Return to the Imperial Capital

The Imperial Capital was built in Imperial Year 335. The eleventh emperor of the Empire of Light had originally constructed it as a strategic stronghold in the southwest to guard against raids and harassment by the Demon Race—Valen Fortress had not yet been built then. Its original name was Jiashan Fortress. By Imperial Year 553, the Empire of Light's last hold over Xichuan Continent had completely collapsed. Zichuan Yun, then the imperial governor defending the southwest, declared independence, seized Jiashan Fortress in the chaos, renamed it the "Imperial Capital," and used it as a base to expand aggressively into the surrounding lands, founding the Zichuan Family. Zichuan Yun himself became the family's first Chief.

From the year the family was founded onward, the Imperial Capital had remained firmly in the Zichuan Family's hands. Whether facing the massive armies of the Liufeng Family or the surging hordes of the Demon Race, enemies were forced to return empty-handed before the city's solid walls and defenses, as well as the blood-soaked, stubborn resistance of seven generations of Zichuan soldiers. A string of illustrious names had become intertwined with the city's history—Zichuan Yun, Yalimei, Shaga, Zichuan Xing, Yun Shanhe, Camille—and later generations would add Zichuan Xiu to that list. Through three hundred years of warfare, the Imperial Capital had never fallen.

After a century of the family's campaigns, its territory had steadily expanded. The Imperial Capital was no longer a frontier city. It had become the foremost of Xichuan Continent's three great metropolises, ranked above the Liufeng Family's Yuanjing and the Lin Family's River Hill. It was the continent's gathering point for politics, trade, and culture, and its splendor filled every member of the Zichuan Family with pride.

One day in August of Imperial Year 778, a group returning from the Far East front entered the Imperial Capital. Its main members included Zichuan Xiu, who had just been promoted to Deputy Commander; Gurei, captain of the guard, and the forty personal guards under his command; as well as three unwilling "unlucky bastards."

Shirakawa said, "My lord, when exactly are you going to show some kindness and let the three of us return to the Far East?"

Roger said, "Yeah! We've known each other for so long—just consider it a good deed. At your side... I'm still a virgin! I don't want to die so young!"

Changchuan reproached Roger. "Pah! What kind of talk is that? Is that any way to speak to your superior? So rude! When you make a request of my lord, you must be respectful and courteous!"

Changchuan turned to Zichuan Xiu, tears and snot streaming down his face. "Please, my lord, have pity on this humble subordinate. I have an eighty-year-old mother above me and a three-year-old child below me!"

Zichuan Xiu looked utterly innocent. "Oh my, you've been making a racket all the way here. Aren't you tired? I'm in a difficult position too. The order to transfer you came from Lord Luo Bo, the Chief of General Staff."

"Just look at your eyes... and that sleazy grin—you're obviously lying!"

"Exactly! Isn't Luo Bo in league with you?"

"I heard you bought all of us from Luo Bo with just two bottles of wine. That's insulting! At the very least, each of us is worth one bottle!"

"The two bottles of wine bought your equipment. Roger, you're worth a bottle cap at most!"

Outside the Imperial Capital's carriage station, the group emerged.

"Ha, I'm back! Imperial Capital, your beauty remains unchanged!"

Zichuan Xiu recalled that six years ago, in order to defend this very city, he had led troops for the first time as a raw recruit and fought fiercely against the powerful Flowing Wind Army... Time had passed. How many people in this city still remembered him?

"The past is like a dream!" Zichuan Xiu was lost in boundless reflection when...

"Stop standing around! We're starving to death!"

"If you don't provide meals, we're going back to the Far East!"

"We want to stay in a star-rated hotel!"

There was no need to turn around to know who was speaking.

After settling Gurei and the guards, Zichuan Xiu went strolling through the streets with the three of them. Having come from the war-torn Far East to such a prosperous place, they found everything fresh and fascinating. Roger grabbed a passing young man and asked, "Excuse me, where can we find a restaurant?"

The young man looked them over. They were dusty from travel, dressed like country bumpkins, and spoke with thick Far East accents. In the Imperial Capital dialect, he said disdainfully, "Hicks!" Then he ignored them and walked away.

Roger did not understand. He turned back to Zichuan Xiu. "My lord, what does 'hicks' mean?"

Zichuan Xiu answered nonchalantly, "It refers collectively to residents of non-urban areas, as used by people living in cities and towns across the continent. Usually, it isn't meant as a compliment."

Roger said, "...I still don't get it."

Zichuan Xiu sighed. "Then surely you remember what we called those fur-clad, never-brush-their-teeth-or-wash-their-faces, bathe-only-three-times-in-their-lives bumpkins in the border villages?"

Roger flew into a rage. "I'm a dignified Guard Captain! How dare he look down on me like that? I'm going to teach him a lesson!"

Less than five minutes later, Roger came back with his head hanging.

Zichuan Xiu asked lazily, "Well? Did you teach him a lesson?"

Roger said, "He taught me one—he's a Red Guard Captain."

Changchuan looked around as he walked. "I heard the girls in the Imperial Capital are all bold and fashionable. You can tell just by their clothes. Ah! That one's gorgeous!"

He stopped a passing girl and, with his most elegant posture and gentlest tone, said, "Miss, do you believe in love at first sight? The instant I saw you, an arrow pierced my heart..."

"Robbery! Help!" The girl did not even listen to him. She ran away!

Changchuan did not dare turn around and face his companions' stares...

"I think the girls in this city must have a fear of men—there's no other explanation!" Changchuan declared passionately.

Shirakawa said, "We get it, we get it—they're all lesbians, okay? Lord Changchuan, so handsome, suave, and extraordinary, could you please spare us? You've said that forty times already. My ears are practically dripping oil!"

Roger said, "Shh, another gorgeous one is coming from across the street—her features are exquisitely beautiful, and her bearing is graceful and elegant. I give her a ninety-eight!"

Changchuan said, "I give her a ninety-nine. She's an immortal beauty! She's just a little young."

Shirakawa looked coldly at the two filthy men and snorted disdainfully. "Look at you two—you act like you just got out of prison. Not a shred of grace! Look how calm Lord Zichuan Xiu is. He hasn't said a word, and he's already..."

Without saying a word, Zichuan Xiu ran over.

"I never expected my lord to beat me to it—well, it can't be helped. He spent six years pent up in the Far East. He's a man of flesh and blood too. He was desperate!"

"Ha, look at him! He suddenly blocked that girl's path, didn't say a word, and just stared at her—he's definitely getting slapped!"

"Look how frightened the girl is—her face has changed color!"

"Exactly, exactly! She's so scared that she dropped her handbag. Our lord is rather pitiful when you think about it. He has such terrible luck with women. No wonder he's so strange. Shirakawa, you should take better care of him from now on!"

"Why are they just standing there staring at each other? It's about time she started screaming for help!"

What happened next left them unable to believe their eyes: that noble, graceful, lovely girl burst into tears and threw herself into Zichuan Xiu's arms!

Zichuan Xiu gently but firmly held her by the shoulders. Gazing into her tearful eyes, he slowly dropped to one knee and performed a hand-kissing salute.

Roger stared in shock. "He proposed that easily?!"

Changchuan was consumed with regret. "If I'd known, I would have gone first—so women in the Imperial Capital really are that open!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" The three of them jumped. From dozens of meters away, he could actually hear them speaking quietly? And though his voice was not loud, it was as clear as if he were speaking right beside them.

Zichuan Xiu's voice carried an unprecedented severity. "This is Miss Zichuan Ning, the only daughter of Lord Zichuan Yuanxing, the former Chief of the family; the niece of Lord Zichuan Canxing, the current Chief; and the first in line to inherit the position of family Chief! Kneel at once!"

Roger, Shirakawa, and Changchuan all dropped to one knee and bowed their heads in salute.