The Dragon Palace.
The heart of the Huaxian Empire.
It wasn’t small, neither was it big. However, it did cover eight percent of Longyan, the Capital of Huaxia.
Its grandeur and magnificence a testament to the power and legacy of the Tian Imperial family. The intricate architecture, adorned with motifs of dragons and other mythical creatures, lent an air of awe to all who beheld it. The vast palace grounds were divided into four sections, each with its own purpose and atmosphere.
To the north and east lay the living quarters of the Tian Imperial family, an area reserved for those with the highest privilege.
The air within these walls hummed with power and authority, and the sumptuous halls and chambers spoke of the wealth and prestige of the ruling dynasty.
The west and south sections were devoted to the staff’s living quarters and courtyards, bustling with the daily activities and duties of the countless servants, guards, and officials who maintained the palace's smooth operation. The sounds of laughter and camaraderie filled these areas as people went about their work.
Throughout the palace grounds, breathtaking gardens offered a respite from the weight of the responsibilities and expectations that came with life in the Dragon Palace.
A myriad of plants, trees, and flowers brought vibrant colours and fragrances to the gardens, while serene lakes and meandering streams provided a soothing backdrop for contemplation and relaxation.
It was in these tranquil spaces that one could feel the true essence of the Dragon Palace, a place of balance and harmony where beauty and power coexisted in perfect unity.
The western section of the palace was home to the Great Library, a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom. Its towering shelves housed countless scrolls and texts, chronicling the history, culture, and secrets of the empire.
Scholars and sages would spend hours poring over the ancient manuscripts, their minds thirsting for the enlightenment that could be found within the library’s walls.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the palace in the soft hues of twilight. Flames began to lick at the edges of the Great Western Library.
The snaps and crackles were like that of a burning wood, but pages were what was being spent, something that Dragon Palace had known to well…even if it was only sixteen years ago. “FIRE…THE GREAT LIBRARY IS ON FIRE,” A steward cried out.
Zhu Mo Shi appeared from the shadows, slicing the steward’s throat with an undercut motion. As the steward grabbed his throat, trying to stop the blood from flowing, he sagged to the ground chocking on his own blood.
Zhu Mo Shi looked down at the man for a second, then stared at the door way. He whipped the blood from his blade against the steward’s robes, and re-entered the western library for the first time in fifteen years, hoping to end…what the emperor started!
----------------------------------------
As Shi Jiu stood at the entrance of the inventory warehouse. A tinge orange hue blossomed into the sky like a newly blooming flower. It would’ve been beautiful, if it wasn’t fire. The purple jaded skies began dissipate into orange light filling the sky. “Humph…that’s the signal.” Shi Jiu rasped happily.
Shi Jiu smiled, took a deep breath and swirled his Qi within his Core Dantian, then surged into his meridians around his feet. A loud crack echoed and the ground split. He kicked off the ground, leaving a foot instep due to the incredible force.
He landed on the rooftop fifty meters in the distance and sped towards the Southern Section. He made a hard right, sliding off the roof, and ducked under a hedge.
Six guards appeared behind the hedge, charging from the eastern section of the Kitchen Courtyard. “The Western Library’s on fire!” The captain of the squadron growled,
“But I didn’t eat yet,” another said.
“Lu Tong, THE PALACE IS ON FLAMES…FORGET ABOUT YOUR FOOD!”
The men charged out of the garden, leaving Shi Jiu to continue his hunt for the Poison Detector. He leapt over the hedge and darted down the hallway, made a hard left and made a small ascent up a short flight of stairs.
The flames roared and danced wildly, casting eerie shadows that reflected the chaos that was ready to unfold within the Dragon Palace.
As he sped through the beautifully landscaped gardens, the tranquillity they usually offered was shattered by the panic and confusion that had gripped the palace.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on Shi Jiu’s mind, and he knew he had to locate the poison detector before it was too late.
Desperate for any clue that could lead him to his target, Shi Jiu flared his Qi, hoping to sense the distinct wisp of the poison detector’s energy. However, to his dismay, he was met with a cacophony of Qi signatures flaring all around him.
The kitchen staff, guards, and palace stewards were all desperately trying to maintain order and protect the palace from the blaze, their energies mixing together into a chaotic maelstrom.
Undeterred, Shi Jiu pressed on, feeling his heart race as he hunted. This was standard protocol for the poison detector. His duty was simple, watch over the supplies, ensuring no one would dare poison the emperor’s food. He knew it well, after all. This was meant to be his duty, until he was killed.
“The real Poison Detector is here,” He said softly, “and I’ve come for what is mine. I may not have the emperor’s blood on my sword, but yours will do till I reach his youngest!”
Determined to succeed, Shi Jiu focused his senses, honing in on the subtle nuances of the various Qi signatures around him. He searched for the telltale signs that would reveal the poison detector's presence, his instincts guiding him as he weaved through the palace.
As the fire continued to consume the Great Western Library, the once-magnificent structure began to crumble, its destruction a stark reminder of the consequences should Shi Jiu fail in his mission.
The future of the Black Cauldron and the fate of Huaxia hung in the balance. As he pressed on, his resolve unwavering as he raced against the clock to save all that he held dear.
The flames roared and danced wildly, casting eerie shadows that reflected the chaos that was ready to unfold within the Dragon Palace.
Shi Jiu took a moment to steady himself, focusing on calming his heart and quieting his mind. He knew that he needed to be in the right mental state to detect the poison detector amidst the chaos that surrounded him.
He took a deep breath, he flared his Qi, reaching out with his senses to feel the energy signatures of those around him. The frenzied but quelled Qi around him made his skin prick from the sensory.
Shi Jiu may have been a peak Accentuation Realm state, but detecting Qi, without reaching the Qi Perception Realm was like only feeling a wisp of Qi. It was a sign that you were soon ready to ascend, but such culpability also came with repercussion.
Sensing Qi with your body and not eyes, which tended to strain the body and also drain one’s Qi reserves. If only I had a few more months, I would’ve attained that state! He complained.
A Qi signature pulsed calmly, unaffected by the turmoil roiling around the Dragon Palace. It was as few meters to his left, but underneath the entire Courtyard. It was as if the person had been trained for such an event. “I’m such a fool, the tunnels…he’s in the tunnels!”
A grin spread across Shi Jiu's face as he finally had a lead. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time, so he honed in on the calm Qi signature and moved quickly in its direction.
Shi Jiu darted through the palace’s elaborate corridors and courtyards, the roar of the flames seemed to grow louder and more menacing.
He knew that finding the poison detector was just the beginning, and that there would be more challenges ahead. Shi Jiu closed in on the poison detector’s location, a surge of determination roiled within him.
The stakes were high.
The future of the Black Cauldron…no…his future hung in the balance.
As he hurried, each step made was like lifting a boulder with a noose tightening around his neck. The wisp of Qi that fluttered from the calmly thrumming Qi flowed down a corridor and into a wall.
Shi Jiu tapped the cobblestone on the right of the wall, and the door shot open, showing a hidden hallway. Relief washed over as he felt as though if they had changed the entrance, he would not have been able to find it.
The sight of familiar but intricate woodwork made his lips curl into a smile. Found it, He thought.
The passage was narrow and winding, forcing Shi Jiu to move more cautiously than before. He could feel the pulse of the poison detector’s Qi growing stronger as he ventured further into the depths of the palace. His blood boiled with anticipation, knowing that he was getting closer to his target.
The Poison Detector Dingshe was a young man with thick eye-brows, thin lips and a small goatee at the tip of chin. His face was gaunt which made him look older than he should, but Shi Jiu knew how strenuous looking for poison everyday could be.
Shi Jiu took one step forward, swirling his Qi like a thunder. He felt his meridians frizzle from the expulsion of Qi and appeared behind the dingshe, sword arched back behind his head, ready to kill him in one swift slash. “Humph…you started this fire…didn’t you?!” The Poison Detector growled.
A needle shot from his hand, aimed at Shi Jiu’s eye, forcing him to deflect it with his sword. The dingshe kicked Shi Jiu in his stomach, then spun himself off the ground. As he floated back, he threw three more needles, aimed at Shi Jiu’s neck, shoulder and thigh acupoints.
Three twangs rang out as Shi Jiu deflected the needles in one fluid motion with his sword. He skipped back to the wall and turned right, eyeing the dingshe with a rueful smile. “You can surely taste the wind!” Shi Jiu said elated “The ash fluttering has no taste, thus…giving you your question.”
A vein popped out of the Poison Detector forehead. Shi Jiu chuckled, dashing across the room in an instant snatched the needles from out of the air before they dropped to the ground.
The Poison Detector Black Cauldron his hand in defence, hoping to guard himself from the needles. Shi Jiu lips curled into a smile, he spun out of sight, then appeared behind the dingshe within a second. He stabbed the needles into the former dingshe’s neck, shoulder and thigh, paralysing indefinitely.
As the dingshe stood their paralysed in position, hand raised with a swaying sleeve. Shi Jiu walked into the dingshe’s eyesight, swirling his Qi around him. The colourless hue of his Qi swirled around him like steaming floating from a boiling furnace.
Shi Liu struck the acupoint in the centre of his chest, releasing the acupoint in his throat, but affectively keeping him paralysed. “Accentuation Realm.” The Poison Black Cauldron croaked.
“No…Death.”
Shi Jiu waved his sword across Poison Detector dingshe’s face. Blood from his throat sprayed like mist rising in the morning. His head dropped to the ground with a thud, then rolled gently towards Shi Liu.
He turned, spat in disgust and flared his Qi, extinguishing the fire from the candles and left the room, flicking the dingshe’s blood from his sword. “Humph…Tian Jin, you’re next!”