Chapter 298: Inner Sage, Outer King

The words exploded through the crowd like a bomb!

King Yuse's son! The true Prince!

The earlier attacks calling the bloodline "lowborn" and "of unknown origin" now sound like a joke.

If even the legitimate Prince lacks the right to inherit the Royal Throne, who then has the right?

The nobles, especially the few who had been the most quarrelsome earlier, suddenly wore very sour expressions.

There was shock, disbelief, but more so helplessness and frustration.

They can question an adopted son, can question the notion of Destiny, but they dare not openly refute Merlin's own verification of the Royal Family's bloodline, nor ignore Merlin's unfathomable power.

Before ironclad facts and absolute power, all opposition appears pale and feeble.

Lord Ruirike inhaled deeply, stepped forward first, bowed slightly to Merlin and Arthur, and said with a complicated tone, "So… the Prince has returned."

"Since it is the former king's bloodline and has been endorsed by the Stone Sword, we… ought to comply."

But he then shifted his words and proposed a seemingly reasonable delay.

"However, the Prince has been living in the countryside, just returned to the Royal Capital, and needs time to become familiar with state affairs, noble customs, and the coronation ceremony."

"If the accession is rushed, it may not be good for the nation."

"I think we should first prepare properly, wait until everything is arranged, then choose an auspicious day for the coronation ceremony; that would be more proper."

"What does everyone think?"

The other nobles immediately understood and echoed, "Lord Ruirike is right!"

"Accession is a national affair; we cannot be too hasty."

"Indeed, we truly need to prepare well."

They intend to use 'need to prepare' and 'need time' as excuses to delay this sudden power transfer, giving themselves room to respond and scheme.

Merlin's deep gaze swept over these scheming nobles, his mind as clear as a polished mirror.

But he neither exposed them nor forced anything.

He knows some matters must follow their course, and he merely gave a faint smile, as if he had long anticipated this:

"Everyone has considered this thoroughly; then as you say, let's prepare first."

"Arthur, Kai, we should go."

Having said that, he no longer paid attention to the nobles' varied expressions, placed one hand lightly on Arthur's shoulder, and gestured for Kai to follow.

A soft teleportation light flashed, and the three figures vanished from the cemetery.

A group of bewildered, each with different thoughts, nobles remained, along with a Royal Capital about to be fully ignited by this earth‑shattering news.

Today, the news that the Stone Sword has recognized its master and the wayward Prince has returned will, like a wildfire, spread swiftly to every corner of Britain under Merlin's authoritative endorsement.

The seed has already been sown; now we wait for it to take root and sprout on this land, until it grows into an unshakable towering tree.

The game of power has entered a new round.

At dusk, the setting sun painted the hill's grassland with a warm golden hue.

Arthur arrived at the familiar slope as instructed, and saw Yu Lin standing with his back to him, gazing at the distant mountain silhouettes.

"Teacher, I have arrived," Arthur said respectfully.

Yu Lin did not turn around, merely gave the grass beside him a casual pat and said, "Sit down."

Arthur sat beside him, hands on his knees, appearing somewhat restrained.

He hasn't yet decided how to start speaking.

"What is your doubt?" Yu Lin asked first, his gaze still fixed on the distance.

Arthur was slightly startled, then lowered his head, his voice dropping a few tones: "Teacher, I feel… I seem to have hit a bottleneck."

"My strength will soon be unable to improve further."

He lifted his head, confusion and resentment in his eyes: "I want to know why. With my talent and your guidance, it shouldn't be just like this."

Yu Lin, hearing this, finally turned his head toward him, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth:

"Because you are not yet ready to become a king."

Arthur fell silent.

He offered no rebuttal, only his bewildered expression grew clearer—Yu Lin had hit upon his inner concern.

Seeing his silence, Yu Lin continued calmly:

"In my hometown, the ancestors spoke of a principle—Inner Sage and Outer King."

"It means one must first cultivate one's virtue to the level of a saint before truly walking the path of a ruler."

"Becoming a ruler, the ultimate goal is not how much land one conquers, but winning the people's hearts; when the people truly support you, the world will naturally submit to you."

"So now, do you think you possess this qualification?"

Arthur remained silent for longer.

The evening wind brushed the grass, producing a soft rustle.

He recalled his experiences over the years—growing under Merlin's protection, strengthening under his teaching, fighting alongside his brothers.

He has defeated enemies, protected villages, but is his conduct sufficient? Does he truly understand what the people of this land need? Is he truly ready to shoulder the responsibility of the entire kingdom?

In the end, he honestly shook his head: "No."

Yu Lin patted his shoulder, stood up, and said, "Then start today—go out and travel."

"Leave here, go see the true state of this country, and understand the lives of your future subjects."

"Let everyone witness with their own eyes that Arthur is becoming a worthy ruler."

Having said that, Yu Lin walked toward the path down the hill, never looking back.

Watching his teacher's receding figure, Arthur suddenly stood and shouted loudly toward that direction:

"Teacher! Then are you a saint?"

Yu Lin didn't stop walking, he just waved his hand casually.

His voice drifted on the wind, clear in Arthur's ear, but it quickly faded into the dusk air:

"I've only ever talked about this kind of thing, never done it."

"You, teacher, I'm a layman."

Arthur stood in place, staring at the direction where Yu Lin vanished, unmoving for a long time.

The setting sun stretched his shadow long.

"Inner Sage Outer King." Arthur whispered.

He turned, walked toward the village, came before Merlin and Ekete, and said:

"Father, Merlin Grandpa, I want to go traveling!"

"I support!"

Before they could speak, Kai, who had been eavesdropping, was the first to voice support, patting his chest and saying:

"I'll go with Arthur!"

Ekete frowned, about to say something, when Merlin nodded and said:

"It's time to go out and have a look, go pack things."

"Tomorrow I'll go with you."

"Hmm, Kai, you have to stay; I can't look after two people."

Kai: ".........."