Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

Chapter 573: Chapter 573: I Trust You to Get the Job Done

From noon until evening, Yang Yu and the others finally saw the return of the soldier who had gone to report,

”Minister Ming Dalak and His Majesty Qian Xialan are willing to see you. Please get ready quickly and follow me to the audience.”

Yang Yu let out an inaudible sigh of relief, responded affirmatively, and followed the soldier into the city. Xin Mang Madeline, who had been watching Yang Yu at the city gates, also left her adventurer team and returned to Baihua City.

Unknown to Yang Yu, this Fox Swordsman named Xin Mang Madeline had some plan in mind, perhaps simply out of concern for revealing their identities...

Regardless, since she knew his identity, Yang Yu could not ask her to leave.

Passing through the gates of Baihua City, a straight avenue unfolded before Yang Yu, with trees on both sides stubbornly clinging to their last few yellowing leaves, not allowing autumn to disperse.

Many Beastmen were seen along the path painting the base of the trees with a white substance, binding the tree roots tightly with straw, so the trees could survive the harsh winter.

From the looks of the trees, these roadside trees must be some variety of peach, and it was not hard to imagine how dazzling and colorful the street would become come spring.

Yang Yu looked up slightly and saw grand red attics come into view, these buildings and houses all followed the Eastern aesthetic of Yang Yu’s world.

Stone sculptures were the most common decorations.

Majestic stone lions and graceful fox statues stood at the entrances of large households, arriving here was like stepping into an ideal, elegant Eastern city, an indescribable comfort welled up from the bottom of Yang Yu’s heart.

In the flowerbeds near these buildings, colorful chrysanthemums were in full bloom, with their light and elegant fragrance permeating the streets.

Walking through these streets, Yang Yu and his party’s unique appearance turned heads, but no one approached them, at most pausing for a moment to watch.

They traveled straight through the wide avenue to the center of Baihua City, where a huge and luxurious Imperial Palace lay, its towering perimeter walls trying desperately to conceal this opulence.

When they arrived at the palace gate, the soldier spoke a few words to the Imperial Guards stationed there, handed over Yang Yu and his company to them, then swiftly left to return to his post.

The Imperial Guards said very little, simply explaining some etiquette to Yang Yu and the others before leading them forward.

After a process that wasn’t too complicated, Yang Yu and his companions followed the Imperial Guards into the main hall.

It wasn’t the time for court, and inside the main hall, apart from the guards, only the temporary King of Wansheng Country, Qian Xialan, and her Prime Minister Ming Dalak remained.

Out of respect, Yang Yu and Lotcar bowed and knelt halfway toward Qian Xialan and Ming Dalak.

This was someone else’s palace, not enough for Yang Yu to act recklessly; any small movement could potentially lead to accusation, and he had to be careful with his identity as a human, to never reveal it.

Taking charge in place of her injured father, Qian Xialan raised her hand and graciously said,

”Rise.”

Only after Qian Xialan’s instruction did Yang Yu, along with Lotcar, stand up, keeping their heads slightly lowered, using a careful glance from the corner of their eyes to observe the country’s Governor and Monarch.

It was only then that Yang Yu got to see what the ruler and Prime Minister of the country truly looked like.

”I am the country’s temporary Monarch, Qian Xialan.

”I represent this nation in welcoming your arrival,” said Qian Xialan with an air of regal authority, yet not overly aggressive, revealing a hint of vulnerability, especially when she said ”pay the price,” which clearly lacked force.

Respectfully, Yang Yu said, ”Emperor, these two letters are both written by the Queen to Prime Minister.

We did not anticipate to personally receive an audience with the Emperor. With utmost trepidation, it seems the Elf Queen did not prepare a dedicated letter for His Majesty. Please forgive this oversight.”

Yang Yu was not lying; his initial plan had been to visit Minister Ming Dalak’s residence and discuss matters at length, hoping to secure his support and investigate some matters.

Little did they know they would be granted an audience directly with the acting ruler of the country.

Qian Xialan’s expression became somewhat unnatural, as if she were attempting to conceal her inner embarrassment; she looked helplessly towards Ming Dalak, seeking his support.

Ming Dalak deftly dissolved the awkwardness, saying, ”Your Majesty, the letter from the Elf Queen must be of great importance. She had originally assumed that it would only reach someone at my level, which is why she specifically instructed that the two messengers deliver the letter to me.

Given its significant content, Your Majesty, as the sovereign of this nation, has a greater authority to make decisions. As your subject, I am duty-bound to present the letters to you for your perusal.

Bring forth the letters.”

The Imperial Guard approached Yang Yu, took the letters from his hand, and passed them to Qian Xialan.

Suppressing her excitement, Qian Xialan carefully opened the letter and spread it out. Though she could not recognize the elfin script, she felt a peculiar strength within the words, as if it were dispersing her fatigue.

After a moment of bewilderment, Qian Xialan handed the letters to Ming Dalak to help her understand them.

Ming Dalak thoroughly read through the letters before isolating key information to share with Qian Xialan,

”Your Majesty, this is indeed a handwritten letter from the Elf Queen. It seems that after our military withdrawal, the elves’ village was subjected to an unprecedented attack, no less tragic than last year’s disaster.

There was also a mysterious woman who struck Luoyu City, where the elves reside, resulting in the destruction of the temporary buildings that surrounded it and the loss of their stored food for the winter, making it difficult for the elves to survive the cold season.

Therefore, the Elf Queen is requesting our aid and hopes that they can become a part of our strength, with specific conditions to be discussed and determined between us.”

Ming Dalak succinctly conveyed the contents of the letter to Qian Xialan.

Qian Xialan sighed in relief but was not as pleased as she had imagined, ”I didn’t expect such a thing to occur just after our withdrawal. If we had delayed our departure, perhaps this tragedy could have been avoided.”

”Please, Your Majesty, do not blame yourself. This might have been unavoidable,” Ming Dalak said firmly. ”The fact that they took action so swiftly after our withdrawal indicates that they had long coveted the elves and were simply waiting for the right moment to strike as we left.”

”Mmm...”

Comforted by Ming Dalak’s words, Qian Xialan felt much more at ease,

”What steps should we take next for the negotiations? I suppose it still falls upon Minister Ming Dalak to visit once more. I trust your judgment and actions.”