Chapter 3
Proposal from The Sacred Abyss
During the festive days when Flying City's square was bustling, many others had already taken time to visit the famous sites. A large number of tourists had already flocked to the north of Crescent District—the location of the palace.
According to historical records, the palace had been built during the reign of Snowsun III and took ten years to complete. In the past, the palace had been a solemn and mysterious place. After the abolition of the monarchy, it has become a government workplace and has been open to visitors ever since.
In front of the palace was an archway, with a pair of exquisitely carved wings on its roof. Behind the gate, a wide avenue stretched forward, leading to the main area, consisting of domed buildings arranged from low to high, with paths that divided the overall complex into many independent sections. In the past, these had been royal residences; now they were used as museums.
The deeper one went, the taller the domed buildings became, with the highest tower having been the highlight of the palace—where the emperor resides. Surrounding the tower was the Upper Royal Garden belt, suspended in mid-air. The emperor and his daughter were walking there, followed by a group of royal guards in pure white uniforms.
The sun was setting in the west. The sunset light, like a gentle tide, receded, pulling at shadows of the red roses leaning over the lush green grass. The wind carried a faint fragrance, briefly easing the mind. Princess Luc Chau was fascinated by the scene and softly says:
- It's beautiful, isn't it, Father?
Snowsun X laughed:
- Yes. It's been a long time…
Before the emperor could finish speaking, a secretary interjected, holding a thick stack of papers:
- Your Majesty, these are congratulatory letters from various foreign envoys. Please check them.
Snowsun X picked up the stack, scanning the most important sections before examining them carefully. Luc Chau felt as if time was dragging lazily. While reading the letters, the emperor says:
- Oh, the letter from Flowing Cloud Country is long this year, right? And what did you just say, Chau? Ah… right, I haven't admired the Royal Upper Garden in a long time. Recently…
- It was my birthday. - The princess says.
- Ah! - The emperor tapped his forehead - Your birthday! You'll be twenty tomorrow, right?
Luc Chau smiled:
- Yes… Father, I am twenty-one.
The emperor was stunned. He quickly corrected himself:
- Twenty-one! That's correct! Sorry! Then our family will go traveling, how do you feel about that?
- I don't think I can. - Luc Chau smiled - Tomorrow Father must meet The Conclave Council. Have you forgotten?
Snowsun X frowned. The princess continued:
- Anyway, I need to meet Tay Minh teacher. Some exercises didn't go well, and there are many parts I still don't understand. I want to ask the teacher a few things.
- Don't overwork yourself, daughter.
- Daughter heard.
Luc Chau's smile was radiant. The smile convinced everyone that she was sincere, but it caused Snowsun X pain. Between being the emperor and being a father, Snowsun X could only fulfill one role completely.
Many polls had already shown that Snowsun X was a good emperor. He had devoted his life to understanding the wishes of the people, so he didn't have enough time to understand his daughter's thoughts.
The blowing wind stirred memories in people's hearts. The emperor had always wished his family could have both a mother's and a wife's hand. Unfortunately, it was a dream that could not come true. The empress had already had two children, a first son and a second daughter. She passed away after giving birth to Luc Chau.
The princess had grown up under her brother's care. At fourteen, she had already been guided by Tay Minh—the strongest Grand Sacred Envoy in Skyborne Empire. Since then, the teacher had also assumed the responsibilities of a father, because the real father could not be with his daughter.
- So today? Dinner, okay? Let me call Thien, your brother might not be too busy… - Snowsun X asked.
Luc Chau immediately agreed, feeling a slight joy in her heart. But the joy did not last long. She suddenly saw a government staff rushing into the Sky Garden. He placed his hands on his chest and bowed before the emperor:
- Your Majesty, Ha Dong the envoy requests an audience! It's urgent!
Snowsun X squinted:
- Ha Dong… envoy of the Sacred Abyss! Why did no one tell me the envoy has arrived? But what is he here for?
The man lowered his voice and whispered, just loud enough for the emperor and Luc Chau to hear:
- We have just received the news as well. He says he came here to convey The Eternity's prophecy.
The emperor and his daughter exchanged glances. Indeed, this was a strange event, because the prophecy had last appeared ten centuries ago.
The Dream Heart World is divided into six continents. The Mixed Original Continent is located in the middle and is also called the Sacred Land, because on that land stands an ancient tree of The Eternity. It is said that The Eternity nurtured all species, hence it is called "The Mother".
For centuries, reverence spread and became the largest religion in the world, led by the Sacred Abyss. The Sacred Abyss gathered warriors who inherited the Mother Tree's power, called Sacred Envoys. Luc Chau is also one of those warriors.
Faced with an important matter, Snowsun X could no longer linger. He turned to Luc Chau:
- I'm sorry, daughter, I am very busy.
Snowsun X kissed the princess's forehead and left. He was so busy that he forgot his promise to have dinner with his daughter. Now, the Royal Upper Garden had only the wind and Luc Chau. She stood there, eyes tinged with melancholy. In any case, sadness has been trailing her for twenty years, so a couple more years are no big deal.
Immersed in her thoughts, Luc Chau suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She turned and saw a person appear, dressed in black from head to toe. He walked up to Luc Chau and lowered his head. Seeing him, the princess involuntarily felt a lift in her spirits:
- Chien Tu!
The princess held his hand. Chien Tu's cold face beneath his black hair immediately changed, as if ice were melting. He spoke, his tone lacking natural ease:
- Please, princess, don't do that. This place is crowded…
Luc Chau covered her mouth and laughed, a genuine smile, not the smile that reassured her father earlier. Chien Tu always brought her peace.
Chien Tu has always been Luc Chau's guardian. Sacred Envoys are not skilled in close combat; they need guardians to compensate for this weakness, and there is no limit to the number of guardians.
Since the day the princess became Tay Minh's student, Chien Tu has held this position. He has witnessed how the princess grew up and how difficult it was. The person closest to and most understanding of the princess has never been her brother, father, or teacher, but Chien Tu.
- Is anyone around here? You're too serious! - Luc Chau says.
- Rules are rules, princess.
Then he moved the girl's hand away. Luc Chau laughed. She knew that from past to present, Chien Tu still spoke and acted like a machine. Making a camel pass through the eye of a needle seemed easier than changing his character.
The princess strolled leisurely in the Royal Upper Garden. The glow of the setting sun flickered and faded, coloring the clouds yellow and casting a thoughtful light on her face. The girl suddenly says:
- Tell me the story about the Iron Sword!
Chien Tu frowned:
- Princess, you're upset now. Why do you want to hear that story?
- Just tell me! - Luc Chau says - And why is it always "princess"? Call me Luc Chau!
Chien Tu sighed and replied:
- Yes, princess.
"Oh! Princess again!" - Luc Chau sighed.
…
The evening sunlight fell on the palace's tallest tower, then slipped into the hall, slowly flowing past the rows of solid columns, casting shadows on the ash-colored stone floor and spilling onto the walls adorned with murals, like a living movie telling the history of the Skyborne Empire. In the center of the hall was the throne, with the armrests spreading into wide glass wings. The emperor sat on the throne, resting his chin on his hand, eyes wandering as he thought about the past. Once, there was a ten-year-old boy who often came here; every time he admired this building, countless fairy-tale-like dreams surged in his mind.
Decades later, that boy ascended the throne as Snowsun X, and the playful childhood quickly disappeared. The throne is not suited for foolish dreamers.
In retrospect, the emperor realized he had grown old. He laughed at the child Snowsun X of the past. But no matter how much he laughed, there remained much regret. The elderly always viewed youth with both mockery and wistfulness.
The hall's main doors opened, breaking the emperor's train of thought. A person dressed in a simple brown cloak entered, his face hidden beneath the hood. The emperor was extremely surprised, for Snowsun X had expected the envoy of the Sacred Abyss to arrive in a much more ostentatious manner. Just a few years ago, envoys had arrived accompanied by dozens of Sacred Envoys, giving eloquent yet perplexing speeches. But today, the venerable envoy brought only one male secretary. Hopefully he won't give a speech! the emperor muttered to himself, then stood and says:
- Ha Dong, envoy.
Ha Dong removed his hood, revealing smooth, styled platinum hair, a face full of wrinkles, and a hooked nose. Both he and the male secretary placed their hands on their chests and bowed:
- Greetings, noble Snowsun X!
Snowsun X was once again surprised, for the greeting was far too brief, not in line with Ha Dong's usual preference for grandeur. The emperor replied:
- Thank you! Why did you not notify Skyborne Empire in advance?
- The Sacred Abyss requested secrecy. I hope my attire does not make you uncomfortable. Ah, allow me to introduce my private secretary.
The secretary bowed again, and the emperor's gaze lingered on the metal briefcase in his hands for a few seconds. At a glance, Snowsun X immediately recognized that the briefcase was designed to resist artillery, with talismans inside to counteract magical effects. The emperor asked Ha Dong:
- I heard you brought the prophecy?
- Correct. You'd better see it for yourself.
The secretary opened the briefcase and handed the emperor a scroll. Snowsun X took it and carefully unrolled it, his heart tightening. He discovered that the prophecies had always been filled with ominous portents. Before him was a large, plain sheet of paper, written in dense black ink, on which were only two characters: Ghost King. The emperor looked at Ha Dong with a puzzled expression:
- Ghost King?
- Correct.
- What do you mean by "correct"?
- Whatever you think it is, it is.
The emperor furrowed his brow:
- Has the Ghost King returned?
Ha Dong nodded in confirmation. Snowsun X frowned:
- Wasn't the Ghost King destroyed a thousand years ago?
- Yes. But just two days ago, the Eternity's goddess of prophecy suddenly awakened, and she saw the Ghost King's rebirth.
Snowsun X drew a deep breath; sweat involuntarily formed on his aged forehead. The world was in danger, and his daughter was in danger. The name "Ghost King" did not refer to a specific individual, but to a form of energy opposite to The Eternity. The Ghost King existed by possession, consuming human bodies as a source of power. To stop the Ghost King, the only method was to locate the infected and seal them in the Sacred Abyss.
A thousand years ago, the goddess of prophecy selected eight people to eliminate the various Ghost Kings. Those eight succeeded and became the Eight Great Guardians guarding The Mother. The Dream Heart World had enjoyed a millennium of peace, until today, when the goddess of prophecy awoke with her terrifying revelation.
- Only Sacred Envoys have the power to gather the souls of the Ghost King, Ha Dong continued. Last night, the Sacred Abyss council held an emergency meeting and decided to choose Luc Chau. She will…
The emperor interrupted:
- Why my child?
Ha Dong handed the council document to the emperor. The document explicitly stated that Luc Chau was an outstanding, talented, and responsible Sacred Envoy… in short, the long enumeration demonstrated her suitability for this honorable task. Snowsun X immediately objected:
- Luc Chau is only twenty… no, twenty-one! She's too young! Why didn't the Sacred Abyss send someone else? Many Sacred Envoys are stronger than her! And where is the Grand Sacred Envoy?
- Many other objections were raised, but they were futile. Ha Dong shrugged:
- The elders of the Sacred Abyss unanimously decided that Skyborne Empire must atone for its sins.
- Atone? For what mistake?
- You may still remember what happened over twenty years ago. The Sacred Abyss seal was opened by a Grand Sacred Envoy from the Skyborne Empire. - Ha Dong replied - A traitor, the first treacherous Sacred Envoy in history.
The emperor says sternly:
- We of the Skyborne Empire have been atoning! For twenty years, Skyborne has contributed ten thousand gold barrels to the Sacred Abyss every year!
- Personally, I admire Skyborne's actions. But this is the decision of the Sacred Abyss leadership; I am merely the envoy. By the way, the story of the traitorous Grand Sacred Envoy has never been revealed. I am afraid…
Snowsun X squints, his voice almost like the wind:
- Are you threatening me?
- Has my relationship with Skyborne reached the point that I need to threaten you? Those who threaten you are others! Please understand!
The emperor understands: only Sacred Envoys can confront the Ghost King, and the "chosen" Sacred Envoy is his daughter. He has the right to refuse, but the Sacred Abyss holds the power over the faith of the Dream Heart people. Refusal brings negative consequences, and moreover, the Sacred Abyss can use it as an excuse to attack the emperor for openly exercising his power to protect his own family. The father's affection and the head of state's reasoning leave him in confusion.
- Time is pressing! - the envoy says - Please inform Luc Chau, the Sacred Envoy. I expect her answer tonight.
The envoy steps back. The hall is as silent as paper, only a faint sunlight flickering on the stone floor. Snowsun X, exhausted, sits on the glass throne, propping his chin as he ponders. Suddenly he says:
- Luc Thien? How long have you been here?
Luc Thien emerges from the shadows, his brown hair tied into a ponytail. Like his father, he has a pair of distinctive blue eyes. The fading sunlight falls on his camouflage-gray uniform, leaving mottled patches of light and shadow. Luc Thien says:
I've heard everything, Father. We have a major problem.
- Indeed, a major problem.
Luc Thien is Luc Chau's elder brother, not yet thirty, yet he serves as deputy commander of the division protecting the capital. He has been the type of son even the strictest father has been proud of. Luc Thien has organized dozens of anti-terror operations and has received recognition from many emperors for his contributions to security and peace. Even the emperors of nations outside the Skyborne Alliance have honored him. Therefore, few have complained about Luc Thien's "deputy commander" rank, and many have thought the position is actually beneath him.
- The Sacred Abyss is troubling us with a story from twenty years ago. Yet they bring it up again? - Luc Thien says - I suspect someone is deliberately creating trouble…
- Political intrigue? In the Sacred Abyss? - The emperor raises an eyebrow.
Luc Thien shrugged:
- The most sacred, purest places often hide the darkest deeds.
- Snowsun X nodded:
- Makes sense.
- But why target Luc Chau? She is not involved in politics!
The emperor closes his eyes, pondering for a long time, and says:
- I think this may relate to next year's Supreme Envoy Examination. Every year, the exam selects a person to serve as Supreme Leader of the Sacred Envoys, a position full of privileges. Through this position, one can summon Sacred Envoys from all allied nations. If Luc Chau becomes Supreme Leader, she will hold a leading position among the Sacred Envoys in our alliance, and Skyborne Empire will remain at the top. If something happens to Luc Chau…
The emperor leaves the latter part unsaid. Luc Thien nods:
- I see! So perhaps our alliance or rivals are obstructing us?
- That's only a guess; nothing is certain. But do not be careless, - the emperor says - Alright, go, son. I need to meet the Conclave Council.
Aren't we supposed to have dinner together tonight, Father? - Luc Thien squints.
Only now does the emperor remember his promise to his daughter. He imagines the warm meal, filled with laughter. But tonight, he has to meet the Conclave Council in the vast, empty hall.
- You two eat. Tell Luc Chau I am busy.
Luc Thien wants to say something but stops. The busyness is not entirely the fault of Snowsun X. Perhaps he is afraid—afraid of his responsibilities as a father, afraid to speak of misfortune. Luc Thien suddenly recalls when Luc Chau once asked their father where their mother is; he remembers clearly how their father's expression turns grim.
Snowsun X leaves the throne, his aged feet moving slowly. His figure gradually disappears behind the hall doors. Luc Thien continues to look in that direction, suddenly realizing how vast and empty the hall truly is.