pared to quering the Otherworld aablishing a kingdom in such a dangerous realm, Qin Yi would much rather remain fortable as the King of his own world.
Even though he was familiar with the intricacies and intrigues of this world, he uood the dangers only too well. To lead a group of ordinary people, armed only with cold ons, into a world like the Naruto, with its tless Ninjutsu and terrifying Bloodlines, was unimaginably difficult.
But it was not up to him.
If he didn't veo the Otherworld, his kingdom would gradually colpse. His 600,000 citizens would die a slow death, and he himself would eventually disappear. These were the rules of this world. Kings were blessed with abilities far beyond those of ordinary people, but they also bore proportional burdens.
The desperate yet hopeful eyes of the people he'd seen oreets were still vivid in his mind.
"I am no savior," He muttered, "But there are things that simply must be done.
With heavy yet determieps, Qin Yi moved quickly toward the pce he remembered - the pce where "that man" resided.
At the age of seventeen, his predecessor had rushed into the afterlife with nothing but youthful zeal, risking life and limb to fulfill his duty. However, due to his ck of experience, he had perished before even beginning his mission.
So what did Qin Yi have to fear?
"After all, it's just a matter of crossing worlds. In my previous life, wasn't that the dream of tless people?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he stopped his steps and looked ahead.
Opposite him was a weathered, dust-covered sign.
''Plum Blossom Street.''
The man from his memories lived on this very street.
Quiing his pace, Qin Yi pushed forward.
''House No. 302.''
Just over a month ago, Plum Blossom Street had been one of the busiest areas of the Royal City. Crowds had throhe street, vendors of snacks and tris loudly hawking their wares. Today, however, it was eerily quiet.
The wind swept through, lifting dried leaves in swirling arcs before carrying them away.
Decay was everywhere, and the world seemed to be moving inexorably toward destru.
---
Inside house number 302, a little girl of about seven ht stared hungrily at a tall, white-robed man, her mouth watering.
The tall, white-robed man smiled gently as he held a roasted sweet potato, its sweet aroma wafting through the air.
"This is my st bit of food," The man said, "But you are far more important than I am."
Still smiling, Gandalf crouched down and hahe sweet potato to the little girl without hesitation.
The girl, who haden in days, began to devour the sweet potato ies. After a few mouthfuls, she stopped and looked up shyly.
" I save some for my brother? He's been hungry for a long time."
Gandalf froze for a moment, then patted the girl on the head. "Of course you . Go ahead!"
Delighted, the girl thanked Gandalf early before running off with the food.
As he watched her disappear into the distance, Gandalf sighed deeply.
He wasn't inally from this world, but he had long since bee a part of it. To see it edging closer to destru day by day made him both fearful and powerless. The vast kingdom wasn't under his trol - it beloo a 17-year-old boy.
Sadly, that boy seemed to have fotten him.
Slowly, Gandalf sat ba his rog chair and closed his eyes.
If there was nothing he could do, there was nothing he could do but wait.
But only three minutes after he y down, a figure stepped through the door aered the house.
"I'm afraid I don't have any food left," Gandalf said indifferently, without opening his eyes.
It wasn't unusual these days for starving citizens to e to him in search of food.
To Gandalf's quiet admiration, even in the fapending doom, the people of this kingdom maintaiheir dignity. They refrained from rioting, looting, or creating chaos.
"Gandalf."
As the visitor's voice echoed through the room, Gandalf's eyes snapped open.
He saw a seventeen-year-old boy standing before him, staring at him with a plex expression on his fabsp;
"Your Majesty."
Gandalf was momentarily stunned, but quickly stood, g his right fist and pg it over his left chest in a respectful salute.
Stepping into the room and looking at Gandalf, who looked exactly as he remembered, Qin Yi took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
"I need your help!"
Hearing the young king's ear words, Gandalf's emotions stirred and his expression became plicated. After a long pause, he finally spoke softly.
''I have waited a long time for you, my king."
---
Half an hour ter, the two stood before the ''Realm Gate''.
Behind them, a group of ministers watched with excited and expet expressions, their eyes fixed on Qin Yi.
The rules of the world were clear: ohe King stepped through the Realm Gate aured into the Otherworld, the colpse of the kingdom would be halted and its salvation would begin.
This same wrahe King abilities far beyond those of ordinary humans. The power to cross time and space was only one of them.
Turning to the ministers, Qin Yi spoke with authority.
"Once Gandalf and I depart, I leave the affairs of the kingdom in your hands.
Time was of the essence, and Qin Yi had no way to judge their reliability. He would have to wait until he stabilized the situation before dealing with internal matters.
''Your Majesty, please allow me and my brothers to apany you as your protectors!''
Captain Yue Wu, who had been guarding the Realm Gate, stepped forward and bowed deeply. Behind him, his soldiers stood resolutely, their eyes full of determination.
Giving their lives for the King was their duty and their greatest honor, even ih.
"That won't be necessary," Qin Yi replied, shaking his head. ''Yue Wu, stay here and ehe stability of the city with the remaining soldiers.''
''But-!"
Yue Wu protested, obviously desperate. After all, so many had gone on the first expedition, and evehe King had returned seriously injured. Now, only twoing - how could he feel at ease?
''Waging war iherworld will draw too much attention if we travel with a rge group.'' Qin Yi calmly expined. A rger force would only make us a bigger target and invite unnecessary trouble.
Gandalf's eyes flickered with surprise and he gave Qin Yi an appraising look, as if he hadn't expected such mature reasoning from a seventeen-year-old king.
''Let's go.'' Qin Yi said, turning back to the Realm Gate, which was emitting a faint, misty glow.
Gandalf ogether they stepped forward. Moments ter, they passed through the gate, their bodies twisting and turning as they disappeared from view.
---
With their disappearance, a strange wave of energy rippled through the air above the Royal City, spreading outward in an instant.
Within seds, everyone could feel it - the colpse of the kingdom had stopped!
''May His Majesty return triumphant!''
Yue Wu took a deep breath, then dropped to his knees and shouted in a booming voibsp;
The soldiers behind him echoed his cry in unison, their voices eg through the sky.
"Finally, finally, the kingdom is at peace again. This is wonderful!"
The Ministers, oher hand, beamed with joy, their relief evident as they spoke excitedly among themselves.
Yue Wu rose to his feet and shot a cold gre at the Ministers. Without hesitation, he sneered.
"Useless cowards!"
The insult left the Ministers furious, but they could do nothing but storm off, their robes fluttering in indignation.
---
(Chapter End)
