Chapter 7
Examination
While that red-haired guy is gripped by fear, Luc Chau sits quietly by the granite basin in the imperial palace's royal garden, her gaze distracted. She isn't admiring the flowers, but thinking about the mission to eliminate the Ghost King.
"What if we fail? What will happen to Skyborne Empire's reputation?"
The princess is deeply worried—her heart races, her thoughts are in turmoil. Afraid of the present, she hides herself in the currents of the past. People always seek memories or mementos when facing hardship, and the princess is no exception.
However, Luc Chau's childhood has been quiet and dull. She has cherished her father and brother. She has loved her family. Ironically, the saying "Family is everyone's steadfast support" has not held true for Luc Chau. In the blink of an eye, time has already passed.
At every moment, the princess's heart grows heavier. Her hands unconsciously grasp the rough necklace around her neck, as if instinctively reacting to calm her emotions. This is the princess's long-standing habit. Whenever she feels emotionally unsettled, she grabs the cord to lift her spirits.
Suddenly, Luc Chau sees Chien Tu approaching from afar, pulling a cart filled with shimmering gift packages. He lowers his head:
- Happy birthday, Princess!
Luc Chau gives a bitter smile. For twenty years, the birthday gifts remain the same: diplomatic cards from various nations, and presents worth hundreds or thousands of barrels of gold from both domestic and foreign lands. Ordinary people dream of living like Luc Chau, but she feels bored to the bone. Chien Tu circles the gift cart, introducing the birthday presents:
- There are gifts from about forty countries here. Yamator Kingdom, Sosang Kingdom, Wintara Kingdom, plus handwritten cards from the prince and from Flowing Cloud Kingdom.
But Chien Tu doesn't open any of the colorful boxes. Instead, he places two plain, single-colored boxes in front of Luc Chau. She laughs, because this is exactly what she expects. One box, wrapped in orange paper, contains delicious pastries. The princess breaks the cake and offers some to Chien Tu, but he refuses. Luc Chau wrinkles her nose:
- Seriously… Do you know how many people line up to taste Tieu Ho's cake?
- Please forgive me, Princess. I'm afraid of sweets. - Chien Tu shakes his head.
While enjoying the treat, the princess opens the second box, wrapped in white paper. When a terrifying-looking mechanical beast jumps out, she nearly falls over. It runs around on eight metal legs, its grotesque head opening its mouth and growling: "Happy birthday, Princess!" Luc Chau freezes for a moment, then covers her face and bursts into laughter.
Chien Tu shakes his head:
- Hoa Nghi's gifts are the same every year?
- Do you remember last year? He gave an entire fireworks gun! The whole palace echoed with massive explosions!
- I remember. The musketeers sounded the alarm, and all government staff evacuated.
Luc Chau's laughter echoes. Moments like this are rare in her life. She smiles so rarely that every time she does, the space around her seems to burst with life after a withered winter. Chien Tu knows she is trying to forget the sorrowful emptiness inside her. Because of busy work schedules, no one from Snowsun X's household comes to celebrate Luc Chau's birthday. Even she doesn't care—until Chien Tu arrives with the gift cart.
The princess turns and smiles at the guard:
- And you? Where's your gift?
- I'm sorry. Princess, you know I'm a member of the Chien House. I'm not permitted to give you a gift.
Luc Chau is used to hearing that response—it's the same every year. Yet she doesn't get angry. She pulls Chien Tu to sit beside her. The guard hesitates, but she gently embraces his hand and whispers:
- Truly… this journey gives me so many chances. I want to change. I want to leave this place.
Chien Tu says:
- The princess is growing tired of the things ordinary people long for. To be blunt… forgive me, Princess, this is the rich kid's boredom.
Luc Chau lowers her head and laughs. Chien Tu always knows how to put her at ease. Thanks to him, she feels life hasn't yet reached the point of panic.
- Princess, do you truly want to leave this place, or is it just a passing thought? - Chien Tu asks.
The girl hesitates. It's a difficult question. Is she determined to walk away, or will she choose to stay, admit that being a princess is better, and continue living peacefully in the royal garden? Luc Chau is about to answer, but Chien Tu stands up. It seems he wants Luc Chau to keep the answer to herself. The guard continues:
- I believe the princess should go to the West Coast Military Base. There's a lot you need to understand.
- Really? Then let's bring Tieu Ho and Hoa Nghi with me!
- I'm not sure we can bring Tieu Ho. She's causing a stir at the police station. I heard she was pickpocketed on National Day. So… how's the test going, Princess? - Chien Tu suddenly asks.
Luc Chau smiles and points to the unusually shiny earring adorned with red feathers. Chien Tu raises an eyebrow:
- Has the princess already passed the trial?
- That's right. - Luc Chau nods - Now I can summon my Guardian Spirit.
Every Sacred Envoy has a Life Guardian. The soul of the Guardian Spirit resides in an object known as a "representative vessel." For Luc Chau, her Guardian Spirit hides within her earring. In the first year, each Sacred Envoy is granted a representative vessel, but it takes long and persistent effort to truly summon the spirit. Many lifelong Sacred Envoys never gain this ability.
- Congratulations, Princess. - Chien Tu says - That's something to be proud of!
- I'm proud! Teacher Tay Minh is never easy on students!
Meanwhile, Vo Phong is preparing to take the test. He's like a student walking into the exam room with an empty mind. If he fails, he'll sling his backpack and "return to the military academy." That's not necessarily a bad thing—he'll have the chance to leave with pockets full of money. But the red-haired guy doesn't want to fail. Ever since discovering that Logistics Unit 201 is the Earth Element, he's decided to join it at all costs. He wants to know who he is, and what happened five years ago.
At two in the afternoon, Vo Phong enters the old, crumbling building of the Earth Element. Grizzly has been waiting for him, and Vermin is present in the role of examiner. The captain is working out, his muscular arms pushing six stacked dumbbells overhead. As soon as he sees the red-haired guy, he throws the iron barbell to the ground with a deafening crash. Vo Phong swallows hard, his heart pounding. Grizzly laughs:
- You've arrived? Ah, I think you should check this out… Pick whatever you like, but hurry—I'm about to get a call!
Grizzly walks to the corner of the room and operates the control panel on the wall. The wall in front of them splits in half, revealing another tall and wide chamber. Vo Phong's mouth hangs open as he instinctively steps closer. The room is packed with sabers and swords of every type, shape, and size. The space is packed with killing tools, and the cold scent of metal clings to his breath. The red-haired guy feels his body stiffen. Though he's never handled sabers and swords before, Vo Phong knows a thing or two. After lunch, he scoured the military base library, hoping book knowledge might help him even a little.
Science and technology are reshaping the face of war in the Heart-Dream World. Cold weapons have nearly vanished, leaving only sabers and swords behind—but their construction has changed. New materials have emerged, making sabers and swords no longer simple as their name suggests, but complex machines. Warriors who use pure sabers and swords are called swordsmen, while those who combine swords with magic are known as Blademasters.
Countless swords lie before Vo Phong, but he doesn't know which to choose. In the end, he has to use the plain sword he carries with him. Aside from being retractable and flexible, it has no special features. Grizzly chortles:
- You ready? Let the test begin!
The two step onto the combat floor. Vo Phong notices Grizzly is also using a plain sword. The captain makes a concession to ensure fairness. Vermin sits outside, paper and pen in hand, ready to take notes. Vo Phong says to the vice-captain:
- Are we really using real swords for this test? What if I stab him by mistake?
- Stab him by mistake? That'd be great!
Vermin grins, as if encouraging the mistaken stabbing to actually happen. Vo Phong frowns. He returns to the battlefield, startled, his hand suddenly gripping the longsword tightly. Grizzly stops smiling. His face glistens with sweat, and his eyes gleam with bloodlust. Standing before Vo Phong is no longer the joking, laughing captain—but a beast in human form. The swirling presence of death shatters every dream in the red-haired guy's mind.
Fear surges. Vo Phong can't take it anymore and lunges forward to strike first. He roars, swings his sword, and slashes straight ahead, seemingly about to split his opponent in two. But in a blink, Grizzly sidesteps, grabs his hair, and slams him to the ground. The red-haired guy's face scrapes across the floor, his nose full of blood, his eyes bursting with firefly-like sparks. He sees nothing but red flooding his vision. Grizzly lifts Vo Phong again and punches him in the face. Vo Phong flies like a kite with a snapped string, crashing into the wall, bones seemingly shattered. Seeing him crumpled on the ground, Vermin scribbles notes and shakes his head:
- Don't hit him so hard, Captain. I don't want to have to drag him to the morgue.
Grizzly steps forward, grabs Vo Phong by the neck, and throws him back onto the combat floor. His lips curl with contempt:
- What kind of outstanding cadet are you, redhead? What did you just call sword combat? Swordsmanship? Are you joking? What kind of trash like you graduates from the military academy? Answer me, now!
Vo Phong is used to being caught stealing, beaten, and cursed. In the Garbage Market, residents rank lower than garbage itself. No amount of insults can make him feel more humiliated. Grizzly sees Vo Phong unresponsive, scratches his chin in thought. He yanks Vo Phong up by the neck, grins, flashing his white teeth:
- No, I've got a better idea. Instead of kicking you out, I'll kill you!
Vo Phong thinks he's joking. But Grizzly doesn't joke—he swings and lands a punch square on the redhead's face. Vo Phong slides across the floor, his head exploding like fireworks. He staggers to his feet, blood spurting from his mouth, trying to speak—saying one word, but losing the next:
- …Wait… wait! What… what are you doing?
- I already said! Sending you back to the military academy costs the government a fortune! I'm a patriot! Haha, patriotism starts with the smallest things! And we're not afraid of responsibility. Earth Element has privileges—covering up a murder isn't hard!
Grizzly drops his sword and charges forward, as if to prove his patriotic act. Vo Phong panics, swings his sword wildly. Grizzly moves with his feet, dodging the attacks. He grabs Vo Phong's neck, drives his knee into Vo Phong's stomach, then lands an uppercut to the chin—his punches hit like blows to a sandbag. Vermin sits outside, neither stopping the fight nor taking notes, just yawning as he waits for it to end.
Grizzly channels his strength into his shoulder and throws a decisive punch. The red-haired guy slams into the wall again, his whole body crackling like dry firewood snapping and breaking, blood gushing from his mouth. He hangs his head, gasping, dizzy, but his mind remains clear—he realizes he's about to die.
If he dies, no one will care. Life goes on. Material poverty, spiritual despair—his baggage holds nothing but two empty hands. Even his name is borrowed from an old rank badge; he doesn't know who it truly belonged to.
"Who am I?"
The question bursts forth like a drug triggering Vo Phong's nerves. He pushes himself up with both hands, wipes the blood from his eyes, grabs his sword, and exhales to keep himself calm. In that moment, survival instinct spreads through his body. Thanks to it, he's survived the Garbage Market. Vo Phong believes that if he lives just a little longer, he'll do many things. Earth Element stands before him—he cannot fall.
- Oh? Oh? Kid, what are you doing? - Grizzly laughs - Are you serious?
Vo Phong doesn't answer. He charges forward, swinging his sword with his right hand. Grizzly steps back lightly. The red-haired guy follows, attacking relentlessly, his footwork surging like a whirlwind. Grizzly senses danger and leaps back. Vo Phong seizes the opening and charges forward, closing in on his opponent in a flash. Wherever the captain retreats, Vo Phong follows. He attacks like a storm—his swordplay is chaotic and monotonous, but his speed grows faster and faster. Watching from outside, Vice Captain Vermin is impressed by the redhead's legs. "Those two legs are worth something!" - Vermin chuckles, pen in hand, taking notes.
The fight continues. Grizzly still doesn't draw his sword. He runs backward, Vo Phong chases. Suddenly, Grizzly stops, grabs Vo Phong's head like lightning, slams it down, and drives his knee into the center of the redhead's face. Vo Phong crashes onto his back, the back of his neck slamming into the floor, his whole body going limp. The captain turns to Vermin:
- Take the redhead to the infirmary. Delete him! Delete him! This size doesn't fit Earth Element!
The vice captain shakes his head:
- The match isn't over yet, Captain?
- Huh?
Just then, a dagger flies toward Grizzly's face. He flinches, tilting his head narrowly. Vo Phong appears like a ghost, channeling all his strength into his right hand and punches the captain square in the face. Time seems to freeze. That punch carries everything he has, as if it's the red-haired guy's final battle. Half of Grizzly's face caves in, but he remains standing. Vo Phong's palm gradually feels the recoil—like a blade shaving deep into bone and flesh. He has no strength left to resist. He clenches his teeth, shuts his eyes, and braces for a crushing defeat. But Grizzly suddenly lets out a chortle:
- Not bad! Not bad at all!
The captain brushes off Vo Phong's hand and asks Vermin:
- What do you think?
Vermin looks at Vo Phong for a moment, then nods. Grizzly claps his hands:
- Good! Then… welcome to Earth Element!
He shakes hands with Vo Phong, gives it a little shake, and places a gleaming bronze badge in the red-haired guy's hand. Engraved in black letters: Vo Phong. Earth Element. Proof that he's passed the trial. Vo Phong wants to smile but can't—his ribs throb with unbearable pain. And Grizzly gives his shoulder a booming pat:
- Relax, relax! Everything will fall into place! I was just testing you—don't hold a grudge! Heh heh! Oh, and don't wear the badge. Don't reveal you're Earth Element. But don't lose it either—making a new one costs a lot!
The red-haired guy frowns and lets out a dry laugh, cursing the brute of a captain in his heart. Vermin offers to help him to the infirmary, but he refuses and slips away quickly. Grizzly and Vermin watch him leave, each with their own thoughts. The vice captain says:
- He's not a military cadet? Martial arts, swordsmanship… he knows nothing!
Grizzly replies:
- The higher-ups told me to look after him a bit. I can't guarantee that. Whether he's accepted depends on the Earth Element. But he's not that bad, right?
- Higher-ups? Who? The Conclave Council?
Vermin doesn't finish his sentence before the dark-skinned man cuts in:
- You have the authority to decide personnel. You can override my decision. But you accepted Vo Phong, didn't you? You think he looks like the Ai Nu member, right?
The vice captain nods:
- Then what about you, Captain? Vo Phong hasn't officially joined, but his badge was already cast ahead of time. What does that mean?
Grizzly doesn't answer. He rushes out of the training room:
- We'll talk later. I've got a call!
Vermin lifts the corner of his mouth in a smile. His evaluation board is covered in dense diagonal marks. Vo Phong was supposed to be eliminated, but at the last moment, the vice captain changed his mind. There are many strange things like this in the Heart-Dream World.
Meanwhile, Vo Phong stumbles toward the infirmary, his face sticky and covered in blood. Everyone turns to look at his miserable state. He's being watched, but the red-haired guy has no energy to care. What he needs are bone braces and facial reconstruction. As he walks, he mutters the dirtiest curses at Grizzly. Just as his anger boils, a soft, melodic voice rings in his ear:
- Excuse me, may I ask the way to the spaceship storage area?
"Female!" - The red-haired guy's eyes light up. It's hard to believe that in this military base packed with rough, brutish men, a female soldier has appeared. Vo Phong turns and teases:
- Directions? That's gonna cost you a fee. How about a date?
Before he finishes, the red-haired guy suddenly falls silent. Standing before him is a girl in plain clothes—not a female soldier. Memories of National Day afternoon flood Vo Phong's mind. That same beautiful face, still full of quiet thought. That same fiery red feather earring, hiding behind her shoulder-length brown hair. The red-haired guy's mouth and tongue seem tangled:
- The fee is… free, Princess! I'll show you the way!