Grave of the Unknown: Blue Phoenix, #4

By Tinalynge

Reunited with his friends Hui Yue is out to gain revenge on their behalf. On the road to revenge Hui Yue finds that not everything goes as he had planned and with the sudden revelation of the Grave of the Unknown, Hui Yue takes the chance to gain plenty of rewards, yet with rewards of this size comes dangers equally dangerous. Hui Yue is still caught in the world where only the strongest survive on his road towards vengeance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tinalynge
• Release date: Mar 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215512623

Book preview

Chapter 1 - On the Road

The eastern city gate at the capital of the Taiyang Kingdom was a place always crowded with people. Merchants appeared in caravans with their items ready for sale or returned from selling all their items in distant cities. Mercenaries poured into the city after having finished missions outside or from hunting magical beasts. Adventurers arrived in the city while making a small stop on their travels through the kingdoms as they trained and improved their inner energies and martial arts.

Usually, the city gate would be bustling as everyone rushed through the gate, but today things were different. The summer sun beat down on the ground, but none of the usual energy was seen; instead, all the citizens who would have already been through the city gates were now held back. The horde of people had been split into two groups, one on each side with the middle devoid of people, except two. These two were the focus of everyone, and both stuck out like a sore thumb.

All the mercenaries, merchants, adventurers, and even normal citizens were all tanned from being out in the sun; their hair was black, their eyes almond shaped. Although they did not look the same, these were the standard features shared by everyone. Everyone but these two men. In the middle of this desolate cracked ground stood these two young men.

One was a white-haired young man with skin as white as the newly fallen snow. His eyes ice-blue and filled with tranquility with a small smirk on his lips. His body was tall and toned. Looking at him, one could easily sense an aura of strength and that this young man was not used to having people disagree with him. He had the aura of a leader, an aura which greatly exceeded his age.

By his side was a golden young man. His hair was like the purest gold, and his eyes shone with the radiance of two small suns. He also had a strong aura around him, but where the white-haired man’s aura was more sharp and commanding, this golden young man seemed haughtier. He seemed as if he was completely confident in his abilities and himself. His entire body exuded confidence, and while he did travel by the white-haired man’s side, it did not seem as though he would allow anyone to be in control of his destiny.

People are staring at you, Hui Yue pointed out as he walked toward the gate without having to wait in line. They are not staring at me, Cai Jie retorted. It’s definitely your white hair and skin. You are so pale you could be mistaken for a corpse. Don’t you get sunburned in weather like this? Hui Yue snorted, but he did not answer more than he already had. Neither Hui Yue nor Cai Jie seemed to be troubled by the actions of everyone around them. If anything, they seemed to behave as though this were natural.

Hui Yue and Cai Jie had been on the road for five months already, traveling through the defeated Siban Empire. They had recently crossed the border into the Taiyang Kingdom alongside multiple refugees, and finally, traveled through the Taiyang Kingdom to enter the Taiyang capital, Muchuan City.

It’s not like the staring is anything new, Hui Yue finally sighed as he and Cai Jie headed towards the gates, getting ready to enter it only to see the guards were standing in the front blocking their way. Cai Jie and Hui Yue who were continuously bickering at one another became completely quiet as their eyes swept out towards the guards. Both of them frowning as they came to a stop, impatiently awaiting the guards’ reason for stopping them.

No one said a word, and the world was completely silent; so silent that the smallest noise could be heard. Looking at these two strange men, all guards shifted their weight from one leg to the other, cleared their throats, and slowly pushed the others forward. After having been stared at for what seemed to be a few minutes, one of the guards finally stepped towards the two experts in front of them. Looking at them, he was certain that they were in no way ordinary cultivators. He had been warned about what to do if he came across a white-haired young man.

Excuse me, good sirs. I would like to invite you to the City Lord’s mansion to partake in a feast. This feast is held once a week and happens to be tonight. His lordship enjoys hearing information from adventurers such as yourselves, and I am certain that you are new to this city. Such highly esteemed experts like yourself, I am sure, can share a great deal with his lordship, spoke the guard who was tongue-tied, his hands were shaking, and his voice was trembling. Hearing his words both Cai Jie and Hui Yue were taken aback. Both assumed that they had been stopped because of the ruckus they were causing at the city gates. This was something which had already happened numerous times, but to be stopped for an invitation, this was a first.

They exchanged glances waiting for the other to decide on the matter, but since Hui Yue saw that Cai Jie did not care, he shrugged his shoulders. We would like to accept the invitation. We have friends in the city that we will be meeting up with first. We can go to the City Lord’s mansion around dinner time to meet his lordship.

This was the best compromise Hui Yue could promise. He was very curious about the City Lord because he did not know what he truly wanted from them. He doubted they had been invited purely because the City Lord was curious about news from random travelers. He just smiled and wondered if this had something to do with the mess he had caused back in Riluo City.

Hearing his answer, the two guards bowed deeply to the young men and rushed out of their way, allowing them to enter the city. Neither Hui Yue nor Cai Jie thought any more about the guards as they entered the city. Their eyes shone with excitement, an excitement sparked by different things.

Hui Yue could not think about anything other than the friends he had left in the Dungeons of the Divine not to mention the friends he had not seen since he left Riluo City. Although he sent them a letter stating that he was alive and well, he had not had a conversation with them nor did they know when they would see him again. A smile played on his lips as he imagined how happy his friends would be when they saw each other.

‘How will you introduce your flamboyant friend?’ Lan Feng asked curiously as both he and Hui Yue looked towards Cai Jie with a frown on their faces. Back in the capital of the Siban Empire, he had not stated that he would follow Hui Yue, but when it came time to leave he did, in fact, follow the white-haired young man. Hui Yue welcomed the extra guest on his long journey, and although they passed the time bickering, they had secretly enjoyed the trip.

Hui Yue knew from the start that Cai Jie was anything but simple. Although his features were that of a young man, his eyes were deep and filled with profound knowledge gained through years of hardship. He shared some of this knowledge with Hui Yue, but only knowledge about the crusaders, or information that he had gathered about An He.

Cai Jie had never once mentioned why he had a grudge against An He, just as Hui Yue said nothing on the topic. They had looked at each other and smiled while a mutual agreement was accepted. Neither needed to know about the other, but sticking together gave them more of a chance of success.

‘I guess I will just make a brief introduction,’ Hui Yue shrugged as he walked through the city that was filled to the brim with people. Although the masses had moved out of their way outside the city, this was not the case inside. The streets were simply too narrow and were filled with carriages, stall merchants, and citizens making it impossible for them to be given extra room. Not only this but the two men, although strange looking, had become one with the crowd. The citizens only noticed their extraordinary features when they were right next to them, and by then, it was too late to get out of the way.

You do know where your friends live, right? Cai Jie asked casually as he observed the massive city. They had walked through the entire lower end, the slums and the marketplaces. They were now in the upscale district where rich merchants and noble families lived. Looking around, Hui Yue nodded his head. They are at the Royal Academy, he answered. He had never been to the capital before, but he assumed that the Royal Academy was located near the castle together with the rest of the court. Hui Yue did not know whether or not his assumption was true, but he kept moving towards the castle. Cai Jie had not mentioned if he had been in the capital before, he just followed Hui Yue’s lead, and the two of them were eager to see the other friends once more.

Hui Yue could not help but feel a tingling inside as he thought about how he had not seen his friends for many years. He missed Deng Wu’s foolish behavior, Sha Yun’s cockiness, Rong Xing’s level-headedness, Gao Yan’s focused persona, and Rong Ming’s thoughtless behavior, but most of all, he missed Wang Ju Long’s tender smile which made him feel as though he could fly. Cai Jie could see the happiness on Hui Yue’s face, and this caused a small smile to spread across his own. What the mysterious golden young man was thinking was impossible to know.

Finally, after walking for hours on end, they reached the Imperial Palace. This palace had many entrances, some for nobles who regularly visited court, others were for the soldiers and guards who returned after finishing work, and there was one gate for the Royal Academy. Heading towards this gate, Hui Yue found that young men were guarding it, young men who did not seem like normal guards but most likely students.

Looking at Hui Yue and Cai Jie, the two guards could not help but break out in a cold sweat as they knew they had a job to do. E-excuse m-m-me, one of them stuttered. I-I’m sorry, but non-students are not allowed on campus, the guard looked down at the ground as he stuttered his sentences. His heart was in his mouth as he feared that these two would get angry and take out their anger on him.

I see, Hui Yue said slowly as he rubbed his chin while looking at the surroundings. I need to speak with Rong Xing and Rong Ming, he continued almost laughing when he saw how the guard heaved a heavy sigh of relief.

Yes, sir! I will instantly go and fetch the Rong twins! he said as he rushed away not even taking the time to hear who it was who needed to speak with them. Thinking that his friends would get a great surprise, Hui Yue could not help but laugh quietly. His behavior caused the remaining guard to shift nervously from one foot to the other, uncertain if he should strike up a conversation with these two handsome men. Eventually, he figured that he was better off standing guard and staying quiet.

Hui Yue could not wait for the reunion, and finally, after what seemed like an eternity the guard returned with two very familiar people following behind, both looking confused and uncertain about what was happening.

Chapter 2 - Reunion

L isten Zheng Jun; I understand that you are a guard but can’t you at least tell us why you are in such a hurry to arrive at the gates? Who is this mysterious guest? an upset voice could be heard approaching from inside the academy. It was a voice Hui Yue would recognize anywhere. This caused the smile on his face to brighten even more, and Cai Jie’s face turned interested as he, too, heard the voice. His eyes left Hui Yue and looked toward the voices.

I really don’t see why they are stressing us like this, another voice joined in. This voice was as gentle as a summer breeze and was a voice which, like the other, Hui Yue would recognize anywhere. The sound of steps came closer and closer, and Hui Yue could guess that they were moving on the other side of the wall. Within moments they would reach the gate, and when they did, he could only imagine their stunned expressions.

While standing still, his arms were resting at his sides, and as the group turned the corner, Hui Yue saw Rong Ming and Rong Xing for the first time in years. They had both grown into fine adults. Their faces no longer contained any hint of their youth. Rong Xing had turned into an astonishing beauty whom men would fight over, while the usually foolish and clumsy Rong Ming now moved with a certain aura. An aura only found around higher nobles, those who knew just how important they were. It was now impossible for both twins to be considered anything other than adults yet as soon as their eyes landed on the white-haired young man standing outside the gates, both stopped in their tracks. Their eyes widened, and their mouths were open from shock, neither of them was capable of taking even one more step; they just stared at the white-haired young man.

Seeing the twins behave as they did caused the two guards to become uncomfortable. Both of them were students at the academy, yet graduates such as the Rong twins were greatly admired. Perhaps these two odd-looking young men were people with whom the Rong twins did not wish to meet, and so they were very stunned. But here they were forced by the guards to met these people. Thinking like this both young guards could feel the sweat pouring from their foreheads, and their hearts sped up as they feared the worst. Neither dared to look at any of the people present; instead, they stared at the ground.

Yue! Rong Xing was the first to get past the shock, and she started running only to throw herself into Hui Yue’s embrace. Her face was filled with a large smile as tears appeared in her eyes. Her tears became so numerous that within moments her entire face was tear stained. It was not long before Rong Ming came to and also rushed towards Hui Yue before he hugged the white-haired young man and his sister who refused to let Yue go.

Seeing the reactions these usually stoic graduates displayed left the two guards utterly astonished, and none of them said anything while they felt incredibly out of place. Looking around, they saw another person who seemed out of place. The two twins only jumped towards the white-haired man while the golden-haired one just stood behind them observing with a small smirk on his face. He did not step forward to take part in the reunion, but he was clearly here together with the white-haired young man.

Come with us, Rong Ming finally said as he dried his red, puffy eyes with the back of his hand. Hui Yue nodded while holding Rong Xing’s hand and with a gesture to Cai Jie to follow him, the three followed behind Rong Ming. As soon as Rong Ming started walking, his body once more straightened, and his aloofness returned; he was bursting with confidence. He had clearly changed a lot since Hui Yue had last seen him.

To Hui Yue’s surprise, the twins did not lead them deeper into the Royal Academy; instead, they went to another set of gates where they exited the grounds and walked into and through the upscale neighborhood they had traveled down when coming to the academy. After walking through the streets for what seemed to be a short ten minutes, they reached a massive mansion. The mansion had guards outside of its gates, and it seemed to be capable of housing at least a hundred people. Considering that Hui Yue expected them to go to a student’s dorm, he was quite taken aback by the sheer size of their home. Looking at Hui Yue’s surprised expression, Rong Ming smiled with satisfaction. You sent us so many people that we needed our own residence, he explained causing a wry smile to appear on Hui Yue’s lips. It was indeed true that he had sent Xu Piao, Deng Wu, Sha Yun, and Wang Ju Long, and now that he thought about it, they were indeed not capable of living within the Royal Academy.

When they went inside Rong Ming sent a glance towards Cai Jie, but seeing that the golden young man paid him no attention and instead just followed Hui Yue with a sly smirk on his face, he chose not to comment. He knew that Hui Yue would introduce him eventually.

Walking up to the gate, Hui Yue saw how the guards politely bowed to the two Rong twins and opened the gate for the four of them. A few steps led up to the front door and as soon as they stepped inside a voice could be heard from the side. How come you are back so early? I thought you were busy with the experiments at the martial arts department, the voice said from inside a room just off to the side. Looking inside, Hui Yue found a massive desk filled with papers. Behind these papers with his full attention on a pile of memory stones was the one who had spoken. Looking closely at this person, Hui Yue smiled and walked closer. He would recognize this oversized man anywhere, but the person did not lift his head, not until the shadow of Hui Yue covered the paper he was reading. Frowning the older man lifted his head, ready to complain to one of the two twins only to find a white-haired younger man there instead. Staring agape, he picked up a set of glasses and placed them on his nose as he looked at Hui Yue as if he did not believe who he was seeing. Before long he removed them once again. Good lord, it took you forever to return, he said with a shocked voice before he shot up from the chair with so much force that the chair was pushed backward and fell to the floor.

Xu Piao rushed forward and gave Hui Yue a great hug. He seemed as though he was focused on working, but Hui Yue could easily guess that this man was intentionally burying himself in work so that he did not think too much about what he had lost in the dungeons as they tried to escape.

Seeing Xu Piao again was bittersweet. The two of them had been through many things together. Xu Piao had sold information about him to the Dragon Corps, but then, in the end, decided to follow him out of the dungeons into a new world. A decision that had, sadly, cost him his best friend and partner. Many things had happened between them, but Hui Yue was surprised to find himself this happy to once more meet Xu Piao. There was not even a hint of a grudge between them. He had been so busy with the beasts’ army that he had had no time to think about his emotions concerning Xu Piao, and now after more than two years since he last saw the older man, he felt a warmth inside of him. A warmth equal to the one he felt when he saw the Rong twins, and he found that he had long since forgiven the hardworking older man.

It seems you have caught up with me when it comes to rank. How on earth did you become a King within such a short time? he asked with a smile on his face. Although he smiled, pain was evident in his eyes. Hui Yue realized that although Xu Piao was happy to see him once again, the meeting made him remember his last moments with his beloved. Even worse was that he never understood his emotions until it was too late, and afterward, these mixed emotions created turmoil within Xu Piao. Hui Yue placed a hand on his shoulder. Believe me, I understand your emotions, he said with a sad smile as he remembered how he had loved Li Fen. He could only think of her now as a friend, but his heart ached as he knew the matter between them was still unresolved. He needed to tell her what he had felt back then, but also make her understand that those feelings were a part of the past. Sighing, he contemplated for a moment before he looked towards Xu Piao again. I have some news you might want to know, he said while thinking about every single word he used.

You understand that when someone dies their soul will usually enter the Netherworld where Yanluo governs them until all their memories of their previous life have vanished. Then they are ready to be reborn, he explained with the words Lan Feng had told him so many years ago when the two of them were sharing an infant’s body. When souls are in the Netherworld it is possible to pick them up if one is capable of entering the Netherworld and finding them, every word Hui Yue said caused Xu Piao to look at him as though he had fallen from the sky.

Clearing his throat and with a trembling voice, Xu Piao asked, Are you saying that I can enter the Netherworld and find her? That I am able to bring her back with me?

Hui Yue nodded his head, and although Xu Piao was filled with hope with shining eyes and a rapid pulse, the young man knew what an arduous journey he had just set him on. There is one problem, he said frankly, and his words instantly turned Xu Piao quiet. His expression turned sour as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on him.

Of course, he mumbled. There is no way that it could be easy to take someone under the watch of Yanluo, the sovereign of death. His eyes flashed with hopelessness, but he quickly manned up, and his eyes which had been filled with pain, were now filled with determination. He showed a decisive expression as he turned to Hui Yue. Both his hands gripped the younger man’s shoulders. Tell me! Please tell me what I need to do to save her and bring her back. I am willing to do anything to get her back! he spoke quickly, almost stumbling over his words as he was entirely focused on the information that Hui Yue had just shared with him. A wry, slightly mocking smile appeared on Hui Yue’s face as he watched how Xu Piao was as desperate as he had once been. The two looked at each other for some time before Hui Yue sighed. He knew that this man would become solely focused on training after being told that rank was what mattered, but he felt that it was better than allowing his friend to be filled with guilt for the rest of his life. To enter another world, one needs to be a God ranked expert, Hui Yue said straightforwardly, and his words caused the determination in Xu Piao’s face to waver slightly but moments after he steeled himself.

Thank you for telling me, he said with a fractional bow. I will excuse myself for some time. I really need to start training if I want to have a chance of reaching the rank of God before she is given a new life.

Hui Yue smiled slightly as he leaned back against the wall and watched Xu Piao leave through a door on the opposite side of the room. Now that he had helped his friend, he felt great, but he was still holding back. Deep within him was a bubbling excitement which could not be tamed before he once more saw Wang Ju Long. Just thinking about her was enough to make his heart beat erratically and longing could be seen in his eyes as he turned around. When turning around he heard someone descending the stairs into the entry hall, the hall right next to the office he was in. Was this truly his Wang Ju Long?

Chapter 3 - Together Once More

Leaving the office in which Xu Piao had been working, Hui Yue, Cai Jie, and the twins returned to the entrance hall where the stairs were located. Stairs from which Hui Yue heard soft steps, and when he looked up a smile played on his lips. This individual was not Wang Ju Long. In front of him was a tall adult. His hair was azure blue, and his eyes were dark blue matching his hair. His skin was white with a slight blue hue. If anything, he was as odd as Hui Yue and Cai Jie.

The blue young man stopped in his tracks when he saw Hui Yue. His eyes widened as he stared at the white-haired young man. Looking at Deng Wu for the first time in over a year, Hui Yue could not help but frown. Deng Wu was usually the foolish and playful person of their group, yet the man standing in front of him did not seem playful; instead, he seemed incredibly serious. Looking into his deep blue eyes, Hui Yue finally found something he recognized as deep within was a gleam of playfulness that characterized Deng Wu.

The young man, who, just like the Rong twins, no longer had the youthful expression of a child but instead the appearance of a responsible grownup caused Hui Yue to look at him with curiosity. It seemed that during the time they had been away from one another, Hui Yue was not the only one who had changed. Scolding himself, Hui Yue knew that he should not be surprised by something like this, as close to two years had passed since he had last seen them escaping the dungeons. A year had been spent traveling through the tunnels and almost a full year was spent training with Wan Qiao, teaching the armies how to fight, and then finally going to war. Although his friends were likely not to have gone through something as extreme as him, life still went on. And with life, complications always appeared. Complications which one had to solve to keep living.

It’s been quite some time, Deng Wu got himself together much faster than any of the others had, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips as he descended the stairs quicker than before. He went up to Hui Yue, and he hugged the other man. It is good to see you unharmed. Why on earth would you become the Grand Marshall of the Shenyuan Beast Army?

Hui Yue was completely taken aback by the question, and he stared at Deng Wu with a blank expression for a few seconds before he shook his head with a smile on his lips. How on earth do you know about that? he inquired and Deng Wu just shrugged as he looked around. Gao Yan knows all, he said. After we entered the capital that man spent all his time on setting up the best information network in the entire world, and he did very well. He has sources in every major city and some smaller ones. When people fled the Imperial Capital, they brought with them tales of the beast horde and their white-haired demon lord who was as beautiful as the midnight moon, but as deadly as white burial lilies. Hearing what Deng Wu said made him at a loss for words. Although he had participated in the war, he did not expect that everyone knew about him, and only now did he understand why they had been avoided as they had during their trip to the capital.

I told you that it was you they were staring at, Cai Jie said with a grin on his face, clearly satisfied with finally finding proof that he was correct. Hearing the golden young man speak, Hui Yue snorted, but he did nothing to argue. Now was not the time to argue.

This is troublesome, he said while scratching his chin. I have been invited to the City Lord’s mansion tonight, and I said yes to the invitation. Perhaps he is planning on killing us, he said quietly. Being the Grand Marshall of the beast horde was not something he wished for everyone to know about.

Hearing the words Hui Yue said caused the Rong twins and Deng Wu to both started laughing. Don’t worry. If he or the Royal Family wished you dead, then you would already be dead. They would just have sent a Saint to deal with you, they said to one another, and Hui Yue grumbled a little as he heard this; however, it did indeed make sense.

Well, I would like to see them try, both Cai Jie and Hui Yue said at the same time while they showed sinister smiles and their eyes were both filled with killing intent. Hui Yue had gained his killing intent from the red wolf. This killing intent had been savage and wild at the start, but after the war, Hui Yue felt changes in his killing intent. Before, it had just billowed forth and filled everything with a deep cold making his targets freeze and sweat at the same time. Back then, he had been incapable of fully controlling it, but after he had battled many experts during the war, he had gained control over it. It was as though the killing intent fully belonged to him now.

Cai Jie also had a killing intent as strong as Hui Yue’s. As for where or how he managed to gain his killing intent, Hui Yue had no idea, but he knew that he would think more than once if he were to fight the expert who was standing behind him. Cai Jie had many secrets up his sleeves.

Seeing the expressions on the two different looking young men, even the composed Deng Wu felt a shiver run down his spine. It was obvious that they had experienced war. Death had followed them closely, and they had killed countless around them.  It was obvious they were used to being only a hair’s breath away from death grasping them and delivering them into the Netherworld.

If I am not mistaken, both of you are Kings right? Deng Wu frowned as he spoke. How can it be possible for you to defeat Saints? Both Hui Yue and Cai Jie smirked. We have our ways, they said but didn’t go into details. Hui Yue was confident that if a Saint came to kill him, even if Hui Yue could not defeat him, he could definitely rely on Velocity Flow to escape. Velocity Flow had evolved together with him and had gotten even stronger after Hui Yue focused on external training. If it were a mediocre Saint, then he would have no way to keep up with the swift Hui Yue. As for Cai Jie’s secrets, Hui Yue did not know but thinking back to the dead crusaders he felt a small bit of discomfort as he still had no idea how they were killed.

Deng Wu saw the moment of discomfort in Hui Yue’s eyes, and he nodded as he accepted their reasons. Although they had not seen each other for a long time, Deng Wu was still as good at understanding Hui Yue as he had ever been, and he did not wish to pressure the white-haired man when he had finally returned.

Just as Hui Yue was about to open his mouth and ask where Sha Yun and Wang Ju Long were at, he heard the door forced open, and a massive snake-woman appeared in front of him. Her skin was still as yellow as it had been before, and her eyes shone silver from the beast contract shared between the two of them. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears, and as soon as she saw Hui Yue, she threw herself into his embrace crying uncontrollably. Upon seeing her, a gentle expression appeared on Hui Yue’s face. He gently patted her head combing her hair with his hand.

I’m back, he said gently, but nothing seemed to be heard as Sha Yun was hanging on to Hui Yue for sheer life. It seemed that she feared that he would vanish again at any moment. Deng Wu wanted to help remove her, but Hui Yue just shook his head. He had forced her to leave him back in the Dungeons of the Divine. The least he could do was allow her to cry on his shoulder. He could imagine how worried she had been during the long time he had been gone.

It took Sha Yun around half an hour of crying before she managed to get herself under control. Smiling at her, Hui Yue cleared her eyes gently with his hand. Don’t worry, he said smilingly. I won’t go anywhere now. I’ll stay here together with you and the others.

Hearing this a sad smile appeared on Sha Yun’s face, and Hui Yue took her by the hand as he apologetically smiled to all the others who had waited for the crying to end. But no one seemed annoyed, not even Cai Jie. All of them understood exactly why Sha Yun was as elated as she was when she was crying on Hui Yue’s shoulder.

We just need to find Gao Yan and Wang Ju Long, Hui Yue said. The moment he mentioned her name, he felt a warmth inside, but at the same time, Sha Yun tightened her grip around his hand when her name was mentioned as though she refused to let go; as if she refused to let him see her.

Gao Yan is out working. He will not be back before tonight, Rong Ming said from the side. Wang Ju Long, on the other hand, is most likely at the infirmary learning about new healing skills. She has been training harder than anyone since she returned, and she currently specializes in poison and healing, not to mention her skills with a staff that are astonishing. Even we have trouble defeating her even though she is just a Duke.

Knowing that everyone would return in the evening, Hui Yue regretted accepting the City Lord’s invitation for dinner, but he did not feel like standing up someone that important. Knowing that he had such an important meeting later, Deng Wu took both Hui Yue and Cai Jie upstairs where their rooms were located. Picking two rooms at the end of the hall Deng Wu gave them to the two new guests. As they entered, they found the suites much better than anything they had stayed at during their trip to the capital.

Thank you, Hui Yue said to Deng Wu before the two young men each entered their room. Each room had a bathtub, a luxury they had missed quite a bit on the road to the capital. Soaking in the warm water for a long period of time, both men managed to get rid of all the dirt from their trip. As soon as they were done, they put their finest garments on and tied up their hair. Just as Hui Yue finished, he heard knocking on his door, and as he opened it, he found Cai Jie waiting for him outside. Hui Yue was wearing a white robe with blue embroidery of the Vermilion Bird. Cai Jie was wearing a red robe with golden embroideries on it, and the two looked the other over before giving an approving nod.

Leaving the upper floors, they saw Deng Wu, the Rong Twins, Sha Yun, and Xu Piao downstairs waiting for them. Take your time at the dinner appointment; we’ll make sure that both Gao Yan and Wang Ju Long are here when you return, they promised. Sha Yun was pouting because Hui Yue had said that she could not follow him to the dinner. It was just a meal after all.

With nods to his friends, Hui Yue and Cai Jie left the house and started walking in the direction that they had been told by their friends. The sun was setting, and dusk was now arriving. It was the perfect time for the dinner meeting, but Hui Yue could not help feeling a bit worried about what the City Lord truly wanted from them. While walking into the night, a bad feeling descended upon Hui Yue.

Chapter 4 - Dinner Appointment

Walking through town , Hui Yue wondered if Saints were laying in wait ready to attack him when they reached their destination. The young man had to admit that he had become extra paranoid when he was told that the City Lord likely was aware of his part in the war. By his side, Cai Jie seemed to be highly amused with the many times Hui Yue turned his head or looked to their sides.

Calm down, he said with laughter in his voice. Although we are on our way to see the City Lord, and yes, he might know about your role, he should be grateful that you did not go to the Taiyang Kingdom and instead decided on the Siban Empire. Although they all were in an alliance together, they haven’t been on friendly terms for years now. If anything I swear that the City Lord will be grateful to you. Hui Yue looked at him with skepticisim but said no more despite the fact that he stopped looking behind himself all the time.

‘The guy is a lot smarter than you,’ Lan Feng commented with a sigh. ‘I would not have minded sharing a body with him instead.’

‘Well sorry for not being as smart,’ Hui Yue answered with a sour expression on his face. ‘I am trying to learn, okay?’

‘I know,’ Lan Feng said his voice slightly apologetic. ‘I am eager to regain my body as soon as possible, but you are right. We need to take our time and learn instead of rushing through things. Sorry.’

Hui Yue could not blame the phoenix inside of him. He, too, wished for the bird to get his body back, but he was also painfully aware that he could not fight the legendary An He as things stood now. He could only manage a few Saints. Someone as powerful as Wan Qiao or the Frozen General was far from his league. Thinking about Wan Qiao, Hui Yue remembered Li Xiaopeng, and he gripped his hands. He was still a far cry from the strongest Saints, and even these Saints said that they could not hold a candle to An He. If they had no chance, then how could he?

While Hui Yue was deep in thought, Cai Jie had been whistling a happy tune and looking around, clearly enjoying himself. In no way did he seem to be feeling upset like Hui Yue, nor did he do anything to try and make the white-haired young man less depressed.

They arrived at the mansion earlier than Hui Yue expected as his focus had been fully on the conversation with Lan Feng, which had caused him to sulk the rest of the way. Arriving was something that Hui Yue was not prepared for.

Still, Cai Jie moved to the gate, and Hui Yue shook his head to clear his mind. Soon a calm tranquility spread through his body as he stepped through the gates following Cai Jie. Whatever happened, happened. He was incapable of controlling what the City Lord did and worrying about it would not solve anything.

Seeing the change in Hui Yue, Cai Jie lifted an eyebrow in surprise. The white-haired young man was no longer as nervous or agitated as he had been earlier; instead, he had a small smile on his face, and his eyes were clear as they looked politely at the guards that let them in. Hui Yue said nothing but his entire demeanor changed so much that Cai Jie could not help but feel astonished. A smile played on his lips as he was once more greatly satisfied with his decision to follow Hui Yue.

Hui Yue felt the personality of the monk take over. Sharing the memories of so many different lifestyles made it hard to live in Hui Yue’s body. All of them had merged into his, yet the different memories and personalities would sometimes shine through and take over his body and make it act accordingly. Usually, this could be quite a troublesome thing, yet today the young man was grateful for the monk’s personality to take over and calm him down. It made him look at things a lot more clearly, and his worry completely disappeared. What Cai Jie said earlier made perfect sense. With a smile on his face, Hui Yue follow behind Cai Jie as they were led towards the main hall.

The main hall was a massive building, and as they walked inside, they were met by a huge entrance hall with a set of stairs going up five stories. The handrail to the staircase was made out of solid gold, and the stairs themselves carved from beautiful marble. Looking at this, Hui Yue almost went breathless.  

The guards in front of them headed for the stairs, and both Cai Jie and Hui Yue followed. Neither of them showed on their faces that they were astonished by the sheer amount of wealth displayed so brazenly in front them. Although the two of them wore their finest clothes that were created from the best material, they still seemed dull next to the architectural beauty that was in front of them. Although they were surprised, the guard was taken aback seeing that neither of them was awestruck by the beauty; their eyes were not widening, and their breathing did not pick up. The golden boy had only raised an eyebrow while the white-haired one seemed not to care about it at all. The guards started to get worried. Had these experts seen beauty far greater than what could be seen here at their lord’s mansion? If so, then where, and was it impossible to astonish them? He knew that his lord, the City Lord, loved to use his wealth to astonish people making them humble as they were led to the lavish dinner table.

Reaching the floor on which the banquet room was held, the guard went down a long corridor until he finally reached the end. They had come to a door made from heavy wood covered with gold. One of the guards knocked on the door only to see it slowly open in front of him. Stepping to the side he gesturing for the two guests to enter, and Hui Yue and Cai Jie did just that.

Hui Yue did not know what he expected from the room he was entering, but judging from the rest of the mansion, he expected it to be very extravagant. He noticed after he entered, it was just as he expected; the room did not let him down. In the middle was a massive table created from heavy wood. Around it were enough chairs to seat fifty people and on the table were rare delicacies. Countless plates were filled with every kind of meat one could think of, countless vegetables, and numerous different salads. Even fruits and nuts were present on the table.

Some of the chairs were occupied, while others were empty. Hui Yue and Cai Jie stepped closer to the table expecting to be seated at a random place.

Come, come! Sit with me! a burly, large man called out. He was seated at the end of the table, and it was clear that he was the City Lord. His clothes matched the gold and marble house in which they were seated, and his stomach was bulging outwards so much that it threatened to rip open the robe that had been forced to hold in the large stomach. This man was big, not just around the stomach, but also in height. Both Hui Yue and Cai Jie were surprised to see that although he was a City Lord, who seemed to enjoy life's pleasures quite a bit, there was an aura of strength around him. An aura so strong they instantly understood that the man in front of them was an Emperor.

Neither of the two wished to talk back to this strong a man, and instead, they both nodded their heads as they went to the other end of the table. The end where the City Lord was seated. The further up the table they traveled, the more the chairs were occupied by experts of various families or sects, all of them looking at both Hui Yue and Cai Jie with astonished faces. Some were openly gaping while others had eyes wide with shock. The majority dared not look directly at Hui Yue but still tried to steal a glance. It was clear that they were aware of Hui Yue’s participation in what had been named the War of the Beasts.

Reaching the City Lord they saw that one seat had been emptied on each side of him, and Hui Yue and Cai Jie took the hint and sat down. Both lifted their wine glasses and toasted to their host, saying nothing but nodding to him.

Upon seeing this, a great smile appeared on the City Lord’s face as he stood up and spread his arms. Welcome to my humble abode! he started. His voice was so loud that it boomed within the room. The wine glasses trembled, and the floor shook. Today we have the honor of welcoming two guests. They are both adventurers and have been traveling for days on end. He then looked at the two experts by his side and gestured for them to stand up and introduce themselves.

Good evening. My name is Hui Yue. I was born in a small village just outside Riluo City, Hui Yue started. His voice was calm, and his face was as charming as the smile on his lips, I have traveled the world. I’ve been to the furthest corners of the Taiyang Kingdom, traveled through Shenyuan, and lastly been in what used to be the Siban Empire before I followed some immigrants back to my home country. Hui Yue introduced himself honestly. Everyone already knew who he was anyway, so he did nothing to hide it; instead, he stated clearly the path he had taken on his journey thus far. His words caused some of the guests to choke on their wine, and their eyes to widen as far as was possible. Their jaws dropped, and some glasses slipped and fell from their hands.

Hearing his words the City Lord instantly started laughing loudly. His voice resounded throughout the massive dining room. He was so entertained that he clasped his stomach with a heavy hand causing a tremor to run through the floor.

Some years ago there was news about a student of a Saint, who had been given special powers by his master. They said it was a power which allowed him to use the powers of a Saint himself, something that is completely unprecedented, the City Lord spoke after he finally stopped laughing. I remember that back then the young man was described to be a white-haired, fair-skinned youth. Unfortunately, after the news broke he quickly vanished, and despite every kingdom searching for him, nothing of him had been heard since. I assume that this person is you?

Hui Yue contemplated for some time, but he found no reason to lie. That was indeed me. I was not interested in the trouble that this revelation brought with it, so I decided to go on an adventure, he admitted and once more the sound of the other guests dropping their items or gasping out loud in surprise was heard.  

The City Lord, on the other hand, was clearly satisfied with his answer. He gestured for Hui Yue to sit down by his side. I welcome you to my city! he said with a genuinely friendly voice. To have such a peerless expert here in my city, I am very grateful. Turning towards Cai Jie, the City Lord looked at him with curiosity. Hui Yue, they had all heard about, but this mysterious man who was as strange as Hui Yue and who followed by his side was another matter. They had heard nothing about this man and were particularly wary toward him.

Perhaps you will introduce yourself? the City Lord asked politely and curiously. It was impossible to tell what the City Lord was hiding. He had been the City Lord for a long time, and he was aware that even if someone seemed weak, it was a good idea to be cautious and polite around them. A polite person lived much longer than an arrogant one.

Chapter 5 - The Upper Class

Everyone, including Hui Yue, looked at Cai Jie with keen interest. Hui Yue was someone they had heard about before, but this young man no one knew anything about. With his appearance and the fact that he traveled together with Hui Yue, one would have expected him to be well known or at least someone would have mentioned him. Yet it seemed that no one had even noticed that a golden-haired young man was traveling with the Grand Marshall of Shenyuan.  

Contemplating for some time and tapping the wine glass with a finger, it was clear that Cai Jie was considering how to introduce himself. Finally, he slowly rose from his chair. Showing that he was in no rush nor was he able to be rushed by others even when they looked at him with such curiosity as they did now.

I go by the name Cai Jie, he started his introduction with something that both Hui Yue and the City Lord knew. I am an adventurer. I have traveled to places you have never heard about and seen things you will not believe. My past is not important nor is my reason for traveling. As for why I am following this youngster around, it is actually very simple. He and I have the same goal in life. Although I have traveled alone for many years, I am grateful to find someone with the same goals as myself, and therefore, I now have someone to tread this path with.

As he finished speaking the City Lord opened his mouth, and he was just about to speak when Hui Yue shook his head with an apologetic smile on his face. Even if you ask, I am afraid I cannot tell anyone what my goal in life is, he said with an incredibly polite expression and a soft voice. His words made the City Lord frown for a few moments but seeing the sincerity in Hui Yue’s eyes; he nodded instead of continuing the discussion.

Instead, the large man stood up once more and clapped his hands. From the many doors in the room appeared servants. So many servants that there was one for each guest. In their hands was a bottle of wine. Going to one guest each, these servants quietly poured a glass of wine before they withdrew to the walls. There was exactly one servant for each guest and, looking at the other guests; these servants seemed always to serve the same person as they were being thanked by the guests who used their names. Hui Yue and Cai Jie both nodded to their servants as they looked at the table filled with food, uncertain if even half of this banquet would be eaten.

After the servants had withdrawn the City Lord said while smiling to all his guests, Please dig in. Enjoy the food we have found for you, and please feel free to eat as much as you can. Having finished his words, the City Lord sat down and instantly reached out to grab the first, best, tray in front of him. Having grabbed the tray, he piled food onto his plate. He licked his lips as his eyes gleamed. He was clearly excited about the food on his plate. Seeing that the City Lord started to get food, the many guests mimicked him. They also started piling up food, selecting a little bit of everything. Hui Yue and Cai Jie, who had never been to a banquet like this before, both mimicked the guests. They each took a little bit of everything feeling curious about what they were eating.  

Although the atmosphere had been tense at the start while the guests were looking at Hui Yue and Cai Jie with both worry and hesitation, they quickly started chatting with each other, and the tense atmosphere slowly melted into one you would imagine belonging to such a high-class gathering.

So young man, how did you end up in Shenyuan? the City Lord suddenly asked while stuffing his face with a roasted leg from some animal. It looked very much like a chicken drumstick, but after closer examination, Hui Yue ruled out chicken because the meat was black and its size was closer to a turkey. Hui Yue pondered for some time whether or not to answer honestly, but in the end, he decided to be vague. He was still uncertain which kind of position he had gained in Taiyang after being the Grand Marshall of the Shenyuan Army.

I was traveling, and eventually I had no other possibility than to enter Shenyuan. Honestly, I was very curious about Shenyuan since I knew nothing about it, he answered as he politely ate some food from his plate. Eating the food, Hui Yue had to admit that it was very high quality, but he was unsure if he could eat such rich food every day now that he was accustomed to living off as little food as possible.

Although the other experts were conversing with one another and a buzzing atmosphere was evident within the room, as soon as Hui Yue spoke everyone quieted down a bit to hear what he was saying. It was obvious that these guests were incredibly curious about what the two newcomers had to say. The City Lord quickly understood that although Hui Yue had confirmed that he was the Grand Marshall, he had no interest in telling exactly what or how he had done things. A smirk appeared on the City Lord’s face as he approved of this. Although Hui Yue was supposedly quite young, he understood the real value of knowledge. Hui Yue had previously been very outspoken. He had told his secrets to his good friends, and he had talked about his origins with Wan Qiao. He had told Xu Piao about the world above on their first meeting as well. Through trial and error, Hui Yue had learned that it was best to keep one’s knowledge close, and he had a small smile on his lips while looking at the City Lord.

Well, since you cannot go into detail, perhaps you can tell me a little about the empire that no one can enter. What is Shenyuan like? he asked curiously, and Hui Yue came to the conclusion that it didn’t matter too much to give a rough description of the massive forest.

Shenyuan is one massive forest, he started. The forest is split into many parts which are controlled by Saints known as the Lords of the Forest. These Saints are the strongest existences within Shenyuan. One can challenge them at any time, and the winner will become the new lord.

While Hui Yue took a breath to drink some of the wine, the City Lord asked a question, How many of these lords are there in Shenyuan? Although the question seemed harmless, Hui Yue used to be the Grand Marshall of the Beast Army, and he smiled apologetically once more as he shook his head. That I cannot tell you, your Excellency, he answered. I will say though that I have never heard of a kingdom or empire with more Saints than what Shenyuan has at their disposal. As for how many lords, I cannot tell you as the total is something even I do not know.

Hui Yue expected that the City Lord would become upset with such an unsatisfactory answer, but the lord did nothing but nod his head. He was seemingly satisfied with the knowledge he had gained. The rest of the evening went by with the City Lord asking Hui Yue and Cai Jie about the war and the beasts only to mostly get vague answers and a lot of apologies. Even so, the City Lord was clearly satisfied with what he had gained, and he was smiling and laughing the whole time. In the end, just as Hui Yue expected, more than half of the food was left on the table and just before the experts started to rise, the City Lord noticed Hui Yue’s frown, and he chuckled. Don’t worry. The leftovers will get delivered to a few orphanages across the city. Although I like food, I do not like waste. The poor children can enjoy the meal. Clearing his throat, the lord gently moved all the guests into another room. This room was a library with comfortable chairs located in clusters all around the room. At the back were tables and the City Lord invited the guests to sit down as he served small canapes, snacks, and various drinks. Tea, lemonade, wine, and water were all available.

Many of the guests ended up in various groups chatting with one another; some found books to read through, while others seemingly discussed gossip or politics from around the capital. The City Lord’s eyes surveyed the room, and a laugh escaped his lips. Hui Yue had a good impression of the happy-go-lucky City Lord, but he was also perfectly well aware that this large man had other sides to him than what he saw right now.

Once a week we hold a dinner such as this one, the City Lord explained as he sat down in a chair with three chairs by his side. Both Hui Yue and Cai Jie sat down together with him. It would be my honor if you would come and join us every week. "I am aware that Gao Yan is one of your friends, and as such there is not much knowledge about the city or gossip that will be news to you. But there are things about the upper class which are not discussed around the servants