Chapter 39: Embracing the Princess
By Gu Zhenren
“You, who are you?” Chu Yun stammered, staring at the peerless beauty before him.
Shi Jiaming and Jin Bihan’s images overlapped in his mind, astonishing him.
“So that’s how it is…” Everything from the past flooded his mind, bringing realization along with a sense of utter absurdity.
So, Shi Jiaming was actually Jin Bihan in disguise.
In the past, he hadn’t failed to notice oddities and anomalies, but his memories from his previous life had taken hold.
In his memory, the Dunhuang Princess was destined to be a King-level powerhouse, a queen who would lead Dunhuang Country to prosperity. In his previous life, he had stolen a glance at the queen’s graceful majesty and inviolable beauty, leaving a deep impression.
Therefore, he had subconsciously dismissed all the strange occurrences. How could Shi Jiaming be the Queen of Dunhuang?
Memory was both his salvation and his downfall.
In this regard, memories from his past life had become an obstacle for Chu Yun in reaching the truth. It was a mental barrier, both thick and fragile. If Jin Bihan hadn’t revealed her identity today, Chu Yun would not have considered this possibility. But once it was revealed, Chu Yun had understood immediately.
“Silly, follow me.” Jin Bihan giggled coquettishly, taking Chu Yun’s hand and leading him deeper into the flower bushes.
The two arrived at a pavilion in the center of the garden, looking out at the vibrant scene of countless flowers in full bloom. Red like fire, white like frost, tender yellow, and rich green accents. It was like a fairyland.
“This is the Hundred Flower Garden. When I was little, Mother would always bring me here to play. After Mother left, I came here less often.” Jin Bihan sat leaning against the vermilion railing, her side facing outwards, her beautiful eyes focused on the flowers outside the pavilion. Clad in white, she looked like an immortal, so beautiful it took one’s breath away.
Chu Yun remained silent.
All of this brought him an extraordinary experience.
The future Queen of Dunhuang was now before him, just a delicate woman. The ruler who would later be known for her iron will also possessed a lesser-known softness and sorrow.
He never imagined he would have so many intersections with the Queen of Dunhuang. They were classmates, and had even lived together, sharing the same room for a year.
“Over the years, whenever I was burdened by political affairs, I would come here and sit quietly for a moment. It was as if I could feel Mother by my side. Then, I would feel as if the air had become much warmer,” Jin Bihan said with a wistful tone. This was the most important place in her heart, yet she shared it with Chu Yun without reservation.
Her words were subtle, unlike her boldness at the Huadao Heavenly Wall previously, but the deep emotion was even harder to conceal.
Chu Yun was not a fool; he could naturally appreciate it.
He shifted his body and sat down, gently pulling Jin Bihan into his embrace. To say it was love would be inaccurate. His emotions were complex, a mix of pity for Jin Bihan, concern for Shi Jiaming, residual shock, disbelief, and a dreamlike feeling.
Jin Bihan’s delicate body trembled, a blush appearing on her jade-like cheeks. She bit her lip, her eyelashes lowered, but did not struggle, nestling into Chu Yun’s embrace.
A warmth quickly enveloped her. Never before had Jin Bihan felt so at peace.
The shyness in her heart was soon replaced by a sense of calm tranquility and warmth.
She slowly began to speak, recounting her past to Chu Yun. About her childhood, her family, her former dreams, and her efforts after returning from the Archipelago.
At the same time, she also asked Chu Yun many questions. Her bright, sparkling eyes were filled with curiosity about everything concerning him.
Chu Yun had long decided to keep the secret of his rebirth to himself, not to tell anyone else. This was not deceit, but a well-intentioned concealment. If he were to reveal it, even Shu Tianhao might not believe him.
He answered Jin Bihan’s questions based on his current life experiences.
“So your childhood wasn’t happy either…” she sighed deeply, her tone carrying a sense of shared misfortune.
“You truly received a Sky Fox egg at your coming-of-age ceremony? Is that rumor really true? Hehe, Shu Da and Shu Er trying to compete with you, they were too naive.” As she laughed, her pearl-like teeth were revealed, a hint of slyness in her eyes.
“Your godfather treats you so well.” When Chu Yun mentioned Shu Tianhao, she exclaimed with envy.
At first, Chu Yun answered calmly and easily, but gradually, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he began to feel overwhelmed.
“Wow, thinking about it now, Chu Yun, you were able to distinguish a Supreme grade Sky Fox egg at the age of 13. You have a talent for egg appraisal! How did you manage it?” Her beautiful eyes widened, shining with curiosity.
“Um… partly by feeling, and partly because I liked to read a lot when I was young. Many things just accumulated,” Chu Yun chose his words carefully.
“Wow, under Madam Shu’s bullying, Chu Yun, you truly have perseverance to continue studying diligently. Compared to you, I am far behind. The political affairs of Dunhuang Country always give me a headache.”
Jin Bihan expressed her sincere admiration and then asked again.
“By the way, when your godfather was surrounded by pirates, and you braved the raging storm to save him, what were you thinking at that time?”
“I didn’t think too much. I just felt I had to do it. As for the outcome, it wasn’t important.” Chu Yun spoke the truth here.
Jin Bihan said nothing, deeply moved.
She suddenly felt that Chu Yun was quite foolish, but undeniably endearingly foolish.
Filial piety is the first of all virtues. He was so filial towards his godfather. This realization warmed her and made her feel secure.
“That night, you single-handedly fought against tens of thousands of troops. What were the specific circumstances?”
“Did you have a first love?”
“The three leaders of the Rouge Gate seem to have a deep relationship with you. What happened in the Endless Forest?”
“Oh, and before your trip to the Dunhuang Sand Eye, you were accompanied by a beautiful fairy, and you seemed to have a very close relationship with her.”
Only then did Chu Yun truly realize that he was holding not an ordinary delicate young girl, but a powerful queen who would one day unify Dunhuang Country and control everything within it.
His head ached immensely, and he answered with great caution, avoiding the essential points.
Jin Bihan lay in his arms, her red lips pursed. From time to time, she would hum in acknowledgment, her reaction clear. He wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but in any case, she was not completely satisfied with Chu Yun’s answers.
“By the way, you disguised yourself as a man, and I never noticed. How did that happen?” Chu Yun felt that this situation couldn’t continue, so he asked for the first time, deciding to go on the offensive.
Jin Bihan did not suspect him and spoke of this matter with a little pride: “That’s the Supreme grade Dao technique on the Golden Cicada Robe, but more importantly, it’s my bloodline.”
“Bloodline?”
“Don’t you remember that my ancestor was the famous King of Dunhuang? I am a member of the Dunhuang Royal Family.” She emphasized the words ‘Royal Family’.
Chu Yun suddenly understood: “Royal bloodline… Divine Path Technique? Could it be that you have awakened your bloodline and comprehended the Divine Path Technique of the King of Dunhuang?”
“That’s right. I unknowingly comprehended it when I was six years old. The Divine Path Technique is called Illusionary Immortal Dreamscape.” Jin Bihan did not hide anything from Chu Yun and explained in detail.
Illusionary Immortal Dreamscape was a mental Divine Path Technique that could penetrate the deepest parts of people’s hearts, creating vivid illusions.
“Although I obtained this Dao technique, I rarely used it. Even a peak Spirit Monster, the Golden Jade Immortal Butterfly, could not withstand its power; using it would cause the Immortal Butterfly to die. Even so, once the bloodline awakens, this Dao technique, even if not actively used, can constantly affect oneself and those around,” Jin Bihan continued to explain.
“You’re right, Divine Path Techniques do possess such abilities. After I mastered the Great Sword Waterfall, I found that not only did I gain a lot of insight into sword techniques, but my temperament also gradually changed,” Chu Yun nodded in agreement.
A Divine Path Technique was a King-level powerhouse’s comprehension of Heaven and Earth, as well as their persistence on their own path. It was not only an interpretation of the universe but also a key to unlocking one’s inner potential.
“To awaken your bloodline and comprehend the Illusionary Immortal Dreamscape Divine Path Technique at the age of six, your talent is truly immense.” Chu Yun exclaimed with genuine admiration. Jin Bihan was the most talented person he had ever met, far surpassing Hua Ying and Yan Que, and even Leng Moming and Gui Li. It was no wonder she would become one of the young kings in the future.
Hearing this, Jin Bihan shifted her body slightly, gently punching Chu Yun’s chest with her small fist, giving him a playful glare and saying: “Alright, in front of a great genius like you, where is my brilliance? Are you flattering me while also hinting at yourself?”
Chu Yun shook his head with a wry smile: “My talent is actually not as good as yours. I know this clearly. My current achievements are thanks to a Demonic Beast.”
“Demonic Beast?”
“Have you heard of the Spirit Snake?” Chu Yun explained with a smile. Jin Bihan’s red lips parted slightly upon hearing this, her immortal face showing a mixture of shock and joy.
“This is truly astonishing. Spirit Snake, I never thought the Demonic Beasts recorded in ancient texts still existed. My goodness, Chu Yun, do you know what this means? With a Spirit Snake, you can become a King, an Emperor!”
Jin Bihan cried out joyfully, sincerely happy for Chu Yun.
The Spirit Snake, unlike the Sky Fox, did not have outstanding Dao techniques or strong offensive power. Nor was it like the Lishan Dragon Eye Flower Branch, which produced various Dragon Eye Fruits, being versatile and all-purpose. It had only one function: to communicate with Spirit.
Jin Bihan’s ancestor, King Dunhuang, had collected many ancient texts. One of them specifically detailed the application of the Spirit Snake.
Because the Spirit Snake’s effect was too heaven-defying and monstrous, it left a deep impression on Jin Bihan when she read it as a child.
“A Spirit Snake can communicate with Spirit, allowing one to exchange Divine Path Techniques and learn from each other. If it communicates with the Spirit of a Demonic creature, it greatly aids the Monster Tamer in subduing wild Demonic creatures. Furthermore, if combined with specific Dao techniques, it can even directly snatch an opponent’s Demonic creature by communicating with its Spirit during battle!” Jin Bihan’s words were truly eye-opening, opening a new window for Chu Yun.
He had never imagined that the Spirit Snake had so many applications. The wisdom of our ancestors was truly unfathomable.
(Three chapters today. Happy weekend, everyone!)
