Night of the Broken Gliph

There weren’t many who could enter the World Observatory Hall to visit His Majesty. 

 Outside the hall stood a eunuch awaiting Kam Chin Kee’s arrival. The eunuch was none other than the famed palace eunuch, Lau Fa Ming. He stared at Kam Chin Kee with a cold and disdainful look. To him, Kam Chin Kee was just an orphan, undeserving of life in the palace. 

Moreover, he disliked Kam Chin Kee’s odd personality, so Lau Fa Ming shouted at him, “His Majesty has already spent five minutes waiting; five precious minutes that he could have used for his heavy workload, so hurry up!” 

Kam Chin Kee only flashed him a smile in reply and walked into the hall silently.

“A dog threatening people using the strength of its master,” Kam Chin Kee commented lightly as he passed Lau Fa Ming. 

“You…” Lau Fa Ming flared up on hearing Kam Chin Kee, his energliph starting to circulate. 

“Step back, Eunuch Lau.” 

A strict voice rang out, Lau Fa Ming's imposing manner vanishing as he left with a bow. “Yes, Your Majesty.” 

He dared not raise his head even after he left the hall, closing the door silently, leaving only Kam Chin Kee and Lam Chun in the hall. 

A figure sat at a normal study table with a huge pile of memorials and a pot of tea. Just like what Lau Fa Ming said, the emperor did stop his work to await Kam Chin Kee. 

Lam Chun was a skinny man. His build was hidden beneath his dark blue robe, making him look even skinnier as if he were a scholar. However, the way he carried himself was like he was on top of a mountain, looking down on the world. 

After all, he was the emperor of the South. 

“Greetings, Your Majesty.” Kam Chin Kee nodded slightly. He didn’t bow or lower his head. 

“What’s your request?” Lam Chun stared at Kam Chin Kee emotionlessly. 

“I want a slot in the Cloud Palace’s outer sect,” Kam Chin Kee replied without beating around the bush. 

“Approved.” 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” 

Kam Chin Kee left with a nod as if he was here just to make his request, as if the hall was somewhere to avoid. A few seconds after Lau Fa Ming shut the door, Kam Chin Kee opened it, revealing his  smiling face. He left while ignoring Lau Fa Ming’s glare. 

Lam Chun watched Kam Chin Kee leave calmly. He never really understood this boy whom he raised. Despite raising him, Kam Chin Kee insisted on keeping the Kam surname, so Lam Chun never forced him to change it. But his request for a slot in the Cloud Palace’s outer sect was…

It was a precious slot to most, but not the imperial family. 

Does he want to compete for a spot in the Cloud Palace? 

Lam Chun shook his thoughts away instantly. He was aware of the strict requirements to enter the Cloud Palace, regardless of a person’s identity as a Southerner or Northerner. One needed to be a genius amongst geniuses to even participate in the enrollment. Imagine how difficult it was to be chosen? 

He really doesn’t know where he stands, huh? 

Very soon, the matter left Lam Chun’s mind. He was emperor of the South, and much more work was awaiting him; this small incident was enough to warrant his interest but not his full attention. 

His cold expression returned as he put the tea aside to continue picking up, reading and replying to the various memorials.

Keeping this matter a secret was nigh impossible. 

Every time the Cloud Palace’s enrolment took place, it was a grand affair. Anyone who successfully became a Cloud Palace disciple would become a fearsome expert. If not for that the Cloud Palace stayed out of worldly affairs, they’d have a shocking influence on the world. 

This was why they were such a mysterious and respected organisation. 

Thus, some were surprised to hear Kam Chin Kee’s request; others also found it normal. Who didn’t want a place in the legendary Cloud Palace?  

But most of them thought that Kam Chin Kee was overestimating himself. He was just a nameless orphan that survived a village massacre allowed to stay in the palace thanks to his luck. What made him believe that he was qualified? Even Lam Chun was only a disciple of Cloud Palace’s outer sect in his youth! 

And Kam Chin Kee hoped to get in successfully?  

In the Chor mansion,. Chor Shing Chit announced, “I want a slot in the Cloud Palace’s outer sect.”

 His words invoked a smile from Chor Huet Zhin. “For young friend Chui, am I right?” 

“No. The slots are limited.” Chor Chong Hoi cut him off immediately. “Every slot is precious, and besides the imperial family, there’s only one slot for our clan. How can we give it to a non-Chor Clan member?” 

Chor Shing Chit frowned. Chor Chong Hoi might be someone his father valued, but he still didn’t like him. “Does the clan have any talent more worthy of this slot?” 

“Of course, we have more than thirty cultivators who have reached the one-chambered stage…”

On the other hand, Chor Chong Hoi might now have placed all his energy into supporting Chor Chun Ping, but he did not fancy the boy who left the clan twenty years ago. Sadly, he was cut off coldly by Chor Shing Chit. 

“Are any of them stronger than the younger me?” 

The main hall was so silent that one could hear a pin drop after Chor Shing Chit’s comment. 

The only other talent that could compete with Chor Shing Chit in this era was Chor Huet Zhin, his grandfather. Even then, Chor Huet Zhin was less talented than Chor Shing Chit. He only reached where he was today because of his perseverance and hard work at the Bloody War Frontier. 

“Even I wasn’t selected. Are you guys still unclear about the Cloud Palace’s requirements? They aren’t looking for geniuses, but extraordinary talents like… Wat Suen of my generation!” 

The name Wat Suen made everyone in the hall wear a complicated expression. Back then, Wat Suen came with two old wooden crutches and a guqin. She played a simple piece and ended up becoming the Fifth teacher today. 

Be it cultivation or strength, she might not have been Chor Shing Chit’s opponent back then. But she was still selected anyway.