The morning mist still lingered in the dense forest, and a damp breeze slipped through the leaves.
At the agreed time, Li Xiang and Kohaku left their hiding place in the cave.
They followed the path marked with white flowers the day before, heading for their rendezvous with Amaryllis.
When they reached the agreed clearing, Amaryllis was already waiting.
The girl still carried her little bamboo basket, her wary gaze constantly sweeping her surroundings.
Only when she spotted Li Xiang and Kohaku did her tense shoulders relax.
As Lillian shared more and more details, Li Xiang listened to the full account and couldn't help clicking her tongue inwardly.
Honestly, this island chief's conduct was utterly outrageous.
He held the Petrification Device, yet instead of protecting his people, he indulged his own desires, established a private harem, and brazenly seized women from across the island. It was selfish feudal tyranny, through and through.
"This chief really is a piece of work," Li Xiang murmured.
He sat above everyone, keeping everything for himself and trampling their freedom and lives for his own pleasure.
No wonder everyone on the island lived in fear and oppression, and Amaryllis was determined to resist and escape.
But outrage did nothing to change the predicament before them.
Kohaku frowned slightly. "But there's nothing we can do right now."
After learning about the island's harem system, Kohaku turned to question Lillian.
"That harem you mentioned yesterday-what exactly are the rules? Do they choose women from among the islanders?"
"Yes."
She nodded lightly.
"Every year, they screen all the women on the island who are of the right age."
"It doesn't matter whether they're married. Once they're chosen, they have to enter the island chief's harem."
"If they refuse, their whole family suffers. At best, they're punished and imprisoned.