I worked myself to the bone to become a saint, and survived on a deserted island with a stunning pri

The kick was accompanied by a scream, and a figure crashed into the tree behind him and fell silent.

"So that's where it was hidden!"

Chu Nan sneered, walked forward, and lifted the man up.

"Ah? It's Xiao Dezi!" Xu Ling'er exclaimed.

"Is he a eunuch?" Chu Nan looked at Xu Ling'er.

Xu Ling'er nodded: "Yes, Xiao Dezi is the eunuch in charge of imperial tributes. I didn't expect him to survive and even follow Zhao Xingyu and the others. He deserves to die!"

Chu Nan shook his head: "He probably just wants to live."

For these eunuchs, they would do anything to survive. After all, they had lost what was most important to a man, and all they wanted was power and wealth.

"Then what should we do with him? Kill him? Or..." Xu Ling'er asked.

"What is Xiao Dezi's reputation and status like within the palace?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ling'er said, "Xiao Dezi is in charge of the imperial tribute. He is a sixth-rank eunuch in the palace. The princess and His Majesty treat him quite well."

"Xiao Dezi has a pretty good reputation. I've seen him help some eunuchs and palace maids."

Upon hearing Xu Ling'er's words, Chu Nan stroked his chin, then raised his hand and pressed hard on Xiao Dezi's neck.

"Ouch! It hurts so much!" Xiao Dezi cried out in pain and slowly opened his eyes.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Chu Nan and Xu Ling'er standing in front of him.

"Spare me! Young Master Chu, spare me! Lady Xu, spare me!" Xiao Dezi immediately begged.

"Let's talk over there," Xu Ling'er nudged Chu Nan, since there was a stone toilet right next door.

"Alright." Chu Nan grabbed Xiao Dezi's clothes and dragged him forward for thirty or forty meters before stopping.

"Tell me, why are you helping Zhao Xingyu and his group against me?" Chu Nan asked coldly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Dezi immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"Young Master Chu, I had no choice!"

Xiao Dezi kowtowed while wiping away tears: "I'm just a eunuch, and I can't beat them in strength. If I don't obey them, they'll kill me. I have no other choice."

"I'm really at my wit's end. I can see you've had a tough time finding it!" Chu Nan snorted twice.

Xiao Dezi quickly replied, "I was just putting on an act for them. I didn't want to hurt Her Highness the Princess."

"This servant is willing to abandon darkness and embrace the light. Please, Young Master Chu, grant this servant a way to live."

As he spoke, Xiao Dezi kowtowed repeatedly.

Xu Ling'er tugged at Chu Nan's arm: "Xiao Dezi seems like a good guy. He was probably forced into this by Zhao Xingyu and the others. Why don't you consider it?"

Chu Nan snorted: "I should have killed you originally..."

Upon hearing Chu Nan's words, Xiao Dezi turned pale with fright and kowtowed even faster.

"However... out of respect for Her Highness the Princess and Consort Xu, I'll spare your life for now."

"From now on, you shall stay by my side and serve me well. If you disobey, you shall be executed immediately!" Chu Nan said emphatically.

"Yes, yes, yes, this servant will serve you faithfully and will never dare to disobey." Xiao Dezi wiped away her tears and repeatedly expressed her loyalty.

Chu Nan was not surprised by Xiao Dezi's behavior.

These eunuchs entered the palace for wealth and status; if they couldn't even save their lives, what else was there to talk about?

As for loyalty, that was secondary. After all, eunuchs had lost the most important thing about men, and whoever could control their fate could make them loyal.

"Get up and come with us."

"Yes, ma'am." Xiao Dezi was very obedient and followed behind Chu Nan.

After searching for more than an hour in the sixth district, Chu Nan found Miyamoto Musashi and the other three.

Then they headed towards District Seven.

It took a full half-night to walk from Zone 6 to Zone 7, and we didn't get back to the camp until dawn.

Ji Menghan and Ling Hanxue looked like they hadn't slept all night, and they breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Chu Nan return.

"Why are you only coming back now!" Ji Menghan excitedly stepped forward and hugged Chu Nan tightly.

Ling Hanxue's expression seemed much more relaxed, and she even smiled, no longer displaying her usual cold demeanor.

"We encountered some trouble along the way, but we've already taken care of Zhao Xingyu's men."

"And we brought Xiao Dezi back with us." Chu Nan pointed to Xiao Dezi behind him.

Xiao Dezi quickly stepped forward and kowtowed to Ji Menghan and Ling Hanxue.

"This servant greets Your Highness."

Ji Menghan nodded slightly: "Alright, get up. It's good that you're alive."

"Your Highness, I am so sorry. It was all Zhao Xingyu's fault. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing and had the heart of a wolf. He forced me into this situation." Xiao Dezi wiped away her tears.

Ji Menghan waved her hand: "It's alright, just be loyal from now on."

"This servant thanks Your Highness for your magnanimity. This servant will be loyal and devoted to Your Highness from now on." Xiao Dezi cried as he got up.

The turmoil has come to an end.

After a whole night of running around, everyone except Chu Nan was exhausted.

Chu Nan personally cooked a pot of meat soup, and everyone enjoyed a delicious meal together.

After the meal, everyone else went to rest, but Chu Nan was full of energy.

"Don't you need to sleep?" Ji Menghan asked.

"I'm not tired." Chu Nan waved his hand. "Get ready, we're going to the beach. We can start making salt now."

He led the two women all the way to the beach.

The salt pans that were previously created have already developed a layer of white sea salt containing impurities.

Take all the sea salt out and put it in a jar.

Then the three of them, carrying the jar, hurried back to the camp.

They took some stream water and put it in a pot, then added salt and stirred it.

As the water was stirred and heated, the salt gradually dissolved in the pot.

"The first step is dissolving and filtering."

As Chu Nan spoke, he scooped out the salt water from the pot with a bowl, and then, through a layer of tattered clothing, poured the filtered water into the earthenware jar.

After filtering out all the salt water in the pot, it was put back into the pot.

"The second step is settling!"

Chu Nan took out all the ashes left over from the fire and put them into the pot little by little, heating and stirring at the same time. As the heating and stirring continued, impurities gradually precipitated out.

"Wow, how amazing!" Ji Menghan and Lin Hanxue stood to the side, marveling at the sight.

"Why does this sediment? What's going on?" Ji Menghan asked curiously.

"This is because wood ash contains a component that contains carbonic acid, and this carbonic acid can react with some bitter magnesium and calcium ions in sea salt, causing them to precipitate out," Chu Nan explained.

Ji Menghan and Ling Hanxue exchanged a glance, looking completely bewildered.

"What do all of this mean? What is carbonic acid? What are magnesium ions? What are calcium ions?"

"I'll explain this to you later."

"It's not something I can explain in a short time." Chu Nan scratched his head. Explaining this scientific principle would take a long time.

"Next, we'll filter the purified brine and boil it!"