Chapter 21: The Capital City

[AN: I left a review detailing my thoughts about the future direction of this novel. Give it a read. And while you're at it, leave a review too!

And to better motivate you, I shall release a bonus chapter for every 2 (TWO) reviews! This, of course, excepts my own review.

Well then, what are you waiting for!? Get to it! Do you not want MOAR!?!]

The emperor's awakening of his Core ended with no significant incidents. Wuzhi silently heaved a sigh of relief at this result.

Truth be told, the young scholar had zero experience teaching somebody or awakening somebody's Core. For the latter, he had used a method that he remembered reading in one of his books. While it was a little complicated and just a little bit dangerous, this method guaranteed an awakening of the highest quality.

Did 'Awakenings' have qualities? Of course, they did! A high-quality awakening would produce a high-quality Core, the benefits of which were; increased storage, increased flow speed, increased refining speed, and many, many more!

Basically, a high-quality Core was akin to a high-quality engine. The better the engine, the better the vehicle and the longer the journey.

Wuzhi, who had used a secret, esoteric 'awakening' art that he had remembered reading once, guaranteed the awakening of the highest-quality Core within the emperor.

'That book did warn about using this art on 'faint-hearted' people –whatever that means— for failure would result in grim consequences,' Wuzhi thought to himself. Looking at the young emperor whose expressions grew more vivid, the more he played with his Core, Wuzhi continued. 'Fortunately, the process ended without any problems. The emperor's aura has also significantly changed, losing its previous gloom and doom.'

While Wuzhi could have taken the safer path and guaranteed an effortless awakening, albeit at the cost of a lower-quality Core, and simply raised the Core's quality at a later date with the aid of some heavenly treasures and earthly elixirs, the 'scholar' within him refused to let go of this opportunity to test a seldom tested method.

All in all, it was a good result. And as they said, 'all's well that ends well.'

Returning to the topic before the tangent; Wuzhi was still new to this teaching business. He possessed an ocean's worth of scholarly wisdom but less than a glass' worth of practical wisdom.

While he intended to be a good teacher to the emperor, it was going to be a long process that came with a lot of trial and error.

Of the two teachers that Wuzhi had possessed, his mother and teacher respectively, his mother never taught him anything more than the shallowest of subjects while his teacher's philosophy had been thus; 'get in the library, read the books, figure stuff out yourself.'

It helped that Wuzhi was born with superior intelligence, for if it were not for that, he could not imagine how anybody could learn anything following his teacher's philosophy.

It also led him to question. 'Did Teacher intentionally suffer in the name of teaching? Now that I recall, I do remember finding him outside the library door sometimes, clutching onto his stomach and rolling around on the floor with laughter. And every single one of those times, I remember failing in the activation of a [Path Technique] or incorrectly comprehending something, only to backtrack to the very start and start all over again!'

Wuzhi's ponders allowed him to realize a shocking truth. 'Was my Teacher a sadist? Did he enjoy watching me suffer?'

Enemies, or at least those that are still alive, of the Heaven Scheming Devil will raise both their hands and legs in agreement- should they be privy to Wuzhi's current thoughts.

This involuntary discovery caused Wuzhi to grit his teeth. He once more vowed to himself. 'I swear, once I return to my teacher's manor, I shall take the paintings, the vases, AND some of his 'artbooks' that he hides behind the hidden wall inside the library, and sell them all! Not only will I earn a pretty penny but I can also watch Teacher cry as he loses those precious 'collectables!'

A sinister scheme brewed within Wuzhi's mind as a wicked smile formed on his face. Alexandros, who had caught sight of his wicked smile, instinctively shivered with fright and curled himself to make his presence less noticeable.

And like that, the emperor, his recently-hired teacher, and the retinue of Royal Guards, or at least the remains of it, travelled to the capital.

Two weeks later, they arrived at their destination.

---

The capital city, and the birthplace of the young emperor, was a large, beautiful city called Caroxtel. It was situated within a valley and was surrounded by lush mountains. An azure, freshwater lake occupied the centre of the valley.

Caroxtel City was the ancestral homeland of the Centinni Family. Its natural features not only made it a civilisation hotspot but also fortified the city in a way that was near-impossible for it to be sieged by its enemies. Centuries of city planning have turned this beautiful city into a mega fortress like none other.

After having faced many trials and tribulations, the boy emperor, Alexandros Centinni the Twelfth, finally returned to his capital in safety. He was accompanied by half a dozen of the bravest, most loyal guards in his country and his newly-hired teacher, a young scholar named Wuzhi.

Seated inside the carriage, Wuzhi peered at the two stone gates, carved out of the very mountains, leading into the capital city. The gates, whose height and width escaped the sights of the onlookers, were embellished with the full-figure portrait of a brawny, bearded man carrying a large axe and dressed in complete kingly attire; he was Alexandros Centinni the First.

Having sent word prior, the massive fortress gates did not stay closed during the boy emperor's arrival. A large party of ministers, nobles, and soldiers eagerly awaited outside the gates in a bid to receive their emperor.

Bands played tunes, soldiers marched with solemnity, nobles waited with dignity, and the commoners cheered with flowers. Today would mark their first meeting with the recently-crowned boy emperor.

To say that the expectation placed on Alexandros were high, would be an understatement.

The carriage came to stop and the retinue of Royal Guards lined up on their sides of the door. The Royal Guard Captain, an older gent named Matthias, stood closest to the carriage doors and softly whispered.

"Your Royal Eminence, we have arrived. Your loyal subjects await your presence."

Alexandros received his words. The young emperor realised that this was his cue to reveal himself before his future subjects in all his dignity.

They said that 'first impressions' make or break relationships. Alexandros' future, and that of the currently-fragmented South Aislan Empire, would depend on this meeting.

Should Alexandros display himself as a capable monarch worth following, the Centinni Family might have a chance to reclaim their seat as the Hegemon of the continent. However, should he present himself as a naïve, ignorant youth who knows nothing, the future of the Imperial Family and their faction would be doomed from the get-go.

And as if the pressure bearing down on him wasn't already burdening enough, Alexandros' young age and even younger appearance actively worked in his disfavour. After all, who would want to place their lives, and that of their clansmen, in the hands of some brat?

Being an intelligent person, Alexandros clearly understood all of this. And this realisation, only caused him to feel more nervous and unsettled.

The boy emperor's milk-white face turned even paler. His back became weak from the invisible burden and the insides of his hands became clammy and wet. Alexandros' felt his small heart to be both rampant and still; it was a strange feeling.

Just as he felt the insides of his gut threatening to make an appearance outside, the boy emperor felt a warm hand pat his back.

Turning his head, he caught sight of Wuzhi's ever-present staid smile. It hung as even and warm as ever.

"Your Majesty," Wuzhi started. "Very few men are born with the opportunity to be a king. Even fewer succeed in becoming a king. None excel in kingship during their lifetimes."

"So, it is fine," he smiled, encouragingly. "It is alright to be a little afraid. It is alright to be a little clumsy. It is alright to be a little imperfect."

"What those people outside are expecting to see, isn't a perfect ruler that can do no wrong. Not at all," Wuzhi shook his head in denial. "Rather, what they 'want' to see is a ruler who can lead them out of this calamity. A ruler who can restore their lost dignity, pick up their strewn honour, and reclaim their stolen pride!"

Peering deep into the young boy's eyes, Wuzhi resoundingly asked. "Tell me, your majesty. Can you be such a ruler?"

The gorgeous, citrine-eyed boy stood dazedly for a few seconds.

The lightless depths of his eyes soon lit up as a confident smile appeared on his lips. Facing Wuzhi with a grin that bordered on arrogance, Alexandros resoundingly declared. "I don't know."

His words were in direct contrast to his confident expression.

"But I shall try!"

Wuzhi gave him a smile of approval. His expectations were answered by the boy, and to such an extent that it even surprised the young scholar.

Removing his hands from the emperor's back, he spoke. "Then begin, your majesty. This servant shall eagerly watch you from behind."

Alexandros did not even care to acknowledge Wuzhi's words as he turned around. The boy emperor breathed in deeply, straightened his back and tidied his clothes. He then affixed his gaze on the closed carriage doors, before extending his hand and placing it on the handle.

With a single motion, Alexandros threw open the carriage doors. His short legs took a small but infinitely firm step, stepping down from the carriage and into the earth below.

He then faced the tens of thousands of gazes pouring towards him from all around and unflinchingly declared. "My name is Alexandros Centinni the Twelfth. And henceforth, I shall be your new…"

"… Emperor!"

Alexandros' voice contained within it, a fire that did not exist before; a 'fire' that had been alighted Wuzhi's words and near-death experience from the Core's awakening.

It was the 'fire' of ambition.