40: Go to the palace to meet the emperor, the little white dragon of the waves!

The outline of the Forbidden City rapidly magnified before his eyes.

The red walls towered, and the glazed tiles reflected light in the morning glow.

The massive palace gates had not yet opened.

The Imperial Guards standing guard before the gates wore shining armor, their long spears like a forest, and a chilling Killing Intent assailed him.

Lu Jiuyuan hurried forward, heading straight for the palace gates.

"Halt! This is a Forbidden Ground of the Imperial Palace! Unrelated individuals who trespass will be killed without question!"

The commander of the Imperial Guards at the gate shouted sternly, his hand already on his waist saber, and dozens of long spears instantly rose, their sharp tips uniformly pointed at the approaching person.

Lu Yuan held the jade pendant in his hand: "I, Lu, am here by invitation. May the gates be opened?"

The Imperial Guard commander frowned, taking a few steps forward: "This is the Imperial Palace, not the Jianghu.

"Sword Devil, the Imperial Palace is not a place for you to act ferociously."

"Call me Sword Saint! He said so!" Lu Jiuyuan shook the jade pendant in his hand.

The Imperial Guard commander's cheek twitched: "Come with me, and don't run around!"

The Imperial Guard commander led the way, his iron armor clanking.

Lu Jiuyuan followed closely, his face pale, his back straight, the four-edged Guhong Sword in his hand wrapped in cloth, moving silently.

The commander's brows were tightly furrowed; the Killing Intent emanating from the other party was so dense it made his heart tremble.

This was a true killer!

Passing through several palace gates, everywhere was heavily guarded.

They stopped outside a side hall, where two eunuchs stood guard at the entrance, their eyes sharp, their temples bulging high; judging by their physique and Qi, they were masters of the Boy Cultivation Technique.

"Reporting to Eunuch Wang, the person has been brought," the Imperial Guard commander whispered to one of them, his attitude extremely respectful.

The eunuch referred to as Eunuch Wang slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over Lu Jiuyuan like a knife scraping skin.

His gaze lingered for a moment particularly on the sword, then he lowered his eyelids, his voice high-pitched yet calm:

"Mr. Lu, Your Majesty is inside; please follow this servant. Your Majesty's verbal decree states that if a Sword Saint visits without a sword, it would be a laughingstock. Bring your sword in!"

The door opened, and Lu Jiuyuan said nothing more, stepping over the high threshold.

The light inside the hall was soft, diffused with a faint scent of sandalwood and ink.

The furnishings here were simple and elegant; on the zitan wood desk were several scrolls of books and unfinished memorials, and on the wall hung a very ornate and flamboyant Seven-Star Treasure Sword.

Unlike the imagined splendor, this place was more like the study of a diligent scholar, with a practical and serene scholarly atmosphere.

Except for that sword, which lowered the overall tone.

A young man in a bright yellow everyday robe, with a slightly slender build, stood with his back to the door, hands clasped behind his back, before a huge, detailed map of the country.

Hearing footsteps, the young man slowly turned around.

His face was handsome, with a composure beyond his age and a trace of imperceptible fatigue in his brows, but his eyes were deep and sharp.

It was none other than the "Little White Dragon" who had bought a sword from Lu Jiuyuan for ten thousand gold on the road!

"Sword Saint Lu, we meet again."

The young emperor's voice was gentle, with a trace of imperceptible amusement, breaking the silence in the hall.

He did not refer to himself as "We," but used "I" and a Jianghu title, instantly bridging the distance.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Lu Jiuyuan cupped his fists, his voice low and hoarse, with a suppressed cough.

The young emperor had already walked over quickly, and as Lu Jiuyuan's arm was about to bend, he steadily supported his elbow.

His actions were natural, without the aloofness of an emperor looking down from above, but rather like friends meeting old acquaintances.

"Brother Lu, there's no need for such ceremony!"

His gaze fell on Lu Jiuyuan's pale face, his brows slightly furrowed, that concern extremely genuine, "It's only been a few days, but Brother Lu's complexion has worsened so much!

Feng Bao, why haven't you summoned the imperial physician!"

"Your Majesty, it's just a minor injury; it has almost recovered, no need to trouble the imperial physician."

"Truly no serious harm?"

"Truly no serious harm!"

"Feng Bao, go to the inner treasury and fetch two hundred-year-old ginseng roots for Brother Lu to nourish his body."

"Your Maj..." Lu Jiuyuan cupped his hands, wanting to express his gratitude, but was directly stopped.

"Don't call me Your Majesty. Our friendship is one of the Jianghu, a friendship between friends. I treat you as a good brother in the Jianghu, so don't treat me as an emperor.

There are many people in this world who treat me as an emperor; I don't lack them. But those willing to treat me as a brother are absolutely unique."

The emperor put his arm around Lu Jiuyuan's shoulder and said with a smile: "A Sword Saint is also a Saint. You are a Saint, and I am also a Saint. Will you acknowledge me as your brother or not?"

"Your Majesty..."

The emperor frowned and shouted: "Feng Bao! Are you deaf? Go quickly to the inner treasury and fetch two excellent hundred-year-old ginseng roots!

My brother, in order to help me, has toiled and suffered injuries. How can he be neglected?"

Feng Bao, the eunuch who had been standing by, his Qi restrained and his presence almost nonexistent, immediately bowed and assented: "This old servant obeys the decree."

His movements were silent, his steps as light as if floating across the ground, and he instantly disappeared beyond the side door; that kind of movement skill was far beyond what ordinary eunuchs could achieve.

"Your Maj..." Lu Jiuyuan had just opened his mouth when he was interrupted again by the young emperor.

"Shhh--" The young emperor put a finger to his lips, a hint of playfulness in his eyes, yet conveying an undeniable seriousness,

"I said, call me 'Little White Dragon' or 'Brother,' just don't call me Your Majesty.

Wearing this Dragon robe is a responsibility, but also a shackles.

You are the first person in all these years who dared to defeat me in the Dao of the Sword. I want a friend, a brother; I don't want to be a lonely man.

I can see your pride, and I hope you can drop your disguise and see me as a friend."

His words were truly sincere.

It made Lu Jiuyuan sigh inwardly; even he couldn't resist such a series of moves.

Winning people's hearts, finding people to die for him.

This was simply an emperor's innate skill.

How many people in the world could resist such an enticement from the emperor of a nation, the Son of Heaven?

Lu Jiuyuan looked at the young emperor before him, the sincerity in his eyes almost impeccable.

The hand on his shoulder was warm and strong, and his words struck deep into people's hearts, blending the dignity of an emperor with Jianghu camaraderie seamlessly.

"Thank you for... such great kindness, Brother,"

Lu Jiuyuan's voice was still a little hoarse, but he changed his address as requested: "I, Lu... am unworthy."

"You are! You are!" The emperor laughed heartily, pulling Lu Jiuyuan towards a soft couch nearby:

"Second Brother, sit! Quickly, sit! We are brothers, there's no need to be reserved. Last night, the capital seemed quite restless. Were you disturbed, Second Brother?"