Chapter Forty-Nine: Majestic Grace and Opulence

Yi An suddenly understood; he had completely forgotten about this matter. In truth, it wasn’t only the aquatic clans—the same was true for the demon clans as well. Bloodline, to them, was the equivalent of natural talent among humans. If one’s bloodline was muddled and impure, it became exceedingly difficult to achieve any real greatness. Conversely, a pure lineage allowed for rapid advancement—progress made in leaps and bounds. The pressure exerted by bloodline was not mere idle talk; when facing another demon of the same realm, if one’s bloodline was superior, the outcome would be an overwhelming advantage, unless, of course, other factors like mastery of spells turned the tables.

“How many sons and daughters does your Dragon King have?” Yi An asked casually.

He had long ago heard the saying, “The dragon has nine sons, each with a different nature.”

At this, the two handmaidens exchanged wary glances. They dared not speculate about the Dragon King so freely.

“It’s all right; there are no outsiders here. I’m only asking out of curiosity. There’s no need to be nervous. Just treat me as a friend,” Yi An said gently, signaling them to relax, his tone warm and inviting.

His demeanor made it hard not to feel a sense of closeness.

The two maids were visibly moved. Though they served the princess closely, never had anyone treated them as friends. What’s more, this guest before them was not only honored by the princess but was said to have come from the mortal realm.

After a brief moment’s thought, one of them replied, “To answer your question, honored guest, the Dragon King has twelve children: eight princes and four princesses. Our princess is the youngest and also the most beloved of them all.”

Yi An nodded, not pressing further; he merely wished to gain a general understanding of the Eastern Sea, not out of any particular motive.

It was as if the maids, now at ease, had opened a chest of secrets. They began eagerly asking Yi An about the wonders of the mortal world. Having only awakened their spiritual intelligence a few decades ago, their knowledge of the human realm was little more than scattered rumors and hearsay. Now, faced with a cultivator from the human world, they could scarcely contain their curiosity, were it not for his status as an honored guest.

Yi An smiled faintly and began describing the marvels of the human world: the customs and traditions, the famous delicacies. The two maids listened with rapt attention and longing. Though the Dragon Palace was resplendent, it was tinged with loneliness, so unlike the vibrant, bustling world of mortals.

Just as Yi An was in the midst of his storytelling, Ao Xiuxiu returned. The two maids immediately wiped the smiles from their faces and resumed their formal, reserved manner.

“What are you talking about, Brother Yi? I want to hear too,” Ao Xiuxiu said. She had caught fragments of Yi An’s words as she approached, though not clearly. Still, she had a grasp of the general idea.

At this thought, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. All along their journey, she had sensed Yi An’s subtle distance toward her. At first, she’d assumed it was simply his nature and had not taken it to heart. But now it seemed that his aloofness was reserved for her alone; with the two maids, he could chat and laugh freely, but with her, he was cold and indifferent.

A wave of grievance washed over Ao Xiuxiu. All her life, she had been flattered and admired by all, never lacking for praise or attention. Yet now, faced with Yi An, who seemed utterly unimpressed, she felt both indignant and wronged.

Yi An could only offer a wry smile, and patiently repeated the tales of the mortal world he had just shared with the maids. Only then did Ao Xiuxiu relent and let him be.

“Is everything all right with your Second Sister?” Yi An asked.

“All is well—I’ve sent her away already. But you must be careful around her. If she starts asking about your origins, be very careful not to let anything slip. If she starts spreading rumors, it could spell trouble,” Ao Xiuxiu warned.

Her second sister was infamous throughout the Eastern Sea for her sharp tongue. Even the old turtle and the clam spirit’s secrets were things she’d learned from her. If she discovered anything about Yi An, it would be the talk of the Eastern Sea within a single day. Clearly, her sister must have heard some rumors already—hence her prompt arrival. Fortunately, Ao Xiuxiu had managed to muddle through and send her away for now.

“But we have nothing to fear—why worry about her?” Yi An was momentarily taken aback. He felt Ao Xiuxiu was being overly anxious. If one harbored no guilty conscience, what was there to fear? How could she fabricate something out of thin air?

“You just don’t know her! Anyway, just listen to me,” Ao Xiuxiu replied, not bothering to explain further. Her second sister’s ways were not something that could be clarified in a few words.

All she needed to do was remind Yi An to be cautious, to think before he answered any questions, lest he fall into her sister’s trap.

…

After reporting to the Dragon King, the old turtle made his way straight to the Dragon Queen’s palace.

This was his secret trump card. He intended to completely sever the princess’s hopes—only then could he free himself from further entanglement.

The Dragon Queen was quite unlike the Dragon King; she was always strict with her children. If she learned of Ao Xiuxiu’s willfulness, all their troubles would be easily resolved.

Yet, remembering Ao Xiuxiu’s earlier warning, he couldn’t act too brashly. He had to devise another approach—perhaps by steering the Dragon Queen toward the princess’s quarters, so she would stumble upon Ao Xiuxiu’s little schemes herself. Given the Queen’s intolerance for any nonsense, she would surely expel Yi An at once.

Even Ao Xiuxiu would not escape punishment. By then, no amount of pleading from the Dragon King would help.

This way, Ao Xiuxiu would think it was the Queen who had discovered her secret, not that he had betrayed her.

The princess had always been spoiled; a little hardship would do her good. Maybe it would keep her from troubling his old bones in the future.

The old turtle secretly praised his own wisdom. The princess might know his weaknesses, but he too had his own countermeasures.

The Dragon Queen was a stately, regal woman. Seeing the old turtle arrive in such haste, she smiled, “Prime Minister Turtle, you never visit without reason. What brings you to me today?”

She already guessed that the old turtle must have come with some request. She dispensed with any pleasantries, but what surprised her was what matter could possibly be so difficult that even the Dragon King could not resolve it. Otherwise, why would he seek her out?

Still, if even the Dragon King was helpless, what could she do?

“Your Majesty, this is a matter that no one else can handle. Only you can resolve it,” the old turtle replied with a rueful smile.

“Oh? Then I am all ears,” said the Dragon Queen, raising her brows in curiosity.

“I am here today about the princess,” the old turtle replied.

“Oh? Has Xiuer made trouble again?” The first to come to her mind was Ao Xiuxiu—of her twelve children, none gave her more headaches. With the Dragon King’s indulgence, this daughter feared neither heaven nor earth. Only she, as mother, could rein her in.