“Do you think I would lie?” Yun Qingxue sighed helplessly.
“This subordinate would never dare to doubt the master!” Zhutao quickly knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
Yun Qingxue waved her hand. “Stand up. I’m not blaming you for not believing me.
“Zhutao, when I was brought back to the Flower and Wood Clan, your Green Bamboo Tribe hadn’t yet arrived in this Yunhuang Illusory Realm, had you?”
“No,” Zhutao replied.
“Then, do you know what the scene was like when I was brought back?
“Or rather, since your tribe witnessed my arrival, do you know anything about who my birth parents were?”
Zhutao recalled, “At that time, this subordinate was just a young bamboo in the early stages of enlightenment, so I didn’t know much about what happened back then…
“If the elder of my tribe and those two great demon-stage elders were still here, they might have been able to tell Your Majesty something more.”
“Then tell me what you do know!” Yun Qingxue commanded.
“Yes,” Zhutao responded and began to recount.
“The previous Flower King was struck dead by the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation of the Divine Emperor at Luotian Peak. After her demise, her daughter with the Demon King was taken back to the demon realm by the Demon King Yunye.
“This led everyone to believe that the noble lineage of the Star Blue Peonies in the Flower and Wood Clan had been completely severed.
“The old ministers loyal to Your Majesty were thrown into chaos.
“The only one who was probably happy was that woman Tongyun.
“She thought that with the Flower King’s lineage cut off, even without the Flower King’s decree or bloodline inheritance, she could rightfully ascend as the next Flower King based on her prestige in the clan.
“But before she could celebrate for long, Elder Ningzi returned from a journey carrying an infant girl.
“And that infant girl carried the noblest bloodline of our Flower and Wood Clan.
“That infant girl was you, master.
“Your arrival disrupted Tongyun’s smooth path to the throne.
“Thus, that woman began to nitpick and question your origins at every turn.
“In the end, she even forced Elder Ningzi, who had brought you back, to her death.
“Elder Ningzi’s death was only the beginning.
“After her demise, your kin—the Peony lineage—were ruthlessly suppressed by Tongyun under various pretexts, and their influence quickly withered.
“Then, one night, the entire Peony Tribe vanished without a trace.
“Everyone began to suspect that Tongyun was behind it—that she had wiped out the once-glorious Peony Tribe in a single night!
“For a time, fear spread among the people.
“The remaining loyal elders banded together and confronted Tongyun to demand answers.
“Unexpectedly, Tongyun had prepared in advance. She accused the loyal elders of slandering the Grand Elder and attempting to rebel, and had them executed on the spot…
“Among them was the elder of my Green Bamboo Tribe!
“With the deaths of several more elders loyal to the Flower King, the entire Flower and Wood Clan—aside from Tongyun’s faction—descended further into panic.
“Just as everyone was discussing how to deal with Tongyun, several more tribes vanished overnight.
“And those tribes had all been loyal to the previous Flower King, Her Majesty Lan Xuechen.
“After you succeeded as Flower King, those people neither openly pledged allegiance to you nor betrayed you to join Tongyun’s camp.
“After their disappearance, many speculated that Tongyun had killed them for refusing to defect.
“Though everyone loathed Tongyun, they could do nothing against her. They could only worry for your safety while fearing for their own lives.
“Then… when you were discovered to be born with a deficiency (mental impairment), all those loyal to you felt their hopes shatter…
“And that woman Tongyun grew even more brazen.
“It was then that the two great demon-stage elders of my Green Bamboo Tribe led our entire tribe to this Yunhuang Illusory Realm by chance.
“And from then on, we lost all news of the Flower and Wood Clan and you.”
“So… everyone who knew of my origins, aside from Tongyun, is dead?” Yun Qingxue murmured after Zhutao finished.
“No!” Zhutao shook his head. “Tongyun doesn’t know your origins either!
“The only person who truly knew your background was Elder Ningzi, who brought you back. There was no second person!”
“There is! There is a second person!” Yun Qingxue said firmly.
If the Underworld’s Yousu, the Spider Lily, hadn’t lied to her, then Yousu and Lüli were the other two who knew her origins!
“Master, what do you know…?” Zhutao asked, puzzled.
Yun Qingxue smiled. She didn’t wish to elaborate on Yousu’s involvement, so she changed the subject. “Regardless of why the Flower King’s Decree suddenly appeared to save us, since it is a treasure of our Flower and Wood Clan, we must reclaim it eventually.”
“Of course,” Zhutao said respectfully, bowing with clasped hands. “Though the Flower King’s Decree is not on your person, it manifested to save you in your hour of need.
“This proves that you are the Flower King acknowledged by the decree—the rightful and only ruler of the Flower and Wood Clan!
“No matter how hard others scheme, they will only be remembered with infamy!”
“Don’t worry. I will reclaim the Flower and Wood Clan from Tongyun’s grasp.”
Yun Qingxue turned away. “I’m tired. All of you may return to your cultivation.”
“Master.” The slightly childish voice of Zhubai stopped her.
Yun Qingxue paused her steps toward the bed and turned back, her gaze settling on Zhubai.
“These are the two precious pearls we obtained after the bat demon’s death. We now present them to you.” Zhubai took a few steps forward, holding out an exquisite box in his small hands. Inside lay two translucent pearls…
Yun Qingxue remembered—these were the very pearls that had helped the bat demon turn the tide when her fire attack was about to succeed.
Now that the bat demon was dead, she was curious to see what kind of treasures these were!
With that thought, she picked up the pearls from Zhubai’s hands.
Instantly, a gentle, spring-like energy flowed from her palm into her meridians.
The energy was faint, yet it brought an inexplicable comfort to her body—especially her dantian, which felt as if it were being nourished.
Truly good treasures!
Yun Qingxue marveled inwardly.
“And these.” Zhubai took out a small pouch from his person and handed it to Yun Qingxue.
Without waiting for her to ask, he explained, “These are the bat demons’ inner cores. Aside from the one used to cure Adai’s poison, all the rest are here.
“Master, consuming them will enhance your cultivation.”
Yun Qingxue reached out and took them.
Seeing that she had accepted the items, Zhutao exchanged a glance with Zhubai, and the two prepared to take their leave.
“Wait!” Yun Qingxue called out to the brothers just as they were about to leave.
“What further instructions does the Flower King have?” Zhutao asked respectfully.
“Gather all your tribesmen here,” Yun Qingxue ordered.
A flicker of confusion passed over Zhutao’s face, but he asked no questions. Instead, he cast a summoning spell.
Before long, the others who had left earlier returned.
After paying their respects to Yun Qingxue, she opened the pouch containing the bat demons’ inner cores and poured them out onto the table one by one.
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