Chapter 75
Meihua herself was soon surrounded by court ministers and taken away for political conversations. In the span of a few breaths, Wuming found himself abandoned among children and young heirs. He sat there for a moment before thinking, Is this what I was born for? The very thought annoyed him. He stood up intending to leave when suddenly someone tugged at his sleeve from one side and a much larger body slammed into him from the other.
Wuming lost his balance and hit the floor. A heavy weight landed directly on top of him. He groaned in irritation. "What the fuck?" Several nearby nobles turned toward the commotion. Before Wuming could even get up, Xie Zheng pointed accusingly at the culprit and shouted, "Watch where you're going, you big ass!" The boy immediately stood up. He was noticeably larger than everyone else present, with blonde hair, golden eyes, and a physique that clearly showed signs of body cultivation. Even his hanfu looked expensive, decorated with white, yellow, and gold patterns that practically screamed nobility. The boy dusted himself off and glared at Zheng. "Do you know who you're talking to?" he snapped. "I am the heir of the Regent Family."
Wuming slowly got back to his feet while observing him. The Regent Family... The pride. The arrogance. The posture. It matched perfectly. The boy folded his arms and declared, "My name is Ye Bai." Wuming had already begun turning away, uninterested in the argument, but the surname made him pause. Ye? For the first time his attention returned completely. Ye Ying's successor? He glanced back and saw Xie Zheng already grabbing Ye Bai by the collar while Ye Bai returned the favor. Both boys looked ready to start a fight in the middle of the Imperial Palace. Their attitudes alone suited the Ye bloodline perfectly.
A faint smirk appeared on Wuming's face.
Interesting.
It seemed most of the Six Sovereign bloodlines still resided within the Twin Dragon Kingdom. Himself. Yinghua. And now this Ye Bai. The kingdom truly belonged to no one and everyone at the same time. His thoughts drifted briefly before Ye Bai's loud voice pulled him back.
"My ancestor Ye Ying founded this kingdom!" Ye Bai declared proudly. "I could have your entire lineage banished!"
Xie Zheng immediately barked back, "Who says that, big head?"
The two continued throwing insults at each other without restraint. Neither seemed willing to back down even an inch. Finally Wuming spoke.
"Is that so?"
The simple sentence made both boys freeze.
They simultaneously turned toward him.
For the first time, Ye Bai got a proper look at Wuming.
The palace lights reflected faintly in those cold golden eyes. There was no anger inside them. No pride. No excitement. Only an unsettling calmness that felt completely wrong for someone their age.
Ye Bai suddenly felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Who is this crazy guy?
For a brief moment, he genuinely wondered whether Wuming was even alive.
Why do his eyes look exactly like the dead men stored in my father's basement…?
Ye Bai said, "Yeah, and who are you?" Wuming didn't answer. Xie Zheng was about to proudly introduce him, but before he could open his mouth a small Zhen appeared beneath his feet. It was a simple Talk To Me Zhen. Zheng immediately found himself unable to speak and could only point angrily at Wuming while making muffled sounds. Wuming ignored him completely and walked closer to Ye Bai. The older boy didn't move either. The two simply stood there staring at each other. Then Wuming asked calmly, "Who founded the Twin Dragon Empire?" Ye Bai frowned slightly before answering, "It's common knowledge." Wuming nodded lightly and said, "Oh. Then I think we are all blind fools."
The sudden answer made several children nearby look toward him. Wuming continued calmly as though discussing the weather. "Xie Zheng has read the records of the Seven Sovereigns. Out of all seven, Xuan Yin Wuming was the exception. He gathered all seven kingdoms beneath Kurosekai, which was also known as Hēi Lài Hǎi." His eyes shifted toward Ye Bai. "If the records are accurate, then under the Eternal Demon Emperor Xuan Yin Wuming worked the other six Sovereigns. Meaning all those kingdoms were originally conquered by him and later handed to the other six to govern. Meanwhile he alone remained within Kurosekai, the Forbidden Realm."
Xie Zheng immediately nodded with a grin. Even through the Zhen he looked extremely pleased. Ye Bai crossed his arms and said stubbornly, "Still, my ancestor was his best disciple." Wuming simply looked at him and replied, "Oh?" The response was so indifferent that Zheng immediately burst out laughing. Ye Bai's eye twitched. For some reason talking to this white-haired boy felt like punching water. No matter what he said, the other side barely reacted.
Finally Ye Bai lost his patience. He stepped forward and grabbed Wuming by the collar, lifting him slightly onto his toes. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded. Around them the atmosphere instantly changed. Several children froze. Ming, who had been silently observing from a distance, immediately looked over.
Wuming didn't seem bothered in the slightest. Instead he smiled lazily and slowly opened his eyes.
The moment Ye Bai saw them, his body stiffened.
The golden irises had vanished.
Pure crimson eyes stared back at him.
And within them were the Three Inevitas.
"I am Xuan Yin Wuming."
For a second Ye Bai genuinely thought he had misheard.
"Huh?"
His grip loosened.
"Huh...?"
His mind went completely blank.
"What?"
The boy stared at him.
What did he just say?
He's that Wuming?
Even Ming froze where he stood. His pupils shrank as he caught a glimpse of those crimson eyes. The Three Inevitas were clearly visible within them. His throat suddenly felt dry. He had already read it? How?
Meanwhile Ye Bai immediately released Wuming's collar and staggered back a step. He looked down at his own hands before looking back at Wuming again. His confidence had disappeared entirely. Wuming simply dusted off his collar and smiled politely.
"Well, Ye Bai."
His voice remained calm.
"I think we can talk peacefully."
The smile on his face widened slightly.
"After all..."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"Our ancestors were friends, you know."
Ye Bai said, "Ugh... yeah."
Outwardly he tried to keep a straight face, but inwardly he was already screaming.
Talk? Hahaha.
So he really thinks I'm useful.
The thought immediately made him feel a little better.
Still...
Those red eyes.
The image refused to leave his mind.
Even though Wuming's eyes had already returned to their usual golden color, Ye Bai still felt a chill crawl down his spine whenever he remembered them.
Meanwhile Wuming barely paid attention to his reaction.
His gaze remained fixed on Ye Bai as he thought calmly, If he's the heir, then he should possess the inheritance I left to Ye Ying.
The Endless Winter.
A faint trace of interest appeared in his eyes. It wasn't merely a cultivation technique. It was a Qinggong that cultivated both the body and the soul simultaneously. Among all body cultivation arts of that era, it stood at the very top. The deeper one progressed, the stronger their body became.
Bones hardened.
Muscles condensed.
Meridians transformed.
At its peak, the practitioner's body would resemble dragon scales themselves, capable of enduring forces that would shatter mountains. Only after reaching that stage could one begin learning the true inheritance hidden within it.
Heavenly Body Qinggong.
The technique Ye Ying had treasured most.
Wuming observed Ye Bai carefully.
The broad shoulders. The dense vitality hidden beneath his skin. The unnatural weight in every movement despite his young age.
A faint smile appeared on Wuming's face. From the looks of it…Ye Bai has already begun cultivating it.
Not deeply.
Not enough to truly inherit its essence.
But the foundation was there.
The bloodline had not forgotten.
For the first time since arriving at the palace, Wuming felt a tiny amount of interest. Perhaps this trip would not be a complete waste after all.
Ye Bai turned toward the crowd with an awkward expression while Wuming calmly watched him. Internally, however, his thoughts were elsewhere.
At least I can make some use of coming here.
His eyes briefly drifted across the palace halls.
I wonder if all the weapons I left with the other five are still with their descendants.
Meanwhile Ye Bai had already started walking away from the gathering. Before he could take more than a few steps, Wuming suddenly spoke.
"Ye Bai."
The older boy turned around.
"Are you familiar with the Imperial Palace?"
Ye Bai shook his head.
"No. It's my first time coming here."
Wuming nodded slightly.
"Then let me show you around."
Without waiting for a response, he casually walked ahead of him as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Surprisingly, Ye Bai didn't mind.
In fact, he found it strange.
Why don't I hate him leading me?
Normally he couldn't stand people ordering him around.
Especially boys his age.
Yet when Wuming walked ahead, Ye Bai simply followed.
The feeling annoyed him.
Before he could think further, Wuming suddenly spoke again.
"You know, the Endless Winter Qinggong will take time." Ye Bai froze. His eyes widened. "How do you know about that?" The technique was one of the greatest secrets of the Ye Clan. Very few outsiders even knew its name. Wuming glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "You don't know it yet, but we're much closer than you think." His voice remained calm.
"Besides, we're both heirs to our respective clans, aren't we, Ye Bai?" For some reason those words immediately excited him. Ye Bai's eyes brightened. "Oh, you're the heir?"
His previous hostility vanished almost instantly. "I didn't expect to meet you." A faint smile appeared on Wuming's face. Meanwhile, back near the gathering, Zheng, Ming, Kai, Ning, Mei and Hua watched the two boys disappear deeper into the palace corridors. Ming frowned slightly.
"Zheng."
"Hm?"
"Is it really okay to let them go alone?" Zheng folded his arms and shrugged. "Before leaving, Wei Zhi specifically told me not to stop Wuming from doing whatever he's doing." Ming blinked. "That's it?"
"That's literally it."
Zheng looked equally confused. "Her exact words were: don't leave him alone, but don't interfere either." He scratched his head. "I still don't understand what that means." Kai sighed from the side. "That sounds impossible."
"Exactly."
Zheng pointed at him immediately. "How am I supposed to follow someone and not interfere at the same time?" Ning nodded seriously. "Maybe it's some genius person thing." Ming looked toward the corridor where Wuming and Ye Bai had disappeared. For some reason, a bad feeling suddenly appeared in his chest.
The problem wasn't that Wuming was alone. The problem was that whenever Wuming was left alone...Something usually happened.
Ming watched the corridor where Wuming and Ye Bai had disappeared before turning toward the small girl hiding behind his robe.
"Hey, Mei. What do you think?"
Mei peeked out from behind the fabric and blinked thoughtfully. "Well..." she said softly. "I think Sister Zhi Zhi meant we should keep an eye on them." She paused for a moment before adding, "And probably keep them out of trouble too."
Zheng rubbed his chin.
"Perhaps."
Then he suddenly looked at Ming and Mei again.
"Wait."
His eyes narrowed.
"You actually asked her for advice?"
Ming nodded naturally.
"Of course."
"Why?"
Ming pointed at Mei dramatically.
"Because she gets along with Wuming the best."
Mei blinked.
"And that makes me think she's secretly one of his people."
Silence.
Mei tilted her head.
"What does that even mean?"
Ming crossed his arms proudly.
"I mean you think like him."
"Complex thinkers, you know."
He exaggerated the last part so much that even Kai looked away in embarrassment.
Zheng immediately burst out laughing.
Without warning he picked Mei up into the air.
"Hi Mei."
End of 75