The sun shone brightly onto a training field.
There a young man with pinkish white hair wearing a tight fitting light blue Swordsman robe.
His Heterochromic eyes reflected the clear blue sky, and the usually empty training field of the royal court was packed full of maidens sighing in spring love, or rather autumn love, with the slight coldness feeling like a fresh kiss on the face.
Meanwhile the men gasp in shock, pondering whether this was something a human could do.
Behind this young man with pinkish white hair was nearly destroyed training field.
The targets were pierced by arrows, which had hit the bullseye consecutively and thus the arrows pierced each other. Spiderweb like cracks raced across the target.
Countless metal blades were shattered or broken and laid on the ground near, large black and blue human shaped bruises.
All the puppets used to train were broken.
All the crossbows were empty, all the traps destroyed.
This was a training field to train soldiers of the Empire. Although it was only for new recruits, even the greatest veterans would be hard-pressed to cause such damage universally to the field. Perhaps a extremely capable Archer could do the same, perhaps a talented swordsman could do the same. Yet this fellow with pinkish white hair named Won, treated everything as if a game. He fired arrows in only one breath.
He beat people up in a dazzling flash, and even used his fist to bully these innocent fellows all the more.
He walked slowly as if on a walk down the street, as traps came racing at him. As arrow bolts shot though the air and didn't even graze him, as pitfalls and spiked ceiling feel but he simply smacked them away or jumped to the sky.
What an unimaginable monster.
The old man in charge had long lost his pride and arrogance, his thin body slightly shaking.
He asked, "Mister Won, you didn't perhaps use Qi to assist yourself. No even with Qi you couldn't do that, then are you an Immortal?"
Won smirked, "Instructor if I did that, that would be cheating. Furthermore look at how skinny and weak I am, I am no better than a scholar. I was simply lucky."
The instructor laughed as if accepting Won's answer.
Yet he tilted his head internally and questioned his whole life asking, "That didn't really look like luck though. That was bloody frightening, perhaps what Sir Won said is true. This is all luck. Yes, of course it's luck. But that doesn't make sense... Uuu."
Won sighed and wiped the few dew drops of sweat lingering on his forehead and whipped them away with a quick sweep.
His hair danced in the wind and he look sublime.
Won said, "Well instructor I suppose we are finished. I'll be going then there are many other matters that need my attention you see. So I'll be going first."
The instructor nodded slowly as if creaking his head up and down stiffly, "Ah. Yes, yes. You may go Sir Won."
Won nodded and gave a faint goodbye as he left.
Ozaris arrived with a thin purple fur coat, which Won wore.
Won asked, "You've prepared for tommorow am I right?"
Ozaris bowed, "Yes master. I've made sure that we are invited, and I have also arranged the rest of the gifts. The lord we are meeting should be pleasantly surprised."
Won nodded and said, "How was auction held yesterday?"
Ozaris said, "It went well. Three products reached such a high degree of amount that we had to settle it privately. We earned 10,000,000 gold coins by selling the rest."
Won looked slightly suprised, "Hm? Ten million? It did better than I thought."
Ozaris said, "Master it seems worrying. The products are really that rare or worth. How could we make so much."
Won said, "The reason for that assumption is the connections an Empire has. For example the Shu Empire with disciples in Immortal sects and even core disciples in them, they get alot of benefits and resources from the sects as either compensation or as aid. The Ito Empire isn't affiliated with many Empires even though it is a middle sized Empire. Thus the stocks of these simple herbs and materials are much more expensive than in other places, for example our start by using the weapons I gave you to start a barter up and up, until we reached our current size it wouldn't have worked so fast and easily as it did in other Empires. The problem starts from the fact the Empire has reached it's maximum potential reaching where it is, no sect would invest or aid it. So they've reached a state of Limbo. So even those herbs I had you gather cost more. It's simply like this, the Empire dosent have enough authority and right to many things, and thus the general public suffers the most with the talented or rich only getting scraps and that makes them warm blooded and easy to steal from. The Sects are indifferent and only care about their selfish greed like any other being, they won't give out freebies to something they think dosen't deserve it."
Ozaris nodded, "I see so it's an issue from the foundation of the Empire and the various Immortal sects. But master although the herbs are difficult to get it shouldn't be too difficult to get. The beasts that guard the Potent Magic mushroom which is used to make people fall into a daze of Cultivation, used when Cultivating martial arts or comprehending something to perhaps reach enlightenment in a state of delirium. It sold the most yesterday, but the beasts guarding it aren't very strong. Couldn't a few strongmen just go collect them?"
Won shook his head, "Firstly you're overestimating the Empire. They aren't all that strong. In fact you and I alone could probably handle 1/4 of the Empires military and combative strength and win. In a few years my Cultivation will increase and then I could easily bring it to it's knees. If not for a certain thing I must do I wouldn't put so much effort. Second even though there are strongmen why would they sell these herbs instead of using it themselves. Furthermore although the beasts guarding the herbs aren't that troublesome there's always the risk of injury, why would they actively go out seeking danger for medicine like the Potent Magic mushroom which dosen't have an actual quantifiable result? Furthermore most of the strongmen are in the military and if they get herbs they would exchange it for military credits or perhaps the stupid ones due to a foolish sense of patriotism. The 'smart' ones think 'Ah this herb isn't that useful in the long term. That technique that costs that much could actually change everything, meanwhile this or that can't do that much to actually help me,' they think like that and they give it up not understanding it's long term value. So effectively almost all of the herb is kept within locked doors and tight panties. So that's why sects who send their disciples actively into these kinds of situations and who also have supplies of better herbs or even herbs they personally grow in their Spiritual farms have a business selling these things to Empires for various benefits."
Ozaris nodded his head and said, "I understand."
Won said, "How is Lulu doing in today's practice?"
Ozaris said, "She's hit a bottleneck and shouldn't advance for some time. I've used some herbs to make sure during this time her potential and Cultivation isn't affected."
Won nodded, "Well then prepare for tommorows party."
...
In front of a large Mansion, with thick marble pillars along it's skeleton, there were countless carriages packed.
Various influential figures, from notable scholars, to famous and popular military men.
They had all gathered for the birthday of Sato Takeru, the former Dean of the Ito Scholar school, and current minister of Education. With countless connections and even more support he's a Apex being in the Empire who is neutral not with any faction. If he makes a move not even the Emperor and the Prime minister could completely shield themselves from the after effects. With the scholars in one hand and even the nobles who've requested favors from him over his many years in the other, he is truly a force to be reckoned with. Yet even after countless threats and bribes he's remained completely neutral.
One after another plenty of people filled the Mansion.
Then a black carriage, with white dots around it like a night sky appeared in front of the mansion.
From the carriage a man with long flowing black hair wearing a black and white Hanfu, with plum blossom branches extending around the wrist and up from the bottom.
He was quite charming and had a deep spirit that appeared on his face, his brows were sleek and gave the impression on a playful man.
He bowed and waited for another man wearing a black with gold lines Hanfu, with a similar styled thin black coat.
His long pinkish white hair was neatly braided, with two long strands tucked gently behind his ear. He had Heterochromic eyes that served to further draw attention to his exceedingly handsome face. He had sharp eyebrows and a sharp chin, with a sleek nose and sparkling eyes. He looked somewhat feminine due to how thin he was and how pale he was, but he still bore a great masculinity that could capture the heart. Women couldn't help look into his face, he was too handsome.
Obviously this pair was Won and Ozaris.
Won folded his hands behind his back and walked in with a passive smile on his face.
Ozaris on the other hand focused on greetings and the such.
Crowds whispered, "That's the Pavilion master of Sweet night. I heard in the scholars exam he took yesterday and the military exam he took, he got extremely great results. He must be joining the Royal court as a Scholar."
Another whispered, "He's too arrogant. Many merchants do the same and they all fail, the court isn't a place you can just enter."
...
Won simply drank some wine and mingled relatively casually with whoever came up to him. His speech and opinions were very attracted to others.
Eventually the host of this party Sato Takeru appeared.
He was an old man who bent like a rotten wooden cane, his head was bald at the top with the sides falling down his back.
His face was full of wrinkles and the deep wisdom was apparent in those still bright eyes.
He chuckled joyfully, "I must thank the many friends who have come to this old man's birthday. I must sincerely thank you."
Various chuckles filled the room.
He looked around his eyes catching up to the various young men present.
He smirked slightly.
Suddenly the attendant outside entered and said, "Introducing the arrival of the Crown Prince Roku."
Just then a black haired young man around Twenty one years of age, with deep black eyes wearing a white and gold robe. His hair neatly made into a bun.
He wore a long red and white coat that dragged on the floor.
The young man walked past the crowd which parted at his simple movements.
He reached in from of Sato Takeru.
The young man offered a slight bow with a slight laugh, "I hope Master Sato can excuse my lateness. My Honorable father wished me to come in his place. You must excuse him, he is after all very old."
Sato waved his hand and said, "Think nothing of it."
Roku the crown prince nodded with a smile. He then turned to look at Won, his eyes slanting into a glare.
Won smiled politely back, a peaceful smile on his face.
Ozaris leaned down and whispered, "Master what should we do? He's showing clear signs of aggression."
Won smirked as he closed his eyes, "Let him be. He's more useful to me alive than dead. Furthermore it's understandable, I assaulted his sister after all. He's a good brother, but a foolish Prince. Well he's a bit hot tempered I like that, a man should disregard rules and the such in such situations. Of course it's sad that he's just making it easier to defeat him."
...
Sato Takeru dissapeared into his study as he wished to have a personal meeting with all the influential guests. Although this was a bit tedious this was the requirement in this industry.
Eventually Won and Ozaris reached a small study, with stacks of books lining the walls.
Sato Takeru sat on a leather chair in front of a table.
He stood up and said, "Won and Ozaris. The Pavilion and Vice Pavilion master of Sweet Night. A famous pavilion making use of the unrest within the Empire to rise. Nice to meet you. Come have a seat."
Won smiled and sat down.
Sato Takeru asked, "So why were you so adamant about coming to this old man's birthday party?"
Won leaned his head on his hand, and smiled, "Well if I want to achieve my goal of conquering the Empire I would need your help now wouldn't I?"
Ozaris eyes widened yet he kept silent.
Sato Takeru nodded, "Indeed considered everything you've done you didn't look like some ordinary person. You're meticulous and smart. You know peoples emotions and drives and exploit them. Frankly it would be easy for you to accomplish alot. Even if you did nothing in a few years your pavilion and private force could rival the Empire, or perhaps you could single handedly bring down the Empire. A mysterious young man with mysterious strength."
Won smirked, "Many thanks for sirs compliments. It's just chance and opportunity."
Sato Takeru nodded with a gentle smile, but it then turned into a bone chilling cold, "But to speak about such things to me, aren't you afraid?"
Won's eyes opened and an even more frightening coldness spread out, "I don't think your so naive and pathetic to be so patriotic."
Sato Takeru asked, "How do you know whether you can collect the Throne."
Won smirked, "Well I have my own means, but you don't need to believe me. If I make it you'll know and if I don't you'll know. I just hope you'll won't disadvantage this one."
...
Ozaris asked, "Master why did you tell him your intentions? To gain his favor? But that doesn't seem practical."
Won replied, "Rather than gain his favor this way he'll either support or ignore me, and then focus of gaining more after I become Emperor. He's a sneaky snake, he wants more but he dosent show it. Throughout his years he's made enough small moves in preparation, but fear has disabled him. Yet now I've given him opportunity, he'll take it. He'll wait for me to do 90% of the work and then come in for the last 10%."
Ozaris looked worried and said, "Then master what should we do?"
Won said while patting his belly, "Don't worry about it. I control everything. Whether it be the Emperor or this minister each one is in my hands."