The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 472 Awakening
What?! Zhao Ti's eyes widened, a chilling aura emanating from them. He activated the Four Illuminations Divine Skill, which enveloped his body in a radiant glow that flickered and shifted continuously.

Why did I momentarily lose focus just now?

It felt like a daze; it was only a moment, but it felt like a long time had passed.

Is it...

His gaze was fixed on the Feather Spirit in the small crystal coffin in front of him. Just now, the Feather Spirit's eyelashes had actually trembled.

The little figure was surrounded by scattered halos of light, sleeping peacefully with a pure and gentle appearance, like a masterpiece carefully sculpted by the Creator. It was exquisitely beautiful with a touch of childlike innocence, making one reluctant to even breathe heavily, for fear of disturbing this tranquil beauty.

There was no mistake in his eyes. Zhao Ti's expression was full of vigilance as he stared at those small, fan-like eyelashes. He circulated his internal energy within his body, causing his hair to flutter even without wind.

Could it be that the feathered creature has come back to life? Was my momentary daze just now influenced by this celestial demon?
This is not a good thing. Should we destroy her immediately? We couldn't bear to do it before, but we can't wait any longer. The resurrection of the Heavenly Demon is such an astonishing event. Even if she is no longer as powerful as before, and there is only one, if we don't kill her in advance, it will surely cause a bloodbath in the world.

Zhao Ti slowly raised his hand and reached into the crystal coffin, aiming at Yu Ling's delicate and snow-white neck. He was now exerting almost all his power; if he gripped it tightly, even metal and stone would break.

Just as his hand was about to touch Yu Ling, the little girl's long, slightly curled eyelashes suddenly fluttered again.

Zhao Ti's hand paused involuntarily, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. At this moment, he was struggling intensely, his vigilance and complex emotions reaching their peak. He gritted his teeth and lowered his palm downwards.

But at this critical moment, Yu Ling's eyes suddenly opened quietly and obediently, as if flowers were blooming...

Yu Ling is awake! She's alive again!
Zhao Ti's expression changed drastically. The colors reflected on his face by the Four Illuminations Divine Skill resembled the painted statues in a temple, creating an indescribably strange and hazy effect.

At that moment, he seemed to see two vast, brilliant blue star rivers in his eyes, each with a uniquely beautiful, vibrant, crystal-clear star radiating light in the middle.

The Feather Spirit's eyes are actually blue?

Zhao Ti's heart suddenly stirred, and then he saw that the Milky Way was gradually becoming deep and dark, like a dark dream, and two stars were transformed into black gems.

It turned black again? Zhao Ti's pupils contracted. Just as he was about to continue pinching down to kill the tiny extraterrestrial demon, a sweet, melodious voice, more pleasant than a silver bell and clearer than a nightingale's, both lively and soft, suddenly rang in his ears: "Brother... Brother..."

Huh? Zhao Ti abruptly stopped what he was doing, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts: to kill or not to kill?

Although Yu Ling has awakened, she certainly doesn't possess the skills and abilities she once had, and it's impossible for her to have fully recovered. If I were to make a move now, it would still be highly likely that I could kill her with a single blow.

If I hesitate and wait too long, the other party may gradually recover, and I may not be able to kill the other party directly. I might even let the other party escape. After all, the other party is a Heavenly Demon, while I am just an ordinary person who has practiced martial arts. In terms of foundation and innate skills, I am definitely far inferior to the likes of a Heavenly Demon.

By the way, why does she call herself "brother"?

Is it because he hasn't regained his full power yet? The Heavenly Demon is cunning and ruthless, skilled at deception. Knowing that he is no match for him at this moment, he deliberately feigns weakness and uses words to sway him, making him reluctant to strike.

That must be it, but how could I be fooled by her? Such tricks might fool others, but I could never be moved by them.

He made up his mind and was about to strike again, but at that moment, he saw the little one blink her jewel-like eyes and murmur, "Brother, I'm still a little sleepy, I want to sleep a little longer..."

As she spoke, she moved her body lightly, turned to the side, closed her eyes, and fell back into a deep sleep.

Zhao Ti looked at that small, exquisite, and peerless body, the beautiful dress that seemed to be made of flower petals, and the snow-white skin on her arms and calves beneath the dress, as well as her pair of cute and delicate little feet that were only the length of her knuckles. He couldn't help but take a deep breath.

He stared into the coffin, his expression shifting constantly. He stared at Yu Ling's eyelashes, which trembled slightly, as if she were extremely tired and weary, making her look both pitiful and heartbreaking.

Zhao Ti's hand stopped, hovering motionless on the little boy's neck.

A full quarter of an hour passed before he slowly leaned back, his face expressionless, and slowly withdrew his somewhat stiff arm.

In the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it. If he hadn't woken up yet, he could have just killed him without hesitation. But the other party had already woken up and showed no signs of ferocity or terror. He was nothing like the legendary brutal demon. How could he just kill him so casually?

Zhao Ti sighed softly, sat in the chair and pondered for a long time. Finally, he gently closed the lid of the crystal coffin, then picked it up and placed it close to his body.

Although he didn't bring himself to do it in the end, he didn't let his guard down. He would never leave the crystal coffin for a moment. If there was any unusual activity, he would not be merciful and would destroy the small coffin as well!
After calming himself down and making up his mind, he blew out the lamp and went to bed.

The next morning, as soon as I got up and opened the door, Zhao Ling'er ran in carrying a small basin of water.

"What's going on?" Zhao Ti asked, puzzled.

"Big pot, I need to wipe the gourd clean." Zhao Ling'er put down the basin, shook out a piece of old cloth, and said crisply.

"Wipe the gourd?" Zhao Ti glanced at the top of the book box. The golden gourd wasn't actually that dirty, and there wasn't much dust on it. After all, Zhao Ling'er had been coming over to look at and play with it for the past few days, and even if there was some dust before, she had wiped it off.

"Oh, then you wipe yourself, I'm going to wash up." Zhao Ti shook his head and went out.

Zhao Ling'er excitedly soaked the old cloth in water, wrung it out, and began to wipe the gourd.

She couldn't distinguish between gold and bronze, so she just rubbed it as if it were a bronze gourd, as Zhao Ti had said. But the more she rubbed it, the brighter it became. She couldn't help but wonder why her father, who usually cherished and polished those bronze coins, never saw them shine like this. Could it be because this gourd was quite large?
She wiped more and more enthusiastically, her face flushed slightly, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

As the gourd's light grew brighter, she felt dizzy, seeing stars before her eyes, as if golden butterflies were fluttering in front of her.

"I feel so dizzy," Zhao Ling'er shook her head vigorously. Just as she was about to stop wiping, the gourd suddenly trembled, and then a golden light shot out, hitting her right between the eyebrows.

Ah! Zhao Ling'er was startled and lost her balance, taking a few steps back before falling to the ground with a thud.

She felt dizzy and a little scared. She got up and tried to run out the door, but then a golden light suddenly flashed between her eyebrows. She was struck as if by lightning and immediately stopped in her tracks, then stood there motionless.

Then I watched as her little face kept changing, showing surprise, panic, fear, confusion, and bewilderment, with various expressions appearing one after another, finally turning into extreme shock and thoughtfulness.

Her eyes, which were originally full of liveliness and playfulness, now faintly revealed a glimmer of realization and wisdom.

"Ling'er, dinner's ready," Zhao's mother called from outside.

"I know, Mother." Zhao Ling'er replied, then picked up the basin and rag from the ground and walked outside. Her steps were steady and dignified, completely different from her previous bouncing and impetuousness... After breakfast, Zhao Ti carried his book box to the state school. As soon as he entered the school and sat down, Mo Xun leaned over and whispered, "Brother Zhao, that matter is coming soon."

"What is it?" Zhao Ti asked, puzzled.

“Naturally…” Mo Xun glanced around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, whispered, “Naturally, it’s about the treasure that came out of Yuzhou.”

"Oh?" Zhao Ti asked, "Is that treasure about to be revealed?"

“That’s right!” Mo Xun nodded: “In about half a month, the treasure will be unveiled, and the competition among all parties will be extremely fierce.”

"If that's the case, then with the emergence of this treasure... won't Yuzhou be thrown into chaos for a while?" Zhao Ti pondered.

“There will definitely be chaos for a while. Yuzhou is already under curfew, and it is estimated that some places will be closed off in the days leading up to the treasure’s appearance, preventing ordinary people and tourists from going there. In particular, the approximate location where the treasure will appear will definitely be kept away from unauthorized personnel!” Mo Xun said.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ti couldn't help but think of Jade Spirit Lake. He had previously followed the Sima family girl to that lake and suspected that the lake's location was related to the place where the treasure was found. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Brother Mo, won't you go and participate?"

Mo Xun said, "Didn't I tell Brother Zhao last time that although I am a legitimate son, I am considered an outcast within the family? Such matters are reserved for the elite and the best; how could it be my turn?"

Zhao Ti pondered, "Brother Mo, do you know the exact location where the treasure was found?"

Mo Xun shook his head: "I only know that various families, including the imperial court, have calculated a general location. The specific location will not be known for several days. However, it will not be leaked to outsiders. I am not involved in this matter, so I certainly will not know, but my elder sister will."

"Hmm?" Zhao Ti looked at Mo Xun, who chuckled dryly, "Miss Luo Fu will know, but why is Brother Zhao asking about this location? Let alone Brother Zhao being weak, even if you had martial arts skills, without the support of a family, you would probably find it difficult to get involved in this matter on your own."

Zhao Ti said, "How could I dare to get involved in such a big matter? I'm just curious."

Mo Xun sighed, "I'm just curious. How about I ask my elder sister secretly later, and then tell Brother Zhao, so we can study it together?"

Zhao Ti nodded: "That would be best. I am an outsider, and it would be inconvenient for me to ask anyone. It would be better if Brother Mo stepped forward."

Mo Xun blinked: "The logic is sound, but it sounds so awkward. Brother Zhao, are you just going to sit back and reap the benefits so easily?"

Zhao Ti stroked his chin, wondering why he was making that gesture again, and laughed, "If Brother Mo is unwilling, I will have no choice but to shamelessly ask Miss Mo Chou."

Mo Chou asked in surprise, "Brother Zhao, why don't you go and ask Miss Luo Fu?"

Zhao Ti said, "It doesn't matter who you ask."

Mo Xun snorted, "Brother Zhao, are you afraid to see Miss Luofu? Now that you've taken off your jade pendant and hidden it, you haven't even visited Miss Luofu since she returned from Jiangnan. After writing a poem for my sister last time, you acted as if nothing had happened, and I had to go to Miss Luofu to explain for you!"

Zhao Ti asked in confusion, "Brother Mo, that's not what you said last time. You went to spread rumors and complain. How did it turn into you explaining things to me?"

Mo Xun said angrily, "How could I do such a despicable thing? I'm just cleaning up after Brother Zhao so that Miss Luofu won't be displeased and think Brother Zhao is a heartless and ungrateful person."

"Brother Mo, you..." Before Zhao Ti could finish speaking, the bell rang for class, and the two stopped talking as the teacher walked in.

After class, nothing happened that day. After school, the two walked together and parted ways at the Jade Belt Bridge, with Zhao Ti going ahead alone.

He walked slowly, his mind filled with thoughts of Yang Yao'er's invitation from yesterday, and he felt a headache coming on.

He initially refused repeatedly, but Yang Yao'er had too many tricks up her sleeve. She actually said that they would meet on the painted boat after school, so as not to waste any extra time.

As Zhao Ti walked, he made a plan in his mind: he would just eat a perfunctory meal, and once he was full, he would say goodbye and go home.

After walking along the river for a while, he indeed saw Yang Yao'er's painted boat moored ahead. On the boat, a slender figure in a pale yellow dress was looking around, searching for something.

Zhao Ti spotted the figure at that moment, and the figure also saw him, waving and calling out, "Brother Zhao, over here, over here."

Zhao Ti rubbed his temples and walked over. The girl in the pale yellow dress was Yang Yao'er. Seeing Zhao Ti approach, she smiled and said, "Brother Zhao is indeed a man of his word."

Zhao Ti thought to himself, "Can I break my promise? You're already blocking the way here, I can't just deliberately take a detour."

"Brother Zhao, hurry up and get on the boat. My friend has been waiting for a long time," Yang Yao'er said.

Zhao Ti jumped onto the deck, and the other person led the way, a fragrant breeze carrying him into the boat.

The interior of the boat has been cleaned and decorated, making it look extremely elegant. Orchids are placed under the four corner windows, sandalwood is burned in the middle, and pearls are added to enhance its luster.

Then, looking to the side, behind the piano stand, sat a beautiful young woman.

When the two entered, the girl stood up. Her waist was so slender that it could be encircled by one hand, her posture was graceful, and her figure was exquisite and slender.

Zhao Ti looked her over. The young woman was dressed in a gorgeous palace dress. She had eyes like stars, a delicate nose and lips, a snow-white oval face, a pointed chin, and skin that seemed to be able to be broken with a touch. She was incomparably beautiful.

The girl's gaze also fell on him, her eyes gentle yet filled with curiosity, and a hint of doubt.

"Brother Zhao, let me introduce you." Yang Yao'er walked excitedly to the young lady's side and said, "This is the friend I told Brother Zhao about, the youngest master of the zither in the world. He shares my surname and his name is Yang Qingqi. Sister Qi, this is the young master Zhao Ti whose zither skills are superb."

They share the same surname, Yang? Could they also be members of the Yang family? Zhao Ti wondered. If they were both members of the Yang family, they wouldn't just call each other friends; they would address each other as sisters.

He raised his hand in greeting and said, "I am Zhao Ti, a student from Yuzhou. I greet Miss Yang. I am very grateful."

Yang Qingqi's eyes were like water as she looked at him with a gentle smile, and the entire painted boat seemed to bloom with a hundred flowers, instantly becoming bright and radiant.

"This humble girl, Yang Qingqi, greets you, sir." She gave a gentle curtsy, her voice as melodious as the soft tinkling of jade.

Seeing this, Yang Yao'er said, "Sister Qi, Brother Zhao, please don't be so polite, sit down and talk."

(End of this chapter)