Before the young man could depart, he was met by one of the Elders of the North Sea Palace. The Elder was there coordinating some diplomatic matters with the Office, and he happened to cross paths with Jin. After noticing Jin's attire, he requested that Jin pay a visit to the Palace.
When Jin asked for the reason, the Elder's response was simple: the Lady of the Palace wished to understand the motives of the Demonic Cult members and the cause of their long-standing enmity. Jin agreed and departed with him immediately.
By the evening of the following day, they finally arrived at the Palace.
Jin stood at the outer gate, his mind racing with anxiety: 'Ah, dammit... I'm going to meet Shuang's mother. Hell, how am I supposed to tell her that I love her daughter? To hell with the Demonic Cult!'
He gritted his teeth in frustration, staring at the ground as his thoughts boiled: 'Chun Ma, you bastard... end this farce already, I want to get married!'
After a while, Jin reached a small pavilion in the palace courtyard. On his way, he encountered no looks of hatred or hostility. The Elder explained that this was due to the Lady's rules: she had decreed that any guest arriving at her doorstep must be treated with the utmost hospitality, regardless of their identity.
The boy sat alone for a moment, waiting. While he waited, a young girl approached, holding some biscuits which she offered to him.
Jin looked at her for a moment: "Hello, little one. Thank you."
He observed her closely; her features resembled Shuang's quite a bit. The girl looked to be around eight years old.
Jin: "Hmm... are you Yu Ah?"
Yu Ah: "Yes."
Jin smiled slightly and reached out to shake her hand: "How are you, little one?"
Yu Ah smiled innocently: "I'm fine. How are you, sir?"
Jin: "I'm good. Sit with me for a bit."
Yu Ah: "I don't want to. They say members of the Demonic Cult are evil... maybe you'll hurt me."
Jin smiled, but behind that smile was a raging fury: 'Chun Ma, you cursed man... to hell with your cult members! Stop them from messing around, you rogue!'
After a bit more talk, Jin's anger reached its peak—not because of the innocent child, of course, but because of the reasons behind both sides of the conflict. Well... there was nothing he could do.
Jin: "Hmm, do you like coffee?"
Yu Ah: "Yes."
Jin pulled a bag of coffee and a carton of whole milk from his storage ring. Honestly, this wasn't strange; he did this all the time. He put some in the pot and began boiling it using fire magic.
Yu Ah was amazed: "Waaaoow! Is that fire magic?"
Jin: "Yes, it is," the boy smiled triumphantly.
A moment later, the girl was sipping the coffee: "You're a good person."
Jin: "And you're the one who thought I was evil, you little dummy."
Finally, the Lady of the Palace arrived! She was a perfect mirror of her daughter in appearance. Her clothes were simple despite her high rank. The Lady sat down quietly, while Jin rose to greet her.
"The Leader of the Blood Sword Squad and the 12th Elder of the Cult offers his respects to Lady Ling Yu-Hua, Lady of the North Sea."
Yu Hua rested her cheek on her hand and spoke with a smile: "What is this, young man? It seems you know me well."
Jin grew a bit tense: "Ha... yes, how could I not know you, My Lady?"
Yu Hua laughed and asked mockingly: "Boy, do you really think you were asked to come here for that trivial reason?"
Jin was puzzled and thought: 'Why is she speaking so casually? And... is she playing with me too? Dammit, my mother-in-law can't be another mental case.'
Jin: "Pardon me, My Lady, but I don't understand your meaning."
Yu Hua: "That Elder who brought you here? He is my older brother."
Jin's mind: 'Dammit, she's manipulating me too!'
Jin: "I still don't quite understand."
She leaned back and sighed: "Boy, my daughter hides nothing from me. And naturally, her uncle knows some secrets—at least, he knows what you look like. I told him to ask you to come if he ever met you. I didn't expect you to be from that strange Chun Ma's cult."
Jin felt intense embarrassment and began to stammer. Yes, he was being played with now, but this was a new, different kind of manipulation: "Ah... ah, excuse me?"
She pointed her finger at him and asked: "You reckless child, what did you do to my daughter to make her love you this much?"
(Well, dear readers... there's no need for you to share this foolish boy's embarrassment in these moments!)
After a while, the Lady walked with the embarrassed young man through the palace grounds.
Yu Hua: "I can't believe someone with your combat intelligence can be this stupid in ordinary life."
The boy didn't reply; it had been a long time since his face turned into a shade of tomato-red.
Yu Hua sighed: "Never mind. Anyway, leave now. Shuang Yu is likely in the palace; get out before she sees you in those clothes."
Jin grew nervous: "My Lady, why didn't you tell me sooner? I always carry other clothes in my storage!"
Unfortunately, at that exact moment, a child's voice called out from behind: "Paapaaaa!"
The two froze in their tracks and turned around slowly... it was Shuang and Lily!
Lily ran and embraced Jin immediately, but... Shuang looked on in shock. That emblem on his clothes was unmistakable. In her mind, she had expected the exact opposite.
Yu Ah: "Sister, who is this person that makes you all run so fast to see him?"
The girl approached him slowly. The boy spoke hesitantly: "It's not what you think."
Shuang: "Can we talk alone?"
End of Chapter.