I am the Ruler of the Kingdom of Mysterious-Chapter 303 - 267: Sisters

Sang Que led Yao Zhen into Jinfeng Mountain, and the refugees trailing behind them hesitated and glanced at each other, not daring to continue following.

Because those living on the mountain weren’t just Daoists, bandits could also be present.

In most people’s eyes, bandits were ruthless killers.

Sang Que temporarily ignored the group of refugees and drove back to the Ruan Shichun father and son’s village where she had initially stayed.

This village was close to the entrance of Jinfeng Mountain, and until the new city was built, she would be staying here.

Everyone had been sent out by Sang Que to cultivate the wastelands. When she had come in earlier, Sang Que saw Pei Li leading people to clear rubble, cut timber, and level the ground on the other side of the gorge.

Upon hearing Sang Que had returned, several second-in-command and third-in-command rushed to the Ruan Family Village to report the progress of their work over the past couple of days to Sang Que.

In the deliberation hall, Sang Que introduced Yao Zhen to them, informing them that Yao Zhen was her close friend.

Sang Que had already briefed Yao Zhen about these second-in-command and third-in-command.

"Where does the Kun Dao hail from?" Hong Xuan, always clever, inquired with a smile.

Yao Zhen smiled and repeated the story given by Sang Que, "Bright Moon Mountain, Qingfeng Temple."

"Where is this Bright Moon Mountain? I haven’t heard of it," Hong Xuan asked with puzzlement.

Suddenly, Sang Que spoke calmly, "It’s here."

The crowd exchanged looks. Were they not at Jinfeng Mountain? Had it been renamed?

"What about Qingfeng Temple?" Pei Li asked again.

"Building it tomorrow," Sang Que replied.

Everyone: ......

Well, whatever Big Boss says goes; the fist is the hard logic.

Sang Que took out the topographic maps drawn by Zhang Junyao and explained her plan in detail. The most important thing this season is spring plowing. Once the crops are sown, they need to quickly dig ditches to channel water to the various farmlands for irrigation convenience.

Later, she would transcribe excerpts from the books her mother gave her on agriculture and irrigation for those in the village who were skilled in this area to study.

The next task was city building, a major undertaking whose details Sang Que found difficult to manage at present.

She had investigated in Pu’an County and found that construction in the Xuan Dynasty’s states, cities, and counties was undertaken by the court’s Ministry of Revenue allocating silver, with the Ministry of Industry collaborating with Taoist Sect’s Feng Shui masters to plan the blueprints, then mobilizing local craftsmen for construction.

Each batch of craftsmen was responsible only for a part and would never participate in the entire city construction, to ensure the Feng Shui Formation under the city is not exposed.

The blueprints for each city’s construction were state secrets; leaking them was punishable by death, so copying this work was impossible; she had to find her own way.

"Ahem~"

Yao Zhen interrupted Sang Que, seeing her plight, this was the time to shine.

"I don’t know about construction, but Feng Shui geomancy is what we’re known for. Why don’t I help you think of a solution?"

Sang Que was waiting for Yao Zhen to take the initiative to speak. Immediately, she clasped her hands to Yao Zhen.

"I’ll leave it to you, feel free to ask for anything you need."

"No rush, let me first examine the wild... the Bright Moon Mountain’s Feng Shui tomorrow, then make detailed planning. Speaking of which, your operations here are quite extensive, but it looks like you’re short on manpower. Are you not bringing that group of refugees in?"

"Of course, they should come in."

Sang Que glanced at those present and finally chose Hong Xuan; he was clever and articulate, best suited for this task.

"Hong Xuan, take some people later to the mountain entrance, invite all those refugees in, arrange for them to stay in your village, provide dinner. If the kitchen staff is insufficient, borrow from others for the night’s safety; staying outside is not safe."

"Then tell them if they’re willing to stay and help with opening wasteland, I’ll provide meals three times a day and pay them another wage every seven days. Those willing to stay will sign a contract; those unwilling, are free to go tomorrow morning."

Hong Xuan pondered this, realizing the task wasn’t difficult for him, just a matter of handling a small issue.

"Big Boss, under what name are we negotiating with them?"

Everyone looked at Sang Que, fearing if they revealed they were bandits, the group might run off in fright.

"No need to hide, let them choose for themselves."

These people had left their homes and become refugees; having a place that could offer shelter and food was invaluable to them, Sang Que believed most would choose to remain.

Once she established regulations, anyone building this place together would develop a sense of belonging as living conditions improved and hopes for the future became visible.

This had to be undertaken gradually, not rushed.

Hong Xuan nodded after pondering; his life was in Sang Que’s hands, and he dared not have other thoughts given the disparity in strength.

Especially after seeing Sang Que return today not only with a carload of grain seeds but also accompanied by a Kun Dao whose power matched hers, his little dissatisfaction vanished.

Now Hong Xuan only sought to perform well and gain Sang Que’s recognition and trust, hoping that in the future he could, like Luo Danian, gain a unique power.

At dinner, Sang Que invited everyone to eat together.

After discussing some additional details, dinner was finished, and Sang Que announced the meeting was over.

Yao Zhen was restless, wrote Sang Que a list, and instructed her to prepare the offerings for summoning the Five Ghosts. Once she calculated the timing, she’d assist Sang Que with rituals.

In Yao Zhen’s view, the hardest part was the five sheep heads, but this was merely a trip home to the slaughterhouse for Sang Que.

On this cloudless night, with stars across the sky, Yao Zhen took a compass to the mountains for star-gazing, also part of Feng Shui geomancy.

Sang Que remained alone and, used to household work, didn’t wait for the kitchen maid to collect the dishes, but gathered them herself and took them to the kitchen.

At the kitchen, Sang Que saw the two maidens from before, busy chopping wood.

Upon seeing Sang Que, they put down their axes and politely approached Sang Que.

"Heroine, we’ve decided if you’re willing to take us in, we’d like to stay."

"Can you read?" Sang Que asked.

The two maidens shook their heads, causing Sang Que a headache; she couldn’t just focus on agriculture and construction, she needed a literacy campaign—a long-term commitment.

"Why haven’t I seen Wan He?"

Ever since Wan He’s elder sister Wanyun died, Sang Que hadn’t seen Wan He in days.

Following the maidens’ directions, Sang Que found Wan He beside a bed, clutching her sister’s hand, her corpse still uncremated.

Upon entering, Sang Que noticed the corpse was peculiar; days had passed, yet it lacked any blemish, maintaining its appearance as if freshly deceased.

Hearing movement, Wan He turned, brightening upon seeing Sang Que, "Heroine, come quickly, isn’t my sister still alive? She looks as she did; she can’t be dead."

Sang Que approached for a closer look; the corpse was stiff but undecayed. Her hand reached out but didn’t touch when suddenly the corpse opened its eyes and raised its hands to grab her.

"Sister!"

Wan He exclaimed, and at her voice, the corpse’s arms fell, and its eyes closed again.

"People live due to breath, and if at their last they can’t release this breath, they die unfulfilled. Your sister has obsessions leading to corpse transformation."

"A corpse turning is best burned quickly. Otherwise, as transformation progresses, gaining mobility might harm you."

Wan He shook her head strongly, "No, my sister would never harm me; she’s always protected me since childhood. This time she also... she also..."

Sang Que recalled the scene, drew a dagger, and suddenly swung at Wan He. The corpse immediately opened its eyes and raised its arms, unable to rise due to stiffness.

The corpse was instinctively protecting Wan He, demonstrating Wan He could control it.

This might be beneficial to Wan He, proving her sister, even in death, remained protective, as she claimed.

Sang Que retrieved the "Corpse Nourishing Secret Technique" from her bag and flipped to a middle page.

"Since you wish to keep your sister, then from now on, according to this method, properly maintain her; write down what I tell you now..."