Free Web NovelChapter 401: Chapter 28: Ten Thousand Wind Melodies (2)
The only sound was the GLUG GLUG of bubbling water, making the scene feel far too quiet. It was a stark contrast to the heated atmosphere from before, where the slightest disagreement could lead to a wild romp.
Ailorus glanced around briefly, letting out a soft huff through her delicate nose. She lifted her chin slightly and said:
"There are even more people here than I imagined. You’re quite popular lately, Westheid."
’Huh? How am I supposed to respond to that?’
Westheid could hear the undertones in Ailorus’s words but couldn’t quite tell if she was teasing him or jealous.
’Figuring out the Little Queen’s thoughts... I’m really not good at this.’
But before Westheid could think for long, Ailorus took the initiative, stepping forward to grab the man’s arm. She spoke softly:
"That was beautifully done. This way, everyone is an accomplice and won’t get in my way anymore. It’s just like Luyetan said. That for Duke Qinghui, vigorously sowing your seeds is a way to express goodwill and friendship. We don’t have such a saying in the Royal Court. Is it a custom unique to your Purity People?"
’Huh? Wait, Luyetan, when did you start feeding the Wind Law Queen these ideas?!’
Westheid was shocked. He thought everyone at Yuanxi Palace was busy preparing for the expedition, even cutting back on their time for visiting dreams at night. How did they have the spare time to meddle in this?
’You... you’ve done a great job!’
’Force-feeding her a worldview that completely benefits me!’
Westheid shamelessly admitted to it on the spot. As the Clan Leader of the Purity People, he didn’t hesitate to pin that label on his own people:
"Indeed, that’s how we Purity People are. But please, don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of defiling the Jade Royal Family’s bloodline."
The Wind Law Queen waved her hand dismissively.
"I know, I know. What era are we living in? Only a stuffy old fossil like Lord Eilvette still cares about pure bloodlines."
The group arrived at the core healing pool, reserved exclusively for Westheid in the depths of the hot springs. Amidst the thick steam, the Elf Lolita sat down gently by the edge of the pool, dipping her delicate feet into the water. She asked curiously:
"Does this really help your recovery?"
Westheid replied, "It doesn’t have a remarkably significant effect, but as a relaxing and comforting form of recreation, an occasional soak is very nice."
"Oh," Ailorus said, then tilted her head. "Can I see it? Your injury."
"Well... I suppose that’s fine."
Westheid hesitated for a moment, then untied his bathrobe, revealing the wound on his side.
The corrosion caused by the Master of Decay tore at the muscle beneath his skin. A long, narrow gash with a crimson glow seemed to breathe like a living creature, at times showing signs of withering decay, only to return to its original state moments later.
The wound had been inflicted by the Master of Decay in a final, desperate struggle. It contained all the Divine Power the Bone Demon King had mustered in his death throes. Westheid had been careless and failed to dodge, getting half his body mangled. Even after he recovered, this lingering injury couldn’t be instantly purged by his Withered Glory Sun; he could only wait for the Divinity to slowly dissipate.
Ailorus reached out a finger and gently stroked Westheid’s side, her eyes shimmering.
"Does it hurt?"
Before Westheid could answer, the Wind Law Queen continued:
"I think I can try to heal it. The Ten Thousand Wind Melodies might be effective."
"Your Majesty..." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Faticia called out softly at the sight. She wanted to remind her that the Ten Thousand Wind Melodies wasn’t meant to be used for this, but Ailorus immediately snapped back at her:
"Westheid fought a bloody battle for the Royal Court! I saw in the recording how desperately he fought! As the sovereign of the Royal Court, do I not even have the duty and right to heal an ally?! If word of this got out, what face would the Royal Court have left?!"
The little Elf Lolita frowned and huffed, looking quite majestic in that moment.
After speaking, Ailorus took a deep breath and placed her hands over the wound on the man’s side. A misty radiance slowly gathered in the Elf Lolita’s palms before flowing into Westheid’s body.
The dull ache of the wound vanished at an astonishing speed. Westheid could clearly feel the residual Divinity from the Master of Decay being neutralized, dissipating and dissolving away. This made him raise an eyebrow.
’The Ten Thousand Wind Melodies...’
’The supreme Melody left behind by Emperor Qianlu. The position of sovereign of the Royal Court isn’t passed down through bloodline or strength, but by one’s attunement to the Ten Thousand Wind Melodies. It’s not the Melody that adapts to the ruler, but the Melody that chooses the ruler!’
’That’s how high the status of the Ten Thousand Wind Melodies is!’
’Westheid even remembered the relevant description.’
[Ten Thousand Wind Melodies]
[The Ten Thousand Winds carry all things; all things invite the Ten Thousand Winds.]
[This is the prelude and finale played by Emperor Qianlu in the land without wind. The Grand Ensemble cycles endlessly, and so too does the Wind Law, coursing through the Land of Thousand Lakes, harmonizing and uniting the Ten Thousand Races.]
[While in the Land of Thousand Lakes and Melody, unlocks Wind Law Power. This is a manifestation of the Emperor’s Divinity.]
’In other words, if the Thousand Laws Ceremony is a repository of Divinity left by the Divine Ancestor, then the Ten Thousand Wind Melodies is essentially the password to access that Divinity. By mastering the Ten Thousand Wind Melodies, at least within the Domain of the Royal Court, one could join the ranks of the strongest Celestial Gods. They would be second to none but the Celestial Gods themselves, invincible in the Mortal World!’
’This was the source of the Thousand Laws Royal Court’s confidence to pursue a policy of isolation.’
’Even though Ailorus was of a low Tier, inexperienced, and still young, thanks to the Divine Ancestor’s gift, she had already mastered the application of Divinity that Westheid had longed for.’
’Sigh, comparisons are galling.’
’However, after a brief moment of dejection, Westheid’s feelings gave way to a fiery sense of aspiration.’
’The Ten Thousand Wind Melodies! A Tier T0 Talent in the absolute sense of the term! I see that this power and I are fated to be together! It is destined to be shared with me!’
’Not to mention, Ailorus’s Tier isn’t high right now, and she probably doesn’t have many Talents or Specialties. I won’t have to spend years and months like with Mivana to get the Tier T0 Talent I want. The odds of the ’draw’ are quite favorable; there’s really no reason not to make a move.’
’So the question is, how do I go about ’conquering’ the Elf Lolita and making her mine?’
’To be honest, Westheid had already done everything he could—all sorts of overt and covert temptations and hints. He had even played the role of the ’gentle big brother’ for Ailorus quite a bit.’
’The Little Queen clearly liked him... but that affection was only superficial. A desire born of lust wouldn’t be recognized by Heart and Soul’s Gift—unless that lust was strong enough to burn away all reason, making her crawl at his feet and become his bitch.’
’Damn it, this Heart and Soul’s Gift is surprisingly picky. It demands either pure love or pure sex.’
’The latter option was a bit too shocking for the world to accept. Westheid had his standards, however few, and he disdained such a method. The main reason, though, was that it was nearly impossible to ’conquer’ any holder of a Tier T0 Talent that way. It had to be through pure, unadulterated love.’
’And why is that? Because that’s the fundamental logic of *Poem of Destiny*. You don’t even want to do the questline, and you expect to ’conquer’ a character? Are you trying to break *Poem of Destiny*?!’
’Therefore, he needed to find an angle, a point of entry that could truly deepen their relationship and touch her heart.’
’For Reiya, it was salvation and companionship. For Mivana, it was guidance and instruction. But for the Wind Law Queen, what was it?’
Westheid watched Ailorus’s expression intently, racking his brain.
"Whew... That should do it. Westheid, how do you feel?"
The healing process continued for some time until the Divinity of the Master of Decay was completely neutralized. Only then did the Elf Lolita let out a breath of relief, wiping the sweat from her forehead before asking Westheid.
"It’s completely healed. I’m sorry to have troubled you, making you expend your precious Wind Power to heal me."
Ailorus placed her small hands on her stomach and shook her head.
"No, no, it’s fine. It was my duty... Are you uncomfortable anywhere else? I can help with that too!"
The Elf Lolita’s cheeks were flushed, her expression holding a clear excitement and anticipation that was different from her usual demeanor.
’Huh?’
