The next day, Luo Yin, Ling Qingxue, and Ling’er strolled along the streets of the Daluo Ancient Dynasty’s capital.
They soaked in the everyday bustle, so different from what they knew.
The capital’s layout bore a strong resemblance to that of the Dayan Dynasty, divided into eastern, western, southern, northern, and central districts. The imperial palace occupied the southern sector, while each of the other areas served its own distinct purpose.
Yet the Daluo Ancient Dynasty had existed far longer than the Dayan Dynasty.
What was more, humans were far less common here than back home. Unlike the Northern Spirit Realm, the Western Profound Realm had a smaller proportion of the Human Race. Alongside humans were the Stone Clan, Blood Clan, Night Race, and others.
The Daluo Ancient Dynasty itself was ruled by the Semi-Spirit Race.
The Semi-Spirit Race closely resembled humans, but they possessed Beast Spirit Power within their bodies—a unique path of cultivation all their own.
Generally speaking, the Semi-Spirit Race fell into two categories.
The first had appearances similar to humans in many ways, but certain limbs leaned more toward those of animal beasts. For instance, a beauty with snow-white skin and surging curves might have the legs of a bird or beast.
These individuals were born with Beast Spirit Power, their spirits tied directly to their physical traits.
The second type looked fully human on the outside but lacked innate Beast Spirit Power. They had to undergo the Spirit Awakening Ceremony to awaken it.
However, this latter group had a chance—albeit slim—of awakening exceptionally powerful beast spirits. Most hailed from the royal family.
The Great Luo Sacred Scripture marked the royal family’s Spirit Awakening day, an event even more grand than the founding celebrations. Allied powers flocked to attend, eager to witness if any royal would awaken mighty Beast Spirit Power.
Fifty thousand years ago, one prince had awakened the True Dragon Spirit, propelling the Daluo Ancient Dynasty to its zenith as the mightiest force in the Western Profound Realm.
Tragically, that prince met an untimely end in an accident, and the dynasty declined with him—from peak power to a middling player in the realm.
This Spirit Awakening Ceremony symbolized the dynasty’s chance to rise again, and the city’s atmosphere had already grown tense.
“Young Master, are you interested in the Semi-Spirit Race girls too?”
Ling’er couldn’t help asking when she noticed Luo Yin staring at a half-human, half-bird girl.
A twinge of disappointment stirred in her heart.
As expected, Young Master preferred them bigger, human or not.
Luo Yin withdrew his gaze, his mouth twitching.
He was just curious—it was his first time seeing one.
His tastes ran perfectly normal.
“Don’t talk nonsense! Your Young Master isn’t some beast thinking with his loins. I don’t fall for every pretty face I see! Besides, these painted ladies aren’t half as lovely as you, Ling’er. Why would I be interested?”
Luo Yin shot her a glare before grinning.
Ling’er’s heart fluttered at his words. Her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head.
“Get out of the way! The Fireflow Colt’s spooked! Watch out!”
Just then, a carriage pulled by a fiery-red, muscular colt came charging straight at Ling’er like a bolt of lightning!
The driver, a middle-aged man, wore a mask of terror as he yanked desperately at the reins, but the Fireflow Colt ignored him completely, barreling wildly through the street.
Pedestrians scattered in panic, several stalls smashed to splinters in its path.
Luo Yin yanked Ling’er to safety.
On instinct, he raised a hand to slaughter the rampaging beast and end its chaos.
But before he could act, a sharp glint flashed in Kun Kun’s eyes from his shoulder. It unleashed a sudden burst of pressure!
“Neigh!!!”
Terror filled the Fireflow Colt’s eyes.
With a panicked cry, it dropped to its knees in a “thud”!
Screech!
The carriage lurched to an abrupt halt, nearly toppling, but the driver braced the frame just in time.
Whew~
As the Fireflow Colt stopped, the driver let out a huge sigh of relief. He jumped down without a glance at Luo Yin’s group and knelt before the carriage, pleading, “The Fireflow Colt was spooked—it’s my failure! Please punish this humble one, Little Mistress!”
Luo Yin and the others exchanged odd looks. What kind of person was in that carriage?
An ethereal voice drifted from within: “I-It’s… fine. Not your fault. Th-thanks to this young master… Go thank him first.”
The voice was delicate and refined, clearly belonging to a sheltered noble lady.
Luo Qianqiu’s brows furrowed slightly at the sound, as if trying to place its owner.
“Thank you all for your help. The Fireflow Colt is usually well-trained. I don’t know what set it off.”
The driver turned and bowed deeply to Luo Yin’s group.
Luo Yin waved it off and opened his mouth to reply, but Luo Qianqiu spoke first: “Is that Princess Yurou in the carriage?”
The voice inside hurried to respond: “N-No… it’s not me!”
Pfft!
Luo Qianqiu burst out laughing. Even Luo Yin and the others couldn’t help their twitching lips.
That cover was a bit…
“Little Sister Yurou, it’s your Big Sister Qianqiu!”
Luo Qianqiu called out.
“Big Sister Qianqiu?”
The voice sounded again. The carriage curtain parted just a crack, revealing one eye peeking out.
Luo Qianqiu removed her veil, baring her stunning features.
Onlookers halted in their tracks, eyes wide.
“It’s really Big Sister Qianqiu?!”
Xiao Yurou lit up with joy and quickly invited her into the carriage.
Luo Qianqiu smiled faintly and stepped inside, leaving Luo Yin and the others to wait outside.
A princess?
She seemed close with Luo Qianqiu.
Soon after, Luo Yin and his companions joined Xiao Yurou and her personal maid in a private room at a teahouse.
Luo Yin eyed the shy, big-eyed girl before him in surprise.
He hadn’t expected the princess to be so beautiful—rivaling Ling Qingxue, with a childlike innocence to boot!
Most devastating of all, she boasted the most magnificent figure he’d ever seen!
Ling’er caught Luo Yin’s astonished stare and sniffed, thinking glumly: This time, Young Master seems truly smitten… Waaah, Ling’er loses again.
“This is Lu Ying, the son of one of Father’s old friends. Young Master Lu, this is the Little Princess of the Daluo Ancient Dynasty, Xiao Yurou. She’s… a bit introverted. She doesn’t talk much, so please forgive any slip-ups, Young Master.”
Luo Qianqiu introduced them.
Luo Yin nodded slightly. He’d already noticed as much.
Xiao Yurou was painfully shy.
She sat there now, head bowed, staring silently at her feet—or trying to. From that angle, they were blocked from view.
“Oh, right! Yurou, you rarely leave the palace. What’s going on this time? No guards with you?”
Luo Qianqiu suddenly recalled, asking.
They hadn’t delved deep in the carriage—just a quick chat before heading to the teahouse.
“I-I snuck out.”
Xiao Yurou was still unfamiliar with Luo Yin’s group. She stammered it out after a long pause, like a child confessing a misdeed, too embarrassed to lift her head, her face burning red.
Luo Qianqiu blinked in shock. “You snuck out?! Why? How could you slip out of the palace like that? The Spirit Awakening is right around the corner—your father must be losing his mind!”
She could hardly believe it. Xiao Yurou, who seldom even left her rooms, had dared venture out alone!
What could possibly lure the timid girl, who wouldn’t even correct a misunderstanding, into such recklessness?
Xiao Yurou bit her lip, silent for a long moment before murmuring, “Tales of the Great Wilderness.”
Luo Qianqiu frowned. “Tales of the Great Wilderness? You snuck out… for a storytelling session?”
Xiao Yurou nodded.
Luo Qianqiu stared at her in astonishment.
The princess, usually indifferent to everything, captivated by a mere talebook?
Enough to risk sneaking out!
Though, to be fair, Tales of the Great Wilderness was quite the draw.
Luo Yin sipped his tea, chuckling lightly. “Tales of the Great Wilderness? Just a story you can predict after one hearing. Worth sneaking out for?”
At that, Xiao Yurou’s head snapped up, her shyness vanishing as she huffed indignantly, “Tales of the Great Wilderness is brilliant! The plot’s full of twists—no way you can guess ahead after one listen! Don’t badmouth it!”
She seemed to summon great courage for the outburst. Once done, her face turned beet red, and she ducked her head like a startled rabbit, burying it deep.
She cared little for most things, but after overhearing palace talk of Tales of the Great Wilderness, to have it dismissed like this—it genuinely irked her.
Luo Yin smiled and shook his head.
He’d spoken with purpose.
Xiao Yurou was the heroine, after all. He’d already divined key points of her fate; some setups needed laying.
Now, he spoke:
“From the way you’re talking, it sounds like you don’t believe me? How about we make a bet?”
……
