Chapter 1047: with translation of chapter title

""No worries, be direct — that's more your style." Tibao looked at him seriously, "Xiao Di, *we* want to ask… what did you see in the Nicadoli trial?""

""…That which frightens me." Wandi gave a self‑mocking laugh, "Ironic? The dictionary of Xuanfengcheng people shouldn't even have the word 'fear'.""

Tibao then asked, "Do you think… you have a chance to defeat it? That thing that frightens you?"

"Is this also part of your plan?"

"What do you mean?"

Wandi spoke frankly, "Aglaea knows that Bai E might fail…… letting me become his substitute, that's what you originally planned."

Tibao squeezed out an embarrassed smile: "…Well. Looks like you understand everything."

Wandi said candidly, "I bear no blame. The Fire Pursuit Journey is no child's play—I've long been aware of that. The conflicts have fallen, the threat of Heichi has intensified again… if Sesshis and Oronis are also affected, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Yes. They are the only two Titans still sane and willing to coexist with humanity."

"It's a pity, the key to completing the trial isn't me. If we want to overcome that fear, I need the help of other Xuanfeng people. Give me some time to talk with my kin… it won't take long."

"Oh, many hands make light work, right? But a demigod's trial ultimately falls on the individual… Xiao Di, your people… have always been awaiting a new king's coronation, right?" Tibao smiled, "If the divine authority passes to you, they will surely follow willingly… because you are the hero of Xuanfengcheng."

"I used to be. And this, Miss Aglaea…" Wandi slowly walked to the edge of the golden heir bathhouse, leaned on the railing and looked down, able to see the bustling crowd playing in the large bath. Faintly, he seemed to hear children chasing, young couples' impatient quarrels, toddlers' whimpering cries.

Wandi slowly closed his eyes.

"…This is my deepest fear."

——

Is it wrong to seek an encounter in the dungeon?

"Wandi's innermost fear…… so what exactly is it?" Weierfu hasn't figured it out yet.

"It probably refers to Wandi's people, right?" Liriluka shook her head, "Actually, from the very beginning, Wandi's willingness to lead his followers to Aohema shows he sincerely hopes the Xuanfeng people can emerge from the endless 'conflict'… completely break free from that cycle of slaughter. Right now, what he most likely fears is the Xuanfeng people abandoning the peaceful life in Aohema and following him into 'conflict', rendering all his efforts over the years wasted."

"Then wouldn't he from now on only be able to be a lonely ruler?"

"Those who stand on the mountaintop are lonely." Liriluka held her warm mug of wheat tea, "To be frank, if Wandi has to face Heichi alone in the future, his title of 'king' would be nominal only. But I think since the day he killed his father, he's probably had little interest in the throne."

"To give up a throne? What a pity."

Weierfu pouted regretfully, "How many people want to be king their whole life but never get to be? Wandi, on the other hand—his father said kill and he killed, he has no interest in the throne, and the sole source of his fear is still that his people might follow him… Surely this person has no personal desires at all?"

"Hmm, listening to Weierfu's tone…… could he be eyeing someone else's throne?" Liriluka glanced over with a mischievous look and hehehed.

"What? Cough cough…… I certainly wouldn't fantasize about such things."

"Weierfu, what you crave might actually be what they despise; conversely, the peace we take for granted is exactly what they seek." Liriluka gazed at Wandi's silhouette against the sky and couldn't help admiring, "…What that adult likely wants to create is a world where everyone is equal, with no nobility, no conflict."

——

Wandi intended to go to the hot spring baths to find his people; on the way he happened to meet several children playing by the roadside, who instantly recognized him.

They are all Xuanfeng's children, currently playing hide‑and‑seek with Grandfather Kelatus. Wandi also happened to have business with him, and after learning his whereabouts, he planned to send these kids away from the hot spring area.

"Your Highness, the Prince!" As they were parting, a child called out to Wandi's back.

"What else?"

"I've heard people say the fire seed of Nicadoli has already been taken back by you…" a little boy asked innocently, "We… will we be able to go home soon?"

"……" Like being stabbed hard by a dagger, Wandi's face twitched imperceptibly, but quickly returned to normal. Wandi said solemnly, "You few, have you ever been to Xuanfengcheng?"

"You were born in the Holy City, living no differently from the Aohema people; your knowledge of the tribe comes only from hearsay. You've never even seen that heavenly blade… if so, how can you talk about returning home?"

The little boy shook his head firmly: "Because this isn't home. Dad and Mom said the children of Xuanfeng are born holding sharp swords, destined for the battlefield."

Another child excitedly added, "They also said the prince's lone Xuanfeng army is the most courageous force in Wulfaross, invincible in battle."

The last child lowered his head somewhat dejectedly, "The kids in the Holy City don't want to play with us. Knowing Dad and Mom are Xuanfeng, they keep their distance…" Saying this, the child put his hands on his hips and lifted his chin proudly, "But we don't care. Everyone knows that one day the prince will bring us back to our homeland."

——

Demon Slayer

"How hopeless…"

When hearing these thoughts come from the children's tender mouths, Ganlu Si felt a sharp pain in his chest. It was as if a drop of indescribable sourness dripped from the position of his heart, spreading outward in circles, quickly filling his entire chest cavity.

Even she felt this way; she really couldn't imagine what kind of storm Wandi's heart was undergoing right now.

If it were an elderly Xuanfeng citizen with deep‑rooted beliefs, Wandi might still be able to convince himself. But children have accepted this notion since childhood, so nothing is more suffocating than what we see before us.

"If even the children think this way, what will those adults in Xuanfengcheng think?" Yihei Xiao Ba Nei could foresee that Wandi's resistance ahead would be immense; in the worst case, he might have to accept that fire seed alone amidst the incomprehension and curses of the entire Xuanfeng people.

Ahead lay the advancing Heichi; behind were the spear‑like words of the people he wanted to protect; under this double pressure…… Yihei feared this would overwhelm Wandi's spirit, ultimately causing him to follow in Nicadoli's footsteps.