Night of the Broken Gliph

Lam Ming Sum sat on the long bench with an odd-looking plate of food in hand. Next to her was an elderly man looking at her with a weird expression. He knew she was a bubbly girl that brought smiles to others, and it was rare to see her unhappy.8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5gHNrwYZ6 維尼

It’s unlike her. That boy’s departure might be why. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOsnR6hH7z 維尼

As the core of South Imperial City, he could sense everything happening in South Imperial City as long as he wished. The thought of this made him probe Lam Ming Sum. “So… what dish is this?” 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6LRJmp2ni 維尼

“Mhmm… Some fish liver I barbecued” Lam Ming Sum replied subconsciously after hearing him.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb53l9IQbg 維尼

“Can I have some?” the man continued.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡJI2mVtnaH2 維尼

“Sure.” Lam Ming Sum nodded and gave the man her plate. The man took a closer look at the charred meat sitting on the plate which looked completely inedible, but the memories of the heavenly flavours Lam Ming Sum had created previously convinced him to give it a try. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYhVvgBJjG 維尼

And indeed, Old Ngai wasn’t disappointed. He spat out the meat and coughed so loudly that he suspected his life of several centuries would end in her hands, or her cooking to be specific. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxQnH4m6IZ 維尼

However, the culprit was still staring at the sky with sadness in her eyes. “Who in this palace will accompany me now that brother Chin-Kee has left?” She sighed.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2TS7dfNPW 維尼

Old Ngai’s face turned red as a brick once he heard this. I nearly died to your cooking, and you’re still thinking of that boy!  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpBtrNhLmZ 維尼

“Eh?” Suddenly, Old Ngai looked up. Lam Ming Sum looked up as well, but she didn’t see anything.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡP51aXVvf2v 維尼

When she turned back towards Old Ngai, he had already vanished.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDLUUswWi7 維尼

At Wandering Son’s Lake residence, a figure suddenly appeared before Suen Ling and Kam Chin Kee could get into a fight.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡwonqqQmvUl 維尼

The piece of jade that Suen Ling crushed was a rare jade that could be counted on one hand. One each for Emperor Lam and his shadow, another two for Lam Zaa and Yam Chui Ying, and the same went for Lam Ming Sum and Kan Hang, as well as Lam Mei Mei and Suen Ling. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgpqiIqwYv 維尼

The jade represented absolute safety within South Imperial City. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjw5yC75FL 維尼

The figure appeared with fog surrounding him as if he appeared from a painting. Old Ngai scanned his surroundings before speaking, “What’s going on?” 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r8m0rR9pi 維尼

“That bald bastard tried to assassinate me! Arrest him and throw him in prison!” Lam Mei Mei screeched. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc5RPAd6tK 維尼

But who was Old Ngai? He immediately understood the situation after seeing Kam Chin Kee hiding Chui Yim from them. Unable to believe that he was summoned here because of this, he turned to Lam Mei Mei, both stunned and displeased.8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtnyWneNNU 維尼

“So this is what you called me here for?” 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcGxWNme1R 維尼

Lam Mei Mei scowled. She knew nothing about the jade that Suen Ling had just crushed and Old Ngai. Her father only told them to crush it if their life was in danger. Maybe only Lam Zaa, the crown prince, would have some knowledge of Old Ngai. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbWviRGDf2 維尼

Old Ngai’s face was as black as charcoal, just like the charred meat he had just eaten; the lingering bitterness in his mouth made it impossible for Old Ngai to forget the atrocious dish.8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVVRkIiqXi 維尼

“Nonsense!” He waved his hands, a white light covering the carriage with Lam Mei Mei and Suen Ling inside. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JiK15LYhq 維尼

The next second, the light dimmed, and everything within the light had. Old Ngai took a meaningful look at Chui Yim and Kam Chin Kee before taking a single step and disappearing into thin air. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16Y497nAPG 維尼

Kam Chin Kee had a heavy look. Old Ngai’s aura felt invincible to him; he wouldn’t be able to resist even with everything he had. He learned much about the palace from the books in the Sacred Scripture Pavilion. Within all the books, the Lam dynasty’s history books talked about the legend of a mysterious, powerful cultivator who lived in the palace.8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡznQxZhbCSD 維尼

That should be him…8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAk1X2xMtC 維尼

“Hey Kam Boy, you’re such a bastard! Look how your love debt came all the way here. She’s still so young! How could you, who’s living his second life, lay your hands on her when you’re old enough to be her grandfather!” 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbovYzQgfV 維尼

“Shut up! Didn’t you say you wanted food? Let’s go!” Kam Chin Kee’s head throbbed as he huffed.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡisxOZnC3v0 維尼

“Oh my god… Look how unrepentant you are! I will change you to become a better person… Love is the root of all evil…” Chui Yim rambled on as he walked towards the main street with Kam Chin Kee as if they hadn’t just been at death’s doorstep. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoumUK56pi 維尼

Chui Yim would have blown his top if it was anyone else. But since it was Kam Chin Kee, he didn’t blame him. They might not be related by blood, but their relationship was thicker than that.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDfjYlqxAw 維尼

Evergreen Palace, Hall of Affairs.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGrYjvEgle 維尼

Chui Yi was here with Lam Chun today.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bOGPz4kzN 維尼

“Something is going on in Southary,” Chui Yi stated slowly. He looked much younger than his actual age, being the old, grand chancellor. Despite not having the aptitude for cultivating, the precious ingredients he consumed allowed him to live longer than any other ordinary person could.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWeQ5ZXS5q 維尼

The word Southary made Lam Chun raise his eyebrows. His thin brows were like the weather, a frown was like a storm, and a smile was like a summer’s day.    8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lOiQfEWRz 維尼

“What’s wrong?”  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOEz5ZJMli 維尼

“I heard he’s preparing to come to South Imperial City to meet Your Majesty.” Chui Yi chuckled. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHctcArp9c 維尼

“It’s been so long; why the persistence?” Lam Chun shook his head.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs2SahwE8p 維尼

“Maybe, we should’ve uprooted him ages ago.” Chui Yim wore a meaningful smile on his face.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpr3rSZG8n 維尼

“How do we do that? There’s no need to force each other into a difficult position, and it’s better to keep things balanced…”8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm6clTWPTf 維尼

“Your Majesty, he’s the one overstepping the boundary now.” Chui Yi cut him off. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlrCxTcQVd 維尼

Lam Chun was left speechless at his responses. Just as both parties were silent, an energliph wave came from the outside.   8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFcVBAN50u 維尼

The guard looked around nervously, but he was taken aback when he saw Lam Mei Mei and Suen Ling. “Your Highness Mei Mei?” 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ylKYYsd5f 維尼

Very Soon, another figure stepped out of the air right behind them.   8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡxe5Q4TzKvL 維尼

“Lam Chun, meet me outside.” The voice turned into a thin string, passing through the Hall of Affairs into only Lam Chun’s ear.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHPKbh0TZP 維尼

Lam Chun was badly shocked. What could have alerted him?  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mFwcLTZDk 維尼

With that, he hurried out as Chui Yi followed. Exiting the Hall of Affairs, they were greeted by two teenage girls and a carriage. The beast pulling the carriage seemed dizzy as it struggled to stand.  8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgfv0fB9NV 維尼

An old man stood beside the carriage calmly as he stared at Lam Chun with his mouth slightly open. His mouth moved without a sound as his voice travelled directly into Lam Chun’s ears.8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93fQ0yF0jL 維尼

“Your dear daughter summoned me because she was throwing a fit in South Imperial City. Please teach her some manners; it would take God’s blessing for her to behave half as well as your other daughter.” With that, the old man waved his sleeves and vanished. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡurBYZYfr6A 維尼

“Sorry for the trouble, Old Ngai.” Lam Chun respectfully bowed towards the space where Old Ngai had vanished from, while Lam Mei Mei and Suen Ling’s faces turned as pale as the moon. They would be brainless if they still couldn’t tell how much trouble they had caused. 8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡd836OfKnSp 維尼

8964 copyright protection100ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeV6oe1LEC 維尼