ng Bai followed behind Lin Mu, though his steps were noticeably unsteady. His expression was blank, his eyes unfocused, as if his mind had yet to return from wherever it had wandered.
Behind them, the twins occasionally nudged him with their heads, while Little Shrubby trotted along with a clearly amused expression. The small beast even let out a few soft chuffs, as if barely containing his laughter.
ng Bai, however, did not respond at all.
At one point, he nearly stopped walking entirely, his body freezing mid-step. Xiao Yin had to coil slightly around his arm and tug him forward, while Xiao Yang flicked his tail against the boy's leg in irritation.
"Move," Xiao Yang hissed softly.
ng Bai blinked once but still did not speak.
Thus, the strange procession continued until they finally returned to Lin Mu's courtyard within the royal palace.
anwhile, Minister Ren did not linger.
The mont he ensured Lin Mu had safely returned, he imdiately turned and headed toward the Royal Court. His pace was brisk, his mind still reeling from everything he had witnessed.
By the ti he entered the court, the ministers had already gathered.
King Huli Qian sat upon his throne, his expression calm but attentive. When he saw Minister Ren's hurried arrival, he imdiately sensed that sothing significant had occurred.
"Minister Ren," the king said. "Report"
Ren took a deep breath before stepping forward and bowing.
"Your Majesty... what I am about to report concerns matters of the highest importance."
The court grew silent.
Then, slowly and carefully, Minister Ren recounted everything.
He spoke of the eting with the Temple Head, of Lin Mu's supposed interaction with the Guardian Spirits, of so shocking events that had unfolded within the temple to which he was not privy of and was even kicked out before, and finally... of the Guardian Beast Decree.
When he finished, the hall was utterly silent. While Minister Ren had not seen
what happened inside, he was smart enough to figure out just from the way the Temple Head reacted as well as the Guardian Beast Decree.
The king stared at him.
Several ministers exchanged stunned glances.
One of them even opened his mouth as if to speak, only to close it again imdiately.
The weight of the information was overwhelming.
"The Guardian Beast Decree..." the king muttered under his breath.
Even he found it difficult to believe.
For a mont, he wondered if this was so elaborate misunderstanding. But Minister Ren's expression was far too serious, far too shaken, for this to be anything less than the truth. And more importantly, matters involving the Guardian Beasts could not be fabricated. Such a lie would be discovered instantly.
Huli Qian leaned back slightly, his mind racing.
'If Lin Mu truly possessed the decree... Then his authority in this world was effectively absolute.
A strange thought crossed the minds of several ministers at the sa ti.
One of them hesitated before speaking carefully.
"Your Majesty... if that is the case... does that an..."
He did not finish the sentence.
But the implication was clear.
Would the throne itself need to be yielded?
For a brief mont, the court atmosphere beca tense.
The king coughed lightly, breaking the silence.
"That will not be necessary," he said firmly.
His tone was calm, but there was a hint of strain beneath it.
"However..."
He paused before continuing.
"We must show the utmost respect."
He turned to the ministers.
"Prepare a seat for Honorable Disciple Lin Mu within the court."
The ministers listened attentively.
The king added, after a brief mont of thought, "It should be... higher."
"How much higher, Your Majesty?" one minister asked cautiously.
Huli Qian hesitated.
Then he spoke.
"At least twice the height of my throne."
The words sent a ripple through the court.
But no one objected.
The ministers bowed in unison.
"As you command."
Orders were imdiately issued, and preparations began at once.
anwhile, Lin Mu remained completely unaware of the chaos his presence
had caused.
Back in his courtyard, he sat calmly while looking at ng Bai, who was still standing in the middle of the room like a statue.
Lin Mu sighed.
"ng Bai."
No response.
He shook his head slightly before raising his hand and placing it gently on the
boy's shoulder.
Then he began chanting softly.
The Severing Heart Sutra's chants flowed through the air like a sharp stream,
its effects targeting the mind directly. The subtle yet powerful technique began cutting through the tangled thoughts and overwhelming emotions clouding
ng Bai's consciousness.
One minute passed.
Then two.
Then five.
Finally, ng Bai's eyes suddenly focused.
Lin Mu quietly observed ng Bai as the boy finally snapped out of his stunned
state, his eyes wide and his breathing slightly uneven.
The effects of the Severing Heart Sutra had cleared the fog in his mind, but it was evident that the shock had not truly passed. It had rely been organized
into sothing he could now process.
The outburst that followed was only natural.
ng Bai blinked once.
Then twice.
And then-
"WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?"
The words burst out of ng Bai with a mixture of disbelief, confusion, and
lingering awe.
His voice echoed faintly within the courtyard room, and even the twins paused their playful nudging to look at him with mild amusent. Little Shrubby, who had just padded in with a tray, flicked his tail as if entertained by the scene.
Lin Mu did not respond imdiately.
Instead, he simply gestured calmly toward a seat nearby.
"Sit first."
His tone was steady, almost casual, as if what had just happened was not sothing that would shake the very foundations of a person's understanding
of the world.
ng Bai blinked a couple of tis, then slowly lowered himself onto the seat.
His movents were still a bit stiff, as if his body had not fully caught up with
his mind yet.
Just then, Little Shrubby approached and placed a cup of spirit tea in front of
him. The aroma of the tea spread gently through the air, carrying with it a calming spiritual essence that seed to soothe the nerves.
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