Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

For just a few seconds, it was quiet, completely and utterly silent. And then she broke it, looking at Xing Hou.     

"I hope that I'm not too late for the ceremony?" she asked.      

After doing so, she grabbed the beast's corpse over her shoulder and plopped it next to her.      

"I came bearing a gift to celebrate. Well... a few gifts."     

Everyone looked at her with utter confusion, not knowing what to think of this random stranger at their door. Xing Long stared at her before turning his attention toward the corpse. His eyes narrowed as he walked forward to get a better look.      

It didn't take him more than a second to recognize the corpse.      

"That's... the Frostflame Bear King!" he muttered out loud.      

"What?!"     

"That can't be true!"      

Hearing him say this, the entire subjugation force and even the elders rushed forward, surrounding the corpse. Each and every one of them took a close look, going as far as touching the fur and studying the wounds.      

Ming Yue took a step back, looking at them before turning to Xing Hou and Xing Juren.      

"Err, is there a problem? What's this about a Frostflame Bear King?" she asked.      

Before either of them could say anything, the leader of the Subjugation Force, Dugu Qian, quickly approached her. He looked at her from head to toe, sizing the cultivator up.      

"You are certainly not from the kingdom. Who are you? Why have you come to the Royal Clan?"      

Standing tall, he was two heads over her and certainly much less fragile looking.      

She looked back at him before looking past the man, towards Xing Hou. It was then that Xing Juren stepped forward.      

"That is our guest, Ming Yue, my sister and I crossed paths with her during the Initiation. She is also someone from Heaven's Gate. After hearing about the ceremony for my sister's Ten-Year Trial, she must've wanted to bring a gift."     

As he said this, he had a smile on his face.      

Taking this as a signal, Ming Yue nodded, cupping her fists and boring.      

"Yes, they helped me navigate through the mountains. When they told me that Xing Hou was to undergo a ceremony, I felt that a gift was appropriate. Forgive me, I didn't know how much time had passed so I rushed here as soon as I was able to leave", she added.      

Dugu Qian opened his mouth to speak before a hand appeared, pushing him back a bit.      

Stepping in between them was Xing Long, he glanced at Dugu Qian sternly before facing Ming Yue.      

"Do you know that you've brought back the corpse of a Frostflame Bear King? All of these experts were gathered here for the purpose of hunting this beast. It would've been a dangerous journey but you've brought it back to us, a monstrous creature that could've endangered the kingdom. For that, I must thank you as the king."     

He then lowered his head in front of everyone.      

Ming Yue put her hand forward to stop him from going any lower.      

"Please, I benefitted greatly from this as well. And well..."     

She then leaned forward, whispering into his ear.      

"That is not the only one."     

As she said this, the cultivator gestured towards her spatial ring for him to see. Once he noticed, his face barely moved but his eyes widened. He looked up at her about to open his mouth before she just nodded.      

Seconds later, he straightened himself up and let out a tired sigh.      

Turning around to face Dugu QIan and everyone else, Xing Long spoke out.      

"It seems like the subjugation has been completed before it even began. In many ways, it is a blessing that such danger has passed without any harm befalling any of us. In fact, this calls for a celebration! A feast using the flesh of the Frostflame Bear King! I invite all clans to join in on the festivities! Invitations will be sent out immediately!"      

He stepped aside and gestured toward Ming Yue.      

"As my children have said, she is a guest of ours and will be treated as such. I hope that you will all treat her with respect. But for now, let's disperse and prepare to celebrate this wonderful news."     

Saying this with a great smile, his words were met with cheers from the people.      

Ming Yue looked at Xing Hou and Xing Juren, both of which smiled at her.      

But she felt several stares coming from others.     

Both the elders and the warriors of the subjugation force clapped and cheered as well. However, some could not mask the sullen expression on their faces. What could've been an opportunity for fame and glory had been snatched away by another person.      

"Mm, hopefully, this wouldn't turn troublesome", she thought to herself.     

Xing Long then glanced over his shoulder, whispering something.      

"Go join my children over there, They'll be able to get you somewhere quiet while I deal with this."      

The pair shared a quick look before she nodded and walked towards them, eventually standing by their side. In the meantime, the king took a step towards the subjugation force, grabbing their attention and pointing over to the corpse.      

"Come! Let's bring this beast back!" he shouted.      

Ming Yue watched as they moved forward, each grabbing a part of the beast and lifting it with ease. She felt a tug on her sleeve, turning to see Xing Hou all giddy and full of joy.      

"Come, come! Once we get back home, you have to tell us what happened!"      

The cultivator smiled and nodded, following her.      

Looking down, Ming Yue called for Xiao Yin and Hei Yue, who followed the battered cultivator. Just like her, they were both weary and tired, clinging close to her.      

The group moved through the streets quite quickly, arriving at the manor. Once inside, both siblings left her with a few attendants, all of whom went to bathe and clean her up. They even prepared baths for the owl and the fox.      

"Ah, I can clean myself up. There's no need for this help."     

She tried her best to refuse it but none of them listened.      

"Ah look at you, you're a mess! How much time did you spend in those mountains?!"     

"You need to take care of yourself you know! You're still young and so dainty! We need to put some meat on those bones!"      

Ming Yue may have defeated a Frostflame Bear King in a duel to the death but she definitely lost against these fussy attendants. Next thing she knew, she was washed down and dried clean before dressed in more casual clothing. The same applied to the two beasts, their bodies freshly dried and soft to the touch.      

Instead of her armor, it was a sleeveless robe alongside flowing pants and slippers. All of her equipment had been stored in her room which she was soon led to.      

It didn't take long before she was called to dinner which was being held in a banquet hall with multiple tables. This was, of course, not the real celebration but an early one for those of the subjugation force.      

With the attendant leading her, Ming Yue moved toward the front of the hall and was seated with the Royal Family. Xing Juren, Xing Hou, as well as their parents, and their grandfather all looked at her as she took her seat.      

In fact, the hall was quiet the moment she entered though the conversation started back up again.      

Looking at each and every one of them, Ming Yue greeted both the parents and the grandfather.      

"I sincerely apologize for today. I was not expecting to have hunted a beast that you were preparing for."     

Xing Long put a hand up to stop her.      

"There's no need to apologize. You have done our kingdom a great duty by killing that beast. So young and yet so accomplished! It should be our honor to host someone of your reputation."