258 A Strange Existence (1/2)

An awkward silence descended over the hall. No one knew what to say, and only five people seemed completely unaffected. These people were Xue Wei, Hei Gou, Bai Tianyi, Lin Xiao, and the King.

The King leaned forward and rested her elbowson the table in front of her. She propped her chin up on the palms of her hands and narrowed her five eyes into a curious expression.

Xue Wei was also curious about this woman whose title was a misnomer.

He glanced at her before cupping his hands and once more bowing to the woman. ”Thank you for straightening out the disagreement,” he said with a friendly voice and a smile.

The King just waved her hand dismissively and smiled at Xue Wei. ”I am quite curious about you foreigners,” she said as she leaned slightly forward, her half-lidded eyes sparkling with curiosity.

”I would be honored if you could tell us all about the continent you originated from,” she continued, and Xue Wei, who saw no reason not to comply, started describing Chang'an.

”We come from a continent known as Chang'an,” he began. ”Chang'an has humans and primordial beasts, but unlike here these two races are constantly at war against one another.

”Humans loathe the beasts, and the beasts loathe the humans.”

”Then how come there are both beasts and humans in your group?” The King asked curiously. Xue Wei smiled wryly. ”We happen to be the outcasts of both humans and beasts,” he said honestly.

”Oh? How could this happen?” she asked curiously. At this point, within the court, many looked at Xue Wei with vigilance and disdain, but the King was still filled with curiosity and there was absolutely no hostility in her five eyes.

Xue Wei pondered for some time to articulate an answer. ”My background is rather sensitive,” he admitted eventually after much consideration. ”I am afraid that I was doomed to be hunted by both humans and beasts at birth.

”These three friends of mine are comrades I have encountered throughout the years.”

The King nodded her head and looked at them once more before she stood up. ”All officials vacate the hall. I have something to inform this man in private.”

Hearing their King say that she had something she needed to speak with him in private about caused many of the men present to feel very uncomfortable and also unhappy, but none of them dared to go against their King's order. All of them slowly exited the hall while looking back with begrudging expressions on their faces.

As the final person exited the hall, the King stood up and walked down the stairs towards the lower levels of the hall where the four of them stood.

”Let me hold your hand,” the King said sternly as she looked at Xue Wei, who gave a rascally smile in response and shook his head. ”Sorry, Your Highness, I already have a sweetheart.”

Hearing his unexpected words, the King was slightly stunned. Then she started laughing out loud, her laughter clear like pearls and filled with mirth.

”Do not worry, you are not my type,” she assured him, causing Xue Wei to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

”Too few eyes?” he could not help but ask, but the woman just shook her head without answering.

Seeing that she was not going to let herself be teased, Xue Wei quickly offered his hand, and soon he felt the woman grasp it. Her fifth eye started to cloud over and her other four closed.

It was a peculiar sight, nothing like what Xue Wei had ever seen before, but he knew that this woman was doing something right now so he did not retract his hand and just calmly waited for her to finish.

It took around the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before the King once again opened all five eyes. Her face knit with furrowed brows and she seemed to be seriously confused.

”Let me try something else,” she said and grasped his hand again, not asking for permission.

This time, the bottom pair of eyes were closed, the upper three open, and once more the mist covered her open eyes. This time it took as long as it takes to eat a meal before she regained her consciousness, and when she did she looked at Xue Wei with newfound reverence.

”To think that this world has something known as Sovereign Beasts!” she exclaimed excitedly while looking at Xue Wei with amazing eyes.

”I have to apologize,” she said quickly. ”As you know, having more eyes determines our talent, but that is not all. We also have innate abilities that awaken throughout our lives.

”If you have four eyes, you will be able to see a bit of someone's past; if you have five eyes, you can see a bit of their future.

”This is also why my kind have been regarded so highly. The ability to understand the future is something that everyone wants to have, but it is not as wonderful an ability as one might think.”

”You used these innate abilities on me?” Xue Wei asked with a raise of his brow, unsure of what to think of this woman's brazen behavior.

Seemingly understanding that he might not be approving of it, the King could only sigh.

”I know you might be upset with me,” she admitted, ”But I had a very good reason to do as I did.

”There is an existence within the Garden of Shadows that has caused problems recently. My predecessor once checked the future of this existence and came to the conclusion that these problems would be solved by someone from out of the continent.