Upon hearing the response, Prince Abalu fell silent for a moment, contemplating the information he had received. He realized that he agreed with the assessment. His intelligence had also confirmed the same thing: there was nothing particularly special about this tribe. This made it all the more surprising that his brother had sent him directly on this mission. Among all the people under his brother’s command, no one could match his value. Despite this, he had been sent directly on this mission. Indeed, this indicated that something was amiss, but whatever it was, someone like Nura might not know.
After some time spent in contemplation, he raised his head again and looked at Nura Bayajidda for the second time with a frown. “Is it true? Do you see a resemblance between me and Emperor Aldaima? Do we look alike?”
Nura opened his mouth and his eyes widened in surprise. He never thought he would be asked such a seemingly trivial question. In his heart, he had already assumed that the prince would ask him a more difficult, serious question. His heart started beating rapidly at the unexpected inquiry. After taking a moment to regain his composure, he said, “Your Highness, anyone who says you don’t look alike is blind. You resemble each other a great deal. In a few years, people will not be able to differentiate between you and him if he were still alive. Your Highness, you bear a striking resemblance to Emperor Aldaima.”
“Hmm, so it’s true? I also think the same.”
After spending some time scratching his forehead in thought, Prince Abalu turned and said, “It is fine. Now, what I want to know is why, despite your young age, you have reached the level of a Deva and why your body is tougher than that of any small cultivator I have ever known?”
Upon hearing these questions, Nura’s heart started beating rapidly once again. He had hoped to divert the prince’s attention from asking him such a personal and potentially dangerous question. However, he knew he had no choice but to answer. This was a secret his mother had told him never to reveal to anyone, not even his wife or closest confidant, until the end of his life. Even on her deathbed, she had repeated this warning to him. Because of that, he was determined not to disclose this secret, no matter what. On the other hand, lying was not an option either because he was quite certain that the prince would detect any falsehood and it would not end well for him. Given their mutual understanding and the trust they had built, he decided to tread carefully and maintain this delicate balance.
"Your Highness, in truth, I am also not entirely sure about everything that has transpired. However, I can share with you what I do know. When we settled in this part of the world, my mother began working for a wealthy businessman. Recognizing her powerful cultivation abilities, the businessman entrusted her with overseeing all his workers. Despite any troubles that arose, she was the one he relied upon to manage his carriages, particularly because of the frequent thefts on the road. This position afforded my mother various opportunities.
During her tenure, we acquired different kinds of goods. Sometimes we bought seals, and other times we procured medicines. There was even an occasion when we bought some healing items from another merchant. Typically, all the goods we purchased were distributed among cultivators, and we set prices for them accordingly. This was because the businessman my mother worked for preferred not to buy new goods. Instead, he specialized in acquiring second-hand cultivation artifacts that other cultivators no longer needed and wanted to sell. When he bought such items, he had a team that set prices for these goods before he sold them.
One particular seal that we bought from this businessman was notably inexpensive. Due to its low price, most people did not pay much attention to it. However, my mother believed the seal was special, even though she did not know how to use it. The seal remained with my mother for a long time. One day, while I was playing with the seal, I accidentally cut my hand, and my blood dripped onto it. From that moment, the seal glowed, vanished, and somehow integrated itself into my body.
Your Highness, from that day forward, the way I harnessed cultivation changed dramatically. I became more talented than I had ever been before. Regardless of how little substance was present in a place, as soon as I began to meditate, I was able to increase my cultivation significantly. Your Highness, I am not entirely certain if it is the seal that caused this transformation, but the way I increase my cultivation and care for my body is markedly different from other people.
Your Highness, this is the extent of what I know. Over the years, my mother passed away, and the businessman also died. His children inherited the wealth but quickly squandered it, which compelled me to leave home to further my cultivation. Your Highness, this is my story and all the knowledge I possess on the matter."
Prince Abalu hesitated for a while, frowning deeply as he processed the information. Just as Nura Bayajidda had anticipated, Prince Abalu possessed not just one or two, but five distinct skills that enabled him to detect and be informed of any falsehoods spoken to him. Throughout the entire explanation provided by Nura Bayajidda, these skills did not detect a single lie.
In the world of cultivation, seals that can detect lies are not uncommon. Often, they are meticulously crafted by skilled cultivators and subsequently released into the market for others to acquire. Occasionally, these seals and skills are discovered among the belongings of ancient cultivators who, upon reaching the twilight of their lives, choose to seclude themselves in meditation. Their goal in doing so is to enhance their cultivation in the hopes of extending their lifespan. It is a common occurrence for cultivators to die during such intense meditation because they are either trying to break through to the next level of cultivation or attempting to significantly boost their current cultivation. If they fail, they perish.
These cultivators, who often meet their end inside secluded caves, leave behind their possessions. Businessmen or caravans traveling through these regions frequently stumble upon the remains of such cultivators. They find valuable artifacts, including the seals and skills that were once used by the deceased. The bags of these long-gone cultivators often contain these powerful items. As a result, it is not surprising if a businessman dealing in second-hand goods encounters these seals.
Occasionally, one might come across a seal of immense power, possibly the very seal developed by the deceased cultivator. However, in remote areas of the world, the true usage and potential of these seals might not be fully understood. Due to this lack of knowledge, a seal of great value might be sold at a significantly lower price than its worth. In such cases, these seals can end up in the hands of less experienced or smaller cultivators, like Nura Bayajidda. If he is fortunate and understands how to utilize it, the seal can significantly elevate his cultivation status.
This context explains why the story told by Nura Bayajidda contained no detectable falsehoods. The seals that Prince Abalu possessed, which were capable of detecting lies, did not register any deceit in Nura Bayajidda’s account. This underscores the authenticity and truthfulness of Nura Bayajidda’s explanation, as even the sophisticated lie-detecting seals of Prince Abalu found no discrepancies.
On the other hand, Nura Bayajidda’s heart was beating quickly. Although what he said was true, it did not fully explain the toughness of his body. This toughness started from the day he was born and was one of the reasons they left home. Among all the people he knew, he was the only one who could channel cultivation into his muscles and veins. Typically, the core of a person’s body is crucial because it is where their cultivation resides. Normally, cultivation cannot be sustained in the muscles of common people; hence, people must preserve their cultivation within their cores. However, Nura was born with a body that defied this norm.
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He was never entirely sure, and his mother never disclosed before she passed away whether his unique body was related to the tribe of Bayajidda. His special nature allowed him to channel cultivation directly into his muscles, making them extraordinarily tough. At present, his body was tougher than metal, with qualities far superior to those of any known metals. For instance, even if he were to sit idle without doing anything and someone who had recently reached the level of deva struck and stabbed him, they would not be able to harm him. This resilience was a secret he had to keep hidden.
His mother had warned him countless times—more than he could remember—not to reveal this secret to anyone. This is why he carefully manipulated his story: he didn’t lie, but he also didn’t reveal the true source of his body’s toughness. The seal he mentioned in his story was indeed real; they had purchased it from someone his mother had worked for many years ago. While the seal did aid in enhancing his cultivation, it was not responsible for the toughness of his body. However, without knowing the true circumstances and without suspicion, it would be difficult for anyone to differentiate between the partial truths he shared and the hidden reality. This allowed him to navigate the situation without exposing his secret.
After some time, the prince nodded his head again and said, “So this is the reason why you possess such powerful cultivation despite your young age. This is not surprising, however, I still have not discovered why my brother is seeking members of your tribe. Is there nothing you can tell us about your tribe of Bayajidda, anything you might have seen your mother doing, or anything she told you? Whatever you share with me will not be in vain, as there is a great possibility that I might reward you with a significant gift. You know, great kings like me do not give small gifts.”
Nura Bayajidda wanted to tell Prince Abalu that he was not yet a king but a prince, the son of a king. However, he knew that if he dared to say this, it would not be surprising if the prince cut off his head and told his brother that he killed him because he raised a sword against him. Because of this, no matter what, he would not dare to tell him that. He remained silent for a while, lost in contemplation. He knew the prince would not be satisfied if he claimed ignorance. He needed to find something to tell him that would not expose any secrets of the tribe and would divert the prince’s attention.
After spending some time in contemplation, he opened his mouth and said, “Your Highness, I might not have much to tell you, but before we left home, there are some things I can recall. However, Your Highness, you know how the mind of a child works. I believe there was a dispute between the leaders of the tribe of Bayajidda. I don’t know whether this has any connection to why my mother left home or if it was merely due to poverty and a desire for people to venture out and seek wealth. I don’t know exactly why my mother left home. However, Your Highness, the reason I mention this to you is that there were times my mother used to send messages back home. I don’t know what she was sending and she never allowed me to see. However, Your Highness, I think if there is anything I know related to the tribe, it will not surpass this.”
Prince Abalu paused in contemplation before closing his eyes again. Despite his efforts during the interrogation of the tribe’s leaders, they had not offered him any useful information, nor had they revealed any sign of internal disputes. However, just as Nura Bayajidda had cautioned him, even if a dispute did exist, the leaders might be concealing it from him. This left Prince Abalu in a state of uncertainty. How could he ascertain what was truly happening? His primary concern was his elder brother’s instruction: he must not harm the tribe members, he must treat them fairly, and he must avoid harsh interrogation methods. His brother needed the tribe’s submission, and because of this, Prince Abalu had to proceed with utmost caution in all his actions.
He couldn’t afford to antagonize the tribe members, which is why he approached his investigation with discretion. Moreover, he wanted to keep his inquiries secret from his elder brother, who had assured him that he would reveal everything when the time was right. Yet, Prince Abalu was growing increasingly impatient. He yearned to understand the situation. He wanted to uncover why his elder brother was so interested in the members of the Bayajidda tribe.
“Do you know the names of the tribe leaders? Can you recall the name of any one of them?” Prince Abalu asked, his voice steady but probing.
“Your Highness, I don’t know them,” Nura Bayajidda admitted. “However, I can recall the name of a member of the tribe. I don’t know exactly who he was, and I didn’t notice any signs of suspicion or importance when my mother mentioned his name. Your Highness, I specifically remember seeing the name written rather than hearing her speak it. Hence, I don’t know whether he is among the leaders of the tribe or not.”
Nura paused, a look of concentration on his face as he tried to recall more details. “As I told you, Your Highness when we left the tribe, I was very young. The name of the person I saw written, I think, is Baya... Baya Azaba.”
Upon hearing the name, Prince Abalu stood up from his chair, a look of surprise and recognition crossing his face. “Baya... Azaba?” he repeated as if testing the name on his tongue.
The name sparked a flurry of thoughts in Prince Abalu’s mind. Why did this name seem so significant? Could Baya Azaba be a key to understanding the tribe’s internal dynamics or the reason behind his elder brother’s interest? Questions swirled in his head, but he knew he had to approach this revelation with the same caution that had guided his actions thus far. Any misstep could jeopardize his mission and possibly lead to unforeseen consequences.
Surprisingly, what Nura thought would not draw the attention of the prince turned out to be exactly what captured his interest. Nura had many names he could have mentioned, as he was familiar with the tribe’s leaders and had even heard his mother speak their names. However, he was cautious not to reveal anything that could expose the tribe’s secrets or bring unwanted scrutiny. This caution led him to choose a name he believed to be insignificant—Baya Azaba.
Nura assumed that mentioning Baya Azaba would not matter to the prince. He thought the name might have come from a discarded piece of paper and believed his mother had never given it any special importance. He carefully evaluated his choice, convinced that this name would not draw the prince’s attention. To his surprise, it did. What could be happening?
As time passed, the prince began pacing back and forth from one window to another. Unbeknownst to Nura, Baya Azaba was a person of significant interest to Prince Abalu. Some years ago, a baby named Baya Azaba was born to the tribe’s leader but was reportedly deceased shortly after birth. Despite this, Prince Abalu’s investigations revealed numerous inconsistencies surrounding this name. Everyone he questioned about Baya Azaba either lied or provided conflicting information. The tribe members were truthful about everything else, but they unanimously lied when it came to Baya Azaba. This collective deception only fueled Prince Abalu’s curiosity further.
Prince Abalu had become deeply intrigued by Baya Azaba. He suspected that there might be a hidden connection between his elder brother and Baya Azaba, or perhaps Baya Azaba was the reason his elder brother was investigating this tribe. Although he kept these thoughts to himself, hearing the name Baya Azaba from Nura Bayajidda confirmed some of his suspicions and intensified his interest.
However, there is something suspicious. It was said that this person, Baya Azaba, was born some years ago. However, even though Nura Bayajidda did not specify the exact time when he first learned of the name, he is quite certain that the name Baya Azaba has been in existence for over 20 or even 30 years. This raises several questions. Is there another individual with the same name as the boy, or is there something more mysterious at play?
“Tell me everything you know about this name,” Prince Abalu demanded. “When you saw your mother mention this name, how did her face look? How did she say it? How many years have passed since you first heard the name until now? Is there anyone else you know who has a similar name to this boy? Tell me everything. Don’t hide anything.”
Instantly, any trace of playfulness vanished from Prince Abalu’s face. He felt a deep sense of unease whenever the name Baya Azaba was mentioned, and he couldn’t pinpoint the source of this worry. He realized that this anxiety only surfaced when the names of cultivators who greatly surpassed his abilities were brought up. Who is this boy, Baya Azaba?