The evening sky over the Aurelian Spear Kingdom transitioned from a vibrant orange into a deep and starlit indigo as Li Yu and Princess Jinling returned to the capital. They parted ways near the inner gates of the royal district while offering each other a polite bow as they left. Jinling headed toward the grand spires of the royal palace, while Li Yu made his way back to the sprawling guest compound designated for his clan.
Li Yu walked through the polished stone arches of the guest courtyard and let out a long breath. The day had been eventful, refreshing and highly unorthodox. While he couldn’t buy anything he really wanted, he found a potential beast for his Qi storage idea. He headed straight for his assigned quarters and was intending to pack his few remaining items and prepare for the journey back to the Zhan Clan territory.
As he crossed the main pavilion, the sound of loud laughter and clinking cups echoed from the communal dining area. The rest of the Zhan Clan delegation had also just returned from their own excursion. They were currently sitting around several large wooden tables while finishing off plates of roasted ats and sharing jugs of local kingdom ale.
Zhan Chen was the first to spot him and the older cousin raised his cup in greeting with a knowing smirk playing on his face.
"Look who finally returns," Zhan Chen called out while drawing the attention of the entire room. "We were beginning to wonder if the royal guards had locked you in a dungeon for kidnapping the Princess."
"No dungeons today," Li Yu replied with a smile and chuckle. He walked over and took an empty seat near the head of the table. "Just a long walk through the markets and a al outside the city walls."
The five suitors who had originally traveled to the capital to compete for Jinling’s hand imdiately leaned forward. Their faces were a mixture of intense curiosity and lingering jealousy. They had spent the entire afternoon touring the city with Zhan Chen, drowning their romantic sorrows in good food and strong ale but they still wanted to know exactly what the dark horse of their delegation had accomplished.
"A al outside the walls?" One of the suitors asked with his eyes wide. "You took Her Highness out of the capital? What exactly happened? Tell us everything quickly!"
Li Yu poured himself a cup of water from a nearby clay pitcher and he saw no reason to hide the events of the day, so he gave them a truthful recount. He started by explaining their trip to the aquatic markets, his search for a beast to serve as battery and his eventual discovery of the Deepwater Monolith Barnacle at rchant Yao’s pavilion.
"An Origin Awakening beast for only that much?" Another suitor gasped while doing the ntal calculations. "That is an incredible bargain. A steal, even. I bet he gave you that price because of the princess. I assu you purchased it imdiately?"
"I tried to put it on reserve," Li Yu admitted while rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "But the rchant refused. First co, first serve. So I had to walk away and leave it there."
The table fell silent for a brief mont as Zhan Chen furrowed his brows. "Why not just buy it?"
"Because I have no spirit stones." Li Yu stated matter of factly. "I spent every last spirit stone I had on weapons and forging materials before the tournant began. I was window shopping in the truest sense of the word."
A few of the disciples snickered and were trying to hold back their amusent.
"Wait." The first suitor said while holding up a hand. "Are you telling us that you went shopping with the Princess of the Aurelian Spear Kingdom, found a beast you wanted and then had to publicly admit to a rchant that you could not afford it?"
"Yes," Li Yu nodded.
"Did she offer to buy it for you?"
"She did," Li Yu confird. "She offered to pay it as a gift."
"And you accepted, right?" The suitor pressed with his voice rising in disbelief. "You allowed her to secure the beast for you, saving your face in front of the central plaza rchants?"
"I declined," Li Yu said while taking a sip of his water. "I told her a cultivator must walk his own path and that it wasn’t fated to be."
The dining area erupted, most of the story Li Yu had just told was essentially a detailed account of him losing massive amounts of face for himself and the Zhan Clan. Admitting poverty in front of a prominent rchant and a royal princess was a social disaster. However, the absurdity of the situation caused the juniors to burst into laughter.
They were stunned by his casual recounting of the events as if it was nothing at all. The five suitors shook their heads in collective disbelief that they were defeated by this guy of all people. What did the princess even see in him?
They were incredibly jealous that Li Yu managed to spend the entire afternoon eating alone with the Princess, a feat none of them had achieved despite their grand efforts and expensive gifts. Yet, they could not get over the fact that he was too broke to take advantage of the situation not once, but twice during their ti buying aquatic beasts.
"You turned down a free Origin Awakening beast from the royal treasury." Zhan Chen said while laughing and slapping the wooden table. "I have never t anyone who treats a lack of funds with such philosophical dignity. You truly do not care about appearances at all."
"It was an embarrassing mont, I will admit," Li Yu sighed while leaning back in his chair. He looked around the table at the laughing disciples who weren’t laughing in malice. Li Yu decided to lean into the joke and possibly take advantage of it. He extended his right hand toward the center of the table with his palm facing upward.
"Since I am currently a stain on the pride of our great lineage, I am officially accepting donations from everyone." Li Yu announced with a dramatic and pleading tone. "Please, spare a few spirit stones for your fellow brother. Help ensure I do not lose face the next ti I speak to a rchant or princess. Any contribution will be rembered and I will be forever thankful."
All of the disciples collectively ignored his outstretched hand and his terrible acting. They just continued to drink and laugh at his antics from the day. The group knew exactly who he was. He was the grandson of Zhan Tian, the Worldkeeper. His father was a prominent figure in the Li Clan and his mother was also a prominent figure in the Zhan Clan. They were not falling for his beggar routine.
"Put your hand away, Li Yu," Zhan Chen chuckled while slapping his hand away. "If you are poor, the rest of us are destitute beggars living in the dirt."
One of the suitors raised his cup high into the air with a wide grin spreading across his face.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
"A toast!" The suitor declared. "To the man who strikes fear into the hearts of others in battle, yet trembles before the price tag! I propose a new title for our esteed brother. The Spinning Calamity of Madness is no longer accurate enough to capture his true essence."
"What do you suggest?" Zhan Chen asked while being highly amused.
"From this day forward," the suitor proclaid loudly, "He shall be known as The Poor Spinning Calamity of Madness!"
The entire room erupted into cheers and raucous laughter as the title grew one word longer. The juniors clinked their cups together, echoing the new and extended moniker with gleeful enthusiasm.
Li Yu could only sigh while he shook his head but with a genuine smile forming on his face. The atmosphere was light and full of camaraderie, exactly how he liked it. The group spent the next hour finishing their drinks and finalizing their travel arrangents. The Zhan Clan delegation would depart at first light, heading back to their ho territory.
While the Zhan Clan juniors were busy assigning Li Yu his new nickna, Princess Jinling made her way through the sprawling corridors of the royal palace. The grand halls were illuminated by glowing pearls set into the high ceilings. She walked with a light step and her mind replaying the events of the afternoon. She was going to rest for a bit first before going to see her father, she knew he would want to hear about her day after she had told him she was going to see the Zhan Clan delegation before they left.
However, before she could reach her father’s private study, Protector Yun and Protector Mal were already there to deliver their report.
Inside the study, Emperor Jinhai sat behind his desk and was wearing his informal golden robes while reviewing a stack of jade slips detailing the economic gains the capital had experienced during the tournant week. The room was quiet until the shadows near the far wall rippled and the two senior won materialized.
"Welco back, what is the report?" Jinhai said to them while setting his jade slip aside and giving them his full attention.
Protector Yun stepped forward while offering a deep bow. "Your Majesty. Her Highness spent the day with the young man, Li Yu. They traveled to the eastern aquatic markets. He was searching for aquatic beasts. Due to a lack of personal funds, he was unable to secure a purchase. Her Highness offered to pay for the beast but he politely declined her assistance."
Jinhai raised an eyebrow and was intrigued by the young man's refusal. "What happened next?"
"They traveled outside the eastern gates to a secluded clearing in the woods." Protector Mal continued. "He set up a modest camp fire and prepared a al using an octopus he purchased at the market, utilizing various spices and alcohol he acquired from his travels."
"A picnic?" Jinhai noted as a slight smile touching his lips. "And did he attempt anything improper?"
"No, Your Majesty," Protector Yun answered. "In fact, the most surprising event occurred shortly after the al was prepared. He looked directly at our concealed position and invited us to join them for dinner."
Jinhai’s smile vanished and was replaced by a look of genuine surprise. He leaned forward and was resting his elbows on the desk. "He detected your presence? Even a peak Paragon realm expert should not be able to sense you without so kind of treasure."
"His soul strength is terrifying, Your Majesty," Protector Mal explained as her voice carried a trace of lingering awe. "Once we were eating, he stated he had known we were present since Her Highness visited the guest compound."
"You accepted his invitation to eat?" Jinhai asked with his surprise shifting toward their actions. His royal protectors usually remained unseen. Sharing a al with their charge and a foreign guest was not usually a normal occurrence.
"We did." Protector Yun admitted while bowing her head slightly. "We were surprised by our own decision. However, the fact that he already knew our exact location disard us a bit. He spoke with genuine respect as well. He did not treat us as servants or tools of the state. The boy acknowledged the hardship of our duty. Li Yu possesses his own unique charm, Your Majesty. It is easy to feel comfortable in his presence."
Jinhai studied the two senior won for a long mont. These were hardened and elite cultivators who had shed blood for the empire. They were not easily swayed by sweet words or handso faces. For Li Yu to break through their professional exterior using nothing but roasted seafood and respect spoke volus about his character and charisma.
The Emperor nodded slowly in understanding. He had instructed them to observe the boy and their observations had yielded fascinating results.
"I see, I understand." Jinhai finally said. "You both have served this empire tirelessly in the dark. A warm al by a fire is nothing at all. I was just surprised that you accepted knowing your personalities. You are both dismissed, go do what you want for the rest of the evening."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The two protectors said in unison as they offered a final bow and lted back into the shadows. They left the study and much later Princess Jinling walked into the room with her face glowing with a bright and energetic smile.
"Father," Jinling greeted while taking a seat in one of the plush chairs opposite his desk. "Are you busy?"
"For you, never." Jinhai replied as he was leaning back and resting his hands on his stomach. "I assu you had an enjoyable afternoon?"
That simple question opened a floodgate. Jinling began to tell him about the day and she did not stop. She went on and on, detailing every minor aspect of the excursion. She talked about the chaotic energy of the fish market and how Li Yu navigated with the rchants.
She described the exact shade of the purple octopus he bought while recounting his philosophy on facing hardships and his refusal to let her buy the barnacle for him. She spent ten minutes explaining the intricate flavors of the fernted berry drink and the crisp mountain wine he had poured for her.
"And then he actually invited Protector Yun and Protector Mal to sit with us," Jinling continued with her hands moving animatedly as she spoke. "We just sat there talking about noodle shops and the weather. He told us stories about his travels in so other realms, about surviving in the wilderness and learning how to cook to avoid eating dry rations. He is so different from the nobles here, Father. He does not care about rank or face, he just cares about..."
"Jinling," Jinhai interrupted gently while raising a hand to pause her enthusiastic rambling.
Jinling stopped and was blinking. "Yes?"
Jinhai could not take it anymore. He let out a deep and booming laugh that echoed off the walls of the study.
"You have been talking without drawing a proper breath for nearly half an hour," Jinhai chuckled while shaking his head in amusent. "I have watched you grow up, Jinling. I have seen you interact with the most brilliant scholars, the most talented heirs and the bravest generals in our kingdom and so outside from our kingdom. Yet, I have never heard you talk about anyone as much as you are talking about Li Yu right now. And you have only really spent a single day with him."
Jinling’s face flushed a brilliant shade of crimson, matching her dress. She suddenly realized how fast she had been speaking and how much detail she had offered unprompted. She looked down at her hands and was feeling a sudden wave of embarrassnt.
"I am sorry," Jinling muttered, though the smile refused to leave her face. "I know I am talking too much. But it was a great day, Father. It really was. He is fascinating."
She imdiately picked up right where she left off, continuing to praise his culinary skills and his practical mindset. She kept going with her enthusiasm overriding her temporary embarrassnt.
Jinhai did not interrupt her again while listening patiently, a warm and fatherly smile fixed on his face. He watched his daughter speak with a level of joy and animation he had rarely seen since she was a small child. He was incredibly happy for her, even if they don’t end up together, at least his daughter got a good mory today.
Behind the smile, the Emperor’s sharp political mind was also running complex calculations. Li Yu was not just a charming young man who knew how to grill an octopus. He was a Paragon realm cultivator with an ocean deep foundation. He was the grandson of Zhan Tian, carrying the terrifying backing of both the Li Clan and the Zhan Clan.
If this budding curiosity eventually blossod into a true connection, the political advantage for the Aurelian Spear Kingdom would be astronomical. Li Yu would be an excellent son in law in every conceivable aspect. It would secure the empire's borders and most likely expand it. It would elevate their standing in the Myriad Realms and most importantly to him, it would make his daughter happy.
It was a perfect win-win situation for the Emperor if it ever ca to be. Jinhai leaned back in his chair and let his daughter continue her endless recounting of the campfire al, content to let the strings of fate weave themselves as he knew such things couldn’t be forced.
User Comments
0 comments from readers