68 Chapter 68: Freedom Trails End (1/2)

We received word from the messengers spying on other kingdoms. War over there is going down pretty quick. Both sides are taking severe damage, one with countless people, another with cunning tactics. Luckily for my kingdom, we already knew what they were going to do, easily countering them.

A temporary truce reduces their damage and the cult retreats back into who-knows-where… well, XiaoLong and I know.

The fights quickly settled down and the towns returned to normal. XiaoLong and I sent troops to the north to clean up things, and we headed back to our Eclipse Palace.

”Welcome back!” our parents greet us with hugs.

”Why are you guys here?” I ask, confused.

”We'd like to discuss something. Come on, let's go inside.”

We seat ourselves at the dining table and talk over lunch.

”We believe that you two are old enough and wise enough to rule the kingdom now. It seems that our intuition has gone bad with old age,” my mother states.

”Yes, so we'll step down from the throne and pass it on to you,” Queen Huang continues.

I look at XiaoLong, waiting for him to answer. He holds my hand and looks up, determined

”Very well. You guys can keep staying in the Yue and Ri Castle, since QiLing and I are staying in the Eclipse Palace…”

He frowns, a bit sadly.

”Don't worry about us,” King Huang starts, ”We will take care of ourselves. In the meantime, let's get your coronation.”

I finish my daily duties and return to my room at night. Dismissing everyone, I jump onto the roof.

Taken by surprise, I find a shady masked person.

”AH!”

He catches me, ”Be careful.”

I smirk, ”Mister, are you an assassin?”

XiaoLong fake slips and 'catches himself'.

We burst out laughing on the roof, reminiscing.

”We've come quite far…” XiaoLong sighs.

”Yeah, back then… when you were an ASSASSIN, and I was a CONTESTANT TO BECOME YOUR CONCUBINE!”

”...”

I sigh, somewhat in relief, ”I'm glad you didn't die back then.”