So that’s the official version for the public. Wait, Hua Yong ascended to the throne of the Yiren King? Bai Shuo was taken aback. Hua Yong didn’t have a spirit bone, practically making him a mortal. How could he inherit the throne? The woman seemed to sense Bai Shuo’s confusion and smiled. “That day, when the palace trembled, the Yiren King’s sword disappeared.” She paused, sighing. “Whether or not that sword exists isn’t what matters to us Foreigners. The Hua family has protected the Foreign tribe for centuries. In our hearts, they are the true kings of the Foreign people. The King has always dreamed of leading the Foreign people out of the city. Personally, I feel staying here is just fine. We’ve lived in the Foreign City for a thousand years; this is our home. Why would we need to leave?” Bai Shuo felt a pang in her heart. Generations of Yiren Kings had paid a tremendous price to draw the Yiren King’s sword, but perhaps they never considered that a peaceful life might be what their people truly desired.
For a moment, Bai Shuo felt melancholic. Everyone had gone, and the muddled Wu Tong Martial Gathering seemed to have reached an uncertain conclusion, as well as the great demon… Suddenly, Bai Shuo looked up at the woman. “Auntie Little Qiu Gua, how many days did you say I slept?” “Two days.” Then, she must still be here! “Auntie, do you know where the King’s Tomb is?” The woman was taken aback, pointing outside. Bai Shuo immediately got up and rushed out. “Auntie, I’ll be back soon!” In the courtyard, Hu’er was rocking unsteadily on a wooden horse. Seeing Bai Shuo come out, his little face flushed, and he grinned, holding up a grasshopper he had made from straw. Bai Shuo paused, feeling a warmth rise in her chest that eased some of her inner tension. “Thank you, White Immortal!” Bai Shuo turned back, smiled kindly at the woman, patted Hu’er’s soft forehead, and made a funny face at him. “Off I go!” She habitually reached for a flying charm from her waist pouch, only to find it empty. Startled, she spun around and sprinted off.
At the King’s Tomb of Foreign City, Hua Hong stood in simple cloth attire. Beside the tomb of the Plum Princess, two new graves had been erected. Hurried footsteps echoed, and though Hua Hong didn’t turn around, she knew who it was. “You came?” Bai Shuo stopped behind her, out of breath. “I remember the Yiren King saying today is the Princess’s memorial day. I thought you might still be here.” Hua Hong remained silent, and the area around the graves grew quiet.
“I remember…when Hua Yong was brought back, Uncle Wu Zhao adored him. My mother said that Uncle Wu Zhao had a rough past and was taken in by the Hua family. Looking at Hua Yong was probably like looking at his younger self.” Suddenly, Hua Hong spoke. “Did you know Hua Yong is older than me?” “What?” Bai Shuo was stunned, blurting out, “How is that possible?” Hua Hong walked to one of the new graves, placing her hand on the tombstone. “Little Demi-Immortal, I once told you the story of the Yiren King’s daughter, of Hua Lin’s tale. Would you like to hear it?” Bai Shuo remained silent, knowing that what the Princess of Foreign City needed was simply someone to listen.
“Long ago, there was an isolated city trapped for a thousand years in the wilderness. In this city, everyone revered the strong, but the King’s son was born weak. From a young age, he knew he would never be able to draw the Yiren King’s sword, the symbol of kingship, and so he never aspired to inherit the city. He didn’t love swords or spears; he preferred playing the zither and reading books, making him an oddity in the tribe. His only companion was a little maid who understood and supported him. Soon, the prince grew up, fell in love with the little maid, and wanted to marry her. The King was furious and sought to kill the maid. The prince took her and fled the palace by night, finding refuge deep in the mountains.” “Though they had no parents to bear witness, the prince and his beloved took the heavens and earth as their witness and became husband and wife. They lived a peaceful, happy life. Soon the little maid was pregnant. The prince thought that once the child was born, the stubborn old King might accept his family. But on the day his wife gave birth, the old King took the prince back to the palace, using sorcery to remold his spirit bone.”
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