Chapter Ninety-One: Welcoming the Future with a Smile

"Something terrible has happened!"

"That swindler has become the King of the Night Elves!"

"The Night Elf Kingdom is doomed!"

The Twin Moon City was in chaos, with royal mages running amok, loudly proclaiming Linley’s 'glorious achievements.'

The guards were frightened out of their wits, while the maids remained unperturbed. These old men, usually so composed, would always make a fuss whenever the young prince was involved, unlike the maids who were ever calm—nothing about the young prince ever surprised them. Even his leopard used paper after using the toilet!

In the council hall, the communication spell array connected to the Night Elf royal palace. The king, lords, and a portion of the royal mages watched the projection in silence.

"…That’s how it happened. I obtained the Wheel of Twin Moons," Linley said, sitting across with his legs crossed. "From now on, I am one of the Night Elves."

The royal mages were aghast.

"No, young prince, how can you mix with those fools!"

"Yes, young prince, this is your home!"

"We’ll give you the throne, just come back!"

After the initial shock at the news, the mages were now frantic—Linley was their treasure, how could they hand him over to those Night Elves whose intelligence hardly reached five?

Their pleas irked the king, who snorted coldly, "What nonsense are you spouting? I am not dead yet!"

The mages fell silent. Your Majesty, even if you’re alive, you could abdicate. What if the Night Elves learn cultivation first?

Such a thing was intolerable! The young prince belonged to them in life and in death!

"Alright, let’s talk, Linley."

The king was somewhat exhausted; the carefully laid plans had been entirely upended by Linley’s actions. Yet, his assessment of Linley was not much different from the mages: this child was far too dangerous, and he must never become a Night Elf. Linley’s identity as prince of the Forest Elves had to take precedence.

To persuade Linley, the king engaged him in negotiations that lasted the entire night.

In the deep hours, unrest churned through the Night Elf royal palace.

The palace nobles, too, spent a sleepless night, gathering to devise ways to expel Linley. The throne of the Night Elves could not be usurped by an outsider. To stop him, the nobles even released Bard’s subordinates, rallying all their strength.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, the streets of Emerald City were alive with mass rallies.

"Brothers, we must unite to protect the boss! Tomorrow, we shall forge a new history!"

The leading Night Elf shouted slogans, and the civilian Night Elves gripped their weapons. Their yearning for change pierced through five centuries, now manifesting in real action.

Under the moonlight, groups of Night Elves gathered outside the palace.

"Look at our mighty force!"

In the square, the general looked out at the surging tide of Night Elves with pride.

It was his second time witnessing Linley’s tremendous charisma. Since Linley had obtained the Wheel of Twin Moons, this charisma carried a new significance. The Night Elves longed to defend their king, crossing the boundaries of race, expressing their will through action.

The general had no doubt that if the nobles started a war tomorrow, as soon as he raised the banner, these Night Elf civilians would flood the entire palace.

"We will surely be victorious!"

The general believed deeply that before such colossal determination, there could be no defeat.

On the palace walls, the leopard and Eve stood together, overlooking the gathering tide of elves.

"If the young master were here, he would surely say four words."

"What words?"

"Disturbing the peace."

A smile flickered in the leopard’s eyes, and Eve’s lips curled gently.

When tonight’s moonlight faded, it would be their fifth day in the Night Elf Kingdom. Not even the gods could have foreseen that in a mere five days, Linley would overturn five centuries of Night Elf tradition and put an end to a hundred years of Forest Elf warfare and sacrifice.

Eve had doubted Linley many times, but at this moment, she understood that no matter what kind of person he was, he was creating history.

Yet this maker of history now faced a grave crisis.

"Is what you said true?" Eve asked the leopard. "The demigods all see the young prince as an enemy?"

After Linley obtained the Wheel of Twin Moons, Eve had received this bad news from the leopard.

The demigods of the Wilds discovered Linley possessed the Azure Dragon’s power. The Azure Dragon was the greatest enemy of the Dreamscape. Now, all creatures of the Wild Dreamscape knew this; every druid had received the message—the demigods had listed Linley among those that must be eliminated.

That was why the leopard had helped Linley seize the Wheel of Twin Moons.

He was the Forest Elf’s young prince, but that identity alone couldn't completely restrain the demigods. Yet, add the title of Night Elf king, and the demigods would have to think twice before provoking him—not daring to act rashly, at least for a while.

"They will definitely not let the young master go."

The leopard nodded; it knew Linley faced a serious problem. Even if the demigods dared not openly destroy him, they would surely contrive all sorts of opportunities.

"Eve, I must leave now," said the leopard. It could no longer stay by Linley’s side.

From now on, Linley would be watched by the demigods. If the leopard stayed with him, its identity would inevitably be exposed—fortunately, for now, no one knew who it really was.

The leopard had made a trip to the Wild Dreamscape, and no one noticed anything unusual. For druids, not meeting for years, even decades, was perfectly normal; half their lives were spent in slumber. Its guide, the white bear, welcomed it happily, thinking it had simply gone somewhere to sleep.

"If I stay with the young master, we will both be in danger. Returning there, I can provide you with information." The leopard turned to Eve. "After I leave, could you help me bid farewell to the young master?"

Eve was taken aback. "You won’t see him?"

The leopard shook its head. "Once I see him, it won't be easy to leave."

Though Linley had tormented it for three years, the leopard had grown deeply attached to him, knowing that leaving this way was best.

"No matter how slow the young master is, after all these years, he must suspect my identity." The leopard smiled. "I don’t want him holding me back to see my true form before I leave."

Eve nodded sadly. So much had happened in these five days, she couldn’t bear to part with this comrade who had shared her hardships.

"No need to be sad. I’ll stay in touch," the leopard continued. "After I leave, take good care of the young master for me. He’s careless; you must stay by his side to help. If anything happens, we’ll contact each other."

Eve nodded in agreement.

The leopard smiled faintly, then its form shifted suddenly, transforming into a white eagle.

"Then, farewell."

It beat its wings and soared toward the sea. Eve looked up, the lights on Emerald City’s shore and the stars on the horizon blending into one under the deep blue night. The eagle seemed to fly through the vast universe.

"The young master showed me—we will find our future among the stars and oceans. Such a long journey, none of us should be saddened by a brief farewell."

For a moment, Eve thought she heard the eagle’s laughter.

"Eve, cheer up. Smile, just like the young master."

"We must greet the future with a smile."