Book 14: Chapter 40


    Yings residence was located at the outeryer of the Imperial Pce. Houses in the area werent cheap by any ount. Being calctive and cunning, Freya had made arrangements and bought the area so as to avoid allowing businessmen own it. As such, Ying resided on the second floor of a small building. In terms of living conditions, Yings life was decent. Somebody had to provide Ying with expenses, because she was unlikely to have any means of making a living.


    I walked up to Yings door. Two guards first froze when they saw me. Then, they swiftly went down on their knees and saluted me: Your Majesty!


    I nodded: Uhm. Is there anybody inside?


    The two guards gave me a nod: Ying That is how you pronounce it, right? Mm Your Majesty, Miss Ying is here, except we really want to know if we need to stop the Princesses if theye.


    The two guards seemed to be in a serious dilemma. One of them continued, After all, if we do not handle the situation well we may very well have a problem.. Whether or not we stop the things around you from happening, the consequences will not be good, either way After allnafter all to the Princesses Miss Ying is


    I didnt quite grasp where they were going with it at first, so I responded as a puzzled man would: Of course youre to let them in. Why would you need to stop them?


    Because because if the Princesses were to meet Miss Ying the result would not be good, right? Because. it is not really a good thing to them, right? Your Your Your


    The guards seemed to struggle to speak their minds. However, I wasnt willing to waste a single second at the moment. I wanted to see Ying, and then head to the out of bounds area of the elves where my father died. I scrubbed my hair then aggressively said, What exactly is it that you want to say? You dont happen to think that Ying and Xia are my mistresses, do you? How could I have two mistresses here, where its so close to the Imperial Pce?! Am I retarded?! Ying and Xia are just my friends, and my wives know them, too, so you dont need to worry.


    The guards nodded then made way with embarrassed smiles on their faces. The door before me was just a small white wooden door. The two paths led to a small courtyard. You could grow some stuff of both sides of the small courtyard just as Mera did. Nobody grew anything there, though.


    I didnt know if Ying and Xia led very rxed lives. They were in a foreignnd without people they knew, after all. Ying also had to take care of her sister. I presumed Ying wouldnt let anybody into their room, since Xia was still dangerous. If she hurt somebody, wed have a problem. The guards mustve been Freyas idea or somebody insisting on it; else, Ying wouldnt have let them remain there.


    I went up to the door and knocked. I heard slow footsteps approach. The door then opened with a quiet creek. Ying lowered her head: Long-time no see, Troy. I have not seen you recently. Your wives were anxious to find you. I am d to see you are safe.


    Im notpletely safe, but I am back, nheless, I responded. I looked inside and inquired, Is Xia doing well? Have you adapted to life here? I thought that I shoulde and see you before leaving. I brought you two here, so itd be irresponsible of me to just leave you here and ignore you.


    Ying smiled: Were all right. Were fine besides thenguage barrier. I am doing my best to learn yournguage right now. Xia likes this ce very much. This ce is indeed very different to where we came from The food here is also very tasty. Itspletely different to our hometown.


    I nodded: Im d to know that youre adapting. I was worried about you; I was you couldnt adapt tp life here and would be lonely. If you have anything you need, just let the guards know. Those guards will report directly to the Imperial Pce.


    No, I dont have any needs at the moment. Actually I do. Ying contradicted herself. In saying that, she did seem to be in quite a dilemma. Her lips moved several times before she said, I, mm I I cant just receive such generous treatment from you for nothing


    No, you can, because you saved my life. Therefore, its only natural for me to repay you. Who would choose to enact kindness if it wasnt repaid? Thats why you deserve this. I couldnt repay you properly when we were on the ind, but I now can. So naturally, Ill repay you in any way that I can. Rather, this repayment isnt anything significant to me. Its just feeding two more people and sustaining their daily lives. Its nothing luxurious. You can stay without a worry.


    Ying shook her head: No, I protected you back then out of obligation. Hence, I only did what my duty required of me. It wasnt kindness, and Im not a kind person, either. I cant receive your generosity for nothing. This is already toovish for me. I, therefore, want to ask you for a job. I can be a guard as you previously suggested. I have learnt a bit about you from the guards and those around. Perhaps you are different to other Kings. I believe the statues from before were not your idea, because I know you werent in the Imperial City. If possible, please allow me to be your bodyguard. That way, I will not feel guilty about living here. Further, you helped me kill the wyrm in the water. I did not think there were so many of them, either


    Yings said all of that without a change in her expression. My two previous bodyguards showed emotions on their faces, but Ying didnt. It caused me to call her loyalty to me into question


    All right. If you want, be my bodyguard once Im back. My guard unit will surely be very happy to see you. Ying, learn about the things in this ce. After I get back


    Puzzled, Ying asked, Where did you go? You dont physically look out of the ordinary. Have you not already healed?


    The truth is, my condition is much worse than I look at the moment, I answered, smiling helplessly Its best if I can return alive. If I dont protect my family. While we havent known each other for long, I trust you. Ying, I trust you can protect my family.


    To be honest, your trust worries me a little. Ying turned around and made way: If you have time, would you like to see Xia? Xia has always spoke of you, and hoped to see you.


    From theyout from the door, the inside was bound to be very simple. I believe there shouldve been lots of things inside in the first ce, but Ying turned them down and sent them away. She wasnt willing to ept too many gifts from me. She wasnt willing to be my bodyguard at first, but she hadnt found a good job.


    Ill pass. I need to head out now. I shook my head. I didnt go in. It wasnt because I didnt care about Xia, but that I didnt want to dy for any longer.


    Ying nodded: It appears that you are very busy. I cannot tell what your issue is, but I do not see the terror and despair of a terminal disease. To the contrary, I see a resilient life and the courage to live. I believe you will be fine. Oftentimes, those who die are those who dont want to live on. Conversely, oftentimes, one will not die if they do not give up.


    I smiled: Ill take what you said as a good luck charm. Although I dont know if Ill make it or not, I do really want to live. For the sake of my family, I cant let myself die.


    Ying smiled then turned around to look into the room. Xia was inside. Ying giggled softly: Indeed. Life was initially not easy for me. I didnt know how to live. I didnt think that my life was easy to live out, either. After I had Xia, however, I changed. I knew I had to live on. Im not living for myself alone, but also for Xia. I must live on for Xia. My stale life also became much more cheerful after Xia joined me. This must be the power of family. We live for our family, and our lives are blissful thanks to our family.


    I nodded, and then chuckled softly: Thats right. Thats exactly how it is.


    After I bid Ying goodbye, I mounted the White Deer King. There was nothing left in the Imperial City that I had lingering feelings for. I visited everybody there. As the prophet said, if I had to die, it wasnt bad to go on a tour beforehand.


    I caressed the White Deer Kings neck. It snorted in response. It revealed a very happy expression after we met again. We were reunited as person and deer. I gently caressed its neck and quietly said, White Deer King, long-time no see. Im very happy you searched for me. Honest. Weve worked together for some time. If I dont make it this time, I hope you can return and notify my family.


    The White Deer King seemed to understand what I said Actually the fellow understood everything said. However, it shook its head. I didnt know what it was expressing, so I just patted its horn: Ill be relying on you.


    It shook its head. I couldnt read its shimmering eyes. The two of us fell into a silence. The atmosphere was heart-warming, but that was why it was mncholic.


    Lets go, I said.


    I didnt say anything else. The White Deer King began to slowly take off along the street. We went in the opposite direction others went, going from prospering to sparse and from extravagant to ordinary in order to find my second life