The wind and sand lashed against his face, stinging with each gust.Fortunately, a deer's hide was thicker than human skin, and their eyelashes longer, blocking most of the grit. So, after entering Zhaoyun Kingdom, Youyou also released the "Shedding Skin and Bones" art given to her by Zhongli Xi, transforming back into a snow-white doe, following behind Bensheng.She looked at Bensheng's mottled body, and her eyes couldn't help but sting. But she said nothing, only quickened her pace to walk ahead, blocking a little of the sand for Bensheng.Bensheng hadn't actually planned to return to Lumbini Deer Park so soon.These past years of healing with his light had been too full and fulfilling. It was only when he reached the border that he suddenly remembered his original destination. The apprehension of returning home after long absence surged over him, leaving him flustered, yet he was too embarrassed to confess this to Youyou. And Youyou had an excellent sense of direction and was fast on her feet. Surprisingly, the siblings truly arrived back at Lumbini Deer Park within just a few days.Seeing the Asoka trees again, it happened to be their flowering season. The golden inflorescences were indeed as beautiful as the pagodas Teacher Aba had described. No matter how many times one saw them, they were deeply captivating. The bit of timidity in Bensheng's heart faded in an instant."Brother, let's go in," Youyou said softly. Her head was lowered, her mood seeming even more downcast than his.Bensheng didn't notice. He quickened his pace.
The deer resting throughout the garden heard the commotion and looked over in unison. They scrutinized the mottled Bensheng, their dark, bright eyes revealing varied expressions.Bensheng, meanwhile, scanned his surroundings. Seeing truly no sign of humans, he finally breathed a complete sigh of relief."So, you really weren't lying, Youyou. The humans really left.""Mm."Youyou responded, then addressed a deer standing guard in armor: "Go inform the Deer King. Say Bensheng has returned."That deer started, its gaze sweeping over them repeatedly. "That'sBensheng?!... I'll go right away."The current Deer King received them with great enthusiasm. He was just past middle age, his fur impeccably maintained. His slightly plump limbs weren't as muscular as his father's had been, but it somewhat proved the deer herd was indeed living well now.The Deer King ordered a feast prepared for the evening. The probing glances from daytime were now fully amplified. At the feast, a doe-wife took one look at the mixed colors on Bensheng's coat and turned her face away disdainfully, as if the mottling would dirty her eyes.Youyou was furious, but the occasion wasn't right for losing her temper. She could only hold her head high and lead Bensheng to sit in the seat of honor just below the host. Bensheng saw the food on the plates wasn't just tender grass and leaves, but also barley and corn. Thinking that in just a few short years, the herd's life had improved so much compared to when he left, he felt even more goodwill towards the Deer King."Bensheng.""Deer King." Bensheng looked at him respectfully.The Deer King said, "You have returned from afar, truly a hard journey. Please feast heartily tonight. However, this king has one request.""Please speak.""Among the deer of our Lumbini Deer Park, you are the only one who successfully went to Zhoku Academy to study. Your knowledge and ability surpass all deer in this garden. Therefore, I wish to ask you to become the Deer King."Bensheng was astounded. "Deer King, you have governed Lumbini Deer Park so well now. Why abdicate?""How can that compare to you? You possess spiritual powers. You should be the one to become Deer King."
Before Bensheng could answer, a deer at the feast provocatively said, "Deer King, don't be hasty! The deer of our Lumbini Deer Park are, after all, blessed by the spirits, with the heaven-sent Asoka trees here. We've never seen a deer born with inferior, mottled fur, and nine colors at that. Tsk tsk. Is he really that Bensheng who cultivated at Zhoku Academy?""If he knows spiritual arts, then show us a technique!""That's right, that's right."The Deer King awkwardly pacified the herd, then turned an expectant gaze to Bensheng, as if hinting for him to display his skills.Bensheng bitterly lowered his head, saying nothing.Finally, the Deer King's expression changed.Youyou could no longer hold back. "Enough! What a herd of short-sighted, foul-minded deer. Look at this! What is this?""It's just a shabby garment, who hasn't seen one...""Wrong! This is the Robe of Origin bestowed by Zhoku Academy upon its Adepts. Originally, it was a flawless gray cloak. It is only patched by the common people when it becomes damagedbecausethe Adept helped them. Look at this Robe of Origin on Brother Bensheng. Do you have the nerve to mock him here?" Youyou angrily put down the heavily patched robe and shouted, "That's right! Brother Bensheng can't use his spiritual powers now. But that's because he healed a great many injured commoners, exhausting his power to do so..."The Deer King coldly interrupted her. "What use is that? It didn't helpus!""Deer King! How... how can you be like this!" Youyou rose, furious. The soldier deer nearby immediately warily lowered their antlers, ready.Bensheng reached out a hoof and tugged Youyou, smiling faintly. "Let it be." He took Youyou's hoof and led her away, not looking sideways.Compared to the tense feast, walking through the garden was much more soothing to his mood. Memories of childhood were everywhere, except the figures of Mother, Second Uncle, Teacher Aba, and the others were missing. Bensheng, feeling agitated, asked around."Excuse me, where is Lady Amo now?""Amo? Don't know...""Has Teacher Aba, who's retired from teaching fawns, moved residence?"
"Teacher Aba? Never heard of him..."Bensheng suppressed his unease and continued asking, but none of the many deer he asked could answer. Until an elderly deer with grizzled brows overheard his question."You mean Lugen?" the elder said, gesturing with a hoof. "The heroic Lugen who had a broken segment on his right antler?""Yes, that's right!" Bensheng nodded repeatedly."Come with me." The elder turned and led Bensheng towards a clearing.In the clearing stood no wooden sheds or haystacks, but rows of human-style stone statues."This is...""An altar set up when the humans were still in Lumbini Deer Park, used to honor the heroes of their race." The elder reached out a front hoof and gently brushed the dust off a statue before them.Bensheng looked up. It was a deer statue placed among the human ones. The broken segment on its right antler was extremely conspicuous."This is... Second Uncle?!" Bensheng's eyes widened.The elder said, "Lugen, brave and wise. He was not only a hero of the deer tribe but also became a hero for the humans. The Lord erected this stone statue specifically to commemorate his contributions to the humans on the battlefield."Bensheng's heart tightened. "Contributions... He, is he dead?"The elder gave him a surprised glance. "Even if he didn't die in battle, he couldn't possibly live for a thousand years after!""What?"A thousand years after..."What did you just say?"It can't be..."Second Uncle, he..."The elder said, "Child, are you confused? This is our ancient ancestor. How could he be your second uncle?""But I only left Lumbini Deer Park ten years ago!" Bensheng felt the world spin, darkness swimming before his eyes. He spread his hooves to steady himself. "There must be some mistake! Ten years ago, ten years ago they were standing right here, alive. How could it be... a thousand years later?""Brother..." Youyou came up from behind."Youyou! Yes, Youyou, you can prove I'm right. You're my little sister. Mother gave birth to you after I left."
"I'm sorry."Bensheng shuddered from head to hoof.Youyou, tears in her eyes, said, "A thousand years ago, everyone thought you were dead, because you left and never returned for so long. But after the hero Lugen changed the deer tribe's situation, the humans didn't continue to trouble us. Instead, they let us learn the knowledge of the continent. That's when we learned the truth. Which is... the flow of time is different in the four kingdoms of the continent. The further out from the center of the continent, the faster time passes. Then we knew you hadn't died at all, that you had been studying at Zhoku Academy all along. Because I looked so much like the portrait of Lady Amo, the Deer King at the time sent me to pretend to be your little sister to find you. Afraid you wouldn't be willing to return... he... didn't allow me to tell you the truth."Bensheng staggered back, his tail hitting the stone statue behind him. He turned to look. Lugen's expression was as calm as it had been when he urged him to leave all those years ago."Bensheng, if you want to save us, then abandon your homeland! Otherwise, you will be unable to leave this place."..."Abandon my homeland... Second Uncle, you knew the truth back then. No wonder you, who could explore thousands ofliaway, never would leave. Because you knew that once you left, you could never return." Bensheng wept, tears streaming down his face. "Then why... didn't you tell me?... I wasn't prepared, and now I've lost you all forever."Inside the great hall under the Asoka tree, the Deer King paced back and forth, unable to contain the calculations in his heart for a moment. Standing nearby was a young stag who bore a strong resemblance to him – his son."Son, do you think that Bensheng truly has spiritual powers or not?"The stag said, "I haven't had contact, so I'm not sure."The Deer King sat down. "Three hundred years ago, our ancestor sent Youyou out, but he didn't live to see Bensheng return. Instead, I encountered him. This opportunity... however you look at it, we can't miss it!""Father, why must we have Bensheng become the Deer King?" the stag said discontentedly. "Your son can also lead the herd.""Foolish boy! What's so good about staying in this broken Lumbini Deer Park! Our Lord's new territory has clear waters and
green mountains, everything one could want, far more prosperous than here." The Deer King glanced sideways at him, lowering his voice. "So, they've taken an interest and plan to build a Hundred-Beast Garden, to keep all kinds of beasts for the nobility to view. Such a great opportunity, of course I don't want to give it to deer from elsewhere. But if we just abandon the Deer King's throne, the Lord would surely punish us. That's why our ancestor thought of having Bensheng take over as Deer King."The more the Deer King spoke, the more his heart itched. He added, "Earlier, some deer came and said Youyou mentioned Bensheng's powers, casually talking about 'Pass Through Walls,' 'Path Beneath Feet.' He can also travel a li in one step, which is how they returned so quickly. I figure this Bensheng is still somewhat formidable. Never mind, his knowledge alone is enough for him to be this Deer King."Ignoring his son's objections, the Deer King summoned the elders and quickly drafted the Deer King succession document.Youyou held the document, feeling both ashamed and remorseful. Disregarding the elders' expressions, she threw the document aside and went to Bensheng."Bro... Adept Bensheng, you should leave this place. Go wherever you want. We shouldn't use Lumbini Deer Park to bind you any longer."Bensheng looked at Youyou's nearly tearful expression and gently rubbed her head. "Keep calling me brother from now on. Youyou, go pick up the document.""But...""Since I was little, Teacher Aba nagged me daily about succeeding my father as Deer King, but he never actually taught me the knowledge needed to be a Deer King. Mother spoiled me the most, always protecting me when I made mistakes. Second Uncle would always save the most exciting tales from his explorations to tell just before I slept. Father... was always strict, rarely paid me attention because he was so, so busy... Honestly, it seems I didn't really learn anything from them before I grew up. Adults don't have the right to cry willfully. Now, I finally understand their love and care for me."He looked up, gazing at the Asoka tree."Protecting those around you is the most that those of us without power can do. Now it's my turn to shoulder this responsibility and mission."Youyou sniffled, picked up the document, and glared irritably at
the elders. "Is there anything else?""There's... there's also this."Bensheng took the ancient crown, gently tracing the marks of time upon it. He took a deep breath and placed the crown upon his head.The elders bowed in unison."Hail the Deer King Bensheng!"