When Fang Zheng brought the Witch Queen into the room, nearly everyone inside was stunned.
"High Priestess!!"
The White Miao Tribe's chieftain rushed over, dropping to her knees before the Witch Queen. Zhao Ling'er stood there in a daze as well, staring blankly at her mother. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to say something, but no words came out.
"My child..."
The Witch Queen saw Zhao Ling'er as well. Or rather, the instant she entered, all her attention had been fixed on her daughter. She quickly walked up to Zhao Ling'er and tremblingly reached out her hand. Her memory of her daughter remained frozen at the time before they fled the Royal Palace, when she had been a six-year-old little girl. Yet in the blink of an eye, ten years had passed. That little girl had grown into a graceful young woman.
"Mother—!!"
Zhao Ling'er cried out and threw herself into the Witch Queen's embrace. Before long, mother and daughter were weeping in each other's arms. The others could not help but sigh at the sight.
"Whew. No matter what, that settles one thing."
Fang Zheng nodded in satisfaction at the scene. Then, just then, a reckless voice burst in from outside the door.
"Mother! I found the Wind Spirit Pearl!"
Hearing those words, everyone hurriedly looked toward the door. A fourteen-year-old girl dressed in Miao clothing ran in happily, holding a Wind Spirit Pearl high in her hand. Seeing everyone in the room, she froze. The White Miao Tribe's chieftain sighed helplessly and hurriedly got to her feet.
"Anu, come pay your respects to the High Priestess!"
"Huh? The High Priestess? Huh? High Priestess?"
The girl named Anu widened her round eyes, her mouth hanging open as wide as an egg as she stared dumbfoundedly at the