The mace girl’s fall to such misery was definitely linked to Ye Chui, even if only indirectly.
After emerging from the secret realm, Ye Chui had set out to clear every obstacle for Jacob’s ascension. With the Third Prince’s help, the Kulin family suffered a devastating blow. Now, with the Empire at war with the Church, the Third Prince had brought the once Church-aligned Kulin family fully under imperial control, turning their businesses into royal assets. The shrewd Gold Snake Rhaen and Moonstone Stael had immediately withdrawn from the succession struggle upon returning from the secret realm and pledged support to Ye Chui’s chosen candidate, Jacob.
The Joys beast clan had clung on desperately, only to be crushed by Ye Chui when he seized the beast garden. The family plummeted from one of the Empire’s four great clans to ordinary nobility.
Yet even so, the mace girl should not have ended up this wretched. What exactly had happened to her? After taking the beast garden, Ye Chui had stopped paying attention to the Joys clan, leaving the rest to Prince Geller and the Third Prince. Clearly something had occurred in the meantime.
“She’s not a bad person. She attacked us once, but later she was quite friendly… Her strength isn’t top-tier, but her constitution is like Guinevere’s. With proper training, she could become really powerful,” Debbie said softly, directing the words at Ye Chui. The girl’s pitiful state tugged at the heart. Why not recruit her into the guild? Or… send her to manage the beast garden in the secret realm? She was born to the Joys clan; it would suit her perfectly.
Ye Chui hesitated, wondering whether to show her some compassion. Just then, chaotic noises erupted: BANG! BANG! It sounded like doors and walls being smashed. The mace girl, who had been enjoying her food, leapt up, seized her weapon, and stared warily toward the front of the house.
A group of men had kicked in the already dilapidated front door and barged inside.
Crash! Bang! The few pieces of furniture shattered. Ye Chui noticed a flash of heartache cross the girl’s angry face; those items must have cost her great effort to obtain.
The intruders quickly reached the ruined courtyard.
Ye Chui vaguely recognised them. Debbie whispered, “Joys family members!”
“Look at what our Joys clan princess is reduced to!” a sinister middle-aged man sneered with repulsive arrogance. “Potato-root grass, armoured beetles… Tsk tsk, such pathetic food. Even beggars and tramps wouldn’t touch this rubbish, would they?”
“Kuta! What are you doing here?” the mace girl demanded coldly.
“Shalome, I am your uncle! How dare you address me by name!” the man roared. His name was Kuta.
Ye Chui muttered in surprise, “Her name is actually Shalome… Why isn’t it Youlemei?”
“You are no uncle of mine!” Shalome declared icily. “You drove me out of the Joys clan. From that day, we share no blood ties!”
“Hmph, I never drove you out. The gods can bear witness. I merely asked you to make a sacrifice for the clan’s revival. Our fall is entirely your father’s fault for choosing wrongly. You must bear the consequences of his mistakes!” Kuta hissed, a cold smile creeping across his wrinkled face. “Besides, His Highness the Second Prince fancies you. Marrying into royalty is your honour. It would let our clan rise again on your coattails!”
His voice grew twisted with glee. He stepped forward and pointed at Shalome. “Stop this pointless resistance and come with us! There is no place for us in the capital anymore. Once the new emperor is crowned, the Second Prince will become a territorial prince. We need his help. We need your sacrifice!”
“Send your own daughter to marry that useless prince if you want! I will never agree!” Shalome shouted.
…
Everything was clear now.
After the old Joys patriarch died, leadership passed to his younger brother, Shalome’s uncle Kuta. To preserve the decaying clan, Kuta tried to force Shalome to marry the Second Prince in exchange for favour.
The Second Prince, however, was the most useless of all the princes. No one saw marrying him as an honour. Shalome had fled the family and ended up living here.
Yet Kuta refused to let it go and had come to drag her back.
“These people are despicable! I thought forced marriages only happened in bard tales, not in real life right in front of us!” Debbie fumed. She herself had once been targeted for marriage by the old Fourth Prince Emperor, only to chase him down the street until he gave up. To Debbie, it had never felt like coercion. But Shalome was not Debbie. Watching her being forced like this made Debbie furious. She snorted coldly. “That useless prince actually likes Shalome? Looks like I need to have a nice long talk with him later.”
“It’s probably not the prince’s idea. Kuta is acting on his own,” Ye Chui said with a helpless laugh. Today’s events were indeed indirectly his fault. He hesitated whether to intervene. He held no real grudge against Shalome and even felt a certain fondness for this girl so similar to Guinevere.
While he wavered, Kuta had already ordered his men to surround and attack Shalome. The ruined house soon echoed with the sounds of combat.
Shalome was talented and strong, her spiked mace devastating, but she lacked the heaven-defying cheats Ye Chui’s group possessed. Soon, a greatsword wielder knocked her mace aside, collapsing a nearby wall.
Kuta shouted cruelly, “Don’t hold back! This wild girl needs to be injured first!”
At his command, the attackers leapt forward with vicious intent, clearly aiming to kill or cripple her.
Ye Chui frowned, ready to act. But a tortoise-shell barrier appeared around Shalome first, protecting her. Turtle Treasure had moved faster.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The shell repelled every strike, sending the attackers tumbling.
Kuta’s face filled with shock. “Lord Beast God… This is the power of the Beast God…”
Ye Chui glanced at Turtle Treasure.
Turtle Treasure gave a cold snort, flashed, and appeared beside Shalome. She looked like a four- or five-year-old child with twin tails, but her stern expression commanded respect. Though tiny, the divine majesty radiating from her was unmistakable to the Joys clan; it was the aura of their Beast God!
She bent slightly, helped Shalome up, and swept an icy gaze across the courtyard. “I was glad I chose your brother as patriarch instead of you. Your brother was useless and stupid, but at least he had some backbone and honour. You disgust me!”
“Lord Beast God, you, you…” Kuta was utterly stunned. He dropped to his knees in panic. “Lord Beast God, you’re alive… The Joys clan can rise again! Lord Beast God, you must protect us…”
“Enough!” Turtle Treasure cut him off coldly. “I bestowed the name Joys upon your ancestors. You are unworthy of it. From today, never let me hear you call yourselves Joys again!”
“What?” Kuta stared blankly, unable to believe his ears. “How can this be… Lord Beast God, the Joys clan has served you for generations. I, I am your most loyal servant…”
“Trash!” Turtle Treasure turned away, no longer wishing to look at him. She tilted her head up to study Shalome. At that moment, the tiny girl exuded overwhelming majesty.
Shalome was equally stunned. She stared at Turtle Treasure and said instinctively, “You… you’re Lord Beast God? But didn’t Ye Chui…”
“Hmph!” Turtle Treasure huffed proudly. “This turtle merely made a strategic retreat. One day I’ll crush that guy again.”
“So you’re still planning that?” Ye Chui’s figure appeared beside her. He reached out and ruffled her soft hair.
Turtle Treasure shook her head furiously, swatting his hand away, then began stomping on his feet with her little shoes.
Ye Chui dodged frantically, sweating. “Enough! Put away your tortoise hooves…”
Turtle Treasure stomped even harder.
Kuta and Shalome stood dumbfounded, speechless.
“Lord Beast God… are you… really the Beast God of our Joys clan…” Kuta cried in terror.
BANG! Turtle Treasure glanced coldly at him. A tremendous force slammed into Kuta, hurling him into a wall. Half the already crumbling house collapsed. Kuta scrambled up, coughing blood, gravely injured. The other swordsmen threw themselves to the ground in fear.
“I said the name Joys no longer belongs to you. If I ever hear you use it again, I will not be merciful!” Turtle Treasure declared icily.
“Y-yes…” Kuta stammered.
“Get out! Never let me see you in the capital again!”
Kuta and his men fled in panic.
Turtle Treasure turned back to Shalome.
Shalome’s shock turned to resolve. She bit her lip. “I will not give up the Joys name.”
“Your ancestor earned my favour through unbreakable will. His descendants were useless, but you are acceptable. You may keep the name. From now on, serve as my attendant,” Turtle Treasure said, hands behind her back like a little adult. “But you must protect the person most important to me…”
She looked toward Ye Chui.
Ye Chui straightened proudly.
Then Turtle Treasure shoved him aside and pointed at the elf baby standing behind him. “My Queen!”
Shalome’s eyes widened. She nodded instinctively.
Ye Chui coughed. “Shalome, why not stay at my guild from now on? I’ll pay you a monthly salary…”
“No need.” Shalome gave him a stubborn look, still harbouring a trace of resentment. “I’ll join your guild, but I don’t want your money… Just three meals a day.”
“…Let’s still do it by salary.”
