Chapter 3: Sponsorship
"We have arrived."
Listening coachman's voice we came out from the broken horse cart.
I looked at the palace in front of me. It was like the castle of some fairytales. I was looking at the palace with shining eyes, then the old lady looked at me.
"Senior, let us serve you. I will lead you…"
Before old lady could say further I said, "You perhaps have mistaken me as someone else. I am a 15 years old, slum boy. Nothing else."
The old lady pondered and grabbed my wrist then took me inside the palace.
"If you are 15 years old then prove."
She took me to a room, the whole time the angry girl was following us. Also in the way here guards was greeting the old lady as royal butler. Proving my assumption right.
The old lady was The Royal Butler — Xiao Ho. And the angry girl was Princess — Min Qing.
In the room there was darkness, making hard to see anything. Butler Ho with a snap burned the torches hanging on the wall.
A crimson red spherical crystal can be seen in the middle of the room. It was kept on a red pillow. Butler Ho go near the crystal and cleaned the dust on it, then she raised her right hand towards it, looking at me.
"This is aging crystal. It tells someone's age. If you are really 15 years old, you will be supported by our royal family and if not… You will let us serve you, senior.
Now, our princess will show how to use it. Princess."
My hands were itching to touch it, as the crimson red is one of my favourite colours. But my hands were tied with the chains of ethics and good behavior.
Butler Ho glanced at the princess, and princess Qing walked towards the crystal and put her hand on it.
Soon the crystal started shining in different lights making the room light up, numbers started appearing on the crystal and they stopped at — 17.
'As expected from her size. She's about to be adult. And the old lady isn't much old. She's mid-aged, but her curves are…'
I was pondering my lustful thoughts, till the old lady interrupted me.
"Now it's your turn."
I walked towards the crystal and put my hand on it. My body melted with the coldness of the crystal, it was cold~.
Soon the same procedure happened, that happened before with princess Qing and the numbers stopped at — 15.
Butler Ho looked at my face.
'This boy really is 15 years old. If that's the case then…'
Before Butler Ho could ponder further a mid-aged man entered the room.
'6th level Bone Tempering Realm expert!'
My eyes widened as I sense his presence. The old lady bowed and said, "Greetings, City Lord Min."
'It's city lord?' My expression was sucking. I can't even act good in front of them. After wrecking their horse cart, the scene that princess Qing made, conform that it was a precious thing.
But it was good that they didn't looked at me. Instead they grasped their daughter which was rushing towards them saying, "Daddy!"
The middle aged man's expression didn't changed.
"Little Qing. Did you offended someone, who was ridiculously powerful?"
Princess Qing looked at City Lord's face and said, "No. Who can I offend being in Minlung city? Accept you. And I have never disagreed to you father."
The City Lord smiled a little.
"Then, how did the horse cart of yours which was made up of Rasle Wood get damaged?"
'If I had a dad like him, I bet that I would have wrecked my whole house.'
I pondered.
"Sir, City Lord I want to introduce you to someone."
Butler Ho bowed and pointed her both hands towards me like a dancer. The City Lord looked at me. My hands were upon the crystal and my forehead was dripping sweat.
"He is the one who damaged the horse cart. He is Sammy. He is…"
"He is 15 years old. It can be seen in the crystal. Tell me about the incident."
The City Lord interrupted Butler Ho. Making a cart made up of Rasle Wood tilted this much and even causing cracks on it. This boy must not have any simple background.
Butler Ho explained all the incident to the City Lord. Meanwhile, I took my hand back and stood still in the corner.
When Butler Ho finished telling everything from the meeting of market to here.
The City Lord glanced at me for a moment and asked Butler Ho, "Does really he is a ordinary boy?"
"Not at all. He might be from some noble family. Perhaps he is lost his memories. A person who can wreck Rasle Wood can't be a slum boy. And maybe his family can be from…"
Butler Ho stopped as she realises that the princess was listening to their conversation.
The City Lord walked towards me and said, "Do you have any allies? Or are you a student of Minlung Academy?"
"..."
My head tilted in confusion, "Academy? Wasn't I rejected a week ago?"
'Rejected?!' City Lord's eyes widened in shock. City Lord looked my confused expressions and maintained their calm composure.
'Was Shong Zhu drunk to reject someone like him?! Maybe it's because of his poor looking appearance.'
"Did you have thought about any noble family to back you?"
"Noble family? Back me? I don't have any."
I was confused because of City Lord's question. Why would anyone noble family back a slum boy with no cultivation. Is this old man mad?
City Lord smiled.
'It's a free opportunity to have a genius in our family? Maybe he is from some family having Divine bloodline. I shouldn't lose the chance.'
"Have you any planes?"
'Plane, huh?'
I pondered. I had a plan if becoming a teacher in Minlung Academy. So, I can find someone to inherit the legacy of King Of Heaven. But how could I possibly enter in?
"Seems like you don't have any plans," City Lord looked at me and continued, "How about joining Min family?"
'Joining Min family?' Butler Ho's eyes widened.
Joining Royal Family and joining Min family was different. If I join royal family, I have to be work like a responsible member. I have to run errands of the royal palace.
But joining Min family was different. Except royal family every family have freedom to take anyone in any role in family. It can be a guest elder, a teacher or it can be done by marriage.
'I think it's something like a sponsorship.'
I pondered.
"If you thought it like this, go and take it. It's good for now."
The voice of King of Heaven echoes in his mind.
'Thank you, For your advice. King of…'
"Stop calling me that. I know you don't respect me nor you show, but the way you call me just cause misunderstanding to me. Shu Feng. You can call me Shu Feng."
The King of Heaven said.
'Ok. Thanks, Shu Feng.'
"As I expected."
Shu Feng rolled his eyes and again fell asleep.
Meanwhile, I looked at the City Lord who was staring at me, making be a bit nervous.
'Is this man interested in mens?'
I pondered and said, "It's ok for now. Later I think I have to go further place."
'It's ok. Just ok. City Lord requesting to join their family is just ok.' Butler Ho and princess Qing's jaw dropped as they listen my words.
Princess Qing grabbed City Lord's wrist and said, "Dad. This one's nasty. He wrecked my horse cart that you gifted me. How could you offer someone like him to join our family?"
Although Butler Ho had told her that I am a wandering expert. But after seeing my age in crystal and judging from my appearance I wasn't looking any big shot at all.
City Lord looked at princess Qing and said, "Little Qing came to my room later. I have something to give you and also I will answer it."
The City Lord looked at me.
"It's our honour to have you. You may rest in guest room."
City Lord ordered guards who was guarding the entrance of the room, "Guards take them to the guest room and give whatever they want."
City Lord again looked at me, smiling.
"You can ask anything from these guards. As much we can give you, we will. And most importantly you may need cultivation technique to start culti…"
Before they could say further I interrupted them.
"I have one. You don't need to be bothered."
As I said, the guards came in front of me.
City Lord seemed to be surprised.
"You may rest now. You may have traveled a long way to here."
I get along the guards who led me to the guest room. I lay down on bed and fell asleep.