closeness with Duan Suling, were directly implicated and captured by the Southern Bay government.

Now, this villa was granted to Zuo Zhicheng.

Early in the morning, a group of people waited outside the villa gate. They were the new steward, accountant, maids, and others responsible for this manor.

The sky was just beginning to brighten. Some in the waiting crowd, still not fully awake, looked drowsy as they stared toward the end of the main road, waiting for their new master.

Although it was quite early and easy to feel tired, no one in the crowd dared to leave, because their new master had recently gained a formidable reputation.

About twenty minutes later, just as some were starting to feel impatient, sudden screams and intense rumbling sounds came from the distant village and fields.

“What happened?”

“Did something happen?”

Just as they thought this, a huge dark shadow suddenly rushed over. Amid flying sand and dust, several Old Men and women were blown to the ground by the fierce wind. When the wind stopped and they opened their eyes to look at the dark figure before them, utter terror rose in their eyes.

It was the Underworld King Snake, standing over ten meters tall.

“M-monster!”

“Help!”

Some fell to the ground, some cried and screamed in panic but couldn’t get up, and others simply turned and ran.

The Underworld King Snake flicked its tongue slightly, a trace of greed flashing in its eyes. It really wanted to swallow these little snacks in one bite, but the person on its head clearly wouldn’t allow it.

Zuo Zhicheng looked at the chaotic crowd and slightly raised an eyebrow. A blue rune glowed behind his head.

The Ice Soul Frost Demon Field activated. Everyone within a hundred meters felt an unexplained, bone-chilling cold rapidly spreading through their bodies, making almost all of them unable to move.

“S-sir,” a woman with delicate skin and a tall figure shouted. “Please stop the attack. They can’t take much more.”

Zuo Zhicheng looked up and recognized her. He lightly tapped the Underworld King Snake’s head, and it lowered its body. Zuo Zhicheng looked at the woman and said, “Lin Yuexi, why are you here?”

As he spoke, the others who had just been terrified came to their senses, shivering as they sat on the ground, watching the menacing Underworld King Snake.

Lin Yuexi gave a bitter smile and said, “My injuries from last time were quite severe. I’ve retired from service.”

Zuo Zhicheng frowned, not caring whether she was sent to spy on him or seduce him, and said directly, “From today, only I will live in the main courtyard to the south. If anyone enters without permission and gets eaten, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

As Zuo Zhicheng spoke, the Underworld King Snake opened its mouth and let out a low growl, as if warning them.

“But, sir, what about your daily needs like food, clothing, bathing, bedding, and cleaning…”

“I’ll handle those myself,” Zuo Zhicheng said calmly. “Also, I ordered some things today. Let the delivery people in later. Don’t forget to pay them.”

With that, the Underworld King Snake raised its body again and prepared to enter the main courtyard. A look of surprise crossed Lin Yuexi’s pretty face, and she hurriedly added, “But sir, what about the farmlands, horses, tenants, and warehouses? You haven’t asked about any of that!”

“Not necessary.” Zuo Zhicheng’s figure vanished into the courtyard with the Underworld King Snake. “You’re the steward now, right? Just keep everything as it was. Handle all matters yourself. Just don’t disturb me.”

Making money was always just a means, not an end, for Zuo Zhicheng. Since the manor belonged to him and official personnel managed it for him, he only needed to know how to spend it.

Watching Zuo Zhicheng disappear, a bitter smile crossed Lin Yuexi’s face. He simply didn’t regard them as worth his attention.

A middle-aged man approached her, still fearful, and asked, “Is that the Heavenly Serpent King?”

“Yes.”

“Will that snake of his eat people?”

“It eats people,” Lin Yuexi said, her bitter smile deepening. “But it probably won’t eat us…”

Lin Yuexi hadn’t expected him to act this way, to be so wary. With this, probably no one could get close to the small courtyard.

After the man and snake entered the main courtyard, all sounds ceased completely, yet no one dared to go in and check. The new lord’s fearsome reputation and his giant pet snake quickly spread throughout the villa.

Everyone looked toward where the man and snake had disappeared, expressions of lingering fear on their faces.

This was exactly Zuo Zhicheng’s intention—to avoid being disturbed by too many reckless people.

Around noon, a large group of workers from Haijing City arrived, carrying various strange iron platforms and oddly shaped tools that Lin Yuexi had never seen before, and they walked into the courtyard.

Lin Yuexi stopped one worker and asked what these things were, but the worker didn’t know either, only saying that someone had ordered them.

Of course, they couldn’t know that these were all tools possibly used in transplanting Life Grove, as recorded in the Daoist Canon. Zuo Zhicheng planned to turn this place into his own operating room, Laboratory, and training room, so he naturally needed to prepare many things.

After that, there was the sound of clanking and hammering every day. Although everyone, including Lin Yuexi, was very curious about what Zuo Zhicheng was doing inside, clearly no one dared to enter.

A few days later, ten death row prisoners were delivered. The person delivering them was Qingyue Qiu. Ten white Shadow Guards followed closely behind the prisoners, their heads covered.

Qingyue Qiu held a rope, leading the lined-up prisoners toward the courtyard. Lin Yuexi was already waiting there. “Miss Qingyue,” she said, glancing at the ten ragged men behind Qingyue Qiu. “Is it them?”

Qingyue Qiu nodded. “I’m going in. You don’t need to wait for me.”

With that, she left Lin Yuexi alone, frowning deeply yet powerless before the mysterious house, watching helplessly as the group entered the courtyard.