Chapter 23: Confession
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After breakfast, Merlyn asked Meg to lead the slaves to tidy up the caves. It would be best if they could cut down some trees on the mountain and see if they could make a small boat. This way, they could go to the lake in the mountain to take a good look. Meanwhile, Merlyn was preparing to search around the castle to see if she could find a place that was secluded.
In Merlyn’s opinion, improving the land was the most important thing. As long as the land was improved, they would have the foundation to survive.
Although she did not know what was going on with Zhao Hai’s ability, seeing that Zhao Hai could improve the land and take out 40,000 kilograms of radishes, it meant that Zhao Hai’s ability was related to agriculture.
Although Merlyn did not know the wonders of the Space Farm, she was a smart person. In addition, she was old and had a lot of experience in life, so she was able to guess some things.
However, seeing that Zhao Hai did not tell her, she did not ask further. She knew that Zhao Hai was in charge now, and he had his own thoughts. It would not be good if she asked.
When Zhao Hai heard that Merlyn was going to explore the surroundings of the castle, he insisted on following. In the past few days, other than staying in the castle, he would either be walking around the mountain or in the Space Farm. He had not looked around at all. Today was a good opportunity to take a look around. No matter what, this was his territory.
Since Zhao Hai was going out, Wood and Rock naturally would follow. However, Zhao Hai did not let them. He only took Wood with him and asked Rock to accompany Meg in supervising the slaves. Zhao Hai was worried about leaving Meg alone to watch over the hundred slaves.
Zhao Hai and the others came out of the castle. Wood walked up the mountain and carefully looked at the terrain. Zhao Hai and Merlyn walked along the foot of the mountain. Merlyn was old and was a mage who did not train her body, so her stamina was not good. Zhao Hai was the same, so the two of them did not go up the mountain. If they went up the mountain, they would probably be too tired to move after walking for a while.
This was the farthest Merlyn and Zhao Hai had left the castle till date. They looked around as they walked. This Black Soil Wilderness was really strange. There were only some small trees and weeds growing on the semicircular mountain range. The mountain range was surrounded by a large plain. There was nothing else to see at all.
The terrain on the mountain was more complicated, but because the mountain was not very high and there were not many trees, the situation at higher terrain of the mountain could be seen from the foot of the mountain.
The two of them walked along the foot of the mountain for more than three hours. Other than feeling the surroundings become more and more desolate, they did not discover anything else. The black soil was still black soil, and the desolate mountain was still a desolate mountain.
Zhao Hai looked around and turned to Merlyn. “Grandma Merlyn, let’s rest for a while. Our territory is too big. We can’t finish exploring it in a day or two. If there’s no other way, we can wait for Grandpa Grimm to return. We can explore while riding horses. It’s too tiring to walk like this.”
Merlyn was also exhausted. She was a mage, not a warrior, and her body was not strong at all. She could do houseworks, but she really could not endure traveling like this.
The two of them found two rocks and sat down. Seeing that the two of them were sitting down, Wood immediately ran down the mountain and walked to Zhao Hai’s side. “Young Master, rest here first. I’ll look around.”
Zhao Hai nodded and said, “Alright, go ahead. Be careful.” Wood responded and turned to run up the mountain. He did not look tired at all.
Merlyn sat on the rock and looked at the endless black soil in front of her. She sighed and said, “When we heard that the empire had given this place to us, we lost almost all hope. Everyone knows that this Black Soil Wilderness is a land of death. Nothing grows here, and it’s close to the Carrion Swamp. Other than waiting for death, there’s really nothing we can do.” She stopped and lowered her head, her eyes filled with memories. “As soon as Grimm heard this news, he immediately used all the money in the family to buy various supplies. He wanted us to last for a few more years. As long as those old nobles don’t pay attention to us in a few years, we can think of other ways to earn money. No matter what, we can’t let the Buda family die in our hands.”
At this point, Merlyn did not speak for a long time, as if she was recalling the despairing scene. Zhao Hai did not speak either. He could understand Merlyn and the others’ feelings. The Buda family was the place that had raised them, but they could only watch as the Buda family walked towards the dead land of the Black Soil Wilderness. How despairing was it for them?
After a while, Merlyn took a deep breath and turned to look at Zhao Hai. “Fortunately, Young Master, you woke up. Moreover, you have that magical ability to improve the land. This gives us hope. Young Master, the revival of the Buda family will depend on you.”
Grimm had said similar things to Zhao Hai. Zhao Hai understood that this was Merlyn and Grimm’s expectations of him, but the more this was the case, the more Zhao Hai felt that this matter was difficult. If even people like Grimm and Merlyn could not do it, it would be difficult for him to do it.
If they wanted the Buda family to prosper again, they had to face the suppression of all the old nobles in the entire Aksu Empire, including the imperial family.
But at this moment, he could not say these words. He could only nod hard and say, “Don’t worry, Grandma Merlyn. I will work hard.”
Merlyn nodded and looked at Zhao Hai. She smiled and said, “The heavens did not give up on our Buda family. They actually gave you such a magical ability. This means that the heavens want our Buda family to prosper again.”
Zhao Hai smiled and said, “Grandma Merlyn, I’ll take you to a place.” With that, the two of them appeared in the Space Farm.
Merlyn and Grimm were people that Zhao Hai could trust completely. Previously, he did not bring Merlyn and the others to the farm. Other than keeping it a secret, it was because there were many things in the Space Farm that he could not explain to Merlyn and the others. Zhao Hai was also afraid that Merlyn and the others would realize that he was not truly Adam. If that was the case, Merlyn and Grimm would probably kill him immediately.
But he was not afraid now. He knew that Merlyn and Grimm did not suspect him at all. Moreover, they had already treated him as the hope of the Buda family. After all, he was the only heir to the Buda family now. Even if Grimm and the others discovered that he was someone else possessing Adam’s body, they might not touch him. Because if the two of them killed him, it would be equivalent to destroying the Buda family. If a noble family did not have an heir, this title would be taken back by the empire.
Merlyn was stunned when she entered the space. When she saw the radishes that had just sprouted and the corn that was ripening, her mind could not process it.
At this moment, Zhao Hai said, “Grandma Merlyn, this is the special ability I obtained. This land can be used to grow fruits and vegetables. The time it takes for them to mature is much shorter than outside. That’s why I can take out 40,000 kilograms of magic radishes in such a short time.”
Merlyn looked at the land and turned to Zhao Hai. “Young Master, where did you put those magic radishes? Why don’t I see them?”
Zhao Hai pointed at the warehouse and said, “It’s all in there. That room is like a spatial equipment. It can store many things. Not only is it filled with magic radishes, but some of the supplies we brought are also in there. As long as I want to use them, I can take them out at any time.”
Merlyn nodded with shining eyes. Just this warehouse was enough to surprise her greatly.
Zhao Hai continued, “The land in this space can be used to improve the black soil outside. Its water can also do the same. Previously, when I modified the black soil, I used the mixture of the land and water here.” Then, he walked to the side of the corn field and said, “This is a new plant I planted. I call it corn. If these corn mature, the seeds produced will be enough to cover a thousand acres of land. However, I don’t know if the corn produced here can be used as seeds. This has to be tested. The stalks of the corn can be used as fuel. It is the most suitable plant for us to plant.”
Merlyn looked at the corn and her eyes lit up. Of course, she understood what Zhao Hai meant. As long as these corn were ripe and could be planted, they would be able to solve their food problem. At the same time, they would have materials to burn.
Zhao Hai nodded and said to Merlyn, “As long as we find a suitable place, we will first modify a thousand acres of land and plant corn. When the corn matures, we won’t have to worry about food or burning materials. When we have food, we will sell the magic radishes and have the money. Our Buda family can grow stronger bit by bit.”
Merlyn nodded hard and turned to Zhao Hai. “Young Master, don’t tell anyone about this. How many people know about this now?”
Zhao Hai shook his head and said, “Only you, Wood, and Rock have been to this space. Grandpa Grimm and Meg have never been here.”
Merlyn nodded and said, “You can trust the few of us, but not the others. Young Master, don’t mention this to anyone else in the future. If others know about this, you will be in danger.”
Zhao Hai nodded and said, “Grandma Merlyn, don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone about this. Let’s go out. If Wood comes back and doesn’t find us, he will be anxious.” With that, the two of them appeared at the foot of the mountain.