“Right, it’s even better if we can take revenge with our own hands,” another elder clenched his fist and said, “Perhaps, this was the Dark Lord’s intention.” 

“However, we should only mobilize half our forces for the rescue and revenge operation. There’s another serious matter that we need to address; our lack of internal security,” the elder added. 

“Indeed, that is something we need to work on,” the fourth prince nodded and said, “This is no longer our world, and the cultivators of this world wield strange abilities.”

“We placed too much confidence in my royal father’s strength and never paid enough attention to our internal security. We have to believe that anything is possible. After all, even a Peak-stage Spirit Manifestation powerhouse can be charmed by a mere vixen in the Mid-stage Spirit Refinement.”

…

Half an hour later, the fourth prince and the elders left the palace to prepare the troops for the rescue.

Princess Floria also left to make her own plans. 

The tribe’s problems all stemmed from Empress Una’s visit. 

Everything was her fault.

“The tribe knows too little about the outside world. If we have people outside to collect information, we would have better countermeasures against those with ill-intentions on our tribe,” Princess Floria thought.

However, she will be following the Dark Lord with her people. 

If she acts as a double agent to collect information for her tribe and not follow the Dark Lord faithfully and loyally, she could bring disaster back to her tribe. 

“Someone else has to set up an intelligence network for the tribe,” Princess Floria concluded as she strolled down the streets, taking in the scenery. 

She might not get many chances to see her tribe once she leaves.

“Hm?” 

Princess Floria suddenly paused her steps after discovering her tribesmen leading multiple humans as they headed towards the palace. 

“Why is there another group of humans here?” Princess Floria frowned. 

Princess Floria wasn’t the only one drawn back to the palace a few moments later as the elders also rushed over after catching wind of the humans’ visit.

It has only taken a few inquiries to learn of their identities. 

The humans were delegates sent to negotiate the establishment of friendly relationships and trades based on mutual benefits. 

This was just the opportunity they needed to collect information on the outside world. 

However, one problem concerned Princess Floria and all the elders of the high council; the one receiving the human guests was the king!

…

Inside the palace hall, Princess Floria and the elders rushed just to see the start of the meeting between the humans and the elf king. 

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Fang Yuhan, a representative of Winterdrift city, here to extend our wishes in forging a friendly relationship with your tribe. I wonder if that would be possible?” said a charming lady in her early 30’s. 

She was someone who worked for the director of public health.

Princess Floria and the elders immediately cast their suspicious and distrustful gazes at the human lady from a distance. 

After Empress’s incident, it would be strange for them to trust humans again so easily.

“A noble goal you have, benefactor,” the elf kind calmly replied without sitting on his throne. 

Instead, he stood in front of the human lady and greeted her face to face at a level that didn’t put differences on their status.

Nevertheless, an attending palace maid quickly warned, “Your Majesty, you must be careful of this human! Humans are our enemies! Don’t let her charm you like Empress Una!”

“This…” 

Fang Yuhan immediately paled. 

She wasn’t informed of a feud between the elf tribe and Empress Una. If she wasn’t careful, she could die on this trip.

Or so she thought, but the elf king’s words surprised her.

“Hatred can never be destroyed with hatred, but with kindness, it can. Only by showing boundless love and compassion for others can we cultivate our inner peace and happiness and achieve immortality.” 

‘Is the elf king, a Buddhist monk?’ Fang Yuhan wondered.

The situation reminded her about the history of Emperor Wu of Liang, the emperor who became a Buddhist monk and forced his court to purchase him back.

“Nevertheless, one does not travel far to seek a friendship without reason. I wonder what the benefactor’s reason is for coming?” the elf king inquired amicably. 

Fang Yuhan was affected by the elf king’s mentality and felt the compulsion to be forthright and honest, throwing all her pre-planned speeches and scenarios out the window.

“To be honest, Winterdrift city seeks to purchase large quantities of rare herbs that can only be found in your tribe’s territory, Your Majesty. Also, by establishing a friendship with your elf tribe, we will have a strong backer.”

“There are countless herbs lying around the tribe,” the elf king calmly mentioned before generously saying, “As long as the benefactor finds them, the benefactor can take them all. There is no need to speak of purchasing—”

“Absolutely not, Your Majesty! Those herbs belong to the tribe! We don’t harvest them to let them grow! So how can you say they are just lying around?!”

“Yes, Your Majesty! Someone has already cleaned out the herbs in the west forest! Are you seriously planning to give them all away?! Don’t you know what kind of precious medicine we can make with those herbs?!”

The elders broke their silence with outrage, utterly shocked by the elf king’s words. 

However, the elf king calmly glanced at them and said, “The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything, the greatest generosity is non-attachment, and the greatest achievement is selflessness!”

“To hell with all that bullsh*t!” the elders roared with fury, “This has gone too far, Your Majesty! Please come back to your senses!”

“Amitabha… There is no reason to be angry. Let it all go. Nothing good comes from being angry. Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die…” the elf king preached.

‘You ARE the reason for our anger!’

The elf king infuriated the elders to the point that they almost fainted.

Not only was the elf king being ridiculous, but he also threatened them! His words suggested that they were no match for him, which is true!

The elves were all at their wit’s end.