Volume One, Chapter 10: The Unexpected Discovery That the Public Cannot See the Treasure Chests

After quite some time had passed and the two had calmed down, Lin Yi remained silent, cautiously watching them with the large machete tightly gripped in his hand.

The unfamiliar man first comforted his daughter, then respectfully knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for saving our lives. If it weren’t for your voice, my daughter and I would have lost our way in this great fog and likely been devoured by monsters." As he spoke, tears streamed down his face.

Seeing such a large man cry before him made Lin Yi somewhat embarrassed. He waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. There’s no need to play the pitiful victim before me. I despise grown men nearly in their thirties who still cry in front of children. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Then, shifting his tone, he demanded, “Who are you? How did you recognize me as the king at first glance? And how did you come to be here? Be truthful.”

Lin Yi dared not be careless; unlike summoned warriors, NPCs with their own judgments might betray him, even commit regicide if he slipped.

The man thought he could fool Lin Yi by feigning helplessness, but hearing Lin Yi’s words, he realized that if he did not tell the truth, he would be cast out. His own death mattered little, but his daughter was barely two or three years old.

Looking down at his trembling daughter, the man seemed to make a firm decision. Clenching his teeth, he lowered his body further, speaking with resolve and greater respect: “Your Majesty, my name is Zhang Guoxing, and my daughter is Zhang Xin.”

“Zhang Guoxing… Guoxing means ‘prosperity of the nation.’ A fine name,” Lin Yi murmured thoughtfully.

Before Lin Yi could ponder further, Zhang Guoxing’s voice interrupted again. “Your Majesty, as for where I came from, I do not know. When I opened my eyes, I was already in this great fog. And as for how I knew you were the king—it was an unconscious belief in my mind.”

“Is that so?” Lin Yi said skeptically. “If you don’t know where you came from, then how do you know she’s your daughter? I’ll give you one last chance—organize your words carefully.”

Zhang Guoxing’s body trembled, his thoughts uncertain. After a long pause, he continued, “Your Majesty, truthfully… I’m not entirely sure myself. I only know that Zhang Xin is my daughter. I have memories of her in my mind. I asked her, and she could recount the things I remember. She even calls me ‘father.’”

Having said this, Zhang Guoxing gently stroked Zhang Xin with a tender expression. Then, with firm eyes, he suddenly raised his head and locked gazes with Lin Yi. “If Your Majesty does not trust me, I can leave. But please, take good care of my daughter—she is barely two or three years old.”

As he spoke, he repeatedly knocked his head against the ground, producing dull thuds, until blood ran from his forehead. Zhang Xin, seeing her father bowing so desperately to a stranger for her sake, looked at Lin Yi with tear-filled eyes.

Lin Yi took a deep breath, crouched down, and gently patted Zhang Xin’s head, softly saying, “Zhang Xin, huh? From now on, II'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.