Chapter 37: Entering the Space

Fortunately, the castle wasn't very large, and Stone's speed was extremely fast. In just a few breaths, Zhao Hai and the others had already entered the main castle's room.

The room, which was already small, became even more crowded with so many people entering at once. However, fortunately, there was no chaos.

The slaves were very clear that if they didn't behave now, the result might be death. Therefore, they obediently entered the room under Wood's arrangement.

As soon as Zhao Hai entered the room, he immediately said to Merlin and the others, "Grandma Merlin, you go into the space first. When the slaves enter the space, arrange them and make sure they don't run around. Wood and Stone, guard the door. Meg, Chrysanthemum, and An, organize everyone to enter the space."

Chrysanthemum and An had not entered the space before, so Zhao Hai asked Meg to be the organizer, with Chrysanthemum and An assisting him. Merlin was to enter the space to settle the newly arrived people, while Stone and Wood guarded the door of the main castle to prevent the monsters from suddenly attacking.

Then, a portal appeared next to Zhao Hai. The slaves were not unfamiliar with this portal; it was the same one that appeared when Zhao Hai improved the land.

Zhao Hai didn't want to take all these people into the space at once, but he found that when he tried to take the slaves, the space had no reaction, which surprised him.

However, when he took Merlin into the space, it immediately responded, and Merlin appeared inside the space. This reassured Zhao Hai. In the end, he had to create a portal-like entrance in the space to see if the slaves could enter.

The slaves were initially a bit afraid, not knowing where Zhao Hai was taking them. However, when they saw Merlin enter, they knew Zhao Hai wouldn't harm them. They quickly followed Meg's organization and slowly entered the portal.

By this time, the outer castle was already filled with the roars of monsters, and the iron gate was being pounded. Merlin organized the slaves more quickly, and fortunately, the portal Zhao Hai created was large enough for four people to walk side by side, allowing the slaves to stand and enter the space.

Soon, all the slaves had entered the space, and Meg, Chrysanthemum, and An also went in. Zhao Hai thought for a moment, and he, Wood, and Stone appeared in the space.

The slaves who had just entered the space looked around in amazement. Zhao Hai didn't pay attention to them; he noticed that the radishes had matured. However, he didn't have time to harvest them. Standing in the space, he loudly said to the slaves, "Listen up! This is my space. Don't wander around here. Find a place to sit down, and be careful not to step on the crops."

Fortunately, the space had some open areas besides the farmland. These areas couldn't be cultivated, and Zhao Hai had tried to till them with a small spade, but they showed no reaction, just like in a game.

Although the slaves didn't understand what this space was, they obediently sat down. Zhao Hai glanced at the slaves and then turned to Merlin, "Grandma Merlin, I'll take out some empty cups and give them to you to distribute. If anyone wants to drink water, let them go to the spring and drink it themselves. Also, take out some blankets and let them sit on them." He then walked to the warehouse, and a pile of cups appeared at the entrance. These were wooden cups, cheap ones that Green and the others had bought specifically for the slaves.

Originally, each slave had been given such a cup, but due to the urgency of the situation, they hadn't brought their belongings. Now, they had to be distributed again.

Merlin immediately led Meg and the others to distribute the cups. Then, Zhao Hai took out many blankets and laid them on the ground for the slaves to sit on.

After doing this, Zhao Hai took out some straw mats. These mats had just been woven by the slaves and were casually stored in the space.

Zhao Hai didn't take out the straw mats for the slaves to sit on but to build toilets. With over a hundred people in the space, it was inevitable that someone would need to use the toilet. Since there were both men and women, it would be inconvenient without a barrier.

Fortunately, Green and the others had bought some wooden boards, which were enough to build two toilets.

Wood and Stone led a few male slaves to set up the toilets behind the straw house and the warehouse. The area behind the straw house was for women, and the area behind the warehouse was for men.

After all this was done, Zhao Hai and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Hai immediately harvested the radishes and planted another batch.

To stabilize the slaves' emotions, Zhao Hai gave each of them a large radish to eat. The radishes were quite tasty, sweet with a slight spiciness. However, with over a hundred people eating radishes together, the scene was quite impressive.

The slaves were very happy to eat the radishes. After hearing from Merlin and the others that these were magical vegetables, they ate them carefully, treating them as a rare delicacy.

Fortunately, the slaves' emotions were relatively stable. Zhao Hai returned to the straw house. He hadn't entered the straw house for a while, as there was nothing inside except a screen that only allowed access to the store, and Zhao Hai didn't need to enter the store to buy things.

However, the straw house had a bed, and Zhao Hai wanted to rest on it. The recent events had exhausted him.

Although the space was large, the straw house was small, only enough for one person to sleep. Of course, a few people could sit at the table, but it wouldn't be as comfortable as outside.

Although Zhao Hai wanted to sleep, he knew it wasn't the right time. He entered the straw house and called Merlin and the others in, leaving Chrysanthemum and An to watch the slaves.

Merlin and the others curiously examined the straw house but couldn't figure out anything. They eventually sat down on the stools.

Zhao Hai stood in the room and said, "We don't know what's happening outside. We hope the monsters will return to the swamp soon, but we need to prepare for a long stay. In a few hours, the corn will be ripe, and we have the food we brought in. Eating won't be a problem. After the corn is ripe, firewood won't be an issue either. However, if the slaves do nothing, it won't be good. Grandma Merlin, do you have any good ideas?"

Merlin thought for a moment and shook her head, "The space is only so big, and the land doesn't need to be cultivated. I don't have any good ideas. Young Master, what do you think?"

Zhao Hai walked around the room a few times and said, "When we entered, I brought the books from the study into the space. Grandma Merlin, why don't you teach the slaves to read? Our Budah family needs to develop, and we can't rely on just a few people. These slaves won't betray us, and teaching them to read might be useful in the future."

Merlin nodded happily, "Good idea, Young Master. It's a good idea to teach them to read. There's nothing to do in the space now, and it will definitely be useful in the future. Let's do it as you suggested."

Zhao Hai nodded and waved his hand. The books from the study, along with some paper and pens, appeared in front of him. He pointed to the items and said to Merlin, "Grandma Merlin, choose the books you want to teach them."

Merlin carefully examined the books and picked one, "Young Master, this one."

Zhao Hai looked and saw that it was a miscellaneous journal, a relatively simple one titled "Travels in the Aksum Empire." He nodded and said, "You don't have to start teaching them right away. They just entered and are still a bit shaken. Let them rest first."

Merlin nodded and looked at the tired Zhao Hai, "Young Master, you should rest too. We'll go out."

Zhao Hai knew the room was too small for them to rest, so he nodded, "Alright. I've taken out some more blankets, which are in the warehouse. Grandma Merlin, if you rest outside, remember to lay down more blankets."

Merlin nodded and led Meg and the others out of the straw house. Wood and Stone stayed at the door, standing like door gods.

Merlin didn't mind and walked to the slaves. She looked at them, who were sitting there unsure of what to do, and said sternly, "We are now in Young Master's magical space. Here, everything follows Young Master's orders. The monsters and undead outside have probably already attacked the castle. Only here is safe, so you must obey. If you don't, Zhao Hai will kick you out. Understand?"

The slaves immediately stood up and said in unison, "Understood." This was a result of their training by the slave traders. Any slave trader would train the slaves they bought before selling them, including forming ranks, counting off, answering, kneeling, and bowing, which had become a conditioned response for the slaves.

Merlin nodded and said, "You've worked hard today and been frightened. Young Master said you're tired and can rest. Go rest now. Remember the location of the toilets, don't wander around, and don't touch anything in the space or approach Young Master's room. Understand?"

The slaves responded in unison again.

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End of Chapter 37