Immortal Paladin

047 The Grand Feast

047 The Grand Feast

The Grand Feast was in full swing. Laughter, music, and the rhythmic beat of festival drums filled the air, seeping into the manor like an unstoppable tide. From the window, I could see dragons—long, twisting constructs of silk and light—dancing through the streets, weaving between glowing lanterns. By the gates, food stalls displayed their finest dishes, their aroma rich enough to make even the most disciplined cultivators falter.

And yet, I had no time to indulge.

I moved deeper into the estate, navigating past servants and guests, searching for Ren Jin’s office. Asking for directions seemed like the quickest way, but I had to be careful. Some people recognized me immediately, whispering to their companions, while others just gave vague gestures and went on with their business.

"Excuse me," I stopped a passing attendant. "Do you know where I can find His Highness' office?"

The man blinked, clearly surprised. "Ah, Lord Ren Jin? It should be deeper inside, past the second courtyard."

I thanked him and followed his instructions.

The next person I asked, a guard, narrowed his eyes. "What business do you have?"

"Official business," I said vaguely.

He looked unimpressed but pointed me further down the hall.

Eventually, after a few more inquiries, I arrived at the office area. The hall was quieter here, away from the festivities. A lone figure stood by the door—a battle-ready woman in pristine armor, her posture rigid and unmoving.

Chief Enforcer Liang Na.

Her sharp eyes flicked toward me as I approached, her hand resting lightly on the pommel of her sword. I stopped a respectful distance away.

"Chief Enforcer," I greeted.

She inclined her head slightly. "State your purpose."

"I'm here to see Ren Jin."

She studied me for a moment before speaking again, her voice level. "Is he expecting you?"

I scratched my cheek. "I doubt it, but it’s important."

She didn't move immediately, assessing me like one would a particularly suspicious guest. Then, without a word, she turned and knocked on the door.

There was something about Liang Na that always felt... off. Not in a sinister way, but in a way that made it hard to believe she was just a Chief Enforcer. She was too composed, too unreadable, like nothing in the world could shake her. Even now, as she pushed the door open at Ren Jin’s permission, her movements were measured and effortless.

Inside, Ren Jin stood from his seat and offered a martial artist’s greeting, fist to palm. I returned the gesture as he sat back down and gestured for me to do the same.

"I owe you an apology," he said. "The imperial summons—I didn't see it coming. Otherwise, I would have given you a heads-up."

I leaned back in my seat. "Then I take it you have no say in this?"

Ren Jin exhaled through his nose, looking just a little weary. "The decree came directly from the Emperor. Even if I had known, I doubt I could have stopped it."

I clicked my tongue. "Can’t you tell him I won’t be going?"

He sighed, rubbing his temple. "That would be... incredibly difficult. And highly unwise."

"Unwise?"

Ren Jin gave me a flat look. "It's an imperial decree, not an invitation you can casually decline. Even if the tone was polite, it carries the weight of the Empire. If you refuse, it won’t just disappear. You’ll be making a statement—one the court won’t take lightly."

That was troubling. I frowned. "Do you have any idea why he’s inviting me?"

He hesitated. Then, almost reluctantly, he said, "I might have been hasty in sending my report about the Great Enemy."

I blinked. "Hasty how?"

Ren Jin leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "The Emperor has been searching for signs of the Great Enemy for years. My report confirmed that the threat has resurfaced. You, Da Wei, are one of the few people to have fought it directly and lived to tell the tale."

I stared at him. "So you're saying this is about that?"

Ren Jin nodded. "I can't be sure, but it’s likely. The Emperor takes these matters seriously. He might want to hear your firsthand account. Or..." He trailed off.

"Or?"

Ren Jin met my gaze. "Or he might have something else in mind."

I sat there, turning the thought over in my head. The Emperor knew about the existence of the Great Enemy. More than that, he even used the same denotation I would have used in my mother tongue. That was... unsettling.

I looked at Ren Jin. "How long have you known about the Great Enemy?"

Ren Jin tapped his fingers on the desk. "Not long."

"How much do you know about them?"

Vanished civilizations? Probably Heaven. Erasing entire kingdoms with no trace left behind? That reeked of divine meddling.

Immortals going insane and waging war? Yeah, that had Eldritch written all over it. The kind of madness that didn't come from internal deviation but from something outside the system.

And now, Xianxia Land was about to get the demon experience.

The pattern was obvious. Every few centuries, the Great Enemy made its move, and every time, it failed. The world still stood. The world endured. The Empire still ruled. The major sects still existed.

Props to the denizens of this world for holding their ground... but why? Why did the Great Enemy keep failing? Were they being repelled by something stronger, or was I just misreading the signs?

I rubbed my temples, then looked up at Ren Jin. "What’s going to happen to Yellow Dragon City?"

Ren Jin leaned back in his chair. "It depends. With the demon out of the picture, the city will stabilize. The city won’t fall into chaos, if that’s what you’re worried about."

I nodded. That was one less thing to think about. "And you?"

He smirked. "I’m a prince, a governor, and I this is basically my home. I will probably raise funds to empower the military and prepare for the Great Enemy."

"Figures." I exhaled and leaned forward. "I’m thinking of heading to the main continent. Any advice?"

Ren Jin’s smirk faded. "You’ll find better cultivation techniques there, but you’ll also find more competition. Stronger sects, stronger cultivators, and politics more cutthroat than you can imagine."

I expected as much. "And the Emperor? How should I treat him?"

Ren Jin studied me for a moment before answering. "Carefully."

"That’s vague."

"It’s the best advice I can give you." He leaned forward, voice lowering slightly. "You’re an outsider, Da Wei. You might have helped the city, but that doesn’t mean the Empire trusts you. The Emperor inviting you to tea is already a rare gesture. If you insult him or refuse, you’ll be making an enemy you cannot afford to make."

I sighed. "So basically, smile, bow, and try not to piss him off."

"More or less."

"And the Imperial Court?"

Ren Jin’s lips curled into a knowing smile. "A den of dragons. If you’re lucky, they’ll ignore you. If you’re unlucky, they’ll see you as a threat."

Great. Just what I needed.

I leaned back in my chair, processing everything. The main continent was a bigger stage, a more dangerous one. But if I wanted answers—and if I wanted to get stronger—I had no choice but to go.

"I think I’ll join the auction," I said, leaning back in my chair.

Ren Jin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I’m curious," I admitted. "Thee demon came all the way here and risked exposing himself. He must’ve wanted something really badly. I want to know what it was."

Ren Jin tapped his fingers on the desk, considering my words. "That’s not a bad idea. The auction is closed-door, but with your current status and my word, getting in shouldn’t be a problem. I will send someone to you if it comes to it."

I nodded. "Might as well see what’s so special."

"Just be careful," he said. Ren Jin gave me a knowing look. "Try not to cause a scene."

"Duly noted," I said, standing up. "What do you take me for, Lord Governor?"

"A walking disaster," he replied dryly.

I didn’t dignify that with a response.

Stepping out of the office, I took a deep breath. The air smelled of roasted meats, spiced wines, and incense, all blending into a festival’s chaos. The Grand Feast was in full swing.

From the manor window, I could see dragons—puppeted by skilled performers—twisting and turning in the streets below, accompanied by the rhythmic pounding of war drums. Near the gates, long tables overflowed with food, distributed freely to the people. A group of musicians played a lively tune, their instruments ringing above the crowd’s laughter and chatter.

Yellow Dragon City was alive.

And soon, I’d be leaving it behind.

The thought sat oddly in my chest. I never planned to stay here long, but now that my time was running out, I felt a strange reluctance. Maybe it was because this was the first place where I’d really lived in this world—fought battles, made connections, and gotten dragged into problems way beyond my intent.

Or maybe I just liked the food.

Either way, I decided I might as well enjoy the little time I had left here.

I started walking, letting the energy of the festival carry me. Somewhere in this city, the auction would take place. Somewhere among the treasures being sold, I’d find the answer to what Brukhelm had been searching for.

And if it turned out to be something important... well.

I’d make sure it didn’t fall into the wrong hands.