My sister is Luna

Having kept the matter of turning Zhang San into a vampire in mind, Cain returned to the Dragon Gate Inn.

But there was already someone waiting there.

Kain pushed open the door and saw a person dressed in armor sitting on a wooden stool, seemingly having been waiting for him for a long time. There was also a helmet on the wooden table.

“You are…” Cain said hesitantly. This attire was that of a general of Xuan Yong, indicating that his whereabouts had been discovered and he had come to the attention of some high-ranking officials. Although he hadn’t made any special effort to hide, otherwise he wouldn’t have come in a carriage with Jing Yao and registered to enter the city.

Not only did they know I came to Xuanyong, but they also knew I was staying at the Longmen Inn. Was I being followed?

Cain thought to himself.

Could it be the proprietress?

Recalling how the landlady had asked so many questions before, Cain guessed, but he wasn't sure yet.

"I am Meng Tian, ​​and I have long admired the name of the great hero Kaiyin who guarded the Great Wall."

Upon seeing the newcomer, Meng Tian immediately stood up and bowed to Cain. At 1.9 meters tall, he was slightly taller than Cain. His imposing armor exuded a sense of oppression, like a towering and steadfast mountain. His voice was righteous, clear, and unambiguous.

With his upright features, bright and intelligent eyes, and a unique blend of literary talent and martial prowess, he exudes an extraordinary aura that makes him instantly recognizable and leaves a lasting impression.

Meng Tian, ​​a man of integrity and uprightness, comes from a family of renowned generals. A prodigy skilled in both literature and martial arts, he is the current Grand General of Xuan Yong and one of the empire's two pillars. While his individual combat abilities are average, his military strategy is unmatched across the continent. He is renowned throughout the continent for his exceptional military command, is adept at using military formations, and his army is known for its strict discipline, strength, and ferocity, earning it the title of Xuan Yong's formidable force.

Unexpectedly, a very important person came.

"I dare not accept such an honor. I never expected that the Great General Protector of Xuanyong would grace us with his presence. I am truly flattered." While thinking about this information, Cain returned the greeting and said calmly.

"No need to be modest. Your achievements are no less than mine. With Xuan Yong's military merit system, your merit in guarding the Great Wall in times of crisis is enough to make you a general. By the way, Longmen Inn is an official Xuan Yong inn run by Feng Qu. I came here uninvited after I knew you were here. Please forgive me."

Meng Tian and Cain sat on opposite sides of the table, and their conversation resolved Cain's previous doubts.

"It's nothing. I wonder what General Meng wants with me? The army must still need you..."

"No need to be so polite, just call me Meng Tian."

“Alright, Brother Meng Tian,” Cain replied readily.

“Well, Cain, to get back to the point, I’ve come today because His Majesty has heard that you are an extraordinary person and would like to meet you. I wonder if you have the time…” Meng Tian extended an invitation.

“This…” Cain hesitated.

Logically speaking, meeting with Ying Zheng, the ruler of Xuan Yong, and gaining his favor would greatly help his investigation of the vampires. However, it might also alert the enemy if he made too big a move, since Mi Yue was imprisoned deep in the palace, and he didn't believe she didn't have spies.

However, investigating alone was somewhat ineffective. He could only gather information from one source and it would take a lot of time, unlike Xuan Yong, who had a complete intelligence organization and system. Their intelligence was much more detailed than Cain's alone.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems that I could go and meet Ying Zheng, as the two of them should have some common ground on the issue of vampires.

“Of course, I don’t have any important business lately, so it would be my honor if His Majesty Ying Zheng wanted to see me,” Cain replied.

"Alright, shall we leave now? His Majesty can also invite you to a banquet in the palace." Meng Tian nodded calmly.

"Let's go."

……

Entering the magnificent palace and passing through solemn corridors, Meng Tian led Kaiyin to a large hall, which seemed to be a place specifically for receiving guests.

The space here is spacious, clean, and tidy, with no superfluous items. There is a large wooden square table, ten chairs, four on each side and one at each end, and strips of red cloth decorating the entrance. The hall has only these simple items, but it does not feel shabby. The placement and decoration are just right, in accordance with the laws of nature. It is as if there is a world within the square.

With the windows wide open, golden sunlight streamed in, filling the space and giving the entire hall a bright, dignified, and elegant appearance.

Cain waited and toured the area, while Meng Tian left to summon Ying Zheng.

For a moment, he was all alone. Cain stared idly at a mural in the hall—vibrant in color, yet exuding a profound sense of antiquity and age.

The painting depicts a black bird spreading its wings as if about to take flight, its eyes sparkling with a unique spirituality. Its head is raised high as if it is about to cry out to the sky, and behind it is an ancient and vast world, like a nascent world that has just been created.

Beneath the long, graceful tail feathers shaped like scissors, a pair of abstract arms, outlined by lines, are outstretched in a cupping motion, seemingly to catch the green egg falling from mid-air, or perhaps to look up in worship of the black bird. At the very bottom, healthy and vigorous rice seedlings serve as the final touch.

On either side of the proudly standing bird's head, a pair of suns and moons gaze at each other from afar. One side is light, illuminating all things in the world, while the other side is darkness, where all things are at peace and asleep.

The murals are ingeniously conceived, resembling the Dunhuang murals that Cain saw in his previous life. They are amazing, extremely delicate, incredibly lively, and lifelike, yet they contain a deep ancient charm. They are probably the only precious and luxurious thing in this hall.

This is the entire mural that Cain saw: magnificent, spectacular, grand, epic, and mesmerizing. It was as if the ancient, primordial landscape was right before his eyes, and the long, clear birdsong echoed in his ears. In an instant, he felt as if he were in the ancient world.

Although it is called a mural, it is more like a totem, the totem of the Qin Dynasty's Xuanyong.

Cain couldn't help but wonder what it meant.

"The composite totem, consisting of a black bird dropping its egg, offerings made with both hands, and a seedling, tells the legend and history of the origin of Xuanyong. The ancestor of Xuanyong of the Great Qin Dynasty was Hua, the daughter of the Youqiao clan. She swallowed a swallow's egg and gave birth to Boyi, who was the male ancestor of Xuanyong. The female ancestor was Hua, the daughter of the Youqiao clan."

A majestic yet youthful voice rang out, and a white-haired king approached, speaking to the thoughtful Cain.

The imperial robes were decorated with black, red, and gold, highlighting his supreme and noble status.

"Did Xuanyong come into being because of this divine bird?" Cain pointed to the Xuan bird in the mural.

"That's right. Legend has it that when our ancestors first came here, the land was barren. A black bird descended to earth and, out of compassion, used its eggs to save the starving people. It brought crops for them to cultivate, multiply, and thrive. Then it flew away to a distant place. To remember its kindness, our ancestors used the black bird as the totem of their tribe, so that their descendants would remember this kindness and never forget it."

The meaning behind the totem is truly touching; what a romantic and magical legend and history it is!

The speaker was Ying Zheng. He had come to see Cain engrossed in looking at the murals, so he used this topic to start a conversation and let him experience the ancient charm of Xuan Yong.

"This is what the ancestral book says," Ying Zheng added.

"It is said that swallows and crows are the incarnations of the Black Bird."

"Then what is the meaning of the sun and moon being so far apart?" Cain asked.

"As for the sun and moon, they are the same myths and legends related to the black bird that have been passed down in Xuanyong since ancient times—the Legend of the White Night."

Ying Zheng smiled and said, seemingly treating the legend as a joke.

"Legend has it that a black bird descended from the heavens to bestow blessings, and our ancestors possessed this land. At the same time, it also granted us the power to protect this land. When the black and white twins descend, the divine children, who are mutually reinforcing and restraining, will balance the world. Xuan Yong will usher in prosperity and flourishing. The daytime will illuminate the world, and everyone will be bathed in the light of the day. There will be no injustice. The night will be as quiet as ink, with twinkling stars, and all things will rest. The world will be at peace, and there will be no worries for all generations."

"The White Night God protects the day and the night. Light and shadow follow each other. You are in me and I am in you. Black and white are in harmony, like yin and yang, keeping the world in balance and preventing it from collapsing."

"This also reflects the idea of ​​balance in all things at that time," Ying Zheng said with some emotion.

"By the way, the Jixia Library also has a book adapted from this legend, called 'The White Night Prince,' which is a fairy tale. The sage Zhuangzi once told me about it."

"What an enchanting sight this is! It must be a description of the once-powerful Xuan Yong." Cain marveled at this legendary history and tale.

"It's just a legend. The story of the Black Bird establishing the kingdom is also a legend. It's a mix of truth and fiction, with exaggerated or embellished artistic elements. Maybe our ancestors killed the demonic seed of this Black Bird and took its essence to establish the first kingdom." Ying Zheng didn't care at all and made a surprising statement.

"what?"

Cain was taken aback. Didn't Ying Zheng fear being lectured by those old fogies in the royal family for uttering such treasonous words? As far as he knew, imperial families valued these things, the authority of the royal family.

“Legends aren’t all false, but some of them have some basis in fact, and some even have a degree of truth to them,” Cain said.

"Who knows? But with thousands of years of history, the passage of time can erase everything. Who can truly distinguish between truth and falsehood?"

Ying Zheng waved his hand casually, pulled out the chair at the head of the square table, and sat down.

"To know the truth or falsehood of the past, we must pick up the history books in our hands and compare them with the world."

“I agree with that statement. Truth can always withstand the test, while lies are easily exposed, as long as you take action to verify it,” Cain nodded and said.

"It seems we are surprisingly in agreement on this point; action is the most powerful reward." Ying Zheng gave Cain an approving look.

"Now that we've finished recounting the myths and legends, let's get back to the main topic, Cain. What is your purpose in coming to Xuanyong?"

Changing the subject, Ying Zheng stared directly at Cain.

At this moment, the kingly aura of a monarch pressed down on Cain.

……