Beginning of Cultivation -
Chapter 52: Entering the Palace
Chapter 52: Entering the Palace
Before the shimmering golden sunlight, the imperial palace dazzled before our eyes as a symbol of grandeur and magnificence. Along the smoothly paved cobblestone road, two rows of towering pine trees provided gentle shade to those passing by.
The buildings, architectural in style yet ancient, had been refurbished to look new. They shone with bright white and golden hues, glittering under the sun’s rays.
The main castle, the heart of the imperial palace and indeed the palace itself, featured large glass windows that opened like doors to welcome light and breeze. The grand architecture with sleek stone columns and intricately designed patterns exuded a classic and refined beauty.
Every detail was meticulously cared for, from the copper-patterned doors to the towering citrine statues on the building roofs, all reflecting the wealth and power of the royal family.
The six of them were stunned into silence by this opulence. They stared long and hard, unable to tear their eyes away from the palace.
Chu Wu looked at his friends’ inexperienced demeanor, reminiscent of children eager to explore new things, and couldn’t help but laugh.
"Ha ha, well, isn’t it beautiful? This royal palace has been around for hundreds of years. As the kingdom continuously develops, so does the palace, evolving into what it is today." Chu Wu explained a bit about the royal palace.
"It’s truly magnificent. Building such a grand structure must have required immense effort." Jun Wu Xiao commented frankly.
"Indeed, this construction has to be the most magnificent I have ever seen. The royal palace I stormed into before is not even in the same league as this one." Yue Guang nodded in agreement.
The others also nodded, they found the palace very beautiful. However, they had never seen anything like it before, so comparisons were difficult.
Sheng Yuan, Zhu Ji Feng, and Yan Meng Long, although they had lived in the capital for over twenty years, had spent those years secluded in Chu residence cultivating and not going outside.
"How about it? Jun Wu Xiao, would you like to live here?" Chu Wu asked.
"If I say yes, will you give me the palace?" Jun Wu Xiao jokingly retorted.
Chu Wu’s mouth twitched, cursing inwardly:
"Great! I say one thing and you directly ask for the palace."
"Cut the nonsense, it’s not even mine to give." Chu Wu replied.
Jun Wu Xiao obviously knew this but just wanted to tease. He said:
"Of course, I know. Moreover, this place wouldn’t quite suit me to live in. With so many precious items, I’m afraid I might ruin them, and this place serves the emperor and officials better than it would serve me."
Chu Wu nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this, he said:
"Child is easy to teach. Knowing your own limits and recognizing your true value, you will make progress."
Jun Wu Xiao unhesitant, smacked Chu Wu on the head and scoffed:
"Hah, who are you trying to impress? I know what I’m good at, you don’t need to teach me this."
The force of his slap was not light, leaving Chu Wu still cradling his head. Clenching his other fist, he raised it threateningly and said fiercely:
"If you’re so capable, then come on. I will teach you what is called human morality."
"Huh, you think I’m scared? Plus, I’m not entirely human, so why would I need to learn that?" Jun Wu Xiao retorted without hesitation.
Their eyes met with a spark that seemed capable of igniting the air between them. The others, seeing this, laughed:
"Ha ha ha, you two old men would lose all your dignity if others saw this. Lucky, there are quite a few people here."
Due to an important discussion scheduled today, most staff had been kept away from this area, with only a few soldiers nearby and the participants.
The current royal palace doesn’t need too many soldiers because the whole world is basically unified. Except for the continent that needs to cross the sea, it has not been completely taken over, but as the emperor sees, the sparse population there made its eventual integration into the territory a matter of time but not a top priority.
However, few people did not mean no people. Coincidentally, some nearby officials witnessed the scene. One man rubbed his eyes and said to a man near him:
"Are you seeing the same thing I’m seeing? Isn’t that General Chu Wu?"
"You’re not mistaken. That attire and face can only belong to General Chu Wu." the man replied.
"But why does he seem a bit off?"
"If you ask me this, who should I ask? Maybe he didn’t play when he was young so he played to make up for it when he was old. Anyway, this is his business, we don’t need to pry. Let’s go inside quickly."
Hearing others’ comments, Jun Wu Xiao and Chu Wu immediately stopped. Jun Wu Xiao laughed and said:
"Ha ha ha. Didn’t play when you were young so you played to make up for it when you was old They probably don’t know you’ve always been like this."
Hearing this, Chu Wu’s expression darkened. He covered Jun Wu Xiao’s mouth and said:
"Shut up. I used to have an image of an imposing and formidable general, not a clown."
Before Jun Wu Xiao could say anything, laughter rang out:
"Phfft ha ha.. ha ha. Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. I just couldn’t help it." Dao San Qian said.
"Ha ha ha, exactly, what’s this about being imposing and formidable... I’m dying of laughter here." Yue Guang laughed.
She knows what he was like in the past. But he wasn’t shy at all when talking like that made her feel funny.
"Ha ha ha, exactly. We find you amusing, but imposing and formidable? Haven’t seen that in decades." Zhu Ji Feng added, laughing as he spoke.
Sheng Yuan and Yan Meng Long joined in the laughter with everyone else.
At this point, Chu Wu felt betrayed, having brought everyone here only for them to laugh in his face.
"You... you bunch of traitors. I won’t talk to you anymore." Chu Wu said, fuming yet unable to say anything.
Jun Wu Xiao suddenly found the situation oddly familiar. After a moment, he recalled a similar incident from years ago, but back then, he was the one who felt betrayed.
"Ha ha, Chu Wu, does this situation seem familiar?" Jun Wu Xiao asked.
Chu Wu paused, trying to remember when exactly that had been. It was normal for him not to remember since he wasn’t the one feeling betrayed at that time.
"Last time when I met you with those two. But back then, I was the one who felt betrayed, not you. But the world is fair, now the roles are reversed, and this time my side has six people, not just three like yours back then." Jun Wu Xiao continued.
Hearing this, Chu Wu understood, and not to be outdone, he made a statement indicating his intention to seek revenge in the future:
"Hmph, three hundred years in the east, three hundred years in the west. Don’t underestimate an old fox."
"There’s the spirit, but try to live that long first." Jun Wu Xiao chuckled.
"Hmph, I’m far from dying. Let’s go inside, there’s work to be done and no time to waste chatting with you." Chu Wu said, heading into the palace.
But the others also stopped laughing and followed him. Chu Wu suddenly thought of something and said:
"Heh heh. No need for three hundred years, three seconds is enough. Aren’t all of you following me right now? My side now has seven people."
Everyone paused for a moment, and Jun Wu Xiao snorted:
"Shameless, you said you’d stop the nonsense but it took you only a few seconds to start again."
"Ha ha, alright, no more nonsense. Let’s go inside, just don’t laugh out loud in there." Chu Wu said.
"Hmph, we’re not children to be reminded so much." the group grumbled but followed him anyway.
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