Ah Yin's Dilemma (May Our Reader Lords Soar in the Year of the Dragon)

The sunlight, like golden threads, filtered through the gaps in the ancient forest, dappling the woods with light.

A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves.

Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, a graceful figure dressed in Blue-Gold Palace Dress leans quietly against the thick trunk of an ancient tree, lying on her side with her eyes closed, seemingly taking a rest.

Behind her, the enormous ancient tree also had a very strange appearance. Its entire body was a clear, deep blue, with a crystal-clear luster. Countless long vines climbed up it, and in the very center, there was a mark that looked like a human face.

This person and this tree were none other than Ah Yin, who had returned to the Blue Silver Grass Forest nearly a year ago, and the unique Plant-type Soul Beast Blue Silver King growing in the center of the forest.

At this moment, several thick vines drooped and swayed, sweeping aside the originally dense foliage to create a narrow passage.

The warm spring sun shone down, enveloping Ah Yin and giving her a golden halo.

Her delicate skin appeared even whiter in the sunlight, shimmering with a luminous glow like fresh snow. Her refined and gentle face was serene and peaceful, seemingly having become one with the ancient forest.

However, her state of being is fundamentally different from Su Cheng's harmonious coexistence with the external environment.

She is more like a symbiotic relationship with nature; no, to be precise, the entire natural forest enjoys her gifts.

Ah Yin herself is the core and foundation of this forest, connected to the entire land, possessing a strong presence that cannot be ignored by others.

"You seem to have something on your mind. Can you tell me about it?"

The aged face in the middle of the ancient tree revealed an extremely human concern, and spoke human words.

"You noticed?" Ah Yin opened her eyes and gently brushed back a stray strand of hair from her temple.

"Hehe, I figured it out a long time ago, but you didn't say anything, so I didn't ask."

Blue Silver King's voice was calm and kind, with a faint smile.

Compared to the Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin, who once possessed 100,000 years of cultivation, it now resembles a kind and wise elder.

In fact, the Blue Silver King actually lived for much longer than Ah Yin.

When she was first born, this Blue Silver King was already the king of the Blue Silver Grass Forest.

The so-called age and cultivation level of Soul Beast cannot truly represent its age, because in addition to natural growth, Soul Beast can also increase their age by cultivating and absorbing free Soul Power from the outside world.

As a descendant of the unique Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline, Ah Yin obviously doesn't need to rely solely on survival time to accumulate cultivation like ordinary Blue Silver Grass; her strength increases at an extremely rapid pace.

Moreover, unlike Ah Yin, who could rapidly increase his cultivation level by cultivating and sleeping in a daze during his time as Soul Beast, the Blue Silver King went through tens of thousands of years after gaining intelligence.

Although it cannot move, the entire forest is its eyes and ears, and it has witnessed too many changes in people and things, joys and sorrows.

It possesses the wisdom accumulated over time and through experience.

Ah Yin had nothing to hide from the Blue Silver King behind her, which was like family to her. Or perhaps, she did have a desire to confide in it, and many of her thoughts had to be expressed.

After a moment of silence, she whispered, "I made a mistake."

"Oh? Is it because of that young powerhouse Su Cheng?"

"How did you know?" Ah Yin was taken aback.

"Hehe, in the year since I came back, you've only mentioned his name. Besides, I also have a deep impression of that gentleman."

"..." Ah Yin's pretty face flushed red at first, then a trace of sorrow appeared between her brows. "My feelings seem to have slipped out of my control. I know it's wrong, that this change shouldn't happen to me, to him, or to anyone else..."

"You mean, human emotions?"

"Yes, humans value emotions the most." Ah Yin nodded gently.

"We should be tolerant and sincere towards friends; loyal and devoted towards our lovers; and selfless and tolerant towards our family... But I seem to have failed in all of these areas. Tell me, am I wrong? What should I do? Should I give up this wrong behavior and these feelings?"

"Are you asking me? But I'm just a tree."

Ah Yin: "..."

"Hehe, but I think I understand what you mean." The smile on the Blue Silver King's face, which was made of tree bark and vines, became more and more obvious, and the vines around him swayed gently. "Your Majesty, you are too attached to appearances."

"Um?"

"I am just a tree, my feelings are not that complicated, so I can't distinguish between friendship, love, or family affection. However, I just want to ask you one question: if I'm wrong, are you willing to give up?"

"..." Ah Yin fell silent.

Give up?

How could I possibly give up?

We finally got everything back on track, is this the end?

If that's the case, why should she stay in a place like Spirit City for so long, enduring scorn and loneliness?

But it was precisely because she was unwilling to give up that her heart became increasingly painful and lost.

The more gentle and kind a person is, the more likely they are to feel guilty and remorseful for the harm they have caused to others, leading to inner turmoil.

"... Your Majesty, I have seen many human beings, and the grudges and hatreds that arise from various emotions."

"The ethical principles and norms that humans speak of are the established systems and rules that gradually formed to create a community, build a society, and maintain order. However, these rules also change with the times. Different social classes of people need to abide by different rules."

"You spent too little time in the human world, so you don't have a deep understanding of it, but I have seen far too much..."

"I also know that in addition to having abundant and complex emotions, humans also have desires and ambitions that are difficult for other living beings to reach, all kinds of grand aspirations and dreams, and a free spirit that constantly tries to break free of its shackles."

"However, many people, either due to the helplessness of life or the pressure of worldly affairs, can only eventually integrate into the collective rules called 'ordinariness' and 'order.' But in the beginning, who didn't have dreams and impulses?"

"But, Your Majesty, you are different. You are no ordinary person. You are a king among men, the only Blue Silver Emperor in the world. Why would you needlessly imprison yourself in chains?"

The calm and kind voice of the Blue Silver King slowly entered her ears.

"What were your reasons for wanting to integrate into human society in the first place? What were your original intentions? Do you still remember them now? Did you simply take human form for the purpose of cultivation?"

"My... original aspiration?"

Wishing all our readers a Happy New Year and a prosperous Year of the Dragon!