Chapter 1620 - 835: Audience

"...Almost."

Dabit looked at Inaya's pair of eyes, clearer than those of a college student, and couldn't help but shake his head: "Sir, don't forget, the commotion you stirred up is something no one can ignore, right?"

"Ah, this..."

Inaya was momentarily stunned and finally realized: "Have others been here already?"

"They were curious about it, but I turned them back."

"Thank you for your hard work, elder."

"..."

Dabit was silent for a moment, eventually sighing, and after such a long period of hesitation, he asked directly: "Sir, there is something I would like to request."

"Hmm? Please speak."

Dabit hesitated for a moment, then solemnly asked: "Am I honored to have an audience with that person?"

"Ah?"

Inaya looked over in confusion, as if not understanding why such a matter needed to be treated so seriously, and nodded: "Sure, I'll go ask shortly, please wait a moment."

This time, it was Dabit's turn to be bewildered.

"Ah?"

He hesitantly asked, "Is this really okay?"

"What's wrong with it? The Wolf Lord is very easy-going and has never been pretentious, there's no need to be so tense, right?"

"..."

In a moment of silence, Dabit felt a little dizzy, "I thought... that person might not like..."

"Well, you didn't ask!"

The conversation was thus killed by Inaya.

Dabit was at a loss for words.

.

.

Half an hour later, Dabit met Ji Jue in Inaya's living room, sitting on the floor like a local, eating boiled beans and baked flatbread.

He chewed with a crunch, his hands covered in sauce.

Sticky and clumped together.

When he saw Dabit walking in behind Inaya, he waved him over to sit down.

Watching Old Deng tremble as if ready to breathe his last, he couldn't help but worry a little for the future of the Oasis...

Just as Dabit was pondering a greeting, he was interrupted at the beginning, hearing Ji Jue's voice: "Have you eaten?"

"...Thank you for your care, I have already eaten."

"Then please wait a bit, I'll finish soon. Yan Fei, go make tea."

Ji Jue rolled up the flatbread and quickly finished it off. After Yan Fei brought out the brewed tea from the kitchen and poured it, he left.

For a time, only the old and young were left in the living room.

The silence was frightening.

The tea in the cups emitted curling steam, and through the flames rising from the central fire pit, Ji Jue straightforwardly observed Old Deng sitting across.

The old sacrificial priest who once followed the former White King, though he hadn't sided with the Wolf Evil, was somewhat tainted by corruption.

In the days when the White King died, they vanished into the sands of the White Country, and now they responded to Inaya's call, returning from the desert and settlements.

At this moment, Dabit lowered his head, allowing Ji Jue to scrutinize him carefully, and after a long time, he heard Ji Jue's voice.

"Haven't you already been watching for a long time? I thought you wanted to keep some distance, so why the sudden meeting now?"

Dabit lowered his head and replied: "I just thought you might not be pleased to see us; we old folks who've lived in the shadows are used to hiding and don't often dare show ourselves."

"Alright, if you have anything to ask, just do it. Holding it in is bad for your health."

Ji Jue casually said: "However, don't have too high expectations, as I might not be able to answer every question."

For a moment, Dabit opened his mouth to speak but then stopped abruptly.

Perhaps not used to such open and candid communication, or perhaps because he wanted to ask too many things, yet there were equally many things he didn't want to know.

As a result, he couldn't open his mouth.

Couldn't speak.

After a long while, at the end of this long silence, he sighed, touching the ground with both hands, respectfully bowing, saluting the Wolf Lord who upheld the White King's oath.

"Noble one..."

He mustered the courage to ask: "May I ask what you desire from us, from the White Country?"

To this, Ji Jue answered without hesitation.

He said, "I don't care."

"..."

Dabit prostrated rigidly on the ground, lifting his head instinctively to look at Ji Jue's face. However, Ji Jue remained calm, without any hint of jest or mockery.

Likewise, he showed no concern.

It was heartfelt.

"The White King has already walked to the end of his path, for you all."

He said, "I am not the White King, and the future of the White Country was never in my hands.

Success or failure, this is your affair.

If you wish to rejuvenate the White Country, then do it yourselves. Do not expect some divine hero to descend from the heavens to solve your problems and troubles for you.

What kind of future you want to create, and what you want the White Country to become, choose for yourselves.

Besides, why worry about anything else?"

Ji Jue paused for a moment and asked, "Is my answer clear enough, Elder Dabit?"

"Your meaning is clear and straightforward."

In brief shock and silence, Dabit bowed his head deeply, as if finally liberated from some invisible shackles, feeling a burden lifted.

So, Ji Jue asked again, "Is there any other question?"

"No, there is none."

Dabit smiled candidly, solemnly supported his body, faced Ji Jue, and once again kowtowed respectfully, "Your benevolence and magnanimity, my people are immensely grateful. Should there be any task, I would die a thousand deaths without regret!"

"At this old age, avoid speaking of death so spontaneously, it doesn't sound auspicious."

Ji Jue picked up a teacup, indifferent, "I don't have spare positions here to accommodate the elderly. Deceiving for a meal isn't quite a strategy."

"Then, I shall take my leave."

Dabit supported himself with a cane, straightened his body, and retreated to the outside of the door. His footsteps faded away.

Came with heavy steps, but left with light and brisk strides.

Even his hunched back seemed to have straightened a lot.

When he came, he had imagined many scenarios, solemn and severe interrogations and reprimands, gentle and friendly conversations and interactions, but he never anticipated such coldness and disdain.

Likewise, he could not imagine such benevolence and magnanimity.

Perhaps such a youthful appearance was merely a disguise, perhaps an affable stance was merely acting, and even his identity was just fabricated and false.

But there was one thing he could ascertain — the words he heard tonight, not a single word was false.

From a hundred years ago, he bore the responsibilities conferred by the former king, guarding prisons, interrogating criminals, punishing offenders. Even though he was not ether, his perception of all lies had become sharper beyond instinct.

Precisely because of this, he could believe so resolutely.

That esteemed person… truly never sought anything from the White Country or from them, the forgotten ones!

He did not bother to weave conspiracies to make them his adherents, nor did he think of pushing the currently chaotic White Country to complete annihilation, but rather sacrificed a lot for it.

He even dismissed the position of Sacrificial King that could dominate the White Country, genuinely entrusting this legacy from the former king into their hands.

He returned once more to his cold dungeon, sat on his recliner, but in the darkness unlit by the oil lamp on the table, shadows surged in.

One by one, the figures who had waited for a long time came forward, whether old or young, weathered or confused and naive, all face full of solemnity and curiosity.

The waiting had been too long!

"Dabit, how did it go?"

"You really saw him?"

"What was the outcome of the meeting?"

"Stop playing dead, speak!"

Among a group of elderly people, the young person squeezed to the front could not restrain himself: "Teacher, what kind of person is that esteemed one?"

"I don't know either."

Dabit remained silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled softly: "How can the grandeur and astuteness of such a respectable figure be something a person like me could fathom?"

"..."

Silence came abruptly, the huddled figures looked at each other, unable to comprehend, seeing only the serene and calm expression on his face.

Really, are you serious?

That mind doesn't seem like it's been washed by the Heart Core either!

An old woman couldn't help but ask, "Are you possessed?"

"Ah, sort of."

The old and grim expression twitched, the corners of his mouth subtly upturned, as if smiling: "Let's just take it that way."

"Go rest, everyone."

He said nothing more, waving his hand: "There are things to be done tomorrow."

Watching everyone leave, he leaned back on his recliner once more, closed his eyes, and gradually fell asleep.

However, before falling asleep, he once again pondered those questions, questions he did not know when he had completely forgotten…

About the future, about tomorrow.