As we approached the palace, an army squad arrived and stopped us at the gate. The squad leader dismounted his horse, and said in language that is native to these lands, "I am commander Mi Jue, the high servant of the palace. Who are you and what is your business here?"

Still on my mount, I inclined my head slightly in greetings and replied in the same language, "We are messengers to the East. We need to seek permission from the Buddha, and perhaps ask him about some things."

I nodded with a sly smile towards the immobilized captain. The commander's eyes narrowed slightly, but he still said, "Very well, follow me."

I beckoned to Tulip and we followed him inside the palace.

The interior of the palace looked very ancient. The tapestries, the torches, the dust covering the walls and the ground...

"Are there no servants to clean this place?" Tulip couldn't help but ask in the common tongue.

"The only servants here are the soldiers who guard this place. We would have cleaned this place regularly, but Lord Buddha has forbidden us from doing so," the commander replied, although his accent became a bit broken after speaking in the common language.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Ever since the first Buddha built this place, he and his successors have taken care of the household matters by themselves, refusing to take in any servant."

"Is it to remind themselves that even with power, they have to remain humble?"

The commander nodded his head and confirmed, "Exactly. In the teachings of the Buddha, fairness and justice prevail amongst all living beings, and they are equal to other people, commoner or not."

We nodded in understanding as we arrived in front of two wooden doors, guarded by a soldier. With the Buddha's beliefs about equity and fairness, I imagine it had taken a lot of convincing to place this guard here.

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Mi Jue turned to us and said, "Please wait here. I have to inform his lordship of your presence. Meanwhile, put your weapons with the soldier here, and let him handle your hostage."

Reluctantly, I gave the imprisoned captain to the guard along with our weapons. Moments later, the commander returned and told us to enter.

Unsurprisingly, the room was a humble place, contrary to the luxurious halls a lord would have. The only source of light was a few small candles scattered across the room, and from their dim light, I could make out the figure of an old man wearing somewhat tattered clothes. He was sitting in a normal armchair as we approached him.

We bowed our heads slightly as I started, "Greetings, Lord Buddha. I am Orion Fistore of the Mansion of Night, and this is my companion, Tulip."

"Welcome, guests from far away," the Buddha nodded. "Please, state your purpose."

"We came as messengers to the Immortal Sun Sect in the East. Due to some private reasons at the Mansion, our journey had to be on land. But to enter the East, your permission must be granted."

"You come asking for favors, surnamed Fistore, but what have a captain in my arm done so that you would imprison him?" the Buddha asked, ignoring my request.

I winced, but Tulip explained, "Lord Buddha, he harbored ill intentions towards us, as we were attacked on our way to the palace by thirty of his men."

"You two killed thirty men by yourselves?" the commander interjected from his place in front of the door.

"I do not doubt the skills of those who come from the Lord of Chaos's estate," the old man said before I could reply to the commander. "Yet you bear no proof of your claims."

"I am sure that you have ways to reveal the truth if the captain were to tell his side of the story?" I asked with a frown on my face. The Buddha nodded and waved at the commander to bring him in.

The latter exited the room and returned a moment later, holding the immobilized captain. Tulip took her wand out and released the bounds on him.

"Speak the truth, captain, what happened that made you a prisoner?" the Buddha commanded, and I could sense the magic in his words. Perhaps that was his way of ensuring that the truth was told.

The captain, under his own will or not, told his lord about what happened, explaining fully what his intentions were and what he intended to do with us. By the end of it, the Buddha was frowning with displeasure.

After a moment of silence, he regained his composure and said, "You have proven your innocence, Orion Fistore and Tulip of the Mansion of Night. I hereby grant you permission to continue on your journey."

"Thank you, Lord Buddha," I said with a smile. Then, Tulip and I turned around, leaving the palace and the captain in the hands of his lord.