The date was the 19th Day of the Seventh Month in the Year 735. A week had passed since the forces of the South Aislan Empire triumphed over the traitorous forces of the Duke of Auberville and protected their home base, the Capital City of Caroxtel. Morale was at an all-time high amongst the populace owing to the grand victory.
The Capital City which had seen great devastation during the decisive battle was quickly being repaired under the Royal Family's lead. Much of the rubble and broken-down structures had been cleared and new buildings had taken their place.
Thanks to the Hero, Little Emperor Alexandros Centinni the Twelfth's military exploits, the South Aislan Empire had managed to secure a great amount of wealth and resources. However, due to the disastrous loss of civilian lives during the decisive battle, Caroxtel City was suffering from an immense shortage of labour; there simply weren't enough hands to aid with the rebuilding effort.
Still, every cloud had a silver lining. While the loss of life in the Capital City had been horrible, it also represented a chance for the peasant civilians of the Empire to form fortunes of their own. This resulted in a migration boom as people from all corners of the Empire flooded into the Capital City to seek their fortunes.
Hidden amongst this flood of people was a tall youth dressed in white, scholarly attire. He carried a knapsack on his shoulder, a suitcase in his left hand, and wore a wide-brimmed bamboo hat that covered his face underneath a shadow. His right hand was bandaged and hung from a sling.
After roaming outside for nearly two months, Wuzhi returned to the Capital City.
Sporting a curious smile on his face, he eagerly scanned his surroundings. Every so often, he noted traces of the recent battle and could imagine the sheer intensity of what had transpired.
"It must've been a tough battle," Wuzhi remarked to himself.
"Brother." It was then that Wuzhi heard someone call to him. Turning his gaze, he noticed a clean-faced, honest-looking man sporting a kind expression gazing at him. "Brother, you seem to have injured your hand there. Would you like me to help you carry your suitcase?"
A flash of argent light pulsed within the depths of Wuzhi's pupils. He then wore an agreeable smile and said, "Ah, I'm glad for the offer kind brother. Please." He then extended his suitcase.
The awkward smile on the other man's face quickly turned sincere and bright as he quickly received the scholarly youth's luggage and added it to his own. He then stepped up and stood next to Wuzhi.
"Brother's name is?" asked the honest-looking man. "Ah, my name is Gui, surnamed Tang. Tang Gui."
"Tang Gui," Wuzhi repeated. He then said, "Judging from Brother Tang's accent, brother is from the Heavenly Spirit Continent?"
"That's right!" Tang Gui earnestly nodded his head, surprise and admiration showing in his eyes.
Performing a light bow, Wuzhi introduced himself. "This humble scholar is named Wuzhi. I, myself hail from the Isilda Continent. I've come to this land in search of opportunities to grow my name and wealth."
"Brother Wuzhi has the bearings of a true dragon. I am certain that you will make success for yourself!" Tang Gui praised. His words allowed Wuzhi to understand that he too possessed some scholarly background.
"Brother Tang praises this scholar too much," Wuzhi modestly replied. "I suppose that Brother Tang's purpose in coming here was similar?"
"Indeed," Tang Gui did not lie. "It is during times of turmoil that heroes can arise. While I do not fancy myself as a hero, I do hope to succeed at least as a minor general." He laughed a good-natured laugh.
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"With Brother Tang's scholarly foundations that day does not seem too far," said Wuzhi.
Introductions complete, the two began engaging in conversation whilst they waited amongst the sea of people to be granted entry into the Capital City. Tang Gui happened to be a scholar of some renown back at his home and Wuzhi happened to be the sole successor of the Heaven Scheming Devil. The wisdom, wits, and knowledge base of these two men were not to be underestimated.
They started with minor topics such as the weather, current affairs, etc., and soon branched into heavier topics such as the state of the current world. Both their words seemed to be inexhaustible as they smoothly transitioned from one topic to another.
It went without saying that Wuzhi greatly enjoyed this conversation. The same went for Tang Gui. The meeting of two scholars in a distant land was often an event worth celebration.
Time passed; the early morning sun had become the mid-day sun. Finally, it was the two scholars' turn to enter the city gates.
"Name?" asked a corpse-faced soldier.
"Wuzhi."
"Age?"
"Twenty."
"Hailing from?"
"Isilda Continent."
"Are you good with your hands?" The corpse-faced soldier belatedly noticed the sling on Wuzhi's right hand. He then quickly corrected himself. "Apologies. What skills do you possess?"
"I am a learned civilian. I have some accomplishments in accounting and management," replied Wuzhi.
The corpse-faced soldier nodded his head and wrote something down on the parchment in his hand. He then tore a portion of the parchment and handed it to Wuzhi.
"Here. Take this and go to the Second Outer District. You will be offered some work there. Take care not to lose this paper. It will be used as your token of identification," explained the soldier.
Receiving the paper from his hand, Wuzhi said his thanks. He then entered the city gates and waited by the side for Tang Gui to follow. Less than a minute later, he arrived.
"Brother Wuzhi, I've been assigned to the Inner Fourth District. How about you?" he asked.
"Second Outer District," replied Wuzhi, smilingly.
"Ah," Tang Gui clicked his tongue regretfully. He felt that it was an immense shame for the two of them to be separated. "It appears that we will no longer be able to continue our highly fulfilling conversations."
Wuzhi chuckled at his statement. Wearing a polite smile, he replied, "It is not as if we are never going to meet again, Brother Tang. With both of us working in the same city, it is only time before we run into each other again."
"Right!" Tang Gui enthusiastically agreed. "When the time comes, Brother Wuzhi mustn't act like strangers with me."
"Not if Brother Tang does it first," Wuzhi retorted good-naturedly. The two scholars broke into laughter.
"Alright, Brother Wuzhi. It appears that our Paths separate here. Here is your suitcase." Tang Gui returned Wuzhi's luggage.
"I must thank Brother Tang for helping me carry my suitcase," Wuzhi sincerely thanked.
"Aiya!" Tang Gui waved his hand in refusal. "What 'thanks?' I was merely helping a good friend of mine. Anyways, I hope to meet you again soon, Brother Wuzhi." Saying so, Tang Gui offered a polite bow before turning around and walking away.
Wuzhi watched the honest-looking man fade into the distance before quietly muttering to himself. "A violet aura resides in his self. Perhaps, an Imperial fate?" Innumerable mysterious characters flashed across his pupils.
A brilliant smile appeared on Wuzhi's face as genuine, unadulterated joy filled him. "How terribly interesting!" he exclaimed; the satisfaction of having found a new playmate filled him.
Gathering his belongings, Wuzhi turned around and boarded the nearest horse carriage. After seating himself comfortably, he said, "To the Imperial Palace." He then tossed the awe-stricken carriage driver a few gold coins and retired quietly. The carriage began to gently sway and move as the young scholar continued to fantasize about the fun future that was set to follow.
---
Emperor's Study. Imperial Palace.
Seated behind a large mahogany desk inside the opulently decorated study was a beautiful young man of slim features and citrine-coloured eyes. His boyish face was stiff with difficult tension, imparting upon him a blooming sense of adult maturity.
Forehead furrowed in deep thought, his pen-gripped hand continuously tapped the parchment spread open before him. And while ink pooled beneath his pen, no meaningful words appeared to provide him with a solution to break through the difficult quandary that he found himself embroiled in.
It went without saying that the beautiful youth was none other than Alexandros Centinni, the boy emperor of the South Aislan Empire.
Just as the youth was lost deep within his thought, an even foreign voice spoke with evident lightness in his tone. "It appears that the call for going on a campaign was the right one, Your Majesty. This servant can feel the incredible gains that have appeared on your imperial self."
Alexandros trembled as if a lightning bolt had struck him on his head. Snapping his head straight, his widened eyes gazed forward with difficult-to-conceal wild joy. "Wuzhi!" the boy emperor exclaimed.
Putting his hand upon his chest, Wuzhi offered a bow and said, "Your humble servant is once again in your company, Your Majesty."