Chapter 75: Royal Cour (1/2)
“Generally, they have to dispose of the zombies once the trial ends, precisely to prevent the corpse kings from being taken away by the Neohuman Alliance” Bronsen added, “But Sigmund did not do so, and Barudar defected as well, so the Empire ruled that it was a case of collusion.”
Lu Yin nodded and didn’t ask further questions. The Mathers Family were old Zishan subordinates, but he had just arrived at the capital and didn’t have the clout here to help Sigmund. The man could only pray for himself.
He thought of Silver, feeling sure that the youth was somehow related to this Neohuman Alliance. Was he a corpse king himself? He didn’t feel like one. Silver had left at Genma Space Station, which made Barudar’s defection all the more suspicious. However, he quickly dismissed it from his mind. Even if he knew the truth, he couldn’t say anything. Sigmund hadn’t been given a moment’s chance to explain himself before he was judged to be guilty of treason; it might have had something to do with the Zishan Family. This conspiracy was different from the probing of Raas. It had bloodlust that even Explorers couldn’t avoid.
It took two hours of travel across the Zenyu Star for Lu Yin to reach the royal palace. Every tower pierced of the center of the Empire’s authority pierced into the skies, its dignified appearance stunning him even from miles away. Xu San’s lips trembled as he gazed into the distance; to him, it seemed like this was a palace that had swallowed the heavens and was coming for him.
“There are thirteen gates to the royal palace, guarded by each of the Thirteen Imperial Squadrons. The main gate is called the Grand Astral Gate, guarded by the First Squadron. His Imperial Majesty ordered me to bring you in through it,” Bronsen informed him deferentially.
Lu Yin nodded and got off the vehicle, looking up at the palace that stretched into the skies and pulsed with so much star energy that onlookers shuddered. Xu San had to remain behind at this point; he was not qualified to enter. The fact that he’d come so close was already a testament to Lu Yin’s title.
The royal palace was enormous, taking twenty minutes of travel from the Grand Astral Gate to arrive at the royal court. Lu Yin saw many peculiar details of the Empire’s culture along the way, with carved columns and jade buildings illustrating countless stories. The technology clock seemed to wind back further as he traveled into the palace; by the time he was at the court, he even suspected that he’d arrived in ancient times.
Bronsen bowed towards the royal court and gestured for Lu Yin to proceed, waiting outside himself. Taking a deep breath, Lu Yin sensed the enormous fluctuations of star energy all around him and walked in step by step. He came to a stop right outside.
Lu Yin entered the royal court, feeling the world change with one step. Indescribable pressure descended from the sky, turning everything in sight an ashen gray while the ground buzzed him deaf. His eyes narrowed at this imposition of absolute powerhouses, watching the air twist as threads seemed to connect the heavens to the earth. His organs started to ache and his vision turned blurry, the star energy within refusing to budge.
It was at this point that the courtiers turned to look at the doors, all sorts of expressions on their faces. Dignity, ridicule, pride… A native had shaken off his mortal coil and transformed into the Zishan King who existed above the masses; this was something they could not accept. The pressure came from all of them; it wasn’t intentional, but simply a combination of their displeasure. The entire court wanted to throw him out.
Lu Yin slowly felt dizzy and his fingers trembled, the figure of the Emperor slowly vanishing in front of his eyes until he almost couldn’t endure it anymore. He grunted and bit his tongue, tearing open the flesh of his palm with his nails until fresh blood dripped to the ground. It was this pain that awakened him, giving him the strength to raise a leg and step forward once more, entering the hall completely. The pressure suddenly disappeared like the tide, replaced with looks of amazement. It was no mean feat for a mere Sentinel.
Up at the front, the Crown Prince smiled, while the Second Prince’s lips curled as well. The blind, bald man among the captains nodded imperceptibly, while The Undying Yushan laughed from his position at the head of it all, “Come closer!”
Lu Yin huffed and raised his head to match the Emperor’s gaze with a solemn expression of his own. He stepped past each of the courtiers, then the captains, finally stopping at the same row as the princes, “Lu Yin pays his respects, Your Imperial Majesty.”
The Undying Yushan smiled and was about to speak, but he coughed a few times and immediately drank some water, “Call me Royal Uncle.”
Lu Yin bowed, “Yes, Royal Uncle.”
The Emperor nodded, “You have spent so many years outside, it must have been difficult.”
“Thank you for the concern, Royal Uncle,” Lu Yin replied respectfully.
“Royal Brother, His Imperial Majesty has always remembered the Zishan Family. Where have you been all these years? Why wasn’t there any news? And who named you Lu Yin?” Dorren had many questions.