night of celebration transformed the town as if it had undergone a metamorphosis, now brimming with vitality.
The people had become more optimistic, and upon waking the next day, they actively cleaned the entire town, leaving it looking completely renewed.
But that wasn't all. They were preparing for a three-day celebration; last night's event was merely a warm-up. This time, they intended to truly revel in the festivities.
Previously, they had viewed Zhao Lun and his companions with suspicion, fearing they would bring disaster to the town, avoiding them like the plague.
Now, they were hailed as great benefactors. Not only had their attitudes changed, but they were on the verge of groveling.
In the face of such people, Zhao Lun and Nicole had nothing to say. After all, they couldn't very well strike them. With a calm mindset, they couldn't bring themselves to do such a thing.
What puzzled Zhao Lun was the speed at which the townsfolk had recovered.
Although the wounds had healed, scars remained. These people had suffered for a long time, so mentally, they should have shown some signs of abnormality.
This was also the main reason Zhao Lun hadn't held any grudges against them. Dealing with mentally unstable people was something he simply couldn't bring himself to do. Besides, they had all participated in the celebration last night.
The greatest wound had been inflicted on their spirits, brought about by the demons. Healing this would take time. With the demons now gone, there was no need for further healing.
Now, not only were they healed, but there was almost no sign left of any abnormal behavior.
"It truly is a miracle!" Zhao Lun remarked.
Whether it was a miracle or not, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that it was far from ordinary.
Outside the town.
Anna, Zhao Lun, Nicole, and Penelope were all present.
Zhao Lun pulled out his flying broom, ready to leave.
"Come back quickly!" Anna urged.
"Don't leave us stranded here!" Nicole joked.
"Do you want me to take someone along?" Penelope offered.
Three more people were to join the celebration. Maria would be flying on her own broom, while Angela and Monica would need to be accompanied.
Zhao Lun agreed, "Of course! I'd be glad to have company!"
The two would fly together to avoid the hassle of repeated trips.
Nicole and Anna watched him leave. As for Mulan, she was busy preparing for the celebration feast and didn't come to send Zhao Lun off.
In her words, Zhao Lun was just picking someone up, not leaving for good, so there was no need for concern. She was at ease preparing the celebratory dishes.
The two of them flew off on the broomstick, quickly returning with Maria and the others who had been waiting.
Maria was thrilled to see Zhao Lun's return.
"Everything arranged?" Zhao Lun asked.
His business was now large enough that he needed to ensure everything was planned when going out for leisure, so there wouldn't be any trouble. That way, everyone could enjoy themselves without worry.
"It's all set, Boss," Monica said.
They were ready; all that remained was to change into different clothes. Everyone was eager to get moving, so they changed quickly.
"All set? Then let's go." Zhao Lun led the group out.
They soon arrived at the "Black Hole." Zhao Lun activated his divine kingdom's protective shield and warned, "Be careful. Don't step outside my range, or—" He paused, pulling out a piece of iron. The iron corroded quickly, and he continued, "I won't be able to protect you."
"Okay, okay, Maria will behave!" Maria said, clutching Zhao Lun's sleeve tightly.
"Boss, rest assured," Monica added solemnly.
"I won't move around," Angela promised.
When crossing the "Black Hole," the three women subconsciously huddled closer to Zhao Lun, their tension easing only once they had safely passed the dangerous zone. They all exhaled in relief.
"Alright! No more looking around! We'll talk when we get there." Zhao Lun called out to Maria, who was about to gaze around.
"I'll take one person! Penelope, you take one! Maria, fly over here! Who's coming with me?" Zhao Lun made arrangements, pointing to the back of the broomstick.
"Boss! I'll be behind you!" Monica said without any modesty, immediately moving to Zhao Lun's side.
"Then I'll stay with Penelope," Angela said calmly, not concerned about where she sat.
"That's fine. Monica's too heavy, and Penelope doesn't need to carry her." Zhao Lun teased, then added, "Monica, hold on tight!"
"Brother! Hurry up!" Maria had already taken off, impatiently calling to Zhao Lun.
If she knew the location, she would have flown there herself.
"Alright! Hold on tight! Let's go!" Zhao Lun responded to Maria and instructed Monica to hold tight as the broom shot upwards.
"Ahhh!" There were screams in the air, but Zhao Lun had anticipated this and was unfazed. He remained silent and increased speed, heading toward the town.
Once Monica stopped screaming, Zhao Lun released his protective shield.
"This is incredible! Oh my god! This is incredible!" Monica kept repeating the word "incredible" along the way, but Zhao Lun didn't respond.
A broomstick lifting someone into the air was, indeed, remarkable.
"How about it, Angela?" Zhao Lun checked in.
"It's… not bad," Angela replied. If she could stay calm, it would have been quite enjoyable, but her trembling betrayed her nervousness.
"Mm, we're almost there," Zhao Lun reassured her.
It was their first time riding such an unconventional, magical mode of transportation, and the excitement was overwhelming. Zhao Lun worried that they might develop a phobia, but fortunately, the journey was short. The town was not far away, so they wouldn't have to endure the thrill much longer.
"Monica! You're so embarrassed!" Maria teased, flying alongside Zhao Lun without a care, enjoying herself.
"…" Zhao Lun could only sigh. With such speed and the discomfort of the wind, only Maria would be making jokes.
Sure enough, not long later, they arrived at the town. The broomstick headed straight for it, and Monica and Angela, now feeling secure, let out a collective sigh of relief.
To be honest, neither of them trusted the magical flying broomstick. They felt more secure with their feet on solid ground.
"Maria, stop here outside the town."
"Why not fly in directly?"
"Don't worry about that, you'll understand soon enough."
They landed outside the town, and Zhao Lun put away the broomstick.
As Monica and Angela dismounted, their legs wobbled, needing Zhao Lun and Penelope's support for a few steps. Their physiques had already transcended that of ordinary humans, and after a few steps, they were able to adjust. Soon, they saw Anna and Nicole waiting for them.
(To Be Continued...)