The old woman's expression suddenly darkened.
Only fifty years had passed. And yet the royal family back then had already fallen to a point where everyone called for their heads?
No, that was impossible. This person was definitely trying to deceive her.
The old woman stared intently at Yun Jin, her voice sharp: "Who exactly are you? What's your purpose in spinning these lies?"
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly: "Do you really think your current state is worth me lying about?"
She scanned the old woman from head to toe.
Immediately, the old woman's face twisted into an uglier expression.
Indeed.
She was nothing more than a prisoner, a useless shell. Deceiving her wouldn't achieve anything. After a long pause, she said coldly: "Even if everything you say is true, what can I do now? It's all just empty words, either way."
Yun Jin clapped her hands on her hips and stepped forward: "Originally, I had a bit of news about King Stone to tell you. But thinking about it… you're a useless shell. Even if you knew where King Stone was, what could you do with it? Forget it, forget it, I'll just be on my way."
She turned to leave.
"King Stone?"
The old woman suddenly moved, the chains rattling violently. Seeing Yun Jin about to leave the bamboo house, she called out anxiously: "Wait!"
Yun Jin paused, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Yes?"
"You… you know where King Stone is?" The old woman's eyes shone with eager hope. "You… you know Zhi Yin?"
Yun Jin casually sat back down: "Then you'll have to tell me the story of this Zhi Yin before I can say whether I know her."
The old woman stared at Yun Jin.
Yun Jin returned the gaze without a hint of fear.
The old woman gritted her teeth: "You managed to break through that rebellious woman's defenses to get here. You clearly have some skill. That story isn't a secret anymore, so I might as well tell you. Just… after hearing it, I hope you'll keep your promise and tell me where King Stone is."
Yun Jin blinked: "Keep my promise? When did I ever make a promise to you?"
"You!!" The old woman's anger flared.
Yun Jin remained calm: "Whether I tell you or not, I decide. You don't exactly have the right to bargain with me."
This old woman was most likely the previous king of the Shi Tribe, very possibly a blood relative of Third Senior Brother.
But.
Blood ties aside, whether to reveal King Stone's whereabouts depended on whether she was worth it, and whether Third Senior Brother approved.
The old woman glared at Yun Jin, her pride stung. After a long pause, she finally sat back down, her face weary and defeated.
"Indeed. In my current state, I don't have the right to negotiate with anyone." She paused before continuing in a quieter tone: "The Shi Tribe reveres spirit stones, cultivating them for generations. Every Shi Tribe child is born with a companion spirit stone. There are several ranks: the most ordinary are Common Stones, stronger ones are Heavenly Stones, and the strongest are Royal Stones. Most of the royal family and nobles have either Heavenly or Royal Stones."
She pressed her lips together before speaking again: "The royal family is royal because our line has a chance to possess a unique King Stone!
The King Stone holds immense power. Whoever possesses one, unless they die prematurely, is destined to become the strongest in the Shi Tribe! But the appearance of a King Stone is extremely rare. Sometimes, it takes generations to produce one. Once a King Stone emerges, that person is destined to be the next ruler of the Shi Tribe. No one in the clan would dispute this!"
Yun Jin's eyes flickered slightly.
So.
Third Senior Brother's mother, who possessed a King Stone, was originally the rightful king of the Shi Tribe!
"Is that so? If the King Stone is so supreme, why does someone who possesses it have no standing in the Shi Tribe?" Yun Jin's voice carried a hint of mockery.
The old woman looked at Yun Jin, her expression eager: "You've truly met Zhi Yin."
Yun Jin merely remained silent.
The old woman took a deep breath and continued: "Yes, someone with a King Stone should be born a ruler."
A flash of pain crossed her face: "Many years ago, I bore two children at the same time. They were twin sisters, identical in appearance, but their fates differed. Zhi Yin was born with a King Stone, a natural ruler. Zhi Yue, on the other hand, had a Royal Stone.
Normally, carrying a Royal Stone is already exceptional. King Stones appear once in generations. Even I only have a Royal Stone. But because they were twins, one had a King Stone and the other a Royal Stone, the contrast was unavoidable.
From the start, I raised Zhi Yin to be a ruler. All resources, all treasures, went to her first.
Zhi Yin was destined to be supreme. My actions were only natural. But I overlooked Zhi Yue's feelings. Growing up side by side with her twin, treated so differently, jealousy festered in her heart.
Over the years, that jealousy shaped her nature."
The old woman sighed: "Zhi Yin was kind-hearted. She never imagined that her sister, who grew up with her and shared a deep bond, secretly plotted to kill her every day. I didn't notice either. Unknowingly, Zhi Yue's resentment had reached an irreparable point."
The old woman paused: "Zhi Yue used Zhi Yin's trust to trick her into drinking a poison targeting spirit stones. Zhi Yin trusted her sister completely, never suspected a thing. She drank the potion without hesitation, only to find her King Stone corrupted, its power unusable.
Zhi Yue wanted to kill her, but she forced herself to use the King Stone's energy and escaped. She vanished without a trace."
Sadness flickered in the old woman's eyes: "Zhi Yin was a born ruler. If she'd stayed, all nobles would have willingly accepted her as king. No one would have dared to challenge her."
Yun Jin listened quietly.
The old woman composed herself and continued: "After Zhi Yin left, Zhi Yue initially pretended ignorance, hiding the fact that she attacked her sister. Later, I began to suspect something and uncovered the truth. I was furious, ready to kill that scoundrel. But she knelt before me, crying pitifully, saying she had strayed, promising to spend the rest of her life finding Zhi Yin and earning her forgiveness.
She was still my daughter. I was soft-hearted and spared her life. Zhi Yue even pretended to repent sincerely, but I didn't realize it was all an act!"