Night of the Broken Gliph

“The owner is selling this shop for eight hundred thousand silver taels, and it’s non-negotiable. Renting isn’t worth it as it costs two hundred thousand silver taels monthly.” 

Eight hundred thousand!? I barely loaned a million taels from old man Chor after so much trouble, and half of that is meant to be paid to the Cloud Palace for the first term! Even if I rent this place, I’ll still need to refurbish it, buy various forging equipment… All that costs money! Even after buying the equipment, with my current bodily condition, I don’t think I can earn enough school fees for the second term in time…

Chui Yim’s facial expression matched his thoughts, frowning and gritting his teeth repeatedly. 

This made Tse On laugh. “Little brother Chui, money is something the Tse Clan doesn’t lack…” But a small hand blocked his face immediately as he spoke.

“No need, uncle Tse. I’ve just borrowed a huge sum and don’t intend to spend my entire life paying back debts. Are there any other shops I can choose from?” 

 “Of course, just come with me, little brother.” Tse On smiled without insisting. 

Tse On drove the night wolf coach around South Imperial City. They visited four shops, but Chui Yim had yet to find one he was pleased with. 

As evening cast her dusky gown, South Imperial City turned orange with the setting sun. Tse On alighted the coach with Chui Yim behind him, arriving at a small lake. Yes, a small lake within the city! 

Chui Yim wasn’t surprised for too long as he viewed the South Imperial City as its own city-state. Despite not having a protective formation that maintained the weather year-round like the Evergreen Palace, the chillness and heavy snow in the city was still reduced greatly. 

It was a gorgeous scenery; the lake glistened under the setting sun as fine snowflakes fell. 

“This is the Wandering Son’s Lake,” Tse On introduced as he enjoyed the scenery. “It’s named as such because it’s a tributary of the Mother River. Its water passes through several water sources of the South Imperial City. Of course, the city has multiple other lakes too. 

“This location is quite far from the Evergreen Palace and most clans, thus it isn’t a crowded area. Most shops here are inns, restaurants and calligraphy shops. There are hardly any weapon shops or auctions selling gliph-related provisions.”  

They arrived at a courtyard as Tse On continued his introduction of the surrounding area to Chui Yim. It was a small courtyard with two messy willow trees at the side of the door, showing that it was unmaintained. The place was filled with weeds that covered the entrance. 

“Even so, this is a comfortable place with beautiful scenery, so it’s not cheap either. However, the owner of this place is my friend, and since he’s selling it urgently, it’s now three hundred thousand taels with the discount.” 

Chui Yim didn’t agree immediately. He looked around first instead, following the Tse Clan’s servant who pushed open the weed-covered door. The group entered, welcomed by a spacious place with a huge living area, a garden, and two side courtyards. Chui Yim thought hard about whether the place was worth it.

“Besides being cheap, there’s another advantage to this shop,” Tse On spoke after watching him for some time. “This place is only a ten-minute walk from the Cloud Palace.”

Chui Yim was dumbfounded. 

“Isn’t that where little brother Chui will be studying? The Cloud Palace’s outer sect? It’s not far from here, and it’ll be convenient for you.” 

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Chui Yim patted his bald head. “I’ll take it!” 

  “Hahaha! Great!” 

Evergreen Palace’s World Observatory Hall. 

The golden robe was slightly too large for Lam Chun’s skinny frame, making it seem like it was casually draped over his shoulder. Even so, he looked like a terrifying leader, a hungry tiger able to bite any prey, rather than a lean middle-aged man. 

“His Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t object to Kam Chin Kee entering the Cloud Palace’s outer sect, but he did ask if Princess Ming Sum would be entering the Cloud Palace outer sect, as well as a teenager named Chui Yim.”

Lam Chun wore a serious expression while listening to the reports being brought to him. “Oh?” Lam Chun continued reading his papers while causally replying simultaneously. It was like he was multitasking. “It’s good that Zaa cares about his younger sisters, but who is this Chui Yim?” 

Immediately, Lam Chun got a reply.

“The first youth that the Crown Prince gave his badge to. The youth is indeed extraordinary, skilled in both alchemy and medicine. He is Doctor Odd Ping Chi’s only direct disciple and the champion of the Outstanding Talent Competition.” 

“Since the Crown Prince’s badge is his, let him use it as he likes,” Lam Chun said, not taking the matter to heart. He had to care about the entire world, so he only remembered important matters of the world. This matter was too trivial for him to care about. 

He finally placed the brush down and looked up. “Any news on the necrogliphism cultivator that appeared in Southern Ping?” he asked solemnly.

The countless memorials on his table were on every important matter that happened in the world, while the brush in his hand was like the hand of God that decided how things would proceed. 

Anything that could distract Lam Chun from the truly important matters was something with great significance.

And necrogliphsm was one of them. 

In front of him stood a middle-aged man dressed in black. It was none other than Lam Chun’s new shadow. “Reporting to Your Majesty. Necrogliphism cultivators rebel against the world’s natural order by controlling the dead. As a result, they turn into a puddle of black liquid immediately after their death. No matter how fast the Southern Ping cultivators were, they only managed to preserve the cultivator’s arm… it’s difficult to find their operating base with just that arm.” 

“Look through everything thoroughly and don’t miss anything. Necrogliphism has stayed hidden for thousands of years and only reappeared recently. I feel like the world will soon be turned upside down.” Lam Chun shook his head. 

 “Yes, Your Majesty.” 

“Okay, you may leave and wait for me at the door.” 

Wait for him at the door? The shadow was confused by Lam Chun’s instructions, but he could only stand outside the World Observatory Hall obediently. He was aware of his identity. Unlike Kan Hang, who was like Lam Chun’s brother, he was just a servant, and would only ever be his servant. 

Creak. 

Lam Chun pushed the door open and walked out, his dark blue hair tied neatly at the back of his head. What was so striking about the Lam imperial family was their dark blue hair which represented their status. The Lam family members never allowed others to touch their hair casually, like how only Lam Chun’s late mother, the current empress Lee Fei Yin and Sit Ting had the right to touch his hair. 

“Your Majesty, do you need transport?” Looking at how Lam Chun poised himself, his shadow probed. 

“Of course. I’m going to meet my old friend one last time,” Lam Chun said as sorrow swam in his eyes.