Castle of Black Iron

On the map, the city Xuanyuan Hill was a huge circle with a radius of about 400 miles. Being located on the plain, this city was surrounded by Fairy Lake, Heavenly Qin Lake and Fair-Sounding Lake. All the three lakes were fresh lakes. The total area of the three lakes surpassed that of Xuanyuan Hill. The irrigation of three lakes led to over 600 square miles’ fertile soil around Xuanyuan Hill.

Xuanyuan Hill was surrounded by the 9 immortal provinces of Taixia Country. The entire Xuanyuan Hill was in the center of Eastern Continent. The core of Xuanyuan Hill was the emperor’s imperial city, namely the residence of Emperor Xuanyuan, also the heart of Taixia Country.

Being in the center of Xuanyuan Hill, the emperor’s imperial city was like the red region in the center of a target.

The radius of the emperor’s imperial city was 130 miles. Its area was almost equal to the size of 12 standard Class A cities in Taixia Country.

Xuanyuan Hill was the center of humans. Similarly, the entire emperor’s imperial city was the center of Xuanyuan Hill.

The imperial palace of Emperor Xuanyuan, the bureaucratic agencies, the residences of top 3 chancellors and 9 ministers, as well as the imperial households and nobles of Taixia Country, were all in the emperor’s imperial city.

There were three kinds of people in the emperor’s imperial city: the imperial households and officials of Taixia Country; the clansmen and family members of imperial households and officials; their servants. Besides the above three kinds of people, even the top clans and lords such as Lord Guangnan couldn’t have any private manor in the emperor’s imperial city. This regulation was made by Emperor Xuanyuan. The emperor’s imperial city was the authority center of Taixia Country. There was only one master here, namely Emperor Xuanyuan. Everyone in the emperor’s imperial city was serving Emperor Xuanyuan, from imperial clansmen to the servants.

Therefore, the largest backbone authority group in Taixia Country, even among humans came into being in the entire emperor’s imperial city.

Xuanyuan Hill did not have any city wall. Emperor Xuanyuan said that if Xuanyuan Hill needed to be protected by city walls, humans would be exterminated. Therefore, there weren’t any city wall or city defense facilities across Xuanyuan Hill.

The emperor’s imperial city and Xuanyuan Hill were not separated by city walls; instead, they were separated by Golden Water River, which was an artificial circular canal surrounding the emperor’s imperial city. This canal had three sources, respectively in Heavenly Qin Lake, Fairy Lake and Fair-Sounding Lake. The fairy played a fair-sounding music by a heavenly qin around the emperor’s imperial city. There were 12 huge bridges named by the 12 earthly branches including rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog and pig crossing Golden Water River precisely like the scales of 12 two-hour periods on the sundial, which were used to communicate emperor’s imperial city with Xuanyuan Hill.

Unless one had a special pass that was usually tied onto one’s waist or a token, nobody could pass any of the 12 bridges and enter the emperor’s imperial city. Those who violated the rule would be killed right away.

On the 3rd day since they arrived at Xuanyuan Hill, it was already November 1st, the 903rd year of Black Iron Calendar.

On that day, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian watched the emperor’s imperial city in the distance by a boat on the Golden Water River.

These days, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian were traveling Xuanyuan Hill and visiting places of interest; however, they had just traveled a small area of Xuanyuan Hill. Famous places like Xuanyuan Hill were filled with humanities and love stories. There were widely praised stories and legends everywhere. Perhaps in a time-honored and tranquil roadside teahouse, they could hear the allusions about the top 3 chancellors and some big figures who were once commanding the wind and the clouds. The old trees in the lanes might be souvenirs planted by a top figure from a subcontinent. On the riverside of Golden Water River, there were many love stories about heroes and beauties, childes and misses.

The boat was not long. It was delicate in details. The boatman was a swarthy tough guy. Sitting at the prow, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian were drinking peach flower spirit which was the local specialty and taking dried plums as they enjoyed the scenery on Golden Water River.

Golden Water River was about 1.3 miles in width. The cruises came and went on the river, making it very boisterous. One side of the Golden Water River was close to the emperor’s imperial city; all the manors and other buildings on the opposite side of the river looked solemn and inviolable with hall walls and vermilion gates. Additionally, very few people were over there. Soldiers in helmets and armors were passing by the riverside from time to time...

On the other side of the Golden Water River, it was completely different. Dense cruises were covering the riverside. Additionally, there were many hotels and stalls over there. Many skiffs and gaily-painted pleasure-boats were parking on the roadside jetties. Many people were drinking and having food with their friends while singing songs loudly and taking liberties with female dancers. What a boisterous scenery!

Although it was already November, the willows on both sides of the Golden Water River still looked green and didn’t look like withering at all. It was said that the willows were a new species that the private imperial living affairs and finance ministry introduced from a subcontinent. It was evergreen round the year. It would replace its leaves when new buds were born in spring...

”I’ve not imagined about such a prosperous scenery on the Golden Water River in Xuanyuan Hill!” Zhang Tie told Bai Suxian at the prow.

When Bai Suxian traveled with Zhang Tie these couple days, she didn’t wear brilliant imperial longuette anymore; instead, she dressed up like a common neighboring elder sister in a skirt with long hair swaying in the air. However, Bai Suxian was born with a beautiful look, plus her hot figure, she looked unutterably dignified. Although being graceful and restrained, she looked extremely coquettish; besides being charming, she looked a bit arrogant and distant. Every twinkle and smile of Bai Suxian was extremely seductive.

Bai Suxian’s unique and charming look attracted the attention of so many people on the cruises and gaily-painted pleasure-boats. If Zhang Tie was not on the boat, many playboys who thought they were rich and romantic would have accosted Bai Suxian. However, Zhang Tie’s bald head and tower-like figure scared them away.