Kitsune in the Shadows - Chapter 42 – An Onion Seller and Misfit Hats

The Universe is collapsing, and the realms are merging. To ensure humanity's survival, the heavens blessed the race with [talents] but that is far from enough. Only the gatekeeper can return the balance and stop the collapse, but why does it have to me?If the heavens think they can dictate my fate, I will make them pay the ultimate price...This soul will not be controlled...This soul will not be manipulated...I will cover the heavens with one hand!

The night before her coronation, Princess Elara of Dravara made a mistake she could not take back. Her friends begged her to enjoy one last night of freedom before duty tied her forever. So she escaped the palace in disguise. One night. One party. One stranger whose touch she could not forget. She left before sunrise, thinking no one would ever know.But secrets always return. Weeks later, Elara finds out she is carrying the child of the man she cannot even name. And on her coronation day, as she prepares to wear the crown, fate plays a cruel trick, the same man comes back, not as a lover, but as an assassin sent to kill her.He almost ended her life that day. His blade touched her throat. But instead of striking, he whispered that it would not be today. Then he disappeared into the dark, only to return again, this time hiding among the men who wished to become her bodyguards. Now he stays close to her, walking beside her every day, guarding her in public, while secretly waiting for the right moment to finish the job.Elara now carries a dangerous secret: she is a queen with a crown on her head, a child growing in her womb, and an assassin always by her side. His hands once held her in passion, but those same hands were trained to spill her blood. Surrounded by enemies and trapped in lies, Elara must wonder, has she given her heart to her protector, or has she trusted the man who will one day destroy her?

'Dregs' reborn, aiming for a harmonious marriage, children gathered around the knees, and to beat up the scumbags and promiscuous women!The timid and unlucky her, turned life into a sigh, also causing that person and her children to become tragic figures.Reborn, she wants to engrave strength into her bones!Disasters one after another, difficult to fill the belly?No fear, with our Plant Ability in hand, seeds can turn into rice ears in minutes, and white rice and flour can be made at will!Ungrateful brats?Hmph, the education starts from the womb, determined to make them keep gratitude in their hearts.High-class women unable to give birth want to steal our children?Hehe, the woman rolled up her sleeves and sneered: Those not afraid to die, come and fight!Loyal dog: Wife, how can dirty work like fighting soil your hands? Leave it to me!Little radishes one, two, three, four, five, six all lift sticks: We are here too, we are here too, Mom, we brothers are all on the same vine with you!

A broken prince, a shadowy scheme, all that amidst a bloody fight for a throne wrongly succeeded. Join a group of youngsters as they take their first steps into the martial world, towards the grandest adventure of their lives. It all begins in a certain inn, set against verdant mountains and facing a scenic lake.

“Bring us your finest wine and best meat!” Yelled a hulking man who seemed to be the leader of the dozen strong group.

“How much?” The waiter anxiously nodded his head.

“As much as you have!” The hulking man yelled back.

“That’s…”

“HUH?” The hulking man shot the waiter a furious glare.

“Dear guests, our inn operates on the principle of ‘pay first, dishes later’. As such, it will be better if you tell us exactly how much meat and wine you need.” Xiao Se returned their furious stares with a thin smile.

“Who are you supposed to be?” The hulking man eyed him with bulging eyes.

“This humble one is known as Xiao Se, the owner of this inn, the Fallen Snow Villa.” Xiao Se replied with the same smile and with a level of courtesy worth a solid 12/10.

“Well, we have no money.” The hulking man stabbed his blade into one of the nearby tables.

“Oh?”

“But I’m sure you have some!” The man pointed his finger at Xiao Se.

At that, Xiao Se furiously shook his head. “I’m sorry to break it to you but our little inn hasn’t made a single sale in almost a month. I’m about to owe them salaries myself…”

“Like hell if I care!” The hulking man smashed his palm down on the table. “Even if you have no money, that fur coat of yours should at least be worth a hundred odd silvers.”

“NONSENSE!” Yelled Xiao Se, eyes wide open and gaze as sharp as daggers.

The hulking man was stunned, his body even shivering involuntarily for that split second.

“I, Xiao Se, ride only the finest horse and wear only the richest threads! This fur coat of mine was specially sewn by some of the finest seamstresses in the imperial capital in the August Threads. Just sewing it took three whole months, shipping it, another one. Hmph, a hundred silvers? That’s not even enough to buy the sleeves of my coat!”