Castle of Black Iron

Xuanyuan Hill was a time-honored and vigorous city.

This city could bring light to humans. Meanwhile, it was silently invaded by the invisible dark.

In the light and the dark, everything in this city became three-dimensional instead of monotonous.

There were peach trees on both sides of many roads in Xuanyuan Hill. Most of them were old peach trees. With twisted trunks, they looked especially beautiful. Although fluorescence of peach flowers had passed, Zhang Tie could imagine the grand scenery when those peach flowers were in full bloom each year.

Uncle Zhong said that when the peach flowers were in full bloom in each March or April, Xuanyuan Hill looked most beautiful. If one looked at it from the sky, one would find that the entire Xuanyuan Hill was as brilliant and beautiful as fire in that period.

It was said that Emperor Xuanyuan met the mother of the crown prince today in the peach woods when he was young and fell in love with each other. Therefore, Emperor Xuanyuan planted many peach trees in Xuanyuan Hill.

It was a romantic love story among the people. Zhang Tie would believe in this story if it were before; however, when he heard it today, Zhang Tie doubted about this story very much. Because he knew that many so-called non-governmental legends were of deep significance, especially those about the current ruler. This love story was probably fabricated by someone. As long as this love story was spread among the people, the peach trees in Xuanyuan Hill almost meant the unshakable position of the crown prince in the east imperial palace.

People’s heart was unfathomable.

When he thought about the lackeys of Heavens Church and demons in this magnificent city and looked at those time-honored buildings and peach trees which accounted for the greater part of the city, Zhang Tie felt complex inside.

’Will this place still be covered with peach flowers in full bloom in the spring wind after this holy war?’ Zhang Tie wondered because holy wars usually ended those beautiful and magnificent cities.

...

When their fleet arrived at the manor, all the guards and servants were welcoming them in two rows outside the gate of the manor.

There were over 1,000 guest rooms in this private manor. Previously, Lord Guangnan always arrived at Xuanyuan Hill, followed by many servants and guards. Therefore, it was easy for them to receive Zhang Tie and his disciples.

Zhang Tie was arranged to rest in a guest room of the main manor. Bai Suxian had her own suites there. Zhang Tie’s disciples were arranged to rest in the subordinate manor.

After coming to Bai Clan’s manor, Uncle Zhong led Zhang Tie to his own guest room. Bai Suxian returned to her bedroom. She was going to change a new set of clothes and dress herself up for the supper as she usually did at home as a princess.

Zhang Tie’s room was very considerate and luxurious. No matter how scrupulous a person was, he would not find any minor fault in this room, not to mention Zhang Tie who was not censorious.

”Childe Cui, are you satisfied with this room?”

”Hoho, I’m very satisfied with it, thank you so much, Uncle Zhong!”

”Feel like home, feel like home!” Uncle Zhong replied. When Uncle Zhong saw Zhang Tie for the first time, he found Zhang Tie was pleasing. Now, Uncle Zhong felt Bai Suxian was discerning. A powerful earth knight could match the princess of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion pretty well. Therefore, Uncle Zhong almost treated Zhang Tie as the son-in-law in Lord Guangnan’s Mansion as he became more genial, ”Just tell me if you need anything. Don’t behave pretentiously in front of your Uncle Zhong!”

”Sure!” Zhang Tie nodded as he looked around the room, ”Is there a map of Xuanyuan Hill? As it’s my first time to visit Xuanyuan Hill, I don’t know about it very well. I want to look around Xuanyuan Hill these days!”

”Map? Yes, we have. I will have someone bring it to you after a while!”

”Thanks, Uncle Zhong, by the way, please have someone call Liu Xing to my room!”

...

Uncle Zhong soon left Zhang Tie’s room after telling Zhang Tie about the supper time. When he left the room, he even closed the door from outside. At the sight of Uncle Zhong’s behaviors, outsiders might think that he was a steward of Lord Guangnan’s Mansion; who could imagine that he was a knight.

In Xuanyuan Hill, for the safety of Emperor Xuanyuan, only sage-level knights could fly in the sky. As a result, black iron knights became very average here. After hiding their qi, any commoner in the street might have a terrifying background in Xuanyuan Hill.

Standing in the balcony of his suite, Zhang Tie looked outside. Two manors as magnificent and large as the manor of Lord Guangnan neighbored the latter with peach woods in between. One of them had a classic Hua castle; the other manor looked very boisterous with a high traffic flow. Although Zhang Tie didn’t know about the masters and clans of the two manors, he knew that their manors must have a great background in Xuanyuan Hill like that of Lord Guangnan.

Zhang Tie watched the undulating pavilions and edifices in the distance while a thought occurred, ’Where’s the residence of the finance minister in Xuanyuan Hill?’

’It’s a pretty cool experience for me to exchange the roles with my enemy between prey and hunter.’

’Ahh, and the residence of the leader of the Gobbling Party also the very master of the crown prince in the Eastern Palace who usually dreams about stomping Huaiyuan Palace to death.’

’Now that the two people served as supreme officials in the imperial court of Taixia Country, they would definitely have a chance to meet each other, what if...’

Zhang Tie’s eyes flickered as he revealed a mysterious smile.

At this moment, he heard the sounds, ”Bang...bang...” as he knew that Liu Xing was outside the door.

Knocking at the door twice with an interval of about 0.8 seconds. Such a detailed demeanor reflected a person’s invisible culture and connotation. Over these days, Zhang Tie found that Liu Xing knocked at the doors of his junior fellow or sister apprentices as same as he knocked at Zhang Tie’s door. Unless an emergency, Liu Xing would never knock at the door for the 3rd time. Therefore, Zhang Tie was more satisfied with Liu Xing. The first senior fellow apprentice of Iron-Dragon Airboat was growing more and more qualified. This also indicated the difference between those who had battle experience and those who didn’t. The former ones usually looked calm and move effectively. By contrast, the latter ones might make a false judgment in emergencies.

”Come in!” Zhang Tie opened his mouth as he turned around.

After pushing open the door, Liu Xing entered as he cupped his hand and said, ”Master!”

”Are you satisfied with this place?”

”It’s not bad. All the junior fellow and sister apprentices have already found their own rooms just now. Our rooms are neighboring; therefore, we could look after each other. As junior fellow apprentice had been to Xuanyuan Hill, he said that our rooms could even match the top hotels in Xuanyuan Hill!” Liu Xing replied with a smile.

Zhang Tie had imagined that Zhu Dabiao had been to Xuanyuan Hill. It was not strange for a juvenile who was born in a provincial governor’s mansion to have a chance to visit Xuanyuan Hill. Zhang Tie estimated that most of his disciples should have been to Xuanyuan Hill along with their clan elders even though they didn’t live here for a long time. Whatever, it was his first time to come to Xuanyuan Hill.

”What’s your plan?”

”I will follow your arrangement!”

After being silent for a short while, Zhang Tie said, ”I’m going to deal with something in Xuanyuan Hill. Therefore, I could have you on my side all the way. You could have a few days’ leave. You don’t need to report your schedule to me these days. After dealing with my affairs, when I plan to leave Xuanyuan Hill, I will notice you one day earlier...”

”Yes, master!” Liu Xing replied in a bit excited mood.

As young men, of course, they would feel most happy by enjoying themselves for free here. If Zhang Tie were on their side, honestly, his disciples would feel being a bit restrictive. As for these disciples, Zhang Tie’s dignity was too terrifying and overwhelming although he always hid his qi in front of them. Zhang Tie’s motif always made them feel as careful as treading upon eggs.

Previously, Zhang Tie almost knelt down in front of Elder Muen’s coercion; not to mention his disciples in front of Zhang Tie as an earth knight.

”Hoho, you must feel pretty happy without me ruining the atmosphere on your side...”

”Erm...this disciple dares not think that way!” Liu Xing lowered his head in an embarrassed way.

”Haha, don’t be that restrictive. I’m your master, not your babysitter. Do you really think that I don’t know what you young men think about because of my age?” Zhang Tie burst out into laughter as he teleported a pile of gold checks from his portable space-teleportation item, the amount of which was over 1 million gold coins. ”Take this, it’s your expenditure in Xuanyuan Hill. You couldn’t do anything here without money!”

Liu Xing hesitated a bit as he didn’t take the money at once. Because it was a great amount of money for anyone...

”This amount of money is nothing serious. As the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect, you will soon know that money will come and go. Iron-Dragon Sect might not be the most powerful sect in Taixia Country for the time being. After a short while, Iron-Dragon Sect would be the richest sect. As the first senior fellow apprentice of Iron-Dragon Sect, you need to learn how to spend money. You need to spend all of this amount of money with the other disciples in this holiday...”

”Yes, Master!” Liu Xing finally took the gold checks after hearing Zhang Tie’s explanation.

”Hmm, it’s okay!” Zhang Tie threw a glance at Zhang Tie before warning him, ”You need to learn to relax yourself in cultivating both culture and battle skills. Although Fire Dragon Sutra is good, you need to know that more haste, less speed. You need to cultivate constantly and diligently and behave calmly in your life. It’s my gnosis. You should taste it slowly!”

”Thanks for your lesson, Master!” Liu Xing’s heart raced as he bowed deeply towards Zhang Tie.

...

After a few minutes, Liu Xing returned to his own guest room. Although being over 100 m away, Zhang Tie could still hear the cheers from the guest rooms of his disciples. Someone even exclaimed, ”Longevity, Master...”

At this moment, all the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect felt that their Master’s decision was really exciting and thoughtful although he always looked dignified and solemn.